Nice to complete the set!
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Nice to complete the set!
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Originally Posted by KillinSpoon
Damnit, you still saw it coming?Quote:
Originally Posted by 1AZRAEL1
I thought I'd throw in some unpredictability by unveiling Guard City first... obviously didn't work.
Quote:
Originally Posted by LordCyrusOmega
Yup, like I said, I really like this guy's dino-mode. Simple, yet incredibly effective. Great box art too if I may add.Quote:
Originally Posted by KillinSpoon
Feels very good to have gotten these before the KOs come out. I'm breathing a great sign of relief. :DQuote:
Originally Posted by gamblor916
OMG..too epic *drools*
Looking forward to your blog updates on these guys. While the items are so nice, I always enjoy the full story as to the figures and your journey of hunting/bargaining and acquiring them.
After staring at that guard city... I really want a g1 defensor now...
Re: Dino cassettes: Wow, I knew they combined, but never actually seen the full combined mode. That is sooo NICE!!! lucky you got these before the imminent KOs.
LOL :p:DQuote:
Originally Posted by heroic_decepticon
All in 1 go? - F*** Yeah man, excellent! ;):cool:Quote:
This is the final dino-cassette... Hursti, you would be delighted to hear that I did do a clean sweep of all 4! I knew you were rooting for me somewhere. :D
You're dead right I'm glad to hear that man, as I was really hoping that would be the case but more to the point, that you'd find them much-much sooner than later. :D
A Big Congratulations Heroic on completing this set of Grails, with these in particular being a very hard grail to achieve in anyone's mind! :eek::D:cool:Quote:
Like I mentioned earlier, there has been some contention between which is the rarest dino-cassette. Some think that its C-124: Zauru but others think that its C-123: Diaru. Well, either way, it makes Legout (their combined form) rarer than Decibel, that's for sure.
In any case, this is easily one of my favourite dino-cassettes. The transformation is simple, yet very effective to create the lanky look and feel of a "Brontosaurus". The colour is a dark rich blue, but not black. There is a lot of character to this mold. Oh, and the box art is my favourite among the 4, Dairu comes close, but the Zauru box art is awesome!
In any case, what's important to me is that these guys are in the collection as a set.
So, Zauru, the Apatosaurus as Hursti and Sky Shadow decided earlier? Personally, I like Brontosaurus... hahaha...
Photos!
*snip*
http://inlinethumb26.webshots.com/46...600x600Q85.jpg
*snip*
http://inlinethumb07.webshots.com/15...600x600Q85.jpg
Looking very photogenic and compatible with Bluestreak
*snip*
Dairu and Zauru combined = Legout!
*snip*
http://inlinethumb25.webshots.com/23...600x600Q85.jpg
I've got to say that this guy does look really cool as his dimensions as an Apatosaurus (:p) working rather well for such a minute form factor. ;)
This one looks to be of a more Doubledealer/clouder Blue which I think works quite well and ties with the other intriguing colour choices of his comrades. :cool:
His combined mode, like the previous, show's an early design period for combining cassettes which the idea is actually quite growing on me, as if they are the prototypes of a technology - forerunners if you will, but look utterly robotic which is an essential achievement. :)
The box looks great too, with only minor (To me) wear and a slight crease running down the character art side. :o
I hope that when you find the time after you've done the write-ups for all these figures on your blog dude, that you are able to do some Hi-Res scans of the boxart of each but whilst I know Botch will absolutely giggle with delight (I know I would/will) I wonder what your thoughts are on the possibility that some... undesirables, might use what Botch and yourself are doing for the community to produce counterfeit replica boxes and such?
I don't want to leave this on a negative though, so might I mention that this:
... Is in need of an update and would these recent acquisitions suggest that the only figures you now need are Blue Bacchus and Black Shadow? :eek::eek::eek:Quote:
Final G1 list [updated 15 Oct 2010]
USA G1 (1): Skyhopper
Japanese G1 (7): Gurafi, Noizu, Zauru, Dairu, Artfire, Hydra, Buster, Go-Shooter, Minerva, Sixknight, Galaxy Shuttle, Black Shadow, Blue Bacchus, Dai Atlas, Sonic Bomber, Road Fire, Grandus, Sky Garry
Accessories (5): Weirdwolf gun, Doublecross gun, Longtooth small gun, Stranglehold small gun, Doubleheader small gun.
