Takara Transformers SCFs - ACT 4 Chase figures - Final Fire Guts attack Ginrai and metallic Grimlock

Previous post - Takara Transformers SCFs - ACT 3 Chase figures - Battle damaged Convoy and Reformatting Megatron

Previously, I have talked about the chase figures for ACT 1, ACT 2 and ACT 3. So far, the chase figures have been highly desirable, special and has an undeniable place in Transformers lore, mythos and history. With that being said, the chase figures for ACT 4 were a little disappointing.

For ACT 4 of the Takara's SCF line, the 2 chase figures are:

1. Final Fire Guts attack Ginrai; and
2. Metallic Grimlock

As with all SCF chase figures to date, these make use of existing molds, which are repainted. Final Fire Guts attack Ginrai is a repaint of ACT 1's regular God Ginrai figure. Metallic Grimlock is a repaint of ACT 2's regular Grimlock figure.

Autobot Repid-Fire Attack Agent, C-109: Stepper MIB (vintage G1, unused)

With all the SCF excitement on my blog recently, I thought I'd mix it up a little and update with a little G1 items, just to mix it up a little. This of course, is no ordinary piece - this is one of my final vintage G1 pieces, this is the 'brother 'bot' of Artfire, this is Stepper!

Many would say that Stepper has fallen from grace, that it is hardly worth the plastic it is made of, mainly due to the fact that the TFC reissue of Stepper and then the TRU reissue is so readily and cheaply available in the market. Even today, close to a decade after these reissues were released, it is still relatively cheap and easy to find a reissue Stepper (or Riccochet as Hasbro calls it).

As a result, not many collectors are too interested to hunt a vintage Stepper, much less pay the big bucks that is its inevitable price tag. So, what was once a Transformer that was worth more than USD$1000 and the crowning jewel of a select few collectors' collections, is now playing second fiddle to the relatively much rarer C-108: Artfire.

Stepper in Japanese packaging.

Why would I be interested in getting a vintage Stepper when I already have 2 pieces of the TFC reissue Stepper, one might ask. A few very simple few reasons come to mind:

• vintage is vintage, no reissue can ever replace a vintage piece.
• if we don't count the white Headmaster heads from 1987, I have almost every single Japanese G1 Transformer MIB and to complete the sweep, Stepper is essential.
• the quality and construction of a vintage piece is far superior to a reissue.
• it comes in an absolutely gorgeous box with beautiful box art and with a styrofoam insert.

Takara Transformers SCFs - ACT 3 Chase figures - Battle damaged Convoy and Reformatting Megatron

Previous post - Takara Transformers SCFs - ACT 2 Chase figures - Convoy w/ Megatron and rocket pack, clear Rodimus Convoy w/ Matrix

Update 18 May 2013 - updated with some detailed photos of battle damage Convoy and comparison of ACT 3 chase figures with their regular counterparts.


Previously, I have talked about the chase figures for ACT 1 and ACT 2. So far, each ACTs' chase figures have been highly desirable, special and has an undeniable place in Transformers lore, mythos and history. The figures for this present ACT 3 is no exception to the iconic status of the chase figures for ACT 1 and ACT 2 and in fact continues to build upon the tradition of using the chase figures to pay homage to key scenes or particular battles in the Transformers animated series.

For ACT3 of the Takara's SCF line, the 2 chase figures are:

1. Battle damaged Convoy; and
2. Reformatting Megatron. 

Battle damaged Convoy is the third Convoy chase figure in a row that is based on the Convoy mold - in each of ACT 1, ACT 2 and ACT 3, there has been a Convoy chase figure. Reformatting Megatron is the second Megatron chase figure after ACT 1's Metallic Megatron with flail.

Notwithstanding the reuse of the Convoy and Megatron molds, these 2 chase figures are once again, steeped in Transformer mythos and significance - they are both homages to scenes in Transformers: The Movie (1986) ("TFTM").

Here they are together.

