My First Post: Optimus Prime by 3A : )

Discussion in 'Transformers Toy Discussion' started by davidhunternyc, Sep 5, 2015.

  1. davidhunternyc

    davidhunternyc Well-Known Member

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    Hello everyone!

    This is my first post on the tfw2005 forums. A few months ago, I was asked to go to Toy Tokyo here in NYC with a friend. I am 38 years old and the idea of going to a toy store was not my idea of fun. But, being a trooper, my friend needed my help. She is an interior decorator and was decorating a boy's bedroom with Godzilla's for a client. Wow! I quickly discovered the glee of my youth and I fell in love with Mechagodzilla. I now have two of them and I display them one at at time in my bedroom. So minimal but playful, Mechagodzilla keeps my mind young and imaginative.

    I am really and totally new to the idea of toy collecting. When I was at Toy Tokyo, they had an Iron Man that was isolated in a glass case and looked like no other toy I've seen. It looked like it was made from solid metal, with scratches on the paint and it looked like the suit was weathered from years of use. It was captivating. I came home and did a search on it and found out it was from 3A.

    Believe it or not, my apartment number is 3A also. I was curious to see what other things 3A Toys made. Then I came upon this Optimus Prime. Wow. I am a full grown adult and I was a giddy as my 7 year old nephew. I have a lot to learn here so I welcome any guidance that you all have to offer. You know your toys. You know your details. I'm stupified at the observations some of you have made regarding Optimus Prime by 3A. The threads I've been reading regarding the discrepancies and flaws in the details are astute but I also gather from you that the 3A Optimus Prime (and Bumblebee too) are perhaps the best sculpts of any robot figure by any company.

    I have a few questions: Being older than most all of you, I am used to true diecast solid metal toys. It seems that everything these days is molded from plastic. Are there any toy companies that still mold entirely from metal? Are then any other companies that can compete with 3A in terms of quality and realistic details? Is the 3A Optimus Prime and Bumblebee the best there is? Do any of you know any artists who have custom sculpted Transformers or any other robots? Finally, I have read that there are other people who will commission paint these figures. Who are the individuals that you respect and go to for such work?

    The photo below is my Mechagodzilla. I display him proudly, usually in a pure white room with little in it, shaded by an orchid, lest he get a sunburn. I am looking to purchase the perfect sculpt of Optimus Prime and Bumblebee, whether toy or otherwise, to display in a similar manner.

    I have read this thread with great passion and I am looking forward to wasting hour upon hour on tfw. I love TFW!


    [​IMG]
     
  2. doomtron

    doomtron Hunter

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    Welcome :)  offhand masterpiece 01 optimus prime had a lot of metal not really sure about the third-party stuff
     
  3. Underwear

    Underwear Banned

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    Older than most of us? Ha ha I'm born in '76 dude. Welcome aboard to toy collecting. :) 

    For metal toys..most of 'em are made by Japanese co nowadays.
     
  4. Spumoni Dingo

    Spumoni Dingo GPN Official Spotter

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    Have you checked out the SH Monsterarts Mechagodzilla?

    [​IMG]
     
  5. davidhunternyc

    davidhunternyc Well-Known Member

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    Yes, I bought the battle worn version. I ended up giving it to my nephew. Though the sculpt and articulations are superior to the Chogokin versions, the plastic looks less than stellar to me. The SH Monsterarts is also more durable. A kid can actually play with it. Not so the Chogokin versions. The fins are delicate and tend to fall off. Though inaccurate, I love the Chogokin versions more. They are heavier and look more polished. Would love to find someone to "chrome" the several pieces that are finished with metallic silver spray paint, however.

    Here is my review of the SH Monsterarts Mechagodzilla:
    Amazon.com: David Hunter's review of Bandai Tamashii Nations S.H. MonsterArts K...
     
  6. tikgnat

    tikgnat Baweepgranaweepninnybong.

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    Also, there is a Feedback forum here on the boards, search through that for other folks opinions and photos on (released) TF toys. It can be very useful.

    http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-feedback/

    Lastly, if you're looking at other high end stuff... check out 'Hot Toys' and their 12 inch figures...

    [​IMG]

    Yup, that's a 12 inch Hot Toys Avengers Black Widow figure!
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 6, 2015
  7. davidhunternyc

    davidhunternyc Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for your help guys. I've decided to look for the very best, cost-no-object, most realistic, most detailed, most incredible looking Optimus Prime and Bumblebee money can buy. Are there any figures with real rubber tires? I was thinking about starting a new thread with this question but maybe there is one that already exists. Any thoughts?
     
