... I would have waited an eternity for these...

[heroic_decepticon]

Oh yeah dude, I agree that rarity is certainly subjective and relative but I'd also agree that the Dino Cassettes are far rarer, baring in mind I'd never seen a fabled Japanese figure in person until meeting and visiting fellow members and their collections (Such as yourself) - The closest and first was Azrael's MIB Sky-Garry that he very kindly brought down to show me one time.

*snip*

Regardless, now that you've got these extremely awesome finds man I'm really looking forward to seeing you find those last couple of figures - You're SO close!

Hmmm... you did manage to see stuff like Grandus, Galaxy Shuttle and the 3 Big Powered robots during my farewell in Sydney? Thought you would have.

Very nice HD - there must be a big blog update coming soon with all the details how you got them all!

Very true, being a G1 collector myself its easy to buy a boxed g1 and look to 'upgrade' later on hehe.....now wheres that crusty old jazz box I have!?! - plus living HK must help

Yup, doing the blog soon. For this set of figures, I'm "previewing" them here exclusively first. There are already a number of TFW members and other collectors asking for me to update my blog with them... hahaha... they will have to wait. I'm not done here yet and there are yet rabbits to pull out of the hat.

Very true about the subjective nature of "rarity".

I remember one time a Japanese TF saw my collection for the first - he was absolutely gobsmacked by toys that I didn't think were all that special like the 1988 Targetmasters (e.g. Scoop, Quake, Spinister etc.) and the 1989 Pretenders (e.g. Bludgeon, Pincher, Double header etc.) -- because they're all toys that never came out in Japan, so from a Japanese collector's POV they're rarities.

Then when I brought him to dirge's place, he completely ignored Japanese G1 toys like Lio Kaiser, Landcross etc. and went straight for "mundane" (from our POV) toys like the Triggerbots and Triggercons etc., again, all the toys that Japan never got! He couldn't have cared less for those Japanese G1 toys!

Not surprising that a Jap fan would react this way. If you asked me back in the early 90s, I wouldnt be too impressed by a Black Zarak either and that's because there were so many in Singapore back in the 80s. But time changes perspectives and which the USA releases were released worldwide, the Japanese exclusives were only released in very limited countries and in small quantities.

[Hursticon]

Hmmm... you did manage to see stuff like Grandus, Galaxy Shuttle and the 3 Big Powered robots during my farewell in Sydney? Thought you would have.

Oh yeah man, seeing those beautiful objects was exactly what I meant, mind you I was too damn scared to touch them even though you offered!
Those were my first introductions after Azrael's Sky-Garry.

[heroic_decepticon]

erm.... so this is #7 out of 6... (confused*)... nah, let's call it Epilogue #1...

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.

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!













Looking very photogenic and compatible with Bluestreak


Dairu and Zauru combined = Legout!

[KillinSpoon]

Knew it! This was extremely obvious! However, beautiful nonetheless

EDIT: God dammit! That is by far my favourite cassette :/ That dino-mode is utterly awesome!
Too bad I'll never own one...

[1AZRAEL1]

Knew it. I saw that coming. Congrats HD, you managed to track down some of the figures I want and make me jealous

[LordCyrusOmega]

That looks awesome!! That is by far by favourite cassette. Nice work

[gamblor916]

Nice to complete the set!

[heroic_decepticon]

Knew it! This was extremely obvious! However, beautiful nonetheless
*snip*

Knew it. I saw that coming. Congrats HD, you managed to track down some of the figures I want and make me jealous

Damnit, you still saw it coming?

I thought I'd throw in some unpredictability by unveiling Guard City first... obviously didn't work.

That looks awesome!! That is by far by favourite cassette. Nice work

*snip*That is by far my favourite cassette :/ That dino-mode is utterly awesome!

Yup, like I said, I really like this guy's dino-mode. Simple, yet incredibly effective. Great box art too if I may add.

Nice to complete the set!

Feels very good to have gotten these before the KOs come out. I'm breathing a great sign of relief.

[gdmetro]

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.

[Hursticon]

erm.... so this is #7 out of 6... (confused*)... nah, let's call it Epilogue #1...

LOL

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.

All in 1 go? - F*** Yeah man, excellent!
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.

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*



*snip*



Looking very photogenic and compatible with Bluestreak

*snip*

Dairu and Zauru combined = Legout!

*snip*

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!


I've got to say that this guy does look really cool as his dimensions as an Apatosaurus () 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.

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.


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:

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.

... 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?