Takara Transformers

[Bravestarr]

Brothers,

Fort Max is going for 100 dollars on Amazon.com right now.

Link:
[ame="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019849KCM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1"]Amazon.com: Transformers Generations Titans Return Titan Class Fortress Maximus: Toys & Games[/ame]

 

[nacho]

Hmm. $15 for that torso lock piece. Think I'll just skip it.

Yeah, the torso lock is of iffy value, but the neck-lock piece from printformers for sub-$10 is definitely worth it, IMO.

 

[G.I.*EDDIE]

I caved on OC Trailbreaker. The grey instead of black parts irked me to no end, but the proportions on XTB's are just way off after seeing the latest pics.

Having Terreagis in hand, MAN!, what a cool, perfectly proportioned figure!

Also really looking forward to the 1:18th scale (non transforming) Optimus.

 

[xxxx]

Recent acquisitions to my collection......titans return voyager class Megatron with galvatron head master and masterpiece G2 Lamborghini sideswipe (black version with red tinted Windows).

 

[nacho]

I just got the Custom Robots trio of Datsun revoltechs, and they are spectacular. The amount of detail on such tiny figures is really amazing when they don't have to make them turn into something.

https://world.taobao.com/item/54348...n&spm=a312a.7700824.w4004-5326770444.5.NYlBNo

And yesterday, I pre-ordered the Inferno/Grapple set of the same. If they keep this up, I'll have a full cast in non-transforming 4" scale.

 

[G.I.*EDDIE]

I love those things. I love how they "scale" with MT/FP combiners.

Did you abandon your customs?

 

[nacho]

Well, the Prowl and Bluestreak customs... yeah, there's no point in finishing those. CR outdid anything I could have hoped to accomplish. I have a Jazz that's much further along, and I haven't heard of CR doing that character, so I might finish him. I assume CR will get around to him eventually though. They already one-upped my Shockwave, Wheeljack, Sunstreaker, and Sideswipe. The only ones of my own making still in my display are Mirage and Springer (not counting some straight-up seeker repaints).

I've never put them side-by-side with FP figures, but I assume they would scale pretty well. This generation of Revos are all in the 4-4.5" range. I've often thought that my FP menasor probably needs to move to the Revoltech shelves, along with Engineer General (no they won't match aesthetically at all, but they're about the same size).

 

[G.I.*EDDIE]

So tempting!

PORSCHE 935 #1 MARTINI WINNER VALLElUNGA 1976 J.ICKX J.MASS 1/18 BY SPARK 18S087 | eBay

Do you have this one, nacho?

 

[nacho]

Sort-of. That's not the right model for Jazz, as it has the raised headlights on the fender rather than the headlights in the front bumper (pedantic rivet counting, but a major part of the look IMO). There are other diecasts by the same company (Exoto) that have the same livery with the proper body style. However, they are long out of production and routinely sell for $350-500.

I bought one of the less expensive examples of the proper body in the wrong color (green) with the plan to strip and repaint it properly. Alas, it's still in the box.

I have a whole stable of 1:18 diecast TF stand-ins. Red and yellow Countaches, yellow beetle, silver and white 240Zs, a 1980 renault F1 car that's almost a dead-ringer for a Ligier JS11 (just needs a repaint), a white Lancia Stratos (just needs the turbo aero-package customized), etc etc etc. I had a whole Autobot car lot thing planned. But like all my other custom projects, it didn't get too far past the "plan and procurement" phases.

WTF Mattel, thanks for reminding me! :lmao:

 

[G.I.*EDDIE]

I have a whole stable of 1:18 diecast TF stand-ins.

I recalled you talking about that before which is why I asked. Sorry for tugging at that thread. Heh heh.

Yeah, that one you posted does look a lot better and more accurate, though I prefer the wheels on the other one.

Where'd you get the Z's, or the better question is probably how long ago? Couldn't find much in the way of 1/18th versions, at least not purchasable ones.

I just wish that Tanaka would get on making 1:18th copies of the other MP's.

