MP-22: Ultra Magnus

Picked up MP-22: Ultra Magnus with some local collecting buddies yesterday.

Yeah, Magnus, I have not opened you yet other than to pose you with your vintage US and Japanese counterparts.

Don't sulk Magnus, 'deal with it'...

... moments this year (and last), when it felt like Christmas!

This year, I didn't get any toys for Xmas.

To then get that festive feeling, I figured I should post about those times in the past year (or two), where it felt like Christmas.

Most of the shots in this post are unreleased group shots that I did when I received toys (or large lots of toys), mainly because I like to post about the toys individually before posting a large group shot. Due to my posting speed, I still have yet to complete posting about the toys I received from way back in June 2013!

Today's arrivals - Takara C-64: Seaspray carded and boxed

Just got home from dinner and was handed two packages by concierge. The first was a bottle of wine from JW, a UK collector and friend (what a nice surprise!) and the second was a package from Japan.

Popped the wine below my tiny xmas tree for unwrapping on xmas day and then opened the package from Japan.

This is what's in it - boxed and carded versions of C-64: Seaspray. Will write more later.

1987 Headmasters - Skullcruncher original box art - an Update

I had wanted to take this shot when I did my original birthday post Parts 2 & 3, but I didn't have time to dig out my US boxed Skullcruncher. I managed to dig out my US box Skullcruncher this morning and as I was chatting with a good buddy Seb (G1-Junkie / Hyperoptic), took the below shots.

Top - pre-production box flap of D-85: Skull's box; and original hand-drawn and air brushed box art for Skullcruncher.
Bottom - Takara boxed D-85: Skull MIB; and US boxed Skullcruncher.

I thought about it more and just really like this little collection here more and more. When we were little boys, the only Headmasters my brother and I had were Chromedome (mine) and Skullcruncher (my brother's). When I first got the box art in hand, I immediately texted my brother (who does not collect TFs) and asked if he remembers his "Transformers crocodile"; and he replied "yeah, the green and pink one right? Can't remember the name, but remember I had it".

The little collection of pieces below just warms my heart when I look at it because they will always remind me of my brother and of the fun we had with Transformers when we were little. Pity that he does not collect TFs now, but then his 5 year old son loves TFs! Haha...

The above shot shows the Jap box and US boxed Skullcruncher side by side. This would be a good place to start with Unicron Nemesis' idea of documenting and comparing Japanese vs US boxes.

Takara boxed Mail Away Overdrive MIB (#25 of 36)

This is piece #25 of 36 of the 36-piece mega-lot Japanese boxed Mail Away Overdrive.

There isn't really that much to say about this piece other than it's a mailaway "exclusive" in Japan, as can be seen by the words below. However, it is special in the sense that it came in a box and with styro inserts - the USA mailaway version came in a plastic bag.

The Japanese version came in a white box with blue line art.

Takara Mail Away Downshift MIB (#24 of 36)

This is piece #23 of 36 of the 36-piece mega-lot Japanese boxed Mail Away Ratchet.

There isn't really that much to say about this piece other than it's a mailaway "exclusive" in Japan, as can be seen by the words below. However, it is special in the sense that it came in a box and with styro inserts - the USA mailaway version came in a plastic bag.

White box with blue character line art, somewhat like the Japanese Mailaway Ratchet box.

Takara box Mailaway Camshaft MIB (#23 of 36)

This is piece #23 of 36 of the 36-piece mega-lot Japanese boxed Mail Away Ratchet.

 

There isn't really that much to say about this piece other than it's a mailaway "exclusive" in Japan, as can be seen by the words below. However, it is special in the sense that it came in a box and with styro inserts - the USA mailaway version came in a plastic bag.

The Japanese version came in a white box with blue line art.

The Birthday Post 2014 - Parts 2 & 3 - Skullcruncher

In Part 1 of my birthday post yesterday, I posted about a casefresh unused Diaclone blue Fairlady Z, aka "blue Bluestreak". Given the rarity and desirability of that piece, it would be a very difficult one to top - but I believe the items 2 and 3 in this post could top 'blue Bluestreak' casefresh.

So what would be in this Part 2 of my birthday post?

Here it is...

Item #2: On the left is a 'box flat', which was a sample made by the factory (in the 80s) then sent to Takara or Hasbro to be approved. In the words of The Spacebridge, 'some box flats are different to production boxes, others are identical.  Differences can be very slight even as far as the internal flap shape. Copyright text may also be different'.

Item #3: On the right is something so rare, I never thought I'd ever own something like that - the original hand-painted, hand-air-brushed artwork for Skullcruncher.

I will no doubt write more about these, but here is the story in brief first ....

The Birthday Post 2014 - Part 1 (Diaclone blue Fairlady Z MIB unused and near casefresh)

It's my birthday.

Well, I actually only got to write this post on 3 December, but backdated it.

This year, I decided to get myself some birthday presents. There are three presents I got myself and this is one of them - hence the "Part 1" in the title of this post.

From the photos so far, you would be able to guess what nature of item I got, I suppose. Yes, it's Bluestreak related (no prizes for guessing!). While I was walking around Mong Kok with UK collector, Jason W, I chanced upon this beauty....