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I've been a transformers fan since G1 and have fond memories of wandering through toys r us as a kid, wanting every one of the toys on the shelves, and then not getting them cause hey, Reaganomics.

Now I'm old, married, full time job, no kids, and part of me just wants a few shelves full of nostalgia.

Primarily I'm looking to collect the best versions of all the characters from the 1986 movie, Beast Wars, and the recent WFC and FOC games if there's not a better G1 style version.

So my question for anyone with the time is, what is the overall best version of the characters below? I am in no way exclusively hasbro/takara. Remakes such as Green Giant or Quake Wave are fine. I prefer the G1 look but not G1 toys if that makes sense. By no means is this a definitive list, it's just off the top of my head (and wikipedia) If there are any glaring omissions please add them.

1986 Autobots
1. Optimus Prime
2. Hot Rod/Rodimus Prime
3. Ultra Magnus
4. Springer - I currently have the Generations model
5. Arcee
6. Kup
7. Wheelie
8. Blurr
9. Blaster
10. Perceptor
11. Grimlock - I currently have Generations
12. Slag
13. Swoop
14. Snarl
15. Jazz
16. Cliffjumper
17. Bumblebee
18. Ironhide
19. Brawn

1986 Decepticons
1. Megatron
2. Galvatron
3. Starscream and the jets
4. Soundwave - Currently have generations sitting next to my TV in the "I wish this looked like a boombox" mode.
5. Devastator
6. Shockwave
7. Astrotrain

Others
1. Unicron
2. Sharkticons
3. Wreck Gar

Beast Wars
There are only 3 remakes for these that I know of and I plan on getting them. (Ratrap, Rhinox, Waspinator) Just picked up generations rhinox this afternoon I actually owned all the originals about 11 years ago and can't remember what happened to them after I left for the Navy. I won't bother listing the characters but if you know of a remake I'm all ears.

I'm not a big fan of the WFC and FOC versions but if there are any must haves throw them in. (Metroplex!)

Thanks in advance for your help in setting all my disposable income ablaze!

Looking at your list, Masterpiece figures with a hint of third party are going to be your best bet.

Autobots:

*Optimus Prime - MP10, no contest. You can either go for the Takara release, or the Hasbro release. There's really no difference between the two, other than some minor deco differences.

*Hot Rod/Rodimus Prime - MP09, but if you just want Hot Rod, the Classics Deluxe "Rodimus" was released several times as the character.

*Ultra Magnus - Either Keith's Fantasy Club (KFC)'s "Citizen Stack", or you can wait for the upcoming MP22 from Takara.

*Springer - You could have a whack at Fansproject's Warbot Defender, but the Generations Voyager is infinitely better. Defender if you want as close to Generation One-accuracy, but for playability and posing, the Generations Voyager.

*Arcee - Even though we haven't seen her yet, I suggest waiting to see how the Generations Deluxe will turn out. If you're impatient, you might want to go for Perfect Effect's "RC Motorbot".

*Kup - Generations is the only one I feel is the best one to pose. If you don't like it, then you're stuck with the original Generation One figure.

*Wheelie - I think X-Transbots is making an MP-sized Wheelie, dubbed "Ollie". There's the official Universe (2008) Legends figure, which is adorable in its own right. Then you have Generations GDO Wheelie, a retool of Reveal the Shields Jazz.

*Blurr - There's the Generations Deluxe, a retool of Drift. I heard there's a third party company working on a more Generation One-inspired Blurr, but I forget who it was. Maketoys? Mastermind Creations? I can't remember.

*Blaster - Unique Toys "Soundmixer", but if you're cheap like me, the recent Generations: Fall of Cybertron Soundwave retool is a good alternative.

*Perceptor - Once again, if you're wanting to be cheap, Reveal the Shield released Perceptor as a Deluxe. KFC also has an offering that is probably what you're more into, with their release of "Mugan Scope".

*Grimlock - MP08

*Dinobots - FansToys is making a Dinobot themed line, starting with their release of "Scoria", and working their way up to include, oddly, Grimlock.

