Preface: So I'm interested in starting modest collection, mostly based on G1 via Siege/Earthrise sets, and probably whatever comes next. I already have a KO MP Soundwave with the extra cassettes, but its too much hassle, money, and with the limited space I feel I can't continue with MP's. An important factor was ease of accessibility for the wife to get me over the next few years. And being a little more reasonable in cost, I don't feel content spending too much money on shelf peices (although a select MP character roster would probably be cheaper....). As such I have about 11-12 inches (maybe 13) in height to work with. I was looking for the G1 cartoon crew. While I already got CW Devistator, but he has to stand on top of the display, due to his height. So the main set CW combiners would be ideal for max height. So with that all out of the way, I was looking for advice on character & version, 3P or other version recommendations. I like the Seige/Earthrise esthetic and detail. Just that some of them, like the combiners, are a bit lacking, which is where I plan on getting add-ons as needed (if I can find them). Not looking to break the bank obviously, especially on the combiners. Characters within TR/PotP/Siege/ER I'm considering finding substitutes are: Optimus - Not sure about ER, Vs KBB MP-10v.... Megatron - Maybe the new ER? Seems a little chunky... Dinobots - Too small. Maybe the BMB oversized or just get MP-08? Iron hide - Not impressed, wait till next set listings to decide. Omega Supreme - too big, but I could do MFT's MF-34 "Huge Dragon" (I know not in scale) Cityformers, I love them, but no room. Might be able to fit old Tripticon though.... Considering waiting for the next set listings: Galvatron (or Mania King or TR) Cyclonus Hot Rod/Rodimus (MP-28/40 is likely) Bumblebee Blaster Perceptor (TR maybe?) Kup (TR maybe?) Blur (TR maybe?) Combiners (if main set, likely, I would do the PE hand/feet combos): Bruticus +PC-09 & 10 Stunticons + PC-04? Predaking (maybe) Defensor Superion Technobots (maybe)
Not sure what the question truly is... The one you need to ask yourself is what is your objective, mainly start with: do you want the figure to scale with each other, either in robot or vehicle mode. Myself, I prefer scaling to be more about the alt mode than the robot, as to me, it's a more logical approach. That said, I do accept that many simply won't be in such a scale but I do try to aim to "as close as possible". So, with Siege as a basis, most figures are acceptable as you have the Autobot cars that are deluxes and small against the Seekers as voyagers, and they do reflect a decent size difference. Set next to the combiners figures, I don't consider the whole "mass shifting" thing to be anything that I care about, as so, the combiners are fine as they are as they end up towering over the deluxes easily. Yes, the Dinobots should have been bigger and I am on the fence about getting the oversized KO versions, but I find that I don't really want to spend for a set that I technically already have... should I not have them already, I wouldn't have hesitated on the oversized ones. I am picky about my combiners, and Bruticus and Superion have always been my favourites, but note that Abominous sneaked itself into my interest and I ended up getting it without any regrets. The others you mention, aren't really that interesting to me, but you might want them... and either you find decent pricing of them, note that if you get the "brave" KO versions, those are close to being the same... my Superior is such and I find the plastic superior to many authentic CW figures I also have. The mentioned TR figures are 50/50, probably characters that will take a long time to be redone properly. I say 50/50 as the figures as a whole are great, but the plastic is the hard, snap-easy stuff, and all uses ball-joints that you would need to re-tighten once in a while (via the floor polish approach). Note that most 3rd parties figure tend to not follow the scale much, and many being much smaller or the opposite and too large. Some even skip the Hasbro ones and go with a full series from 3rd parties. Quality wise, Siege and Earthrise are for the most part, a return to decent plastics. Trouble is, Hasbro (as per my signature) is being freaking cheap with accessories and the gaps and emptiness for some figures can be fairly bad and takes a lot of the toy's potential to being amazing. Third parties add-ons have been a fairly expensive thing, but for some figures, to me it felt to be the only way to truly get the figure to get closer to it's higher potential. Some people don't mind and are fine as per original, I tend to want my figures to be a good as I can make them. But be aware that at some point, these add-ons can end up costing as much as the figure (doubling it's price, thanks to Hasbro's cheapness). I've also ended up customizing a lot, something that I never considered before. Truth is.. if you're new here... take the time to read the threads about the lines that interest you, many have posted a lot of images (myself included.. I invite you to go check my "custom" threads as it may offer some perspective) that might give you more perspective on the figures that you (may) want. Note that if you're starting just now, that some figures (Siege) might be difficult to obtain, some were hard to get on a good day when they were released. Just to add, Omega and Huge Dragon for comparison: And some Siege figures around for more size comparison... (note.. old picture, the number of figures on that shelf is now... well, there's no emptiness on that shelf now)
Thanks , I really appreciate the well written up advice and screenshots. What is that mini Omega? To answer your question , I'm looking for collecting advice, like you gave, and recommendations on alternatives to the characters mentioned (or if I should wait for next set). Also, is it just me, or do secondhand sales seem to not drop much in price, if not go up? I know it's halfway, or more, a collectors market , but used items selling at MSRP seems overkill .
