Moxietron wrote:I've been debating introducing him to the Bayverse at all. Not just because they're crap movies, but because there's some questionable content for kids -- all of the Megan Fox fan service, racist robots, robot genitalia. My kids are still very young and I have a hard time keeping them from talking about their "pee-pee" and "poo-poo" all the time. They don't need Bayverse TF.
Emerje wrote:Getting Guren Dragotron at a good price is tricky, I've been wanting one for a while. There aren't very many cheap ones on eBay because sellers tend to overvalue him, and you can get him for dirt cheap on Mandarake when he shows up there (under $25), but the shipping is prohibitive.
Emerje
Moxietron wrote:Thanks for the warm welcome!
Since I'm focusing on nostalgia, it's really not that bad. My childhood TF collection wasn't huge and neither was my wishlist. I guess if I were to codify my acquisition process, it would be something like this:
> Look at the current line (i.e. PoTP). I am assuming that newer toys have better engineering, so is the best place to start. Read/Watch reviews, especially noting comparisons (Thank you, emgo et al!).
> Browse TFwiki and various e-tailers looking for alternatives if the current line is unsatisfactory. Read/Watch reviews.
> Pick one and acquire without breaking the bank.
Example: I picked up the Autobot Heroes set (Ultra Magnus, Springer, Blurr, Kup, RC) because I wanted that specific Ultra Magnus. Figuring that I had most of the "2005" main cast, I decided that I needed Hot Rod. I vacillated between the TR, Classics and Henkei versions for a while. I found the TR version on clearance at my local, but soon-to-be-closed TRU ($12 USD!) and, since he was literally the last one on the peg, picked him up. He's...okay. There's something lacking -- paint apps? detail? color richness? So while I'm content to display him alongside the others, I still wanted better. I found the Classics version from a private seller on Reddit for $10. SOLD!
As for scale, I have to admit to just being kinda arbitrary about this. As long as scale roughly corresponds with prominence or power, I'm okay. I can deal with a Leader Jetfire and a Voyager Grimlock. What I can't deal with is having Leader Megatron and Soundwave, but no Starscream. As I understand, the Classics Deluxe mold was great; faithful to the toy and cartoon. But they're Deluxe figures. Granted, it would let me get the full Seeker set that way, but they would not play well with my Decepticon Leaders. The more recent Leader Starscream is just a mold-reuse of Jetfire. I like the Jetfire mold as Jetfire. Also, that mold is finicky as hell. I really don't want another. Don't get me started with PoTP Starscream... So I guess my only option for Starscream is MP-11 or Make Toys Meteor. I'm saving my pennies for the latter. I saw the Toyhax reprolabels...OMG...G1-gasm!
The Glit/Rosanna/Sunder set comes to mind as well. More in the realm of a saccharine over-done trying to be cute thing going on than anything creepy.Razorclaw0000 wrote:As a small point, I’d say don’t deprive yourself of some of the truly glorious decos in Kiss Players. The adult content is limited to the packaging largely. IIRC even the instructions are fine. That Rodimus is still amazing.
Moxietron wrote:TL;DR -- I'm going to cherry-pick from Classics on forward for the best (IMHO) incarnation of my childhood favorites. Money allowing, maybe some day I'll have a full stable of Masterpiece as well.
Razorclaw0000 wrote:As a small point, I’d say don’t deprive yourself of some of the truly glorious decos in Kiss Players. The adult content is limited to the packaging largely. IIRC even the instructions are fine. That Rodimus is still amazing.
For official product, there's Arms Micron Ironhide and RiD or TAV Ratchet as options, but they're still not that great for this purpose.primalxconvoy wrote:Btw, what's a good figure to replace Henkei Ironhide and Ratchet? I didn't like the Combiner Wars versions, so didn't bother with them.
Counterpunch wrote:
Let me throw a few thoughts your way to do with as you see fit... (I think you've already made some wise decisions by looking back to pre prime wars stuff fwiw)
1. Identify your core cast to whom everyone will scale off of. What I mean for this is, take Prime and Megatron. They are larger than most, but what is right to you? Voyager or Leader? Something in between?
2. Many if not most of your decisions will follow off of this, but there are distinct problems. Your official seekers are either too big or too small to scale off their boss. Soundwave's options are either too big or too old. Shockwave's options are abysmal. On the other side, dudes like Ironhide don't have properly sized options. The larger folks have good options, the regular dudes have good options, the inbetween size characters are difficult to land in the right place.
3. Opt into third party stuff, but do it carefully.
4. If nostalgia is as important as you say, prepare to import Takara versions of key characters. I would encourage you do do an experiment by buying something like Universe Sunstreaker and Henkei Sunstreaker. Put them side by side and see first hand where that extra money takes you.
5. Last but perhaps most important...be prepared to get multiple versions of some characters. What seems right in one cast may be less so as your collection evolves. I thought I was done with Ironhide once I got Henkei Ironhide, but ultimately it was another toy that filled that defined role.
Good luck.
That's good since I'm picking up a $30 TFC Ironhide from the vintage shop later this afternoonRazorclaw0000 wrote:I do really like the TFC ones and they aren’t as horrible as their hound.
ScottyP wrote:That's good since I'm picking up a $30 TFC Ironhide from the vintage shop later this afternoonRazorclaw0000 wrote:I do really like the TFC ones and they aren’t as horrible as their hound.
The dire warning in the instructions along with the insert pamphlet with the same dire warning printed on it made me keep my hands away appropriately Instructions are garbage otherwise, they have you do the final steps from bot to van in a strange, not possible order. There's a panel on each arm I need to shave down a little, it isn't actually possible to transform it perfectly as intended the way they made the part where the arms meet the back of the front of the roof.Razorclaw0000 wrote:ScottyP wrote:That's good since I'm picking up a $30 TFC Ironhide from the vintage shop later this afternoonRazorclaw0000 wrote:I do really like the TFC ones and they aren’t as horrible as their hound.
Just watch for the rear view mirrors or surgically remove before they break on their own.
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