And Artfire :pQuote:
Originally Posted by Hursticon
Congrats on getting the set, and seeing that there all pritty dam near mint. Just about every page in this thread has a picture of something insanely rare and expensive and i like it :D!
Can we get a group pic of all the Dino Cassettes in dino mode :D
What thems said.Quote:
Originally Posted by rampagesss
Personally, I think it's a Diplodocus. :PQuote:
Originally Posted by Hursticon
Don't make me get all Gigantosaurus on you! :p:DQuote:
Originally Posted by KillinSpoon
Guard City is okay. It's nice in some ways and weird in other ways. I really want it more because its one of the last G1 combiners ever released and also because its a very nice giftset box with nice box art!Quote:
Originally Posted by gdmetro
I definitely intend to update the full story on my blog when I got time to get around to it.
I love every page of this thread too!Quote:
Originally Posted by rampagesss
I do have group shots, just have to go home and load 'em up... as the next chapter (or page). :D
That too. I really can't be assed about BB and BS because the asking prices are just stupid. I come across them a lot, both on auction and privately, but really not impressed with the price. So, won't buy them till the prices go lower, or not at all... hmmm... not sure.Quote:
Originally Posted by 1AZRAEL1
Yeah I want Guard City because it is a nice giftset box but again Im not going to pay lots on money for some of the toys to be yellowed.Quote:
Originally Posted by heroic_decepticon
And I agree with your comments regarding BB and BS. Too expensive and half the time they are in crap condition for the prices that they ask for ($700US for a BB with damaged foam/box and its been played with.....stuff that).
What's BB & BS?
Blue Bacchus & Black Shadow. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by jaydisc
Yellowed Guard City is just not on. All 4 of its limbs are supposed to be predominantly white. If any are yellowed, it'd suck majorly.Quote:
Originally Posted by valkyrie_76
Yeah, there are lots of crap BB and BS out there and people are just trying to milk these. Not really interested to pay that much for these. I think US$450 to 500 is about the range that'd make me buy, but otherwise, we'll see...
What the man said. :pQuote:
Originally Posted by Hursticon
Collective Dino-cassette shots (I think these are awesome, but that's just me...)
All 4 MIB dino-cassettes / Out of box with contents laid out
http://inlinethumb29.webshots.com/12...600x600Q85.jpg http://inlinethumb21.webshots.com/47...600x600Q85.jpg
http://inlinethumb44.webshots.com/45...600x600Q85.jpg http://inlinethumb04.webshots.com/93...600x600Q85.jpg
In their inserts and bio cards. Man I love this shot. But like Hursti said earlier, its a pity these are plastic inserts and not styro.
http://inlinethumb06.webshots.com/46...600x600Q85.jpg
Combined forms and with Blaster and Twincast (see, I said #1 of 6 and #2 of 6 will make sense in the end!)
http://inlinethumb17.webshots.com/43...600x600Q85.jpg http://inlinethumb17.webshots.com/48...600x600Q85.jpg
There's no way Twincast will not kick Soundblaster's ass with these 4 on his side (assuming each of them are as powerful as a Dinobot)
http://inlinethumb43.webshots.com/31...600x600Q85.jpg
Decibel and Legout with Bluestreak (the real one). Now this thread is having more coherence...
http://inlinethumb55.webshots.com/48...600x600Q85.jpg http://inlinethumb06.webshots.com/30...600x600Q85.jpg
The money shot...
C-38: Broadblast
C-116: Twincast
C-121: Gurafi
C-122: Noizu
C-123: Dairu
C-124: Zauru
http://inlinethumb19.webshots.com/46...600x600Q85.jpg
The money-er shot...
http://inlinethumb50.webshots.com/45...600x600Q85.jpg
PS: There is Epilogue #2 tomorrow... you get a Heroic commendation if you guess right (Ultra Magnus is not allowed to guess cos he knows)
Time Warrior or bust
Another big congratulations HD :):cool::eek:
Getting the Dino Cassettes before the KO versions infiltrate is an achievement.
I love the Money and Money-er shots :D
Twincast and Soundblaster really do complement each other.
Twincast now has new little dino buddies. I bet the Steeljaw and Ramhorn are feeling a bit jealous that Dinos have taken their place :)
As for Guard City - out of curiousity, are they partly die-cast or plastic?
