Year in review - The Best of 2009 Tally

In a few hours, I'm flying to Japan - the land that created the toys that would in 1984 become the Transformers.

Before that, I'd like to review this year in Transformer terms, the best of, the worst of, and all that in between.

So here it is, my 2009 Transformers Collecting 'best of' tally.

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Most satisfying moment:

Opening the package for and discovering that the C324 Star Saber box and foam and the D336 Deszaras box and foam that I bought on eBay were as near C10 as they could have been for boxes that were open. There were absolutely no tears, rips, creases or scratches on either boxes. The Deszaras box has no flap crease. The sheen of the boxes were perfect. They were in better condition than I'd dared imagine when I got them on auction. For boxes of these sizes, I was well and truely impressed, and, deeply satisfied.

Second most satisfying moment:

Able to purchase all 12 of the 1988 'standard format' Pretenders in 2 distinct lots, complete, with pristine stickers and all in C9 or above conditions. I consider this one moment because I purchased these from the same seller, but at different points in time. I have inspected them army style!

Hardest decision to make:

Whether to return the MIB Targetmaster Scourge I bought from eBay. It was objectively expensive, but relatively okay priced for a TM Scourge, but it was not exactly as described and I believed that the toy had been tampered with (a-la, a 'frankenstein' mis-mash of parts). The seller, who appeared to be an honest guy, assured me that there was no tampering and after more than a week of to-and-fro communication, I decided to keep it and accept a partial refund from the seller.

Unexpected find:

Good condition Sureshot and Crosshairs figures, each about C8, for $3 and $2 respectively at the 23 August 09 Parramatta Collectibles Fair. A close second is finding a UK auction for Pinpointer and Nightstick with a low bid count that I won for AU$50 all up. This means my complete Sureshot (with Pinpointer Targetmaster) only cost AU$28!

Second unexpected find:

Targetmaster Pointblank, MIB, C9 box with inserts, C9.5 toy, sealed paperworks. Found this on eBay. Seller was asking for US$150 exclusive of shipping. I put in a 'best offer' of US$112 and seller accepted!

Favourite individual buy:

Hands down this has to be Targetmaster Pointblank MIB (also the winner of my "Longest Awaited Buy" category). I have been interested in Pointblank since I saw this advertisement back in 1987. Pointblank was #10 on my 'Transformers I really wanted as a kid but was denied' list. I have quite literally waited 22 years for this, but managed to acquire it this year!

Favourite lot bought:

The lot I bought from KM consisting of Triggerhappy MIB, Slugslinger MIB, Misfire MIB, Hardhead MIB, Chromedome MIB, Brainstorm complete and Highbrow complete. All the MIB figures were immaculate and came with all inserts and complete paperworks. Coming in close 2nd and 3rd has to be the 1988 Decepticon Pretenders and 1988 Autobot Pretenders lots.

Most unexpected buy:
Chancing upon an MIB Squeezplay complete on eBay AU, just 16 minutes before it was due to end; decided to bid on it; bid on it and won it for approximately AU$100. A pretty good price seeing that I acquired Fangry MIB and Horri-Bull MIB for AU$135 each.

Worst buy:

Targetmaster Scoop. To be fair, I only paid $16.17 for this figure as part of a lot that includes Banzai-Tron MOSC, Krok MOSC, Doublecross MIB, Spinister and Landfill. Relatively speaking, it is the worst buy because its condition is just deplorable - loose joints all round, scratches, badly worn stickers.

Worst lot bought:

NA

Longest Awaited Buy:

Hands down this has to be Targetmaster Pointblank MIB (also the winner of my "Favourite Buy" category). I have been interested in Pointblank since I saw this advertisement back in 1987. Pointblank was #10 on my 'Transformers I really wanted as a kid but was denied' list. I have quite literally waited 22 years for this, but managed to acquire it this year!

Largest single lot of the year:
10 MIB Transformers, 5 Transformer boxes and 1 loose Transformer from OZ Former member jgon. This lot consists of MIB (Fangry, Horri-Bull, Siren, Autobot Clones, Decepticon Clones, Quickswitch, Weirdwolf, Skullcruncher, Repugnus, Slapdash); boxes (Motormaster, Scattershot, Weirdwolf, Doubledealer, Crosshairs), Quake loose.

