hell, transformers aren't even the most expensive hobby I engage in…let me tell you about custom keyboards lol

I just assume most people partaking in the MP game are well to do, or financially stable. I also ascribe to the "3 times rule" in that if I can afford laying out for something 3 times in cash then I can't actually afford it.

no one should ever be going into debt for this stuff. $0 EoM on the CC is absolutely the way to go.

 

I do alright and pay all the family bills etc but even so I have a value system that means I only buy the figures/toys I want at the price I can justify.

I don’t understand collectors that want 3 or 4 of everything. Some people seem to really think that FansToys is an investment vehicle… I mean, yeah, you might make a few bucks via other collectors paying you late tax, but unless you’re into 10s of units it’s just chump change.

the crazy PO rush is annoying now. I’ve missed out on the only local retailer POs on the leat few releases which is now becoming tiresome.

 

Yeah I agree this has gotten expensive. I manage to save about 2k a month on investments so I could afford the plastic without plastic, so to speak, but I would much rather save the money tbh. That's not the real expense though, I have no more space to display (unless I tell my gf to move out ha), so I'd have to buy a bigger house!
That being said I think once Defensor is complete, and FT release their Blitzwing, I'll be done with the characters I want to collect so it should get cheaper. I'll still swap out characters for versions I like better (Cliffjumper and Blaster I'm looking at you). Recently, I've gotten 2 FT POs for some figures (Soundwave, Trailbreaker, Hoist, Perceptor) from two vendors. Never done this before but got nervous about availability. Will just sell the second copy. If I manage to claw back some of the expense of the initial outlay then all well and good.

 

For its time, Toyworld/Zeta's combiner engineering was revolutionary and enabled masterpiece-grade combiners to be realized without compromising combined mode articulation or the scale across all three modes. They proved it could be done and for many collectors, they are not just the standard bearer, they still haven't been surpassed by a better MP-grade G1 Devastator, Superion, or Bruticus.

MMC's all-in-one gimmick was an engineering feat that was unable to avoid a variety of compromises to combined mode scale and some of the individual bot-modes' articulation & scale, and barely qualifies as masterpiece scale in combined mode.

Neither approach was perfect. TW/ZT's combiner teams routinely suffered from overly-chunky and not G1-enough bot modes. Zeta's initial color palettes were a bit drab (they've since addressed that) and the QC on early runs were at times hellish. Some issues with things staying tabbed in or needing to be shaved to fit, and engineering was a bit clunky overall. They still are not as refined as, say, FT products.

FT still has plenty of opportunity to outdo all current existing MP combiner contenders, and if they're taking their time hopefully that means they are intending to do it really well.

 

I am sure FT's combiners will look quite cool, but no way they are as ambitious as Maximas Pro, an all in one engineering marvel with a level of articulation never seen before.

I am into this for the engineering, so I am going with Ocular Max. The engineering alone has display value for me. I know you value scale and looks more, so FT's will be a better option for you.

In a way, I am very grateful to Zeta, because as you said, their gestalts made the combiner market / concept to evolve. Now we have 50+ cm Pantsformers, 50+ cm non pantsforming combiners and finally the ultimate evolution of the concept: the all in one combiner. Therefore, there are enough combiners for every collector out there who wants one.  

 

Man, you guys need to stop bumping this thread, haha. Every time I see it at the top of the pile my heart skips a beat thinking FT has put up Bandit in their customary 30 second pre-order time frame!

 

Oh man, hahahaha. Not to mention PC building as a whole is definitely up there in just sheer numbers.

Though at the same time, shit like MP-52 and Quietus ended up being more expensive than my AIO, which is both hilarious and sad LMAO

I've been thinking of sooner or later down the line messing with a custom PCB and just going ham, I certainly would love to, but this time around since i'm in the process of putting together parts for a new rig as we speak, i'm just going with a K100 probably cause pretty much everything is Corsair in the parts list, haha.

Though now that you mentioned it, you're now obligated to show off those keyboards  

Seriously though you have my interest peaked.

In terms of ambition, MMC definitely wins, while FT is trying to be the best of your average TW/Zeta styled combiner, MMC is taking that up a notch by trying to compartmentalize all the necessary combiner parts into each bot (I say necessary since we have upgrade kits like the one for Bruticus that adds on stuff like those shoes). Though at the same time, I still feel FT has some ambition going on this on top of the norm, mainly with trying to offer two separate styles (Cartoon and Studio OX).

And yeah, I too am greatful for what Zeta did. Their design team's combiners I personally believe are the most impactful when it comes to 3rd Party in general simply because pretty much everybody now goes with and has adopted.

 

Tbh I wouldn’t worry about bandit for a while

 

With the "right" price, we'll never have to worry about it forever  

 

once I've actually built them I will!  

right now I have a bunch of parts for 2, and more on the way, but all 3 boards are in the frustrating period between group buy end and fulfillment. first should be here in September/October with luck lol

and I'm not even looking at a new PC at the moment, thank god

 

Bandit






That is all, carry on

 

“RK Priced”


That is also all.

 

The void of time and space.

That is also all.

 

Shame I could only upvote Genesis once.

 

just turn it on again.

 

For those who still want Smokey, ShowZ has a 10% off sale (but still, very pricey):

FansToys FT-31D Smokey Dragstrip Drag Strip Stunticons Menasor

 

I may have been thinking of Bombusbee who has him for $159 but seems is now sold out…

 

Guys, i just received my first 2 of 4 stunticons and was wondering on how to sticker them.

How about you show us all in the thread how you decided to sticker and where!