Hello Fellow Cybertronians! It is good to be back in Biz! I don't know some of you, as I am an old schooler here on this forum. I recently just got back into Purchasing Transformers and I wanted to see who else was on the Hunt and what influences and genres you were comfortable with, and why.
This is going to be a great discussion thread!
Okay, so first off.. let me recap...
Back 6 years ago I had a MASSIVE monster collection. From Beast Wars to Beast Wars Neo, from Car Robots, to Robots in disguise, from Galaxy to G-1. I had a ton of figures. Some of my most fond ones were Japanese only releases centering on the Combiners, Head Masters, and Beast Wars Second.. Or BWII..
My most favorite figures ever were these:
Lio Convy
Big Convoy
Leozak
Deathzarus
Optimus Primal
Optimus Primal Machine wars (Optimus Prime Upgrade)
Beast Wars Megatron
The Fire Truck Optimus Prime combiner with Magnus to form the super Fire mode! (my all time favorite prime besides the original)
the Galaxy Leader class Prime with huge BFGs, and jet pack
I had the special Japanese Toys R US exclusive version of Armada Optimus Prime with Minicon
Armada Megatron Leader class tank (awesome but not very flexible in poses)
Mega SCF figures (loved those)
Robot Masters (loved them even tho they were cheap, it was a cool universe and the TV show was okay, given it's early 90s CGI)
and many, many others..
After Giving up all but my masterpiece Transformers like MP-05, and MP-01, and MP-03 Star Scream in grey colors.. I pretty much sold all my stuff..
Now, after seeing many reviews online, I have decided to get back into the swing of things..
Here is a topic I would like to put forth, to what extent when on the hunt, do you rely on Youtube video reviews before purchasing the figures? I recently just became a HUGE TF review video fan, so much so that I will rewatch a video review, or several a couple of times before deciding that I want to purchase a Transformer. Do you also find yourself doing this?? I find it an extremely powerful way to get the idea of what you desire most, and especially with the Third Party figures (or Models) this is the best way of getting a good idea of the product's looks, feel, transformation, issues if any, and fixes that others have discovered.
I have also become more open now to the idea of 3rd party figures.. It is amazing, 6 years ago when I had my collection, you would not find me ever looking at 3rd Party products. In fact, I was more adamant then not, that I would only buy the original Takara Tomy Brands, as Hasbro seemed to be of lesser quality both in production and paint applications. (I see they are still administering that practice, although they seem to be able to fix the short comings in some of the Takara Tomy stuff). Yet recently the Third Party figures have exploded on the scene with a sense of mastery and artistic design that appears to be on par with the big name manufacturers. I don't know about you guys, but I have become a fan of some of the 3rd Party offerings, and what would have once seemed like Sacrilege to a die hard G-1er, and life long Transformers fan, has now become a safe haven for those figures you really, really want, but the companies just don't make.. To that point.. I have purchased my first 2 third Party figures.. and It is glorious!! I have some critiques tho.. More of a request.. I will put that at the end of this post..
So thus far my list of Transformers I have purchased:
1. Takara Tomy Ultra Magnus
2. Takara Tomy Shockwave
3. Takasa Tony Bumblebee
4. Takasa Tony Sideswipe
5. Takasa Tony Wheeljack
6. Takasa Tony Blue Streak
7. Wei Jiang MPP-10 Optimus Prime oversized (with raised symbol)
8. wei Jiang M-01 Commander (oversized AOE Optimus Prime remodeled)
9. Takara Tomy Hot Rodimus
10. Hasbro edition Masterpiece Star Scream
11. Takara Tomy Star Saber
See in the Image Above, the Wei Jiang 3RD Party KO of the AOE Optimus Prime, I really want the Ion Blaster from the first two movies for this model, because even tho it is more screen accurate with the shot gun gas tanks, the best gun I have ever seen in the Bayformer movies was the original Optimus Prime Ion Blaster, it's like having G1 Prime without his Black Ion blaster gun! I need it! The Ion Blaster is pictured above right hand of the Optimus Prime figure.
I also want a 3rd Party to make the Hand-held swords of the figure, able to be slotted on the side using the existing kibble of the arm to make his swords look like they are coming off his forearms rather then the handheld versions the KO comes with. This can easily be done molded to the forearms sides, and while we're at it, the open hole on the side of the elbow.. is that necessary for transformation?? I would love to peg a round hinge like kibble in there just to make it look less barren, and hide that screw hole, or if it's a peg hole, then maybe I will have to live with it..
