Singapore Toy and Comic Convention 2008

misb alternators Shockblast

misb alternators Swindle

misb alternators Silverstreak

misb reissue Sixshot, c-9

mib unused Nucleon Quest Superconvoy, c-8.5

Just been to the STCC 2008 at Suntec City this morning to check if there are any good buys and I must admit I left feeling very satisfied with my purchases. I had actually gone yesterday too around 6 plus in the evening, and although I was very impressed with the static displays of popular manga cartoons and the huge collection of vintage Star Wars figurines on display, there were almost no traces of transformers, except for the current animated series, which does not interest me at all. I was also looking for Falcon's booth but couldn't find it anywhere in the exhibition hall. I decided I had to come early today so that I don't miss out on any good deals.

True enough, there were transformers aplenty for the early birds, and I also managed to find Falcon's booth soon after I entered the hall. First things that caught my eye were the reissue Sixshot and victory Blacker. No hesitation with Sixshot as I have always been looking for a spare piece, but I decided against getting Blacker somehow. It was quickly snapped by another customer the moment I put it down. I also bought several alternators that were being sold on the shelves; Shockblast, Swindle and Silverstreak. Somehow, I am beginning to like the alternator series a lot as I think they make great display pieces in their boxes compared to the binaltechs. And they are much cheaper too. To top up a good day, I also bought the TRU exclusive Superconvoy at a discounted price.

Grand Maximus

misb Grand Maximus (Front), c-9

misb Grand Maximus (Back), c-9

Fort and Grand Maximus

As a redeco of Fortress Maximus, Grand Maximus shares the title of largest Transformer toy from Generation 1. Grand Maximus transforms from robot, to city, to battleship. In all modes, Maximus has a wide array of pop-out guns and gimmicks. His left leg hides a small prison cell, and he has a swing-out cannon/helipad. His right leg has a small storage compartment. His torso has a gear-activated spinner for the detachable radar array accessory, a "control socket" for Grand's "communcations tower" mode, and a working elevator that can lift small toys up to the central ramp to be launched in his altmodes. Each arm had a long ramp on the back with sliding launchers for small vehicles.

Grand Maximus' head can be removed and transformed into a robot called Grand. This component also transforms into a communications room that combines with Grand Maximus' city and battleship modes. Grand can additionally fit inside an included pretender shell. This shell, unlike most other Autobot shells, was robotic in appearance rather than human. Grand's head can also be removed and transformed into a smaller robot, known as Gran. Two smaller vehicles, Koka and Onomus, fit into the toe areas of the Brave Maximus robot. They can combine into the robot Cog.

This toy comes mint in sealed box, with the box in very good condition, at least a c-9.

Fortress Maximus - Headmaster Leader

misb Fortress Maximus, c-9 (Front)

misb Fortress Maximus, c-9 (Back)

Released in 1987, Fortress Maximus is, by far, the largest Transformers toy ever produced. In robot mode, it stands 22" (or 56 cm) tall, nearly 8" (20 cm) taller than its in-fiction rival Scorponok. The toy has multiple alternate mode configurations, transforming into a relatively compact "city" mode, and also a secondary mode described as a "battle station."
In all modes, Fortress Maximus has a wide array of pop-out guns and gimmicks. Its left leg hides a small prison cell, plus has a swing-out cannon/helipad. Its right leg has a small storage compartment. Its torso has a gear-activated spinner for the detachable radar array accessory, a "control socket" for Cerebros' "communications tower" mode, and a working elevator that can lift small toys up to its central ramp to be launched in its alternate modes. Each arm had a long ramp on the back with sliding launchers for small vehicles. Its robot-mode head is formed by Cerebros, who does not actually need Spike to attach to the upper body. It came with both Headmaster units, plus the Gasket and Grommet mini-vehicles.
This Japanese version of Fortress Maximus comes with a pair of swords; one for Fortress and a larger one for Maximus. I bought both Fortress Maximus and its younger brother, Grand Maximus from the same seller, who offered both to me at a special discounted price. The items are misb and rated at least c-9, which is extremely difficult to find anywhere currently. Although there have been Fortress and Grand Maximuses offered at lower prices on the secondary market, incompleteness of toy contents and disappointing box conditions are huge turnoffs for me.

Godbomber

misb c-8.5 Godbomber

Finally back from my vacation trip to Hong Kong/ China. Apart from visiting my relatives in China, it hasn't been a fruitful toy hunting trip, and my only vintage Transformers buy was C-309 Godbomber. I had chanced upon it at one of the basement toy shops in CTMA Centre (near Mongkok MTR), a building with several levels filled with toys shops selling all sorts of toys. I noticed that the box is in good condition so I asked the owner if he could take it out of the display cabinet for inspection. There was the usual shelf wear and a slight tear on the left flap, but otherwise, the box was at least a c-8.5. After some negotiation over the price, I decided to get it. However, there were precious little that caught my eye after that. A piece of good news: I am on my way to completing my combiners collection with the acquisitions of the vintage Devastator and Predaking giftsets. Will be posting pictures of them once I've collected from the sellers.

