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[Scaleface]

Whereas most Henkei/Classics KOs are obviously KOs, I thought I might warn people that some company has started to product replica Henkei toys. They sell for about $30 each. I've seen Crystal Starscream, Thundercracker and Skywarp, and the clear Henkei Mirage and they are IN PACKAGE!

Additionally there is a KO version of Botcon Mirage. Luckily you can tell the original from a KO in that the KO has no rub sign.





Of course for thoe who want these hard-to-get toys and don't mind KOs, it's a real deal.

[kirbenvost]

Is there a way to tell the fakes from the real thing with Thundercracker and Skywarp?

[JelZe GoldRabbit]

Aw, crap... Is there no sanctity left in the collecting world?!

Then again, Henkei Thundercracker did have lousy QC. If the KO is actually of better quality... No no! Bad Bunny!

[funklizard]

Of course for thoe who want these hard-to-get toys and don't mind KOs, it's a real deal.

Sure. But this appears to cross the line between a simple "knock off" and an outright counterfeit. If they're that close in appearance to the originals, my concern is with sellers who either disingenuously or naively sell these as the Real Thing.

How can these counterfeit versions of Skywarp, Thundercracker, and clear Mirage be identified? It's certainly not obvious (to me) from your picture.

[OptiMagnus]

Wait...so those pics are the actual KOs? With TakaraTomy logos? That makes no sense.

[Scaleface]

Yes, these are "replica" knockoffs. Unlike most knockoffs, which are obviously not official product, these try to look like the original, even have fake packaging.

I'm told there are SMALL differences. Different color inside the cockpit on the jets, blurry printing on the bottom of the box. It's REALLY CLOSE, but if you compare 2 side by side, it's possible to tell.

[OptiMagnus]

Yes, these are "replica" knockoffs. Unlike most knockoffs, which are obviously not official product, these try to look like the original, even have fake packaging.

I'm told there are SMALL differences. Different color inside the cockpit on the jets, blurry printing on the bottom of the box. It's REALLY CLOSE, but if you compare 2 side by side, it's possible to tell.

Wow these are really close. I've never seen them with the fake packaging like this. The closest I've seen are the "Transformers Revenge of the Allen" figures

[Scaleface]

There have been "replica" knockoffs before, lots of them, but they are usuauly G1 toys. Never something this recent.

[funklizard]

Yes, these are "replica" knockoffs. Unlike most knockoffs, which are obviously not official product, these try to look like the original, even have fake packaging.

I'm told there are SMALL differences. Different color inside the cockpit on the jets, blurry printing on the bottom of the box. It's REALLY CLOSE, but if you compare 2 side by side, it's possible to tell.

Not cool.

I hope that someone with the means to create a pictorial comparison of these counterfeits to known legitimate figures does so in the near future. This development is pretty unsettling for someone who recently purchased these figures on eBay (and did not pay knock-off prices).

I do not think legitimate sellers should be trafficking in these items--even when noting they are knock-offs. Once they're out there, it's just too easy for them to be resold as the real thing. I'd like to think that TakaraTomy would take some action in cases like this; unfortunately, I imagine there's very little they can do as it's probably very difficult to track down the actual counterfeiters.

[bvzxa]

I'm going to take this story with a grain of salt. this could be damaging to trying to find the real thing. Is there a link to KO Toys stating they are selling these?

I agree with Jeelze that the QC for Henkei TC was downright deplorable. I will bit the bullet and go for a Botcon TC.

I wish they made a Henkei Wildrider like that. It owuld make the value of the other one go down a bit in time for when I get my Shadow Scythe set.