Transformers Holy Grails and Loose Ends

[dirge]

from the old board:

"There is one _really_ uncommon holy grail for me, although I never really bother looking for it now - the late Japanese G1 set, Battle Gaia." - dirge

Well, I've finally found one on eBay... item number 250185845983, and this thing looks brand spanking new. Having said that, it'd cost more than what my car is worth (admittedly not that much!) at $US1797. But I've finally seen one :D

[sifun]

Are you going to buy it? I've actually never seen that until now

My holy grail is:
Starsaber to complete my victory leo-

also Mp05. lol someone smuggle me one!

[dirge]

I want it... but I'm not going to buy it. I can't justify spending $2000+ on a Bruticus repaint!

[Gutsman Heavy]

One of my grails (not that rare, I just wanted him :P) was Apeface, I just won a complete one with outer box & decoder. Pretty Stoked :)

Now to get Snapdragon...

[Robzy]

At the moment my Grail is Hasbro Masterpiece Starscream! :p

Damn scalpers!!! :mad:

[SofaMan]

It is a *lot* of money to pay for a Bruticus repaint, and there have been a few of those.

Also, it seems the set doesn't include Brawl's double cannon.

[SofaMan]

My Holy Grail is Liokaiser, and is likely to continue to be... :(

Depressingly, BB08 is becoming one as well.

[griffin]

Ooh pretty. But I would have been more interested to see what the current value of it is by having it listed as an auction instead. Sure, it might sell, but that only means there is at least on desperate fan out there with too much money. Or it could hide the true number of fans prepared to pay more than that.

[Pipesqueak]

The original Bruticus had the best colour scheme imo. All the repaints have been inferior and this kind of price is just ridiculous. Think of the dozens of great tfs you could buy for that amount!

[dirge]

Pipesqueak, this is exactly why I won't be purchasing this grail of mine. Yes, it's the only one I've ever seen on sale and, yes, if I wanted to, I could fund the purchase. But I'm not buying Combaticon repaints at $400+ a pop, no matter how nice they are (and, aside the from the originals, this is the nicest colour scheme IMO).

[TheDirtyDigger]

My grail at the moment is G1 (e-hobby) Sunstorm.

Want it, want it, want it!!!!:(

[dirge]

DD, there's a pair of Sunstorm missiles - still on the sprew - on eBay at the moment, if you're interested.

(no idea how someone would come across that!)

[kup]

My new Holy Grail has definitely become BT-08 Meister (white) and BT Prowl as a close second.

It goes for unbelievable bin prices, even the red one is out of reach but less expensive.
________
Marijuana (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWdazX4KGzw)

[Gutsman Heavy]

BW second Seacons!

[The_Damned]

Metrotitan

[dirge]

BW second Seacons!

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=110227748601

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=160211789677

BTW the seller has pulled Battle Gaia. Unsold. Which does not surprise me.

[Gutsman Heavy]

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=160211789677


i got the first bid only to have it bumped the the dubious bidder2, has it in for me, not the first time I've seen bidding to jack the price up, I intend to bid higher but will have to resort to sniping!:mad:

[springah]

Browning :(

ANY version!

[Gutsman Heavy]

snagged my seacons, now after a shockwave, bit light on the cash right now, so he'll have to wait!

[autobreadticon]

I just want a bumblejumper ^^

[Rampage]

maybe if i win lotto

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/1793/d311blackzarak1alw4.jpg
http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/6329/d311blackzarak1ber0.jpg

[kup]

Looks like the $1800 Black Zarak that was on ebay sold. I cant find it anymore.

[iceburn]

snagged my seacons, now after a shockwave, bit light on the cash right now, so he'll have to wait!

nice catch yesterday gutsman :P

[gamblor916]

Looks like the $1800 Black Zarak that was on ebay sold. I cant find it anymore.

I was watching a minty boxed one go for US$1200 the other day.
It had a broken hinge on the shield but otherwise looked pretty nice.

[heroic_decepticon]

My holy grail is a G1 MISB Bluestreak in C10 box. :D
2nd in line: G1 MISB Sunstreaker in C10 box.

[jgon2098]

My holy grail is the G2 prototypes MOSC...menasor and defensor...

They will literally cost more than 40,000 USD. no joke... I don't know if I ever will have enough money or the stupidity to spend that much money... but you never know...

The last loose motormaster went for 7k+ USD on the bay from memory...

