Beasts are BACKKKK...

Most retired toys collectors remain retired but kept themselves up to date on the latest releases or launches, not me though. So, imagine what I missed over the years when I woke up from my hiatus 5 years later.

I thought certain series or molds would have ended back then but no… TakaraTomy decided to spin its money wheel all over again and… walah…more new Big Convoy redecoes. Same mold but just different colors. Crap, for a completist, it becomes a must-do battle to collect all.

Now, there are 3 new redecoes that I have yet to own but do I really need to own them? It is no longer a question of want but rather a need. Do I need them just to complete my collection?

1. Encore Big Convoy (Matrix Buster version) (pic credit : tfwiki)

Check out my massive "Matrix Buster" cannon!

2. Encore Big Convoy (pics credit : Shopee, BBTS)

3. LG-EX Blue Convoy (pics credit : TFW2005, BBTS)

As I said, same mold, same articulation, same play value, only difference in colors (Matrix Buster version had no deco changes, only with new parts and a NAVI figurine). So, should I or should I not? That's the question now...

... and also whether I have spare space for both of them or not. It's rather crowded now, with the RID brothers in there.

Big Convoys : "no, thank you"

Micron Legend Clear Convoy, 5 years later...

Should I come out of my retirement or should I stay retired?

I have not bought any Transformers since 2015, yes, 5 years ago seems like only yesterday but in truth, it is a long time ago. Told myself to "rest" after years of shopping sprees that drained me financially... I was more interested in buying rather than selling; and as money doesn't grow on trees, it would reach a point where I had to take stock of my situation and make the tough decision. Besides, I was also running out of display space, can't be renting a warehouse right? haha...

No regrets, though. Happy with what I had collected all those years, completed certain series and molds, played and displayed some of them, while others stayed sealed in boxes.

I am compelled to post this (yes, my first post since 2015) as one of my favorite molds is set to be relaunched. Not by Hasbro or Takara Tomy but by Fans Hobby, 3rd party company I try to stay away, to me, they are not legit. I am sure many would disagree with my statement but to each his own.

Fans Hobby MB-15 Naval Commander

Armada Optimus Prime aka "Fish Head" Prime is getting a massive upgrade and boy, this relaunch is AWESOME!! I am still staying away, okay? (behind the scenes, take my money plea$$eeeeee....)

What better way to honor this than to revisit my collection... so I decided to pull this out and let it loose. It has been in solitude over a decade and it is time for him to join his Band of Brothers.

Remember this Micron Legend/Armada Crystal Clear Convoy?

It gives me great pleasure to unbox it...

Everything is in translucent plastic, even its Mini-con Surge (aka Over-Run) 

YESSSS.... I am free!

Now, I'm armed and ready to go...

Armada "Bendy" (deluxe-sized) Optimus Prime is finally, complete. This collection has always been complete but now, it is completely displayed :)

You complete us but it's getting really crowded... 

This mold was redecoed 8 times (I hope no more, otherwise my fingers are going to get itchy, need to complete this mold... the setback of being a completist!)

So, should I get the Fans Hobby Naval Commander to complete my Armada "Fish Head" collection?

Armada Optimus Prime collection

Likely NOT... to me, it is already completed and I am done.

GiG Diaclone Powered Convoy

Not quite the holy grail yet...but close enough, for now...

Behold...GiG Trasformers No. 50 Camion Convoy Portauto aka Diaclone Powered Convoy...

(source : TFsource)

Quick history lesson (source : TFwiki) : GiG was the Italian toy company which originally held the license from Takara to market and distribute Diaclone and MicroChange toys in Italy. When Hasbro introduced the Transformers brand, GiG rebranded its toys as Trasformers (so, yes, you have read it correctly and no, it's not a spelling error earlier...)

Whether it was GiG that exploited the Hasbro Transformers series or the other way around, please refer to TFwiki for the answers...

The original releases came with a blue cab initially and subsequently, 2 different red cabs (square stack connectors and later, circular ones) which laid the foundation and the birth of the G1 Ultra Magnus...

(source : internet)

...and now, for my piece - the rarer red cab Convoy which was only released by the Takara-licensed GiG, no such Japanese release or reissue unfortunately...

box pretty beaten up...

wear and tear at the edges...

"cute" Takara logo - something you don't see nowadays

hmm...wonder if "Transformers" and "Autobots" were inspired 

by "Trasformers" and "Autorobots" respectively?

Unboxing...

styrofoam not perfect...but still good

accessories...

A quick look at two "sort-of" rare accessories nowadays since both were removed from later releases and reissues (even the C-69 Powered Convoy reissue are without these) : Powered Buggy and the Diaclone driver...

one can hardly find these, sold separately on the secondary market...

if any, the driver alone could fetched at least USD30! 

Buggy is also transformable...

"Hi, I'm the red buggy..."

Diaclone driver, making himself useful...besides being the "Nascar" driver...

The red cab character before he would be popularly known as Optimus Prime...

different bumper sticker than the one on Battle Convoy...

1. square stack connectors indicating early red cab Convoy release...

2. vertical raised red line similar to Battle Convoy and subsequent pre-rub G1 OP releases...

"look, Ma...no hands"

affixed with blaster...did you realized that the blaster is different from all G1 OPs' blaster?

Now, for a quick look at the Powered Convoy trailer... yes, a modern day vehicle carrier.. haha ... and it's unlike those grey ones of G1 OPs.

It is important to note that the usually damaged tabs and ramps are all in good working condition and that alone is already pretty rare...

Takara 1980, 1984 Japan

Powered Convoy - roll out...

Weapons activated - different missiles attached...

standard GiG "safety" boopers missiles

grey missiles - similar with Japanese releases

yellow missiles?? not sure if these came with any Powered Convoy releases...

Is this piece worth owning? Well, it pre-dates Transformers (ie. pre-TF), 35 years in the making...making it probably the second best thing after Diaclone Battle Convoy...so, I don't think its value could be measured in monetary sense, it's more about owning a piece of history of nostalgic value...

Only setback of mine is its lack of paperworks (quite common but luckily, easily replicated) and Buggy box (alas, this is gonna be difficult to locate) and of course, the really beat-up box (they should have the "handle with care" message plastered over every toy box). Thankfully, they do not in any way affect the transformation of the toy.

On a positive note, the toy itself is in good condition, completely undamaged (especially at the "sensitive" areas mentioned earlier) which is already a rare thing.

*Please continue to bookmark this page*

...alternate modes coming up...either as an aircraft launch pad, repair bay or even a mobile base..woahh...a triple-changer...haha... Stay tune...