Best Bargain:

Powerglide cardback, my only missing mini-bot G1 cardback, for $1.35.

If I could only buy one Transformer product this year, it would be:

D336- Deszaras box and foam (which one of these babies is going into). This must be one of the most beautiful and best kept TF boxes I've come across, add to that the size and majesty of the box and the extremely well illustrated box art and it is a winner in this category.

Pic of the Day - One day, an Autobot shall rise from our ranks...

Featuring Metalverse Hot Rod in "One day, an Autobot shall rise from our ranks and use the power of the Matrix to light our darkest hour."

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More pictures of Metalverse Hot Rod here.

***
Read all chapters in the Metalverse Hot Rod series
Chapter 01: Metalverse Hot Rod- An Introduction
Chapter 02: Metalverse Hot Rod- The Origin
Chapter 03: Metalverse Hot Rod- My reasons
Chapter 04: Metalverse Hot Rod- The Photos

1988 Pretender Army Inspection!

I talked about my awesome lot of Pretenders here. One of the reasons Pretenders are so awesome is because having 12 of them actually means having 24 of them, once the inner robots are removed from the shells.

Imagine 24 Transformers.

That is a veritable army!

In true 'army style', I have made the Pretenders 'fall-in' and subjected them to an inspection...

Dramtis Personae

• Top Row (Pretender Shells) - Groundbreaker, Sky High Splashdown, Iguanus, Bugly and Finback
• Second Row (Pretender Shells) - Landmine, Cloudburst, Waverider, Skullgrin, Bomb-Burst and Submarauder
• Third Row (inner robots) - Groundbreaker, Sky High Splashdown, Iguanus, Bugly and Finback
• Last Row (inner robots) - Landmine, Cloudburst, Waverider, Skullgrin, Bomb-Burst and Submarauder

Massive Lot of G1 Transformer boxes

Once again, to express how fond I am of G1 Transformer boxes, I have whipped those I have with me in Australia out, for a photo shoot. Gosh, the Fortress Maximus box is really huge!

D-336: Destron Emperor Deszaras (Deathsaurus)

Deszaras - my favourite Transformers Victory character.

Yup. That's right. I rank Deszaras above the vaunted Star Saber, Victory Leo (and Victory Saber).

From the very first episode of Victory and onwards, Deszaras has shown cunning, wit and attack abilities that put some previous Decepticon leaders to shame. Throughout the Victory series, Star Saber does not appear to have convincingly defeated Deszaras. Most times, I certainly get the feeling that Deszaras leaves the scene of battles because he is bored of toying with the Autobots and/or Star Saber, rather than in retreat.

Deszaras has many weapons at his disposal and a wide variety of attack moves, more so I'd say, of any Decepticon leader that came before him. In terms of weapons he has a Scimitar (in anime), maze (morningstar; in anime and from toy), tiger-bow & arrow (in anime), standard issue gun (toy) and "Living-Metal-Destroying-Cannon" (as seen in the anime episode Resurrection? The Decepticon Fortress). Deszaras also controls the tiger-brest and eagle-brest, both of which can transform into guns (guess this makes his a 'brestmaster' and Targetmaster at the same time.

I recently acquired a Deszaras box and foam, both in very very pristine C9.5 condition with no rips, tears, creases or scratches or anything like that, below.

Back of Deszaras box, no flap crease!

One of these babies are going inside this box!

Chapter VIII: 1988 once more

I have not bought any Transformers since 1 December 2007. I began buying Transformers again on 23 August 2009 (on the day of the Parramatta Fair).

I have not bought Transformers for approximately 21 months, and been absent from HeroicDecepticon.com from roughly that same period of time.

Has it been tough not collecting Transformers for 21 months? No.

Has it been a happy time? Yes. There is more to life than Transformers (lynch me now, die-hard fans, heh). I did, among other more interesting things, acquire a plethora of comic book related figures and collectibles, prime among them the Kotobukiya Jim Lee Batman and Marvel Legends Series VI: Juggernaut, both of which were gifts from E.

The Targetmasters Sureshot and Crosshairs I bought at the 23 August Parramatta Fair must have sparked something akin to what Star Saber and Overlord sparked, a full ten years ago, in 1999.

I began ramping up my Transformers acquisitions. At some points, it was going at a rate that was alarming, even to myself. I look back now and can say that it has subsided for the year (or what's left of the year) and I'm likely to acquire Transformers at a slower rate going forward.

