Somewhere, in a couple boxes, under tons of other boxes, all burried in a storage locker somewhere in NJ are Transformer junkers in need of parts, parts and more parts. The old school way to replace busted parts was to go to the flea markets, hope you find one, then swap (which still leaves one worse than before). 

 

Today, we have fans who can MAKE authentic plastic bits to replace missing or broken bits of all sorts.  The problem is, it cost quite a bit to get a new item made.

 

Some people are not happy with the idea in the first place, calling these knockoff parts.  But I figure if Takara can knock off classic Diaclone rare toys like the Red Tracks, Silver skids, and Powered Convoy (all of which took me YEARS and $$$ to get originals of, Magnus alone came from around the WORLD!  Box from Japan, Trailer and accessories from Italy, and Blue cab from a friend in Hawaii), if they can do that, then a few spare parts doesn't hurt. 

 

Ken at Transrepro did not think there would be any profit in say Decepticon wing sets, too big, too costly and not enough demand. 

 

At any rate...DEMAND!  I think is the key.  I have lots of parts I could donate, if the demand was high ehough to help out with the cost. 

 

What parts do YOU think they should try and remake?

 

My list:

 

1.  G1 Windshields, especially Prowl, Jazz, Overdrive, Sunstreaker.

2.  Missing fists...they already make lots so...

2b.  Diaclone rare HEADS.

3.  Accessories robots from cities, or parts of them.  Scamper arms

4.  Dune buggy robot from Powered Convoy (nice clear yellow one to go with shining)

5.  Little laser beak from Ultra PVC action figure megatron.

 

And anything on the list of top things in G1 that break.

second all those :D

 

laserbeak decoy

piranacon parts - fists stands etc, if there is a god someone will reproduce those

bumblejumper minibot k- i know ive said it before but it needs to be done too

jap bumblebee reissue head

yakface from star wars,

fort max little robot cog

trypticon and metroplex parts

gestalt parts and team inividual guns

i'll post more when i think of them

Now that you mention it, I could go for a whole line of repro decoys (not just Laserbeak).  Don't have to be rubber either, solid statues would be fine with me.  Lots of potential there maybe.

I might do fists for prime, but I think that's it for me.

He already does fists for prime, plus a whole bunch of other stuff for prime and many other figures, all of really great quality. I highly recommend Ken if you want to go the repro route and not get the originals (his prices are WAYYY better than original parts most of the time). I have bought about 6 or 8 things from him over the years and they are all really good and well worth the cost.

I'm pretty sure Ken will make casts of anything you want, so long as you are willing to pay for it...    I don't think the problem is lack of parts people want to donate, but rather a lack of people wanting to fund the projects because making the casts cost a fair sum, and so does the plastic to test and refine to make sure everything is looking good.  There are things I've spoken with Ken about reproducing, and right now I don't have the cash to sink into them....  He's gotta think about what is cost efficient to him-  he's just one guy who has to cover all his own overhead, and he does all the work himself (there's no factory lines as far as I know.)...  What I want done may not be high on anyone elses list of desirable parts, and he's gotta at least break even cost-wise, so if its some odd piece only I want, I have to pay for it all to be produced, otherwise its not good sense to make that piece.

 

 

Making huge lists of what Ken should reproduce isn't gonna help any.  I suggest if you're really interested to decide on a single piece, or set of pieces (like seeker wings), get a hold of ken and ask him an estimate for the molding cost and pouring and whatever else needs to be done to make one, then get people to chip in together or something to see the molds get made and will then put more money towards buying one of the finished product.  Saying you're interested in buying something, and actually putting up the money for it are two different things entirely.

 

And rare Diaclone heads?  If memory serves me correctly the only two type of heads that never made it to Transformers originally are Marlboro Wheeljack and The Silver Honda (Skids) and we have Crosscut now, and Ken does make a Marlboro Wheeljack head...

 

But a repro-powered convoy dune buggy would be cool.

 

pike

I'm pretty sure Ken will make casts of anything you want, so long as you are willing to pay for it...    I don't think the problem is lack of parts people want to donate, but rather a lack of people wanting to fund the projects because making the casts cost a fair sum, and so does the plastic to test and refine to make sure everything is looking good.  There are things I've spoken with Ken about reproducing, and right now I don't have the cash to sink into them....  He's gotta think about what is cost efficient to him-  he's just one guy who has to cover all his own overhead, and he does all the work himself (there's no factory lines as far as I know.)...  What I want done may not be high on anyone elses list of desirable parts, and he's gotta at least break even cost-wise, so if its some odd piece only I want, I have to pay for it all to be produced, otherwise its not good sense to make that piece.

 

 

Making huge lists of what Ken should reproduce isn't gonna help any.  I suggest if you're really interested to decide on a single piece, or set of pieces (like seeker wings), get a hold of ken and ask him an estimate for the molding cost and pouring and whatever else needs to be done to make one, then get people to chip in together or something to see the molds get made and will then put more money towards buying one of the finished product.  Saying you're interested in buying something, and actually putting up the money for it are two different things entirely.

 

And rare Diaclone heads?  If memory serves me correctly the only two type of heads that never made it to Transformers originally are Marlboro Wheeljack and The Silver Honda (Skids) and we have Crosscut now, and Ken does make a Marlboro Wheeljack head...

 

But a repro-powered convoy dune buggy would be cool.

 

pike

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

I really couldn't of said it better myself. Actually I know I couldn't have. Not the best with words like that.

 

Everything Hellopike said is 100% accurate. Thank you.

Well given what was already said by Hellopike and Ken himself (and also even going to the extent to siding back with the original intent of this post), I would really just like to see more repros of the Alternators heads (the WJ head looks FANTASTIC and as soon as I have extra cash, that's gonna set my WJ project! [check it out by clicking the link in my sig]).  Ken and I have already spoken about this and given to the people I have talked to on the boards, I think the demand is there anyways.  With those things (esp. the perceived demand), I would think repros of the Alt heads would be feasible.  I know I could sure use another Tracks head!  (hint hint, wink wink!)

OF COURSE THE ALT HEADS! I forgot all about those.  Yea could use a WJ head to work on Marlboor WJ project...