*Jazz - Reveal the Shield released a Deluxe "Special Ops" Jazz which is pretty neat.

*Cliffjumper - The Classics Deluxe redeco of Bumblebee is pretty good.

*Bumblebee - the aforementioned Classics Deluxe, or you can wait for the Masterpiece figure.

*Ironhide - either the Universe (2008) Deluxe, or iGear "Weapon Specialist".

*Brawn - There's a Legends figure in the Universe (2008), and there's iGear's "Hench".

Now for my favorites, the Decepticons.

*Megatron - Masterpiece, but it's oversized compared to the current Masterpiece figures, it's super fiddly, super thin, prone to breakage, it goes on and on. I wouldn't recommend it. There's also ToyWorld's Hegemon, but I hear it's rare.

*Galvatron - Universe (2008) released a Deluxe, but it leaves one wanting. I recommend Unique Toys's offering, "Mania King".

*Starscream/Seekers - MP03 for a great jet mode, but MP11 for robot mode. Not to say MP11's jet mode is bad, but it's been modified slightly to accomodate for the better robot mode that MP03 lacked. So far, only Starscream, Thundercracker, Acid Storm, and Sunstorm have been given the MP11 treatment, but the only Skywarp out now is based on the MP03 version. You can go for the MP03 Seekers, but their robot modes are flawed (obnoxious hip kibble designed to look like katana scabbards, weak plastic around the joints that flip the wings up for robot mode, doesn't stand well at all, etc.).

*Soundwave - MP13. However, there's also a configuration that you could do to the Generations Voyager.

*Devastator - For cheapness, the Classics Wal*Mart exclusive redeco of the Energon Construction team/Constructicon Maximus. If money's not an issue, TFC Toys's "Hercules" is a superb guy.

*Shockwave - FansToys's "Quake" is as close to a Masterpiece Shockwave as possible.

*Astrotrain - The Classics Deluxe is as close as anyone's gotten. Takara released this figure in their Henkei line in a cartoon-accuate deco.

Miscellaneous:

*Unicron - Japan released a retool of Armada Unicron with a more Generation One-inspired head. What it's called, I don't remember. Here's what it looks like, if you're curious.

*Sharkticons - Unique Toys's "Sharkies" three-pack is by far the best version of the Sharkticons to date. There's a rumor that one of the rumored upcoming Generations Legends figures are to come with Gnaw, who is traditionally a Sharkticon.

*Wreck Gar - There was a Deluxe released in Reveal the Shield, and the cool thing about this figure is that if you have more of this specific mold (say, for instance, Generations Junkheap), there are a couple tabs on his groin that clip onto the other figure's bike mode's seat that lets you have him ride the other figure's bike mode!

Be aware that all of this is a buttload of money you're talking about. The entirety of this list probably goes over three or four grand, at least.

Also, you were in the Navy? Far out! I'm a cadet PO1 in my school's NJROTC unit, and I aspire to enlist as a Marine after I graduate this June. What was your MOS, out of curiosity?

First off, thank you for taking the time to respond.

I was a GSE, Gas Turbine Electrician. Spent 2 years on a carrier, the Nimitz out of San Diego, during Iraqi Freedom. Then GSE training and the rest of my time on a Frigate, The Doyle out of Mayport where we did a lot of coast guard style anti drug stuff. Now I manage IT for a Casino. Go figure. Service is all kinds of great as long as you know what you're in for and ROTC gives you the gist.

But enough about that we're here to talk about toys!

I know the price tag is hefty, I plan on collecting this all over the next several years as money allows. I've got an apartment I rent out so the extra income from that is going to fuel this collection.

I'm definitely down with all your suggestions, every bit of research I've done keeps adding more to the list, now I'm looking for Generations Skids. Looks just like my actual car :p

Ideally I only want to buy each model once. I don't want like 10 different Primes, or 5 Grimlocks so I'll be going for the top of the top. One thing I've learned already is that if it's good and its at toys r us right now, buy it immediately. Otherwise you'll only get it for double the price on ebay. Hence the $45 price tag on Generations Skids and Waspinator.