This chapter, I'll disclose something I don't usually disclose - I will chronologically list all the Transformers I have obtained from 23 August 2009 to 10 December 2009 and also list the prices (in AUD) I bought them for.

Ready?

Sure?

Here-we-go...

1. Sureshot, C8, missing Targetmaster: $3.00
2. Crosshairs, C7, missing Targetmaster: $2.00
3. Scrapper gun: $3.50
4. Hook gun: $3.50
5. Carnivac, C7.5, only inner robot: $15.00
6. Quickswitch, C7, missing guns: $20.00
7. Star Saber blade only, C9: $57.84
8. Star Saber large outer robot only, C9.5: $68.55
9. Victory Leo large rifle only, C9.5: $34.28
10. Victory Leo small rifle (right), C9.5: $25.17
11. Victory Leo small rifle (left), C9.5: $27.85
12. Pointblank, MIB, C9.5, w/ inserts: $168.97
13. Slugslinger, MIB, C.9.5, w/ inserts: $167.70
14. Triggerhappy, MIB, C.9.5, w/ inserts: $167.70
15. Misfire, MIB, C.9.5, w/ inserts: $167.70
16. Chromedome, MIB, C.8.5, w/inserts: $127.50
17. Hardhead, MIB, C.9.5, w/ inserts: $127.50
18. Highbrow, C8, complete: $55.13
19. Brainstorm, C8.5, complete: $79.26
20. Powerglide cardback, C7.5: $1.35
21. Outback cardback, C7.5: $1.35
22. Mindwipe, C9, complete: $89.01
23. Nightstick only, C7: $24.99
24. Pinpointer only, C8: $24.99
25. Fireflight gun, C9: $9.00
26. Slingshot gun, C9: $9.00
27. Air Raid gun, C9: $9.00
28. Skydive gun, C9: $9.00
29. Blades small gun, C9: $10.70
30. Swindle small gun, C9: $9.00
31. Vortex small gun, C9: $10.70
32. Vortex twin guns, C9: $12.40
33. Crosshairs, C7.5, complete: $50.00
34. Guzzle, C6.5, complete: $10.00
35. Riccochet (TM gun), C7.5: $11.95
36. Flintlock (TM gun), C8: $11.95
37. Cyclonus (Targetmaster), MIB, C8.5: $101.56
38. Cloudburst, MIB, C8.5, complete: $55.92
39. Landmine, C9.5, complete: $45.90
40. Cloudburst, C9, complete: $45.90
41. Waverider, C9.5, complete: $45.90
42. Groundbreaker, C9, complete: $45.90
43. Sky High, C9, complete: $45.90
44. Splashdown, C9, complete: $45.90
45. C324 Star Saber box & form only, C9.5: $87.17
46. D336 Deszaras box & form only, C9.5: $150.44
47. Chop Shop, MIB, C9.5, w/ inserts: $53.94
48. Barrage, MIB, C8.5, w/ inserts: $53.94
49. Ransack, MIB, C9.5, w/ inserts: $53.94
50. Venom, MIB, C9.5, w/ inserts: $53.94
51. Banzai-Tron, MOSC, C10: $33.46
52. Krok, MOSC, C10: $33.46
53. Doublecross, MIB, C7.5, missing gun: $41.80
54. Spinister, C7, complete: $27.88
55. Landfill, C7.5, complete: $22.87
56. Scoop, C6, incomplete: $16.17
57. Prowl (Action Master), C7.5, incomplete: $39.50
58. Armarda Skywarp, C8.5: $26.40
59. Skullgrin, C9.5, complete: $54.70
60. Bomb Burst, C9.5, complete: $54.70
61. Submarauder, C9.5, complete: $54.70
62. Iguanus, C9.5, complete: $54.70
63. Bugly, C9.5, complete: $54.70
64. Finback, C9.5, complete: $54.70
65. Hard Hero Ravage, MIB, C9.5: $30.00
66. MP-08 upgrade kit, MISB: $24.10
67. Fangry, MIB, C8.5, complete: $135.00
68. Horri-Bull, MIB, C9.5, complete: $135.00
69. Siren, MIB, C9.5, complete: $135.00
70. Repugnus, MIB, C9.5, complete: $110.00
71. Weirdwolf, MIB, C9.5, missing gun: $90.00
72. Skullcruncher, MIB, C9.5, w/ inserts: $150.00
73. Quickswitch, MIB, C9.5, w/ inserts: $160.00
74. Autobot Clones, MIB, C9.5, complete: $125.00
75. Decepticon Clones, MIB, C9.5, complete: $125.00
76. Slapdash, MIB, C9, complete: $90.00
77. Quake, C7.5, missing turret: $0.00
78. Doubledealer box only, C7: $50.00
79. Crosshairs box only, C9: $35.00
80. Scattershot box only, C9: $35.00
81. Motormaster box only, C9.5: $35.00
82. Weirdwolf box only, C7, robot points cut: $30.00
83. Scourge (Targetmaster), MIB, C8, cmpt: $227.19

