The Energon Pub

Totally. I wouldn't pay that much for something like this even if I had the money, but then I don't place that much importance on the particular fig to want armour for it. If I did, I'd be far more likely to try making my own.

But some people do have the money and the desire, but don't have the skill. Whoever is willing to pay this much is obviously someone who loves Magnus, and appreciates the time, skill and effort that goes into making something like this.


As regards Jin, I'm not saying he couldn't do something like this if he put his mind to it. I daresay he could, but I'm not going to make any assumptions that he's some kind of scratchbuilding god based on what I've seen. Repainting and a bit of sculpting are completely different animals to a build of this type - not that one is more difficult than the other, but that they involve completely different skills.

The other bit of the comparison that doesn't scan for me is regarding making money off it (which several of you seem to think Mark shouldn't be doing, for some reason). And yet you're comparing it to Jin, who can take a $40 toy and sell it on for hundreds with little more than a lick of paint...

...Why are none of the pics showing him standing up? Oh wait it can't!

Counterpunch wrote:I just read your Shia quote in your sig.



Oh man, if that guy weren't in the TF movie, he'd just be the 'Boy Meets World' reject.

I love how Shia talks bad about G1 people after he admits to liking the 1987 Transformers movie. Or how he leaves out the part about this being his largest role so far and how it's based on characters and story elements from the G1 he laughs at us for liking through implication.

Ramrider wrote:Totally. I wouldn't pay that much for something like this even if I had the money, but then I don't place that much importance on the particular fig to want armour for it. If I did, I'd be far more likely to try making my own.

But some people do have the money and the desire, but don't have the skill. Whoever is willing to pay this much is obviously someone who loves Magnus, and appreciates the time, skill and effort that goes into making something like this.


As regards Jin, I'm not saying he couldn't do something like this if he put his mind to it. I daresay he could, but I'm not going to make any assumptions that he's some kind of scratchbuilding god based on what I've seen. Repainting and a bit of sculpting are completely different animals to a build of this type - not that one is more difficult than the other, but that they involve completely different skills.

The other bit of the comparison that doesn't scan for me is regarding making money off it (which several of you seem to think Mark shouldn't be doing, for some reason). And yet you're comparing it to Jin, who can take a $40 toy and sell it on for hundreds with little more than a lick of paint...

I never said he shouldnt make some money out of it. He has more than a right to do so, and has earnt that right BUT the way you was talking you make it seem like he should mark up his prices based on what he would earn per hour from an employer. That simply shouldnt be the case because what he has done, and what he does, isnt a job. These types of projects are done because the person WANTED to make them out of their own free will. It would be different if someone commissioned him for it, but there is no reason why the public should have to pay for someones wages on something that somebody did in their own free time as a hobby.
Hence why he shouldnt mark up his stuff for so high. Maybe if it was something really, truly special but this armour is really just a pile of junk. The paint is rough, the build quality looks terrible and the end result looks like a robotic shoe-box. Does it even transform into a trailer?

If this had better build quality, better paint and a more interesting and complex transformation then maybe it would be worth it. But as it is it is simply too expensive, not worth the money and a load of crap.

He probably thinks he is special or something thats why he thinks he can expect people to pay this much for this piece of crap because he probably has an ego and thinks he is a celebrity just because he was on G4 once.

lol, note how he has significantly lowered the price. (sarcasm)

Dagon wrote:

Counterpunch wrote:I just read your Shia quote in your sig.



Oh man, if that guy weren't in the TF movie, he'd just be the 'Boy Meets World' reject.

I love how Shia talks bad about G1 people after he admits to liking the 1987 Transformers movie. Or how he leaves out the part about this being his largest role so far and how it's based on characters and story elements from the G1 he laughs at us for liking through implication.

I think the comment is more aimed towards people who think that shoe-boxes that transform into 80's style cars wouldnt work in a 2007 live action movie. (which they wouldnt)

i do not like it no sir. or the price.
good luck offloading that to some sucker.
or magnus freak i guess

Sonray wrote:It would be different if someone commissioned him for it

This was a commission, if you read the auction page...

Ramrider wrote:

Sonray wrote:It would be different if someone commissioned him for it

This was a commission, if you read the auction page...

I didnt, i only look at pics. If its a commission then why is he selling it on auction?

