Post V-Day toy shopping and HK Market Watch

It's the day after V-day, but actually this post has no co-relation to V-day, heh.

My buddy from Singapore told me that he's now into the early year G1 Autobot cars, he'd only 'just' realised how awesome they were. Well, better late than never!

He requested that I try to hunt down some for him and didn't mind that they were reissues. Vintage would be difficult, but reissues is pretty easy to find in HK. So off I went to look for stuff.

In a day, I found the following...

From ToyZone16 a TFC reissue Prowl and a eHobby exclusive blackhooded 'Silverstreak', both MISB

From Sino Centre, Encore reissue Trailbreaker and Hoist

Later that night, I went toy hunting with UM from the Oz Boards and managed to snag myself 2 Junkheaps at an okay price - HKD$178 each. I want to army build these, so the cheaper the better.

This is a shot of all the acquisitions.

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HK Market Watch

As many would know, TFC's Hercules (not Devastator) is now fully released. UM and I snapped a quick shot of the giant monstrosity at one of the shops.

Personally, I'm still not interested to fork out the cash for this piece and am adopting a wait and see attitude until the MakeToys Giant is out.

heroic_decepticon and evil_autobot celebrates Valentine's Day!

This is the very day we got to know each other a few years ago (not going to say how many), so today was a special day in more ways than one.

I sent flowers to E's office. 

We went to watch a play at night.

I gave her awesome headphones as her gift.

HK Market Watch - Kre-O Optimus Prime statue at Sogo

I was walking around, shopping in preparation of tomorrow (V-day for the uninitiated) and stumbled upon a very handsome rendition of Optimus Prime at Sogo in Causeway Bay.

Kre-O, almost life-sized Optimus Prime!

Takara/ MC Axis Elita-One resin model kit (1996) MIB unused

I bought this together with the Hot Rod and Arcee model kits as a set.

This Elita-One model kit is perhaps the only rendition of Elita-One in its full G1-accurate tangible collectible or toy form since she appears in the G1 episode "The search for Alpha Trion". Diamond select did an Elita One bust, which by definition was not a full Elita One figure.

Due to the lack of Elita One collectibles or toys and her 'romantic' connection with Optimus Prime, this is perhaps the most desirable of all the 3 MC Axis model kits. Alvaraz in his Unofficial Guide to Japanese and International Transformers (published in 2001) estimates that the Elita One kit is worth US$500-600 unassembled (page 137).

He says: "These are the very, very, extremely rare Elita One [and Arcee] vinyl model kits... These models stand almost 5-inches high when assembled, and sell for [USD]$500-600 each".

A larger shot of the front of its stunning box. According to TF Wiki, the way "Elita One" is spelt has been a bone for contention with fans for many years and this box settles it once and for all. Interesting and all, but I didn't know that such contention existed!



Side of box. Like the Hot Rod box of the same side, this shows computer rendered images of the model kit. The Elita One box on the other hand, shows a painted version of the Elita One model kit inside.


Other side of box with a beautifully drawn rendition of Elita One by Yoshi and Elita One's tech specs and bio in Japanese.


Close of tech specs, which is worthwhile noting because this is one of the first (and perhaps only) instance where Elita One's tech spec read out is available: Str 9 Int 10 Spd 7 1/2 End 6 Rank 9 1/2 Cour 10 FP 3 Skill 9


Close up of Elita One bio. If only I can read Japanese, sob!


Showing its unused contents. It turns out that the 'instructions' and 'comic strip' are one and the same thing.


Close up of comic strip


Close up of instructions


Here, I have just put the model kits parts together (without glue) to give an idea of what the finished kit would look like. Unlike Hot Rod, there are no extra parts like guns, add-ons, etc.


Close up of the head detail, which I really like and I think is very G1-anime accurate


Next: 3 MC Axis model kits reviewed together!

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MC Axis resin model kits (1996):

• Hot Rod
• Arcee
• Elita-One

Takara/ MC Axis Arcee resin model kit (1996) MIB unused

Previous: Takara/ MC Axis Hot Rod resin model kit (1996) MIB unused

I bought this Arcee model kit together with the Hot Rod one sometime in late December last year - they came in a set of 3 with another model kit (hint hint!). To be honest, I would not have bought the Hot Rod kit if it were not for this Arcee kit and the other model kit (see next article).

This Arcee kit is one of the few official licensed and truely G1 looking Arcee molds that were made in the  time since TFTM introduced her. There was never an official transforming toy with the G1 Arcee like-ness and the statues of Arcees made over the years, still pale in comparison to this particular mold.

