Seibertron.com Energon Pub Forums

Dead Metal wrote:

Rated X wrote:I get what you guys are saying. But I just dont agree with the idea of "special release". A release is as special as you wanna make it. Henkei went out of their way to make them "exclusive". That was their choice, not the fans. Nobody complained about not being able to get an Astrotrain, Grimlock, or Bumblebee from the classics because they made enough in the first place. When the fans called out for Skywarp and Thundercracker, they should have just gone for the motherload. This "special release" thing was the way somebody wanted it, on purpose. Thats my issue.

Needless to say I stepped up to the plate and bought them all at Botcon. Im not cheap, just rational. Now if we could just get those other 2 Rainmakers

I think you're confusing henkei with a company, it's not it's just the Japanese version of the classics line, intended for the Japanese market at normal Japanese prices.

I see what you mean, but the point is whether it's Henkei, Takara, Gentei, Etc, sombody chose to make fewer on purpose rather than just making it a standard release. Thats my beef. I could see if it was some kind of specialty character (Ghost Starscream, Holagram Mirage, Nemisis Prime, etc) but plain ol Thundercracker and Skywarp ??? They mass produced Starscream. Sheesh...Thats like mass producing Duane Wade figures but not LeBron James or Chris Bosh Figures, you feel me ??? They need to put out the dream team all 3 !!!

You do realize Takara makes Henkei and Gentei figures, right?

That's the problem with these three since G1 is that fhile the first one usually sells very well, latter repaints don't sell as well because parents see that it's the same figure in new colour and kids will already have a jet so they will want something different.

We are the only ones these days that know the significance of all three jets.

It's sad I tell ya, sad.

El Duque wrote:You do realize Takara makes Henkei and Gentei figures, right?

I don't think they do. Everyone keeps thinking Henkei and Gentei are separate companies! Arrgh!

ATTENTION: Takara Tomy produces the Henkei and Gentei figures. Henkei and Gentei are not separate companies or subsidiaries. They are simply the names of toylines that Takara Tomy makes.

OptiMagnus10 wrote:

El Duque wrote:You do realize Takara makes Henkei and Gentei figures, right?

I don't think they do. Everyone keeps thinking Henkei and Gentei are separate companies! Arrgh!

ATTENTION: Takara Tomy produces the Henkei and Gentei figures. Henkei and Gentei are not separate companies or subsidiaries. They are simply the names of toylines that Takara Tomy makes.

I think his point is that he messed up the name the first time, and then in his reply was something to the effect "WHOEVER they are, they made it a special release." We'll just call them George.

Mkall wrote:That's the problem with these three since G1 is that fhile the first one usually sells very well, latter repaints don't sell as well because parents see that it's the same figure in new colour and kids will already have a jet so they will want something different.

We are the only ones these days that know the significance of all three jets.

It's sad I tell ya, sad.

Partially true my friend, but Hasbro didnt have a problem with the following "same mold" releases due to parental ignorance:

1. Bluestreak, Prowl, and Smokescreen

2. Ironhide and Ratchet

3. Sunstreaker and Sideswipe (outcry later prompted a Hasbro Red Alert release 1 year later)

4. Thrust and Dirge (1 year ago here it was me against the world for even suggesting Hasbro sould release them)

5. Mirage and Fracture (Gobots homage for little kids ???) (Drag Strip ended up in Marshalls for $9.99 1 year later as well)


Sombody is fighting for Skywarp and Thundercracker not to be released by Hasbro. Might I suggest an Italian job ???

I bought the 3 Seeker set from KOTOYS.COM so suck it Hasbro.

'Cracker (and the 3 Rainmakers for that matter) are all very tempting. I want to wait for Hasbro, I really do, but the faith is weakening. A KO will do in the end.

~

SentinelA wrote:I bought the 3 Seeker set from KOTOYS.COM so suck it Hasbro.

You get them yet?

Counterpunch wrote:

SentinelA wrote:I bought the 3 Seeker set from KOTOYS.COM so suck it Hasbro.

You get them yet?

I'm guessing these'll be your first KOs?

You're in for a surprise.

Sorry, but I'll deal with not having one before buying a KO. Case in point, the Shadow Command Trailer set.

What's sad is it sounds like the quality of the KO TC is better than the real one...

If it is, then I need a Thundercracker.....

peaugh reviewed the KO Ghost Starscream.

http://www.youtube.com/user/peaugh#p/a/u/0/nKOG-SyXQMk

Looks like the arm isn't as loose as the Clearscream I have, although the hands still seem to be too tight in that arm. Still ...

Since I bought two of the KO Henkei TCs, people have been asking me to review them so they'll know whether or not to purchase them. Here goes!





This is the KO (left) standing next to the legit original Henkei Thundercracker (right). As you can see, there aren't a lot of differences between the two. The differences are mostly very very subtle. As you can see, though, the actual Henkei figure has its launchers held onto its arms by rubber bands, whereas the KO is actually able to support its own launchers. Your mileage may vary, though, as the launcher port on the KO's right arm (your left) is a little loose, but nowhere near as loose as the actual product.

To be perfectly frank, this KO is perhaps the best KO I have ever seen. It is sturdy, the transformation process is fluid, and the plastic quality feels like the real deal. I had no issues in transforming it, and it's actually a bit less floppy than the Henkei version. The only joints I thought were too stiff were on the bottom right tailfin, which took a little more pressure to fold up than I was comfortable with. Otherwise, the figure fits together in both modes quite comfortably. All in all, the KO has BETTER paint apps than the original, and holds its launchers better.

