If our lad here could fix all the non-headmasters and give them appropriate parts, I\'d be ecstatic. As it is, perhaps we can rely on the holy Pantheon of Reprolabels, Shapeways, Perfect Effect and Venkstra?

 

Nonnef Productions makes some very high quality similar versions of these at a far lower price.

 

Nonnef makes some good stuff, but there is a noticeable difference in finish and color matching between his items and renderform's. All the same, I'm a loyal customer to both and would recommend either of them.

 

I think China 3rd party should upgrade Wheelie's slingshot armory  

 

Hi Venksta, any idea when invoices are coming out for the mad emperor sets?

 

Oh yeah, I get that. More a case of wishing I had more money rather than suggesting he should lower his prices  

 

I've bought from Nonnef before. Pretty good stuff but Renderform product's feel like the finished article where Nonnef is clearly not there yet (but no doubt will be).

 

Wow I'm just noticing the 3P Galvatron heads as well. But paying almost twice the price that TR Galvatron is for a new head and an Ax or a Gun isn't happening. I'll be content with the mods I did to his head almost a year ago...

 

I've purchased a few things from Venksta in the past and absolutely love his attention to detail. His craftsmanship really completes the look for some of the figures in my collection.

Consider me all-in for the silver Bruticus rifle, Wheelie's TFTM slingshot, and the weapons for Takara's Brainstorm and Chromedome (since their original weapon is pretty underwhelming).

Can't wait to see what else he has up his sleeve for the future.

 

I actually sold my entire collection a few years ago. I was not happy with the direction that Hasbro was taking the mainline with their reduced quality, complexity, and articulation. Instead, I decided to focus soley on a Masterpiece collection, filled with both Takara and 3rd party releases, and since then I\'ve been completely removed from the mainline releases. That said, I do like the idea of the head masters, they were my favorite as a kid, and my G1 Mindwipe is still one of my most cherished figures. I also love how the mainline can release such a wide array of characters. But, I\'m still not sure I can overlook the drop in quality, hell even the actual G1 Mindwipe blows it\'s current deluxe counter part out of the water at least in quality and size, definitely not articulation. Every time I look at the shelves and I see these figures, I can\'t help but compare them to what we were getting with the initial Generations line, like Voyager Springer, which I feel is the perfect highlight from those earlier releases. That said I was at Toys R\' Us today and I was holding 6 of the Deluxe Head Masters in my hands and it was tough to hold out; it was definitely the most tempted I\'ve been since I stopped collecting the mainline. So now I\'m torn, I really do want to stay true and hold out based on their reduction in quality. Unfortunately, by doing so I\'m missing out on some decent figures; simpler, smaller, and more basic than what they should be, but still decent... And, it would be nice to once again purchase figures in-person, I do miss the hunt. All my 3rd party / MP purchases have to be done online, which sucks... So who knows after 3 years, I just may have to cave. I really did want to swoop up Scourge, Hardhead, Highbrow, Skullsmasher, Chromedome, and Blurr.

 

Not exactly relevant to this thread...but ok?

Personally I like all these upgrades, and my TR collection would definitely be a lot more awesome with these accessories, especially galvatron. But I can't justify spending way more than I did on the original figures just to get some minor upgrades and accessories...So nope, sorry but I'll give this a miss.

 

Rarely are 3rd party upgrade parts and kits priced low enough where the casual collectors will invest, however these sets are premium quality, finished products to make those figures feel like how they should have been released, and it is still cheaper than a 3rd party original designed figure. I own UT Mania King and am still investing in the upgrade kit for TR Galvatron. Why? Because I feel it will come closer to the CHUG Galvatron I feel my collection deserves! If you look at those designs, you can see the love and attention to detail he puts into his work. He is truly a gifted artist!

I may not purchase all the weapons he has designed, but only because I got some off of Shapeways already. These beat the crap out of Shapeways 3d printed designs, which i have a ton of. Characters I love and figures that are near perfect I find myself investing in more to make them cross that hump to perfect. Weapons, stickers, upgrade kits, if money isn't available, I wait until it is, unless it's these amazing limited production weapons.

Also, where's my Targetmasters?! Dang it!

 

My paypal has been acting up... has anyone received an invoice yet?

 

With Shapeways, and other designers like Nonnef, its great there are options to meet everyone's needs for parts and accessories. I know Nonnef is offering guns cheaper than I am, however, both of us create our items different, and due to that, there are different benefits. Nonnef's pricing is much more affordable for others, however, from what I've seen, his designs are replicas of the G1 weapons, and color matching is much more difficult for him. Where as I, offer updated designs, inspired by the original G1 toys, but making them look like they belong with the new figure its going with, plus being able to color match closer.   Honestly, the way Nonnef makes his items, would save me a ton of work on post hand processing and finishing my items. However, it would limit the final design, and I personally can't sacrifice that for myself. Thats why back in 2009, when I tried shapeways, I decided I wouldn't use it to release my designs, as I wanted people to have the final vision of how the item I dreamed up should be, in their hands, rather then them trying to paint it up and try finishing themselfs.

Theres been a huge amount of orders come in every day, and I'm still invoicing people from the first weekend these went up. XD

 

You and nonnef are honestly my main go to's for upgrades, y'all put out some excellent items!

 

I'd love a few, but a $20 gun is less than enticing.

 

They're $17 for a pair not for a single gun

 

Actually, $15 for the pair, if you buy each set separately. When you compare to Shapeways, they work out to about the same price, before factoring in the difference in quality, and any additional supplies you'd need like paint.

 

That's right, it was the printformers guns that were $17.50 a pair

 

Still kinda nuts. $8 for what is essentially a hunk of plastic? I think I'll pass.