The Energon Pub

[Seibertron]

I've almost completed my collection of the four fairly-challenging-to-obtain Action Master Elites that were exclusive to Europe, Australia, and several other countries. It's taken me a couple of years to complete this set. I waited patiently until I could get each one for $100 to $150 a piece, far less than the $300+ I've seen both loose and carded versions go for.

It all started early last year when I came across a BIN on eBay for a MOSC Turbomaster for $130 shipped from a US seller. I bought it with the box was damaged, but the toy was sealed to the card which is what I was most concerned with since I will eventually open it for Seibertron.com's galleries. Fortunately, it was among the items that survived the flood I endured back in July.

About a year or so ago, I came across a BIN for a complete loose Doublepunch from a seller in Turkey. It was a risky move at the time since he only had a feedback of 1 or 0. His feedback is now -1, so it looks like I was very lucky that I received Double Punch at all (and it looks like I was the only one who received anything from the guy). Unfortunately, the pink plastic on him had yellowed a bit so I wasn't quite sure what to do. He was one of my first attempts at using the H2O + daylight solution to fix his yellowed parts. Little did I know that you can't do this on some colored plastics. The H2O bleached the plastic to a very light pink color unfortunately. A few months later, an incomplete one showed up on eBay with no yellowing so I bought that one and will sell the other at a later date.

Not long ago, a seller listed a MOSC Windmill, that's in great condition, from an eBay seller in Spain. Got it at a very reasonable price. It was my "retail therapy" purchase right after the flood in July.

Well, now I was on the hunt for Omega Spreem who has been one of my holy grail pieces for a while. Not because he's anything special mind you, there's just something unique and interesting about this piece that makes for good conversation. Heck, so does Double Punch for that matter since every version of that character has been an exclusive (Black Zarak was a Japanese exclusive, followed by European exclusive AME Double Punch who is based off Black Zarak, followed by BotCon Japan exclusive Double Punch, and then the 2010 BotCon Double Punch). I finally won an Omega Spreem from an eBay seller in Germany at a very reasonable price over Labor Day weekend (I attribute it's low price to being listed in a collectibles category instead of the Transformers category). I haven't received it yet, but it's on the way! I also snagged an incomplete Omega Spreem days afterwards for a really cheap price that I'll use for parts if anything is wrong with the other one.

I got the incomplete Omega Spreem in the mail today. Having never held this mold in my hands until today, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that Action Master Elite Omega Spreem might actually be the most poseable Action Master ever. Aside from the lack of neck articulation unfortunately due to his transformation, he has an unusual amount of leg and shoulder articulation that most (if not all) Action Masters lack. He's even got waist articulation much to my surprise (though I'm sure that's due to his transformation more than anything).

Aside from the unofficial BotCon 2004 Breakdown, I now own all of the Action Masters. I can't wait to photograph these four Action Masters at long last ... especially the "European" exclusive ones!

[Overcracker]

Congratulations Ryan. Can't wait to see the galleries.

Omega Spreem really is an oddity among action masters in that he actually has some action to him.

[bionic_radical]

Ive felt guilty for liking these guys for so long! Im glad we're finally gonna get galleries!! I just wish they would've made a complete ark crew...

[Tigertrack]

I own Turbomaster and Windmill. Pretty cool, figs but not amongst my favorites.

I do want the other two...someday maybe.

[waaaaghlord]

Congratulations on finishing the set Ryan.

Well, now I was on the hunt for Omega Spreem who has been one of my holy grail pieces for a while. Not because he's anything special mind you, there's just something unique and interesting about this piece that makes for good conversation. Heck, so does Double Punch for that matter since every version of that character has been an exclusive (Black Zarak was a Japanese exclusive, followed by European exclusive AME Double Punch who is based off Black Zarak, followed by BotCon Japan exclusive Double Punch, and then the 2010 BotCon Double Punch).

Cybertron Dark Scorponok was a regular retail release rather than an exclusive, and is clearly based on Black Zarak. Your list is also missing SCF solid colour and shadow clear versions of Black Zarak, although those would again be Japan only releases.

[Flux Convoy]

It's gonna be a one sided conversation. They're well out of my price range for what they are. I like Action Masters and will gladly admit it. I wouldn't pay what those figures demand though. Congratulations on finishing the collection! I'm interested to see the pics.

[bionic_radical]

Do you think people would buy cartoon accurate versions of these guys again if the vehicles and accessories combined to form larger transformers like Omega Supreme, Trypticon, Overlord, etc?

[Seibertron]

Congratulations on finishing the set Ryan.

Well, now I was on the hunt for Omega Spreem who has been one of my holy grail pieces for a while. Not because he's anything special mind you, there's just something unique and interesting about this piece that makes for good conversation. Heck, so does Double Punch for that matter since every version of that character has been an exclusive (Black Zarak was a Japanese exclusive, followed by European exclusive AME Double Punch who is based off Black Zarak, followed by BotCon Japan exclusive Double Punch, and then the 2010 BotCon Double Punch).