Another great piece.
Only Guard City to go aye ;)
who's "bust"Quote:
Originally Posted by GoktimusPrime
Yeah, I love the fact that I managed to get all 4 communicators at around the same span of time I got the dino-cassettes. Soundblaster was from Osaka. Then when I returned to HK, I saw D-17 Soundwave in my usual shop. A few days later, I went back to my usual shop to haggle for Twincast, which he had there for more than 5 months (I got a HK$2500 discount!). Then I picked up C-38: Blaster from another shop who also had it for months and months (I got a HK$500 discount!).Quote:
Originally Posted by optimus1
Guard City:
The equivalent of Groove and Streetwise has die-cast parts, but the other 3 have no die-cast (like their second release back in '86 where they also didn't have die-cast).
I'm thinking of having a go at combining Guard City...
Very nice acquisitions, that money-er shot looks really nice
Congrats on some awesome scores there :)
The money shot... :eek:
The money-er shot... :eek::eek::eek:
They are great pics man and one can only guess how much its cost to set them up :D but hey if i could do it i would as well, when i first saw the dino cassettes i wanted them, one i found out how rare and expensive they were i quickly gave up :rolleyes:
I really cant wait untill you get Artfire, I always considered him just a crappy re-paint of Inferno, but after i custom painted one for myself i really like him and the colors work well
Again can't wait to see whats next as there really isn't much left for you to get
LOL - Holy crap HD! :p:DQuote:
Originally Posted by heroic_decepticon
I swear man, I think you totally just owned this thread with that one post! :eek::D
But in all seriousness, a huge congratulations dude on finally being able to knock some huge acquisitions out of your Most Wanted list. :)
It's always great to see how happy people are when they finally manage to acquire something they've been after for ages and I hope this is a continuing trend for all of you members who collect these insane items. :cool:
You've no doubt got quite a bit of writing lined up for your Blog dude - People are going to go nuts when they see these, but also, it's going to be a thoroughly interesting read as to just how you managed to actually find these guys. ;):D
Nice pics! Those boxes look really good too.
Hey HD - Have you ever thought about having some company publish these photos e.g. in a coffee-table book format? I'm sure there would be interest out there. I for one would love to have this as a handy reference and it would become it's own collectible.
I'd second that, as I've always felt that HD's photos were very... 'clinical'? - is that the right word? :confused:Quote:
Originally Posted by 5FDP
Anyway, I think they'd be very suitable for what you propose dude. :)
sounds like transformers generations
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Originally Posted by heretic2010
Quote:
Originally Posted by rampagesss
I just love the money-er shot. I also like the shot of them in their inserts and bios cards only.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hursticon
Artfire is going to be hard to get, because I want to get it MIB and with unused stickers and of course no yellowing. I don't think he's as hard to get as the dino-cassettes, but then there're very little people letting go of him.Quote:
Originally Posted by rampagesss
Also, the prices for this piece have gone through the roof, as well (what's new). My one regret was not picking him up back in early late 2009 when I saw him at my usual shop here in HK for US$800. Now, people are asking thousands for this guy. And since he is essentially now a new mold and a 'strange' inferno repaint, I'm not really inclined to splash that sort of cash on it (I mean, if someone came up and offered me a piece for that price, I might bite, but if I have to go out there and search and search and beg people to sell just so they can lighten my wallet but a thousand or so bucks, forget it, its too much trouble.... :D)
Man, I'm damn happy with these. I go home and see them and I beam with joy. There's just something about them. One part of my is afraid that I am fond of them only because they are rare (not an uncommon thing for collectors), but I don't think that is the case for me. I think I would still like most of them, esp Zauru, even if they were common. I'm least fond of Gurafi and I'm still least fond of him even though he is rare.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hursticon
Hahaha... yes, lots to update on my blog, I know. You, gdmetro, Botch and a few others have been reminding me. Hahaha... I will try my best!
Hardly :rolleyes: I haven't read my copy for a while and I can't be bothered pulling it out, but from memory there aren't many (if any) good quality MI(S)B pictures. I'm just as interested in seeing the boxes / artwork as I'm sure many others would be as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by GoktimusPrime
After seeing them pics I just made my own...
