Buyer Beware: Generation 1 Sunstreaker Knock Off released

EDIT: Just a quick update from KOtoys.com (GenZHAO).


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Just got the email

Looks like he'll be easy to ID. His chest is missing a black piece...

Sorry, but I just wont buy Sunstreaker until we get an official Takara/Tomy or Hasbro Reissue. I don't care what they have to do to make it, just as long as it leads to an end of these rampant knockoffs.

Even worse, when it comes to buying accessories, how will one know the difference between an original or a knockoff? Those fists would be hell.

*Faints!*

What ELSE is up next???

Rumors of a Fortress Maximus reissue. I kid you not.

But that's the thing, I'd want an official reissue. Not a knockoff.

sadly this doesn't surprise me with the high prices the maximuses demand it was likely only a matter of time before before it got a full scale KO too much potential money to be made, that said a well done fort max KO at a reasonable price would make me buy one

Can you post an update on this bootleg once you receive it?

A Full size Fort Max KO? I would jump all over that because complete ones have been selling for 1000 bucks on ebay.

Also missing the factory applied decals on the sides of the car, same as the Prowl release.

Excellent!! Now my G-1 collection will be complete!!!


























... runs out of thread and seeks cover

No need to run, I'll cover your ass.

I look forward to an in-hand review but if he's as well made as Mirage was then he'll be mine. Not like I haven't given TakaraTomy a good 8 years to reissue it first, since I started collecting again.

I got mirage, who to be honest, I didnt think was that great. his limbs dont stand straight, his gun fits too lose in his hand, and overall the toy just looks crooked. (but on the other hand, so does encore jazz)

Sunstreaker has to be at least up to par or better then mirage for me to consider getting one. I heard wheeljack has paint problems, screw that, I dont want something that's gonna be damaged as soon as you handle it.

I love how when there's a G1 KO everyone is like "Yeah more G1!"

But when it's something not G1 they are like
"Oh noes this is copy right infringement, Hasbro better sue. Sign my online petition to sue Hasbro."

Man those images really make me wish Takara would restore that mold so they could reissue him...

Randy

KO F Max??
2 please!!

ill take a fortmax please lol.

This is terrible news for collectors.

Great news for tight-arsed, cheap-o people who are happy to accept inferior product and then claim their "G1 collection is complete".

Unless you got G1s in your collection, no, it's not a complete G1 collection.

I do not have a problem with KOs really, as long as they are not trying to represent themselves as the real thing. Thats why some of theese pretty high quality KOs are annoying to me.

I mean if they are good quality and HasTak has not done them in years, and they were not packaged as a direct copy of MISB G1 then I would be interested. But the deliberate misleading of the things are just a pass to me.

Especially when you consider the price is kinda silly for even a good quality KO.

I have KOs. I like my KOs but I have never once while buying them thought they were the real toys. I think theese guys making the high quality dinobots/sunstreakers/etc would probably get more buisiness if they were not trying to pawn them off as authentic.

So great news for me then.
Another inferiour product to complete my G1 collection!
Bring 'm on.

I feel a pro-con KO discussion coming here........again....

Or people who just want a cheap placeholder until they can score an original toy in perfect condition. Such as me, for example. I did that with G1 Devastator.
Not everyone who buys a KO instantly claims it's an original, you know. But I suppose that sweeping generalisations are so much easier to make, aren't they?

Well we know as of 2001 or so that the Fortress Maximus mold was in good enough condition to make Brave Maximus. I'm fairly certain Takara would like to keep that one in good condition in case they decide to do a Fortress Maximus or Grand Maximus again. So while Takara isn't likely to reissue it, at least it's most likely possible.

Randy

I'd buy an official reissue Fort Max. I'd definitely buy an official reissue grand Max. I dread to think how much they'd cost, though.

You feel that? I feel that too...I wonder why?? LOL
I really hope this doesn't turn into another war! LOL

To me, these are helping fill in holes that Takara can't fill themselves because they reasonably can't.

At $82 shipped you can get a really nice complete vintage Sunstreaker. I don't see the appeal of the HQ KO's with their current price point. Perhaps if they could be had for about half of what they go for I could understand the interest.

