29 December 2011

Altogether now - the Dino-cassettes, Gurafi, Noizu, Dairu & Zauru, all together now!

This has been a good year for Transformers collecting for me. Amongst the highlights of this year, I have finally managed to secure the W-cassettes (aka "dino-cassettes") from the 1987 Headmasters series, and before the damnable KOs were released.

I should take this opportunity to mention that my dino-cassettes are the exact set that is featured on TF-1 (as verified through email with Maz himself!)

Over the past 4 days, I have featured each dino-cassette, in its turn, in a dedicated post, each with its individual review. These can be seen here:
Now, I'm going to show them in their full collective glory.

C-121, C-122, C-123, C-124 MIB
Dino-cassettes: Gurafi, Noizu, Dairu and Zauru

Close up of C-121 and C-122

Close up of C-123 and C-124

Contents and bio cards side by side with boxes

Close up of C-121 and C-122

Close up of C-123 and C-124

I love this shot. Laid out with bio cards on top and inserts with cassettes on the bottom. Yum!

C-121: Gurafi out of box and transformed.

C-122: Noizu out of box and transformed.

C-123: Dairu out of box and transformed.

C-124: Zauru out of box and transformed.

Some shots of the dino-cassettes interacting



Gurafi, Noizu, Dairu and Zauru with the Autobot Communicators Blaster (Broadblast) and Twincast.

Twincast in robot mode with the dinos!


Dino-cassettes, attack!

The dino-cassettes are not just dinosaurs, they combine! They are in fact the predecessors of the 1988 combiner cassettes Grand Slam / Raindance and Squarktalk / Beastbox.

Gurafi and Noizu combines to form Decibel!

Decibel


Dairu and Zauru combine to form Legout!



Given that they don't look as polished as the 1988 combiner cassettes, there is still an undeniable flavour to to them. Here is a shot of Decibel (back) with Legout.

Another shot of Decibel and Legout (back).

Decibel and Legout with Broadblast (Blaster) and Twincast.

Decibel and Legout with one of my all time favourite toys, 'blue' Bluestreak (aka Diaclone blue Fairlady Z).


Decibel and Legout with Bluestreak in robot mode.

They are all here, merry christmas, HD!!! - 38: Broadblast MIB unused, C116: Twincast MIB unused, C-121: Gurafi MIB, C-122: Noizu MIB, C-123: Dairu MIB and C-124: Zauru MIB

... with the Decepticon Communicators Soundwave and Soundblaster...
Posted by at 5 comments:
Label: , , , , ,

28 December 2011

Review - Headmaster Dino-cassette C-124: Zauru MIB

I first talked about how I acquired this Dino-cassette here - The full story (Part 3) - So rare they ought to be extinct. These cassettes have also variously been called "W-Cassettes".

Now, it's time to showcase these little gems, one by one. This is the fourth and final one, C-124: Zauru (aka Saur).

Thoughts:
Zauru have a nice and pretty symmetrical cassette mode. It's transformation from cassette to dino-mode is simple, elegant and yet effectively achieves the key features of a 'Brontosaurus' (okay Apatosaurus, but I like the misnomer better) - it is really lanky with a long neck and long tail making it the longest cassette transformer. It is not complex like Dairu is, but there is a lot about its simplicity and its quiet colour scheme that makes Zauru mysterious, shy and yet an attractive piece. This guy is easily one of my favourite dino-cassettes - love the box art and the toy is the best all round because it achieves its intended dino mode with its simple yet effective elegance. However, as mentioned previously, I just cannot decide whether Zauru or Dairu is the favourite. Overall, I would rate Zauru 8.5/10.

Zauru bio from TF Wiki:
"Saur (ザウル Zauru) is an Autobot Mini-Cassette, and the most powerful of the four Autobot W Cassettebots, being even stronger in the depths of the ocean. Despite this, he is peaceful and has a fondness for cute squirrels and widdle birdies. He can combine with his partner Dial to form the humanoid robot Legout."

Further information: "Saur is a mini-cassette that transforms into what appears to be a dark blue (nearly black) Apatosaurus. He has a good range of articulation with several points of movement at the neck and tail, as well as hip joints. Two silver 'Cannons Guns' plug into the faux cassette tape holes near his hind legs. 

 Saur combines with Dial to form the legs of Legout. His cannons become hip-mounted weapons in this form."

C-124: Zauru MIB
Box = C9.5
Toy = C9
Inserts = C8.5
Accessories = complete, C9

(C-124: Zauru combines with C-123: Dairu into the robot Legout).


Top of box

Close up of the beautiful box art

Bottom of box - the tech specs are here

Back of box

Bios for Legout (combined form of Dairu and Zauru) and bio for Dairu

Dairu and Zauru out of box


Zauru out of box - Zauru bio card, instructions and Zauru cassette and 2 weapons in insert tray

Close up of bio card and instructions

Close up of Zauru in cassette mode

With instructions opened

Zauru transformed


Zauru with blue Bluestreak - colours kind of match huh?

According to TF Wiki, Zauru is 'vanishingly rare'. 

