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Ok, so I am fully aware that the purists will respond with an overwhelming NAAAAAAY! However, when in a bind for money, and merely just wanting a semi-decent representation of a figure, and most importantly, A BRANDY NEW ONE.....do KO's do the job?

I have yet to buy one, but a few G1 figures I've always wanted, especially in NEW MINTY condition, are making sense to go the KO route right now. ...Reflector, Shockwave, and a few Dinobots to name a few....

So I ask you peeps, what are the + and - of going the KO route?

More importantly, have any of you happily purchased KOs? (or unhappily?) Please share...

It really all depends. The quality of most KOs isn't up to par at all with the real thing. The only KOs in my collection were either repaints never released officially, a KO of third party addon which I used for a custom creation (though I also have a legit version of the same third party product) or in one case, a KO of a figure so rare/hard to find that I couldn't resist (though I can totally tell it's a KO as the quality isn't that great).

Right now the only KO which I'm really tempted by is the blue KO G1 Swoop just because it looks like he did on the show, but given that it's quite pricey (particularly for a KO), I've not snatched it up and likely never will unless the price drops down to what a KO is really worth (which ain't $50~$80 ).

My suggestion to you is NOT to buy KO's of both Shockwave and Reflector. I actually did and they were both sh*t. I was fortunate to get them back to the seller but after that ordeal I vowed to never again buy KO G1 figures again. Do what you must my friend but I recommend caution, "and a lot of luck".

There's a KO forum -> Moved.

The only KO I have is TFCC Punch/Counterpunch and that is because the prices for that figure are insane, and in all honesty the figure is not great so I'm glad I didn't spend big on it. I was also planning to upgrade the head and hands with a Shapeways kit and I would be less inclined to mess with a very expensive figure.

Generally I shy away from KOs though as you hear all kinds of issues with the quality of plastic etc. The multitude of 'CHUG' seeker variants were very popular but prone to breakages. The only company I know who produces top-notch quality KOs is iGear.

The only "quality" KOs I have are the Dino cassettes. I'm glad I got them (because, obviously, unobtainable otherwise), but they are not really great copies. Some of the details are shallow, some of the joints are super loose, and the stickers do not really fit the figure well (wish they took the suggestion to go with tampos).

I have a lot of Classic Seeker KOs, and the Punch/Counterpunch KO. Seekers due to army building and P/CP due to insane prices. The Seekers are "good, but really not Hasbro" quality and, yes, are prone to breakages and misassembly. P/CP is a well done KO all in all, but doesn't fit together 100$ perfectly in vehicle mode and his head keeps wanting to come off if I movie it.

High quality KO's are awesome. I recommend them for filling in voids on your shelf at a reasonable price. Finding out which KO's are the high quality ones might take a little research and review watching on youtube. I totally ignore the haters on the subject of KO's. Chances are the friends you invite into your man cave to see your collection arent going to be Transformer experts and dont even know what a "KO" is. There is a certain enigma on owning the original, but when nobody living in a 100 mile radius from you knows or cares about the difference, is it still that relavant ? Just remember the golden rule: Never lie about a KO being original. As long as your honest, nobody should knock you, and respect the fact that it is not value you seek but G1 nostalgia instead.

Yeah man, I saw your name pop up supporting KOs in a thread somewhere...I figured you'd have some positive things to say.

Although, THIS is your greatest quote:

Rated X wrote: but when nobody living in a 100 mile radius from you knows or cares about the difference, is it still that relavant ?

So I was contemplating a KO Reflector and a KO Grimlock....any words of advice?