 

[nacho]

Got them 4-5 years ago. I probably bought them off ebay. Pretty sure mine are Sunstar like these:

Sun Star 1972 Datsun Silver 240 Z #3503 1:18 Die Cast Car #30 | eBay
Sun Star 1/18 1972 Datsun 240Z | eBay


Aside from Sunstar, Maisto makes some cheap ones, Yat-Ming some slightly better ones, and Kyosho makes some really high-end versions. Just ebay: 1/18 datsun (240,240z,240zx)

As for 1/18 TF KU's, yeah I don't know what's taking so damn long. You'd think the datsun trio would be a prime candidate for the treatment. However, the folks that did sideswipe haven't even cashed-in on his repaint potential (that I know of). I hope it wasn't a one-off project.

 

[G.I.*EDDIE]

I see my problem. I was hunting down 280zxs. The 240s would be good enough, though.

 

[nacho]

Yeah, they were technically 280's, but the later 240's and 260's look nearly identical. I'm sure a Datsun-phile would scream bloody murder at that assertion, but for my purposes, it's plenty close enough. Japan had that police livery on all three models, so it's not like it's particularly inaccurate.

 

[G.I.*EDDIE]

This would be a decent Smokescreen base. There's a red one too. Less painting! They're only around $400. No big deal. :lmao:

 

[nacho]

Yeah, and a week before you finish the final coat of paint, the $59 KU is announced.

 

[G.I.*EDDIE]

Why no one has tackled an officially licensed, non-transforming, diecast alt mode line is a mystery. They wouldn't even have to be high end. There's no way that they wouldn't sell like hot cakes, especially to fans of both TF and JOE.

 

[nacho]

I think that's the problem. We want them for Joes, but I'm not sure worldwide TF fans that don't give two shakes about Joe would actually care. The market for such a thing is constricted to simply fans of both Joe AND TF, and I'm not sure that intersection of the venn diagram is enough to justify the effort.

If hypothetically I'm not a Joe fan, I might only want them in a smaller scale, like hot wheels or something. And then there is also the problem of not being able to offer both factions the same treatment. 1:18 guns & walkmans aren't exciting, and 1:18 jets are expensive, huge, and kind-of already done... sort-of (SDCC). So you'd only have autobots, and it's tough to get collector momentum when you can only produce one side of a conflict.

Hardcore TF people would be very divided on these... like reverse action masters. TFW would have to split into two different websites, the "It's not a transformer is it doesn't transform" crowd, and the "eh, it's fun, so what" crowd. The more I think about it, the more I get dizzy pondering the reactions. I dare you to float this "over there" and see what kind of venom it elicits.

 

[G.I.*EDDIE]

Personally, I was a 1:18th diecast collector before I was a JOE collector (I don't consider my childhood collection as "collecting" even though I was attempting to "collect them all". ) . I dropped JOE when girls came into the picture, but kept picking up diecast cars. Somehow they still seemed acceptable and interesting. JOEs got weirrrrrrrrrrrd.

So regardless of JOE's, I'd still be into diecast TF's. Not sure how many diecast fans would fall into that category too. I suspect that there would be enough interest between all camps to make it a worthwhile endeavor. That might be selfishness talking, though.

I'd gladly pop that question "over there", but I have no idea where to post it. Probably general discussion(?), but I may as well not bother. Who even wanders into there? Accidentals? "Whoops, wrong click."

Sooooo, have you made a 1:18th Spike and Sparkplug?

 

[nacho]

Nooooo, I have so many other customs in the queue, it would be 10 yrs down the list.

After the club made "Only Human" Rodimus and Arcee, I'll be surprised if they don't get to Spike and Sparkplug long before I do.

 

[G.I.*EDDIE]

They'll string fans along for ages before getting to them. Too dumb to think "strike while the iron is hot".

 

[G.I.*EDDIE]

Seriously considering one of those Jazzs. I'm not sure if I should pick up the one with the gold wheels (beautiful!) and white/rounded rear end but wrong headlights or the right headlights but black wheels and black/"pointier" rear end. Both about the same price sooooo....

 

[nacho]

You're talking about the diecasts or the 3P figures?

 

[G.I.*EDDIE]

The diecasts. Sorry, should've used quotation marks around Jazzs.

