original scene artwork

the auction is for this one



don't think the hanging one is for sale


can't believe its more than a week since the last update. so busy with work & university assignments...just completed one yesterday, hopefully i'll be able to settle the other one. just a short one today, tfw2005 posted about an ebay auction for the original artwork of one of the battle scenes which was used in all of hasbro's transformers boxes in the 80s (click me to see the news). the artwork was made by Jeffrey Mangiat with a dimension of 26” X 24” and gouache on illustration board. the seller started the bid with a whooping USD7500 which will end in 4 days & 15 hours (click me to see the auction).
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i'm not sure if i'll buy it if i have the money simply because you can buy a vintage misb 1986 figure with the image on the box with a far cheaper and reasonable price. also i believe you can reproduce the image using today's technology in any size you want. but to a true @ hardcore transformers g1 completionist...well that's another story...

knockoff mp megatron

mp megatron with his clone



looks the same but quality wise?


tfw2005 reported that chinese toy website actoys posted new prototype images for a knockoff mp megatron which has been downsized (click me to read full news). the size of the ko figure is about 2/3 of the original one. i guess its the size of a voyager class. however it does not state the material used or mention about transformation process from gun to robot; whether it imitates the mp version.
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fusion cannon/scope size more suitable



seems to fit the hand better


one good thing about this ko is that the fusion cannon is also scaled down to better suit the figure, unlike the original one which turned out to be a hassle. whatever the case i don't think i'll be getting this one, i'm done with ko.

fansproject tfx-defender

new age springer, fantastic


tfw2005 posted another good news, especially for g1 fans like yours truly hehehe - images for the upcoming tfx-defender prototype by fansproject (click me to read the news). what makes it appeal to g1 fans is that its a remake of g1 springer, with new and better design. springer is one of those transformers that didn't receive a face lift from takara @ hasbro in the classic/universe/henkei line.
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heli mode


one of the good things about 3rd party manufacturers is that they reproduce g1 characters in new and fresh designs and molds that was skipped by takara & hasbro. on top of that the quality is very good and resembles the characters likeliness in the animated cartoons. what more can a g1 fan ask for?
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land vehicle mode


the prototype looks very astonishing and if the final product doesn't look like that it is still promising. i'm definitely getting this piece when its out...hopefully the price is reasonable.

kabaya candy toys pics

henkei & g1 prime with g1 victory star saber



victory star saber



henkei prime



pose for the camera



nice, nice indeed


tfw2005 has posted pictures of the upcoming kabaya candy toys (click me to go to the page). the figures looks great for a legend class and some assembly is needed to form the robots. sure can't wait to get my piece.

encore 18 skids

data card



data card back



vehicle mode



rear view



side view



different angle



robot mode



gun attached


more weapons


and more



head shot



different angle



looks nice


well tfw2005 posted new pictures of the upcoming encore 18 skids (click me to see the full news). some sellers are bringing in skids next week so it looks like i need to wait until then.
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right - encore, left - commemorative



notice the clear windscreen and windows



close up


the pictures also compares the encore version with the earlier 2003 commemorative one. one distinctive difference between the two is the use of clear blue plastic for the windscreen and door windows on the encore. this makes skid looks better and more realistic. his commemorative version. can't wait to get my piece.

BTS trailer variant

purple for shattered glass prime



clear one for henkei clear prime


it looks like 3rd party BTS is going to release 2 new trailers in addition to the existing 2 trailers - a purple one for botcon exclusive shattered glass prime & clear henkei prime. i'm suprised they decided to make trailers for both of the exclusive figures, quite a bold move. click me to read more.
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new mold for arm machine



roller will also be included.


from the pictures the trailers are identical to the old ones except for different colour (for shattered glass) and uses clear plastic (for clear henkei). it is also stated that the machine arm will use a new mold. these units are also limited - 350 pieces for clear & 450 for purple. those who want to complete their shattered glass and clear henkei primes should get them.

universe perceptor commemorative edition

finally, perceptor


backside


i was excited last week when i saw commemorative perceptor in toys r us & quickly grabbed one. it has been months since the first news of perceptor being reissued again under the universe/classic line & was looking forward to get my own autobot scientist.
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open up


out of the box


if i'm not mistaken this is the 3rd time he's being reissued with last time by ehobby as magnificus in his microman black colour version (click me for info on microman). having a microscope as his alternate mode he is considered 1 of the unique transformers in g1 along side reflector; a 3 decepticon bot that combines to form a camera. that's another figure i hope to get one day. one interesting thing about the toy is that perceptor is a triple changer - robot, microscope & tank. he only has the microscope form in the cartoons, though he can fire lasers from the scope.
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transformation manual



missile launcher, missiles & gun


as a reissue there aren't any difference with the previous figure except for the missile launcher; hasbro removed the spring which makes the launcher work...for safety reasons they say. now not only you can't fire them but the missiles will not snap into the launcher which makes it easier to lose them. other than that the toy is 100%...well, perceptor.
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microscope front



side view


back



zoom out



zoom in



the microscope mode is interesting. it looks & feels like a real microscope eventhough the scope doesn't work. the lens are made of plastic and you can turn the scope dial to emulate zoom in & out. the back of the scope can be turned as well to emulate image clarity. the scope can be moved up & down and the dials on each hand can also be turned but won't raise or lower the mounting platform & scope. they're more of a decoration than anything else.
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robot time



side view



rear view



armed & ready



head gear


where's my...



...head


the robot mode is great. his appearance is like in the cartoons except for the mouthplate & oversized shoulder cannon which is the scope. he got the mouthpiece from his original microman mold while the oversized cannon to accommodate the microscope mode. the scope can be mounted on either shoulder but the toy design mounts it on the right, it is mounted on the left in the cartoons. he's very sturdy & feels solid. articulation is quite good due to his transformation process. the elbows can be moved, legs spread apart & knees bent. you can do a fews poses with this scientist hehehe. 1 feature i found interesting was that it uses a gear disk to move the head up & down. the common design to move parts like hands in & out of the arms is just by sliding. this way you can play with the head like a turtle.
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nice tummy


huh?



what??



???


however there is one part that i can't figure out its function; the stomach. his stomach can be opened but there's no space. the opened part can also be turned 360 degrees. if anyones knows its function please do tell.
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tank mode



artillery mode



rear view


the tank mode is the weakest of all 3 modes. its more of a tank/artillery hybrid; if you straighten him out it'll be a thin tank, if you raise the turret i'll look like an artillery. nothing much to play with except roll him out. still a nice addition to his other modes.
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all in all this is a very satisfying transformers toy to have. good design, matching colours & classic feel makes perceptor one great transformers.