The Energon Pub

As a person wanting to buy a reissue of a previously made item, i would naturally want to buy a new version of the old item.

As previously stated, toy safety laws in america have changed since 1984. This is not the same case in Japan. This is what causes the discrepencies between the reissues in america vs japan.

With that said, when you buy a hasbro (american) reissue, you notice modifications to the original toy that aren't exactly beneficial. Shorter smokestacks? Projectiles that can't hurt you? please.

With that said, Takara / (now TakaraTomy since the two merged) makes the G1 toys as they were originally created. In some cases, slight modifications are made to the figures which "benefit" them, like some of the ones outlined already above.

When i want a reissue, i want the original toy, meaning, the same projectiles, the same smokestacks. I don't want safety laws ruining a good thing. Frankly i think the safety laws hurt hasbro. How many of us can attest to this? Back when it was TFC vs. Hasbro reissues, the hasbro ones were totally shelfwarmers to the bitter end when they were cancelled. Some did sell well though, like ultra magnus and optimus prime. They were mega expensive, and changed by safety laws. For relatively the same prices, the TFC's provided the original figures.

I'd buy the Encores now any day over the hasbro ones. I've never had any QC problems with any of mine, and i own all of the TFC's, and am currently filling holes with the encore line. I look at encore as the TFC line. The TFC line sorta got stalled/canceled due to the merger of takara tomy. The same fate came to the binaltech line also i believe.

Anyway, i'd say to go encore or TFC. more faithful reproductions with bonuses. I feel cheated when i buy the Hasbro ones. and i have. and i did. THOUGH, one thing i must say, hasbro did reissue i think two TF's that TFC or Encore did not, which were Grapple (yellow crane), and.. that green jeep looking one. Not hound. Those two were the only "good" ones in my opinion, and only because TFC or Encore did not cover them. Though at this point in time, there is a thread that claims to name encore #13 and 14, one of which is rumored to be grapple, and the other trailbreaker. So time will tell.

Galvatron Supreme wrote:Dang. I was just getting ready to buy an Encore Starscream since I am definately a purest...now I am having second thoughs if he stands out as being the highest flawed/cheapest product of the line. Is that an accurate statement based on your overall experience with him?

Can you give examples of the problems with Starscream and indicate if they are major? Should I just not buy him?


Thank you guys for all your answers!

There are no problems with Encore Starscream. I was referring to MP Starscream.

Amelie wrote:Examples in my personal collection, which come immediately to mind -

E-Hobby Diaclone colours Ultra Magnus - elbows have zero tightness. I can flick them from left to right with my pinkie finger. This does not happen on the Hasbro Commemoritive Series nor does it happen on my G1 vintage,

TF:Collection Optimus Prime - Smokestakes broke 2nd time I transformed him. This has not happened on either of the G1 Hasbro vintage.
TF:Collection Optimus Prime - cherry red pait application on the metal part of cab with a deep red plastic.

TF:Collection Prowl - Peeling stickers, loose legs. The stickers are not showing the same levels of wear on my Hasbro Commemoritive Series reissues nor on my vintage.

TF:Collection Astrotrain - Same problem as Prowl. The leg is wonky (a mold fault from the 80s) but it is noticably worse of the reissue.

TF:Collection Megatron - This sounds odd, but when I transform him, the waist does not feel as strong as my vintage Hasbro. Frankly, I'm scared to touch it sometimes.

and if I'm being fussy, TF:Collection Starscream's painted decals on the wings are completely wonky. I covered them up with the stickers.

I don't buy reissues anymore, especially Takara, all of them that I have owned, with the exception of Collection Soundwave have had some form of defect, be it painted, sticker or construction.

Starscream's decals are not painted parallel to the fuselage on the Collection series. There is a slight tilt. I just checked mine and a few listed online. I don't think that is a flaw, but a design choice.

Stormrider wrote:Starscream's decals are not painted parallel to the fuselage on the Collection series. There is a slight tilt. I just checked mine and a few listed online. I don't think that is a flaw, but a design choice.

The Decepticon logos looked like they were painted by a five year old - off set, blobby in places with colours a bit mixed. Like I said, I had to cover them up with the stickers.

Sorry, I should've been clearer to begin with.

