Dinoforce unite!

Dinoforce set flanking its combined form Dinoking

mib unused Gōryū, c-8.5

Gōryū's inner robot shares the same mold as the Pretender Monster Icepick, transforming into a bipedal, clawed monster. He comes with a rubbery, cyborg Tyrannosaurus rex Pretender-type shell in which he can be stored. The back of the shell can also store his rifle and the Dinoking footplate. Gōryū can also transform into either leg to Dinoforce's combined Dinoking mode, but his nominal placement is as the giant's left leg.

mib unused Gairyū, c-9

A redeco of the Pretender Monster Bristleback, Gairyū transforms into a spiked quadrupedal monster. He can also form either arm to the team's combined mode Dinoking. He comes with an armored ankylosaurus shell that he can fit into.

mib unused Kakuryū, c-9

A redeco of the Pretender Monster Slog, Kakuryū transforms into a squat pincher monster. He can also form the upper torso to the team's combined mode Dinoking. He comes with a soft-plastic outer "shell", a triceratops, that he can fit into.

mib unused Doryū, c-9

Doryū's inner robot shares the same mold as the Pretender Monster Scowl, transforming into a howler monster. He comes with a rubbery cyborg stegosaurus Pretender-type shell in which he can be stored.

mib unused Yokuryū, c-9

A redeco of the Pretender Monster Wildfly, Yokuryū transforms into a gargoyle-like creature. He can also form either arm to the team's combined mode, Dinoking, though his nominal placement is as the giant's right arm. He comes with a soft-plastic armored pteranodon outer "shell" that he can fit into.

mib unused Rairyū, c-9

A redeco of the Pretender Monster Birdbrain, Rairyū transforms into a quadrupedal monster-thing. He can also form the middle torso to the team's combined mode Dinoking. He comes with a soft-plastic armored apatosaur outer "shell" that he can fit into.

Sixshot - Vintage vs Reissue

mib unused vintage Sixshot, c-9.5

Top: Vintage Sixshot

Bottom: Reissue Sixshot

Top: Vintage Sixshot
Bottom: Reissue Sixshot

With the reissue of Sixshot in 2002, owning its vintage version may have become a low priority for many collectors. I must admit I shared the same feeling too as I hunted for the reissue version. At one time, I even own two reissues, one in a better box condition which I have since sold to a friend. It was actually a lucky find for me in getting my vintage sixshot as I was in fact collecting another toy when my seller friend asked if I might be interested in vintage sixshot. I thought there's no harm taking a look since I'm a huge fan of sixshot. It certainly came as a pleasant surprise when I saw that the box condition was even better than my current reissue version. Most importantly, the price offered by my friend was very reasonable, much less than what I had expected to pay. So now, it sits mighty inside my display cabinet.

I also decided to make a comparison of the differences between the two and apparently, there were only slight but pretty obvious differences. You may want to click on the photos to get a clearer view. If you look carefully at the front box cover, you can see the absence of the 'reissue' black label (bottom centre) on the vintage. Further, the Takara logo at the bottom right hand corner is much bigger for the vintage compared to its resissue counterpart.

Moving to the back of the boxes, the vintage includes robot points, which is absent for the resissue. The robot artwork designs on the bottom left corner are also different. Moreover, the vintage contains the specs table of sixshot, which cannot be found on the reissue. Finally, the vintage was actually made in Japan, while the reissue was made in China, most likely to cut down on production costs. That's about all I can spot at the moment. :)

Defensor

mib unused Defensor, c-9

Released in 1986, Defensor is the combined form of the five Protectobots: Team Leader Hot Spot, Blades, First Aid, Groove and Streetwise. Being a Scramble-City style combiner means any of the smaller Protectobots can serve as any limb; however, the "correct" configuration has Blades and First Aid as arms, and Groove and Streetwise as legs. Defensor was available as the individual Protectobots sold separately, or as a giftset, and its mold was later redecoed into Guard City.

I am very grateful towards a fellow collector, Eric for helping me find the Defensor giftset in Japan. He actually messaged me while he was in Japan and went out of his way to find this gem of a set, which is mib unused with unapplied stickers. The box is extremely mint with barely noticeable creases. Definitely one of the better sets I have seen in comparison to those listed on online auctions.

Dinoking

mib unused Dinoking, c-8.5

Dinoking is the combination of all six Dinoforce warriors: Leader Gōryū, Kakuryū, Gairyū, Yokuryū, Rairyū and Doryū. With the bodies and minds of all six members combined into one, he is the top Decepticon when it comes to mindless violence. Released exclusively in Japan in 1989, Dinoking was sold as his individual components and as a giftset. He is a redeco of Monstructor.

I had actually been hunting for Dinoking for quite some time already. Although I have had the opportunity to get it when it was available at times, I decided against getting those sets either due to missing flaps, poor box condition, and of cos its hefty price tag. I bought my Dinoking giftset from an online seller at a pretty good price. The box is in very good condition, rated c-8.5 only because of a slight tear on the bottom right corner. Another great addition to my combiners collection.

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TF Animated Snarl

mosc TF Animated Snarl

I bought TF Animated Snarl from Falcon this afternoon. Wasn't planning to get it since I'm not an TF animated collector , but I figured it would be nice to get the entire animated dinobots set once they are all issued. Now actively looking for Grimlock, leader of the dinobots.

Henkei Crystal Convoy

misb Crystal Convoy, c-10

Henkei Crystal Convoy was the 2008 Tokyo Toy Show exclusive item, with production limited to 1000 pieces and sold out on the first day worldwide. I managed to secure this piece at a reasonable price from a seller on sgcollect. Although I have not collected a single item from the Henkei series, I really liked Crystal Convoy when I first saw it on display at one of the toy shops in CSC. The box is in immaculate condition and bubble-wrapped when I collected it, and I intend to keep it that way.