>
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.

KO Henkei Starscream (solid, not ghost) in-hand pics, review, and how to tell the difference

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.

KO Henkei Starscream (solid, not ghost) in-hand pics, review, and how to tell the difference

Postby G1Sizzle » Mon Dec 06, 2010 12:21 am

Awhile back, I broke the news that Henkei Starscream had been KO'ed and was about to hit the market. I placed an order for it, and it arrived last night.

You may remember me talking earlier about a KO Henkei Thundercracker. I praised this toy very highly, as I felt that it was a very high quality toy--perhaps even higher than the original, and certainly higher than your ordinary KO.

Sadly, I cannot praise Henkei Starscream so highly.

This release is clearly made by the same KO producer. The packaging is very similar, and the subtle "tells" that mark it as a KO are also present on this release.

(Click the links for the pic. They are large, so I didn't want your browsers to have to load them all at once. OR you can see the review and picture gallery at my blog: Knock-Off Henkei Starscream « Sizzle's Sandbox for all the pics and words together.)

http://g1sizzle.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/p1070184.jpg

As you can see from the pic, there are several things that can identify this as a KO. First, look at the head, or more specifically, look at the sides of the head. The "vents" on either side of Starscream's face are unpainted. They are white when they should be black. Also, the notches on the shoulders are too low. I circled an area of concern where the arm connects to the shoulder, because the plastic there has jagged edges and is in really sloppy condition. Also, there are no notches in the kneepads as there should be on an official release. This release also has the same issues as the other two, in which the back and the chest don't quite fit together in bot mode. Also, Starscream stands with a bit of slump, as he tends to be back-heavy. The paint apps are also a little sloppy in places.

The biggest issue in my mind is the arm blasters. To the best of my recollection, Henkei Starscream did not have loose arm blasters. The KO does. They will fall off if an amoeba farts nearby. This is the deal-breaker between choosing between the KO or the real thing.

Alright, let's take a look at the packaging. The big tell here is the placement of the collector card, which is squarely in the center, when it should be tucked under the jet. (Thundercracker's card is to the right. Skywarp's is also centered.)

http://g1sizzle.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/p1070168.jpg

Here's the card back.

http://g1sizzle.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/p1070169.jpg

Here's what you see on the side.

http://g1sizzle.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/p1070170.jpg

The worst part about this KO is the jet mode. Because the wings and arms are super floppy, it doesn't hold together well in this mode. The wings tend to slump, and as mentioned before, the body doesn't fit together very well.

http://g1sizzle.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/p1070171.jpg

So the question you're probably asking is this: should I even bother with it? To answer that, I give you the only reasons you should buy this particular KO:

1.) You already have Henkei Starscream and want to replace him in a display with something that you won't care if it breaks.
2.) You can get it in a package deal with the other KO Henkei seekers which are much better.
3.) You can't find the real deal anywhere for a reasonable price and don't really care about a dip in quality.
4.) You simply have to have every variant of every Seeker that has been, is now being, or ever will be produced.

If that's not you, then you should probably just stick to the real deal.

In any case, as far as I can tell, no online shops have stocked this KO yet. I am told that KOToys may have it in soon, so if you'd like to buy it (or see what kinds of package deals are being offered) keep checking their site.

Here's a short gallery:

http://g1sizzle.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/p1070193.jpg

http://g1sizzle.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/p1070192.jpg

http://g1sizzle.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/p1070195.jpg

http://g1sizzle.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/p1070196.jpg
Image
User avatar
G1Sizzle
Mini-Con
Posts: 44
News Credits: 4
Joined: Wed Nov 10, 2010 6:49 am

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 "WFC-S2 LIONIZER Transformers War for Cybertron Siege Battle Master 2019 250317"
WFC-S2 LIONIZER Tr ...
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 "GALVATRON Transformers Studio Series 86-31 Movie Leader Class Hasbro 2025 New"
GALVATRON Transfor ...
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 "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 "Transformers Studio Series 86-29 Bumblebee Animated Movie Deluxe Hasbro 2024 New"
Transformers Studi ...
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 "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-S35 RED ALERT Transformers War for Cybertron Siege Deluxe Class 2019 250303A"
WFC-S35 RED ALERT ...
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-E18 AIRWAVE Transformers War for Cybertron Earthrise Deluxe Hasbro 2020 New"
WFC-E18 AIRWAVE Tr ...
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: Bumblebee -- Energon Igniters Nitro Series Barricade" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers: Generations Power of The Primes Legends Class Autobot Tailgate" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Authentics Grimlock Action Figure" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers: Generations Power of the Primes Voyager Class Starscream" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Studio Series 08 Leader Class Movie 1 Decepticon Blackout" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Masterpiece Movie Series Barricade MPM-5" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers: Generations Power of The Primes Deluxe Class Dinobot Sludge" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Generations Titans Return Deluxe Twin Twist and Flameout" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Generations Combiner Wars Series PK Bruticus Action Figure	B3899" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Generations Combiner Wars Victorion Collection Pack" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Generations Titans Return Autobot Perceptor and Convex" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Studio Series 03 Deluxe Class Movie 3 Crowbar" on AMAZON
These are affiliate links. We may earn a commission.
Details subject to change. See listing for latest price and availability.