These are some links for the defensor...

http://www.geocities.com/fredsworkshop/g2defensor1a.jpg

http://www.geocities.com/soxerboxx3/defensor4me.jpg

These are in my opinion the absolute HOLY GRAIL for a G1, G2 hybrid collector, simply because they were never released... but a very microscopic handful of collectors do have them.

[heroic_decepticon]

My holy grail is the G2 prototypes MOSC...menasor and defensor...

They will literally cost more than 40,000 USD. no joke... I don't know if I ever will have enough money or the stupidity to spend that much money... but you never know...

The last loose motormaster went for 7k+ USD on the bay from memory...

These are some links for the defensor...

http://www.geocities.com/fredsworkshop/g2defensor1a.jpg

http://www.geocities.com/soxerboxx3/defensor4me.jpg

These are in my opinion the absolute HOLY GRAIL for a G1, G2 hybrid collector, simply because they were never released... but a very microscopic handful of collectors do have them.

I hope they are holy grails because you really want them and not because they are really expensive (and hence out of reach).

[Robzy]

My holy grail is a G1 MISB Bluestreak in C10 box. :DKewl... another Bluestreak fan??? :cool:

[jgon2098]

I hope they are holy grails because you really want them and not because they are really expensive (and hence out of reach).

Whatever I define my holy grail to be, and the reasons for doing so, thats completely up to me, wether thats because of PRICE/RARITY or sentimental value or attainability in the short-term is beside the point. Each collector has their own reasons for collecting, there is no rule saying why you should collect or what constitutes a holy grail, it is completely subjective and thats how it should be.

As you probably know, the 'released' G2 line is not that hard to collect, people were throwing them in for free with deals at botcons. The most valuable released ones is probably the orange devastator set, and even that is not that difficult to obtain. The g2 protypes menasor and defensor is what drives me to complete my collection. Most collectors are intrigued by rarity, and with rarity comes price. If you really need an 'unartificial' reason for me to justify my own holy grail, it is that these 2 prototype sets are actually carded, most prototypes are just fragile uncolourful loose figures that were used as initial moulds to the final toys.

[Pulse]

I really don't have any holy grails...

In the past 6 months, Every late G1 figure I've wanted, I've obtained. In the future, I aim to get my hands on both a complete & in good nick Liokaiser and Dai Atlas for reasonable dollars. Being as they pop up from time-to-time on Ebay, I wouldn't really classify them as pipe dreams/holy grails as they are realistically obtainable.

There's always a way... :) (besides winning lotto :D)

[hanprimus]

I think only if I win lotto....

pretty much everythings here (http://www.transformertoys.co.uk/lucky-draw.php)

[kup]

My new Holy Grail is G1 Carnivac.

[liegeprime]

Hehehhee, Stupid mind must be still asleep, when I saw the title of this thread... well, Monty Phyton came immediately into mind, duh.
Well ive got my holy Grail now, so Im very very happy :D. Brave Max.

[jaydisc]

MIB LioKaiser Giftset

[King Atlas]

Black God Magnus and Blue Big Convoy :)
Realistically, BW2 Diver for a fair price :D

[SilverDragon]

My holy grail is BW Dinobot*, since. unlike basically all the other BW dinosaur Transformers, his alt mode hasn't been reused in molds not representing the character**, and so thus there's the uniqueness factor. Also his prominence in the BW series and his nice-looking weapons.

The Animated Dinobots would also count except for the fact that they are available in shops and thus aren't rare enough to be classified as a holy grail in my eyes.

*The original mold and any re-uses of it as Dinobot, not the new Universe one.

**I refuse to count Energon Crullock because he is Godzilla and not a dromaeosaurid. Also, Rapticon doesn't count either, because he's a repaint.

[loophole]

G1 MISB Grapple :D

oh and a MIB Stunticon Giftset

[Zippo]

Still an AFA 80+ Jetfire, though any 1984 G1 would do really.

[Autocon]

mint beast wars!!!!!!!!!
mint machine wars!!!!!!
mint movie black arcee!!!!!!!

[kup]

My holy grail is BW Dinobot, since. unlike basically all the other BW dinosaur Transformers, his alt mode hasn't been reused in molds not representing the character*, and so thus there's the uniqueness factor. Also his prominence in the BW series and his nice-looking weapons.

