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September 30, 2009

Thrust (09-30-09)

Filed under: 07 beast machines, TF365 — Tags: — fairplaythings @ 12:30 am

Transformer of the Day for September 30, 2009

THRUST

-Faction: Vehicon
-Era: Beast Machines (1999-2000)
-Function: Vehicon General
-Motto: “”There are No Rules on the Road - Only the Victors and Scrap Metal”
-Notable Toy: Beast Wars Returns (Takara, 2007)

Notes: While we know now that the first three Vehicon Generals were, in fact, fallen Beast Wars comrades, it’s still surprising how efficient the transformation into Thrust made poor old Waspinator. He might not have been able to carry the fight, but he stayed true to Megatron’s command and certainly gave it his all. You almost think Megatron would have been better resurrecting Scorponok and Terrorsaur for his generals instead of Maximals.

(Apologies and thanks to bbts.com and shmax.com for the toy pics.)

September 29, 2009

Corrected!

Filed under: Uncategorized — fairplaythings @ 5:47 pm

The home computer has been buggy this week, hence the incomplete listings for Flash and Scorponok. My apologies. I hope I can get things on track for the rest of the week.

Flash (09-29-09)

Filed under: 02 generation one plus, TF365 — Tags: — fairplaythings @ 12:29 am

Transformer of the Day for September 29, 2009

FLASH

-Faction: Autobot (Turbomaster)
-Era: Generation One Plus (1991-1992)
-Function: Decoy
-Motto:
Don’t Blink - I Was That Blur on the Horizon”
-Notable Toy: Basic (Hasbro, 1992)

Notes: Like his G.I.Joe, Flash is an example of the difficulties in modern copyrights. In the 1980s and early 1990s, depending on the market in question, it seems you could get away with a lot. Sadly these days copyright concerns mean that Flash, particularly one garbed in red and regardless of the current status of the speed force, will never be named as such again. Flashpoint is probably not available either. Maybe Flashzone is free…

(Apologies and thanks to bbts.com and shmax.com for the toy pics.)

September 28, 2009

Scorponok (09-28-09)

Filed under: 04 beast wars, TF365 — Tags: — fairplaythings @ 2:28 am

Transformer of the Day for September 28, 2009

SCORPONOK

-Faction: Predacon
-Era: Beast Wars (1996-1998)
-Function: Desert Attack Commander
-Motto: “All Hail Megatron”
-Notable Toy: Mega (Hasbro, 1996)

Notes: Where Dinobot lived for honour, Scorponok died for loyalty. Like Soundwave to the original Megatron, Scorponok did not question his leader’s orders or schemes, and was seemingly happy in his status as loyal lieutenant. It made him the only one out of the original Nemesis crew that would remain so true, which made it all the more ironic that he would meet his end without so much of a final salute.

Apologies and thanks to bbts.com and shmax.com for the toy pics.)

September 27, 2009

Ottawa Fall Garage Sale

Filed under: collecting — fairplaythings @ 3:27 am

Well, you know me. Sucker for a chance to hit a garage sale, particularly after the last one turned out to be so good. So when the Landsdown Park electronic sign listed it as an upcoming event, I was sure to add the Ottawa Flea Market to my list of must-see events for September.

Boy, was that a waste of time.

With the newly acquired car, I was certain that the day would be carefree. No worrying about where I’d pack my great finds, no time delays because of bike transit. Or so I though. Funny thing though - and this is an indication of how unfamiliar I am with the whole car thing - pedal power may wear you out but you can also bypass the bottlenecked traffic of the Glebe, in a way you cannot in a car. And then there is parking. It costs! Five bucks for the privilege! So the convenience of having space has saved me no time and cost me money.

Inside the main event, I went straight to the good table. And they did not disappoint me, with a special find that is going to end up under someone’s Christmas tree for sure. But they were the only real bright light at the show. Other than a white barbered MLP for a quarter and a set of Sigma Six figures (Duke and Destro for $10), my adventure came back pretty much empty handed. There were only little bits of toys here and there and most of them were only interesting because of the mislabeling. A 12″ Street Fighter Blanka? He’s $10 and listed as Snake-Eyes because someone has dressed him in the 1991 12″ Snake-Eyes clothes. Thirty year old Fisher-Price toys listed as “collectables” for $15 a pop. That sort of thing.

There were only two real points that stood out for me. The first was early on when I spotted a small 1984 Ravage toot bag. Yes, I passed on it even though it was only $5. Why? Well, I really couldn’t figure out what I would do with a Ravage toot bag, but I was also completely turned off that, when I asked, my question was met with “and I think this is the original…” as if there was a reissue.

The second was quite sad. Toward the end of the misadventure, I come upon two tables with nothing but GIJoe vehicle carcasses. Wonderful!, I think. Something to get excited about. Repaint city! That is until I get close enough to see the price tags:

  • HISS - $25;
  • Wolverine (no treads, missiles or cord) - $20;
  • Night Raven (no small jet, one rear wing, no missiles) - $60;
  • HQ main front gun - $15;
  • Skystriker (no rear wings, missiles cockpit) - $40…

And it went on like this. The fellow at the table tried to tell me that he and his son spent time putting parts together. But it’s hard to believe they had any idea what they were doing when they were charging these kind of prices for accessory-less husks. I picked up the Night Raven, for example, and noticed they hadn’t gotten the drop-down cockpit inserted corrected. Later, the proprietor would ask me if I knew what a certain green sled was, to which I responded that it sit itself in the middle of the H.A.V.O.C. vehicle, and the doors opened up to reveal the secret vehicle.

