Early Takara Transformers giftsets: VSX, VSY, VSZ, Goodbye Convoy and Goodbye Megatron

These are the earliest of the Japanese giftsets and in my opinion, the best early Transformers giftsets out there. The main reason is that they are not just giftsets of combiners, toys that should have been sold together any way, but they are giftsets of individual characters, some which could be released together, but some that are surprising when grouped together.

So here we are in year order of release:

• 1985 (mid to late) - VSX: Convoy vs Megatron giftset
• 1985 (late) - VSY: Grimlock vs Soundwave & Frenzy giftset, with audio tape and storybook
• 1986 - VSZ: Sunstreaker & Skids vs Buzzsaw giftset
• 1986 (late) - Goodbye Convoy giftset (Convoy, Alert, Ligier)
• 1986 (late) - Goodbye Megatron giftset (Megatron, Starscream)

Photo grouping which shows all the above mentioned giftsets. This is a real milestone for me and perfectly rounds out my objective nearly 3 years ago of streamlining and collecting only the early Japanese TFs.

Takara Transformers VSY: Grimlock versus Soundwave & Frenzy Giftset

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.

Takara Japanese giftsets VSX - VSY - VSZ!

Complete my trio of "VS" Japanese giftsets recently and am over the moon, yay!

From bottom to top:
VSX: Convoy vs Megatron giftset (1984)
VSY: Grimlock vs Soundwave & Frenzy giftset (1985)
VSZ: Sunstreaker & Skids vs Buzzsaw giftset (1986)





VSX: Convoy vs Megatron giftset (1984)
(this set is unused and comes with the poster)


VSY: Grimlock vs Soundwave & Frenzy giftset (1985)
(this set is unused and comes with the storybook)


VSZ: Sunstreaker & Skids vs Buzzsaw giftset (1986)
(this set is stickers applied and missing some catalogue papers, but it has no flap crease!)


Photo also showing the other 2 rare early giftsets:
Goodbye Convoy giftset: Convoy, Alert, Ligier (1986)
Goodbye Megatron giftset: Megatron, Starscream (1986)

VSX giftset - Convoy (Optimus Prime) vs Megatron (1985, Takara Japanese Transformers, Fight! Super Robot Lifeform!)

I would have waited an eternity for this, I am back!

Since a couple of months ago, I had wanted to start writing again, now that it is nearer the end of the year and also because things have quietened down. Be sure that although, I am not been writing for the last 18 months of so, it is not because I have stopped collecting or have exited the fandom (as some nice people here have written to me to ask me about).

I was waiting for the right time to come back. And the right time is now.

It was my birthday a couple of days ago and one of the birthday presents that I got was a vintage Takara Japanese exclusive VSX giftset.


First, I'd like to thank the seller who is an old friend who sold it to me. It was not easy to get here to say the least but he is an ace-guy and we got here in the end.

For those in the-know, there really is not that much to say about the VSX giftset other than its truly one of the rarest vintage items (which has been released at retail) in the Japanese exclusive sphere. It is seldom seen and even if seen, seldom complete (especially the poster which tends to be missing) and if complete, not often unused.



Here is a set that is 100% complete, unused and with poster. Admittedly, for my set there are 2 pieces of paperwork missing, which does not make it "100%", but I guess this might be as close as I get, for now.

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.

***

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)

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.

Hasbro - 1984 / 1985 G1 Autobot Cars MIB

E had to go back to the office today, so I had a couple of hours at home after sending her to work. Took out my early year boxed Autobot cars for a shot. 

After a decade and a half of chasing down every Generation One transformer, I think it really came down to these, or at least the 1984 / 1985 Transformers that are really close to heart and that I really want.

I don't know know about others, but this is such a sight to me and a real treat...

Left column: Mirage, Sunstreaker, Prowl, Hound, Ratchet, Ironhide (all from Series 1, 1984)
Middle column: Bluestreak, Sideswipe, Wheeljack, Jazz, Trailbreaker, Hoist (all from Series 1, 1984 except Hoist from Series 2, 1985)
Right column: Tracks, Skids, Smokescreen, Red Alert, Grapple, Inferno (all from Series 2, 1985).

Takara boxed Mail Away Overdrive MIB (#25 of 36)

This is piece #25 of 36 of the 36-piece mega-lot Japanese boxed Mail Away Overdrive.

