Looks to be that way.

 

Without the Targetmaster though. LOL.

 

Are they seriously releasing this without the Targetmaster partner?  

 

ZETA-EX03 Jazzy (Ricochet) <--- A few posts back, direct link. Big WTF? to me.

 

Damn jazz is cheap. $58. I paid 71 for my coolsville

 

Thanks for the great synopsis!

Don't u think it's strange that zeta would tease out which molds/designs they won from TW? I would think if they wanted to hurt TW (and I believe they do), their announcing which molds they acquired would hurt TW remaining sales as buyers would be likely to hold off buying TW stuff in the hopes that zeta would release it cheaper under their brand.

Just speculating. Have nothing to back up anything of what I just said besides common sense.

Was able to negotiate nice prices on the zeta Jazz. PM me if interested.

 

From what little I know of production in China, I really doubt there was any legal process involved in this. Factories usually keep the molds on site or in storage, since they're huge and heavy and would not be cost effective to move around. Since TW seems to have no resources (money) available to them, Zeta may have just gone and cut a deal with the factory for access to the molds.

That's just a theory though.

 

No problem. Yeah, it's a little surprising but I guess they're probably waiting to drop something like a cheaper, better-QC Constructor for when their competition revs up later this year.

I do want Jazz (or Ricochet, at least) but I'll have to pass for now because Christmas has made me broke again! Got Sunstreaker on the way though, so that's exciting, at least!

Yeah, speculation was basically exactly as you said - that they probably cut a deal with the factories. Apparently at least one of the Zeta guys is a former Mattel employee so it's possible they've got some good contacts which would help too.
But yeah, legal process in China. Heh. Pull the other one.
I should probably mention that when I said "I guess", I meant "based on what other people have said but we don't really know". So um, yeah.

 

So does anyone know when this is going up for preorder in UK?

 

The TW G1 Constructor Boxset is pretty much a home run. I have it and think it's great. I'm not sure what 'better-qc' could be added at the same price point. I would think if Zeta had won the Constructor mold, that would be the first thing they would be announcing as that set is probably TW's best selling product. Why would Zeta keep it a secret otherwise?

 

Some people have still had breakage issues, joints being too tight, parts missing etc. (especially with the G2 version, from what I've seen). I'm not saying they're necessarily common issues but still.
Plus you can't (easily) get replacement parts from ToyWorld any more, and Zeta said they wouldn't provide replacement parts for ToyWorld figures (which may just be a general statement but when you think about it, Constructor was the one most people got parts for, if any). But I'm mainly just saying they have the opportunity to tighten up any QC issues that may exist as of now.

I honestly think it's likely they have it but are holding off because they have two combiners on-going at the moment. Once that happens, they won't have any big combiner sets to release for a while, and with FansToys coming out with their Superion soon, sometime around the middle of this year would be a perfect time for Zeta to drop a Constructor reissue. They could likely produce it for less since the moulds already exist and they've been well paid-for at this point, and along with their Bruticus and Superion which should be complete by the middle of this year, Zeta should be able to really stick it to some of their competitors, make some money and prevent downtime whilst they working on whatever combiners are next (probably Menasor, if I remember what was teased correctly).

 

I was curious about Coolsville, though after having Downbeat I don't know if I can forgive certain things. I don't usually buy non-show repaints but I'm willing to make exceptions if it's really awesome (eg, Terraegis Rally).

So this would be a good opportunity to try out this mould, trouble is I'm not that crazy about the repaint...

 

Look nice.

 

Interesting... I wasn't aware of v2 G1 breakage issues or parts being missing (I was only referring to the v2 G1 set, although I have 2 G2 sets as well in my collection with no problems).

Several members ordered the V2 box set thru my rub deals and there were no QC claims to deal with, nor were there any on my personal copy. I totally understand that it maybe a ymmv type of issue - but just surprised to hear that, since usually - if the issue is pervasive, members will request replacement parts/pieces thru me. Totally agree joints are TIGHT and somewhat scary (I dam near ripped part of Mixmaster's top part off), but for some reason, I don't really consider those as serious as broken or missing pieces.

I'd imagine that there is bad blood between Zeta and TW, so regardless of whether or not they were planning on an Zeta re-issue, I think it would only be a positive thing for Zeta to share which molds they won from TW. It's obvious that the lower cost Zeta Jazz is going to hurt the higher cost TW Jazz. Sure it'd be great if they make mold improvements, but really, why should they bother if the figure was already pretty decent to begin with. Even if they are working on other combiners (which are great so far!), wouldn't they want to signal to the fandom what might be coming in the future?

Who knows... just speculating...

 

DM-Toys黑骑士模玩官微

 

Wonder what happened to the gold paint for ricochet !! The flat bronzy-gold is looking a little too mustard-like for me. And I really want this guy as well !!
 

 

Glad to see them coming along. I ordered two. Black and white.
It is a shame however that the visor is still dark blue and the flap behind the head is there should be easy to make two hinges to make if fold back. This will cos you a few buyer i;m afraid.

I would like to remind peaople of the 3D printed weapons I made for this figure  
you can find them here G1 style weapons for Toyworld Collsville aka Masterpiece Jazz (NO FIGURE) | eBay
I will be making a targetmaster for Stepper also.
This figure has a custom made Visor from the user of this forum and it is also a big Improvement.

 

This looks cool.. i will probably get one, just to have a Ricochet and have a different mold than the MT one.

 

I wonder if they fixed the hand rotation? Mine's so tight, im scared id break them off

 

Do you have any renders of said Targetmaster?!?