Today, I am focusing on the VSY giftset, which is Grimlock versus Soundwave and Frenzy. Notably, the giftset comes with a storybook and a cassette tape which contains read along audio of the storybook. VSY was a late 1985 release and is in fact a re-release of 26-Grimlock, 17-Soundwave and 18-Frenzy, from a year ago. In other words, all that this giftset contains are regular figures that were already on sale at the time.
Despite what TF Wiki says (here) of VSY being the "rarest of the 3 VS giftsets", I do not believe it to be the case. In fact, from experience, VSY is probably the most common of the 3 VS giftsets, with VSX being undisputedly the rarest of them all.
What is difficult, however, is finding a VSY in a nice box that is not tattered and torn.
The above photo shows VSY together with each character's Japanese individual release and US packaged counterparts. Frenzy was actually released three times: first as 18-Frenzy in the Fight! Super Robot Lifeform line in mid 1985, then in the VSY giftset in late 1985 and again as D-58: Frenzy (with gold weapons) in 1986.
A further note that the photo above shows:
- the first release of 17-Soundwave, box is dated "(C) Takara Co. Ltd. 1974-1983"
- both the first and second release of 18-Frenzy. The first release is dated "(C) Takara Co. Ltd. 1974, 1983" and the second release is dated "(C) Takara Co. Ltd. 1983" and has a bar code at the bottom.
Back of the VSY box, showing the 1985 battle scene.
Special "VS" graphic that only "VS" giftsets has as a feature.
Side of the box showing Grimlock, photographed differently from his 26-Grimlock release.
The Soundwave photos are interesting. In robot mode, he is the rub-sign TF version with Frenzy (released as part of VSY) inside his chest-deck. However, in tape player mode, he is the pre-rub "cassette man" version, with Laserbeak / Buzzsaw (not released as part of VSY) inside his chest-deck.
Contents of VSY giftset, including the storybook.
The bottom row of the above photo shows the "Made in Macau" release of 26-Grimlock and the second (very common) release of 17-Soundwave (compare the cut of the plastic window which is different).
See below for "Made in Japan" Grimlock and "Made in Macau" Grimlock.
On top is the very rare first release of 17-Soundwave which is dated "(C) Takara Co. Ltd. 1974-1983".
At the bottom is the more common subsequent release of 17-Soundwave which is dated "(C) Takara Co. Ltd. 1983" and has a bar code at the back.
On top is the first release of 18-Frenzy which is dated "(C) Takara Co. Ltd. 1974, 1983".
At the bottom is the more common subsequent release of 18-Frenzy which is dated "(C) Takara Co. Ltd. 1983" and has a bar code at the bottom (see photo).
The photo below shows each of the first releases (on left column) and the subsequent releases (right column).
Wow, I'm a G1 Soundwave collector and thought I had every foreign variation (including VSY and IGA). I had no idea that there are two versions of D-17! Thanks for this article...back on the hunt!
ReplyDeleteand congratulations on completing all of the giftsets by the way! That's an awesome collection!
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