Cybertron Dark Scorponok was a regular retail release rather than an exclusive, and is clearly based on Black Zarak. Your list is also missing SCF solid colour and shadow clear versions of Black Zarak, although those would again be Japan only releases.

It's highly debatable whether or not Dark Scorponok is based on Black Zarak. I'd say he's not really. But even if you want to throw him into the discussion, he still meets the "Black Zarak has always been an exclusive to a country" discussion because he was only available in the US if I recall correctly.

[Counterpunch]

It's highly debatable whether or not Dark Scorponok is based on Black Zarak. I'd say he's not really. But even if you want to throw him into the discussion, he still meets the "Black Zarak has always been an exclusive to a country" discussion because he was only available in the US if I recall correctly.

I always thought he was based on Black Zarak, the gold and red highlights were all the calling card I needed.

I don't remember about foreign distribution either, but he may have been a Japanese ToyDreams USA exclusive. I have a site I can check on that, but I may be entirely mistaken.

[Seibertron]

It's highly debatable whether or not Dark Scorponok is based on Black Zarak. I'd say he's not really. But even if you want to throw him into the discussion, he still meets the "Black Zarak has always been an exclusive to a country" discussion because he was only available in the US if I recall correctly.

I always thought he was based on Black Zarak, the gold and red highlights were all the calling card I needed.

I don't remember about foreign distribution either, but he may have been a Japanese ToyDreams USA exclusive. I have a site I can check on that, but I may be entirely mistaken.

It's the out-of-place blue, the black face, the gray body, and the blue head that kills it for me as a Black Zarak homage. It's a pretty weak attempt at being an homage. Had they stayed faithful to this color scheme, I would've thought Dark Scorponok was an awesome homage but he's not.

[Jelze Bunnycat]

It's highly debatable whether or not Dark Scorponok is based on Black Zarak. I'd say he's not really. But even if you want to throw him into the discussion, he still meets the "Black Zarak has always been an exclusive to a country" discussion because he was only available in the US if I recall correctly.

I always thought he was based on Black Zarak, the gold and red highlights were all the calling card I needed.

I don't remember about foreign distribution either, but he may have been a Japanese ToyDreams USA exclusive. I have a site I can check on that, but I may be entirely mistaken.

Sorry guys, I've spotted him in Europe several years ago. In fact, last I saw him Toys 'R Us was clearing him out (should have gotten one) and they had whole stacks of him, EU packaging.

I consider him a partial homage to Black Zarak, but going its own way. I too am not fond of the blue as it sticks out like an eyesore, and it's the same blue as the regular Scorponok

[Tigertrack]

It's highly debatable whether or not Dark Scorponok is based on Black Zarak. I'd say he's not really. But even if you want to throw him into the discussion, he still meets the "Black Zarak has always been an exclusive to a country" discussion because he was only available in the US if I recall correctly.

I always thought he was based on Black Zarak, the gold and red highlights were all the calling card I needed.

I don't remember about foreign distribution either, but he may have been a Japanese ToyDreams USA exclusive. I have a site I can check on that, but I may be entirely mistaken.

Sorry guys, I've spotted him in Europe several years ago. In fact, last I saw him Toys 'R Us was clearing him out (should have gotten one) and they had whole stacks of him, EU packaging.

I consider him a partial homage to Black Zarak, but going its own way. I too am not fond of the blue as it sticks out like an eyesore, and it's the same blue as the regular Scorponok

I believe it homages BZ, more than it doesn't. It is quite obvious that the gold, black, and red are for it. The blue and other colors are there because he would be way too much black, red, and gold without them. At least I think.

[DISCHARGE]

It's highly debatable whether or not Dark Scorponok is based on Black Zarak. I'd say he's not really. But even if you want to throw him into the discussion, he still meets the "Black Zarak has always been an exclusive to a country" discussion because he was only available in the US if I recall correctly.

I always thought he was based on Black Zarak, the gold and red highlights were all the calling card I needed.

I don't remember about foreign distribution either, but he may have been a Japanese ToyDreams USA exclusive. I have a site I can check on that, but I may be entirely mistaken.

Sorry guys, I've spotted him in Europe several years ago. In fact, last I saw him Toys 'R Us was clearing him out (should have gotten one) and they had whole stacks of him, EU packaging.

I consider him a partial homage to Black Zarak, but going its own way. I too am not fond of the blue as it sticks out like an eyesore, and it's the same blue as the regular Scorponok

I believe it homages BZ, more than it doesn't. It is quite obvious that the gold, black, and red are for it. The blue and other colors are there because he would be way too much black, red, and gold without them. At least I think.

Absolutely! Hasbro is so good at screwing up a straight homage the blue fits right in, it doesn't bother me I love that toy. Is there more than the 4 versions of the E Scorponok?

Anyway, I don't own any Action Masters, but I'll be waiting for the galleries

[Chaoslock]

I live in Europe, and I have all but one of the Elites incomplete (Omega, you bastard!) - they are really cool export stuff, along with other EU actionmasters (Bombshell, ...)

[bionic_radical]

You gotta grab this guy. Give your dudes another ride.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Microman-LED- ... 5174wt_962