Sonray wrote:I never said he shouldnt make some money out of it. He has more than a right to do so, and has earnt that right BUT the way you was talking you make it seem like he should mark up his prices based on what he would earn per hour from an employer. That simply shouldnt be the case because what he has done, and what he does, isnt a job. These types of projects are done because the person WANTED to make them out of their own free will. It would be different if someone commissioned him for it, but there is no reason why the public should have to pay for someones wages on something that somebody did in their own free time as a hobby.
Hence why he shouldnt mark up his stuff for so high. Maybe if it was something really, truly special but this armour is really just a pile of junk. The paint is rough, the build quality looks terrible and the end result looks like a robotic shoe-box. Does it even transform into a trailer?

If this had better build quality, better paint and a more interesting and complex transformation then maybe it would be worth it. But as it is it is simply too expensive, not worth the money and a load of crap.

He probably thinks he is special or something thats why he thinks he can expect people to pay this much for this piece of crap because he probably has an ego and thinks he is a celebrity just because he was on G4 once.

lol, note how he has significantly lowered the price. (sarcasm)

Ouch, dude!

Stuff, any stuff or any job, is only worth what someone else is willing to pay.

Whether the stuff is the result of a hobby or a "real" job is not at all relevant.

He puts a lot of effort into his work, and he feels he can get that kind of money for it. That's all there is to it. If you don't feel his work is worth that, then don't buy his items. If no one buys them, he may lower his price ... whatever, that's his choice.

Do I think that is worth $600, no. But someone else may.

It's just plain rude to badmouth the guy's effort. Saying stuff like "He probably thinks he is special or something" is simply uncalled for.

If you want to critique his work, that's fine, but try to do so in a constructive way.

rpetras wrote:Ouch, dude!

Stuff, any stuff or any job, is only worth what someone else is willing to pay.

Whether the stuff is the result of a hobby or a "real" job is not at all relevant.

He puts a lot of effort into his work, and he feels he can get that kind of money for it. That's all there is to it. If you don't feel his work is worth that, then don't buy his items. If no one buys them, he may lower his price ... whatever, that's his choice.

Do I think that is worth $600, no. But someone else may.

It's just plain rude to badmouth the guy's effort. Saying stuff like "He probably thinks he is special or something" is simply uncalled for.

If you want to critique his work, that's fine, but try to do so in a constructive way.

Bingo. QFT, and all that. Just because you don't think it's worth the money is no reason to bash him like you have been.

Why this guy commissioned the piece and is now selling it, I couldn't tell you - only he could do that. Maybe he's suddenly come on hard times and is having to offload some stuff to pay bills. *shrugs*

I badmouthed him because thats my opinion, so dont sit there and try to tell me to change it. Besides from what i hear hes and ass anyway.

Sonray wrote:I badmouthed him because thats my opinion, so dont sit there and try to tell me to change it. Besides from what i hear hes and ass anyway.

From what I've read, you're an ass.

See how it works both ways? If I say that's just 'my opinion', does it somehow become sacred, untouchable, and otherwise defensible? Does that hold up in the light of the fact that I only said it to be spiteful?

Holy crap man, your attitude on the whole issue is so far over the line you can't even look back to see when you passed it.

You're going to get angry hearing this and that's too bad really. Being critical of the work is one thing, verbally assaulting the artist (who isn't here) is something else, and saying that his price for the work is somehow 'offensive' is just an example of how you aren't able to see things from any perspective other than your own.

Wow, that's the first time I'm seeing Mark or his work getting bashed like this. Completely uncalled for. He puts a lot of work in his stuff. His version of the masterpiece Prime trailer totally owns the real one. Jim's customs are cool but are nowhere as complex. Mark's stuff is entirely made from scratch. Jim is just repainting existing bodies and modding a few parts here and there...

Counterpunch wrote:

Sonray wrote:I badmouthed him because thats my opinion, so dont sit there and try to tell me to change it. Besides from what i hear hes and ass anyway.

From what I've read, you're an ass.

See how it works both ways? If I say that's just 'my opinion', does it somehow become sacred, untouchable, and otherwise defensible? Does that hold up in the light of the fact that I only said it to be spiteful?

Holy crap man, your attitude on the whole issue is so far over the line you can't even look back to see when you passed it.

You're going to get angry hearing this and that's too bad really. Being critical of the work is one thing, verbally assaulting the artist (who isn't here) is something else, and saying that his price for the work is somehow 'offensive' is just an example of how you aren't able to see things from any perspective other than your own.