Blurrz wrote:I enjoy my TF Collection Starscream. It's a pretty good figure, and the little Megatron alt mode gun is just wicked!

Cool Fact: That little Meg gun can be held by Classics/Henkei Starscream as well. At least the top half can.

DeathAura wrote:As a person wanting to buy a reissue of a previously made item, i would naturally want to buy a new version of the old item.

As previously stated, toy safety laws in america have changed since 1984. This is not the same case in Japan. This is what causes the discrepencies between the reissues in america vs japan.

With that said, when you buy a hasbro (american) reissue, you notice modifications to the original toy that aren't exactly beneficial. Shorter smokestacks? Projectiles that can't hurt you? please.

With that said, Takara / (now TakaraTomy since the two merged) makes the G1 toys as they were originally created. In some cases, slight modifications are made to the figures which "benefit" them, like some of the ones outlined already above.

When i want a reissue, i want the original toy, meaning, the same projectiles, the same smokestacks. I don't want safety laws ruining a good thing. Frankly i think the safety laws hurt hasbro. How many of us can attest to this? Back when it was TFC vs. Hasbro reissues, the hasbro ones were totally shelfwarmers to the bitter end when they were cancelled. Some did sell well though, like ultra magnus and optimus prime. They were mega expensive, and changed by safety laws. For relatively the same prices, the TFC's provided the original figures.

I'd buy the Encores now any day over the hasbro ones. I've never had any QC problems with any of mine, and i own all of the TFC's, and am currently filling holes with the encore line. I look at encore as the TFC line. The TFC line sorta got stalled/canceled due to the merger of takara tomy. The same fate came to the binaltech line also i believe.

Anyway, i'd say to go encore or TFC. more faithful reproductions with bonuses. I feel cheated when i buy the Hasbro ones. and i have. and i did. THOUGH, one thing i must say, hasbro did reissue i think two TF's that TFC or Encore did not, which were Grapple (yellow crane), and.. that green jeep looking one. Not hound. Those two were the only "good" ones in my opinion, and only because TFC or Encore did not cover them. Though at this point in time, there is a thread that claims to name encore #13 and 14, one of which is rumored to be grapple, and the other trailbreaker. So time will tell.

I agree with the majority of your post except that I don't care enough about shortened smokestacks and smaller projectile missiles to spend more for the Japanese import reissues. That being said, with all things being equal I usually choose the TFC/Encore over Hasbro, but if I can get...say Sideswipe for 17 vs the exorbitant prices for the TFC version on Ebay Ill stick to Hasbro (which I did).

For me when it comes down to budget, either i can afford something, or i can't. So, i try instead to find out what i like and don't like in any particular line/continuity(encore, armada, cybetron, masterpiece, etc.) and just save up for the figures i like. Like with the movie line, i started putting away cash for that a loong time in advance, like, a year before it hit the shelves. Like right now, i'm already saving for the masterpiece grimlock just announced, due out in march of 2009. Yes, it's a way off, but if i pinch my pennies, I'll be able to afford Grimlock before then, i hope. That and my purist-approach makes me feel kinda.. unsatisfied when i know that the encore / tfc versions are more faithful reproductions of the figures i had when i was just a kid in the 80's like so many others. <3 It's just what makes me happiest, personally.

One thing that I truly do like about the hasbro reissues is the fact that, get this, I can actually READ what's on the boxes!!

I get kinda sad seeing all the katakana/hirigana/etc. on all the japanese reissues and can't read any of it. Motivation to learn japanese!

I finally received my Encore Starscream today! My only regret is that I bought the original G1 Megatron and Soundwave. I'd much rather have them brand new outta the box as well!

Thank you all for your advice!

Galvatron Supreme wrote:I finally received my Encore Starscream today! My only regret is that I bought the original G1 Megatron and Soundwave. I'd much rather have them brand new outta the box as well!

Thank you all for your advice!

Yeah, it's hard to beat that minty freshness in my opinion.

minty fresh is good.

it sucks that transformers from all lines have a lot of flaws. it's a downside of collecting them imo.

Galvatron Supreme wrote:I finally received my Encore Starscream today! My only regret is that I bought the original G1 Megatron and Soundwave. I'd much rather have them brand new outta the box as well!

Thank you all for your advice!

NOTHING beats the minty freshness of ANY of the reissue lines...that we can all agree on.