The Energon Pub

Just curious if this figure is legit? I know it's a sucky angle for the pic, but maybe it's enough for someone to confirm.

Hard to say. Looks too shiny to be an original. Long smokestacks leads me to believe maybe a newer Encore version. However lack of the autobot logo makes me wonder.

Is there a shot of the box?

Other than that here's really no way to tell.

Where are you getting this from ebay?. For how much?

Not an encore reissue due to the lack of a tampographed autobot logo on it... but entirely possible that it's from one of the multitude of reissues G1 Prime's seen in japan in the last 8 years or so...

Looks pre owned. Look at the front fender, looks faded at the corner (either that or just the camera angle)

Here's some more pics the seller sent over to me.









I went on and bought it just to get it. He told me it's been stored away for some 15 years or so. Seems credible with his several thousand sales on eBay.

Based on your pics & comparing with my own from the same angles, it looks fairly legit. Cab looks like the correct diecast & colors; no tampographs so it's not an encore reissue. Has significant sticker wear... including missing the Autobot faction stickers on the shoulders. Did the seller have the hands, weapons, & trailer? It's in pretty nice condition, but seems like it's missing a lot of things.

I don't know much about identifying KOs, but this article may help: http://www.seibertron.com/energonpub/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=39063

Looks to be a re-issue, it has the extended front wheel hubs that my re-ish Ultra Magnus and Encore Prime have. My original G1 has flat hubs. Nothing wrong with that IMHO. Enjoy!

Ah, I see. I should have the Optimus in a few days, so I'll definitely post some more photos up and finally verify this. I'm hoping its a real G1, and not a reissue. Either way I will be happy with it.

Should it be a reissue, would I still be able to fit the Optimus with his original G1 weapons, etc.?

The accessories should work, although I know there are fat & skinny versions of the fists and guns, I'm not sure if that affects the size of the pegs, or just the accessories themselves.

Having owned (and destroyed/disassembled) several 1984-85 Optimus cabs, I can say, "Yes, this is an original."

To the guy(s) assuming this is an Encore... A dash of laughing with a hint of ridicule. Encore Prime, like 25A Prime has his insignia painted on both shoulders... in white! (Yellow/Gold/Silver, yes. But White? EWWWW!)
Another thing: ALL of the re-issue Primes have the 4-dot "lugnut pattern" styled pins holding their wheels in place, much like most of the 1984-85 Autobot Cars and Protectobots (excluding Groove). Rubber wheeled Metroplex (I think), 2nd release (1985-86) Wheeljack, and all re-issue versions of Ultra Magnus (I think), Trailbreaker and Hoist use this same pin. Encore TB and Hoist use them on both front and back wheels now.
Original Optimus Prime (1984 and 1985), and all Autobots using the plastic Rodimus Prime wheels (Magnus, Metroplex, and Chromedome) have rounded head pins holding their wheels on.

You are lucky that the thigh ratchet on this Prime is better than the ones on the first 2 I got. Once the plastic teeth go, you'll have to stuff Kleenex up his rear to keep him standing in robot mode (Not a dirty joke).

I'm trying to examing the cylinders/pegs connecting the gas tanks to the legs. If they have small ridges or teeth, it's a 1985 (2nd release). If no teeth or less than 2-3, it's a 1984 (1st release). If the inside of the thighs has no support framework (unlike nearly all Ultra Magnus legs), it's definately NOT a re-issue.

-- Cybertronian.
I imagine the KOs are good, but it's in their best interest to use more up-to-date tooling.
P.S.: Although I plan to eventually repair/replace/upgrade my last original Prime (and get a 1984 trailer), my current Optimus Prime is the New Year Special, with an original issue (trailer-colored; 1984) Roller, Matrix, and 1984 (larger) replica rifle (the original 1984 rifle wouldn't fit properly!).

just1nj wrote:Just curious if this figure is legit? I know it's a sucky angle for the pic, but maybe it's enough for someone to confirm.

Hip-Hoptimus Rime wrote:Looks to be a re-issue, it has the extended front wheel hubs that my re-ish Ultra Magnus and Encore Prime have. My original G1 has flat hubs. Nothing wrong with that IMHO. Enjoy!

The wheel hubs on all of my original Primes and Magnuses (except for the all-white Magnus with plastic Rodimus Prime wheels) extended front hubs. This is the only way they can connect with Magnus's trailer, along with the posts which stick into the headlights. As I found out with plastic Magnus, the heavy die-cast cab will fall out with any weight shift unless it has the extended hubs. The re-issue are slightly larger, to the point where they will slide from one side to the other.

just1nj wrote:Ah, I see. I should have the Optimus in a few days, so I'll definitely post some more photos up and finally verify this. I'm hoping its a real G1, and not a reissue. Either way I will be happy with it.

Should it be a reissue, would I still be able to fit the Optimus with his original G1 weapons, etc.?

The fists may be a tight fit, but yes. (My only original fists are the large 1984s, responsible for cracking two 1985 rifles in half due to the need for excessive force. (1985 rifles are smaller, with Targetmaster-class fist posts. 1984s are much closer to the 5mm size used on the RiD Autobot Build Team, and nearly all Energon and Cybertron figures.)

Thanks for the info.

I received in the mail yesterday. A lot more cleaner than I expected.

As for the teeth around the gas tanks.. I do not see anything of that nature around the pegs that connect. Just a plain, flat surface. Unless you're talking about the amount of pegs to connect it, then there is two on each tank.

I'm thinking about buying some new stickers off reprolabels.

I guess next thing for this OP is some fists and two rifles. By the looks of it, I'll be paying more for the weapons and fists than what I paid for just the cab.