The Energon Pub

News Credits: 335 · Thu Feb 04, 2010 11:40 am

We've received many reports from Transformers fans that new Knock-offs have surfaced on eBay. In addition to G1 Red Aler, Sideswipe, and a Protectorbots Gift Set which have already been released, a Stunticons Gift set is slated for release after the Chinese New Year.

While it may be tempting to buy such memorable characters in a nice. new throw-back package, none of us here at Seibertron.com recommend or endorse purchasing these figures. Products such as these not only violate copyright laws, but they also don't measure up to the same materials used and quality control protocols that the originals must go through. Please, do your research before buying what you believe to be a MISB G1 figure off of eBay and know the differences between real and fake.

News Credits: 32 · Thu Feb 04, 2010 12:02 pm

Why can't we get legit reissues of these figures? I would love a Stunticons set.

News Credits: 20 · Thu Feb 04, 2010 12:15 pm

Down_Shift wrote:While it may be tempting to buy such memorable characters in a nice. new throw-back package, none of us here at Seibertron.com recommend or endorse purchasing these figures.

Whatchoo talking bout Willis? If I can't get legit reissues, you bet your ass I endorse this lol.
:BOT:

Thu Feb 04, 2010 12:24 pm

I don't know man, the quality I've seen on KOs has always been really bad. So bad I'd rather just not have the figure in my collection tbh. I do have a KO Devastator sitting on my workbench (hot glued together, he falls apart otherwise), but that's only because I don't want an original sitting in a place where it can get dirty or damaged.

News Credits: 335 · Thu Feb 04, 2010 12:49 pm

Flux Convoy wrote:
Down_Shift wrote:While it may be tempting to buy such memorable characters in a nice. new throw-back package, none of us here at Seibertron.com recommend or endorse purchasing these figures.

Whatchoo talking bout Willis? If I can't get legit reissues, you bet your ass I endorse this lol.

Have you seen one of the KOs up close? Short story time!

At AFX last year my buddy bought a "complete MISB G1 Devastator Gift Set" off of a table selling a **** ton of "reissues". Now the dirt bag selling these figures was telling people they are legit 1980s hotness, but there was a sign sitting on top of a pile of translucent lazerbeak/frenzy two packs saying they were all KOs. Once we found out the guy at the table is actually one of the people responsible for the production and distribution of these figures he was kicked out of the showroom. I can't believe the guy was bragging about it, and Hasbro Canada was 15 feet from him. They were pissed, so we kicked them the phuk out. I didn't find out until later that night that my friend from work bought Devastator from him. He took it out of the box and it was literally falling apart in his hands. Not Devastator, but Long Haul, Mismaster, Scavenger and the lot.

News Credits: 10 · Thu Feb 04, 2010 1:33 pm

I've said it before, I don't mind buying KO's as long as they are priced as KO's and advertised as them. When I was in South Korea I got the Devastator gift set for 10,000 won which worked out to about £5.00. Mine didn't fall apart and is a good place holder for an original or Encore reissue at some point in the future.

News Credits: 3 · Thu Feb 04, 2010 2:53 pm

I agree with what UltraPrimal wrote, why can't we get reissues of all the G1 line? Starting with all the season 1 figures and then season 2 and so on. There is a big market for it.

Also, in addition to some answers I've seen concerning about KO's, I must say that as longs as they advertertise it as a KO then it's no problem for me. I often can't tell the difference, because they are very accurate. And even the boxart is like it used to and supposed to be. AND in ENGLISH too.

Nowadays it's all in freaking Japanese or Chinese or whatever.
I mean, c'mon make it so that we too can understand what it sais on the boxes and in the instructions. I'm talking about ofcourse Masterpiece and Encore for example.

News Credits: 402 · Updated Oct 21, 2022

Torneira wrote:I agree with what UltraPrimal wrote, why can't we get reissues of all the G1 line? Starting with all the season 1 figures and then season 2 and so on. There is a big market for it.

No there isn't, the TRU Commemorative series proved that. They're crummy toys when compared to today's standard and once kids found that out, the line dropped dead. Although that is a few years back.

