>
shop.seibertron.com amazon.seibertron.com Facebook Twitter X YouTube Pinterest Instagram Myspace LinkedIn Patreon Podcast RSS
This page runs on affiliate links — your clicks may earn us a few Shanix. Want the full transmission? Roll out to our Affiliate Disclosure.

How to spot a K.O

Do you love your new Hercules set? Can't get enough of FansProject's items? Upset that you bought a knock off when you thought you were getting an original? Use this forum to tell everyone your thoughts about unlicensed and knock off TF products.

How to spot a K.O

Postby fenrir72 » Sat Feb 12, 2011 8:11 pm

Motto: "Power to the strong and the right!"
Weapon: Plasma Cannon
Given that this is such a controversial topic, I'd like to contribute in aiding potential suckers or willing consumers for G1 Transformers KO without being shafted by unscrupulous individuals

1. Box art: check for it's newness and spelling errors (some KO have already rectified this.
There was a time around 1990 to 1990 when G1 figs were released for the Chinese market. Some of the box art quality were kind of subpar compared to the 1984 releases but they are/were official Hasbro products.

2.Paint applications, sometimes(G1 Cyclonus for example, the silver paint on his horns are uneven (beneath the nose cone). Though later versions have rectified this.

3.Label quality. Scourge's sigil is light red and not dark purple blue. Some scammers will have applied the factory labels on but for most of the time, KO G1 figures have it the opposite(as in the factory labels are unapplied)

Another thing, the paper materials the decals are printed on vary in quality. From High grade to crumble in your hands cr@p.

Rub symbols back then were said to help tell the difference between the real McCoy. Well not anymore.Also some Euro G1 "Classics" ditched the rub symbols altogether.(It is funny that the KOs have rub symbols while the tail end originals do not)

4.Plastic quality. The originals have a more oomph in weight, unfortunately even Encore plastics feel cr@ppy (Take henkei and Encore Ratchet). Take Bruticus and Piranacon #-o . Also take note of molding blemishes. But that too may not always be the case (see example 1) when TFs were released for the Chinese market, there were noticeable degradations in the molds of several TF G1 figures back in 1991.

Check the plastic for gloss. Wheeljack's shoulder missiles and plastic are a good example. They are smoothly done but kind off drab in appearance. Not glossy.

5.Chrome application on both body and accessories. At times it's a hit and miss. Sometimes even with imperfections.

6. Molding fit. Sometimes they don't transform evenly or the guns don't fit into the fists properly etc.

7.Wheels and rivets. The rubber tires are at times a hit or miss.But check the wheel rivets. In Wheeljack, his original version 2 rivets was hexagonal. Some KO's just couldn't get it right. Most default Autobot cars had a type of circular rivet with 4 simulated "screws" in between. Well the KO of Protectobot Streetwise has non of these simulated "screws".

8. Completeness/doubles. Superion lacks the "shield" aka launching platform. Devastator has two Scavenger guns etc.

On the recent Stunticon release, check the simulted "hubcaps" of the set. On the 4 cars, the co centric pattterns are not centered.Motormaster on the other hand, the chrome on the hubcaps on the facsimile wheels aren't properly chromed (kind of looking torn and stuff.)

That's as much as I can squeeze from my direct experience in handling high quality KOs. I for one own the Devastator version. Closest thing to the real McCoy. I hope this helps potential buyres prior to purchasing them.

Okay, in the end, this piece I wrote doesn't necessarily condone buying stuff like KOs. If let's say a henkei Wheeljack is available together with a KO henkei, I will buy the original item of course. But if a long lost mold which HaTak no longer is interested in making becomes available and is of a high quality, then I might just consider getting one.

Similar to the previous "Metroplex" brouhaha, well the KO versions were easily identified and consigned to oblivion right? When the Encore became available, who do you think got purchased in droves?

So in the end, if the powers that be makes the originals available, then no one will purchase them KOs.
Last edited by fenrir72 on Thu Jun 30, 2011 4:37 am, edited 2 times in total.
User avatar
fenrir72
God Of Transformers
Posts: 10540
News Credits: 60
Joined: Wed Aug 10, 2005 4:37 am
Location: SEA
Buy from fenrir72 on eBay
Alt Mode: Mobile Ground Fortress
Strength: 9
Intelligence: 9
Speed: 6
Endurance: 10+
Rank: 9
Courage: 10
Firepower: 8
Skill: 9

Re: How to spot a K.O

Postby fenrir72 » Sun Feb 20, 2011 4:00 am

Motto: "Power to the strong and the right!"
Weapon: Plasma Cannon
Best KO released?

