I've never spent more than $10 on a knockoff and I don't intend to start now. In the end a KO isn't worth any more than the cheap plastic they're made of IMO.

 

Emerje

Yes. Even if these knock-offs are pretty good, I have no way of knowing that until I actually buy one. However, at the prices these knock-offs sell for, the risk is far too great.

Wheeljack? Wow...

 

I'm going to have to keep a close eye on this..

 

Now, tell me.. how can they create a KO from a mold that's supposively broken? - Senses shenangins

 

 

Some molds were reported to be too damaged to use while others were said to be lost. In reality, they weren't lost. The dumbasses at Hasbro decided to leave them in all in an old factory that they sold off and now the folks in China who bought it have them and are being kind enough to produce them for us.

 

Of course the prices are way too insane. I think online stores piled up on them expecting huge sales but they're not doing quite that well in spite of really being good quality. I think if they were sold in the $40-$45 range then they'd be flying like there's no tomorrow. And I think even that would still be on the pricey side.

Some molds were reported to be too damaged to use while others were said to be lost. In reality, they weren't lost. The dumbasses at Hasbro decided to leave them in all in an old factory that they sold off and now the folks in China who bought it have them and are being kind enough to produce them for us.

 

Can't really blame them though, it was a pretty common practice in the 80's with big toy companies like Hasbro and Mattel. After making hundreds or even thousands of different toys saving and storing those molds becomes expensive. It was a lot cheaper to either sell them, destroy them, or use them until they wore out. Really, nobody could have predicted that 20 years later they were going to need those molds again.

 

And I wouldn't call these Chinese factories kind for trying to receive people by making near perfect reproductions in an attempt to cash in on the after market. They aren't doing it to be kind, not by a long shot, they're doing it to make a buck.

 

Emerje

Wheeljack is a smart move. Plenty of people have been clamoring for him, and it looks like their wish has been fulfilled. Nice move!

Some molds were reported to be too damaged to use while others were said to be lost. In reality, they weren't lost. The dumbasses at Hasbro decided to leave them in all in an old factory that they sold off and now the folks in China who bought it have them and are being kind enough to produce them for us.

 

Can't really blame them though, it was a pretty common practice in the 80's with big toy companies like Hasbro and Mattel. After making hundreds or even thousands of different toys saving and storing those molds becomes expensive. It was a lot cheaper to either sell them, destroy them, or use them until they wore out. Really, nobody could have predicted that 20 years later they were going to need those molds again.

 

And I wouldn't call these Chinese factories kind for trying to receive people by making near perfect reproductions in an attempt to cash in on the after market. They aren't doing it to be kind, not by a long shot, they're doing it to make a buck.

 

Emerje

 

 

Look at it this way, they could have scrapped those molds long ago and it would be most likely that nobody would ever see these figures again in any way.

 

I can't help but think the prices are going to have come down a bit eventually. I think the company making them saw the market and envisioned people willing to sell organs to get these figures and it's not quite working out that way. Though some, like the cassettes have sold well, the others I'm not so sure about.

 

Maybe they have been selling off the wall, I don't know. I can only comment by what I witness, and I haven't seen too many places selling out of these nearly as fast as they would have if they were official releases.

 

Anyway if they come down in price by an acceptable amount I'll be all for them, otherwise I won't lose any sleep over not having them. I haven't bought a whole lot of g1 over the past several years anyway and sold off a fairly large part of what I did have and I haven't felt any urgent need to go back and get them again.

 

I'm pretty happy keeping up with the new stuff. Getting an old fig for nostalgic purposes every so often is cool, but by no means a priority.

I have so much to say about this. Questions, also.

 

First off, I just got the first knock-off that I was 100% satisfied with and could replace my G1 figure with and not look back: Mirage.

This is an amazing knock-off. I don't know if there's only one maker, but this one was as good as a Mint original (which are the only figures I'm interested in---Mint figures). If these bootleggers are going to make more, I'm buying them.

 

I'm actually angry about Takara and Hasbro walking away from reissues. Not another Prime, Starscream or Sideswipe reissues, but ones that were only seen once: Trailbreaker, Ironhide, Ratchet, Ramjet, and Thrust. Also, the figures that are being bootlegged currently.

 

Cassette knock-offs: Very good, but a case of trying too hard. The springs work TOO well, and the metal pieces aren't anodized--they look TOO new. I liked the ones that were done a few years ago with painted details instead of stickers. If you're a bootlegger and you can improve on the original, kudos.

Bumblebee knock-offs: Pretty sad when Fun 4 All makes your product look shoddy.

Swoop: Nice try, but needs some tweaking and QA. It helps to remember factory stickers, too.

Beachcomber: VERY good.

 

So, the Devastator and Wheeljack knock-offs COULD be the best news for me in a while, it depends on who's doing them.

 

Secondly, I call BS on Takara and Hasbro. They've said that you can't do reverse molds, or the molds/plates are lost. Yeah? Well, however these bootleggers are doing this, YOU should be doing this. You don't want collectors' money, I'm buying from bootleggers.

 

Lastly, I have some questions that I hope some of you will help with:

 

Did original, new G1 Ratbats have loose feet and wing-claws?

Anybody know where to get springs to "un-neuter" G1 launchers? Which style/size, etc.?

Those Optimus Prime bootlegs....any good?

Anyone get the Cliffjumper bootleg yet?

What about that Ironhide bootleg?

 

Any help on these are appreciated.

Well, if these were for sale at like, $20 at BigLots, I'd buy them.

hi guys,

I have already gotten mine and is very please with the figure.

I did a review at tfw2005 G1 Mirage KO/Bootleg Review

 

I m presently looking for anyone with an opened G1 vintage thats in decent shape to do a comparison with.

My Mirage is in like.... 30 peices...

 

but... these aren't KOs.

 

My only complaint is that if Hasbro says to a Chinese company that they can reissue Wheeljack, why they don't do it themselves, or let Tomy do it for that matter.