Showing posts with label Fight! Super Robot Lifeform. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fight! Super Robot Lifeform. Show all posts

02 December 2017

Birthday 2017 - Takara 21-Reflector MIB and a delightful discovery



For my birthday this year, I did not prepare a rare and significant present like last year for myself in anticipation.

However, during the mid-afternoon, E and I had some time before our dinner and movie (Justice League) with friends and E suggested that we could go to the toy shops. We went and I visited the shop where I previously saw had a MIB Reflector (Takara version). Previously, on multiple occasions, the shop-keeper said he did not have a price in mind for the Reflector.

This time, he did. So after some haggling, I bought it - see photo above. One of the main reasons I wanted this set was because it had unpunched missiles, still on the sprue.

After dinner and the movie, I was home and looking over the 21-Reflector. I realised that the red robot had white strips at the knees of each leg. This was odd because I do not see this for most Reflectors out there, except the set that the Devstar37 showed me some years ago (yes, I remember these useless facets).

For those that has followed this blog, you would recall that Devstar37 was the good friend that I bought nearly 50 pieces of early Japanese G1 from, back in early 2013. 21-Reflector was not one of the pieces he sold to me, but he did offer it to me a few years after. I did not end up purchasing his Reflector, but had photos of it stored on my phone.

So then, I checked the photos and was quite surprised. The general wear on the box all seemed to look alike. I quickly messaged Devstar37 on Facebook and asked if he thought the set I bought from the shop could be his. After some discussion and sharing with him the photos of the contents, he quickly came to the conclusion that the set I bought was, somehow, indeed his set!

07 May 2017

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:
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.



04 December 2016

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.

18 June 2015

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)

10 May 2015

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.

02 December 2014

The Birthday Post 2014 - Part 1 (Diaclone blue Fairlady Z MIB unused and near casefresh)

It's my birthday.

Well, I actually only got to write this post on 3 December, but backdated it.



This year, I decided to get myself some birthday presents. There are three presents I got myself and this is one of them - hence the "Part 1" in the title of this post.


From the photos so far, you would be able to guess what nature of item I got, I suppose. Yes, it's Bluestreak related (no prizes for guessing!). While I was walking around Mong Kok with UK collector, Jason W, I chanced upon this beauty....

28 November 2014

Takara Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Mail-Away Ratchet MIB unused (#22 of 36)

This is piece #22 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.

23 November 2014

G1 Skywarp - USA pre-rub, Mexican, Takara 23-Skywarp, SCF Skywarp

I bought a Mexican Skywarp from Masterforce.co.uk at around the time they started their online toy business - I wanted to show support in terms of actually buying something from them.

It was a pleasure buying from them - the responses were prompt, the package was well packed and the shipping was fast. Overall, I was a very satisfied customer.
Left to right: loose USA pre-rub Skywarp; 23-Skywarp MIB (Japanese box); USA Skywarp box; Mexican Skywarp (plane mode) and box.

Xmas is now around the corner (or at least near enough I think) and many fans and collectors might be thinking of doing some shopping - which is why I'm bringing this up now... Masterforce.co.uk might be a good place to start (they sell more than just Transformers).

Masterforce also has a FaceBook page.

Ok, now on to Mexican Skywarp....

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.

22 November 2014

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 ....

21 November 2014

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 ....

20 November 2014

Giddy up! It's Hasbro versus Takara in Optimus Prime / Convoy trailer Race Day!

Trailer Race Day happened on or around 4 September 2014. I took the photos on 4 Sep 2014, but it is only now that I am documenting it and writing it down.



I was at home alone that night because E was working late, after having picked up a variant of 01-Convoy from a HK collector. I suddenly realised that I had a lot of Primes on hand... and I asked myself: 'I wonder which variant of Prime has the most powerful trailer'.

And then I thought further, 'Just how powerful is the fabled VSX-style 'super' launcher. Is it really that super?'.

I grinned and resolved within myself: 'I have the Primes, I have the time - let's have me a Trailer Race Day!!!'.

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