The Fortress Maximus Appreciation Thread

[GoktimusPrime]

Ex-actly. They don't and probably never will make them like they used to.

Actually, most reissues are the same quality as the originals. Some are actually improved (e.g. Encore Convoy)... although some are inferior (e.g. Bruticus, Devastator). I think most of the value in an original G1 toy is more sentimental; not saying that there's anything at all wrong with that... I personally see sentimental value is being far greater than monetary value -- it's something that you just cannot put a price on (like say a family heirloom).

So yeah, when Encore Fortress Maximus comes out, a lot more people will be able to join the "Fort Max Owners Club," but I think there's still only a relatively smaller number of people who can claim to be members of the "Original G1 Fort Max Owners Club." As others have said, no matter how awesome a reissue is, it will only ever be a reproduction (albeit legitimately done, unlike KOs).

I agree. I find the attachment to toys I have is often through the story that comes while attaining it over the actual toy itself.

Also the story about just owning it. Our G1 toys are our childhood... each time I look at my G1 collection it's like meeting up with an old childhood friend, only that they never left you. That's why when I get a reissue, I still keep my original G1 toy too... I could never* part with my childhood G1 toys, even after getting a reissue. So I personally don't "replace" G1 toys with reissues, but rather I get reissues so I can continue to play with these G1 toys, but my childhood "buddies" end up being "retired" as display pieces. The years/decades of memories contained in our G1 toys is something that is truly priceless. e.g. My original G1 Brawn... it's not in the best of conditions; shoulders are loose and one of the original arms has a damaged shoulder clip and scratched chrome (I've since replaced it with an arm from a reissue)... but I'll always love that toy because it was my very first Transformer toy that I got way back in 1984 from HobbyCo on the way to what I was expecting to be a really dull piano concerto (turned out it was, but thankfully Brawn kept me entertained ). It's the toy that "started it all" for me, nearly 3 decades ago! But yeah, I'm more than happy to buy reissues. The only G1 toys that I have sentimental attachment to are the ones I've already owned since childhood. Someone else's G1 toy holds no such sentimental value for me.

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*There's only ever been 1 exception: Perceptor. That's because I got Perceptor when I was a uni student, so he wasn't exactly a childhood toy, and also the connector for his microscope barrel was always broken anyway. The reissue gave me a brand new minty one, and then there was another OTCA member was really wanted an original G1 Perceptor (but he's not into collecting reissues), so I sold him mine. At least I know it's in the hands of a fellow collector and not in some junkyard or some unappreciative child.

[M-bot]

So yeah, when Encore Fortress Maximus comes out, a lot more people will be able to join the "Fort Max Owners Club," but I think there's still only a relatively smaller number of people who can claim to be members of the "Original G1 Fort Max Owners Club." As others have said, no matter how awesome a reissue is, it will only ever be a reproduction (albeit legitimately done, unlike KOs).

While I pretty much agree with you on the issue of sentimentality, I would disagree with you on this - a reissue is not a reproduction any more than the second toy off the production line in the '80's is a reproduction of the first. The reissues are a genuine G1 toy IMHO, just made more recently. One could argue about the value of a reissue compared to an 80's produced toy (much the same as a second or third printing of a book or comic), and we can certainly should label it appropriately as a reissue rather than a toy made in the '80's, but I'm not sure we should make people who have reissues rather than the 'original' toy feel like their toy is second rate.

[GoktimusPrime]

I love reissues, and I didn't mean to make reissue collectors feel like their toys are second rate. If anything, I think reissues are superior to the originals, because they're minty new and less likely to break on you than some 20~30 year old G1 toy. I love both for different reasons. I love my G1s, because I meticulously collected them as a youngster during the 1980s/90s - no eBay, no online shopping - as well as the years I've spent playing with and taking care of these toys. So there's years of emotional investment that I've poured into my G1 collection as their custodian for nearly 3 decades now. My reissues I love for more pragmatic reasons - being much newer they look and feel nicer, and I'm happy to play with them more without fear of damaging them as I would with my original G1s.

I also really love reissues because it gives people the opportunity to get some of the G1 toys that we may have missed out on during the 1980s/90s. While I did collect most of G1 during that time, I certainly didn't collect all of it, and there are a few figures that I'm still missing. And even if I'm not missing it, I like to get the reissue so that I can 'retire' my original and play with the reissue. I've never been into buying toys off the secondary market at inflated prices. I was delighted when Hasbro sold some remaining G1 toy stock as mail away exclusives - it allowed me to get some toys that I'd missed out when they were in stores, like Wheeljack, Ratchet and Thundercracker. I found out later when the toys arrived that they were packaged in plastic bags with no box, which was disappointing, but most importantly, I had the toys! Then when the 1990/91 Classic reissues came out, I was happy again, and bought more toys that I'd missed out on before -- Sideswipe, Tracks, Prowl, remaining members of gestalt teams etc. And of course, since Takara(TOMY) have been doing reissues since 2000, I've been able to collect even more toys that I'd been missing, or just 'replacing' figures old/worn toys that I already have.

So yeah, don't get me wrong... reissues ROCK!

[theshape]

With collectables, most people want the original. A re print of action comics one may be superior in every way but it's not an action one, you couldn't fairly say you own one. If it's what you want and the price is right, that's the main thing. People will continue to pay stupid money for original things (like me )

[Sinnertwin]

Quality wise, ive had quite a few problems with reissues. Take Hoist for instance, he's stuck in vehicle mode permanently because his wrist sockets are too small to fit anything. Grapple feels brittle compared to my '85 Inferno.
And the list goes on...
The reissue Fort isnt made to the exact specifications of the original. Most of the reissues aren't, be it screws that they use, assembly or paint apps etc. As close as they may appear to be, they're not the Real McCoy. i still collect reissues though to fill any gaps in my collection that i may not be able to afford otherwise.

[1orion2many]

I have a couple of reissues in my collection mainly due to cost restrictions. An original Bluestreak before the reissue was a classic example, Red-Alert and Sideswipe are another couple I have but they were more because finding one in decent condition was painful. I do have the reissue TM Hotrod but managed to pick an original off Griffin about a year after the reissue was released for $60.00 in good-excellent condition. I have Encore FM coming but mainly for the packaging as I already have 2 originals loose complete and a Brave Max as well. In essence I'm paying a small fortune for a box that just happens to have a transformer inside

[GoktimusPrime]

Replied to theshape's and Sinnertwin's comments here

I have Encore FM coming but mainly for the packaging as I already have 2 originals loose complete and a Brave Max as well. In essence I'm paying a small fortune for a box that just happens to have a transformer inside

...and swords. (unless you already have the original swords)

[1orion2many]

Replied to theshape's and Sinnertwin's comments here

...and swords. (unless you already have the original swords)

Alright and a the swords

[DELTAprime]

Just placed my preorder, can't wait for him to turn up.

[DarkHyren]

Just got an email from Hobby Search, appears that they have Fortress Maximus in stock and are preparing him for shipment!
So excited, might have him by the end of next week if things go ok