Toy Review - Seacons (reissue)

[griffin]

Toy Review - Seacons/Piranacon

Series - Generation 1
Size - Combiner
New/remould/redeco - Reissue
Wave - N/A
Released here - Not expected here (released Globally July)
Approximate Retail Price - $60
Approximate Size - 10-15cm individually, 30cm combined
Allegiance - Decepticons
Alt-modes - Snaptrap/Tortoise, Seawing/Mantaray, Nautilator/Lobster, Scalor/Fish, Tentakil/Octopus, Overbite/Shark.
Main Features/Gimmicks - Combine to form Piranacon. Smaller five Seacons convert to a third weapons mode - A 'Targetmaster' feature.
Main Colours - Purple, pink, green, blue, aqua, grey, black.
Main Accessories - A lot...

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/tftoys/2010excl05.jpg

[MV75]

Great set.

Issues:

Overbites head was hard to put down in shark mode.

Instructions had piranacon different to the toy in the box. They had the right arm/leg swapped. I'd have to say I prefer as it came in box, more symmetry all around.

Instructions also had pictured the same guns for tentakill and scalor. I found that they're for scalor, the other ones with the slopes on them are tentakills.

Stickers pre-applied. I'd have preferred to put them on myself, straight.

But all that aside, there's plenty of parts and moving bits to keep busy for a while. Plus it's one of the better looking combined forms that sticks together great. And while the robot modes of everyone but seawing and snaptrap are a bit compromised, they are classic g1 combiners that can change any minion to any function such as arm, leg, weapon.

[griffin]

Extensive gallery has been posted at ACtoys (http://bbs.actoys.net/read.php?tid-499363.html).

Which is mirrored at TFW (http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/generation-1-1/image-gallery-of-g1-reissue-phiranacon-170275/), because ACtoys can take a while to access.

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

I was reading the bio cards and I notice a softening of the personalities in them lately. Specifically in Nautilator's card, it states that the other Seacons are happy to pull him out of the water with whatever treasure he has picked up, whereas previously I believe that his breakin down in the water made them inclined towards leaving him. Snaptarp lost his 'Butcher of the Bogs' moniker as well.

I think this has happend on others. If I recall correctly, the IDW universe-esque comic, didn't credit Rippersnapper's function as a 'Terrorist' either. Transformers are being effected by political correctness? It kind of takes the edge off the Seacons a bit IMO:o

[griffin]

Maybe we need Bob Budiansky to remind them that 'they are evil' (like he did in 83, when he had to convince Hasbro to call the Decepticon Leader Megatron - they initially didn't want the name because it sounded too scary).

Without Bob, we'd have ended up with Optimus Prime facing off Fluffy-Bunny and the Decepticons... :p

[liegeprime]

Maybe we need Bob Budiansky to remind them that 'they are evil' (like he did in 83, when he had to convince Hasbro to call the Decepticon Leader Megatron - they initially didn't want the name because it sounded too scary).

Without Bob, we'd have ended up with Optimus Prime facing off Fluffy-Bunny and the Decepticons... :p


You mean like this:D:D:p

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb313/liegeprime/MasterpieceMegs.jpg

[Sleeve]

HAH! That's the first thing I thought of too.

[Tallestblue]

Hooray for Pre-applied stickers!

Because My mum just gives me funny looks when I ask her to do it now I'm 30.

Ummmm...which online toystore is this available at? and what's the shipping set you back ?

[MV75]

Got mine from robot kingdom. Approx $85usd shipped. So it cost me roughly $100AUD in total to get them (toy and postage). Which isn't too bad if you price snaptrap as a deluxe and the other 5 as scouts, would be roughly that.

[GoktimusPrime]

So does Snaptrap really have a blue-green head??

[PascTF]

Yes, green head.

Got my set yesterday, LOTS of mold degradation but QC was okay. Leg connectors aren't super sturdy, only some of the Seacons work as legs, the others make the legs too floppy and make Piranacon lean forward. Only buy if cheap imo.

[GoktimusPrime]

Only buy if cheap imo.

Yeah, that's unlikely for us Aussies considering that Transformers typically cost DOUBLE what you North Americans pay. :( :mad: So at best, our "cheap" will be your "normal" :/

I got excited yesterday cos I found a General Grievous/Starfighter for $20 - half his regular retail price!

