KO Transformers

[nacho]

While the likes of KOToys and chimungmung have been the target of international IP lawyers, there are still lots of G1 TF KO's being produced. You just have to know where to look...

TNI just reported today that a G1 Scorponok KO was available, and while looking for it, I also discovered that a G1 KO Computron giftset is now available too. I love these things (I have a ton of KO G1 TFs), mostly because I can't afford MIB G1 TFs, and these will look perfect sitting on my shelves. They'll never leave the box, but that's ok. Newer toys are vastly superior in appearance, function, and play value... but I'm a sucker for that mid-80s nostalgic packaging!

Any other G1 KO fans around here?

 

[G.I.*EDDIE]

I got one of the super duper mini Devys a year or so ago...he's soooooooo cute!

 

[garrison99]

Got some pics of these things. You are peeking my interest

 

[nacho]

For example... http://www.ioffer.com/selling/t800pro

It's like it's the 80's all over again. Sure, they're KOs... but they look spectacular. I've been collecting quite a few of these for the last couple of years, and I can't wait to display them all. With my vintage MOC Joe collection and vintage packaging SW stuff, I want my toy room to look like a Children's Palace circa 1984.

 

[G.I.*EDDIE]

I think it would be really cool to display them next to their new bada$$ 3rd party counterparts...sorta like an evolution...

Heck, that could be said for Joes, MOTU, DC, MU, etc etc...SW hasn't really evolved that much have they?

 

[Bravestarr]

Very nice find, Nacho!

Can you give me any first hand details on the Dinobots, Mirage, Sunstreaker, Computron and the Stunticons?

Great to read your input!

 

[garrison99]

Got to admit these look cool.

 

[nacho]

Well, like I said, I bought these for display purposes, so I haven't taken any of them out of the boxes. However, most reports I've read seem to indicate that the quality is pretty good. Maybe only 90% the quality of a vintage toy, but way better than the chinese KOs like you see at Big Lots (I'm looking at you orange construction bots and weird aerialbot wannabes).

The boxes are superb, and there are hardcore MIB vintage TF collectors that have had to set up tutorials about how to spot the KOs vs originals based on tiny little details here and there. So in that regard it's impressive. I'd hate to be a collector of vintage MIB TFs because I'd be afraid that everything I bought for $800 was a $40 KO.

I had one carded set of two soundwave cassettes where the bubble came off accidentally, but that appears to be a pretty isolated incident. And I think that every KO Springer has the bubble glued on the insert upside-down. Not sure how that happened. But in general, the quality is beyond impressive for affordable replicas of thirty-year-old toys.

If you just want to display them, it's hard to imagine that anyone wouldn't be happy. And if you want your kid to play with them, well, they're 5% the cost of an original in the box, so that's pretty good.

In general, the TF community is pretty split on KOs. Some, like me, just want to look at them for a reasonable price and think they're awesome... while others think it ruins the collecting of real vintage stuff, steals IP, and generally waters down the brand. On other boards, the KO discussions turn ugly pretty quickly. There are lots of closet KO collectors I suspect. Since there are several 3P collectors around here, I thought there might be some other fans of the KOs too.

 

[G.I.*EDDIE]

The packaging really is what sells them...they just look so cool...the KO Devastator box would likely look totally bada$$ next to Maketoys Green Giant set who's packaging is the coolest 3P packaging I've seen...

 

[xxxx]

Yeah....I have a few KOs,I like them.

 

[pcsguy88]

I'd buy those Dinobots in a heartbeat if I had $200 to spare.

 

[nacho]

On ioffer, you can try to talk them down. I usually can get 20-25% off their sticker if I buy mutable pieces at once. Not that it makes them cheap, per se, but every little bit helps.

 

[Mandingo Rex]

I'd buy them, but my fear would be trying to sell them one day. I don't want to rip anyone off, so I'd clearly label them as KOs, but eBay won't allow resell of KO items anymore, correct? I suppose you could always CL them, but then you've got bored local law enforcement to worry about being dicks.

The local Chinatown shops in SF got hit big time within the last year or so for KO items.