The Energon Pub

Hi guys, sorry, this questions might not be new. I am a new TF collector, a newbie. How do I tell KO transformers from the real ones? Is it true that only the original TFs have Hasbro/Takara stamp on them ? Thanks !

cybertronians wrote: How do I tell KO transformers from the real ones? Is it true that only the original TFs have Hasbro/Takara stamp on them ? Thanks !

If it's a straight copy, even the KO's will have a HasTak stamp.
You just have to check the box for clues and build quality of the bot you're looking at (gaping joints, inferior plastic etc...)

Good Luck!

cybertronians wrote:Hi guys, sorry, this questions might not be new. I am a new TF collector, a newbie. How do I tell KO transformers from the real ones? Is it true that only the original TFs have Hasbro/Takara stamp on them ? Thanks !

Ok, first you have to consider that there are 2 kinds of KOs that are copies of existing figures:

1) Cheap; sometimes odd-looking, with odd colors; very easy to tell from the original ones. The boxes usually have nothing to very few to do with the original ones, so you can spot them easily.
2) Good quality; very close to the originals; very hard to tell from the original ones, sometimes even if you're holding it in your hands. The boxes also are usually good copies of the original ones, where the typos and other small mistakes are not easy to notice.

For option number 1, even if you never heard of the KO you'll probably know it is one once you see it, boxed or not. Most times these don't even have metal where they should and are usually cheap looking and the molds have many issues.

For option number 2, well... you really have to be careful. First, if you're looking at a G1 that looks brand new for a low price, it sounds fishy from the start. But most sellers usually call these "reissues/remakes", so if you see a G1 in a vintage box with "reissue/remake" in its description, it's a KO. The official reissues don't have boxes that reproduce completely the vintage ones. Some reissues by Takara have a similar look, but it's not equal, there are differences from the vintage boxes. But about small details on the boxes and the figures (which are in many cases 99.9% just like the originals), you better check this site (which isn't complete):

http://highendtfs.com/?q=node/17

BTW, like said before me, the "Hasbro/Takara" copyright stamp also appears in many KOs, just like the ones on option 2 above. They are very good reproductions of the originals. I have 3 of them and I can tell you the quality is almost just as an official reissue, or even just as good. Reflector is very hard to distinguish.

To know about these KOs you can also check the auctions at ioffer.com, which are mostly KOs when it's not official reissues. The newer ones are Sunstreaker, Octane, Shockwave and I think they're doing sideswipe and Red Alert, although I don't see the point because there are Hasbro and Takara official reissues of those two.

Hope this helps.

EDIT: BTW, you can check the current TakaraTomy official reissues here:

http://www.takaratomy.co.jp/products/TF/products/encore.html

And some info about previous official reissues here:

http://www.microforever.com/TFcollection/tfcollectionindex.htm

Hasbro also recently reissued Optimus Prime, Perceptor, Soundwave (with 4 cassettes) and the Insecticons on the Universe line.

Also, if you decide to venture to ioffer.com I advise you to be careful because there is someone cheating many people with fake accounts, sending fake pens or other stuff instead of the goods. Some sellers I know you can trust are t800pro, comicpan (there are others though, but check well their listings and feedback, which is a bad sign if it only has few positives), but these sellers sell KOs for the option number 2 above.

Lol. Never noticed Kremzeek at the bottom of the cannon before capella. haha!

vectorA3 wrote:Lol. Never noticed Kremzeek at the bottom of the cannon before capella. haha!

Lol, he's supervising the whole operation .

Wow, thanks for the info ! Thanks for the help !

I've just seen this new package variation for the high quality G1 Devastator/Constructicons, with each one in card instead of a gift box. I guess this is new:

http://www.ioffer.com/i/Transformers-G1-Devastator-KO-Card-Version-Reissue-NEW-134244535

Also, they appear to be making also high quality G1 Micromasters, at least that's what this looks like:

http://www.ioffer.com/i/Transformers-G1-MICOMASTER-Reissue-KO-100-New--123989655

People should know this to be aware when buying vintage figures! Now everyone must be careful also when buying carded G1 Constructicons and also these Micromasters.

those constructicon cardbacks are so awesome --i want em. Pricey though. What are the chances of an e-hobby or hasbro re-issue set?? I also want the Legends class Devy when it hits the states

Good information here. Should be re-stickied.

I dont know if its a KO but i Recently found a plastic G1 sludge in gold coloring with small dragon/batwings (these ones didnt fold as I saw that KO too). I dont know if its been seen before by anyone here or if its some Pre Transformer thing. it did come with weapons.. I am curious if theres a toy name to it.

HI! thought id add to this page! recently I bought a K.O stunticons menasor and bruticus, perfect boxes and figures no differences from the original when it comes to the box! never been able to check differences when it comes to the figures in the box, lets face it: buying a dozen figures on ebay to find one that stands out as different from what i know is a k.o is just silly! but i did manage to buy a stunticon fake and an original dragstrip and WOW! plenty of differences! the first detail that you can see is dragstrips engine! original: is made of metall with great details!! fake is made of plastic and looks rather cheap! the bottom of dragstrip is completely different in detail as well! and the nose of the race car is slightly less fitted on the fake its a little bit off... when it comes to bruticus: i need serious help!! they repackaged him in the japanese re issue encore package but the boxes have become PERFECT! I know hes fake! no way could i buy him so cheap!! (and this seller said it was fake!!) the new boxes are no different betweeen the original and fakes, or at least are much much better than they were! can anyone point me to some great pics of original G1 bruticus figures? from all angles? after reconcidering the the fakes, yes they get you cheap originalish tfs! but they completely destroy trying to get rel originals off any website!! even then that gun that you buy could be fake even if it fits the transformer! and looks the same! all i think is: fake or repro items or tfs should have markins denoting it is a repro or fake, making our lives easier!

^ Check the galleries here. I'm not sure if the ones up are G1 or the Encore reissue, but either way it's closer to the original than what you might have.

hey! thanks, ill check it! youre looking for a sdf1? i have one the big one guaranteed original although i overpaid for it and a the box arrived damaged, and a small back panel on it was broken, the engines covering the middle front wheel is broken off but i have it and the back of the box is not really great.. it has a big tear after the shipping accident, let me know if you are interested in it!

So I just got a "MISB Takara Encore G1 Ratchet". The box it's self made me suspicious as the colour seems off.

Opening him, well he feels funny. Oh and he's actually missing the windows on one side. The fists are a different shade of white to the rest of him and in fact the white isn't bright and shiney as it should have been.

He has the copyright stamp (Takara 1980 - 1982).

But he's a fake isn't he?

Burn wrote:He has the copyright stamp (Takara 1980 - 1982).

But he's a fake isn't he?

Likely.

Encore Ratchet has a more current date stamp on it, doesn't it?

If so, then you either got a fake, or a swapped figure.

Should I move this to the KO forum?