I look back at the list of Transformers I acquired during this period and realised that they are mostly from 1987 and 1988.

It is the year 2009. But on my Transformer collecting terms, it is - 1988 once more.

Some pictures of this year's acquisitions...



















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Read other Chapters of The Origin Story...
Introduction
Chapter 0: Prologue
Chapter I: Fantasies & Inflections (1984 to 1991)
Chapter II: The Re-awakening (1999)
Chapter III: A New Beginning (1999 to 2001)
Chapter IV: Boxed Agendas (2002)
Chapter V: Coming to Australia (2003 to 2006)
Chapter VI: Crisis on Infinite Fronts (2006)
Chapter VII(1): A Transformers Renaissance (2007)
Chapter VII(2): A Transformers Renaissance (2007)
Chapter VIII: 1988 Once More (2009)

Transformers Clones - Fastlane, Cloudraker, Pounce, Wingspan

Another one of the innovations in the year 1987 - the clones. Yes, even robots can be cloned (not mass produced, mind you, but cloned).

Dreamwave's MTMTE profiles describes Transforming cloning as: "An occassional natural aberration of Transformer formation [which] results in the splitting of sparks, [thereby] causing several related beings to be created".

It certainly is an interesting concept if not a little unusual. The toys of the clones themselves certainly displays this interesting concept.

The Autobot clones come as a set of two toys and so do the Decepticon clones. In robot mode, the clones look substantially identical in terms of design and colour scheme. Each clone has two rub-signs - one reveals its faction, Autobot or Decepticon, and the other reveals what it transforms into. For example, the second rub-symbol for Pounce reveals a puma head, which is his alternate mode.

I believe that the clones has metal body and plastic body variations and that in the latter variation, they do not come with the rub-sign. In any case, I went after the higher quality metal body variation of the clones and show them below in their full glory.

The Autobot and Decepticon Clones, Fastlane, Cloudraker, Pounce, Wingspan MIB and complete.

The Autobot and Decepticon Clones, Fastlane, Cloudraker, Pounce, Wingspan MIB and complete. The paperworks and accessories baggie for the Decepticon Clones is still sealed and unopened.

Autobot Clones Fastlane and Cloudraker MIB

Very good condition box for the Autobot Clones, I estimate that it is at least a C9 if not C9.5

Very pristine box with no flap crease

Close-up shot of Fastlane and Cloudraker

Paperworks and accessories for Fastlane and Cloudraker. I am so glad I managed to obtain a spoiler for Fastlane with a sticker in very good condition. It is usually prone to heavy sticker wear.

The top rub-symbol reveals that this Clone is Fastlane. Back in 1987, the rub-symbols for the Clones were the only 'variant' rub-symbols outside of the stock standard Autobot and Decepticon rub-symbols.

The top rub-symbol reveals that this Clone is Cloudraker. Back in 1987, the rub-symbols for the Clones were the only 'variant' rub-symbols outside of the stock standard Autobot and Decepticon rub-symbols.

The Decepticon Clones Pounce and Wingspan MIB with sealed paperworks and accessories.

The Decepticon Clones Pounce and Wingspan MIB with sealed paperworks and accessories.

Close-up of Pounce and Wingspan.

The sealed and unopened paperworks baggie and accessories for the Decepticon Clones.

The top rub-symbol reveals that this Clone is Pounce. Back in 1987, the rub-symbols for the Clones were the only 'variant' rub-symbols outside of the stock standard Autobot and Decepticon rub-symbols. I prefer the rub-symbols for the Decepticon Clones over that of the Autobots.