I know, it took me ages to acquire it. Here is the quote from TF Wiki: "As one of the vanishingly few toys unique to the Headmasters toy line and something of a tail-ender within the line, Saur and the other three "dino-cassettes" command ridiculous sums on the secondary market. Their actual rarity is questionable, though; similar "exclusive holy grails" Stepper, Artfire, Twincast and Soundblaster were uncommon, but not vanishingly rare, yet still commanded top dollar due to overseas perception (until they got reissued, at any rate). As there appear to be no plans to reproduce these cassettes, their high-price status is unlikely to change."

 BEWARE - Zauru has recently been KO-ed (ie: knocked-off / pirated / faked) by a company called KO Toys. Most of the Zaurus appearing on eBay, Yahoo Auctions or Yahoo Japan are fakes. To ensure authenticity, do yourself a favour and check out the tips over at High End TFs before dropping loads of cash on what could be a fake / KO-ed Zauru.

***

Related Posts
Posted by at 3 comments:
Label: , , , , ,

27 December 2011

Review - Headmasters Dino-cassette C-123: Dairu MIB

I first talked about how I acquired this Dino-cassette here - The full story (Part 3) - So rare they ought to be extinct.

Now, it's time to showcase these little gems, one by one. This is the third dino-cassette (aka W-Cassettes), C-123: Dairu (aka Dial).

Thoughts:
This is one of my favourite dino-cassettes in terms of the stunning box art and also the dinosaur mode. The transformation and engineering built into this little guy is very very impressive - it has easily the most complex transformation among the 4 dino-cassettes and is very intricate in its design. The transformation from cassette to dinosaur is complex and fun and so is the transformation into its combined form Legout. The teal-green colour scheme of the toy is a little odd, but suitably dino-like. The colour scheme shown on the box art and the box art itself is just stunning. I just cannot decide whether Dairu or Zauru is my favourite dino-cassette - on the one hand there is the intricate complexity of Dairu and on the other hand there is the clean, simple and effective elegance of Zauru. Man, I can't decide! Overall, Dairu gets a rating of 8.5/10.

Dairu bio from TF Wiki:
"Dial (ダイル Dairu) is the Autobots' energy resource scout and a Mini-Cassette. Unfortunately, Dial has a keen curiosity, bringing him to major system failures when investigating sources of energy.
As a member of the W Cassettebot sub-sub-group, he can combine with his partner Saur to form the humanoid robot Legout."

Further information: "Dial is a mini-cassette that transforms into what appears to be a green Iguanodon. He has a good range of articulation with movement at the neck, arms, hips, knees and tail. Two silver chromed "Wave Blasters" plug into the faux cassette tape holes near his neck. In tape mode, he fits into the chest compartment of Blaster or Soundwave (and their retooled reincarnations).

 Dial combines with Saur to form the upper body of their combined mode Legout. In this form, Dial's guns form over-shoulder artillery."

C-123: Dairu MIB
Box = C8 (slight tear in front)
Toy = C8.5
Inserts = C8.5
Accessories = complete, C9

(C-123: Dairu, combines with C-124: Zauru to form the robot Legout)


Close up of the beautiful box art

Bottom of box - the tech specs are here

Back of box

Bios for Legout (combined form of Dairu and Zauru) and bio for Dairu

Dairu and Zauru out of box


Dairu out of box - Dairu bio card, instructions and Dairu cassette and 2 weapons in insert tray

Close up of bio card and instructions

Close up of Dairu in cassette mode

With instructions opened

Dairu transformed






According to TF Wiki, Dairu is 'vanishingly rare'. 

I know, it took me ages to acquire it. Here is the quote from TF Wiki: "As one of the vanishingly few toys unique to the Headmasters toy line and something of a tail-ender within the line, Dial and the other three "dino-cassettes" command ridiculous sums on the secondary market. Their actual rarity is questionable, though; similar "exclusive holy grails" Stepper, Artfire, Twincast and Soundblaster were uncommon, but not vanishingly rare, yet still commanded top dollar due to overseas perception (until they got reissued, at any rate). As there appear to be no plans to reproduce these cassettes, their high-price status is unlikely to change."

 BEWARE - Dairu has recently been KO-ed (ie: knocked-off / pirated / faked) by a company called KO Toys. Most of the Dairus appearing on eBay, Yahoo Auctions or Yahoo Japan are fakes. To ensure authenticity, do yourself a favour and check out the tips over at High End TFs before dropping loads of cash on what could be a fake / KO-ed Dairu.

***

Related Posts
Posted by at 2 comments:
Label: , , , , ,

26 December 2011

Japanese Transformers C-60: Pipes MOSC

It is Boxing Day today. 

I present you with a Transformer that has no fists, and thus cannot box, on Boxing Day - Huffer's brother in amour, Pipes!

I grabbed this when I was taking zfeakye around In's Point on 23 December. He was here in HK for holidays with his wife and son and E and I took him to In's Point for some good 'ol family fun - toy shopping!

Really nothing unusual about this Pipes, just that its MOSC and I heard of it being a little rare, but other than that, a pretty standard acquisition.

C-60: Pipes MOSC
Cardback = C7.5, some creasing
Toy = MOSC, C10

Front of packaging. Poor guy looks like he is surrendering to the Decepticons even before you remove him from his package.