There isn't really that much to say about this piece other than it's a mailaway "exclusive" in Japan, as can be seen by the words below. However, it is special in the sense that it came in a box and with styro inserts - the USA mailaway version came in a plastic bag.

The Japanese version came in a white box with blue line art.

Takara Mail Away Downshift MIB (#24 of 36)

This is piece #23 of 36 of the 36-piece mega-lot Japanese boxed Mail Away Ratchet.

There isn't really that much to say about this piece other than it's a mailaway "exclusive" in Japan, as can be seen by the words below. However, it is special in the sense that it came in a box and with styro inserts - the USA mailaway version came in a plastic bag.

White box with blue character line art, somewhat like the Japanese Mailaway Ratchet box.

Takara box Mailaway Camshaft MIB (#23 of 36)

This is piece #23 of 36 of the 36-piece mega-lot Japanese boxed Mail Away Ratchet.

 

There isn't really that much to say about this piece other than it's a mailaway "exclusive" in Japan, as can be seen by the words below. However, it is special in the sense that it came in a box and with styro inserts - the USA mailaway version came in a plastic bag.

The Japanese version came in a white box with blue line art.

Fight! Super Robot Life - Japanese Transformers Takara boxed Insecticons MIB

Group shot of Takara boxed Insecticons:
40-Kickback MIB
41-Bombshell MIB
42-Shrapnel MIB

I have variously been told that, among the early G1 Japanese pieces, these pieces are quite rare, but I never quite fully appreciated just how difficult it could be to find them. It's been about 15 months since I bought these as part of a 36 pieces (and more actually) mega-lot from Devstar37 and to be honest, I have not seen any Takara boxed Insecticon pop up for sale on Yahoo Japan, Yahoo HK, eBay or FB sale pages.

Group shots of Transformers Cassettes in Japanese Takara packaging

So I took some time to photograph cassettes that were released by Takara, all of them.

Ben Frey, appreciate that you have linked this on FB.

Since I was a boy, I've always really liked the cassettes, whether they were Autobots or Decepticons. I just thought they were so cool and the concept of them being spies just fit so well. Since the 80s, cassettes have become something of an anachronism, but that has not stopped Takara from releasing Masterpiece versions of various Decepticon cassettes. I'm sure there will be more than one 90s or post 2000-born kid that will ask their parents what a 'cassette' is!

 

Takara Fight! Super Robot Lifeform, 42-Shrapnel MIB (#20 of 36)

This is piece #20 of 36 of the 36-piece mega-lot.

It is 42-Shrapnel, one of 3 Takara mold Insecticons.  I used to own Shrapnel as a boy and I am quite fond of this electrifying character and also this mold. The black and purple colour scheme just works really well too.

Some say that the Takara boxed Insecticons are mailaway releases, but I am not really sure whether they are. In many instances, the common thought is that they are pretty difficult to track down in box. Not really very expensive, but just difficult to track down.

So here is Shrapnel ....

Takara Fight! Super Robot Lifeform, 41-Bombshell MIB (#19 of 36)

This is piece #19 of 36 of the 36-piece mega-lot.

It is 41-Bombshell, one of 3 Takara mold Insecticons.  I used to own Bombshell as a boy and I am quite fond of this character and also this mold. The black and purple colour scheme just works really well too.

Some say that the Takara boxed Insecticons are mailaway releases, but I am not really sure whether they are. In many instances, the common thought is that they are pretty difficult to track down in box. Not really very expensive, but just difficult to track down.

So here is Bombshell ....

Early Takara boxed Cybertrons (Autobots) MIB within '01 to 49' (Fight! Super Robot Lifeform series)

The post follows on from my previous post titled "Early Takara Japanese Autobot 'cars' MIB", where I photo-ed almost all the early Takara boxed Cybertron cars.

In this series of shots, I attempted to photograph all of the Cybertrons (Autobots) that are within the '01 to 49' Japanese numbering. As you will see, the results are a little awkward owing to the varied and different box sizes.

I have, for completeness, also included 4 mailaway toys in the group shot (but somehow I forgot to put the VSZ set into the shot). Shamefully, I have to admit that the only piece I am missing from this shot is #13-Cliffjumper MIB (it's not difficult to find, but I still have not tracked down a piece yet).