1.Sunstreaker
2. Wheeljack (except the wheel rivets)
3. Cyclonus( with the horn paint fixed)
4.A certain type of Devastator set (another is the shi*ty quality)
5.Springer
6.Grimlock (almost except for the weapons fitting).
7.Defensor set (check the wheel rivets)
8.Menasor set again the wheel rivets
9.Bombshell Insecticons
10. Devastar set

* why/how do I know? Handled them for an eye ball session, of which I own the Devastar set.

*Haven't handled the Superion set yet.
User avatar
fenrir72
God Of Transformers
Posts: 10540
News Credits: 60
Joined: Wed Aug 10, 2005 4:37 am
Location: SEA
Buy from fenrir72 on eBay
Alt Mode: Mobile Ground Fortress
Strength: 9
Intelligence: 9
Speed: 6
Endurance: 10+
Rank: 9
Courage: 10
Firepower: 8
Skill: 9


Return to Unlicensed and KO Transformers Toys


[ Incoming message. Source unknown. ] No Signal - Please Stand By [ Click to attempt signal recovery... ]


Transformers and More @ The Seibertron Store

Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "HULK #3 var 1:25 Marvel Comics 2022 NOV210879 (CA) Moore (A) Ottley (W) Cates"
HULK #3 var 1:25 M ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "HULK #7 var 1:100 virgin Marvel Comics 2022 MAR220883 (CA) Campbell (W) Cates"
HULK #7 var 1:100 ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "IMMORTAL HULK #50 var 1:25 Marvel Comics 2021 AUG211050 (CA) Hitch"
IMMORTAL HULK #50 ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "SHE-HULK #1 var 1:100 virgin Marvel Comics 2022 NOV210847 (CA) Artgerm (W)Rowell"
SHE-HULK #1 var 1: ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "SHE-HULK #13 var 1:50 Marvel Comics 2023 MAR230861 (CA) Land (W) Rowell"
SHE-HULK #13 var 1 ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "SHE-HULK #15 var 1:100 Marvel Comics 2023 MAY230921 (CA) Perez (W) Rowell"
SHE-HULK #15 var 1 ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "SHE-HULK #14 var 1:50 Marvel Comics 2023 APR230842 (CA) Chew (W) Rowell 230711A"
SHE-HULK #14 var 1 ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "INCREDIBLE HULK #340 3D Edition Marvel Comics 2025 Pan-Universal Galactic New"
INCREDIBLE HULK #3 ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "Hulk GRAND DESIGN MONSTER #1 var Marvel Comics 2022 JAN220936 (CA) Piskor"
Hulk GRAND DESIGN ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "DC VERSUS MARVEL Omnibus Hardcover Comics 2024 Superman Spider-Man (CA) Perez"
NEW!
DC VERSUS MARVEL O ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "RED HULK #1 3D Edition Marvel Comics 2025 0425PG652 (A/CA) McGuiness (W) Loeb"
RED HULK #1 3D Edi ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "HULK #7 var 1:25 Marvel Comics 2022 MAR220887 (CA) Lubera (W) Cates (A) Coccolo"
HULK #7 var 1:25 M ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "HULK #13 var 1:25 Marvel Comics JAN230951 (W/A) Ottley (CA) Momoko"
HULK #13 var 1:25 ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #252 Facsimile Marvel Comics 2024 ptg OCT230970 (A/CA) Frenz"
NEW!
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ...
These are affiliate links. We may earn a commission.
Details subject to change. See listing for latest price and availability.

Featured Products on Amazon.com

Buy "Transformers Generations Power of the Primes Deluxe Class Autobot Novastar" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Generations Titans Return Titan Class Trypticon" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Generations Power of The Primes Deluxe Class Autobot Moonracer" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers: Generations Power of The Primes Voyager Terrorcon Hun-Gurrr" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers: Generations Power of The Primes Solus Prime Prime Master" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers: Generations Power of The Primes Deluxe Class Dinobot Sludge" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Generations Power of The Primes Deluxe Class Dinobot Snarl" on AMAZON
Buy "Masterpiece MPM-7 Bumblebee" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Generations Titan Class Metroplex with Autobot Scamper Figure" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Generations Combiner Wars Superion Collection Pack" on AMAZON
Buy "TRANSFORMERS PLATINUM EDITION HOT ROD JUNKION SCRAPHEAP WRECK GAR SET" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Generations Legends Class Thundercracker Figure" on AMAZON
These are affiliate links. We may earn a commission.
Details subject to change. See listing for latest price and availability.