The Energon Pub

[xMXUx]

Does anyone know how long it usually takes hlj.com to get their pre-order online?
(I know I'm a bit impatient )

[Robogeek1973]

Does anyone know how long it usually takes hlj.com to get their pre-order online?
(I know I'm a bit impatient )

I'm impatiently waiting as well.



Refresh.....refresh.....refresh......

[shockblast2]

Awesome, can't wait to get the KO version at $30 in about six to nine months! It will go great with my KO Prowl, Sideswipe, Silverstreak, Red alert, and Smokescreen.

HERESY!

Anyways, in all honesty, this may be one of my favorite MPs to date. Tracks was a favorite of mine from G1, and got a fair share of valuable screen time, too, unlike some other favorites of mine *coughProwlcough*. The mini Blaster just makes things that much better.

Why, because I am getting the same figure cheaper by being patient? What is the difference between that and a sale? Because it is supposedly a KO? These "KO's" have been shown to have the same quality, if not better, than the "official" releases. Official as in Hasbro marking them up and selling them at retail. No thanks. There is NO effin way I would pay $70 or more for one of these Masterpiece figures. They are ok, but not worth more than what I paid for them. If even that.

I haven't bought a wide enough range of official MPs to compare, but I've bought 4 of those leftover parts KOs, and 3 of them had problems. Their primary use is leftover parts for when one finally saves up for the real deal.

Before this thread polarizes into the usual pro/anti knock-off, I'd just like to state that as much as I'd like to, I haven't bought a Japanese MP figure in years, simply for financial reasons; even though I'd love to, I'll probably have to wait until most of the ones I want are on the secondary market. And if stating that you're buying an MP KO somehow discourages Takara from continuing the line, then so does me honestly saying I have to put off buying the real figures, even though I'm passing on the KOs as well. Every fan's buying power is what it is.

However, keeping this on track, Raoul getting a toy has me foolishly optimistic that future MP releases could dip into Marvel human territory, including the legal nightmare of a Circuit Breaker to accompany MP Jazz! Hey, it'd convince me to immediately pounce on Takara's and not wait for Hasbro's, since that'd be next to impossible to include at TRU...unless they made it a Marvel crossover variant where all of Jazz's black turned blue; that'd make more sense than the Year of the Goat MP repaints.

I had one issue with my Sideswipe figure and it really wasn't that bad. It had a mis-colored small paint blotch on the hood. I brought it up with the seller and he gave me a $15 refund. I took some red paint and corrected it, so I got a nice MP Sideswipe for $16. I would actually challenge anyone to take one of these KO's and an official and tell me the differences between them, because I don't see it. Hell, I thought it was because you didn't get a coin, but even the official ones come without coins unless you buy it noted with coin at an increased price.

These "KO" MP's are rumored to be the rejects from QC at the same factory as your $70 figure. If that is true, then who wouldn't take one for 70% less with a minor flaw that you can correct on your own? If not, then they are the best KO's I have ever seen. If you run a search on youtube you can watch videos of people comparing the "original" with a "KO" and there is no difference between the two. And I have actually seen some people say they are better quality, because the ebay seller corrects the flaws and checks the figure by hand before selling.

If you do not agree with buying KO's then that is your opinion and your right to do so. But if its because you have some sort of "loyalty" to Hasbro or Takara, then that is just silly because they don't give a sh*t about you when they jack up their prices for lessor product year by year.

[shajaki]

If you want to talk KO's, theres a place to do so (make your own thread even!). Lets not derail this any further

[donny1975]

If you want to talk KO's, theres a place to do so (make your own thread even!). Lets not derail this any further

Hear, hear!

[donny1975]

On topic I am totally stoked about Raoul and the mini Blaster!

[shajaki]

On topic I am totally stoked about Raoul and the mini Blaster!

Same. I think it's already been pointed out that Raoul appears to just be a solid statue of a figure, but better detailed than previous human companions. I wonder what the general consensus about that is? Is anyone bummed that Raoul won't be able to have a seat in the Vette mode?

Personally, I'll take a better looking statue over a posable blob

[donny1975]

On topic I am totally stoked about Raoul and the mini Blaster!

Same. I think it's already been pointed out that Raoul appears to just be a solid statue of a figure, but better detailed than previous human companions. I wonder what the general consensus about that is? Is anyone bummed that Raoul won't be able to have a seat in the Vette mode?

Personally, I'll take a better looking statue over a posable blob

I want both period ...they can make it happen.

But I am with you I would rather have something character over a few joints...

[fenrir72]

The little details tickle you pink! Tomy

[shajaki]

The first of the overseas retailers to offer our pal Tracks hereis none other than BigInJapan, offering him up for the cool preorder price of 5625 Yen. That translation in most currencies is mighty good. Go check them out!

[xMXUx]

The first of the overseas retailers to offer our pal Tracks hereis none other than BigInJapan, offering him up for the cool preorder price of 5625 Yen. That translation in most currencies is mighty good. Go check them out!

That's a pretty cool price
What are your experiences with Big In Japan?

[shajaki]

The first of the overseas retailers to offer our pal Tracks hereis none other than BigInJapan, offering him up for the cool preorder price of 5625 Yen. That translation in most currencies is mighty good. Go check them out!

That's a pretty cool price
What are your experiences with Big In Japan?