The Animated Dinobots would also count except for the fact that they are available in shops and thus aren't rare enough to be classified as a holy grail in my eyes.

*I refuse to count Energon Crullock because he is Godzilla and not a dromaeosaurid. Also, Rapticon doesn't count either, because he's a repaint.

There are a few Dinobot repaints representing other characters though, the best example is Grimlock which is to represent the G1 character.

However even the straight repaints are supposed to represent other dinosaurs aside from raptors and I can't think of another TF raptor.

[heroic_decepticon]

Whatever I define my holy grail to be, and the reasons for doing so, thats completely up to me, wether thats because of PRICE/RARITY or sentimental value or attainability in the short-term is beside the point. Each collector has their own reasons for collecting, there is no rule saying why you should collect or what constitutes a holy grail, it is completely subjective and thats how it should be.

As you probably know, the 'released' G2 line is not that hard to collect, people were throwing them in for free with deals at botcons. The most valuable released ones is probably the orange devastator set, and even that is not that difficult to obtain. The g2 protypes menasor and defensor is what drives me to complete my collection. Most collectors are intrigued by rarity, and with rarity comes price. If you really need an 'unartificial' reason for me to justify my own holy grail, it is that these 2 prototype sets are actually carded, most prototypes are just fragile uncolourful loose figures that were used as initial moulds to the final toys.

hmmm... hey... relax.

My statement was aspirational, on my part. Hence the 'I hope' rather than a 'you should' in the statement. And I only said that because of the number of times you mentioned money or a money figure in your post.

Didn't say that to compel you to give a reason :D

[GoktimusPrime]

*wipes dust off thread*
https://i.ibb.co/Fqnc5mQ/meme-threadnecro.jpg

My current grail is Studio Series 38 Optimus Prime. I've looked high and low and have yet to find this bugger!

Most recently acquired minor grail was POTP Blackwing. I'd given up hope on finding him and accidentally stumbled across him at ToyMate! Didn't even notice him but ThaPhantom found him hidden behind some other Deluxes.

[Jetfire in the sky]

I'd probably have to put Grand Maxiums MIB at the top of my grail list at the moment, I'm waiting for a trip to Japan to go proper toy hunting for him so he has extra meaning to me in the long term.
I recently got G1 Bumblejumper which was a mini grail of mine, I don't buy much anymore but there are the odd figures here and there that I think yeah, I need to chase that up, however I tend to be patient to wait for a half decent price to come along.

[Tha_Phantom]

My G1 grail list is nearly all done. With any luck I'll be done by 2021, assuming I don't stumble across more that I "need" :p

Takara Megatron
Battle Gaia
Powermaster Prime MISB
Bluestreak MISB

[Sinnertwin]

Battle Gaia? Ooooff
Say goodbye to sitting down for a while.

[Tha_Phantom]

Battle Gaia? Ooooff
Say goodbye to sitting down for a while.

Ya gotta do what ya gotta do :p

[Raider]

Luck Draw MP-01 Gold OP - That is my grail. Whilst there are others that I am hunting and would be great to find, this is my one true grail.

[GoktimusPrime]

Javasaurus Rex.

I don't even drink coffee, but I'm a sucker for alt modes that I consider to be great "robots in disguise." :) Man... if they even do a COOKED chicken for BotBots I would be really stoked

[Seraphim Prime]

I've recently managed to score a long-time grail for a pretty decent price.

It's always been a "nice-to-have" rather than a "must-buy" so it never seemed worthy of the title "grail".

But a MIB Brave Maximus is currently coming my way. :D

[Silverbolt]

Been looking for a CHUG Ratchet for a long time now. Hopefully with a bit of spare cash coming up soon ill finally be able to find once for a reasonable price as i know he can be a bit pricey.

[tinyJazz]

Been looking for a CHUG Ratchet for a long time now. Hopefully with a bit of spare cash coming up soon ill finally be able to find once for a reasonable price as i know he can be a bit pricey.

Wait until siege ratchet gets released, hopefully people will start selling off their chug Ratchets and the surplus will bring the price down.

[Soundwarp]

Mate this was mine:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v739/soundwarp/2018-11/BA2BB894-773E-4C04-B29C-B80CFADDBBDB_zpsqcmjtjxi.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/soundwarp/media/2018-11/BA2BB894-773E-4C04-B29C-B80CFADDBBDB_zpsqcmjtjxi.jpg.html)


I hope you the best. I finally got mine.

