Animated TFs, Star Convoy and MP-03 G1 Starscream

Animated Grimlock

Animated Blitzwing

Animated Skywarp

misb C-372 Star Convoy, c-9.5

misb G1 Starscream (in customised Masterpiece Box)

Finally succumbed to the temptation of getting some Animated TFs today. Was browsing around while waiting for stephenusprime bro to turn up when I saw boxed Animated TFs going at 35 SGD each. Imagine the loose figures going at around 30 SGD currently as well, which simply meant I wasn't about to pass this chance. Moreover, the sale items included Grimlock, which I have wanted to get for some time already, as well as the recently released Blitzwing and Skywarp. I gave Optimus Prime and Lugnut a miss however. Utoys was also having their own version of the great singapore sale and many items were going at knockdown prices. In no time, I had already bought reissue C-372 Star Convoy (50 SGD) and Masterpiece G1 Starscream (60 SGD). Panic-stricken, I quickly msged stephenusprime to ask if he was arriving anytime soon as I was worried I might add to my two bags full of toys. Fortunately, he arrived in the nick of time to prevent me from having to survive on bread for the rest of the week. I also met up with three other members from TFSG; Novaprime, Jingjie and Redrum and we had a nice chat at Spinelli's, after which Stephenusprime came over to my place to collect the TFC set I am selling to him. As usual, I am happy when I buy toys and sad when I have to sell them, especially when my TFC set has been with me for more than two years already. Nevertheless, the vacuum created from the sale of 22 boxes of toys simply means more space for new ones coming soon. I also un-misb my Animated TFs and spent some time getting them in various poses for a photo-taking session.

Henkei Seekers - Starcream, Skywarp and Thundercracker

Henkei Thundercracker, Starcream and Skywarp

Bought the two Henkei (meaning "Transform") seekers Skywarp and Thundercracker from Falcon today, which are actually exclusive items from Japan Ganbo Store & Toy Hobby Market. There was quite a huge crowd at the store as there were other items released today, such as BT-22 Convoy and MP-06, just to name a few. These two seekers are actually repaints of Starscream, which was earlier released as D-02 in the series. Together with Starscream, they complete my seeker collection, while I source the market out in the meantime for other previously issued Henkeis at reasonable prices. :)

Drillhorn

misb Drillhorn, c-10

Released in 1989, Drillhorn transforms into a four-treaded drill-tank. He also forms the right leg to the group's combined form Liokaiser. His packed-in partner Rhinobreast fits securely on Drillhorn's chest in either mode. Drillhorn was purchased from an online seller in Japan, and comes in perfect condition. I shall be keeping a lookout for his other mates to unite the Breastforce.

Terrorcons Unite!

The Terrorcons beside their combined form Abominus

misb Hun-Gurrr, c-9.5

Hun-Gurrr transforms into a white/grey and purple two-headed dragon. He has plenty of articulation, which extends to his robot mode, with multiple points in his arms and legs. One can attach Abominus's chest plate onto his shoulder in robot mode. Hun-Gurr combines with his fellow Terrorcons to form Abominus, serving as the super-robot's torso.

misb Rippersnapper, c-9.5

Rippersnapper transforms into a weird upright bipedal shark creature. His finned twin missile launcher weapon mounts on his back in this mode. He can form the leg or arm of any Scramble City-type combiner, though he is nominally Abominus' left arm.

misb Sinnertwin, c-9.5

Sinnertwin transforms into a yellow and green orthrus. He comes with a small pistol for robot mode and a large gun for beast mode. He can form the leg or arm of any Scramble-City type combiner, though he is nominally Abominus' left leg.

misb Cutthroat, c-9.5

Cutthroat transforms into hawk monster thing. His wings, legs and neck are articulated, so one can put him in a flying pose. He can form the leg or arm of any Scramble City-type combiner, though he is nominally Abominus's right arm.

misb Blot, c-9.5

Blot transforms into a navy blue and lavender monster. His shoulder span and long arms indicate something ape-like, while his pointed nose and sloped head give him an amphibian-like appearance. He can form the leg or arm of any Scramble City-type combiner, though he is nominally Abominus's right leg.

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.

e-Hobby Exclusive Guardian Robot (Omega Supreme)

misb e-Hobby Exclusive Guardian Robot, c-9.5

An e-Hobby exclusive, this toy is a redeco of the Generation 1 Omega Supreme toy. Using the same tooling as the Encore reissue Omega, this toy features the same retooled head.
The Guardian robot transforms into three individual components simultaneously: a large rocket base, a rocket and a tank. Not unlike the Seekers, whose toys involve minimal actual transformation and more "pull all the bits off and put them back on in different ways," the Guardian robot involves next to no actual manipulation of the parts, "transforming" instead by being disassembled into its component pieces, which are then put back together in a different configuration.
I collected my preordered Guardian Robot from Falcon earlier in the evening and this time, it took me quite a while to find a box in decent condition as the four-box carton resulted in the boxes packed tightly against one another. With the filmsy carton box protection, box dents and wear seem almost guaranteed. One of the features I like most about Guardian robot is its box artwork design (by Hidetsugu Yoshioka), which is distinctly different from the encore Omega Supreme design. And it also comes with a pair of Autobot and Decepticon sticker sheets and a collector's comic. Although it doesn't come cheap, the value of the toy seems likely to soar in time to come. :)

Henkei Sunstreaker and Prowl

mosc Henkei Sunstreaker and Prowl

Tiring day at the Transformers.SG booth at CSC today. The crowd turnout was unusually poor today, though I must be thankful I managed to sell two of the items I brought along. I also ended up buying the latest TF releases Henkei Sunstreaker and Prowl, main reason being the cartoon box artwork, which I really like. I wonder why Takaratomy didn't put such artwork for the rest of the previous Henkei releases. I would have bought the whole lot. Apart from Bro Grimlock, who came to pick me up in the morning, Bro Slang, Stephenusprime and Skipjack also joined us at the booth today. I must admit that I do feel a little sad knowing that this is our final booth session already, but I am delighted to have known many new collector friends through my three sessions at the booth. We are also exploring the possibility of having a TFSG members gathering during Nov or Dec, and I tot that's really exciting. :)

Japanese Transformers commercials (1988-1991)

Found an amazing video on youtube, through a link on the Transformers.SG website. It shows some Japanese Transformers advertisements for Takara exclusive TFs from 1988 to 1991. Some of the toys featured include my all-time favourite Sixshot, as well as popular characters like Overlord, Scorponok, Fortress Maximus, Raiden and Predaking etc. A must watch for all Transformers fans. :)