Is a shiny paint job worth the extra $$$ (Takara VS Hasbro)

[theheretic]

Okay guys so I was looking at pictures over on TFW2005 and saw all the shinny, pretty paint apps Takara had put on their up-coming FoC deluxes and I started wondering if my persisting with Hasbro is the right path. So I want to hear from anyone who has purchased figures from both companies and how they compare.

So far I can see;

Takara
+ far superior paint work
- double the cost

Hasbro
+ cheaper
+ locally available (although not as much recently)
-- sometimes painted by 4 year olds using only their fingers

[Defcon]

I would be cherry picking toys from either Hasbro or Takara, unless you want to collect the whole line to be consistant. I have pre ordered 3 figures and thats it. $$$ expensive, even though its in a bulk order. Only worth it if its a favourite character. The downside of metallics the paint is damaged easier, and the little imperfections are easier to notice. If you want to play instead of display, its maybe better to go with Hasbro.

For the new united FOC deluxes,
to really bring the cost down of buying takara figures you need to buy bulk. Otherwise you will spend excess of $40 per figure.

[Trent]

Personally for me it's purely a price thing. I will usually always go with the cheaper version which is Hasbro. However if I want a figure then I generally get it, regardless of cost (within reason of course).

[Tober]

I like metallic paint apps on cars and for highlights on bot mode. Otherwise, no.

The Takara FoC stuff... I don't get it...

[5FDP]

If it's done right it can look quite nice. Classics Jetfire with chrome boosters just looks wrong. IMO it depends on the figure.

[theheretic]

If it's done right it can look quite nice. Classics Jetfire with chrome boosters just looks wrong. IMO it depends on the figure.

I agree with that!

I like metallic paint apps on cars and for highlights on bot mode. Otherwise, no.

The Takara FoC stuff... I don't get it...

But it's those metallic finishes on the FoC I think I like. LOL

How about this... Are the paint apps on Takara figure sloppy at all like they tend to be on Hasbro's line? I'm not saying all Hasbro's line is sloppy, I've got a Prime RiD Dreadwing that I think is fantastic but I've also got altimeter Rid Ratchet that's rubbish(although the reprolabels did an amazing job at hiding all that slop)

[theheretic]

LOL not sure how autocorrect got altimeter from a Prime....

[1orion2many]

I used to buy mainly Takara, This was mainly due to some of the local members doing group buys. I'm happy to pick up the Hasbro versions if I can get them locally, As this seems to be less and less likely lately the online buying of Takara figures seems to be the way to go, Absolutely nothing to do with paint apps more to do with Hong Kong being so close and cheap for postage.

[GoktimusPrime]

Buying Takara was a lot easier when their prices were about the same as AU RRPs, e.g. Henkeis cost about the same as Universe and Generations. So e.g. When I saw Henkei Sunstreaker I thought the colours looked way better than Universe Sunstreaker, and the price was about the same, so it was a no-brainer. But the problem with FoC of course is that the price seems to be about double... so I'm inclined to say no unless the colours really bug you _that_ much. The other thing is that the FoC Combaticons are by no means great toys (they're okay at best). So yeah... I personally wouldn't advise it.

[UltraMarginal]

I think it really depends on the figure, the takara seekers all look odd with Chrome guns if you ask me, though those guns are ridiculously oversized.
On the other hand, the Paintwork on the Takara jazz and Tracks seemed far superior to me.
Hasbro Perceptor had a much better paint job than the Takara version.
many of the Takara Prime figures have no paint, relying entirely on stickers, which is another kettle of fish entirely.

Personally I tend to go for Hasbro product unless there is a standout reason to go for Takara, like the jazz, Tracks and recent Prime voyager Breakdown which may not ever get a release here.