Things you never realised about Transformers (toys etc)

[griffin]

This is probably something I forgot, rather than not knowing...

Seeing this on ebay, I thought it was a fake at first, but apparently there were two Movie box-sets released at the 2008 Hong Kong ACG convention - and Autobot set & a Decepticon set.

Looking on google, I found these images here of the two sets. The ebay auction also lists a link to a news article at the time.

The news posting claims that there were only 100 produced of each, while the ebay auction claims that they were being sold at the event for US$1,000 each! A lot more than the retail cost of the five toys in each boxset (one leader, two voyagers, two deluxes - which retail for about US$110).

The Autobot set - Premium leader Optimus, Premium Voyager Ironhide, regular voyager Ratchet, premium deluxe Bumblebee and premium deluxe Jazz.
The Decepticon set - Premium leader Megatron, premium voyager Deep Space Starscream, premium voyager Blackout with Scopronok, premium deluxe Barricade and regular deluxe Brawl.

At least they don't appear to be anything different, just a repackaging into a fancy new box, so isn't anything I'm interested in. It's still something I need to add to our 2008 checklist.

The thing that first made me suspicious when seeing it on ebay, was seeing that it was released in 2008 but had Pat Lee signing the certificate of authenticity... three years after Dreamwave had collapsed and he went into hiding owing lots of money to his employees.
I'm surprised that Hasbro dared to employ him for this project with so many people out of pocket due to his previous Transformers project (Dreamwave).

[griffin]

While updating the 2013 checklist, I just found out that there were actually two pairs of non-convertible TFPrime toys (Bumblebee & Optimus).
A 12 inch version of each for $10 each, and a 16 inch version of each as a TRU exclusive for $25 each.
The sculpting is very similar between each size, but there are some missing paint apps on the smaller pair. I bought the smaller pair from Amazon, without even realising that the pair I saw at TRU in America last June was a different pair.
Paulbot even sighted them in December at a Toyworld, but since they were AU$21, it is likely the small pair.
(yes, I know most here won't even consider these as Transformers toys, let alone even think of buying them)

Also while doing up the checklist, I found that the third wave of BotShots doesn't appear to have been released in America yet, but were found here early December.
(and I thought I already had them, but now realise I was thinking of the previous wave... so I'd better go find them while they are still in stores)

Speaking of BotShots,through a process of elimination, it seems that a pairing up of an unknown silver redeco of the 3pack Cindersaur (at the US Toyfair in 2012) with the Hasbro database listing that leaked in November, has resulted in it being known as "Rom the Space Knight" (as that was the actual Hasbro database name).
Since there were two BotShots numbers skipped in Series two (number 7 & 10), this is likely to be one of them. The other one that was skipped was a blue redeco of the 3pack Cindersaur (an unlucky mould with 2 versions missed), which was listed in an Asian catalogue as "Stormrazor". A reason why it was skipped may well be due to a last minute name-change of the main-line Stormrazor toy into Skystalker after the toys were already packaged... but that is just speculation, because the packaging would just be re-labelled, like PCC Spastic was (and Hasbro wouldn't care if a mere BotShots redeco had the wrong name, unless it was a trademark issue with Stormrazor).
In the end, they've used the name Skystalker on one of the next 3packs, that should have been out by now, but it seems as though BotShots are dead in the water (despite being touted as being one of Hasbro's most successful TFs lines last year).

On a related note, the Japanese GO! 3-pack of BeCool/BotShots is not just a redeco, but a mixing of body parts for each.
Kenzan is mostly Prowl with Mirage's bumper section.
Jinbu is mostly Starscream with Powerglide's head & chest section.
Ganoh is mostly Sentinel Prime with Brawl's head & chest section.

[griffin]

This is actually something I've known for a while now, but wanted to share... and this looks to be the most applicable topic.

The most recent Kreo Build set (Autobot Command Base) was shown at the US & AUS Toyfairs last year, but it ended up being completely different to the version that ended up being released. (with some different Kreons too)
So today I found a site that actually has the prototype shown WITH the released version. (the prototype is the top image)

I wonder why the set was so significantly changed, in such a short period of time (to have a fully built example as the official product image just a few months before its release).

[UltraMarginal]

This is actually something I've known for a while now, but wanted to share... and this looks to be the most applicable topic.

The most recent Kreo Build set (Autobot Command Base) was shown at the US & AUS Toyfairs last year, but it ended up being completely different to the version that ended up being released. (with some different Kreons too)
So today I found a site that actually has the prototype shown WITH the released version. (the prototype is the top image)

I wonder why the set was so significantly changed, in such a short period of time (to have a fully built example as the official product image just a few months before its release).

it does look like the orighinal design is bigger with a higher parts count. Also the newer one has equipment racks along the line of the customisable kreons, so they may have decided to tie them into the design.

[iamirondude]

found out yesterday that the black tower things on my FOC metroplex shoulders actually pull out. they make those towers look a lot better.

[DELTAprime]

Just listening to interviews on Season 1 Disk 3 of the Remastered G1 DVDs. I didn't realise that they changed the age range of the show. It's obvious now that I know that fact. I've been grimacing over some of the obviously kid focused stuff I've noticed rewatching Season 1 for the first time in about 5 years. But I've always liked Season 3 more than the others and now I know why, it was aimed at a higher age range. I always liked shows aimed at an older audience when I was a kid.

[SMHFConvoy]

Just found out that Armada Unicron's box is the perfect size to pack DVDs into.

[griffin]

Speaking of BotShots,through a process of elimination, it seems that a pairing up of an unknown silver redeco of the 3pack Cindersaur (at the US Toyfair in 2012) with the Hasbro database listing that leaked in November, has resulted in it being known as "Rom the Space Knight" (as that was the actual Hasbro database name).
Since there were two BotShots numbers skipped in Series two (number 7 & 10), this is likely to be one of them. The other one that was skipped was a blue redeco of the 3pack Cindersaur (an unlucky mould with 2 versions missed), which was listed in an Asian catalogue as "Stormrazor". A reason why it was skipped may well be due to a last minute name-change of the main-line Stormrazor toy into Skystalker after the toys were already packaged... but that is just speculation, because the packaging would just be re-labelled, like PCC Spastic was (and Hasbro wouldn't care if a mere BotShots redeco had the wrong name, unless it was a trademark issue with Stormrazor).
In the end, they've used the name Skystalker on one of the next 3packs, that should have been out by now, but it seems as though BotShots are dead in the water (despite being touted as being one of Hasbro's most successful TFs lines last year).

I've now found on the back of the packaging of the third wave, confirmation of Skystalker being B010 (and should have been in Wave 3), leaving Rom the Space Knight as being B007.



One less mystery in the world of Transformers collecting.

[Bidoofdude]

Not really a toy thing, but close enough. I just noticed yesterday when opening my remastered TFTM dvd case that you can actually turn the insert thingo inside out, to put the awesome art from the inside cover onto the outside. Has a spine and backing for that side and everything.

[GoktimusPrime]

Yeah, Madman do that with a few of their titles. The reverse side of that jacket is the Japanese TFTM poster (which was used in Japanese theatres in the 80s). They did the same thing with the Rurouni Kenshin OVA -- the reverse side had るろうに剣心 (Rurouni Kenshin), whereas the front side has "Samurai X" (needless to say I flipped it ). It's a pretty neat idea.