CHUG verion advice - Hasbro or TakaraTomy?

[Sam]

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!

[Omega Metro]

1. Are Hasbro versions generally cheaper?
Yes they are but the price difference can be only slightly more for a better paint job.
2. Are TakaraTomy verions' paint applications usually better / finer?
Some are better than others and some are hardly worth the extra over Hasbro version.
3. Any other points of comparisons you can think of that would warrant consideration?
Price, shipping costs and paint applications are the only thing I consider. Depends on the character/toy also. I watch the YouTube videos to compare but I gotta say most of the time I just go with the Hasbro version.

[GoktimusPrime]

Sometimes the TakaraTOMY version can be the same price or even cheaper than Australian Hasbro prices, e.g. pre-order discounts, other store discounts, bulk shipping etc. All of my Arms Micron Deluxes cost me under $20, and with bulk postage the cost of shipping worked out to be a few bucks per toy. But yeah, I would avoid paying substantially above AU RRP for TakTOM versions. None of them are that nice.

[Sinnertwin]

Do you really want Blitzwing?

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

For those three in particular I'd actually go for the Hasbro versions if I were you. I have the TT Springer and he's fine, but it's 'as good as' rather than 'better' and TT Sandstorm and Blitzwing don't look as nice IMO.

Other than that, it's kind of a case-by-case basis. Some figures look better with the TT paintjob, some look better with the Hasbro colours.

[BigTransformerTrev]

I often go the Takara version due to the superior paint job. But I only do that if it's a character I really do want and:

*There isn't a Hasbro version (AM Jet Vehicon General, Senator Ratbat)
*I don't like their alt-mode (TFP Shockwave)
*I don't like their transformation process (TFP Dreadwing)
*I hate the Hasbro colour scheme (FOC Blast Off)




(BTW: What does 'CHUG' stand for? Seen it mentioned a few times)

[Lint]

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!

Takara used to offer the gold standard in toy quality which was worth paying extra for. Unfortunately in recent years Takara has dropped their standards in both construction and decos which makes them harder to vouch for. Also Takara sometimes chooses garish colours for the Japanese market which are not everyones cup of tea. On top of this I feel like Hasbro have really picked up their game in terms of toy quality, especially compared to the dark ages of Universe 2.0.

I generally grab a Takara version provided
*it has a better deco than Hasbro
*it's not too expensive in comparison
*there isn't a Hasbro alternative at the time

Springer: Hasbro (it's cheaper and not worse than the Takara version)
Sandstorm: Hasbro (it's cheaper and has a much better colour scheme)
Blitzwing: Takara (looks better than Hasbro imo), however it's also a question on how much you really want to spend on a nice statue with 2 awkward alt modes

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

[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.