End of 2022…

 It's been a long long time....My last post was in 2016....

I did not stop collecting but buying is very slow and have been selling off some stuff...

Bought a new place, set up the display and sold it off 4 years later. Damn...many things had happened in the last 6 years...

Got a AFA red label Bluestreak, finally. Have many copies of bluestreak but finally a AFA specimen. Looking for a reasonably priced AFA Starscream. I have a AFA Takara Reissue one but need a vintage U.S copy.

Prototype Takara Book Reissue Prowl

Finally managed to snag a Diaclone Blackhood Fairlady. Legend has it that it is more challenging to attain compared to its blue version. Price is supposedly higher as well. Difficulty, maybe true but price-wise, i think its same or slightly lower, not really sure but i think i got mine at a very reasonable price.

Since we are at it, let's spend some time to enjoy this nice bluey. Paint job is one of the most pristine i have seen.

The Headmaster Heads. Shuffler was without a home for the longest time and i finally managed to complete this set, boxed.

Next to move on the the legendary White Headmaster Heads (Write up on this by my good friend) if i can ever locate one for sale.

MISB Lucky Draw God Primus. (Gold G1 Rodimus Prime)

One of the few G1 lucky draw (gold) figures.

I have owned and sold the U.S Seekers but would very likely keep this set that comes with acrylic cases. Starscream is sealed on card and thus unused. Next to find a nice set of coneheads.

Chance across this set of minature figures. Very close to G1-likeness. Likely to be 3D printed. But how they mamaged to paint the figures is a mystery. The figures are really very small. The Cassettes (Ravage, Laserbeak, Rumble, Frenzy) are smaller than a panadol (paracetamol) tablet. Very detailed.

But i have to say they are rather costly. More sets available like the individual Aerialbots, Stunticons, etc. Space-friendly as well! 

Another challenge done. Vintage Stepper. Strange that i managed to own Artfire before stepper. I actually spent more time looking out for Stepper than Artfire. Robot points cut but am not particular as it does not affect the display at all.

The rare targetmasters: Stepper with his brother, Artfire.

This was my display when i moved into the new residence 4 years ago. Too bad 4 years later, i had to move out, and as a result of limited space, the TFs had to go into storage and some were sold off.

This has to be my favourite section: Starscream (4 stages of trasnformation according to the box)

Diaclone Starscream, my favourite version. Then the Joustra and the Lucky Draw Starscream.

Raiden Sets.

Was doing housekeeping and took out this nice paper weight or desktop toy of the day.

Blocky, very G1, very vintage and very 80s. One which i like very much. More blocky than Powermaster Optimus Prime or Ginrai, another block head which was adored since i was 10 years old.

Remembered very clearly, i could not afford to buy the Ginrai, could only go to the neighbourhood shop, hold on to the box and looked at it, almost everyday. One day, the toy got sold and i was distraught!  Now, i proudly own a C-307. Though not really valuable in the market but it ranks at the top in my heart.

Abit too little for 6 years but i guess the post will be too long for comfort to read. Hopefully my next post will not be 6 years later. Cheers!

Posting after 4 months!!! Decepticon Jets, attack!

 Its been a really busy time of the year for me…haven't really been posting much….but that does not mean i've stopped collecting and acquiring.

Just to start…i've finally managed to complete my G1 Decepticon jets…again, thanks to a good friend collector who helped looking out for these….and i must say, the jets which i've acquired are in a very good condition…The Starscream is even better than the one i have now. Well, there can never be enough of starscream..

All 3 seekers are pre rub…really crisp.

I've never been too bothered about getting the rest of the seekers (probably due to the recolor of a same mold)…but if opportunity came along, why not? Seeing these pieces in such great condition only strengthens my theory of "strike the iron when it is hot" 

Next up, the Coneheads…never ever owned anyone of them but all 3 came at the same right time.

Couldn't bring myself to take them out of the packaging yet (these are MIB except for Ramjet) but looking at them brings back childhood memories of not being able to own them. Damn, 1984 Rise of the Autobot cars….and Decepticon Jets!

The last cone head, Ramjet, i have to make a special mention. This is MIB with the bubble still sealed on car. The great box condition only makes it more attractive to look at.

The same time, i loose piece of Ramjet was gifted to me… Thanks (you know who you are)

Looking at the Boxart and read news of an orange canopy Ramjet, i got a junker Thundercracker to replace the grey Ramjet canopy. The outcome: SUPER!!.

Ramjet is now my favorite deception jet, after Starscream of course!

 The orange canopy really stands out…in both modes. and i'm all for G1 accuracy.

Probably somewhere out there, there is an orange canopy Thrust...

The seller really kept these in good shape. looking at them…30 years and they are like fresh out of the factory. really kudos to him. Irregardless of the reasons to why he is selling, he can rest assured that these gems will be in good hands.

iGear Con Air Raptor Squadron IG-C01 Star Burst (Not Starscream)

Can't miss this out. the moment i realized that this is being sold individually, i grabbed it. All along i had the impression that this was sold in a set along with Not Thundercracker and Not Skywarp.

First feel with the toy is quite good. Very sturdy and tight. No loose joints. Plastic quality is good as well. The instructions for transformation, generally is same with all other 3rd party products…not very clear…

The transformation and the bot in my view is average or below par. Though the bot feels okay holding it and as mentioned earlier, the plastic is not bad…but the null-rays (shoulder cannons) are somewhat too low, making then bot look strange with a pair of cannons hanging somewhere on the bicep.

The wings have to be removed during transformation and installed back into pegs after transformation is done. something like the G1 toy.

In bot mode, the wings and shoulders can never be in parallel, meaning that if the shoulders are straight facing, the wings have to be tilted backwards…if the wings is straight, the shoulders have to be tilted forward…not very well thought of, shoulders and wings blocking each other.

Fists are not articulated…they are like the current line of Deluxe toys with fixed hands to hold only specific weapons.

Here's the box art...

on the side..

Back of the box.

For some reason, i was given 2 sets of paperworks….probably mis-packed.

First look at the jet mode.

Second layer of plastic tray holds the base, null-rays, missiles and an alternate head with a cunning face.

Under belly of the plane mode.

Bot mode...

The fierce looking starscream...

The back view...

Null-rays are fixed onto the biceps…it seems that the null rays are too low…they do not stretch out the shoulders which will represent G1 better.

 A"Heel" is there to achieve better stability while standing.

Comparion with Masterpiece Starscream MP-11…abit shorter…but way less awesome.

To put on display its an ok piece but playability not quite there…if Masterpiece Starscream MP-03 can be improved to MP-11 with several improvements made…i believe the 3rd party Starscream could have been done better…iGear should have put in more effort for the transformation...