The mini omega is "Mini Sentry" .. again from MFT. He can come as a set with "doctor" and a updated "tank/head" for Hue dragon (which I do find to be a huge improvement, even if the original was great) For recommendation, the "danger" is that you can get opinions and preferences.. some love one version, hates another, so it really is about what you'd be considering as the type that you'd prefer. I could tell you that I prefer and recommend one figure and have a bunch of flames that it's an horrible choice... so it does come down to personal preference and why I recommend that you read the threads, go view video reviews a lot for the figures that interest you. My personal choices are about quality, I try to be unbiased over a "character" as I collect toys for their merits and not clouded over any affection to a character, so that's what I can offer if you take "my word" for it. SO I'll give you my view on the figures you mention: Optimus ER for sure... Pros: it's the best version that I've handle for excellent articulation, great looks, very good design, easy transformation, NO gaps, has his trailer. Cons: Hasbro being cheap and not including roller and other accessories (for the price), trailer is smallish, lacks paint, eyes should have been yellow as the blue is completely lost on the blue face, etc. I've purchased the add-on for the trailer, but still haven't received. I went ahead and did customization to fix the eyes, missing blue, and the trailer. Using an extra Cog for roller substitute, jetpack and other accessories. See more image if interested: Minor/Repaint: - Earthrise Optimus, paint and customizing, with Cog "Roller" Megatron Between the images of the ER version, the Siege that I have,and the Netflix that I've seen, I'd honestly would trade mine for the Netflix. The ER one is a limited remold of a few parts but I don't like what they did with the cannon, the Siege sword weapon is much better looking. Dinobots If I didn't have the ones I have, I'd go with the oversized versions Iron hide Siege is a fine figure, but some weak points, mostly the side panels and gaps. ER version is announced, might be worth seeing what it looks like. For me, it would have to be very different to win me to re-buy the figure. Omega Supreme - too big, but I could do MFT's MF-34 "Huge Dragon" (I know not in scale) Hasbro did an overall amazing job with it, a classic, and the only con is the transparent plastic for the claw, and possibly could have done a bit more details and paint for the face. That said, I could say that a smaller tank would have been a better choice, but still not something that really is that bad. The only weak point is how the "wings" connect, mine has one that doesn't snap as securely as it should... they could have done something better, but again.. cheapness won with Hasbro. If you have any "love" for this character, not having it could result in regrets at some point. Huge Dragon, which is a tad taller than Leader class, is a great figure, excellent quality. Cityformers, I love them, but no room. Might be able to fit old Tripticon though.... I have Fortress Max. which I do enjoy but huge con with the legs being rehash from Metroplex but aren't useable in base more as additional "rooms"... Trypticon, I had for about an hour, the hip broke as I was puting it together out of the box, and returned it to the store and that was the end of it. Galvatron (or Mania King or TR) I have TR, still in box for now, but had a second one that I gave as a gift so got to play a bit, and he's quite a fine Galvatron.. but he is TR, so cheap plastic. Cyclonus I have generations (Universe) and he is a very nice figure, but very flimsy.. parts and connectors got very loose fast... I'll have to take him out and fix him at some point. Hot Rod/Rodimus (MP-28/40 is likely) Not a fan of the character or the figure, so I have none at this point. Possible taht he'll be coming in ER or next part of the series, will judge it on it's merits. Bumblebee Not much of a fan, and never seen a version that appealed to me.. ER will probably have one and as HOT Rod, I'll judge then. Blaster Not much of a fan, and never seen a version that appealed to me.. if a new version comes out, I'll judge then. Perceptor (TR maybe?) TR is a nice one, but so freaking cheap.. the plastic, the connectors, everything is cheap and he doesn't hold together well, and the articulation needs tightening.. BUT.. ironically, I still like this character/figure. Kup (TR maybe?) aside cheap plastic, decent figure but I passed on it, but more due that I barely saw him in stores and was gone before I could decide if I'd get him. Blur (TR maybe?) cheap plastic, but great figure... biggest cons aside the plastic are the gaps. Combiners (if main set, likely, I would do the PE hand/feet combos): Bruticus +PC-09 & 10 Stunticons + PC-04? Predaking (maybe) Defensor Superion Technobots (maybe) As stated before, I have Bruticus (some limbs are KO) Bruticus - fall of cybertron (the one that introduced me to the freaking uber crap plastic that Hasbro has decided to start using) Superion (KO) Superion Maximus (so much potential, such a freaking mess) Abominous (authentic) Volcanicus (auhentic) Mix of various (authentic) And I enjoy them all.. I have one set of the add-on feet/hands, but I ended up finding them simply too big... the originals might be smallish, but I find that they overcompensated, it's like the combiners is wearing oversized boots and balloon hands...I ended up removing them and returning to the originals. So, the odds are, combiners won't probably be redone for a fairly long time, so these are it.... and overall, I find that they are darn close to "perfect" as can be with today's engineering.. they represent the figures very well, the worst for all is the ball joints that get loose easily, but fixed with floor polish (or such). Prices... that's a whole huge question.. So many factors come in play.: 1) Hasbro mass produced some figures, and did very small runs on others. 