Do i look like i care? I stated my opinion on it, and now im getting flak for it as usuall.

This whole situation is a big ef-you to the fans IMO, so forgive me if i get a little pissed off about it.

The way i see it is like this (not that you'll care at this point as everyone is only focusing on the negative now as an excuse to attack me):
Fan of transformers made something. Fan decided to sell that thing. The fan, being a fan, knows that other fans might be willing to pay through the nose for it. Fan churns out low quality pieces of crap, assumes that everyone else has more money than sense and sticks it up on ebay for an exorbatent amount of money.

Other fans (me and a the majority of people in this discussion, so back the hell off with the attempts to make it look like im the only one here who feels this way) see this and think its out of order and a complete rip off. Bashing of the "artist" (i use that term very loosely here) ensues.


Lets see..i just repainted a movie starscream. He looks movie accurate....not many of those about....why dont i stick it up on ebay and assume that every transfan is an idiot with too much money and put it up for £500? Thats a £480 profit! Yeah thats real fare considering i am a fine arteest and i should be paid on an hourly basis...




Get where im coming from, pal? Now back off.

Sonray wrote: Fan churns out low quality pieces of crap.

What's your source on this?

Put your Starscream on Ebay and let's have Mark put another of his creations on Ebay as well. Both with a $1 starting bid. Let's see who gets the most respect/dollars...

Dr. Z wrote:

Sonray wrote: Fan churns out low quality pieces of crap.

What's your source on this?

Put your Starscream on Ebay and let's have Mark put another of his creations on Ebay as well. Both with a $1 starting bid. Let's see who gets the most respect/dollars...

Wheres my source? Dude...just look at the pics on his ebay auction!

And not that i should dignify your "challenge" with a response but you should know that i live in the UK, so obviously anyone based in america is going to get more bids purely and simply due to increased numbers of people using ebay in america and more demand for such a product because of a larger number of fans.

Sonray wrote:Do i look like i care? I stated my opinion on it, and now im getting flak for it as usuall.

This whole situation is a big ef-you to the fans IMO, so forgive me if i get a little pissed off about it.

Why would you get pissed off to begin with?

Your view on the matter is so odd...

Who cares if he sets his own prices to 'Insane'? If you don't like it, don't want it, then DON"T BUY IT.

How in anyway shape or form could selling something you put work into be a "F-U" to the fans?

I don't even care so much that you said mean spirited things about the guy. Being a jerk is your right.

A simple understanding of supply and demand says that when there are no other available sources of a good available, the man with the good is the man who sets the price.

You, don't have to buy it. You, don't have to like the price. Those, are your rights.

The situation is in no way an assault on all we hold dear as transformer fans. His $600 price tag is not going to cause a great throwing of chairs and raping of kittens.

For the record, I don't buy fan-made works. I dislike them a great deal. I don't begrudge anyone the opportunity to do so though, nor do I begrudge them the dollars that are theirs from the efforts.

Mark is from Canada. You can always list your stuff through ebay.com instead of ebay.co.uk for the world to see.

I saw pictures for the Magnus armor before and while the piece is not as seamless as a production toy, I think it's a very good effort. If I had the money (and a Magnus!), I would buy it.

Dunno if you remember, another guy sold his Heart of Steel Optimus Prime a while ago. Unpainted, just resin I think. Wasn't perfect, but I thought it was awesome. Didn't win the auction, but the guy got top dollars for it.

Dr. Z wrote:Mark is from Canada. You can always list your stuff through ebay.com instead of ebay.co.uk for the world to see.

I saw pictures for the Magnus armor before and while the piece is not as seamless as a production toy, I think it's a very good effort. If I had the money (and a Magnus!), I would buy it.

Dunno if you remember, another guy sold his Heart of Steel Optimus Prime a while ago. Unpainted, just resin I think. Wasn't perfect, but I thought it was awesome. Didn't win the auction, but the guy got top dollars for it.

yes, that hos prime was bad ass and worth every penny that guy got for it.
same as this,
beauty is in the eye of the beholder with deep pocket book. fried rice special 4.99- confoocious

Hm, I thought it looked okay. About as good as the cartoon mangus looked. And it does transform into the trailer. I just don't like the face. Gotta admit, I'm not diggin' the rubber bands though.

