Heroic Deception has moved and is (somewhat) back!

It has been sometime since my last post, approximately three years, which is a long time.

In the intervening time, I have not stopped collecting, but was not logistically set up optimally to take / edit photos and to post.

Recently, E and I have moved to a new place (yay!). The collection took some time to be set out and arranged. Plus E bought me a new computer (double yay!).

So, this post is the "first" act that I am doing with the new computer (not counting all the administration, installing, transferring of data, etc).

From OKC to now GVT, these are my current shelve arrangements.

The idea here is for the "middle band" of shelves to contain loose figures which are more or less at eye level and for the upper band plus lower band to have boxed MIB pieces that are either US boxed releases or Japanese boxed releases.

From left to right, the first "column" is meant for the 1984 and 1985 Autobots, which includes boxed and loose versions. The second "column" is meant for 1984, 1985 and some 1986 Decepticons (because there are generally less Decepticons than Autobots).

The middle "column" is for 1986 (Transformers: The Movie) characters and Combiners, both Autobots and Decepticons, where the boxed pieces features non-tamara toys such as Deluxe Autobots, etc. The fourth "column" from the left features the remaining TFTM cast, Season 3's cast, where the boxed pieces features Triple Changers, some of my favourite TFs. The fifth "column" from the left are the toys from the latter post-1986 years and contains a mix of Pretenders, Masterforce, Victory figures.

The above pic shows a stand-alone shelf opposite the long large ones. This showcases the pieces that are either very special or close to heart. Top shelf contains the trinity of holy grail gift sets, the VSX, VSY and VSZ, all of which are pristine and unused. One shelf down are Hottoys figures some of which belongs to E. Then, we have all 18 of the 1984 and 1985 original Autobots "cars" and in package (also unused) versions of the Season 1 Decepticons.

Below, is a close up of the shelves containing loose TFs, which I guess in photos, are more interesting to look at than a figure that is trapped in a package.

 

There it is for now, an update after some years.

Thoughts and comments welcomed of course.

I plan to write more. 

Heroic Decepticon, GVT, 23 Aug 2020, 10.42am.

Live on Kickstarter: Transformers G1 Unofficial Photographic Archive (Volumes 1 & 2)

I would like to say, 'please read my entry before heading over to check out the project on Kickstarter', but this is one instance I do not mind you heading over to Kickstarter first, then coming back here. So, here is the link!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1052752228/transformers-g1-unofficial-photographic-archive-vi

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So now the "secret" behind my long and sometimes frequent absence on the blog here. It is not because there have been no acquisitions, it is not because I have nothing left to say about Transformers, and it is certainly not because I have left this blog for good.

It is, however, because G1-junkie / Hyperoptic, brr-icy and myself have been working on a very special project - the Transformers G1 Unofficial Photographic Archive!

[Optimus Prime double spread from Volume 1]

It's a good long title, to be sure. It was what we have settled on. Something that was suggested by E was along the lines of "Photographic Memories of G1 Transformers". Poetic, yes?

[Sky Lynx spread from Volume 1, incidentally, one of E's favourite toys!]

So, back to the Photographic Archive, which is actually a collection of 2 books. Volume 1 is 300+ pages and features all US released G1 Transformers from 1984 to 1990.

[Apeface and Snapdragon spread from Volume 1, incidentally, 2 of my favourite toys!]

Volume 2 is 200+ pages and features Japanese exclusive G1 Transformers from 1985 to 1992, and European exclusive G1 Transformers from 1984 to 1994.

[Blue Bacchus and Black Shadow spread from Volume 2]

In total, we are talking about 500+ pages of the good stuff, the solid G1 stuff. With hundreds of hours of shooting photos and writing and after more than 10,000 photographs, the books are now 90% complete.

Approximately 21 hours ago, we launched our campaign on Kickstarter. Here is the link again:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1052752228/transformers-g1-unofficial-photographic-archive-vi

As of this moment, it is about 25% funded, which we are really happy about.

If you like G1 Transformers at all, do head over to Kickstarter (link above) to check out the project and if you like what you see, any support you can lend towards getting the books fully funded would be very much appreciated!

Lots of Autobot Cars MIB - USA Series 1 + 2 and Takara Japanese Fight! Super Robot Lifeform

Another series of shots that are inspired by the great HeraldofUnicron...

As far as possible, I have tried to photograph a character in its USA Hasbro box, its Japanese Takara box and also a loose toy in robot mode (since the in package toys are usually in vehicle mode). For some characters, where I have them, I would also try and include a loose toy in its alternate mode in the shot.

There is something about this shot, I just cannot put my finger on what it is...

In terms of inserts, I have tried to use either eHobby version or Encore version inserts because these are much more stable than the original bubble inserts. They have an overall different look, but are very stable. For characters with no eHobby / Encore reissue, I bought repro bubbles from BubbleFormer.com.