- Battle damaged Convoy -

This chase figure is a straight repaint of ACT 1's regular Convoy figure. It can be seen that a lot of effort has been spent on the paint applications. Even the 2 windows on Convoy's chest has crack lines on them. And the portion where he got hit by Megatron's laser sword (and later laser-gun) is blackened.

Review - Dr Wu Vanguard upgrades for Classics / Henkei Seekers - Starscream,Thundercracker and Skywarp

I bought these together with a number of other things week before last. To be honest, I don't know what they are called and really cannot be concerned enough to find out.

So, I will just call them Dr Wu Vanguard upgrades.

What they actually are, is in fact more interesting than what they are called. From the photo below, it can clearly been seen that these upgrades were meant for Classics / Henkei seekers - it is meant to be their arm lasers. What also stands out is the nice illustrations on each individual card - obviously meant to be Starscream, Thundercracker and Skywarp.

The back of the packaging also has bespoke art.

The Binaltech Story continues... BT-17: Black Convoy is here!

Previous post - The Binaltech Story continues - The search (re)starts


As I mentioned in the previous post, Wonderfest exclusive BT-17: Black Convoy had arrived last Saturday.

Now, it's time to let his darkness, shine!

Before that, I'd just like to recognise where I bought it from - Entertainment Hobby Shop JUNGLE. I would like to thank them for their prompt and efficient service and very good packaging and communications. I received the item about 2 days after the time it was shipping out, which was awesome. Thank you JUNGLE staff!

So here he is, his dark majesty Black Convoy. Not Nemesis Prime, but Black Convoy. This is him in MISB status... erm, not sure if I can call it that. But its not MOSC either... so is it in a sealed box or a sealed card? I can't tell.

The front of the packaging. What I really like about this release, although it matched the Alternators type packaging, it the purity and simplicity of the base - white words on purple background. It just makes this packaging a lot of classy than the US released Alternators.

Pick of the day - Bleach anime - Ichimaru Gin (市丸 ギン)

Today's pick of the day - Sunday, what a fun day! 

Yup, it's not a Transformers post. There has been lots of Transformers excitement of late, and I was inspired by a comment by long-time reader of my blog KUMA-NIN, to actually post something on Bleach. 

Bleach (aka ブリーチ in Japanese, or 死神 in Hong Kong / Taiwan) is a long running Manga and Anime that I have been following since 2005 / 2006. It's a beautiful blend of the old and the new and at least for the first 65 episodes of the anime, was extremely refreshing as far as anime goes. Since I'm a collector, I of course have collected some Bleach paraphernalia over time.

 My Bleach display in my current place.

(top row: Hitsugaya Toushiro, Kuchiki Byakuya, Ichimaru Gin, Aizen Sousuke, Urahara Kisuke)

(bottom row: Kurosakai Ichigo, Grimmjow, Hitsugaya Toushiro, Matsumoto Rangiku, Hisagi Shuhei, Kira Izuru)

However, since Transformers are that all encompassing, I'd almost completely forgot that I also have lots of Bleach stuff and collect the series as well! (KUMA-NIN, should we 'blame' this on Maz too?).

The Binaltech Story continues... the search (re)starts

I blame Maz. Just so you know.

A couple of weeks ago, we started talking about Transformers: Binaltechs (or commonly known as "BTs"). Over instant messaging and other media. Maz was saying what an awesome line it was, and guess what, I agreed.

In truth, other than a handful of pieces, I myself have (always had) a nearly complete run of BTs, each bought from retail at the time of their release. 

So in a sense, the conversations with Maz pushed me closer and closer to the edge, where falling over means I would embark on (perhaps) completing my BT collection.

Then Maz released his articles on TF Source, one after another... "BINALTECH BT-01 TO BT-04", "BINALTECH BT-05 TO BT-08" and most recently "BINALTECH BT-09 TO BT-12". While the first article pushed me over the edge, the second and third one irreversibly knocked me right into the chasm of BT collecting once more.

So, just so you know, I blame Maz.