At the post office picking up a parcel, and saw a guy collect a big box with HLJ on the side. Somebody will be happy tonight :)
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At the post office picking up a parcel, and saw a guy collect a big box with HLJ on the side. Somebody will be happy tonight :)
Not exactly rocket science but I looked at this box yesterday and from what is rumoured the entire image could *almost* be recreated.. :cool: :cool: :cool:
https://c8.staticflickr.com/6/5505/3...4383ba32_z.jpg
Also, i think the guns with little seats in Titans Return is half a nod to the original targetmasters which is nice.
My Transformers collection has now hit the 2000 (UCM) mark with Titans Return Highbrow as my 2000th figure. :o
Heh, I just read Zelda Williams (daughter of the late, great Robin Williams) will be voice acting in RID S3.:cool:
I wonder what character she will be playing?:confused:
I know some people are really good at keeping track of their TF purchasing but I always fall off on my efforts.
But looking back at an older spreadsheet and it's actually quite a nostalgia trip to go back and see how long some items have been in my collection.
Like looking at 2008. I recall buying a BW Rattrap at a Fair not that long ago, but find it was actually 8 years ago! Same with MP4 at Target - that was in store 8 years ago? I bought some BW toys from Verno that year too (Did I?). So many movie toys.
I had a spreadsheet from back in the day, but it's completely vanished! I've gone through my pc a dozen times in the past 8 months or so but nada. I don't delete files like that (i have some really old stuff on my pc still) so I've just completely messed up somewhere along the line :(Quote:
Originally Posted by Paulbot
Games Infinity in Sydney's Market City appears to have closed down now (may have happened yonks ago - I haven't been to Market City in ages :p). If so, I wonder if this marks the end of specialist collectible stores in Sydney (is that little place near the Capitol Theatre still running? Haven't checked it out in many years :confused:). Given Games Infinity's notorious rip-off prices (even for imports) I'm surprised that they managed to stay open as long as they have. :rolleyes: Part of me is saddened to see the last vestige of brick and mortar import stores disappear from Sydney, although in reality they died off years ago when the good importers like Cartoon Gallery, Modeller's World etc. closed down. :( Games Infinity's prices were far beyond their competitors and we used to laugh at them and they earnt the nickname of "Games Insanity." It's odd that they should have been the last to go though.
It was an inevitability though. Brick and mortar importers are subject to government import taxes, levies, duties etc. A mate of mine used to work at Modeller's World and he explained to me that approximately 50% of their prices was in government imposed duties, which explained why their toys cost twice as much as what you paid in Japan. Basically, these import stores were charging the same RRP as what you'd pay in Japan, but once you add duties on top of it, you ended up paying about double. So a toy that cost $35 in Japan cost $70 here, with half of that being earnt by the store and the other half going into our government's coffers.
The rise of e-shopping has obviously out-competed brick and mortar specialist stores. It became all too easy for Aussies to pre-order Japanese imports from places like HLJ and pay the same RRP as people in Japan (or cheaper with early bird discounts), vs paying double RRP at the average import shop (or triple (or more) at places like Games Infinity :rolleyes:). And this was before Australian-based online dealers like Premium Collectables came along. Perhaps it's the rise of AU-based e-stores that are now pushing out the last of the import stores here.
I suppose that Aussie importers do still exist, but as online stores now rather than brick and mortar shop fronts. I was never really able to support the old brick and mortar shops in the old days (although I did often like window shopping there :D) because as much as I want to support local business, I couldn't justify paying double prices for all my Japanese toys. But I'm more than happy to support online Aussie business like PC wherever possible. :)
Congrats :) I'm surprised you didn't hold off and buy something more significant for your 2000th unless of course the character holds special meaning for you.Quote:
Originally Posted by GoktimusPrime
I wonder if they'll ever release non-Titan/Headmaster versions of Titan Return figures in the future. Example, versions of Galvatron, Scourge, Blurr that uses their TR bodies but excludes the titanmasters gimmick. They'd need to be retooled of course, but I wouldn't mind seeing such toys, even if they have to parts-form the heads (where the heads, non-transforming, just get plugged in similar to a Combiner hand/foot).
The thought popped up in my head when I was mucking around with Scourge. The nice thing about TR scourge is that the alt-mode (space ship) is accurate to the original toy and the robot proportions are more impressive than the 2010 Generations toy. My only slight nitpick with the TR toy is that the titanmaster gimmick makes the head a bit too square for my liking. Ideally, to me, Scourge's head is bucket-shaped (like Windcharger, Megatron, and Skydive) but with a gun on top. If I had the time, skill, and means (i.e. a 3D printer), I'd probably try to sculpt my own non-transforming Scourge head.
