I have been slack - some consolidated acquisitions...

Been so busy lately, I just have almost no time for much else... some updates (but quickly)

Got this loot in from my buddy valkyrie_76 from the OZ Formers Boards...

1. Doubledealer MIB, complete
2. Ultra Magnus MIB, complete (plastic wheels version)
3. Hot Rod MIB, complete, stickers unapplied

Hot Rod is simply beautiful in his vintage-ness...

***

From the HK toy shops... after shopping with my buddy Ultra Magnus...

1. SCF Minelba figure
2. Walmart exclusive Hardhead and BBTS exclusive Headrobots upgrade
3. FansProject Stormbomb (Thundershred was from sometime ago, just posing him in)

***

Some snapshots of my recently rearranged vintage shelves... featuring Diaclone Fairlady "blue" Bluestreak, dino-cassettes Gurafi, Noizu, Dairu and Zauru, Soundblaster and Browning...

Postcard moment - August skiing in Threadbo with buddies!

As I mentioned, I was off to Australia for my yearly ski trip.

This year, it was Threadbo. There were altogether 6 of us housed in a very nice apartment with a real working fireplace that overlooked the mountains.

This is the view from our balcony...

This was our typical breakfast... very yummy, thanks to MN and WS for preparing (I know I usually wake up too late to be of any good)...

On the snow!

See you next year Australia!

~ HD and E

Tidbits on C-310: God Ginrai and D-307: Overlord

Over at OZ Formers, we were discussing the issue of how to tell if Super Ginrai and Godbomber were vintage 1988 releases or whether they were the reissue (there were Takara and Hasbro reissues in the early 2000s).

To be honest, I didn't know how to tell and what the date stamp would say.

So, I went and took out my vintage C-310: God Ginrai giftset to find out.

There is no date stamp on the cab section of Super Ginrai. The date stamp on the trailer section of Super Ginrai says:

(c) 1987 HASBRO Inc.

(c) TAKARA . 1987

JAPAN

Photo:

The date stamp on Godbomber says:

創作 . 著作物

(c) TAKARA . 1988

JAPAN

Photo:

Quite interesting that Super Ginrai (aka Powermaster Prime) is stamped 1987 instead of 1988. Maybe the mold was designed in 1987. Also, the presence of the "Hasbro" stamp meant that this piece is for US and Japan release.

Godbomber on the other hand is stamped 1988, means possibly designed later to compliment Super Ginrai and only stamped Takara, because it was only meant for release in Japan (or at least meant for non-US release).

Both were made in Japan.

I suspect that the reissues are going to say "China" somewhere.

Another interesting aspect of C-310: God Ginrai is it's box size - it's identical or at least 99% identical in terms of size, with his arch-nemesis in the Masterforce series, D-307: Overlord!

Don't believe me? Check these out....

Box top size comparison

Box side size comparison

Wow, this is very prolific and I'm disappointed with myself for not discovering it earlier...

HK Market Watch updates

Been awhile.

A couple of things to update on.

28 Aug 2011

Once again, lots of 'new' G1 figures in at 懷古角. I only went down on Sunday, about 5 days after the stock came in, so probably some other figures have been bought by people already.

What's new?

• yet another C-114: Fortress Maximus, this one C9+ and unused - going for HKD$22,500. Very steep price, I think.
• yet another D-307: Overlord, very minty box, close to MISB, unused contents.
• D-318: King Poseidon giftset, box C8, contents unused
• interestingly, a Goodbye Megatron giftset, robot points and goodbye coupon cut, but otherwise very minty.
• Japanese individual boxed Predacons
• various eHobby reissues.

BAPE Convoys are starting to pop up on the secondary market. At least 2 stores have them.

Asking price is something silly like HKD$2700 for one store and HKD$3000 in another store.

***

3 September 2011

BAPE Convoy prices are dropping. Now its going for HKD$2250 in one store and as low as HKD$2150.

Interestingly, some one is selling a Big Powered set, complete except the 3 micromasters.

Back to my favourite store again. Not too much has changed, but the C-114 is sold (still there, but sold), Goodbye Megatron is sold and D-318: King Poseidon is also sold.

Man, these eHobby stuff looks minty. I caved today and bought Ghost Starscream for E (she likes transparent stuff).

New addition, C-55: Superion giftset, MISB

FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

*How do I contact you?
You can contact me by following this link.


*Why are my comments not showing up on the site?
While I always welcome quality comments, I reserve the right to moderate inappropriate comments. I endeavour to moderate and approve comments within 24 hours of it being posted. If you wish to know why your comment/s is not showing up or why it could be inappropriate, please contact me here.


* Where can I buy Transformers?; What are your toy shop recommendations? Where do I go to look for Transformers in Hong Kong/ Singapore/ Tokyo/ Osaka/ Hokkaido?
See my shop recommendations and location maps here (contain links of Toy Hunt Diaries and lots of photos). The maps and shop recommendations are predominantly G1 focused, but recent releases are also usually available at most shops stocking G1 Transformers. Drop me a line here if you have further questions.


* Will you help me source for and buy Transformers on my behalf?
Subject to the below, I may source Transformers on your behalf:

1. I will not source recent or widely available releases just because it will save $10-20 when buying from one country compared with another.
2. If I don’t already know you or I cannot readily verify your reputation online (ie: not part of a known TF forum with a feedback system or with members that we mutually know), I’d have some apprehension about sourcing TFs on your behalf.
3. I will not help to source for any item, whether in box or not, that cannot be safely packed in a Hong Kong Post packing box for shipping. For example, this means that I will not source and buy pieces such as Fortress/ Grand/ Brave Maximus (loose or MIB), Scorponok/ Black Zarak MIB, Overlord MIB, Star Saber MIB, Victory Saber giftset MIB, etc.
4. I may impose other requirements depending on nature and price of the Transformer to protect myself. I have been stuck with a $1000 Transformer that I don’t want and cannot resell for that price because a person who agreed to it at that price suddenly turned tail and says “I don’t want it anymore”.

*Are your Transformers for sale?
I sell online from time to time. If there are any for sale, they can be found on my eBay seller’s page here.


* Are you willing to trade your Transformer(s) for other Transformer(s) / items?
Regardless of the item(s) involved, I will not trade with a person I don’t already know or a person whose online reputation I cannot readily verify (ie: not part of a known TF forum with a feedback system or with members that we mutually know). I am generally not keen to trade unless the item being offered is extremely enticing to me (for example, the cash and partial trade of the ‘blue’ Bluestreak for my unused Malboor Wheeljack here).


* Can I request for:

(a) photos of a Transformer? --- sure thing, but only if Transformer in question is not widely and easily available on other online sources (ie: it has to be sufficiently rare, if not I am unable to entertain photo requests).

(b) box art scans? --- yes. However, be sure to check out Botch’s Box Art Archive too because I regularly provide him with scans of box art for his site. If anything, the latest and bestest should be there.

(c) scans of other Transformer material (eg: posters, art books, etc)? --- yes, but I will not provide scans in a manner that may facilitate reproductions that may (or will be used to) potentially pass off as the real thing. In other words, I will not scan an entire book or flyer; I will not scan posters; etc.


*Did you really start blogging since 1984 or 1991?
No. Posts are backdated to the most appropriate date.

Pick of the Day - Future Decepticon Leaders

From the archives!

Future Decepticon Leaders Overlord and Scorponok meet.

Pick of the Day - Decepticon Triple Changers

(From the archives!)

The Decepticon Triple Changers - Blitzwing, Astrotrain and Octane.