[Silverbolt]

Wait until siege ratchet gets released, hopefully people will start selling off their chug Ratchets and the surplus will bring the price down.

That a good point. Here's hoping that may be the case.

[philby]

I would like to get an MP-10 Eva version eventually

[griffin]

(edited title, so that people can still rave about THEIR highly sought after items with excitement, even if those toys aren't a rarity like the actual Holy Grail - also moved topic to acquisitions section, as some people want to post about what they finally found, not just to mention what they are still looking for, which people are still invited to do so that we get to see what you are desperately looking for and may be able to help out)

[Sinnertwin]

The gold chromed version of G1 Prime.

[Raider]

The gold chromed version of G1 Prime.

That would be awesome! Almost as awesome as a G1 OP Green Deco BAPE. Anyone have one for sale? ;)

[GoktimusPrime]

Just spent over 6 hours hunting for Brunt and Refraktor (http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?3187-NSW-Transformers-Sightings&p=612175#post612175) with nothing to show. :( #questfrustration

I've gone and ordered Brunt from Uncle Pete's online. :rolleyes:

[griffin]

Wave 3 Deluxe Siege will be the Deluxe wave for the next 4-6 months... it is noted as a "July" wave by Hasbro for its global release, so to be panicking after just a couple of retail sightings here (that are actually earlier than their scheduled release) is a bit premature.
As stores are currently selling out of their wave 2 stock (most of the stores up here that I saw them at a few weeks ago are now empty, or just have Chromia), the 3rd wave will start being the only Deluxes we are going to start seeing at stores here until the end of the year.

[Sinnertwin]

That would be awesome! Almost as awesome as a G1 OP Green Deco BAPE. Anyone have one for sale? ;)

Not that I know of 😏 but it's a great addition to the red & grey versions

[Paulbot]

The gold chromed version of G1 Prime.

If the auto-translate is correct there may be a crowd funded gold G1 Prime in the works...

http://snakas.blog95.fc2.com/blog-entry-7150.html

[UltraMarginal]

Wave 3 Deluxe Siege will be the Deluxe wave for the next 4-6 months... it is noted as a "July" wave by Hasbro for its global release, so to be panicking after just a couple of retail sightings here (that are actually earlier than their scheduled release) is a bit premature.
As stores are currently selling out of their wave 2 stock (most of the stores up here that I saw them at a few weeks ago are now empty, or just have Chromia), the 3rd wave will start being the only Deluxes we are going to start seeing at stores here until the end of the year.

Maybe that's why Big W haven't had any Deluxes to speak of in their sale, they were promised bundles of Wave 3 from Hasbro and never received them.

[Sinnertwin]

If the auto-translate is correct there may be a crowd funded gold G1 Prime in the works...

http://snakas.blog95.fc2.com/blog-entry-7150.html

Definitely keen on that one too, but the one I had in mind was limited to about 25 or so pieces.

[griffin]

Definitely keen on that one too, but the one I had in mind was limited to about 25 or so pieces.

Somewhere in here? (http://www.luckydrawtransformers.com/transformers-toys.php) Ooo, so much gold.

[Sinnertwin]

Somewhere in here? (http://www.luckydrawtransformers.com/transformers-toys.php) Ooo, so much gold.

I like gooold, but here he is

https://i.imgur.com/koaOl4Z.jpg

[GoktimusPrime]

2.5 hours worth of driving after work later I have finally acquired two more Refraktors! *phew*

[Sinnertwin]

Points for dedication :)
I'm lazy, clicking a button on the keyboard is as far as I go these days

[Tha_Phantom]

Battle Gaia acquired!

https://i.ibb.co/42xKhRX/101410487-10158822027332137-1148646535862062791-o.jpg (https://ibb.co/vh8V04T)
https://i.ibb.co/z45zMxF/101677740-10158822027452137-1040129903005064921-o.jpg (https://ibb.co/HH2jS4C)https://i.ibb.co/fCBc7J0/101832057-10158822027552137-8597239867193097574-o.jpg (https://ibb.co/YtYrGgj)
https://i.ibb.co/k0fCmx3/101867063-10158822028137137-1588288509178663239-o.jpg (https://ibb.co/GkLSH0s)https://i.ibb.co/7kJVsKn/101934820-10158822028257137-2763369237355481591-o.jpg (https://ibb.co/FHbJRz5)

[swoop]

Truly epic.