  8. OptimushedPrune

    OptimushedPrune Impressive Member

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    If you want a G1 Prime and Bee that have to transform then the Masterpiece line is your best bet. Prime has rubber tires and minimal use of diecast but Bee is all plastic.
     
  9. sunstreaker1980

    sunstreaker1980 Titan master!

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    Mp-10 is best for a good prime! Mp-21 I think for bee
     
  10. davidhunternyc

    davidhunternyc Well-Known Member

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    I think I am going to go with the non-transformable kind. I've been watching YouTube videos of the MP line and it seems more frustrating than fun to transform the figures. I forsee a project for an engineering student at MIT to pursue: A fully-automatic-transformable Transformer. In the meantime, "realism" is my goal and I think 3A has to be the most realistic but I was wondering if there are any artists or customizers who can do an even better job than 3A.
     
  11. davidhunternyc

    davidhunternyc Well-Known Member

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    Thanks Griffin! This is the kind of information I've been searching for! I will check it out. A 40 pound metal Optimus Prime? Any links?
     
  12. tikgnat

    tikgnat Baweepgranaweepninnybong.

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  13. MetalicGrunt

    MetalicGrunt Rust Proof Commando

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    If your going for a high end "statue" style TF Hot Toys just made their own Optimus Prime.

    [​IMG]

    https://www.sideshowtoy.com/collect...us-prime-starscream-version-hot-toys-9022461/


    As far as real transformers,
    Japanese Engineers Create Real Life Transformer That Turns From A Robot Into A Car!
     
  14. Snake_eyes1975

    Snake_eyes1975 Well-Known Member

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    HAHAHA!!! kids these days!! ;)  Born in 75' here.

    I think youll find the majority of posters here are right around your age.

    Welcome to the rabbit hole. Welcome to the boards. If this is stuff that your finding interesting and fun...then your just dipping your toe into a massive ocean of incredible WONDER, areas to explore and oogle for eons...and unfortunately..on these very boards, you will sometimes get to witness a wild frenzied melee of sharks eating their own!

    WELCOME!!
     
  15. OptimushedPrune

    OptimushedPrune Impressive Member

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    '73 here.
     
  16. davidhunternyc

    davidhunternyc Well-Known Member

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    Thank you for the welcome Snake Eyes. Too funny, I thought I was invading a forum populated only by high school kids. It makes me feel a bit more at ease knowing there are guys my age on here. Until now, I felt like I needed to keep a secret about my new interest in Transformer figures. Midlife crisis? : )

    You have all been a great help. There are now a few Optimus Prime's that I find amazing. Each with pluses and minuses, which is a good thing. All this means is that the ultimate Optimus Prime is still on the horizon. Here are my favorites so far:

    1) 3A's version (yet to be released) - $430
    2) Prime 1 Studios Optimus Prime Statue - $2,299
    3) Ultimetal G1 Optimus Prime by Artstorm - $1,200

    Based on price, I would probably spring for the 3A before the others but I absolutely love the Ultimetal as well. They are all so great, however.
     
  17. davidhunternyc

    davidhunternyc Well-Known Member

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  18. Ikkstakk

    Ikkstakk Well-Known Member

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    Also born in '75, so no worries about being "the old guy" here.

    If cost is no concern, what about size? Because you might be interested in the 2-meter-tall Optimus Prime statue 86 Hero made back in 2007. It originally retailed for $4k and only 200 were made, so I don't even know how easy it would be to find one for sale, let alone buy it. And I don't remember if it had die-cast in it. But I doubt you'd find anything bigger that isn't a one-off custom.
     
  19. davidhunternyc

    davidhunternyc Well-Known Member

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    Size is not much of an issue. To tell you the truth, when something gets smaller and it is just as detailed, something magical happens. I think I prefer smaller figures to the larger ones. Sometimes I think that 3A's 19" height is still too tall. If the DMK-01 model is only 10" tall, that would be special indeed. Don't know much about it though. Plastic? Metal?
     
  20. Underwear

    Underwear Banned

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    Well if price isn't an issue for you just go ahead, the DMK kit is very nice & well detailed BUT it's quite a fragile piece being a model kit and all.

    Edit: here's a review of the completed kit here on TFW..

    http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-feedback/424738-dual-model-kit-optimus-prime-dmk-01-a.html?highlight=dual+model+kit