Still going back and forth. It's frustrating because one has the correct front end and one has the correct rear end. To make matters worse, one is diecast and one is resin. One has opening doors and such and one has none.

As for the 3p Jazzs, if I do get one of whats available, it'll be TW's. MT's looks crazy cheap. Like hanging-on-the-pegs-Hasbro-cheap. It's so plain and boring that it doesn't fit the MP aesthetic at all...at least not to me. And J4zz?

I was hoping for an MMC/OM version, but when I contacted them, they said they had no plans for him right now.

 

[nacho]

Eh, I'll probably be getting both 3P G1-esque Jazz figures. TW kills in alt mode. All that sexy diecast does make the MT figure look kinda cheap. However, I like MT's bot mode, and I think I can dress it up with some good labels, especially since I won't be looking at the car-mode. I think he'll look just fine with my MPs. Wheeljack is unpainted white plastic too, so it's not like he'll stand out as an oddball. I think Downbeat will look just fine standing next to Bluestreak and Sideswipe, and I like my MT Hound enough to give them the benefit of the doubt.

Agree, J4zz is a non-starter. Nice looking, but it has absolutely no place in my collection. Not interested in modern redesigns or newer model cars on my autobots.

Yeah, the 1:18 cars are frustrating because none of them are exactly right, and all of them are expensive, some astonishingly so. I keep thinking that eventually they'll release the exact combo i'm looking for (I've been watching these for several years), but I'm starting to think that they've played out the market for that body-style and have moved on. Unless I find a steal, I'm going to stick with my green one, and perpetually just plan to repaint it

 

[G.I.*EDDIE]

MT's Jazz just lacks detail in a terrible way. That's what makes him appear so cheap looking. Kinda like TT's Inferno, but even worse. Next to TT's original car bots with all of their details in both alt and bot modes, yikes. Also, the way they tried to unnecessarily clean up the rear fenders in bot mode is a fail. Those extra fake pieces that don't even make an attempt to match the real fenders are awful as is the way they hang down in alt mode.

I do love it's proportions, though. And the way the rear windows move with the lower legs. That his shoulders tuck into the body a tad is nice too. But it's clear that MT are following TT's boring super-toony direction, and I can't go with them.

 

[nacho]

I agree somewhat, but given that I'm buying him to stay in bot-mode, I don't much care about the minutiae of the rear fenders. I think with some proper racing sponsor decals, he'll be more than sufficient. Downbeat's proportions are really MP-level, I love the head-sculpt, and he's normal carbot height. While I'd have preferred more diecast and paint finish, I can live with MT's effort. TW will go on my car shelf and represent.

Unless TT comes along and gives us a non-toony figure that blows away both modes, I suspect I'm good on the Jazz front.

 

[G.I.*EDDIE]

I had some ideas for combiner teams. Ghey, yeah, but

The first one is made up of the race car members of the Autobots. Jazz, Mirage, Smokescreen, Wheeljack and then Ultra Magnus. Mirage and Jazz could be the arms with their big spoilers. UM obviously being the "race car hauler". I'd call the combined mode "Raceor" or "Dragstor"..."Accelorator"? The names sound like MOTU crossovers. :lmao:

That's the boring one.

The one I thought of that was kinda funny but maybe cool was "Drag Queen". It'd be comprised of muscle car alts with skinnies and fatties. The members would be males but the combined form would be female. It could be called "Trailer Queen" if the other name offended, which, of course it would.

 

[G.I.*EDDIE]

Skip to 11:40.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwC7NqJImDQ[/ame]

 

[nacho]

That's impressive. The thigh-gap is a bit on the wide side, and making that a bit smaller would help his overall proportions a bit. That being said, for the right price, I'd jump on this like white on rice.

Any idea what the stab is? Is this out already, or does this guy have an advanced/review copy?

edit: nevermind, found it. It's freakin' cheap(ish)! (about the same as a 3P/MP leader figure).

MAS-01 Optimus Prime Mega 18" Action Figure - Transformers 2010 - 2017 Transformers Figures

BTW, my wallet hates you...

How good is that going to look with 1/18 Sideswipe?!