Until that point, one could get a H.A.V.O.C. with one door and no accessories for $20, but needed to spend another $15 for the sled. If I thought the guy who tried to get $20 out of me for a series of vehicle accessories was being too serious, I take it all back now.

All in all, a bit of a bust, particularly given that I would later snag six assorted MLPs (for customing, of course - I don’t really have a problem..) for $7 at Value Village by St. Laurent. But I have learned one thing though. Sometimes you just have to bring a camera. Somethings must be seen to truly be appreciated.

Crosswise (09-27-09)

Filed under: 10 arm-eng-cyb, TF365 — Tags: — fairplaythings @ 12:27 am

Transformer of the Day for September 27, 2009

CROSSWISE

-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Armada-Energon-Cybertron (2002-2006)
-Function: Bounty Hunter
-Motto: “Peace Enforcement is the Name of the Game”
-Notable Toy: Cybertron Two-Pack (Hasbro, 2005)

Notes: Crosswise is an interesting fellow, primarily because his mould was repurposed for so many homages. Shattered Glass Jazz and Ricochet, Smokescreen and Jolt, they all originate from Crosswise. Even his name isn’t original, having been repurposed from a Spychanger. But he’s a great mould, nevertheless, and there have been far worse figures that could have fallen victim to the repaint.

September 26, 2009

Mototron (09-26-09)

Filed under: 12 1-2-3 gobots, TF365 — Tags: — fairplaythings @ 12:26 am

Transformer of the Day for September 26, 2009

MOTOTRON

-Faction: Go-Bots
-Era: Playskool Gobots (2002-2005)
-Function: Bad Craziness
-Motto: “Move Aside or Be Moved”
-Notable Toy: European Go-Bot (Playskool, 2005)

Notes: Mototron is the closest thing that the Go-Bots have to a nemesis, which is highly amusing since his “villainy” seems to consist of mischief at the expense of the good Gobots. Stranger still, and unlike the other baddie of the line, Preditron, his original release bears the kiddie Autobot symbol on his release. But it’s the deluxe, rare version, released as a tailender in Europe, that is in the spotlight here. Must redouble my efforts to find and grab this one.

(Apologies and thanks to gobotsarepurelove.com for the toy pics.)

September 25, 2009

Deluge (09-25-09)

Filed under: 02 generation one plus, TF365 — Tags: — fairplaythings @ 12:25 am

Transformer of the Day for September 25, 2009

DELUGE

-Faction: Autobot (Aquaspeeder)
-Era: Generation Two (1993-1995)
-Function: Rear Guard
-Motto:
If We Don’t Finish the Job and Flatten Them - We Might as Well Not Be In The fight at All”
-Notable Toy: European Exclusive (Hasbro, 199?)

Notes: Deluge is simply the European release of Drench, done better. Why the powers-that-be at Hasbro Europe switched names is not known, but it does make for an interesting landscape for G2 Transformers. In a way, ShatteredVerse Sideswipe has two dads in Drench and Deluge. Strangely appropriate for some of us.

September 24, 2009

Deluge (09-24-09)

Filed under: 03 generation two, TF365 — Tags: — fairplaythings @ 12:24 am

Transformer of the Day for September 24, 2009

DELUGE

-Faction: Decepticon (Colour Changer)
-Era: Generation Two (1993-1995)
-Function: Scientific Advisor
-Motto: “Let Me Study the Battle Plans… I’ll Think up Something Really Unpleasant - and Then Make It Even Nastier”
-Notable Toy: Deluxe (Hasbro, 1993)

Notes: Deluge was one of four North American released colour changers. Like the Autobot Drench, his name was reused by his opposite faction, becoming the Auqaspeeder, Deluge, although there are no other simularities between the two characters. Another case of me versus my wicked self.

(Apologies and thanks to bbts.com and shmax.com for the toy pics.)

September 23, 2009

Sideswipe (09-23-09)

Filed under: 15 shattered verse, TF365 — Tags: — fairplaythings @ 12:23 am

Transformer of the Day for September 23, 2009

SIDESWIPE

-Faction: Autobot Decepticon
-Era: Shattered Verse (2008-Present)
-Function: Warrior
-Motto:
There is Only One Rule Now - Revenge
-Notable Toy: Botcon Exclusive (Hasbro, 2008)

Notes: No surprise really as to outcome of the repaint Drench wars. This Botcon exclusive Sideswipe was a means of releasing the fan-demanded Drench-coloured Armada Wheeljack, originally scheduled to be released as part of a 2004 Battle-in-a-Box offering. Although the opportunity to add his counterpart, Smokescreen to the mix was overlooked, Sideswipe is still a nicely-done addition to the Shattered Verse collection. Particularly using a figure that employs a sculpted crossed-out logo so prominently on its chest.

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