How to tell the new KO Reissues apart from authentic toys.

Discussion in 'Transformers Toy Discussion' started by JunkersHVN, Mar 15, 2007.

  1. HiQ

    HiQ Member

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    Hope you all can help me out. It's been a long time since I've added anything G1 to my collection and I see so many knock-offs / "reissues" out there. I also never had a G1 Springer so I don't know what to expect.

    I'm wondering about this Springer. Just seems a tad curious to me that it's in such good shape with almost no chrome wear and unapplied stickers (it came with the unused sticker sheet), but it's missing the rub sign.

    Any thoughts?

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  2. DoubleClouder

    DoubleClouder Prototype / Testshot collector

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  3. HiQ

    HiQ Member

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    Thanks so much for that. Huge help. Going by those comparison pics it seems like the one I have is legit. It doesn't have the deep space in the screw holes under the chest, the line detail in the gray is deeper, and the mine has the hole in the back of the exhaust whereas the KO doesn't.

    I am curious on why mine only has the Hasbro 1986 stamp and not the Takara as well, though.
     
  4. DoubleClouder

    DoubleClouder Prototype / Testshot collector

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    It's probably one gold box "Classic" Springer that was released in the UK/Europe. It didn't have the rubsign and I believe that's what the stamping was, but someone else would have to confirm it.
    Oldies but Goldies: Classic Transformers – The Source Report
     
  5. cr3d1t

    cr3d1t Well-Known Member

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    I've noticed "Transformers G1 Sunstreaker reissue brand new improved version!" on ebay.
    Any idea how recent this new version is, what the improvements actually look like and are there other design changes?

    I bought a KO Sunstreaker last year and the plastic that held the hinges for the arms was flimsy and the moulding was such that you couldn't actually swing them out. I had to trim out a lot of plastic just to get something usable.
     
  6. PurpleStuf

    PurpleStuf Pastor of Muppets

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    This is from my order history. In January I purchased one from a reputable and well known KO seller on e-bay, and the listing had that exact description. I'm unhappy to report that the KO I received had the exact same problems, and I also had to remove a ton of plastic with a dremel just to transform the shoulders. Nothing has broken, and since it just sits on a shelf for display I'm not too bummed about it. As a side note, my copy also was missing the robot fists out of the box. The seller did end up making things right and sending me a pair so that was good. Long story short, if a listing has that description it probably doesn't mean much as far as what you'll actually get. Like most KO's it's a bit of a gamble each time.
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  7. Afterburner

    Afterburner For your health

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    They do try to fix known errors over time and have corrected quite a few things as time went on from early releases. I wonder if there is an improved version out there and they just shipped old stock?

    Also always be sure to check your KO Reissues immediately for accessories and all the stickers once you receive them. They are notoriously bad about including everything a figure is supposed to come with in the box. About 50% of mine were missing something. If you wait, you will be out of luck. I was able to get everything I was missing one way or another, but it's definitely a real problem that has clearly never gone away.

    I still hope they can get to more molds Hasbro/Takara have never touched. While some of the releases haven't been up to par, some have really been great (in my experience).
     
  8. BB Shockwave

    BB Shockwave Behold, Gagatron!

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  9. Roland323

    Roland323 Well-Known Member

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    I just want to thank everyone who posted in this thread. I just recently got back into MPs and this advice has been great.
     
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  10. Quickstrike2013

    Quickstrike2013 Well-Known Member

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    Sadly I don’t wanna go through thousands of pages so I’ll do a quick ask, why are some of the best sites that compare KO and G1.
     
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  11. PurpleStuf

    PurpleStuf Pastor of Muppets

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  12. Roland323

    Roland323 Well-Known Member

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    I read back quite a few pages but didn't see anything about this question. Does anyone know if the KO companies have started making the Hasbro "as sold in Japan" boxes that go outside the MPs? Is that a pretty good indication that it's authentic?
     
  13. barrelks

    barrelks Captain Funtastic

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    I am sure it has been discussed (probably many times), but how is the quality on the single carded G1 combiners that have been hitting ebay in recent months? I don't follow KOs very closely, but they are hitting my childhood nostalgia button pretty well from birthdays/christmas past.
     
  14. MilanX3

    MilanX3 Well-Known Member

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    They still making high quality KO MPs?
     
  15. G1 Cassette Hunter

    G1 Cassette Hunter Hunting the Elusive G1 Cardbacks

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    The several Cassette ones I have picked up are very close to authentic for my purposes in making wall collages. They especially fulfill that want/need to have the tech spec for me as one who has gone as far as having repro's made for the more modern releases in the G1 style. Others may be more critical. I have yet to acquire the Constructicons - they are on the list.
     
  16. BlastOff682

    BlastOff682 Well-Known Member

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    So I recently eyed a G1 Menasor at a vintage toy shop, and I know there exists KO versions, However the stickers on this one look really worn and old, so I'm hoping that its Legit
     
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  17. AndyGold

    AndyGold Well-Known Member

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    Yello, I hope I can receive some assistance. I bought this "G1 Hound" on eBay. The pictures looked legit and the insections I have received from the same seller have got the aging and wear of something that looks like it's from the '80s. Shrapnel looks like it's muttering "please kill me" for example. But there are alarm bells are ringing with Hound. The chrome is very good and near-perfect on him and the accessories. There's a lot of dirt and dust on the figure, and that does show they have been in storage for some time where ever they have been, but I just can't shake the feeling the actual figure itself is a repro/KO. I've got pics of the markings and the dust, as well as the very shiny chrome but also the pattern of the bonnet/hood (where ever you're from) that does not go over the edge as I've seen in videos for both real and other KO's. I can pretty much assume the accessories are more than likely repro but the figure itself is more 65/35 towards KO. If someone can save me from disappointment or confirm my fears that would be very much appreciated regardless of the outcome.

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  18. DoubleClouder

    DoubleClouder Prototype / Testshot collector

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  19. AndyGold

    AndyGold Well-Known Member

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  20. FORT MAXie

    FORT MAXie Well-Known Member

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    Ya you got a KO thou not a bad-looking one, i hope you did not overpay for it.
     
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