It wasn't deliberate, but I've had a hell of a time finding the Wave 2 TR Deluxes so I just grabbed 'em as soon as I found 'em, and Highbrow just happened to be #2000. :oQuote:
Originally Posted by 5FDP
I stopped filling out my spreadsheet last year. Given that I'm simply buying current release Takara Generations and Masterpiece I don't feel the need to fill in a spreadsheet anymore.Quote:
Originally Posted by Paulbot
Actually I think the spreadsheet method just made me spend more money. I would look at a line like Henkei and see I was only missing say 5 figures from the entire line and then I would go hunt them down for completion sake. Now that I don't look at the spreadsheet anymore I don't feel the need to go back and fill in the blanks. As for the Henkei line I never got Armada Hotshot or the second Minibot set and I feel fine about it now.
I still keep track of my purchases... just not the amount I spend, as it's best that I don't know. :p
Hehe, I think it would be easier for you to keep track of the things you don't have! :DQuote:
Originally Posted by griffin
If you can model up a head you can get it printed on a website like shapeways. granted it's not a cheap way of doing it. there might be something more local you could use for the first go or two before you finalised the design.Quote:
Originally Posted by FatalityPitt
with regards to the Titan returns figures being remoulded. I get why the headmasters are headmasters but I feel making everyone a headmaster is really effecting the engineering of the other toys. Voyager Galvatron for example. the face mask looks pretty mediocre and a huge section of the chest it Taken up with the flip out mask gimmick when a smaller amount of the chest could be used for that and the unused space may have been utilised in making the transformation and other modes more homogenous.
The current design of both Megatron and Alpha trion uses up a massive amount of body space for the gimmick and both have extremely restricted head movement. Good head movement is one of the features that gave the Combiner Wars toys so much character.
Scourge has a massive amount of his core being used up for a cockpit for the titan master, I would like to see what might have been if he was not a headmaster and didn't need a cockpit. it might have allowed for those ridiculous flaps on the underside of his alt mode to go somewhere else.
Quote:
Originally Posted by griffin
True that. :DQuote:
Originally Posted by BruiseLee
Yeah, I checked out shapeways. Someone there is selling fan-made faces for TR Scourge. But shipping, for something so small, is outrageously expensive. Also, looking at the sizes, I don't think they're big enough to cover the titan master arms; which really are the culprit for my little first-world problem with Scourge.Quote:
Originally Posted by UltraMarginal
It's definietly possible to make versions of Galvatron and Scourge without the Titanmaster gimmick. For Galvatron, the head could flip up from where the mask is. It's a pretty ample cavity that can well and truly fit a whole head. For Scourge, if it weren't for the cockpit, the head could've easily been made retractable by attaching it at the top of the 'spine' that gets pulled up and down during transformation (if you've played with the toy, you'd see where I'm coming from).
As for the flaps that make Scourge's shins, they don't bother me too much, but I can see that if they changed the transformation by having the lower legs turned the other way (so the side exterior of the space ship makes the shins instead of the calves); they could've excluded thos flaps. Problem with excluding the flaps is that Scourge will then have hollow legs like CW Bombshell.
To sum up - it's definitely possible for some TR toys (namely Galvatron and Scourge) to be re-made without the Titanmaster gimmick. Question is; will Hasbro/Takara do that if enough fans clamoured long and hard enough?..
I don't think they would.
If you were interested in doing some design work of your own I'd suggest 123D as a free basic CAD system. you could then submit the .stl files to shapeways yourself.
Just thinking about the simplicity of Twintwist and Topspin and how Hasbro could make the pair as TR legends class figures...
Got the Retro Edition of Transformers Monopoly for my birthday (along with some other TF stuff). No wonder it was only half the price of Transformers Monopoly: Collectors Edition, it's only half as good! Collectors edition is way better, though I'm quite happy to have both now :)
Listening to a 'Stuff You Should Know' podcast on Action Figures (3/11/16), they spoke about Ronald Reagan appointing a new head to the US Federal Trade Commission who went on to make it possible (in order to encourage free markets) for toy manufacturers to advertise heavily with and during cartoons. Without this ruling, we may not have had Transformers as we know them.
Just thinking about the cost of MP figures compared to the cost of their original counterparts, with the cost of the originals adjusted for contemporary standards and MP prices are based on full Japanese RRP (as opposed to the discounted pre-order prices that we usually pay). We can see...
* MP Lambor is 200% dearer than the original Sideswipe toy.
* MP Beast Convoy is 221% dearer than the original Ultra Optimus Primal toy.
