http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250260127858&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.ebay.com%3A80%2Fsearch%2Fsearch.dll%3Ffrom%3DR40%26_trksid%3Dm37%26satitle%3D250260127858%2509%26category0%3D%26fvi%3D1 Just found it listed, theres also a sixshot, ramjet & starscream proto listed. The seller should be quite known around in the transformers scene by now. Don't think there is any issue to doubt its legitimacy.
Prototypes of old figures generally aren't news unless it reveals some big design change previously unknown, like Astrotrain's prototype.
The seeker protos can easily be made by swapping parts thou. This seller is known for his warehouse finds w/liokaiser giftsets misb g1 nightbeats and chinese braver/laster cases and also sold G2 blades and G2 Motormaster about a month or so ago. Wonder how high this max is gonna go.
There was a black seeker proto that everyone thought was shady posted some time ago, but I don't think a conehead can be put together in that fashion. Old finds like these still makes me go wow.
yeah i like him not in a prototype form but still it is cool to see them before they become kick ass!
you can see some warping in the tower from the age of the white resin... The red resin doesn't look to good ether in some spots, so who ever gets this will have a disnigrating Fort max proto in 20 years...
This guy's about to make a bank. As in... a rediculous amount of money. Fort Max is something a TON of people want for their collection... and a prototype hunter is going to spend a lot of money. I imagine over $10,000 for it.
I have yet to see a single vintage tf( proto or not) sell for $10,000 or more. Even the sealed megs 2 years ago that supposedly went for $11,000 didn't really go for that much. I think it will be high but not that high. G2 motormaster was unreleased, fort max was widely released. As for the seeker protos, where do the black wings and tail fins come from if they indeed come from regular release figures? Skywarp w/ some ehobby parts? I think they are legit but I'm not a proto expert. Interesting auctions never the less.
My 2 cents : The seekers are probably reissue protos, as is the Sixshot The Fort Max is most likely from the Brave Max era. The possible resin pieces could be either replacing damaged mold pieces or related to Hasbro's efforts to get Fort Max to pass the drop test (Brave Max was never released in the US RID line due to it failing the drop test, basically the toy is dropped from a height and the smashed toy examined. Fort Max produced sharp knife like fragments when dropped and failed the test every time) I know 100% that toy molds (which are HUGE) are stored with an example of what the mold produces stored with it. The same is true of packaging machines. This is how myself and other collectors have secured prototypes. This is also where the recent G2 Motormaster came from as I know the mold was examined around the same time by Hasbro & Tomy for the purpose of a upcoming release of the mold. Typically the last thing the mold produced is left with the mold. When the RID Blugeon was released I got the Unreleased G2 Camo Megatron from the mold storage (as it was the last thing the mold produced) So, what was the last thing all these molds produced? Re-issues and Brave Max. Long story stort, the Fort Max IS a proto, but I don't believe it was produced in the 1980's Either way, its a beautiful piece Several TF protos have broken the 10k USD mark, all the been private sales away from ebay. Hitch
Thanks for the info Spacebridge. That's very interesting. I'm just curious Hitch, what proto TF's have broken the 10K Mark? I don't really want to know the buyers or sellers just which ones.
If I had to take a guess: both G1 Unicrons complete G2 Menasor complete G2 Defensor Probably some G1 hardcopies that we've never seen...
Does that mean the Motormaster mold is usable (since I been supporting a release for it as a Club Exclusive [with some changes if needed]). It is a neat Transformer regardless. That probably makes the most sense, DC, with Rarest probably being #1. -TF2
I know you said your taking a guess but have heard of both G1 Unicrons being sold? As I know the yellow/blue was sold as it was even seen @ botcon 98 if I recall correct, But I have never heard of the Green/yellow being in the hands of a collector as I was told it is still @ takara and that is why there is only a couple pics out there. As for the G2 Menasor & G2 Defensor I know that those did not sell for over $10K each. But the 4 carded ones DR purchased did as many of us know. With regards to G1 hard copies I could see them going over 10K if they are unproduced 1 offs only type things or something but would not expect the two seekers this guy has to go anywere near that as Hitch's take on all this makes sense as it is not the first time I have heard this.