The top rub-symbol reveals that this Clone is Fastlane. Back in 1987, the rub-symbols for the Clones were the only 'variant' rub-symbols outside of the stock standard Autobot and Decepticon rub-symbols. I prefer the rub-symbols for the Decepticon Clones over that of the Autobots.

Below are some pictures of my Japanese box Decepticon Clones, D-94. As shown, the box art for the Japanese box version is entire different from the US version and features the Clones in their (indistinguishable) robot modes.

D-94: MIB Japanese box Decepticon Clones.

Coincidentally, this set also comes with sealed paperworks. Looks like I'm not going to be applying the stickers onto either of my Decepticon Clone sets.

Clones, clones and clones. Now I'm seeing double.

The Art of Opening Transformers - How to open/remove G1 Transformers packaging and cardbacks

Now that I have talked about How to Remove price tags and stickers from Transformer boxes and Transformers, it is time to take the next step. Taking the Transformer out of its packaging.

There is an art to opening G1 Transformers.

I said this in the Origin Story, Chapter 1: Fantasies and Inflections. I wish to talk about it now. And just in time for Christmas present(s) opening too.

First off, why should there be any art to opening G1 Transformers?

Good question. Why? They are just toys after all and what's to know about ripping them from their packing, whether its one way or another?

Arguably, they are more than 'just toys' to a very large number people out there. But that is an argument for another day and place. There should be an art to opening G1 Transformers, especially US boxed or US carded G1 Transformers because opening them the 'right way' will preserve their displayability and collectibility and make them more than just average run of the mill Mint-in-Box ("MIB") or Mint-on-Card ("MOSC") pieces.

For MIB and non-Mint-in-Sealed-Box ("MISB") collectors out there, displayability is perhaps the most important and compelling reason for opening G1 Transformers the 'right way'.

Isn't it too late in the day for such a post? G1 Transformers would have been ripped out of their bubbles approximately 25 years ago. This post is 25 years too late to do any good.

Admittedly, it is too late in the day to help anyone in terms of opening G1 Transformers, but the principles below are equally applicable to opening boxed toys that are sealed in a plastic bubble (or plastic 'blister' or plastic insert).

The principles below may also be useful to people who are opening MISB G1 Transformers today. For example, anyone thinking of opening their early '90s Chinese reissue Nightbeat (lots floating around eBay lately because a large stash of them was apparently found in some Chinese warehouse), might find the principles useful.

What were the principles mentioned in the Origin Story again?

In the Origin story, I said the following:

"My brother and I were perceptive, or some can say strange, kids. We did not rip our toys right out of their packages, no. For carded Transformers: We used a pen knife to slice off the bubble to remove the toys, without ripping into the cardback at all. If we still had the backing cards we would be able to scan them in for perfect G1 box art. For boxed Transformers: We sliced the tape with a pen knife; we then made incisions on the backing card with that same pen knife and removed the toy from the back without ripping off the 'bubble'. All our Transformers can be packed back into their bubbles and displayed as MISB even after play."

I will elaborate the above paragraph below.

How to open US boxed Transformers in bubble/blister packing.

Steps:

1. First off, do not rip the bubble/blister from the cardboard insert.
2. Turn the cardboard insert around (so the the bubble/blister faces away from you).
3. Use a sharp pen-knife to make some light and small incisions on the cardboard where the figure is. I note, small and light incisions. The incisions should not puncture the cardboard and end up damaging the figure.
4. Use your nails to dig into the incisions and peel back the cardboard. Sisters come in handy if you do not have nails.
5. Peel back enough of the cardboard so that you can remove the figure but making sure that the entirety of the edges of the bubble/blister is still attached to the cardboard.
6. Remove the figure; Figure may be reinstated in bubble and displayed as if it were MISB.

The idea result, if you are really skilled with a pen-knife, is how Skullcruncher was removed from his bubble/blister packaging (below). But first, an example from my 1985 attempt at opening Grimlock.

EXAMPLE 1: My Grimlock from 1985

MIB Grimlock with bubble insert still (rather) firmly attached to the cardback and displaying upright.

Do not rip the bubble from the front, but turn it behind and make small incisions in the cardboard.

