Recently i came across one and snatched it up for some non TF related projects. RIght when i was about to dive into the figure with a blade...

I paused.

Are these figures rare? Should i just make copies ( cast replicas) as opposed to cutting up the original? I dont have any particular attachment to the figure other than for this project but id hate to desecrate something rare.

Thanks in advance :-)

You dont see them on ebay by themselves, so I assume they generally arent worth much unless someone is searching for a particular one at a particular time.

when i do see them on eBay i tend to see them in pairs and they go for $5-$25 a set, depending on who is bidding. I consider them rare, since they are the first things to go missing, along with projectiles.

they are rare!!!!!

They are neither rare nor hard to find unless they are the first skinny leg/arm versions or the ones that were released with only the diaclone powerdashers. Now, /those/ are rare since you don't know if the HTF ones are inside unless you open the box. It's again back to supply and demand. I think most people like myself find them cool! It would be nice to have an army of the figures, therefore demand outnumbers supply. In most cases, one comes with every diaclone unless it has gone missing. I think there was an auction that ended a couple days ago on ebay for 5 figures @ $30. This is a very decent price and i was tempted by it and probably would have bid if it was not for the fact that I have my eye on something else which will be ending in a couple days....
Some color combinations, or figure types are easier to get a hold of more than others due to the fact that they were packaged in with more of the common toys or toys that just suck ie: guts blocker. I've had thoughts of buying any that I see on ebay just to pull the figures, and throw the rest of that $h!t out.
Thanks.                                                  -Himawari

They are in some ways like that gas can of Hound...its one of those finishing pieces to a toy that can make a huge difference. 

Cut it up? 

I considered chopping up some knockoff drivers to make Spike but didn't really want to do that. 

I'd think the remake plastic sets are easier to work with (than trying to carve diecast) and there's no sense of loss. 

I remember a couple times getting yelled at by fellow collectors about my Actionmaster customs, since I was carving up some pretty rare figs (like UK Sideswipe...never did paint the extra one I have, and those who have usually found remakes (I wish I knew from where))

There other small action figures out there that are about the same size and all (working with a couple my self for the GRB custom)

Now that I have done my best to talk you out of that...here's a reason to proceed. 

Inspiration is a rare thing for me, also time.  I want to do some work on things right now but I am beat after pretending to be a plumber all day and am watching Arena Football and going to bed. 

Thanks for the extra history on the rare drivers Himawari, I totally forgot where one got those.  (Unless I got my drivers mixed up, your talking that really rare version right?  not the skinny guys)  I of course have the robot in window boxed set and not the one your talking about...think I have a set of em loose also...

Can you direct me to those figures? Im a fan of that scale....something fierce.


Himawari, can you link me to a pic of these "skinny ones" that you speak of as i wouldnt know the fat ones from teh skinny lol.

Much thanks to all for replying :-)


P.S.

Also...do the little pilots actually fit in the seats of these robots? I only ask as i recall teh small vehicle that came with Prime and it didnt look big enough to seat those drivers despite them being small....