* MP Soundwave is 356% dearer than the original Soundwave (although much cheaper if you got the Hasbro version locally)
* MP11 Starscream is 433% dearer than the original Starscream
* MP10 is 462% dearer than the original Optimus Prime toy.
I got Cybertron Swerve for my birthday - my son has gone to bed with his little flashlight looking at the catalog poster.
So friggin cute - I'm raising that boy right :D
Wait.... How much was beast convoy back in the day?Quote:
Originally Posted by GoktimusPrime
I started watching RID2015 season 2 last night.
I really like the Decepticon designs for this series, the vehicle modes and animal-esque robot modes has me most fascinated. Shame even the warrior toys don't manage to look as snazzy as the TV show
Jokingly, I nominate Regan or a member of the powerful lobby group as future inducties into the Transformers Hall of Fame!Quote:
Originally Posted by M-bot
Interestingly, i came across this article (http://www.earthisland.org/journal/i...sicle_package/) regarding the impact of this change on kids food advertising (and it briefly mentions toy cartoons). It is a very good read and fine example of lobby groups affecting policy.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tetsuwan Convoy
I like seeing Decepticons with beast modes or animal motifs. It makes them more distinct from Autobots, who usually turn just into boring ol' cars, trucks, and the occasional plane. Also, the animal motifs remind me a lot a lot of RiD Car Robots from the early 2000's
Regan wanted to pull down a wall, Trump wants to build one. Does that mean Trump is anti-TF? :eek::pQuote:
Originally Posted by Deonasis
I had a glance at the ClickFrenzy website this morning. Didn't notice many interesting deals aside from ToyWorld and TwoScoops, and also noted that the CF website was very blue.
Wanted to check them out again just now, but I'm having mental slow day as I've been sick for a week. Googled the website name instead of typing the URL, had a good look at the search results and wondered, "wth is this crap?". Just realised I Googled "click rumble" instead.
Random musings
How is it that Kmart can sell G2 Bruticus at $99 and make a profit, whilst TRU has him at $169 (down from $199)? How much of a markup must TRU have on the set? Did they pay a premium cost to get them in first before everyone else? Why do I still shop at TRU?
Cost prices per unit are higher.Quote:
Originally Posted by 1AZRAEL1
Probably not.
Why do you still shop there? :p
What bugs me is Target has Menasor for $199 but Superion is $119. I pointed out to them on Facebook that they are exactly the same, and it's like charging a different amount for 2 different deluxes.
No avail.
They probably bought less units of G2 Bruticus as G2 Superion and G2 Menasor didn't sell well. And if they didn't buy as much stock then Hasbro AU may have been overstocked and reduced bulk prices for Kmart.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sinnertwin
I'm thinking of throwing all my Masterpiece's clam shells and flattening the boxes. With all the releases over the last couple of years I'm running low on room. There goes the resale value.:p
Even flattened boxes can take up a lot of space after a while. I just chuck most of my packaging out now.
I had to do a bit of box tetris today in my cupboard after picking up MP Thrust. Once Inferno and Skywarp arrive, I'm going to have to make some tough decisions on boxes.
Heh, just had all my TR Dlx Vehicles lined up in a row, canopies open.
Reminds me of games like Wing Commander where you choose a vehicle based on your play style - Low Armour, High Speed etc...
Blurr
Type: Land
Speed: High
Armour: Low
Weapons: Low
Chromedome
Type: Land
Speed: Medium
Armour: Medium
Weapons: Medium
Hardhead
Type: Land
Speed: Low
Armour: High
Weapons: High
Brainstorm
Type: Air/Space
Speed: High
Armour: Low
Weapons: Low
Highbrow
Type: Air
Speed: Medium
Armour: Medium
Weapons: Medium
and so on....
Well I learnt a valuable lesson just now about the MP12/14 mould. Be very careful when inserting the gun into the cannon as it can become stuck.:rolleyes:
Annnnnnd now I've met Steve Blum as well. I got him to sign a Starscream print I got whilst at Adelaide Supanova (even though it was a G1 Starscream). I apologized for it being the wrong Starscream but he was still happy to sign it and he was a cool guy. :) I also got a Galvatron print while I was there.
With Titans Return figs showing up locally in fairly quick succession, I'm debating cancelling my preorders from BBTS.
I mean surely we will see W3 voyagers and Sixshot sooner rather than later, now that the deluxe have been spotted?
It's always a gamble not preordering, but if you're in an area with a bunch of choices you should be fine. Those of us with fewer options if one place sells out, that's a bigger gamble.Quote:
Originally Posted by davieanix