Star Saber

misb Star Saber, c-9.5

Released in 1989, Star Saber transforms into a large red, blue and white Cybertronic spacecraft and a base. Star Saber also has the ability to merge in either jet or robot mode with Victory Leo to form Victory Saber. I chanced upon Star Saber today as I passed by CSC this afternoon while on my way to Chinatown to exchange some HK dollars for my trip tomorrow. I wasn't expecting to get anything; more to do some window shopping since I won't be going to CSC for the next two weeks. As I passed by one of the toy stores, I suddenly saw the impressive looking Star Saber in one of the display cabinets, and the best thing is that the box looked in solid condition. At least a c-9, probably some creases and shelf wear at the back and bottom of the box, I thought. I decided to ask the owner for its selling price and whether I could take the box out to check. The owner then quoted me an unbelievably attractive price. The only thing left now was the box condition. As I checked the box thoroughly, I found out that apart from minor shelfwear, there were no box creases at all, at least a c-9.5. It was also a consignment item, meaning someone had entrusted the store to sell it on his behalf, so there was no negotiation of price (not that I needed to anyway). It's also nice to hear from the owner that the item only came in yesterday evening, and that it will definitely be sold to some toy hunter during the sunday flea market tomorrow had I not seen it today. :)

My Transformers Collection

My Transformers Collection

Top Shelf: Black Zarak, Trypticon, Lio Kaiser,
Fort and Grand Max

2nd, 3rd and 4th shelves:

My Encore, Masterpiece, Revoltech,

THS, Predacons and TF Book collection

Display Shelf 1

Overlord and Browning

King Poseidon Giftset

Bruticus Giftset

Abominus Giftset

Display Shelves 2 and 3

Computron Giftset

Raiden Giftset

Fire Guts God Ginrai

Music Label collection

Shockwave

Flywheel and Sixshot

Junior Headmasters and Golden Bumblebee

Superion Giftset

After several days of intense packing of my room and major relocation of books and toys, I have finally arranged all my Transformers collection on my bookshelf , shifted all my books to another room, and also set up my detolf shelves to showcase some of my TF vintage collection. The above photos feature my prized Transformers collection, which include popular collectors' items like Fortress and Grand Maximus, Black Zarak, Overlord, Browning, Trypticon, Shockwave and my combiners collection. I am deeply grateful to my dad, who spent his rest time in the evening helping me set up the display shelves. Seeing the final display makes me feel that the time and effort spent packing was well worth it. :)

Trypticon - Decepticon City

mib Trypticon, c-8

Released in 1986/87, Trypticon transforms from dinosaur mode to city mode, and also to battle station mode, although it is seldom seen in the last two alternate modes. It has two other "helpers" in city mode: Brunt, the five-part tank, and Full-Tilt, the transformable rocket car. It is extremely difficult to find Trypticon complete because of the sheer number of small parts that comes with the toy. I bought this toy from an online seller who was kind enough to accept a cash plus toy trade deal, though that meant I had to part with my Hasbro Classics Devastator. Although the box has seen better days (hence the c-8 rating), the toy is complete and in mint condition. It is also very difficult to find Trypticon in the Takara box, so I guess that was the biggest pull factor for me.

Abominus

misb Abominus, c-9

Abominus is the combined form of the five Terrorcons: Team Leader Hun-Gurrr, Rippersnapper, Blot, Sinnertwin and Cutthroat. As a Scramble City combiner, each smaller Terrorcon attach as limbs into the central body, Hun-Gurrr. He is completed by attaching fists, feet, a large chestplate, head and is armed with Hun-Gurrr's rifle. Abominus is perhaps the most posable of the Generation 1 combiners, as he can swing his legs forward and backward as well as to the side, and also has knees. Released in 1987, this giftset was only available in Italy and Japan. The box is well-protected in a custom-made acrylic case.

Sunday Madness at CSC

misb encore Ironhide, Ratchet and Jazz, c-10

It was a roller coaster of emotions at CSC today, where many of the toy stores were having their own versions of the Great Singapore (Toy) Sale. Many TFs items were going at unbelievable prices. I was quite disappointed to have missed out on the one they had last week, and thought the opportunity was gone. But somehow, I clung on to the hope they would continue the sale today. And true to my wishes, they held another today and it was truly a sight to behold, where hordes of toy hunters were buying as if there were some competition to see who could buy the most. I walked away with 3 TFs encores - #5-Ironhide, #6-Ratchet and #8-Jazz at the combined can-you-believe-it price of 60 SGD. I have always wanted to keep an extra set of the encores and it was just as well I got them at below-secondary market prices. Wished I could have bought #7-Skylynx too, which was going at only 50 SGD, but space simply doesn't permit a box of such magnitude to take its position in my room, especially when there is a clone of it already. Also saw reissue God Ginrai going at only 100 SGD, and I'm happy my friend managed to get a piece for himself. That, to me, would have been the buy of the day, except I already owned a piece of it. A good day, nevertheless, for anyone who bothered and bought.