Back of Card. Pretty standard 1986 cardback. Pipes is worth 1/2 a robot point.

Close up of front of card box art

Happy Boxing Day!

~ HD

Posted by at No comments:
Label: , , , , , ,

25 December 2011

Nerry Xmas from Negatron

"Nerry Xmas, everybody!"

"No, Negatron, you idiot, its 'Merry Xmas'!"

"Doh"

A month ago, I talked about Negatron, which h-beest told me about.

There he is, the brown robot (from left to right: Shockwave (behind), Barrage, Megatron, Scrapper (behind), Hook, Negatron, Rumble, Soundwave, Frenzy (foreground)).


I wrote stuff about Negatron, but the one thing that really left me dissatisfied was that I did not manage to find pictures of him in his all important vehicle mode.

h-beest has now provided me with screen captures of Negatron in vehicle mode, a mode so elusive that perhaps it is only captured here online for the first time ('nuff said).

She also provided the conversation that went with this scene...

Megatron: "Do as I command and we will defeat the Autobots once and for all!"

Negatron: "No, not gonna work."

Megatron: "Gaw come on, what did we talk about!"

Negatron: "Autobots always win. You think Optimus Prime is gonna be dead dead, but then he's not dead."

Megatron: "I'm taking this from a robot that turns into a canoe?!"

Negatron: "When there's a battle on a gently moving river, you'll want me." 

*Transforms into canoe!*





*shock* A canoe!

"Nerry Xmas, to all - Trans-fans and non-Trans-fans alike!"

~ HD
Posted by at No comments:
Label: , ,

23 December 2011

Review - Headmasters Dino-cassette C-122: Noizu MIB

I first talked about how I acquired this Dino-cassette here - The full story (Part 3) - So rare they ought to be extinct. These cassettes have also variously been called "W-Cassettes".

Now, it's time to showcase these little gems, one by one. This is the second cassette, C-122: Noizu (aka Noise).

Thoughts:
The first thing I thought when I said Noizu was that 'I like his colour scheme'. There is something about this shade of blue he is in that works for me, somehow. To be honest, I think his transformation sequence from cassette to dinosaur is highly reminiscent is not substantially similar with Overkill's transformation. Even his dino-saur mode looks like Overkill. The similarities, of course, stop there - Noizu has additional engineering and can further transform to combine with Gurafi to form Decibel. In dino-mode, I'm not like the after effect of parting the legs for stability - it results in Noizu having '2 tails', which is weird. Noizu is otherwise my third favourite dino-cassette and I give him a rating of 7/10.

Noizu bio from TF Wiki:
"Noise (ノイズ Noizu) is one of the Autobot Cassettebots. A 'forest investigation' bot, he is their most violent member, and his fangs and claws are the strongest out of all of them. Noise idolizes his fellow dinosaur, Grimlock. As a member of the W Cassettebot sub-sub-group, he can combine with his partner Graphy to form the robot Decibel."

 Further description: "Noise is a mini-cassette that transforms into what appears to be a blue Allosaurus. In tape mode, he fits into the chest compartment of Blaster or Soundwave (and their retooled reincarnations). Two silver "Fire Blaster" guns plug into the faux cassette tape holes by his arms. Noise combines with Graphy to form the top half of the humanoid(-ish) robot Decibel. Noise's cannons become over-shoulder cannons for Decibel."

C-122: Noizu MIB
Box = C9.5
Toy = C9
Inserts = C8.5
Accessories = complete, C9

(C-122: Noizu, combines with C-121: Gurafi to form the robot Decible)

Box front


Close up of the beautiful box art

Bottom of box - the tech specs are here

Back of box

Bios for Decibel (combined form of Gurafi and Noizu) and bio for Gurafi

Noizu out of box - Noizu bio card, instructions and Noizu cassette and 2 weapons in insert tray - I like the large chunky weapons.

Close up of bio card and instructions

Close up of Noizu in cassette mode

With instructions opened

Noizu transformed




Gurafi and Noizu MIB

According to TF Wiki, Noizu is 'vanishingly rare'. 

I know, it took me ages to acquire it. Here is the quote from TF Wiki: "As one of the vanishingly few toys unique to the Headmasters toy line and something of a tail-ender within the line, Noizu and the other three "dino-cassettes" command ridiculous sums on the secondary market. Their actual rarity is questionable, though; similar "exclusive holy grails" Stepper, Artfire, Twincast and Soundblaster were uncommon, but not vanishingly rare, yet still commanded top dollar due to overseas perception (until they got reissued, at any rate). As there appear to be no plans to reproduce these cassettes, their high-price status is unlikely to change."

BEWARE - At this point, it is the fan-dom's understanding that KO-Toys, the 'company' that makes unauthorised (illegal) copies of Transformers toys, is being shut down. However, despite that, they appear to still be planning to release KO versions of Gurafi and Noizu. Do watch for KO / illegal / fake versions of these especially on online stores.

***

Related Posts
Posted by at 2 comments:
Label: , , , , ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

Last 30 days' TOP TEN Popular Posts