Has it changed? Perhaps after the live movies, maybe enough fans came back to the hobby for Hasbro to release a select few for nostalgia sake (25th Prime, Perceptor and the Insecticons). I think Hasbro's testing the waters of G1 releases again, but don't hold your breath.

Thu Feb 04, 2010 3:24 pm

I am all for KO toys as long as they aren't being passed off as the real thing. I use them as placeholders until I can find an origional at a decent price.

News Credits: 10 · Thu Feb 04, 2010 3:24 pm

When it comes to the reissues, I wish they would reissue the ones that are in demand by collectors like the G1 combiners, Reflector, Shockwave etc. That is one of the best thing about the Encore releases. Thanks to them, collectors have had access to affordable toys like Metroplex, Omega Supreme and Skylynx. I'm hoping that TakaraTomy will be lining up Trypticon to coincide with War For Cybertron. Until then KO's will be welcome as long as they are well made and look like they should. As long as they are not priced as originals I don't mind.

Thu Feb 04, 2010 3:35 pm

Mkall wrote:
Torneira wrote:I agree with what UltraPrimal wrote, why can't we get reissues of all the G1 line? Starting with all the season 1 figures and then season 2 and so on. There is a big market for it.

No there isn't, the TRU Commemorative series proved that. They're crummy toys when compared to today's standard and once kids found that out, the line dropped dead. Although that is a few years back.

Has it changed? Perhaps after the live movies, maybe enough fans came back to the hobby for Hasbro to release a select few for nostalgia sake (25th Prime, Perceptor and the Insecticons). I think Hasbro's testing the waters of G1 releases again, but don't hold your breath.

Speaking as someone who is a recent collector, pretty much as a result of the Bay movies, I'd much rather see well articulated Universe/Classics style revamps of classic figures than Encore style re-issues, the few G1 toys I've obtained are lumps compared to some of the Classics and other newer figures. My G1 Prime pretty much stands in the one position gathering dust, while my 07 movie Leader, Masterpiece and Animated OPs get lifted off the shelf and played with. I wish now I'd spent the money I did on my few G1s on more Classics or movieverse figures.

Thu Feb 04, 2010 3:40 pm

UltraPrimal wrote:Why can't we get legit reissues of these figures? I would love a Stunticons set.

I don't endorse KO, but have used them as "bench-warmers" until I find an authentic figure...However as my old grandpappy used to say..."if you can't find a way...make a way" B-)

Thu Feb 04, 2010 5:38 pm

Does anybody know where these KO companies actually get the molds to make these? I have always wondered this but never found an answer anywhere. I know my KO Devastator looks almost exactly the same as my original, but I was curious one day and took afew screws out to compare what they look like on the inside and the KO is very different. In that case I think new molds were made, but not sure if that's true in all cases.

RE: Trikeboy

Metroplex? Really? I owned three of them when I was a kid and thought they were (and still are) very common. In fact I used to get bummed at garage sales because Metroplexs was ALL I would ever find!

News Credits: 16 · Thu Feb 04, 2010 5:47 pm

For anyone browsing this thread, check out Fred's Complete Transformer Variants Page. It's a great resource for anyone who has questions about KOs

http://www.reocities.com/futuristgroup/vquanda.html

Thu Feb 04, 2010 6:51 pm

Well if you want to enjoy the G1 expierence without paying an arm and a leg, you basically 3 choices:

1. Buy re-issues and knock offs from companies who dont hold the molds hostage.

2. Take chances with strangers on E-Bay buying used products.

3. Build a time machine and travel back to 1986.

With all due respect, which option is the most practical and realistic ???

I missed out on Motormaster and Drag Strip as a kid so Im all for Stunticon re-issues. And I personally think quality tests are done to help withstand the abuse of heavy childs play. But for display purposes, their quality is just fine.

News Credits: 609 · Thu Feb 04, 2010 6:58 pm

Mkall wrote:25th Prime, Perceptor and the Insecticons

And every one is a shelfwarmer in my area.

Thu Feb 04, 2010 7:07 pm

UltraPrimal wrote:Why can't we get legit reissues of these figures? I would love a Stunticons set.

