C-123 Dairu/Dial & C-124 Zauru/Zaur

So finally i laid my hands on the final 2 Dino Cassettes, Dairy and Zauru!

Again thanks to my good buddy who gave me a very very good deal!

Finally finally finally....cannot imagine i would ever be able to complete the dino cassettes.

As per the earlier 2 cassettes, i'm gonna do a comparison between the original and the K.O version. (Gurafi/Noizu comparison here!)

As i mentioned many months ago (when i got the first 2 cassettes), i acquired the K.O version of these rare and hard to find cassettes...to make sure that i would not pay the price of an original for a K.O...and am glad that i didn't need to use this information as both sources were very trustworthy.

Front of the box: Original on the left, K.O on the right.

Unlike C-121 & C-122, there were not much obvious differences between them. 

You will need aboriginal side by side to really differentiate the boxes.

Original on the top, KO at the bottom.

One difference: on the Number "2", the KO does not have the vertical line while it exists on the original.

Back of the Box: Original on the left, K.O on the right.

There's really no much difference, nothing you can use to i.d the K.O with the original.

Side of the box: Original on the left, K.O on the right

Side of the box: Original on the left, K.O on the right

The toy: Original on the left, K.O on the right

Even the toy molding looks horrifying similar...

Note the major difference here...the stud at the neck of Dairu should be covered, like a thumb tack instead of a hollow piece of stud. And of course, the K.O is missing the rub signs, which can be easily placed on.

Original on the left, K.O on the right

Weapons: Original on the top, K.O on the bottom

Under the chrome, it shows a darker color, probably black on the K.O. The original as you can see has a very nice chrome paint.

Tray inserts: Original on the top, K.O on the bottom

No vertical grooves on the sides of the tray and no grooves to hold onto the cassettes inside the hollows. If the tray has any grooves, very likely its a K.O

Also, the hollow for the accessories on the original is a square, where the K.O spots a rectangle.

Biocards: Original on the top, K.O on the bottom

Original bio cards are much larger, sized similarly to that of a credit card. K.O biocard is smaller, just about 1/3 larger than the cassette.

Instruction Sheets: Original on the left, K.O on the right

Original is printed on somewhat yellow good quality paper, K.O sheet shows very good print but on a low quality white paper.

C-124 Zauru

Front of Box: Original on the left, K.O on the right

Unlike the C-123 Dairy, the number "2" is exactly same as original. So that means to i.d the K.O, it is very very difficult.
Update (24 Oct 2016): Some detail which i missed...and picked up by another collector in the Facebook G1 group...the yellow lined box beside the numbers "C-124", the top line of the box is missing on the K.O...

Back of Box: Original on the left, K.O on the right

Side of the box: Original on the left, K.O on the right

Side of the box: Original on the left, K.O on the right

Toy: Original on the left, K.O on the right

Stud on the legs and body, should be "like a thumb tack" instead of hollow studs.

Other than that, the molding, nothing which we can use to i.d.

Toy: Original on the left, K.O on the right

Both sides of the studs should not be hollow.

Weapons: Original on the top, K.O on the bottom

Similarly, the K.O weapons has a darker base color. 

In addition, the holding is somewhat inferior with an internal stud missing on the K.O, hollow square instead.

Biocards: Original on the top, K.O on the bottom

The plastic inserts and biocards have the same differences for all 4 dino cassettes, grooves on the K.O and the biocards being smaller.

Instruction Sheet: Original on the left, K.O on the right

There seems to be a lot less differences for C-123 & C-124 compared to the earlier C-121 & C-122.

My guess is that the K.O makers managed to land their hands on an original Dairu and Zauru. That is why they could get accurate scaled boxes as well as the print on the boxes. 

On C-121 & C-122, there were alignment errors/differences but not these 2.

The instruction sheets were also very nicely printed in high resolution. Another evidence that they could not be printed from internet downloads.

I've also heard of some K.O makers approaching owners of these dino cassettes to loan the original pieces, probably with the intention of re-producing them. Glad to hear that my friend refused. I would refuse too. Absolutely hate K.Os!! wouldn't have bought the K.Os if not for the K.Os....which means i will be selling the K.Os off soon.

Diaclone Countach LP500S Yellow Sideswipe

Hot on the heels of Bluey, I present Diaclone Yellow Sideswipe or as some call it, Tigertracks (for ehobby reissue)

Well actually, i got the Yellow swipe before Bluestreak, just that was i really excited that i talked about Bluestreak first...

Here's Sideswipe in his yellow outfit...a pretty nice version of the Countach mold, lots of Diecast (which is similar to the regular TF & reissues mold as well, i love diecast, so the extra mention)

This is a nice used piece with used sticker sheet and the Diaclone catalog and instruction sheet. Missiles are off-sprue...a really pretty version i must say.