None really to speak of. I went for this preorder, and and the MP G2 Bumblebee a month or so ago, but it's my first time dealing with them and have yet to receive anything. All I can say is, the shipping quote is killer (around 5 bucks) and you have the option of "pay now or pay later" which is nice.

[megatronus]

The first of the overseas retailers to offer our pal Tracks hereis none other than BigInJapan, offering him up for the cool preorder price of 5625 Yen. That translation in most currencies is mighty good. Go check them out!

That's a pretty cool price
What are your experiences with Big In Japan?

None really to speak of. I went for this preorder, and and the MP G2 Bumblebee a month or so ago, but it's my first time dealing with them and have yet to receive anything. All I can say is, the shipping quote is killer (around 5 bucks) and you have the option of "pay now or pay later" which is nice.

Thanks for the heads up, Shajaki! I just put in an order. I paid now just in case... there are some rumblings that the value of the Yen might rise again, and I'd rather have this one off experiment with the retailer a settled affair.

My experience with HLJ was overwhelmingly positive; hopefully Big In Japan will be just as good!

[Agent-539]

I got a killer deal fron Big in Japan when I ordered G2 BB. I'll pick up Tracks as well on the cheap. Customs will probably be the biggest issue. I'm still waiting on 3rd party Blaster and Mirage and I order from Chimungmung on 2/17.

[digktialx]

I liked the toy but I never had him my best friend did. I honestly only collect the G1 MP line since that's all I was into as a kid. I'll def be picking this one up. I would have preferred more of the "Classic G1" toys to be made rather then jumping around into other years.

-dx

[Sabrblade]

I would have preferred more of the "Classic G1" toys to be made rather then jumping around into other years.

-dx

Since Japan first got the line in 1985, Tracks was sold as part of Japan's first year G1 lineup.

[Zeedust]

Tracks. It seems to me that Takara's choice of Transformers to make as toys are starting to become random. Any chance of us seeing a Masterpiece Optimus Primal. That would be nice. Right?

Telemocha Series Convoy is better than any MP Primal could be.

Can that still be had for a reasonable price? It's from a while back.

Anyhow, who from Beast Wars should get a Masterpiece figure then? Waspinator, Rhinox, and Rattrap all have great (not perfectly show-accurate, but close enough) Generations figures. Tarantulas, perhaps? Not that they're likely to do non-G1 Masterpieces (the two "movie masterpiece" figures notwithstanding), but it's fun to speculate.

I bought mine at a BotCon 2012 for $59.

As for who, Blackarachnia needs a toy that can go from show-accurate black widow spider to show-accurate robot.

Though, I'm not really interested that much in giant versions of the BW cast since those guys were all more human-sized and the existing Deluxe/Mega/Ultra/Super toys, as well as the modern day Deluxe and Voyager toys, are in a good-enough scale with larger-sized G1 Masterpieces.

I'm not particularly hung up on scaling between TFs from different shows, I just want something besides G1 to get the super-premium special figure treatment.

Sadly, though, I'm not sure the Blackarachnia you want is physically possible.

[Sabrblade]

I'm not particularly hung up on scaling between TFs from different shows, I just want something besides G1 to get the super-premium special figure treatment.

Well if it's any consolation, Galaxy Force Galaxy Convoy did get the Hybrid Style treatment those years ago, which was a similar but different "super-premium special figure treatment".

As for the scaling, some of the G1 dudes were in the same show as the BW cast, albeit comatose but still very much larger.

[SkyWarpt]

Pre-order up for MP-25 at Anime-Export
http://www.anime-export.com/product/24333

[shajaki]

Pre-order up for MP-25 at Anime-Export
http://www.anime-export.com/product/24333

Nice! I'll have to add this store to my watch list. Thanks

[digktialx]

I would have preferred more of the "Classic G1" toys to be made rather then jumping around into other years.

-dx

Since Japan first got the line in 1985, Tracks was sold as part of Japan's first year G1 lineup.

Oh I know he's considered G1 he was just a latecomer to the lineup not that its bad or anything. I primarily prefer 1984-1985 figures only which is what i should have said. When I was a kid i was really excited about the 1984 line and still enjoyed select figures from 1985 (I didn't really watch the show) and then once 1986 rolled around I walked away from it since i didn't like the direction they took and that movie killed all interest permanently.

-dx

[Zeedust]

Well if it's any consolation, Galaxy Force Galaxy Convoy did get the Hybrid Style treatment those years ago, which was a similar but different "super-premium special figure treatment".

As for the scaling, some of the G1 dudes were in the same show as the BW cast, albeit comatose but still very much larger.

Hybrid Style, IIRC, was when Galaxy Force was current, so it didn't seem that special at the time, plus it never made it out of Japan and I mostly buy domestic so I tend to forget stuff like that.

As for the comatose Ark crew/Decepticon boarding party members, that to me seems like it'd be the sort of thing that'd make a good backdrop or display base. Maybe the third-party guys should look into it?

[ScottyP]

Tracks has been listed on HLJ http://www.hlj.com/product/TKT83175/Sci

[wilcosu35]

Tracks has been listed on HLJ http://www.hlj.com/product/TKT83175/Sci

thanks for the heads-up preorder in place

[Cyberpath]

Pix from e-Hobby:

Tracks has been listed on HLJ http://www.hlj.com/product/TKT83175/Sci

Thanks!