I've got my Generations Soundwave in the "I wish i was a boombox" mode right now sitting with my speakers. Completely redeemed that figure when I saw that mode on youtube. (props to Thew)

The Nimitz, neat! My SNSI, a retired Lieutenant Commander, worked on a sub. I don't remember what its name was, nor what he did (something to do with its nuclear reactor, I think). I hope to get in the Marines as an 1812, M1A1 Abrams tank crewman.

If you'd like to know some good places to get some of this stuff, I recommend either Big Bad Toy Store, TFSource, or Transformerland. I never use eBay, simply because a majority of users there are scalpers.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, hit me up.

You know, with all the times that Classics Bumblebee mold has been redecoed as the same character, you'd think Hasbro would have taken a second shot (or Takara-Tomy a FIRST) at a properly retooled and redecoed version for Classics Cliffjumper. Give him a new head, a screen-accurate deco, and I'd be happy. Yes, a retooling to better differentiate his alt mode from Bumblebee's would be nice too, but I'll settle for a proper G1 head and paint apps.

Rather than re-post a list of my personal choices, if you have the time check out my collection - have each figure listed in detail (brand/series/any addons etc) - hopefully it's of some use to you

Still lacking a few "key" characters, but it's nearing "completion"

Maybe the Masterpiece Bumblebee will spawn a set of retools like Starscream did?

Necrien...a question... do you want the characters in your collection to be more or less the same size/scale? If not there are some Masterpiece ones and some Classics and Generations and some 3rd party. If you want them to be able to be posed together as they might look in fiction it gets trickier, and also comes down a bit more to personal preference/interpretation.

That all said, Generations Gridlock is fine, but I have the Masterpiece one in my collection for his dino mode. The robot is a bit too big for my Classics but that T-rex seems spot on in size with the animated movie.

I'd like them to be as show accurate as possible when it comes to size.

the MPs are far more screen accurate, but there's not nearly as much choice in characters as there is in the Classics lines. Since most of what you list having already is Generations, I'd say stick with that.

For Beast Wars, there were new molds of Optimus Primal and Megatron made a few years back in the Cybertron line. There's been a few repaints of each with varying degrees of screen accuracy to them. The toys themselves have mechanical detailing, so that might put you off, but if Gen Springer is good enough for a cartoon Springer, these are close enough for me too. I have the Japanese United line versions which are the most recent and therefore probably the easiest to find.

By the way, since you're new here, maybe checking out the site's Gallery section, you can search by character name and it'll bring up all the toys across different lines with that name. Now some are going to be way off your idea of what the characters should look like probably because names get reused on some weird and wonderful toys, but it might give you a better idea of what options you've got. Other decent sites are TFUinfo and TFWiki

Yeah, Masterpiece is a great scale but there just isn't the right selection out there right now. I think Classics - Universe - Generations is the way to go in terms of G1 style with the most selection.

For example, Counterpunch has a pretty sound Classics style collection



And so does ScottyP



If you need any help in naming or figuring out which is which, just let me know.

Speaking of, I ought to update images of my own collection. Since I got some new shelves, I did some rearranging to accommodate, and even kicked off this Starscream display I've been thinking of for a while.

Love all the collection shots. I don't want to get too crazy though. Maybe just enough to fill a good sized book case in the living room.

I'm replaying FoC right now and it makes me really like that style until I see some of the character changes like Soundwave or Optimus..

Thanks all for your feedback. Taking everything into account this is what I've decided to go with...

