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!

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...