Also, I would like someone out there to hear my plea, and relate to the reprolabels company, that Wei Jiang M-01 Commander needs some sticker love, because the Silver sections like the bumper and the windows, and so on could use some chrome stickers, the Gas Tank Guns could use Chrome stickers, and the Figure needs an Autobot symbol! I suggest one that looks like the truck emblem from the original Truck but made as a raised sticker that will adhere to the chrome middle chest plate, and what not like they did with Ultra Magnus MP (which I plan to buy those stickers, and the ones for the Star Saber! They make that figure Look fantastic!) Anyhow, that is my critique there.. now, back to the Video reviews.. I was originally only going to buy the original Releases from takara Tomy on the Cars.. but after watching the reviews and how close to the original the Takasa Tony Figures have come and how well they did theirs, I opted for the latter.. A. because they are 20-30 cheaper, B. Because barring minor things, the figures are virtually the same as Takara Tomy or Hasbro.
STILL ON THE HUNT.
Items I am now on the hunt for..
Masterpiece only:
soundwave (Hasbro edition but better price not to break the bank!)
Takara Tomy Thundercracker MP11T
Takara Tomy Skywarp MP11S
Takara Tomy Ratchet
Takara Tomy Ironhide
Takara Tomy MP-10 Optimus Prime (although I would forego that for a chance to buy the CK Optimus Prime KO with the revised 2nd BodyI am considering Apollyon, however I am wondering if I should wait to see if Takara Tomy does their Megatron Ver. 2 in a more MP-10 scale..
As far as scale, I am torn.. I know that the MP-10 is supposed to be the scale for the MP's, and I like that Optimus is now a bit more in line with some figures, and the New MP official Grimlock towers over him, and Apollyon looks amazing (if a bit stunted in the legs like MP-10) I kinda like my out-dated MP-05.. and I think the scale with him and the MPP-10 Oversized Optimus Prime from Wei Jiang go great together, and there is also the KO Oversized Grimlock which is also a nice touch to add to the collection.. I mean in some instances I think that the leaders of the Teams should be much larger... but then again a part of me likes the smaller size like the MP-10 and Apollyon figures.. My dilemma is that I own an MP-05 already.. I bought the Oversized MPP-10 because it fits the Mp-05 much better in terms of bulk, and scale.. so my MP-05 Megatron actually looks great next to the MPP-10 ( I haven't received mine yet, but I have seen pics that shows how great they look together much better then my MP-01 does with MP-05 Megatron.
Honestly He's still shorter then Star Saber, so it works, I suppose...
My next purchases Will be tough, because I am not sure if I will be getting Apollyon, or MP-10, and the Rodimus Prime figure seems to have a lot of problems, given what I have seen on the youtube reviews. If you make your decision increasingly based on these reviewers, please let them know, they do a great job, and have really helped me get back into the swing of collecting. I especially recommend
EMGO's reviews, I like his style.
So overall, it has been a huge change for me. I was once a Takara Tomy/Hasbro only collector, and I would buy anything I thought was cool. Now, for me at least, I am only after getting a g-1 collection (cira 1st season, and movie characters with a bit of the Japanese G-1EU series characters). I once only stuck with official products, but now have a flare and love of the 3rd party stuff, and am collecting them to put in place of the official stuff based on quality, and based on price. My G-1 collection is coming along nicely, and I feel that now, more so then ever, it is a good time to be a G-1 fan. For those who are old-schoolers like me, check out and buy the Transformers Devestation game, it is fantastic and amazing! like watching and interacting in a G-1 cartoon! I love it! they should rerelease the G-1 Cartoon series with the 3D CGI cell shaded animation like that game, and keep the classic soundtrack with it as a remastered G-1 series.. that would be amazing!
But if reviews help, I say go to youtube before you buy, it really has helped me allot to understand the new figures, combiner wars, and catch up on the latest 3rd party sets out there. I do like apollyon, it seems to fit the MP-10, but I love my MP-05 even with the imperfections it has, it is still the best Megatron I have ever seen to date, and looks very well with MPP-10 Commander (oversized KO Optimus Prime). I am half tempted to get the Nemesis paint scheme for that KO too, if nothing else then to flesh out and beef up my decepticons..because nemesis would work in the scaling of those figures too.
For those who argue that the MP-10 is the most accurate scale for the figures, I wonder.. there were times in the cartoon that Optimus Towered over the other Autobots, and if you are still adhering to the scale factor, remember this... Megatron transforms from a handheld gun to a giant robot, along with Soundwave, so to me scaling is relative..
anyhow, thanks for checking out my post, and I hope to discuss the youtube videos, your collections and hunting, and what you think of various 3rd party formers, and official Transformers.
I have to say tho, Combiner Wars Devastator is amazing!! too bad he's not a set for Masterpiece. Also, on the Next fan's choice figures.. I would like to throw my names in the hat...
1. Dai Atlas
2. Deathzarus
3. Firetruck Optimus Prime from RID
Any of you Old-school members still here? Counterpunch? Professor smooth? Maximus Prime? Magnus_696? Wizzer_701? Skyquake? Miss you guys! It has been way too long.. Oh, I can't forget Getterdragun!! I freaking Loved reading your posts!! LOL 
See you on the flip side!