2) Fans, scalpers (resell fast at high profits) or "investors" (buy lots and sit on them for years so that the value goes high as possible before selling) hogged multiple copies 3) limited distribution So some end up being hard to find, and like anything, prices go up. Trouble is, now that "geek is chic" (hipster geek), there's 10,000x more "fans" and "collectors" than ever, and companies and re-sellers have realized this.. so where you'd go in a flea market or garage sale and find a crapload of figures, now it's a "hunt" between actual collectors and the hipster geek, and the scalper that will go sell it at high prices online. So yup... while some do end up cheaper than at release, those are getting rare, and usually during that "liquidation" from stores phase of a series.. where the scalpers and such are like sharks in bloody water, you miss that window, and it's gone.... Some that were produced in enough numbers can maintain decent prices, but again, there's a window that once missed, the prices go up. Used stuff, pretty crazy.. the cheaper are usually damaged ones, but still sell for parts... And then you get stuck is the situation where you have the fan (and someone getting out) that is clearing part or all of their collections, or those "investors", that want to either not lose the money they paid, or try to make as much as possible so sell at "new" or above prices. The truth is.. you also have to decide the type of "collector" that you are or plan to be. Myself as reference, I collect robots and sci-fi toys and been doing it for many decades because I love it. Selling my collection is the last thing I want to do, but would consider selling a part due to simply having too much, or some not appealing to me as it used it. I never considered my collection as an investment nor followed tabs on pricing. The only time I did sell, was so to be able to afford new figures that were a huge improvement, and overall I'm not a nostalgic person much for original, as stated above, I go with the figure's (toy's) merits. So anyways, hope this helps you a bit!
It really depends on the figure in some cases. Plus, greed is absolutely over the top right now, and sellers know that there is almost always someone somewhere who will pay “crazy money” for an item. It’s like the housing market. Eventually other sellers catch on and the ridiculous pricing becomes the norm. Once an item is sold out at regular retailers, it’s anybody’s guess how expensive some of this stuff can get on the aftermarket. If you are comfortable buying loose used figures, you can sometimes save a lot of money going that route. See if you have a local toy shop that sells used figures. I’ve gotten quite a few that way for cheap (relative to eBay, anyway). And welcome to TFW!
Welcome aboard. Though I agree with a lot of what's been said, I don't find the Titans Return figures to have cheap plastic. Personally, it's one of my all time favourite lines and given me what I feel are the definitive versions of a lot of G1 characters such as Kup, Bumblebee, Topspin, Quake and Triggerhappy. That said, I would get the Takara versions of Blurr and Hardhead as Blurr has a cartoon accurate colour scheme and I prefer Hardhead without a face plate. While most are too small for my taste, there are a lot of nice third party versions of characters out there like Prowl, Springer, Sideswipe and Hot Rod. They're all reasonably priced too. I recommend Papa Toys Hot Rod (loosen the knee joints with a screw driver though), MFT Chromedome and MFT Springer. I like to base my entire collection on vehicle scale which has been difficult but third party, knock offs and a lot of patience have come through for me such as the Fansproject Stunticons. I bought the oversized POTP Dinobots from a website called Sirtoys. Got them for around €45 for the set. Here are some photos from my collection. Sorry for overloading you with photos but I tried to vary between Siege, Titans Return, G1 and Third Party to give you a better idea.
I'd recommend you go smaller. Other than Perceptor and Omega Supreme (both are debatable), legends has you covered.
Thanks for the friendly welcome, replies, pics and advice guys. Sorry about the delayed reply , the new guy restrictions thought I was spamming my own post. I'm definitely looking for okay with loose, as I don't consider it an investment . As for some of the pics : Where is that deluxe sized Cyclonus from? I believe I heard the BMB oversized Dinobots don't have any translucent part . Also, the gold parts seem dull, does that seem correct?
3p Legends is the solution to all your problems. Better than CHUG, less expensive than MP, they look great and they take so much less space.