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Takara 02 - Hound MIB
Hasbro Hound MIB (insert is a repro)

Takara 03 - Wheeljack MIB (unused)
Hasbro Wheeljack MIB (original inserts)

Takara 04 - Swipe MIB (unused)
Hasbro Sideswipe MIB (insert from eHobby reissue)

Takara 05 - Alert (unused)
Hasbro Red Alert MIB (original inserts)

Takara 06 - Jazz MIB (unused)
Hasbro Jazz MIB (insert from Encore reissue)

Takara 07 - Ligier MIB (unused)
Hasbro Mirage MIB (repro inserts)

Takara 08 - Streak (blue) MIB (unused)
Takara 08 - Streak MIB (unused)
Hasbro Bluestreak MIB (unused)

Takara 09 - Prowl MIB
Hasbro Prowl MIB (repro inserts)

Takara 10 - Inferno MIB
Hasbro Inferno MIB (eHobby inserts)

Takara 25 - Trailbreaker MIB (unused)
Hasbro Trailbreaker MIB (inserts from Encore)

Takara 26 - Grimlock MIB (unused, Made in Japan version)
Hasbro Grimlock MIB (unused)

Takara 27 - Sludge MIB
Hasbro Sludge MIB (unused)

Takara 28 - Slag MIB
Hasbro Slag MIB (unused)

Takara 29 - Snarl MIB
Hasbro Snarl MIB (unused)

Takara 30 - Swarp MIB
Hasbro Swoop MIB

Takara 44 - Tracks MIB (unused)
Hasbro Tracks MIB (inserts are from eHobby reissue)

Takara 45 - Smokscreen MIB
Hasbro Smokscreen MIB (repro inserts)

Takara 46 - Hoist (unused, Wrecker variant)
Hasbro Hoist MIB (Encore inserts)

Takara 47 - Grapple MIB
Hasbro Grapple MIB (eHobby inserts)

Takara mailaway Ratchet MIB (unused)
Hasbro Ratchet MIB (Encore inserts)

Takara VSZ Giftset
Hasbro Sunstreaker MIB (original inserts)
Hasbro Skids MIB (Encore inserts)

Diaclone CarRobots No.18 Lancia Stratos Turbo 'Marlboro Edition', aka Marlboor Wheeljack - with Diaclone CarRobots No.8 Fairlady Z 'blue edition' aka blue Bluestreak

Pre-Transformers Diaclone CarRobots No.8 - Fairlady Z Turbo, blue edition - aka (the legendary) blue Bluestreak, MIB and unused.

Pre-Transformers Diaclone CarRobots No.18 - Lancia Stratos Turbo, Marlboro racing edition - aka (the notorious) Marlboor Wheeljack, MIB and unused.

Too beautiful for words.

I won't say more.

Diaclone CarRobot No.18 Lancia Stratos Turbo "Marlboor" (Malboro) version aka 'Marlboor Wheeljack' or now called Exhaust

I previously had a very mint, unused, Diaclone CarRobot No.18 Lancia Stratos Turbo (Malboro edition) toy. For lack of a better term, this is commonly known as the "Marlboor Wheeljack" in the fandom.

In what I would later regret as an unwise move in hindsight, I traded my previous Marlboor Wheeljack away - there's even a story here.

Today, the second Marlboor Wheeljack I bought, from a US based seller, arrived. Thank you GD and thank you Maz for making the connection.

I have fixed my past transgression.

Above is a shot showing Takara Japanese boxed 03-Wheeljack (2 boxes, one is empty), Hasbro USA boxed Wheeljack, Diaclone Marlboor Wheeljack, Masterpiece Wheeljack MIB, Masterpiece Exhaust MIB (aka Masterpiece Marlboor Wheeljack), loose pre-rub Wheeljack in robot mode and a loose rub-sign Wheeljack in car mode.

Question: Why do I have so many? 

Answer: influenced by Heraldofunicron!

Above is a cheeky show of the Marlboor Wheeljack in the 03 box (the Diaclone box and Japanese box styros are interchangeable).

Maximum Dinobots, the complete G1 USA and Japanese Dinobots

Some time ago, I bought all 5 Japanese boxed Dinobots from Devstar37 and considered my Dinobots 'complete' when complimented by the 2 loose sets (one for robot mode and one for dinosaur mode).

However, recently a very reputable seller and good buddy of mine was selling his MIB unused Dinobots in USA box and I thought this would be a good chance to actually get all the US boxed Dinobots in one go. Thanks buddy, you know who you are!

Above: left set - Takara Japanese boxed Dinobots; right set - Hasbro USA boxed Dinobots

First, I got Swoop from him. Then very recently I got MIB Slag, Sludge and Snarl from him, including the 'innards' of a with bubble unused Grimlock (ie: no Grimlock box). It happens that I actually have a full set of US boxes for the Dinobots, just no bubble, so I did have a nice Grimlock box lying around to place the unused 'innards' into.

Above: boxed Dinobots together with loose robots (one in Dino mode and one in robot mode).

These are some of the most mouthwatering display pieces in the last 30 years, they have to be.

A third part - boxed Transformers 'A to B'

More random photos. This time a third part - boxed Transformers 'A to B'.

just more random Transformer photos (a second part)

in keeping with the post from yesterday... just more (and more) random shots...
These shots includes items from my Australia, Singapore and also Hong Kong apartments.