 

[pcsguy88]

It's running about $175 shipped from my research earlier this week. I need this and I hate that fact. Especially hate it because I have no more 25th Joes left.

 

[nacho]

How could you be out of Joes?! I thought we were all hoarders. Did you not buy many, or were you diligent about selling off your collection? I wouldn't even know where to start. I suspect I'd regret it almost immediately.

Truth be told, I probably have over 2k 25th/onward Joes. As such, this 18" Prime is basically a must, even at the expense of something else. But I have a large credit at BBTS, so I suspect that's where I'll order it, unless I can find it on an asian site substantially cheaper. Is Toys Alliance a japanese company?

 

[pcsguy88]

I have a 2 gallon plastic tub of 1:18 figures left and not a single one would be considered an 80's Joe. Doubt I have anything older than POC Beachhead at this point. The last of my 80's Joes probably left my possession during the raffles we had held on this board.

Looks like I'll have to hunt down a Duke, Flint, Hawk, Lady Jay and Scarlet.

 

[robbo2101]

Could someone post some pics of these new Jazz figures please.

 

[nacho]

The two main MP G1 Jazz options are from MakeToys and Toyworld:

Maketoys MTRM-9 Downbeat ( MP Jazz ) | TFW2005 - The 2005 Boards
ToyWorld Coolsvile (MP style not Jazz) | TFW2005 - The 2005 Boards

And then there is TnR Hova, which may or may not be cancelled. It's a mystery.

Transform and Roll Out Hova (Masterpiece-Style Jazz) | TFW2005 - The 2005 Boards

And then GT's J4zz which is not G1, but more of a modern Porsche:

Generation Toy Jazz / J4ZZ | TFW2005 - The 2005 Boards

 

[G.I.*EDDIE]

That's impressive. The thigh-gap is a bit on the wide side, and making that a bit smaller would help his overall proportions a bit. That being said, for the right price, I'd jump on this like white on rice.

Any idea what the stab is? Is this out already, or does this guy have an advanced/review copy?

edit: nevermind, found it. It's freakin' cheap(ish)! (about the same as a 3P/MP leader figure).

MAS-01 Optimus Prime Mega 18" Action Figure - Transformers 2010 - 2017 Transformers Figures

BTW, my wallet hates you...

How good is that going to look with 1/18 Sideswipe?!

How good will he look next to Knocked-up SS? Just as good as he will next to my Bruderstator.

Yeah, the thigh gap is kind of obnoxious. I suspect that they did the legs first and were like "Oh f$#@." when it came to standing him up straight.

The price is outstanding, considering. I'll take a whole line of these of chunky, non-TF'ing things.

How could you be out of Joes?! I thought we were all hoarders. Did you not buy many, or were you diligent about selling off your collection? I wouldn't even know where to start. I suspect I'd regret it almost immediately.

Yeah, there is absolutely no way I could do it. I want to get rid of my fodder, but I fear I'll regret that too.

And this thing isn't just 18" tall, he's actually 1:18th scale! He measures 14cm across his chest (the cab of the truck). A real Freightliner FLA86 measures 8' across the cab. Scaled down to 1:18th, 8" comes in at 13.82cm! It'd be a sin for any of us 80's kids on a 1:18th board NOT owning this thing.

 

[pcsguy88]

I'll make it my 42nd B-day present since that's the very beginning of March.

 

[nacho]

The price is outstanding, considering. I'll take a whole line of these of chunky, non-TF'ing things.

Yeah, absolutely. The "It's not a transformer if it doesn't transform" crowd can go pound sand. I'll take all of the G1 characters they can possibly produce like this.

 

[pcsguy88]

Christ on a cracker!

How long before a $100 KO appears?

 

[G.I.*EDDIE]

:lmao: No idea, but I'm not waiting around to find out.

 

[nacho]

Assuming this product is a success, you know they'll do megatron. It would sell like crazy, and they wouldn't have to worry about that whole pesky toy gun nonsense.

And I'm pretty sure the people that shelled out a grand for Ultimetal Prime are feeling pretty lousy. Unless the look-under-the-skin feature is worth many hundreds of dollars...