Autobots
1. Optimus Prime - YOTH Platinum Custom Paint (gold to gunmetal)
2. Hot Rod/Rodimus Prime - Masterpiece
3. Ultra Magnus - Masterpiece
4. Springer - Generations
5. Arcee - Waiting
6. Kup - Generations Sergeant Kup
7. Wheelie - Ollie
8. Blurr - Generations
9. Blaster - Generations
10. Perceptor - Generations
11. Grimlock - Platinum
12. Slag - Waiting
13. Swoop - Waiting
14. Snarl - Waiting
15. Jazz - Classics
16. Cliffjumper - Generations (Cybertronian)
17. Bumblebee - Masterpiece
18. Ironhide - Patrol Specialist
19. Omega Supreme - Platinum
20. Jetfire - Classics
21. Prowl - Classics
22. Skids - Generations
23. Sunstorm - Generations (Because that toy just looks awesome)
24. Metroplex - Generations (Because I need a 3 foot tall robot toy in my life)
25. Warpath - Generations
26. Wreck Gar - Reveal the Shield
27. Cosmos - Generations
28. Wheeljack - Generations
29. Mirage - Classics


Decepticons
1. Megatron - Waiting (I have a suspicion they'll do a better MP mold)
2. Galvatron - Mania King
3. Starscream - Masterpiece and Generations (Cybertronian) for all the seekers
4. Soundwave - Masterpiece (with minions)
5. Devastator - Waiting (They've got to do an MP combiner at some point right?)
6. Shockwave - Quake Wave
7. Astrotrain - Waiting
8. Bruticus - Platinum with Boosticus upgrade kit
9. Blitzwing - Generations
10. Incecticons - Fans Project versions
11. Cyclonus - Generations

Others
1. Unicron - Generations
2. Primus - Armada
3. Sharkticons - igear

Beast Wars
Rhinox - Generations
Waspinator - Generations
Rattrap - Generations
Optimus Primal - Transmetal and Optimal
Megatron - Transmetal and Dragon
Cheetor - Transmetals 2
Dinobot - Transmetals 2
Silverbolt - Transmetals
Black Arachnia - Transmetals 2
Depth Charge
Tigerhawk
Tarantulus - Transmetal
Rampage

That's the plan. We'll see how it goes!

Good luck!

Lessons learned thus far...

1. Ebay is awful. Full of sketchy buyers who try to exchange their broken figures for the ones you just sent, sellers who casually don't mention gratuitous wear and tear or just jack up the price on items you can still find in an online store, and mislabeled knock offs by the ton. Never buy from ebay, sell at your own risk.

2. TFSource and BBTS are awesome.

3. Upgrade kits exist for a reason. Boosticus upgrade for Platinum Bruticus for example. Without it he looks like he needs a sandwich.

4. Brand new figures can come apart with 0 effort. FOC Grimlock's stubby little trex arms for example.

5. The MP10 mold is amazing. I can only hope other masterpiece figures are of equal quality. Going masterpiece across the board. Where there isn't a masterpiece I'm going with equal quality from other companies.

6. Glass display cases are expensive and hard to find. A nice open backed wood shelf against a white wall with some strategically placed LEDs is probably the better way to go as long as you don't have kids or malicious pets. http://www.amazon.com/Kings-Brand-Espre ... B007BOEAJK

7. Find the most cracked out deserted Toys R Us you can. I have 3 near me and the sketchiest one has the best inventory. Still has MP Acid Storm on the shelf!

8. Target and KMart have waves on the shelf waaaay longer than Walmart.

9. Is it on the shelf? Buy it right now! The second its out of stock your only hope is a re-release or ebay at 2-3 times the original price.

10. Collecting is awesome.

About a month later....

I am really, honest to God, tempted to bite the bullet and pick up Year of the Horse Optimus Prime, just to say I have at least one version of MP-10. Then again, I can just wait about a year for that reissue...

Also, for Bruticus, I would've waited for Microblaze Creation's Military Titans set, which replaces Onslaught with a much more accurate, much more articulated, much better scaled Onslaught at the Voyager scale, and gives the rest of the team improvements, such as a smaller torso and head for Swindle, new feet and hands for Brawl, and large weapons for Blast Off and Vortex, which actually help in the combined mode, which result in this beautiful beast:

Wow, did not know that set existed. Might get it anyway and mix and match parts....or i might just start piecing Warbotron together instead.

Necrien wrote:Wow, did not know that set existed. Might get it anyway and mix and match parts....or i might just start piecing Warbotron together instead.

