>
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 "Decepticon MIRAGE Transformers War Cybertron Trilogy Earthrise Netflix 250317"
Decepticon MIRAGE ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "Sharkticon GNAW Transformers Studio Series 86-08 Animated Movie Deluxe 2021 New"
Sharkticon GNAW Tr ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "WFC-S35 RED ALERT Transformers War for Cybertron Siege Deluxe Class 2019 250303A"
WFC-S35 RED ALERT ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "WFC-S1 FIREDRIVE Transformers War for Cybertron Siege Battle Master 2019 250317"
WFC-S1 FIREDRIVE T ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "KUP Transformers Studio Series 86-02 Animated Movie Deluxe Hasbro 2021 250303A"
KUP Transformers S ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "WFC-K7 PALEOTREX Transformers War Cybertron Kingdom Deluxe Hasbro 2020 New"
WFC-K7 PALEOTREX T ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "WFC-S16 PTERAXADON Transformers War for Cybertron Siege Battle Master 2019 New"
WFC-S16 PTERAXADON ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "WFC-K21 SOUNDWAVE Transformers War for Cybertron Kingdom Core 2021 250303A"
WFC-K21 SOUNDWAVE ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "WFC-S2 LIONIZER Transformers War for Cybertron Siege Battle Master 2019 250317"
WFC-S2 LIONIZER Tr ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "WFC-E1 SOUNDBARRIER Transformers War Cybertron Earthrise Battle Master 2020 New"
WFC-E1 SOUNDBARRIE ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "Transformers Studio Series 86-29 Bumblebee Animated Movie Deluxe Hasbro 2024 New"
Transformers Studi ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "WFC-E18 AIRWAVE Transformers War for Cybertron Earthrise Deluxe Hasbro 2020 New"
WFC-E18 AIRWAVE Tr ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "WFC-S18 RAVAGE Transformers War for Cybertron Siege Micromaster 2019 250330"
WFC-S18 RAVAGE Tra ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "GALVATRON Transformers Studio Series 86-31 Movie Leader Class Hasbro 2025 New"
GALVATRON Transfor ...
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 Authentics Megatron" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers: Bumblebee -- Energon Igniters Nitro Series Barricade" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Generations Power of The Primes Deluxe Terrorcon Rippersnapper" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Generations Titans Return Deluxe Misfire and Aimless" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Deluxe Ratchet Action Figure" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers: Generations Power of The Primes Megatronus Prime Master" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers: Generations Power of The Primes Legends Class Autobot Outback" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers: Generations Power of The Primes Legends Class Cindersaur" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Generations Titans Return Titan Master Apeface" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Generations Combiner Wars Deluxe Class Swindle" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Generations Combiner Wars Deluxe Class Alpha Bravo Figure" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Generations Titans Return Legends Class Laserbeak" on AMAZON
These are affiliate links. We may earn a commission.
Details subject to change. See listing for latest price and availability.