The Energon Pub

People. I need some help... (not clinically)

A few of the G1 figures I have, all near mint, have labels applied labels that are in pretty good shape, but not good enough for me. Some I don't have the stickers applied at all. They are still on the original sheet.

I'd like to put stickers, at least on the parts that don't rub together, on the following to "spruce" up their appearance:

G1 Defensor (replace)
G1 Jetfire (replace)
G1 Metroplex (replace)
G1 Menasor (replace)
G1 Mirage (replace)
G1 Omega Supreme (none applied)
G1 Grimlock (none applied, have original sheet)
G1 Sludge (none applied, have original sheet)
G1 Snarl (none applied, have original sheet)
G1 Ultra Magnus (none applied, have original sheet)
G1 Ramjet (none applied, have original sheet)
G1 Swoop (none applied, have original sheet)
Alternators Jazz (none applied, none included)


My questions are these:

Can I purchase and apply labels from Reprolabels.com (only from Reprolables.com...not the Chinese KO labels) without impacting the figures "worth?" I'd like to keep the original labels because once they're gone.. they're gone.. they can never be replaced without heading to the "open market," which is very costly.

If they had reprolabels on them, but yet still had the original sheet, would the desirability:
A.) Be Less.
B.) Not Change.
C. Be More.

If I used some of the original stickers, would the desirability:
A.) Be Less.
B.) Not Change.
C. Be More.

I don't care if the desirability of the figures rise, but I don't want it to fall. G1 Swoop can be removed from your decision process, because i have the original and the KO. KO is displayed... original is stored in the Bubble.

Any and all input will be much appreciated. Thanks to all who comment.

Anyone?.... Bueller?....

I dunno about their worth, but the stickers are well worth buying to spruce up flagging G1 figures.

Thanks for your reply. Much appreciated.

The TFs, themselves are in great shape, arguably near mint. Just the stickers on some could or should be replaced, IMO. Others don't have any at all, and I would like to apply some.

It's personal preference.

If you are intending to spruce them up for sale then make sure you when you do advertise them for sale that they are reprolabels.

Some people may not care but there are hardcore collectors out there who consider it a crime against TF's for them to be graced by reproduction stickers.

However if you're sprucing them up for yourself, then the desirability will increase because you'll look at your minty TF's and be proud.

I've used them for years, i've used some of the earlier less durable sets to the more modern sets. Delta has come a long way in label making and what he churns out today is as good as the originals.

It's great fun to pick up a junker G1 figure and restore it. Clean it up, tighten the joints, then apply a fresh new set of stickers.

Yes, they're reproduction, but it's my collection and I feel no shame in admitting they're not original stickers. I collect for myself, not for the approval and admiration of others.

So go with what you feel you're happy with. If you have no problem with figures in your collection having reproduction stickers then go for it, and if you're going to sell then be honest with what you're selling.

Burn wrote:It's personal preference.

If you are intending to spruce them up for sale then make sure you when you do advertise them for sale that they are reprolabels.

Some people may not care but there are hardcore collectors out there who consider it a crime against TF's for them to be graced by reproduction stickers.

However if you're sprucing them up for yourself, then the desirability will increase because you'll look at your minty TF's and be proud.

I've used them for years, i've used some of the earlier less durable sets to the more modern sets. Delta has come a long way in label making and what he churns out today is as good as the originals.

It's great fun to pick up a junker G1 figure and restore it. Clean it up, tighten the joints, then apply a fresh new set of stickers.

Yes, they're reproduction, but it's my collection and I feel no shame in admitting they're not original stickers. I collect for myself, not for the approval and admiration of others.

So go with what you feel you're happy with. If you have no problem with figures in your collection having reproduction stickers then go for it, and if you're going to sell then be honest with what you're selling.

Thanks, a million for your input. We're on the same page, then. I've no intention of selling, these, anytime soon. Just wondering if I'm destroying any chance for selling them 25 years from now, is all. Of course, honesty is the best policy for me.

Stickers 'be applied, then!

You won't regret this. I can't tell you how much more I enjoy looking at my collection with minty reprolabels applied... Even my minibots look a little...taller somehow.

honestly if there for display who cares repro labels make your vintage figures look straight from the package im happy with mine thats for sure

I prefer reprolabels over faded/peeling/missing labels anyday. I have spent about $300 with them over the past few years. Never regretted a dime of it.

Wow, thanks people! I guess my worries were unfounded.

We use to have a guy last year (may have been longer) who was against reprolabels, went so far as to brand those of us who used them as heathens who had no respect for our figures and not real fans blah blah blah.

He believed in the "purity" of toys. No parts could be reproductions as it was a great blasphemy.

He was the sort of guy at the extreme end of the spectrum, most people seem to accept reproduction parts, and those that don't tend to not shove their opinions down the throats of others and insult them for it like this one guy did.

Look at it this way, I have a Sunstreaker that is the firt run G1 line. He is only missing 1 hand (the left one which I just can not seem to find to buy anywhere), and a couple wear spots on his roof. His stickers are applied, original, but peeling, split, or rubbed apart. Yuck. The poor fella would look a thousand times better with new stickers, and they'll last longer since I'm not 8 anymore and won't be taking him with me in a lunchbag to school anymore.

its also worth mentioning that they do sticker sets that have improvments on the origanal stickers, or additions to make the toy more cartoon like or more like the pictures seen on the catologues, some of which I intend to invest in at some point.

They also do stickers for tfs that were never intended to have stickers, I have just bought a load of stickers to do up my words smallest tfs, which judging by the few I have already done, makes the world of difference.

Burn wrote:We use to have a guy last year (may have been longer) who was against reprolabels, went so far as to brand those of us who used them as heathens who had no respect for our figures and not real fans blah blah blah.