The only real problem was that one of the launchers was broken and the missile won't fit in correctly. A simple fix, really.

Simply put, if you want Thundercracker and can't afford the Botcon or Henkei versions, this guy is the one for you, and the price is unbeatable.

Now...I imagine a lot of you are wondering how you can avoid being taken in and buying the KO thinking you are getting the real deal. Well, I'm glad you asked, because I'm about to tell you how you can tell the difference between the two:



The real Henkei version has a notch in the "knee pad" of TC's leg. The KO is perfectly squared.



As you can see from the back of the two TCs' wings, the red on the Henkei version is a much lighter color. This is most noticeable on the wing backs, but is true for the whole figure. The KO figure's red is a much deeper red. Also, I feel like the blue on the KO is a tad deeper blue, and I'm quite sure that the cockpit is a MUCH deeper amber color.



As you can see, the alignment of the Decepticon sigil on the front of the wing is a bit off. That's only true on one wing of my KO, so I'm not certain that this is common to each figure. However, it is one of the few differences that can be detected BEFORE opening the packaging.



This one is a dead giveaway. It's so small, it's almost unnoticeable, but there is a notch on each seeker's shoulder. On the real deal, the notch compromises the silver swatch. It's this way on every seeker that I have, including other KOs. But on this KO, the notch is significantly lower on the shoulder and doesn't cross into the silver swatch at all.

All things considered, I recommend this KO to people who don't have Thundercracker and can't afford him. And I hope this review helps those of you who want to know the difference.

Seibertron.com member G1Sizzle has posted a part review part comparison guide on the previously revealed KO reissue of henkei Gentei Thundercracker. You can use this to distinguish the KO from the real deal.

G1Sizzle wrote:Since I bought two of the KO Henkei TCs, people have been asking me to review them so they'll know whether or not to purchase them. Here goes!





This is the KO (left) standing next to the legit original Henkei Thundercracker (right). As you can see, there aren't a lot of differences between the two. The differences are mostly very very subtle. As you can see, though, the actual Henkei figure has its launchers held onto its arms by rubber bands, whereas the KO is actually able to support its own launchers. Your mileage may vary, though, as the launcher port on the KO's right arm (your left) is a little loose, but nowhere near as loose as the actual product.

To be perfectly frank, this KO is perhaps the best KO I have ever seen. It is sturdy, the transformation process is fluid, and the plastic quality feels like the real deal. I had no issues in transforming it, and it's actually a bit less floppy than the Henkei version. The only joints I thought were too stiff were on the bottom right tailfin, which took a little more pressure to fold up than I was comfortable with. Otherwise, the figure fits together in both modes quite comfortably. All in all, the KO has BETTER paint apps than the original, and holds its launchers better.

The only real problem was that one of the launchers was broken and the missile won't fit in correctly. A simple fix, really.

Simply put, if you want Thundercracker and can't afford the Botcon or Henkei versions, this guy is the one for you, and the price is unbeatable.

Now...I imagine a lot of you are wondering how you can avoid being taken in and buying the KO thinking you are getting the real deal. Well, I'm glad you asked, because I'm about to tell you how you can tell the difference between the two:



The real Henkei version has a notch in the "knee pad" of TC's leg. The KO is perfectly squared.



As you can see from the back of the two TCs' wings, the red on the Henkei version is a much lighter color. This is most noticeable on the wing backs, but is true for the whole figure. The KO figure's red is a much deeper red. Also, I feel like the blue on the KO is a tad deeper blue, and I'm quite sure that the cockpit is a MUCH deeper amber color.



As you can see, the alignment of the Decepticon sigil on the front of the wing is a bit off. That's only true on one wing of my KO, so I'm not certain that this is common to each figure. However, it is one of the few differences that can be detected BEFORE opening the packaging.



This one is a dead giveaway. It's so small, it's almost unnoticeable, but there is a notch on each seeker's shoulder. On the real deal, the notch compromises the silver swatch. It's this way on every seeker that I have, including other KOs. But on this KO, the notch is significantly lower on the shoulder and doesn't cross into the silver swatch at all.

All things considered, I recommend this KO to people who don't have Thundercracker and can't afford him. And I hope this review helps those of you who want to know the difference.

It's unfortunate that the KO is better quality than the real deal... but at least there are ways to tell, as difficult as they may be to spot in-package. Thanks for the information!

kirbenvost wrote:It's unfortunate that the KO is better quality than the real deal... but at least there are ways to tell, as difficult as they may be to spot in-package. Thanks for the information!

Pretty ironic, isn't it?

I'm playing with the idea of buying these, so I could display these instead of my real ones and protect those from damage, especially TC keeps falling over.

G1Sizzle wrote:Since I bought two of the KO Henkei TCs, people have been asking me to review them so they'll know whether or not to purchase them. Here goes!

Thanks a bunch for that!

The most distinctive bits (or, at least, the easiest to distinguish in photos) seem to me to be the subtle notches affecting the shoulder and kneecap paint apps.

Any chance you have the packaging around to compare as well?

G1Sizzle wrote:Since I bought two of the KO Henkei TCs, people have been asking me to review them so they'll know whether or not to purchase them. Here goes!

Outstanding work!

Is that...silver paint replacing the gaudy chrome? If so, I'm sold! Personally, I don't mind using KO's as a TEMPORARY substitute for figs that either I can't currently afford, or Has/Tak has yet to release.