Transformers questions by newbies, and not-so-newbies

[spiderken17]

Im mainly after some 3rd party stuff i didnt buy years ago. Nothing hard to find, its in stock in lots of places im more concerned about whether i actually get my order. I dont feel like going through another Premium collectables saga.

[jaydisc]

It's not really my area of expertise, but I think ShowZ and TFSafari are probably the biggest/cheapest for that kind of stuff. I had a customer service issue with ShowZ once, so I don't use them. I've placed 3-5 orders with TFSafari without issue, but there was an incident a year or so ago where they allegedly stole someone else's 3D designs and sold them. I've had many orders with Oh My Primus, but they're not big on maintaining stock imo… more of a pre-order kind of place. They've also started to get more expensive over the years… not as bad as RK, but on that trajectory.

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

I was just thinking about it, and...is there a Scale chart for Transformers spaceships? I know there are a few for most of the actual characters/series, but I've never seen one for the ships.

[GoktimusPrime]

What are the most expensive Transformers toys ever released?

Criteria:
+ must be official toys from Hasbro or Takara(TOMY)
+ not including licensed third party toys like Robosen Optimus Prime etc.
+ comparing RRPs, not sales or aftermarket prices

Here is my list, but it may not be accurate so by all means please correct me if there are any inaccuracies!

• UNICRON, HasLab = $848 (EB Games price)

• CONVOY, MP-44 = 55000JPY (approx. $600)

• MEGATRON [Beast Wars], MP-43 = 38500JPY; SKYFIRE, MP-57 = 38500JPY (approx. $420)

• VICTORY SABER, HasLab = $369 (EB Games price); DESZARAS, HasLab = $368 (Zing price)

• DEVASTATOR, Studio Series boxset = $340 (Amazon price); DINOBOT, MP-41 = 30,800JPY; MP-52X Seekers = 30,800JPY (approx. $335)

[DELTAprime]

Aren't there some rather expensive MP-10 repaints like the Eva and Bape ones?

[Tha_Phantom]

Aren't there some rather expensive MP-10 repaints like the Eva and Bape ones?

Were they super expensive at retail though? I know they go for ridiculous prices now.

[griffin]

Some of the more expensive items in Japan as they compare to the three Haslab toys (prices mostly from the TTM site so that we have a more uniform comparison than going by AU prices (that are never reliably converted) or US prices, because almost all expensive Hasbro toys were released in Japan)...
- (Gen1) Unicron (new - same as Hasbro version) w/ Autobot Shuttle, Galvatron, Hotrod - MARCH 27th 2021 (77,000yen)
- Transformers Victory Saber (Hasbro Crowd Funding Project) (Star Saber, Victory Leo, Holi, Fire) - End 2022 (26,950yen)
- Generations Deathsaurus (Hasbro Crowd Funding Project) - End 2023 (29,700yen)

(ones in BOLD were more expensive than Victory Saber, at retail in Japan)

2023
- MP-57 - Skyfire (new) (TakaraTomyMall exclusive) - Late JAN (38,500yen)
- MPM-10R - Starscream Revenge Vers. (late February 2023 - 24,200yen)


2022
- MPM-13 - Decepticon Blackout & Scorponok (new) - Late DEC (26,400yen)
- KD EX-09 - Autobot Ark (TITAN - same as Hasbro version?) (TakaraTomyMall exclusive) - Late March (was December) (30,800yen)
- TL-14 - Metroplex (TITAN - same as Hasbro version?) - Late DEC (33,000yen)
- Black Zarak (TITAN - redeco/remould Scorponok) (TakaraTomyMall exclusive) - Late March (30,800yen)


2021
- MP-52 - Starscream v2 (new mould) - Late JUNE (30,800yen)
- MP-52+ - Thundercracker v2 (redeco MP-52 Starscream) (TakaraTomyMall exclusive) - Late SEPT (27,500yen)
- MP52+SW - Skywarp Vers 2 (redeco Starscream) (TakaraTomyMall exclusive) - Late DEC (27,500yen)
- Volcanicus (minor redeco & minor remould - Grimlock, Sludge, Snarl, Slug/Slag, Swoop) (TakaraTomyMall exclusive) - Late FEB 2021 (22,000yen)
- Abominus (minor redeco & minor remould - Hungrrr, Sinnertwin, Blot, Cutthroat, Rippersnapper) (TakaraTomyMall exclusive) - APR 17th (22,000yen)


2020
- MP-10DC - Convoy Duck Camo vers - (camo redeco) - MARCH 26th - (19,000yen)
- MP-49 - Black Convoy (black redeco MP-44 Optimus Ver 3 - cab only) - JULY 25th (23,000yen)
- MP-50 - Tigatron (new) - SEPT 26th (26,400yen)
- MPM-10 - (Movie) Starscream (same as Hasbro version?) - LATE OCT (22,000yen)
- Seacons God Neptune (TakaraTomyMall Excl) - Late OCT (22,000yen)
- ER-10 - Scorponok (Titan - same as Hasbro version?) - NOV 30th (27,500yen)
(Studio Series Devastator not released as a boxset in Japan - it was same price as Legacy Metroplex in Australia ($340), so could have been about 33,000yen if TT had released it)


2019
- MP-10ASL - Convoy Atmos Safari Lebron version (yellow/orange redeco Cab only - Atmos exclusive) - MARCH 3rd - (22,000yen)
- MP-43 - Beast Wars Megatron - MARCH 30th (was JAN 26th) - (37,000yen)
- MP-44 - Convoy Ver 3 (new - cab & trailer) - AUG 31st - (50,000yen)
- SG-39 - Omega Supreme (Titan - same as Hasbro version?) - DEC 26th (25,000yen)
- UW-04 - Devastator (Unite Warriors reissue - TakaraTomyMall exclusive) - Late JAN (27,000)
(one expensive non-TakaraTomy item this year is the 2019 MP-10 Ghostbusters Optimus which was us$150, which is the US Titan price point, so about 25,000yen)