I love the Bruticus mould and have every release of it except Battle Gaia. I spent a lot of time hunting for one about six years ago but was unsuccessful. Even when I was travelling through Asia talking to every single toy store worker trying to find one in a condition I was willing to spend it?s asking price on but never came across one in the condition you have.

[High_Q]

Battle Gaia acquired!

Even the box looks mint. Very nice.

[GoktimusPrime]

I would jump on a reissue or CHUG Battle Gaia in a heartbeat. :)
I love how Shuttle Gunner's alt mode is explicitly described as a "Combat Space Shuttle" (戦闘スペースシャトル) :D
Target Hawk's the best looking of the lot IMO and I love the silver elbow stickers on Great Cannon. Makes me wish that they'd done it for Onslaught.

[Tha_Phantom]

I spent a lot of time hunting for one about six years ago but was unsuccessful. Even when I was travelling through Asia talking to every single toy store worker trying to find one in a condition I was willing to spend it?s asking price on but never came across one in the condition you have.

Yeah, I totally lucked out on this one. I just put the feelers out in a Facebook group and a very reputable person in the G1 community had not one but two to choose from. One was sealed, which doesn't suit my purposes (or budget for that matter), and the other was this set I bought. Really can't complain, stickers are nice and crisp and joints are fairly tight. Hope you can find one that you are happy with too!


Even the box looks mint. Very nice.

Thanks! Unfortunately the tray is a custom/KO, so I didn't photograph it with the set, but the seller was up front about it.


I would jump on a reissue or CHUG Battle Gaia in a heartbeat. :)

I would too 100%, especially if CHUG.

[GoktimusPrime]

I would too 100%, especially if CHUG.
If I had G1 Battle Gaia, I'd still jump on both the reissues and CHUGs as I have done with some of my other G1 gestalt sets. :)
(e.g. Combaticons, Constructicons etc.)
Reissues not only allow me to "retire" the G1s as display pieces and have the reissues to play with, but it also allows me to display these toys in different modes. With gestalts I like to display the G1s in their combined gestalt modes and the reissues in individual bot modes, although if I still had the original box for any of my G1 gestalts* as you have for Battle Gaia, I'd probably do it the other way around. Display those G1s in the box and the reissues loose. :)

-----------------------------------------------
*Not that any of the G1 gestalts were ever released here in box sets; I never even knew that they existed until after the internet became a thing (by which time I'd already stopped actively collecting G1).

[Unicran]

I like gooold, but here he is

https://i.imgur.com/koaOl4Z.jpg
Stunning.

I would have paid $2,000 USD back in 2013 (when the AUD was above parity against USD :o). Those days are behind me...

[Soundwarp]

Personally I’m chasing the hard to find G1 cassettes

[llamatron]

Battle Gaia acquired!
https://i.ibb.co/7kJVsKn/101934820-10158822028257137-2763369237355481591-o.jpg (https://ibb.co/FHbJRz5)

Very nice. Are Swindle and Blast Off actually the exact same base colours as their G2 counterparts?

[Tha_Phantom]

Are Swindle and Blast Off actually the exact same base colours as their G2 counterparts?

BG "Swindle" is red whereas G2 Swindle is lighter red, more of an orange colour.
BG "Blast Off" has yellowed a bit, but yeah both he and G2 Blast Off have a white base. Although the chests are different colours for instance.

One interesting thing I did notice was that aside from the chestplates, all the combiner accessories and ramps for Battle Gaia and G2 Bruticus are identical. Even the paint apps on the heads are the same, although the eye paint is applied a tad differently between the two.

Before I took these pics I had to put a little blob of blu tack underneath the G2 parts just so there was no chance of confusing them. :p

https://i.ibb.co/R0rKHTd/Picture1591312963922.png (https://ibb.co/QNSVmvt)https://i.ibb.co/pJ6VYrz/Picture1591312864764.png (https://ibb.co/bzjwcRB)

[GoktimusPrime]

Current grail: Earthrise Scorponok.
Amazon's already charged my credit card but hasn't shipped yet. :/

Also questing for Cyberverse Arcee (scouring local shops, yet to find one but handled someone else's this weekend).

[GoktimusPrime]

Got Cyberverse Thunderhowl. My quest for an Earthrise Runamuck continues...