Very impressive dude. Love the shots, makes me want to start collecting G1 again. Almost. I'm still too Jaded but looking at them, Beautiful
Love your idea, ben. I share your frustration that no book actually features the toys in their packaging, surely one of it's strongest and most attractive points.Quote:
Originally Posted by 5FDP
Esp for early G1 figures, even the top of box is worth documenting because the photos of the toys there are often prototypes a d different from what is in the package.
Way different from TF generations I agree
I'm about to post Epilogue #2, but no one seems to have guessed it yet...
anyway, it'll be up soon... heh :p
You bit the bullet and picked up Artfire, didn't you? :p
heh, not really, though I would have loved to.Quote:
Originally Posted by bowspearer
However, this guy is more significant than Artfire.... :D
... this is #8 of 6 (?) or Epilogue #2...
Operation Combiner, TF-10: Battle Gaia MIB, unused
- This the final G1 combiner to make a clean sweep (I thought Dinoking was difficult, this guy was even harder to find).
- This is arguably the final Decepticon in the Japanese exclusive line for G1.
- Since its TF-10, the last TF in the Operation Combiner series, it is also arguably the last Transformer in the Japanese exclusive G1 line.
- It is also the final Japanese exclusive TF that is missing from the collective collection thread.
- It is, quite fittingly, the final chapter of this thread (sadly :eek:)
Side note: I have also addressed Botch's blog-post with this thread...
To me, as a repaint, Battle Gaia is superior to Guard City in many many ways (of course the Defensor mold is much nicer than the Bruticus mold, don't get me wrong). This repaint is better executed than Guard City I think.
I actually bought this from the same shop and at the same time I bought Guard City, heh. What a good day it was. Love it when these things comes in pairs (like when I bought Goodbye Convoy and Goodbye Megatron at the same time).
The demand and corresponding 2nd hand market value of this piece cannot be underestimated. It is far more expensive than Guard City. A set, not as good condition as mine, sold for US$1850 on eBay recently. Even loose Battle Gaias command up to US$1000 in normal instances.
For a mold that has a repaint in so many post G1 toylines, its quite confounding why this particular incarnation commands such stratospheric prices. :confused:
Be that as it may, here it is.... Battle Gaia!
The box art is magnificent
http://inlinethumb27.webshots.com/47...600x600Q85.jpg http://inlinethumb33.webshots.com/47...600x600Q85.jpg
Great Cannon and Shuttle Gunner (flash fact: FansProject explorer was repainted into Shuttle Gunner as "Flameblast")
http://inlinethumb53.webshots.com/48...600x600Q85.jpg http://inlinethumb57.webshots.com/48...600x600Q85.jpg
Target Hawk and Sandstorm (I really like this repaint of Brawl)
http://inlinethumb53.webshots.com/47...600x600Q85.jpg http://inlinethumb31.webshots.com/48...600x600Q85.jpg
Leyland (flash fact: FansProject Munitioner was repainted into Leyland as "Warcry")
http://inlinethumb09.webshots.com/47...600x600Q85.jpg http://inlinethumb52.webshots.com/47...600x600Q85.jpg
Back of box showing "free-combination" / Tech Specs (slightly smarter than Bruticus huh)
http://inlinethumb13.webshots.com/45...600x600Q85.jpg http://inlinethumb50.webshots.com/48...600x600Q85.jpg
Inside package / paperworks and unused sticker sheet
http://inlinethumb09.webshots.com/45...600x600Q85.jpg http://inlinethumb42.webshots.com/47...600x600Q85.jpg
Together with TF-04: Guard City
http://inlinethumb02.webshots.com/49...600x600Q85.jpg http://inlinethumb30.webshots.com/46...600x600Q85.jpg
Of all the stunning pieces you have posted in this thread battle Gaia is the only one that in jealouse of. It's my personal grail and I've only ever seen 2 besides the one you posted above that I'd actually buy. The 2 I found, both on eBay I bidded on and lost and they were 4 years apart. Congratulations on your acquisition it's gorgeous
Nice work, how much did it set you back?
Nice one HD, you truly are the king of the hunt.
Though if I'm really honest (and this is just my opinion) it doesn't do as much for me as the others in this thread. Not a fan of the colours.
Still, for such a rare toy (I didn't even know it exissted) it's an amazing find.
Amazing again HD! The bots look kind of naked though I don't think you'd be applying the stickers :D
How o you find such (seemingly) perfect toys and packaging of all these?