If you're a stickler when it comes to Generation One accuracy, you're gunna be wanting Warbotron. If you're like me and don't mind repurposing for the sake of your wallet's sanity, Fall of Cybertron Bruticus will be your saving grace.

Yeah, the more I look at it the more I like the idea if getting that set just for the bigger onslaught.

wow awesome collection in a really short time!

I have an extra TRU soundwave if interested...

Necrien wrote:TlDr; What are the best CHUG toys for these guys:

I'd add some MPs just in case.

1986 Autobots
1. Optimus Prime
Classic voyager or MP-10

2. Hot Rod/Rodimus Prime
Henkei

3. Ultra Magnus
Classic with City Commander upgrade kit or the upcoming MP.

5. Arcee
Delicate Warrior (3rd party)

6. Kup
Generations with I-Gear head upgrade

8. Blurr
Generations

9. Blaster
Generations FOC

10. Perceptor
RTS

11. Grimlock - I currently have Generations
MP

15. Jazz
RTS

16. Cliffjumper
Classic

17. Bumblebee
Generations Cybertronian Bumblebee, or the upcomming MP

18. Ironhide
Weapon Specialist (3rd party)

19. Brawn
Classic Legend

1986 Decepticons
1. Megatron
Hegemon (3rd Party)

2. Galvatron
Classic

3. Starscream and the jets
Classics, Generations, ect. the "classic" mold. Or any MP.

4. Soundwave - Currently have generations sitting next to my TV in the "I wish this looked like a boombox" mode.
Get the MP right nao!

5. Devastator
Any ulra expensive 3rd party ones.

6. Shockwave
TF Prime Beast Hunters or Quakewave (3rd party)



Others
1. Unicron
"Amazon" Unicron

3. Wreck Gar
Generations/RTS

I got really into the Prime series and managed to get a lot of the figures in one auction, hence the shelf full of them. I'm really liking the quality and scale of the Masterpiece line and that's what I'm going to keep working with. I like the generations stuff but the line up seems to be running out of steam. Jetfire seems to be the only upcoming that I'm interested in. That said I've revised my original list a bit. Figures with a star are already on the shelf

1986 Autobots - All MP Scale and Quality

*Optimus Prime - YOTH
Ultra Magnus - MP
*Grimlock - MP
Bumblebee - MP
Ironhide - Weapons Specialist
Prowl - MP
Perceptor - ?
Blaster - ? There's gotta be an MP Soundwave repaint coming right?
Arcee - ?
Springer - ? (Guessing Generations is going to have to do)
Jazz - ? Really? no MP Jazz yet? REALLY?
Hot Rod - MP
Kupp - ?
Wreck Garr - ?


1986 Decepticons - All MP Scale and Quality

Megatron - ? Hegemon is too short
Starscream - MP
Thundercracker - MP
Skywarp - MP
Soundwave - MP
Devastator - Probably Hercules
Shockwave - Quakewave
Astrotrain - ?
Incecticons - ?

1986 Other
Unicron - Amazon Unicron
Sharkticons - ?

Generations
*FOC Bruticus - I just really like this guy. Even though I'm going to end up buying 2 upgrade kits for him
Jetfire
*Springer
*Sandstorm - I never saw this guy in a movie, show, or comic but his shelf appeal is amazing
*Blitzwing

Figures I have but will probably not keep
Generations Rhinox - I liked Beast Wars a whole lot but I don't see them redoing the whole lineup
Platinum Ed. Grimlock - I've got MP
Blaster - I refuse to believe they won't retool the MP Soundwave mold
The entire Prime lineup - I like these guys too but odds are as my MP collection grows they'll end up with some very happy kid.

Thank you again for your suggestions. I'm going to keep this thread updated as my collection grows and changes. Hopefully it'll be as cool to follow as it is to actually do it

If it's possible, try to find
2010 Creator Primus
to go against Amazon Unicron. In planet mode, he's truly Cybertron.

Also, try to get the Throne of Chaos for Unicron to display him in planet mode.













By the way, showing here is the 2010 Unicron. I prefer the Amazon deco.