[Robzy]

Gee - I must be one of those rare people that got a really good Seacon set - mine is perfect. It doesn't have any QC issues at all (leaning forward, loose connectors).

I can't recommend this set enough! :)

[Doubledealer]

I think that if, like me, you've never owned the Seacons and you're a big fan of G1 combiners, you'll be pretty chuffed with this set. Sure, I don't have any originals to compare with, but I really can't find any real noticeable mould issues save for a few bits of excess plastic which can easily be trimmed away with a modelling knife.

The only problem with my Pirancon is with the chrome spikes on Snaptraps shell, more specifically the one on the left takes considerable force to shift position due to getting stuck on a corner. Other than that though, the shear joy this toy brings far outweighs any negatives, especially considering it's brand spanking new and selling at a decent price.

[griffin]

Even in Nth America it is an exclusive to BigBadToyStore, which is one of the worst 'scalper' styled online stores - so fans there are gonna be paying a hefty amount for them anyway. Hasbro RRP was $50 (means they should be about $30 wholesale to BBTS), but BBTS is charging $60, or $75 if you want one of their first ones (must be getting 2 shipments). Add the compulsary shipping, because it is an online store, and they are would be in the same boat as as us, if we had it for retail here.
(I noticed RK is also selling it for $60)

[iceburn]

Even in Nth America it is an exclusive to BigBadToyStore, which is one of the worst 'scalper' styled online stores - so fans there are gonna be paying a hefty amount for them anyway. Hasbro RRP was $50 (means they should be about $30 wholesale to BBTS), but BBTS is charging $60, or $75 if you want one of their first ones (must be getting 2 shipments). Add the compulsary shipping, because it is an online store, and they are would be in the same boat as as us, if we had it for retail here.
(I noticed RK is also selling it for $60)

Griff, it would be nice to place a denomination in front of the prices you've quoted, as it might be misleading. e.g Seacons US$60 and that's without shipping, hence it would be accurate to place A$85-A$100 shipped?

[griffin]

Griff, it would be nice to place a denomination in front of the prices you've quoted, as it might be misleading. e.g Seacons US$60 and that's without shipping, hence it would be accurate to place A$85-A$100 shipped?

Okay.
If I'm not using the AU$ (default) currency, I'll try to remember to include the currency in future.
I usually use AU$ in the review posting, as that is our currency (and most items are sold here). Anything not released here, I do a rough conversion based on what they should retail for. Online store scalping and shipping is just something I don't factor in, otherwise people will point out other sources that are outside that range (a bigger price-range makes it harder to compare/assess the value of items to others).

[Sutton]

Finally (belatedly) got this set and he arrived today. Pretty nice package overall, handsome presentation, and a fun set to fiddle with. Lots of pieces to lose.

I had a lot of the 'block head' combiners as a kid but Tentakill was the only Seacon I had. More so than the other special teams of the time, I think these guys really only display well in combined mode or beast modes. The robot mode of too many of the team is just too crap. The 'targetmaster' feature is interesting, although it's tricky to find a combination that works well for each gun variant, since bits and pieces get in the way - not all arms can hold all guns, if that makes sense. It's a system that would have translated well to the other special teams in hindsight. Most of them can become guns straight off the bat - Brawl makes a great gun in this format for example - but obviously the special Piranacon hands are required.

The overall quality on my set is ok, but there's a lot of flash in the way of joints the needed removing, some accessories are a bit loose and the connector joints aren't perfect. They're tight enough for my needs (sitting on a shelf mainly) but a kid would get pretty pissed pretty quick when Piranacon's legs fall off every time he picks him up. But then most kids today wouldn't be interested in a bright pink and green brick anyway.

[Sutton]

I've got the (high quality) Menasor KO in the mail too, should arrive in the next couple of weeks. I'll be interested to compare the quality between the 2...

[liegeprime]

Well I already have the original but still would like this if it was sold cheap... shiny sword ooooh!

Well, anyways that last thanksgiving sale of BBTS they dropped the price to US$39 for the set so I finally got one!:D but, I still have it in my Pile Of Loot, prolly will have it on hand in 6 months time :P heheheheh doesnt matter, I just wanted the extra set so I can play with it more coz I dont wanna fiddle with my vintage G1 pieces for fear of breaking any of em. ( for a small fella Im hamfisted :o)

[GoktimusPrime]

I posted comparison pics (and comments) between the original G1 and reissue Seacons here (http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?t=11480)

:)