I've decided to start collection Transformers and need some advice for getting the most 'bang for my buck' when starting out. Let me say I'm not looking to amass every TF toy,just my favorites that I remember as a kid. I've always been fond of the Decepticons so I'd like to work on those first (the only autobots I want are the dinos anyways). I'm looking to get as close to G1 without spending a ton.

Right now I have a 150.00 limit on what I can spend to jump start my collection. I'd like to buy within the US and from the same site if at all possible to save on shipping,right now I'm looking at Bigbadtoystore.com but if you guys know of a cheaper alternative please LMK.

So,here is my current order,the thing I'm debating is whether to drop the seekers and go for Masterpiece Megatron or a few smaller ones like Insecticons or Galvatron. Finishing my seekers would be sweet but getting three of the same toy would kinda suck.

Soundwave w/Ravage and Laserbeak (toysrus reissue) - 60.00
Henkei Classics Starscream - 27.00
Encore Skywarp and Thundercracker - 55.00

Here is my list of stuff Im looking to get for now...

Megatron
Starscream
Seekers
Devastator
Insecticons
Galvatron Cyclonus
Shockwave
Scourge
Dinobots

Sorry for all the questions but I'm really excited to start this new hobby.

 

Getting each figure individually from the Junkion Exchange would be much cheaper.

 

First of all, welcome to TFW and this one expensive hobby. In terms of shopping for G1 figures, BBTS is not the only one out there. You can always try the Junkion Exchange...sometimes you can find some really nice deals from fellow members. There is also Transformerland.com, which mainly sells G1 figures. In terms of the G1 Seekers (both Autobot and Decepticon), welcome to the revenge of repaints. Since G1, there has always been repaints. Sometimes they work well for me (different character) and other other times, they do not (same character but a different color).

 

Ahh,cool,thanks for the heads up,I'm scanning the exchange as we speak. I don't care if they are used just as long as they come complete and look good enough to display. Though I do like the Encore seekers better than the G1 ones,I remember the wings always falling off the old ones (of course I was 6...).

 

You can save a bit if you get the 25th Anniversary/Universe Starscream instead of Henkei. The white is more show-accurate than toy-accurate, but it's gorrrrrrrgeous.

Soundwave, excellent choice. Encore 2-pack, enh... Yeah, that's better than trying to get any classics incarnation of Thundercracker  

Definitely do yourself a favor and get 25th/U Cyclonus. It makes you wonder why you ever liked the original. It's THAT good.

As far as going for Insecticons, Galvatron, Devastator, and the Dinobots, definitely the best way to go is the Junkion Exchange, as Cas said.

Minor nitpick: Encore is the same toy as G1. The wings will "fall off" Encores just as easily  

 

Yeah if you want Shockwave, the Dinobots, Devastator or any G1 figure that's yet to see a recent reissue you're better off looking through Junkion around here for a deal. Better odds of finding a deal than looking through eBay; same with the Insecticons considering the Takara reissue goes for more than loose original versions.

I've never had a problem with the wings on any of my G1 Seekers, as a kid or with the Encores. I have the reissues of Starscream, Thundercracker, Skywarp, Sunstorm and Dirge and they all fit fine.

In the end, you're probably going to need more than $150 though for what you're looking for.

 

id say pick a line and work on it trying to spread your money out over multiple lines can lead to trouble in getting the bots and cons you really want

 

Oh yeah,I know it's gonna cost way more than that,I just want to spread out my initial purchase because its gonna be a while before I can buy another one. I think I'm going to focus on Megatron,the seekers and Soundwave first,those are far and away my favorites.

 

^this^

And welcome by teh wayz

 

Let me say, congratulations on choosing to collect Transformers. Good choice.  

 

1) The TRU soundwave is a repainted soundblaster with the double-deck. I'd wait for SDCC (June/July)and get the reissue soundwave with the single deck and ravage/buzzsaw/laserbeak/ratbat. It'll probably end up costing you the same.