What sets this apart from the other releases is also the really G1 looking box that it came in.

It's very nice and easily one of my favourite MC Axis model kits.

A larger shot of the front of its stunning box. Compared with the Hot Rod one, the Arcee box additionally contains her motto "Looks are always deceiving"

Close up of the bottom of the box. "MC Axis" and copyright "Takara" can be seen; includes 'Arcee model kit, instruction booklet and comic strip'.

Side of box. Unlike the Hot Rod box of the same side which shows computer rendered images of the model kit, the Arcee one shows a painted version of the model kit inside.

Other side of box with a beautifully drawn rendition of Arcee by Yoshi and Arcee's tech specs and bio in Japanese.

Close up of Arcee bio.

Showing its unused contents. It turns out that the 'instructions' and 'comic strip' are one and the same thing.

Close up of comic strip

Close up of instructions

Arcee kit parts. The base resin colour is dark-pink, different from Hot Rod's base colour which is cream/ beige.

Here, I have just put the model kits parts together (without glue) to give an idea of what the finished kit would look like.

Close up of face sculpt

Next: Elita-One resin model kit MIB unused!

***

MC Axis resin model kits (1996):

• Hot Rod
• Arcee
• Elita-One

Takara/ MC Axis Hot Rod resin model kit (1996) MIB unused

I bought this sometime in December last year.

When I first saw it in ToyZone16 at Causeway Bay, I had no idea what it was. I had to go back and do some research on TF Wiki and also on Alvarez's guidebook before I had an inkling what it was.

This Hot Rod model kit was part of a series of 3 model kits produced by a company called "MC Axis" in 1996 (licensed by Takara). It's odd because it's about 8-10 years too late to be producing a Hot Rod model kit since Season 3 ended in 1986.

Still, this is a pretty stunning piece, as can be seen, with the box being clearly G1-inspired.

Close up of the bottom of the box. "MC Axis" and copyright "Takara" can be seen; includes 'Hot Rod model kit, instruction booklet and comic strip'.

A side of the box showing Hot Rod with different optional parts.

Another side of the box with G1-ish Hot Rod artwork by Japanese artist 'Yoshi' and Hot Rod's tech spec and profile in Japanese.

Close up of tech specs. I wonder what it says?

Showing its unused contents. It appears that the 'instructions' and 'comic strip' are one and the same thing.

Close up of comic strip

Close up of instructions

Even the 'jewel' to stimulate the crystal at the center of the Matrix of Leadership is included. The Japanese do pay very much attention to detail!

Unused model kit parts laid out. The model kit includes a Hot Rod body, 02 x heads (one normal, one with visor), a standalone Matrix, another Matrix molded with Hot Rods hands, 02 x fists, 01 x saw attachment, 01 x welder attachment (actually shown being used by Blurr, not Hot Rod, during TFTM).

Close up of heads

Next: MC Axis Arcee resin model kit MIB unused!

***

MC Axis resin model kits (1996):

• Hot Rod
• Arcee

My early G1 shelf!

As mentioned here, I was back in Singapore during CNY and had brought back to HK a fair chunk of my early G1 figures, which has been sitting in storage at my parents' place since 2003.

Early in the week, I spent a night taking them out and arranging them into my Teletraan-1 display. It's such a delight to see them displayed out in their full glory again, its like coming home to old friends and really a joy to see.

Among this batch, many of the 1984 pieces are pre-rub pieces, which to me are the nearest thing to their diaclone counterparts, still the best quality and molding among the early year TFs (some might disagree, but hey, this is my collection!).

I'm quite saddened by the fact that despite me sealing them in protective bags and keeping them in storage away from direct sunlight, some pieces have still yellowed. Wheeljack is slightly off white, Ratchet (cross version) is quite yellowed, the white parts of Tracks is yellowed. This yellowing phenomenon is really quite sickening from a collector's perspective. Anyway...

Here they are arranged out in Teletraan-1:

Very nice huh?

Close up shot of the left hand side of the display. Yes, I did sneak in some 1987 TFs... heh.

Close up shot of the right hand side of the display.

A shot of 3 different versions of Bluestreak. Left to right - Series 1, 1984, pre-rub Bluestreak; pre-Transformers CarRobots No.7: Fairlady Z blue version, aka 'blue' Bluestreak; eHobby exclusive 'black hood' Bluestreak.

Another close up