2018
- MP-711 - Optimus Prime (white/green redeco - 7-11 Japan exclusive) - (27,000yen)
- MP-41 - Dinobot (Beast Wars) (new) - (25,000yen)
- MP-36+ - Megatron (Toy Edition) (minor redeco - TakaraTomyMall exclusive) - (26,000yen)
- LG-EX - Grand Maximus (redeco Fortress Maximus) (TakaraTomyMall excl & Asia) - (27,000yen)
- PP-31 - Predaking (Titan - 5 Predacons (Razorclaw, Rampage, Divebomb, Headstrong, Torox) - same as Hasbro version) - (25,000yen)
- Car Robots - God Fire Convoy (reissue - minor redeco) - (27,000yen)
- TakaraTomyMall - LG-EX - Metroplex w/ Scamper (reissue) - (27,000yen)


2017
- LG-43 - Dinosaurer (Titans Return Trypticon - same as Hasbro version) (23,000yen)
- MP-10 - Convoy (reissue) (23,760yen)
(it is worth noting that combiner sets were under 17,000yen before 2018, which is why only the re-released ones were listed above, as the prices went way up)


2016
- LG-31 - Fortress Maximus (Titans Return Titan w/ sword) (25,000yen)
(one expensive non-TakaraTomy item this year is the 2016 SDCC Fortress Maximus at us$180, which is double Legacy Motormaster (us$90 - 15,400yen), so would have been about 30,800yen)


2015
(one expensive non-TakaraTomy item this year is the 2015 SDCC Devastator at us$180, which is double Legacy Motormaster (us$90 - 15,400yen), making it about 30,800yen)


2014
(one expensive non-TakaraTomy item this year is the 2014 SDCC Knights of Unicron rockband at us$185, which is similar to 2015 Devastator, to be about 31,000yen)
(one expensive non-TakaraTomy item this year is the 2014 SDCC Dinobot set at us$160, which is double Kingdom Rodimus (us$80 - 14,300yen), making it about 29,000yen)


2013
TG23 - Metroplex w/ Scamper (20,000yen)
(one expensive non-TakaraTomy item this year is the 2014 SDCC Metroplex at us$150, which was the price of Titan Fort Max in 2016, which was 25,000yen)


2011
- - MP-10 Convoy (Optimus Prime) (Vers 2) (new - Auto) 23,000yen
(that might be the earliest official Transformers toy that was more than 20,000yen)


Just as one final note, I think it is worth mentioning that if you ignore the multi-packs because each toy is actually cheaper (which would also rule out Haslab Victory Saber), these are probably the most expensive *single figure* toys from Hasbro & TakaraTomy, from most expensive first...

1 - (Gen1) Unicron (new - same as Hasbro version) - (77,000yen)
2 - MP-44 - Convoy Ver 3 (new - cab & trailer) - (50,000yen)
3 - MP-57 - Skyfire (new) (TakaraTomyMall exclusive) - (38,500yen)
4 - MP-43 - Beast Wars Megatron - (37,000yen)
5 - TL-14 - Metroplex (TITAN - same as Hasbro version?) - (33,000yen)
=6 - KD EX-09 - Autobot Ark (TITAN - same as Hasbro version?) (TakaraTomyMall exclusive) - (30,800yen) (*maybe not count as it is kinda 2 bots)
=6 - Black Zarak (TITAN - redeco/remould Scorponok) (TakaraTomyMall exclusive) - (30,800yen)
=6 - (2016 SDCC Fortress Maximus at us$180, which is double Legacy Motormaster (us$90 - 15,400yen), so would have been about 30,800yen)
=6 - MP-52 - Starscream v2 (new mould) - (30,800yen)
10 - Generations Deathsaurus (Hasbro Crowd Funding Project) - (29,700yen)


(yeah... this wasted a few hours today, as I really got into finding out the most expensive items released so far)

[High_Q]

I was just thinking about it, and...is there a Scale chart for Transformers spaceships? I know there are a few for most of the actual characters/series, but I've never seen one for the ships.

I don't think there has ever been an official scale chart with their spaceships. However, i've seen unofficial scale charts of fictional interstellar ships that span multiple properties and these charts sometimes include TF ships like the G1 Ark, Nemesis etc.

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

Some of the more expensive items in Japan as they compare to the three Haslab toys (prices mostly from the TTM site so that we have a more uniform comparison than going by AU prices (that are never reliably converted) or US prices, because almost all expensive Hasbro toys were released in Japan)...


(yeah... this wasted a few hours today, as I really got into finding out the most expensive items released so far)

I disagree on the time wasting aspect. As I found it educational ( and a tad depresssing) noting that I have two of the bolded items form that list, and I feel only one of them was worth the price.
Beast Wars MP Megs I think was worth it (and since he wasn't TTmall, I paid less than TT's rrp)
Titan Ark (TTmall exclusive - No chance of discount - and the weakest of the Titan figures)

Oddly I'm not going for Deathsuarus, who is cheaper than the ark, but I would definitely think I'd like it more than the Ark.

[Thurmus]

I am after the Studio Series Slug but have hardly seen it anywhere. Do people think it is in the warehouses and they have been putting older stock out and he will appear after Christmas or have I missed the boat?