2) Universe Starscream is still available at HTS. You can use the 10% coupon (TF2009) or if you spend over $25 use the free shipping coupon (?). HTS has also released a 20% coupon around springtime the past couple of years so you could wait for that too. The only problem with getting a Classics/Henkei/Universe seeker is that completing the set is going to be expensive.

http://www.hasbrotoyshop.com/ProductsByBrand.htm?BR=496&SBR=97&ID=23052

3) HLJ still have the encore SW/TC on sale. Should cost you about $45 if you ship SAL. Unfortunately, they are out of Starscreams, but screamer has been out for over a year now so I'd wait for a clearance sale from BBTS

Transformers Encore 11 Skywarp & Thundercracker

4) Last year during botcon a lot of the online retailers has ridiculous sales. It should be the same or better this year with the way the economy is so look for deals this weekend.

5) Masterpiece Megatron - between the rust issue and the "orange cap" that the US forces importers to put on I'd wait on him. He's been out for a while so the price isn't going to change very much now. I'd wait until you gained a little bit of experience and money and go hunting for a used no-cap no-rust megatron.

 

Thanks for the advice. I already bit the bullet with the Soundwave and Starscream,got a good deal here on TFW boards. I'll take your advice regarding Megatron and wait. I want to focus on the seekers and probably a Galvatron first.

 

For some, it's a dirty word, but EBAY can really deliver some great bargains for G1 figures. You just need to be a smart buyer - check seller's feedback, consider combined shipping, ask for more pics/info if you're not sure etc.

 

I think you've made a good choice in waiting for megatron.

In the case of MP megatron...he's VERY complicated to transform, and took me well over an hour the first time as well as great frustration (everything is in japanese)...for that alone I'd say hold off on a bit until you get "used" to transforming figures in general.

If you're going to get a masterpiece...I'd say start off with walmart masterpiece starscream, that could be a target for your next wave of purchases

 

MP megatron is great, but like already mentioned he would be a pain for a beginner, insecticons are easy and even cheap on ebay to get, especially if you get them all from the same seller

 

It seems you have good taste. eBay can be both a friend and an enemy to you during Transformers purchases. Regular sellers know how much TFs can go for. Smaller guys or people who just want rid are generally better in my experience. The online sellers are all good and will do their best to help you. My advice is buy those things you like. If you see something pretty cheap, get it if you can afford to as you probably won't see it again. We all know that regret all too well...

 

I sort of hate to give advise because everyone's taste is different. What is the bestest toy in the world to one person is junk to another person so what works for me might not work for you.

If you want to grow your collection quickly and on the cheap it might not hurt to check out the Classic, Universe, and even some of the Cybertron toys. I'm not saying that all of them will fit right in with your G1 collection but some figures like Universe Ironhide look far more like their cartoon and comic book look do than their original G1 toys do. So if you want something to remind you of the cartoon or comic book it's hard to beat a $10 to $13 toy.

The important thing to always remember is that it's your collection not someone else's collection so it's up to you alone as to what is right for your collection and what just doesn't belong in the collection.

 

^^^ Agree, I highly recommend you scour any local Walmarts, Targets, Kmarts, whatever marts to try and find any Universe figures still on the racks. Could very possibly find some on clearance to make room for new movie figures. They are vast improvements on the G1 designs, though I still love the originals to. But its very likely if you grow your collection a year or two from now you will be kicking yourself for not getting some now when they are retail and your stuck paying 3x as much.

If you really like the Dinobots, the Animated are really pretty nice.

Masterpiece Grimlock is ofcourse a great figure but he would be a large investment. G1 Dinobots in really nice condition complete though can easily go $40-$60+ each and Swoop can really cost ya.

Scouring flea markets and garage sales can also turn up some gold mines for practically nothing. Either way, welcome to the sickness!

 

See,thats where I'm having a hard time. On the one hand,I want to get the original G1's to remind me of the toys I had when i was young. On the other hand,some of the Universe toys look so much better (seekers in robot mode for example) than their G1 versions that it doesn't make sense to drop $ on an inferior looking display piece. Don't get me wrong,some G1's are just classics that cannot be improved upon (Soundwave) but others,like Galvatron,are just goofy looking and are bad representations of the characters. But then I'm defeating the whole purpose of starting this small collection (and I intend to keep it small) which,for me,is completely nostalgia driven...

 

The best advice I can give is to take your time and shop around. For a small focused collection, look for what you feel is the best representation of any given character and go for that. There is many lines to choose from, so chances are you'll find a toy that does the trick for each character you want.