He believed in the "purity" of toys. No parts could be reproductions as it was a great blasphemy.

He was the sort of guy at the extreme end of the spectrum, most people seem to accept reproduction parts, and those that don't tend to not shove their opinions down the throats of others and insult them for it like this one guy did.

[color=redThat guy reminds me of the National Railway Museum in York (UK). The only thing that results in their policy of not replacing existing parts is very expensive or impossible to run trains.[/color]

So...the reprolabels are of better quality than the original stickers?

Sportimus Prime wrote:So...the reprolabels are of better quality than the original stickers?

Well now that's just difficult to answer as you're comparing freshly made stickers to stickers that are 20 years old.

Like I said, I got some of Delta's earlier sets, Optimus and Rodimus Prime in fact. I found the parts that rubbed together (Optimus' forearms, Rodimus' flames on his trailer) rubbed off over time.

HOWEVER. Those were the early sets. Recent sets i've gotten haven't had that problem. Ever since he went pre-cut his quality has improved greatly.

Burn wrote:

Sportimus Prime wrote:So...the reprolabels are of better quality than the original stickers?

Well now that's just difficult to answer as you're comparing freshly made stickers to stickers that are 20 years old.

Like I said, I got some of Delta's earlier sets, Optimus and Rodimus Prime in fact. I found the parts that rubbed together (Optimus' forearms, Rodimus' flames on his trailer) rubbed off over time.

HOWEVER. Those were the early sets. Recent sets i've gotten haven't had that problem. Ever since he went pre-cut his quality has improved greatly.

I'm talking about when the original stickers were new, compared to the new replacement Reprolabels. How is the quality of the new stickers? Are they made better than the originals when they were once new?

I learned from a very early age that one should never put stickers-no matter how well they are made-on parts that rub. Primes arms are a good example of that. No matter how careful you are, friction will still wear it out over time.

One of the things that I really like about the Classics/Movie/Cybertron line (I don't know about the earlier ones but I would assume Energon and Armada as well) is that the details are painted on. Paint will hopefully last longer than stickers. But for the G1 line, them stickers really make the figures.

Burn wrote:We use to have a guy last year (may have been longer) who was against reprolabels, went so far as to brand those of us who used them as heathens who had no respect for our figures and not real fans blah blah blah.

He believed in the "purity" of toys. No parts could be reproductions as it was a great blasphemy.

He was the sort of guy at the extreme end of the spectrum, most people seem to accept reproduction parts, and those that don't tend to not shove their opinions down the throats of others and insult them for it like this one guy did.

Yeah, I remember this guy

@ Sportimus Prime: The quality of a Reprolabels sticker set is as good as a NEW original G1 set.
This reminds me: Has anybody bought a Predaking set from them? I did and noticed that some of the stickers, like the ones on Divebomb´s winds, are smaller than than the original ones. Was that done on purpose?

My other question is, if you HAVE the original label sheet, would you use it to apply the stickers to non-rub areas? or would you buy the reproduction ones? I'm leaning toward buying the reproduction ones to preserve the original ones that came with the figure, Snarl, Grimlock, Sludge Swoop, and Ramjet, for example.

Thoughts?

I'd be tempted to preserve the originals.

How easy are these Reprolabels to apply? I've got an Alternators Meister on the way and I want to put the G1 styled Reprolabels on him. Are the instructions detailed enough that I won't be guessing which sticker goes where?

Burn wrote:I'd be tempted to preserve the originals.

Great, Thanks for your input. The sheets are minty, so I'm hesitant to use them. None of the labels have been used.

Last week I picked up G1 Onslaught that had 4 labels used for his alt mode.. at that point I didn't care to preserve so I applied the rest of them (except the one Decepticon insignia to be applied on the cab. It doesn't match the factory applied one already applied to the cab and would look weird.

I don't' regret that for an instant, but I feel I would regret using up the unused sheets.

Thanks, again!

upther wrote:How easy are these Reprolabels to apply? I've got an Alternators Meister on the way and I want to put the G1 styled Reprolabels on him. Are the instructions detailed enough that I won't be guessing which sticker goes where?

Some pretty good "hints" are included with the stickers regarding preparation. As far as instructions for application, just head to the reprolabels site, and select the figure you're about to apply labels to. There's a detailed map with #s matching the sticker placement. 1st rate.

Repro labels = good.

Clear and simple.

Not changing out failing stickers is like living a 1950's oil filter on an old car.

HighPrime wrote:

upther wrote:How easy are these Reprolabels to apply? I've got an Alternators Meister on the way and I want to put the G1 styled Reprolabels on him. Are the instructions detailed enough that I won't be guessing which sticker goes where?

Some pretty good "hints" are included with the stickers regarding preparation. As far as instructions for application, just head to the reprolabels site, and select the figure you're about to apply labels to. There's a detailed map with #s matching the sticker placement. 1st rate.

That's why I asked because the Meister page doesn't have a map like that. From the pictures it shouldn't be too hard to tell what goes where I guess. [/url]

upther wrote:

HighPrime wrote:

upther wrote:How easy are these Reprolabels to apply? I've got an Alternators Meister on the way and I want to put the G1 styled Reprolabels on him. Are the instructions detailed enough that I won't be guessing which sticker goes where?

Some pretty good "hints" are included with the stickers regarding preparation. As far as instructions for application, just head to the reprolabels site, and select the figure you're about to apply labels to. There's a detailed map with #s matching the sticker placement. 1st rate.

That's why I asked because the Meister page doesn't have a map like that. From the pictures it shouldn't be too hard to tell what goes where I guess. [/url]

ahh...yes. sorry about that. I guess "more details" will have to suffice for most if not all of the binaltech/alternator figures.