Some people bid blindly just because an item is AFA graded. Here's a few recent examples of AFA graded Ironhide that are actually more than meets the eye:

Ironhide,AFA Graded,Generation 1 Transformer - eBay (item 120418830516 end time May-17-09 16:10:25 PDT)
1984 TRANSFORMERS G1 IRONHIDE AFA 70 - eBay (item 280347095896 end time May-24-09 20:17:24 PDT)
1984 TRANSFORMERS G1 IRONHIDE AFA 80 - eBay (item 320372971455 end time May-24-09 20:15:02 PDT)

Be careful when bidding ;-)

 

Yup, all Chinese reproes. I thought AFA was making some sort of designation or something on these.

 

Yeah but I don't know when exactly they started to do so. Those Ironhide have been graded in 2004 so AFA were probably still clueless back then.

 

There is still a debate as to whether these are licensed or not. To me these Ironhides are the same as the originals the only difference is they are from the early 90's and not the mid 80's like a 5 or 6 year difference.

 

There the same, other then the time they were produced...Its not a KO or anything like that. Repo is the wrong word too.

 

actually, the quality on those are not the same as the originals. If you check the toys, they also missing the country stamping(You will see a huge block instead) But they are not KOs for sure.

 

The chinese story, as told by Fracus

Same as the orginal..

 

hmmm

how can u tell

 

in The Actoys forum(which is the biggest chinese transformers site), it's a common knowledge that the "South Sea" TFs(which is the chinese G1s) have inferior quality comparing to US/Japan versions. And a lot of people in that forum owns "South Sea" tfs.
The expert on this would be Might Gaine, maybe he could give us an answer.

In 2 month's time I'll be getting several "south sea" Tfs, by then I can also let you know  

 

On behalf of Might Gaine I think he's done enough on this topic already. The chinese 90's versions are licensed hasbro releases.
However, the quality is not the same.
I am holding in my hand a boxed chinese release ironhide and a boxed american release. The chinese has not been opened and the american release has since come unglued from the backer card. I opened it to inspect. There are major differences in quality, w/o question.
BOXES
The boxes are are made of a completely different grade of board. The american release is thicker and more rigid while the chinese release is a thinner softer cardboard. Where the US box flap is glued together the edges align near perfectly; on the chinese version the back side of the flap is smaller than the front by a significant amount(obviously a diecut precision error) allowing for the "brown" cardboard on the back of the front of the flap to be visible.
PRINTING
I am a 15yr+ experienced screenprinter so the first thing I notice on the chinese release is the print quality. The offset is poor making the edges of the print slightly blurred. It is especially noticeable in the transformers logo on the flap, but can easily be seen in all the type. The finish on the chinese version has an extremely glossy texture(cheaper card stock?) while the US release is more balanced, and reflects direct light in a more evenly dispersed way. Everywhere the box has been bent the print has cracked and has a scaly texture most noticeably on the side flaps where they meet the front of the box. Of course the chinese version lacks the made in japan copyright on the back. The tech spec is almost pink on the chinese, and all the reds, yellows and blues on the whole box are oversaturated compared to the US version.
WINDOW
The window on the chinese version is less transparent then the US. It has a mild dulling effect.
BUBBLE
same as window.
TOY
Stickers on the chinese version are slightly larger(once again poor precision die cut). The chrome on the chinese version is matte; the edges are rough and there are exposed areas of plastic. The chinese release I have isn't open and I'm leaving it that way so that's about it on toy comparisons.
Overall the chinese release is definitely sub par, and I would bet that the plastic of the actual toy would feel inferior compared to the original US release. Hope that steers you clear from a poor product.

 

thanks for the info

cromagnus


thanks for that was very intresting, however i was asking the question as i was going to buy a few afa transformers off ebay but if the seller take pictures from certain angles there is no way to tell the difference until you had the item in your hand

 

The obvious sign is the Chinese characters on the top right edge.

 

Yes and the adjusted copyright.

 

Early KOs.

And those are the toys chinese can get at that time.
Since they got them when they were kids, chinese won't admit those are KOs.
it is a pity.
But the truth is toy has a shitty qulity.

 

Every few months this comes around

Just to repeat what I have said in the past

G1 stuff in the 80's (Not 90's) in Europe had those Chinese symbols

Hasbro UK was still distributing 84 release Transformers in the late 80's

Starscream for example was available up until 1989 in his original box (although the age on the "ages X and up" changed)

They are not bootlegs, they aren' t same as G1, they ARE G1

Hitch

 

Very true, here's his site:

Comprehensive 1990's G1 Reissue ID Guide | HIGHENDTFS.COM

 

Two comments:

1) See Cromagnus' post. (Good insight into the quality differences, by the way--I didn't know about a lot of those things.)

2) I think we're talking past each other here. You are right that Hasbro Europe released some 84~86 releases in the late 80's. However, it was the REALLY late 80's. Like, around 1989. That's when Chinese Transformers started being made, and they weren't just sold in China, they were sold in Europe too. People tend to call them 90's releases, because they were made from around 1989 ~ 1995, most of that period being in the 90's, not the 80's.

 

Not so, my childhood constructicons had the chinese stickers on, I still have the backing cards. They were purchased in 1987 for my 10th birthday.

I'm 100% on this


This is backed up by Argos (a large catalogue shopping store here) having 84 TF's in their 87-89 books.

Hitch

 

hmmmmm

intresting your point 2 as in europe at the times given thats when the g1 classic line was around i know this as i bought all my dinobots wheeljack and combatacons at that time but all of them did not have their rub sign present

 

Yeah, Classics were around too but that's a different kettle of fish entirely.

I was too young to remember when the Chinese symbol G1 first started showing up, but I do clearly remember still seeing Combaticons and Protectobots in Woolworths, 1993, sharing shelf space with Skyscorchers and the like.