He sells them on his site too for about the same price. A bit too pricey for a TF in general IMHO.

I have to admit, I don't understand the anger. I can understand eyerolling at the price, but I don't see anything to be angry about. He can ask for whatever price he wants to. Saying that he's arrogant and thinks little of the fans because he's doing it is a pretty big assumption to make. That's the kind of claim that needs backing up with something a little more substancial than what you heard about the guy ... was there any 1st hand experience to get to this point? Was he a jerk to you personally? Did you have a friend show you some ultra low-quality work? Was he on a forum that you were on?

For some reason i have to ask...how many people that are complaining about the price of this have ever actually purchased an original piece of art? I'm talking anything from a scratchbuilt figure to a painting(not a print, an original)

Dr. Z wrote:Mark is from Canada. You can always list your stuff through ebay.com instead of ebay.co.uk for the world to see.

I saw pictures for the Magnus armor before and while the piece is not as seamless as a production toy, I think it's a very good effort. If I had the money (and a Magnus!), I would buy it.

Dunno if you remember, another guy sold his Heart of Steel Optimus Prime a while ago. Unpainted, just resin I think. Wasn't perfect, but I thought it was awesome. Didn't win the auction, but the guy got top dollars for it.

His auction page says he is located in syracuse NY, I used to live near there. Its not in canada, very darn close to it though.

And i never thought of listing on ebay-com instead of ebay.co.uk as i didnt think you could...might be worth looking into when i put my screamer up for sale. Thanks for that.

decepticonjon wrote:i do not like it no sir. or the price.
good luck offloading that to some sucker.
or magnus freak i guess

same here, best of luck selling that to a hapless bidder who'll probably realize later that $600 will be much better spent on acquiring BotCon exclusives or Lucky Draws...but hey, to each his own eh?

Gauntlet101010 wrote:Hm, I thought it looked okay. About as good as the cartoon mangus looked. And it does transform into the trailer. I just don't like the face. Gotta admit, I'm not diggin' the rubber bands though.

He sells them on his site too for about the same price. A bit too pricey for a TF in general IMHO.

I have to admit, I don't understand the anger. I can understand eyerolling at the price, but I don't see anything to be angry about. He can ask for whatever price he wants to. Saying that he's arrogant and thinks little of the fans because he's doing it is a pretty big assumption to make. That's the kind of claim that needs backing up with something a little more substancial than what you heard about the guy ... was there any 1st hand experience to get to this point? Was he a jerk to you personally? Did you have a friend show you some ultra low-quality work? Was he on a forum that you were on?

I made the assumptions based on what people already said on this very thread, and the low quality work is quite obvious when you look at the pics of this "armor" as well as the laughable MP Megatron stock.

I have to ask though, as this is the feeling i get, why are people so against someone being angry or annoyed? Cant you just let me sizzle in my own boiling water in piece? What do you care if im angry or not? It just annoys me to see someone think that they can rip someone off like this, or even begin to think that something as crap as this is worth that much money.

Stupid people annoy me i admit, nothing i can do about that im afraid.

Sonray wrote:

Gauntlet101010 wrote:Hm, I thought it looked okay. About as good as the cartoon mangus looked. And it does transform into the trailer. I just don't like the face. Gotta admit, I'm not diggin' the rubber bands though.

He sells them on his site too for about the same price. A bit too pricey for a TF in general IMHO.

I have to admit, I don't understand the anger. I can understand eyerolling at the price, but I don't see anything to be angry about. He can ask for whatever price he wants to. Saying that he's arrogant and thinks little of the fans because he's doing it is a pretty big assumption to make. That's the kind of claim that needs backing up with something a little more substancial than what you heard about the guy ... was there any 1st hand experience to get to this point? Was he a jerk to you personally? Did you have a friend show you some ultra low-quality work? Was he on a forum that you were on?

I made the assumptions based on what people already said on this very thread, and the low quality work is quite obvious when you look at the pics of this "armor" as well as the laughable MP Megatron stock.

I have to ask though, as this is the feeling i get, why are people so against someone being angry or annoyed? Cant you just let me sizzle in my own boiling water in piece? What do you care if im angry or not? It just annoys me to see someone think that they can rip someone off like this, or even begin to think that something as crap as this is worth that much money.

Stupid people annoy me i admit, nothing i can do about that im afraid.

so...people can't be annoyed by the fact that you are annoyed?

interesting lol