Use your nails/fingers to peel the cardboard back slowly, and if necessary small piece by small piece, but ensure that the edges of the bubble is still firmly attached to cardback.

Of course in this case I didn't do it well enough and so parts of the cardback has become detached from the bubble. So, here's a better example...

EXAMPLE 2: My recently purchased Skullcruncher MIB, opened with a lot more finesse than I opened my Grimlock in 1985.
Step 1: Do not rip the bubble/insert from the cardback.

Step 2 & 3: Turn the cardboard insert around (so the the bubble/blister faces away from you); Use a sharp pen-knife to make some light and small incisions on the cardboard where the figure is. I note, small and light incisions. The incisions should not puncture the cardboard and end up damaging the figure.

In this case, the incisions were so well done that the cardback can be opened like a flap.

Figure ready to be removed and replaced at your leisure.

Figure may be reinstated in box and displayed as if it were never removed from its bubble/blister.

How to open US carded Transformers

1. First off, do not rip the bubble/blister from the cardback.
2. Use a sharp pen-knife to slice the bubble insert at the point between where it pops up and where it makes contact with the cardback (by this I do not mean the absolute edge where the plastic portion of the bubble ends; please see Rumble/Ravage and Frenzy/Ratbat cardbacks below for illustration). You should be slicing the bubble insert, making sure the pen-knife does not damage the cardback.
3. Taking the example of a rectangular bubble, say for the cassettes, I'd normally slice the left, right and bottom of the bubble leaving the top edge intact so that I can 'flip open' the bubble and remove the cassette.
4. The entire bubble may be sliced off it is desired to store the packaging flat.
5. This all can be done without damage to any of the printed graphics on the cardback. If Step 3 is properly followed, the Transformers and its accessories may be reinstated into its cardback bubble and displayed almost as if it were still MOSC.

For illustrative purposes, cardbacked Transformers should not be ripped open like the 4 Stunticon cardbacks below were. More than half the print on the Deadend card was ripped off together with its bubble.

Example of Step 3 being properly followed:

Properly sliced cardbacks (with all the bubbles removed) would look like the left and right cardbacks below. There is no damage to the cardback graphics at all, but the toys, accessories and bubbles are removed.

Deviation of Step 3:

Seawing and Nautilator removed from cardback but not exactly as per Step 3 and thus there is slight damage to the cardback graphics. The key difference is this - these 2 bubbles were sliced at the edge of the flat portion of the bubble, whereas in accordance with Step 3, it is recommended that the bubble be sliced at the point where the part of the bubble that pops up first contacts the cardback (see the Rumble/Ravage and Frenzy/Ratbat cardback picture above for clarification).

Brawl and Swindle removed from cardback but also not as per Step 3.

Have fun! If you have any questions, feel free to email me here.

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Related Post

How to Remove price tags and stickers from Transformer boxes and Transformers

Series 5 (1988) - Pretender Cloudburst

I've previously talked about Cloudburst when I posted an entry for the MIB Cloudburst that I acquired with MIB Targetmaster Cyclonus.

This is another Cloudburst though. It is the one I got as a set together with all my Autobot Pretenders from eBay seller nancyfancypants.

This loose Cloudburst is in a much better condition that the Cloudburst that is MIB. It is therefore, worthy of being featured in its own entry here. Will not say too much by way of introduction since I've previously said it, but will get on with pictures!

The head-sculpt of the Cloudburst Pretender shell is probably the best looking, most proportionate with its suit and most natural among the humanoid Autobot Pretenders. I know I like the Cloudburst head-sculpt best, coming close second is Landmine's head-sculpt.

The Cloudburst inner-robot. I always thought that he is coloured a little too red overall and that his head is a little too big for his body. Note the cool Autobot symbol his chest. It's a custom symbol and is present on all the Pretenders that this eBay seller sold me. I suspect all 12 Pretenders were previously owned by a very meticulous and careful collector from the way all the stickers were applied and also from the fact that each Pretender inner-robot has custom made faction symbols at appropriate places.

Cloudburst inner-robot with Pretender shell. The Pretender shell wields a whip and is perhaps the only G1 Transformer to have that as a weapon. Makes me think of Leoric, the leader of the Spectral Knights in Visionaries, also a Hasbro toy brand.

Space-jet mode of Cloudburst inner-robot. Note the custom Autobot symbol on the nosecone.