Nope, i do not have multiples of this moderately rare item...the one which is in the bot mode is the Ehobby Tigertracks (or reissue yellow sideswipe).

 As per all diaclone boxes, there will be a pictorial cross-section of the car....

 Side of the box

Hobby vs Diaclone....

Wit her good'o yellow diaclone driver....

Since there are 2 versions of the yellow swipe, thought i'd show some differences...these differences may have been highlighted in other webbies or forum, but no harm showing again right?

First up, the headlights....diaclone on the right shows the Mis-spelled "Rallye" the reissue shows "Rally" 

Insides of the feet (or behind the feet) Single ridge on the Diaclone (right) and 3 ridges for the reissue (Left)

Under the bonnet: No stamping on the diaclone (right) Hasbro/Takara stamping for the reissue

 Black triangle on the door: Stickered on the diaclone (top) painted on the reissue (bottom)

Rear of the bot: Takara stamping for Diaclone (right) and nothing on the reissue (left)

Chest pegs: Well-rounded on the diaclone (right) Curvature instead of rounded on the reissue (left)

These are the few tell-tale signs to check out for in case someones dumps a reissue into a diaclone box for sale...

Personally i do not see the Diaclone Yellow Sideswipe available for sales that often BUT at the same time, do not see it as one of the highly sort after Diaclones. Perhaps it does not appeal that much to collectors compared to Bluestreak and Marlboor Wheeljack. In addition, there is a reissue by ehobby and the reissue is not exactly too far off. It is actually quite a nice toy to play with and enjoy.

I go the ehobby reissue first and this was sort of an incidental finding....got it off a good friend who feels that i love this more than him...well, i do and this is now sitting proudly in my cabinet...

The Elusive Diaclone Bluestreak.....FINALLY!!!!

July 2015, i managed to snag a loose Diaclone Blue Bluestreak....that temporary satisfied my "thirst" for Bluestreak for abit....it was not long that i started to look for a MIB piece....for the next 6 - 7 months, i have probably seen only 2 pieces up for sales...but the prices ended at ridiculous prices...disappointed, i continued to wait and wait till a nice, reasonably priced piece comes my way...For collecting, most of the time, i would go by: Patience will pay off, there will be a piece that comes along just nice. (okay, sometimes it's hard not to grab that pricey piece but...)

Come March 2016. I FINALLY GOT MY BLUESTREAK.

okay, i'm a Starscream slut and am still looking for a Diaclone Screamer but Bluestreak comes in at a close second if not on par....let's not divert the attention from this piece, one of the highly sought after version of the Fairlady mold.

Nice minty box with no visible scuffles, tears, dents whatsoever....the left flap has a corner sticking out but hey, this is more than 30 years old!

Here's the loose Bluey (Heroic Decepticon my friend, hope you didn't trademark the nic!) with his newly arrived twin brother, trying to show him who's da boss.

Bottom of the box

Top of the box

Back of the box

Side of the box, both sides are similar.

Insert is nice, well-kept totally.

Blue with her Diaclone Driver....

Group shot

The Box Art.

Nice pictorial cross-section 

The un-KO-able blue chrome and the blue translucent roof.

Round (Diaclone or early TF) Takara stamp

and the un-mistakeable 2-tone blue of the diaclone fairlady.

This one didn't come with any papers but really...i'm really satisfied already, like a dream come true.

Missiles are the normal TF version instead of the diaclone missiles.

But everything else is Diaclone. Box, inserts and the toy is minty though used.

oh yes...almost at the same time...i managed to get a Diaclone Clampdown as well...but now let's leave the stage to Bluey!!!

Favourite Buys in 2015...yes...its late but better than never...

Late, but better late than never right?

These are my 5, or rather 6 favourite acquisitions in year 2015....been wanting to post this but seriously, schedules are tight such that posting here has less priority.

1. Joustra Starscream - Got a piece with a much nicer box and styrofoam. Though its missing some parts.

2. Takara C-108 Targetmaster Artfire MIB unused- broke the bank to get it...sick of waiting and hoping.

3. Takara D-309 Black Shadow MIB unused - Not as costly as Artfire but still had to break the bank...

4. Diaclone Bluestreak - Loose. Got this off Yahoo Japan...1 Bluestreak is never enough...i need more! MIB please!

5. Diaclone Yellow Sideswipe. MIB unused. It's a COuntach what else can i say. Will probably do a comparison with the e-hobby Tigertracks some time soon..

6. Probably my favourite here: Lucky Draw Secret Starscream. Complete MIB unused. This was released in 2001 as you can see that the box is the exact same box for the Takara 22 Reissue starscream. Fully clear body with red metal body. So glad that i was able to get this. According to www.luckydrawtransformers.com, there are only 5 pieces of the secret starscream in the world!