A Fort Max KO would break my heart. If it becomes so easy to get, where is the fun in drooling over the ones you see around on eBay, etc...?
I equate it to seeing a brand spankin new Corvette and knowing that it's out of your reach but hoping that some day you can get your hands on one.
That's just me, I'm absolutely NOT arguing the ethics of KOs. To each his own.

Can someone PM me to remind me where I can avoid buying these from please. ;-)

I already have a Vintage G1 Sunstreaker. But I would get this just so that I can repaint the guy into a red Diaclone version. That way..if I screw up...well..it's only a KO and not an original. Can someone send post the link to see the order form?

Please, more pointless, impotent rage from the KO haters, it nourishes my soul.

MISB? Holy crap, link please!

...No?

Didn't think so.

KO haters are really not gonna like what's coming down the pipe, though likely very very few own or will ever own what's coming out. This is going to get fun.

really nice, means loose with minor paint and sticker wear

I want that chrome to be SPOTLESS. stickers can always be replaced

If it was cheaper, I might pick it up, but not for that price.

I've paid big bucks for Victory Toys and I feel my G1 collection is pretty much complete from where i'm standing. Only KO's I have is Wheeljack and Frenzy. The only reason why I brought those 2 KO's is because its hard as hell to find a nice Wheeljack(plus they are all $$$$$$ if you do) and Frenzy looks great for being 5 bucks!




Do elaborate!

Indeed, their anger makes me harder.

I've been pining for the KO Sunstreaker for so long I finally bit the bullet and bought a real one a couple months ago, near mint and complete for $70. I was surprised to find him for that price. Do I care that it's real? No. I'm just happy to have him.

Good luck to all those who buy the KO. I was in your boat but I lucked out.

It's not solid like when I knew about springer and octane, but I have heard about Dino cassettes, headmaster heads, artfire and inferno. But before i knew for sure aboutthe triple changers, not so sure what's BS or real this time. Everything I was told came true before though, even blue bluestreak so we'll see.

This is basically how I feel about it. I would like nice KOs that don't purport to be the originals, if they cost far less.

those i would buy as placeholders and to play with until i can get the originals, which will not be played with (as long as the kos aren't over the price of the cassette kos they already made) but all the while i will still look for originals

next encore please!

Not everyone has the same budget for collecting G1.

Not to mention, I really want to meet the people who are buying these, then claiming they "are G1." I'd be willing to bet that 99.9% of people who buy them regard them as viable substitutes, but are still a little sad that they don't own a "real" one.

Pretty much where I stand too. If the seller is up front with me that it's a bootleg and isn't asking a king's ransom for it, that does go some way in helping me decide whether to buy one.

I don't really care if they consider them viable substitutes. That's really none of my business. I just don't feel the need to make myself feel superior to another TF collector just because they happen to have a few KO's in their collection.

Oh great, more KOs to look out for while on eBay.

Im one of those 99.99% people

I own a KO mirage, he sits with my other g1 re-issues.

Actually come to think of it, I don't even have any original G1's, they are all re-issues.

Prime is the first hasbro re-issue with repro stacks and original missiles I bought off ebay, and drilled out the holes in the launcher so they would fit. I wanted him to look like the japanese re-issue lol (I got him for a cheap price, which is why I didn't just BUY a japanese re-issue)

Mirage is a kock off

Prowl, and Hound are bookstyle re-issues

and Ironhide, Ratchet, Trailbreaker and Jazz are Encore re-issues.

they're all remakes, and some of the re-issues are just as shitty as the KO's. (im looking at you encore jazz!!!)

I just feel bad for people that buy KO not knowing that they are KO.

If KO completes you, that's cool.
If reissues completes you, that's cool.

Just don't sell it, trying to trick people that it's original when it's not.

On a side note, I suggest that you buy all the G1s that you can before the KO comes out and you become an unwilling victim.

I want one but not $82 bucks want one hope it comes down to Mirage's price.

Easier said than done?

ONCE AGAIN PEOPLE.....
you can NOT get a MISB Sunstreker for $82. I don't want a nice used one. I don't want a loose one. I want a brand spanking new one that is nicely displayed in the box.

Besides, you can get these KOs cheaper than this anyhow. We all know this.

I consider them G1 replicas. I buy them as a substitute because I know I can't afford a MISB Sunstreaker. I have Shockwave, Wheeljack & Mirage and the are sealed. I will always look at them as KOs but they go nicely right along side of my TFCs, Encores, etc.