Despite the fact that your post rendered mine pointless, I felt the need to post anyway. QFT.

Thu Feb 04, 2010 7:19 pm

I've read that site listed above (Fred's) before and didn't/still don't see any mention of WHERE or HOW they get these molds. Are they just crude copies? Original ones that were sold off or stolen? Just curious more than anything.

Thu Feb 04, 2010 8:45 pm

Instead of just reissues, Hasbro should just expand upon the Classics line. No reason why we shouldn't get a whole brand-spankin' new Stunticons gift set that can combine and everything as well as have full articulation... Other than cost anyways :grin:

News Credits: 1 · Thu Feb 04, 2010 10:49 pm

I'd love new Stunticons, but the world is against us. Hasbro has made multiple attempts to secure the name Motormaster to no avail. In ordor to release the G1 giftset, they'd have to come up with a different name like they did with Hot Rod. His name would have to be like Decepticon Motormaster or like Motormus Prime or Menasor Major.

Either way, I have all 5 Stunticons, I just need the Menasor bits. KOs are usually the wrong size to fit.

News Credits: 2 · Fri Feb 05, 2010 12:03 am

It Is Him wrote:For anyone browsing this thread, check out Fred's Complete Transformer Variants Page. It's a great resource for anyone who has questions about KOs

http://www.reocities.com/futuristgroup/vquanda.html

Hey, cool! I wondered what happened to that site after Yahoo pulled the plug on Geocities.

Thanks!

News Credits: 1 · Fri Feb 05, 2010 12:25 am

Rated X wrote:Well if you want to enjoy the G1 expierence without paying an arm and a leg, you basically 3 choices:

1. Buy re-issues and knock offs from companies who dont hold the molds hostage.

2. Take chances with strangers on E-Bay buying used products.

3. Build a time machine and travel back to 1986.

With all due respect, which option is the most practical and realistic ???

Whoa, Whoa Whoa! One word...... Delorean

News Credits: 3 · Fri Feb 05, 2010 6:02 am

I don't know what happened over these few years, because I only began to order Transformers over the net only a year ago. What I do know is that, evenso it's being claimed that there is no market for G1 reissue, then how come, that new KO's are being made of the g1 line?

If it doesn't sell then why are the prices for Takara Collection reissue so high? For instance, the Minibots #12 are priced at above 150 dollars nowadays. Why? Because they are scares. No online store sell these anymore, and if they do, you can't get them MISB under that price. So obvious they do sell and there is a market out there of somekind.

The Insecticons, have been officially several times reissued as far as I know off.
And not to mention KO'S Insecticons that look darn good to the original. So you can imagine of how much there must have been produced over these times, and yet they probably sell. I wonder if the Encore line will reissue them. Perhaps this time with red eyes?

I agree that not every g1 toy sell as good as some or as fast as others. But to claim that there's no market for it, I can't agree.

News Credits: 60 · Fri Feb 05, 2010 9:11 am

There IS a market for re-issues. Trouble is, it's a much smaller market for adult collectors. Them young ones won't touch 'em with a 10 foot stick.

Not all re-issues are sure fire hits

Encore for instance:

1.Ratchet and Ironhide (clunkers,Takara's fault btw because of the"head" snafu...okay, it's a diaclone mold hold over but you have to admit, by todays standard appearances mean a lot these days..heck, why include the cardboard head if that was not the case)
2.Sky lynx (so so)
3.Omega Supreme (good luck finding one cheap)
4.Metroplex ('nuff said.....it killed the K.O. version)
5.Trailbreaker (sold out?)
6.Hoist (fairly sold out)
7.Meister (fairly sold out)
8.Encore #15,#17 and #19 (sold out....#19 HTF already)
9.Convoy (do I have to ask?)
10.Megatron (same as Convoy)
11.Starscream ('nuff said)
12.Thundercracker and Skywarp (same as old 'screamer)
13.Minibot set (sold out because of Anime Bumble)

Btw I am basing my statement on the stocks available in my friend's online store......his inventory is almost zilch for the last 6 items.