CHUG verion advice - Hasbro or TakaraTomy?

[liegeprime]

For those 3 figures in particular, the Hasbro version will be enough Sam. No need to pay the higher price of Taktom version, sadly Blitzwing has shoulder issues due to the mould problem and both Hasbro or Takara will have this looseness issue, so best to get the Hasbro version on all them 3. the minor changes in hue and paint that Takara introduced for these 3 figures are at best negligible IMO. Plus I'm seeing in some online sites that the Hasbro version of Springer and Blitzwing have been reduced in price ( sale of sorts I guess), which offers you more savings. hope that helps. Cheers!

[Sky Shadow]

For Blitzwing, Springer and Sandstorm, you can pay US$64.97 total (plus postage) for the Hasbro versions at BigBadToyStore, or US$138.07 (plus postage) for the Tomy ones. It's up to you to decide if the decos are worth over twice the price.

[jazzcomp]

For Blitzwing, Springer and Sandstorm, you can pay US$64.97 total (plus postage) for the Hasbro versions at BigBadToyStore, or US$138.07 (plus postage) for the Tomy ones. It's up to you to decide if the decos are worth over twice the price.

Should be less if you use amazon

[Sky Shadow]

Should be less if you use amazon

That's true, but since Sam seems to want to keep them in the boxes, it may become a question of whether saving six bucks with Amazon is worth the potential of getting packaging that looks like it's been trampled by buffalo.

[Bidoofdude]

You should be able to get the triple changers in Hasbro version for pretty cheap. I personally like the Hasbro colours for them myself. As others have said, it's a mixed bag. Henkei, though they had superior-looking paintjobs, had chrome in some random places, which may put you off (or pull you in). Takara's Generations line had vastly superior paintjobs (in most cases) to Hasbro's, though there is a considerable price distance, especially since most import them anyway. You're looking at a little more than Australian retail before shipping for most Takara Generations figs and most Hasbro seem to be on clearance or cheaper before shipping.

[STL]

Hello everyone, I am after some advice on whether you recommend buying the Hasbro version over the TakaraTomy one, or vice versa ?

Questions.

1. Are Hasbro versions generally cheaper?
2. Are TakaraTomy verions' paint applications usually better / finer?
3. Any other points of comparisons you can think of that would warrant consideration?

Specifically, I am interested in Generations Springer, Sandstorm, and Bliztwing, but may also consider other figures.

I like the idea of presenting the figure in robot mode, which I think is what TakaraTomy's versions do, but at the same time prefer reading an English character bio on the box. I can't read Japanese apart from the tech spec attributes.

Thanks!

Let me preface this by saying I like the finer things in TFs. Quality above "just good enough".

1.) Hasbro is generally cheaper and generally available earlier than Takara versions. It's generally at least x2 times. But if you're in Australia, it's generally only $5-6 more than retail price depending on how much you manage to save on shipping.

2.) 90% of the time. Not always. But 90%. Where the Hasbro paint applications are as good or better, I will acquire both.

Takara puts more thought into the paint applications, the plastic/windscreen colours. If you take the recent Rhinox figure, the Hasbro is fine if you don't have a reference point. Put it next to Takara one though, and the two are moon bases apart.

3.) With Takara, it is almost always better to buy now rather than later. Later, the price of Takara versions can be 50-100% higher than the Hasbro counterpart. If you like it, get it. Don't wait. Because you could end up paying through the roof.

In terms of the 3 you're interested in:
- Springer: Either. Both are equally excellent and I can't decide which one I like more. If on the cheap side, Hasbro but as I said, either version is excellent.
- Sandstorm: Takara. Only just. The colour choices and mix of black and different shades of orange work way better on the Takara version. But the differences are still mired in nuance and it's not as if Hasbro's is not good. It is. I don't have one of Hasbro but would not be adverse to having one as part of my collection.
- Blitzwing: Takara. By a long margin. Just be wary though, the toy is a weak mold so keep it in mind as to how much you want to spend for a disappointing mold.

A good example of Hasbro being significantly poorer than Takara is Orion Pax. Hasbro's is okay but put the metallic red and blue on Orion Pax and Takara just walks all over the Hasbro version.

It's a case by case basis but most of the time you are better off with Takara. If you've got any others to decide between, just post here for an opinion.

[Sam]

Thank you for the informative responses, everyone!

If you're keen for a Takara Springer and Blitzwing I have a couple of spares MISB

I may end up getting the Hasbro versions, but just wondering how much you're selling your Takara versions for? Thanks.

Do you really want Blitzwing?

I've read that the shoulders on that figure really let it down. It's just that I've never had a Blitzwing figure before (G1 or otherwise). And since I have Astrotrain and Octane, I thought it would be good to get Blitzwing too.

That's true, but since Sam seems to want to keep them in the boxes, it may become a question of whether saving six bucks with Amazon is worth the potential of getting packaging that looks like it's been trampled by buffalo.

To clarify, I care about the condition of the packaging (doesn't have to be absolutely perfect though), but I do intend to take the figures out and transform them. Is Amazon packaging really that bad? I've bought some items before and they arrived okay (but they were books).

[Bidoofdude]

Thank you for the informative responses, everyone!



I may end up getting the Hasbro versions, but just wondering how much you're selling your Takara versions for? Thanks.



I've read that the shoulders on that figure really let it down. It's just that I've never had a Blitzwing figure before (G1 or otherwise). And since I have Astrotrain and Octane, I thought it would be good to get Blitzwing too.

Blitzwing does have a generally easy fix for the floppy shoulder issues. You'll only need a screwdriver and a nail file board. It does the trick, even though we shouldn't have to do it.

[Omega Metro]

Takara puts more thought into the paint applications, the plastic/windscreen colours.

'Thought' is sometimes too much effort though. They can be half assed sometimes.

[Sinnertwin]

Is Amazon packaging really that bad? I've bought some items before and they arrived okay (but they were books).

Yes, it is. I only purchase from Amazon if i intend to open an item. Their packaging, like their prices are cheap.