1977 Vintage The Amazing Spiderman Web Shooter

I used to have this when I was still a primary school kid. It was only sold for, if not mistaken RM1.90 only those days. Recently I got this from a antique stall in a flea market. Why I remembered this well - because it was a toy I wanted for a long time before I finally manage to get enough money to buy! And what makes it even more memorable was when I bought it, the toy couldn't shoot! Duh! A foreigner offered to buy this from me soon after I got it but I decided not to sell it....yet. On the card was printed '1977 Marvel Comics Group' and 'Made in Hong Kong'. Checked eBay - not available..must be rare...

DC Infinite Heroes Collection

Can you imagine Batman without Batarang? Wonder Woman without her magic lasso? Thats exactly what Mattel's DCU Infinite Heroes offer to collectors! Selling at RM39.90 for a measly 3" figure with no accessories! I didn't want to collect at first. What changed my mind? Well, first these figures are on sale. Second, these are the main DC Universe characters - Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman. I got Supes for only RM15!! There's two Batman figure, one is the classic blue grey variation which is supposedly rare according to a toy magazine and the other regular black version.

Transformers Star Wars Collection

My collector friend said this series is ugly. I agreed but only on the mech/robot mode. I find the vehicle mode quite nice, plus it comes with a mini figure that can fit inside each vehicles. Kinda remind me of Micro Machines Action Fleet Collection. So I decided to collect...until last year where I stopped when Hasbro stopped issuing the mini figures in their new wave. I don't understand why Hasbro is reducing the play value of these cool vehicles!! So here's my collection of Star Wars Transformers - all with the mini figures. Except for Anakin and Obi-Wan Jedi Starfighter, I do not collect other repaints, which they have quite a lot in this series.

This series started in 2005..almosts 5 years and I notice the X-wing already yellowed! Cheap plastics!

The only combiner set - Millenium Falcon (Han & Chewie) set. I got this from US, even after shipping, is still cheaper that the retail price here. Whats more the US version have 2 free Gold Titanium Vehicles - Tie Fighter & Falcon!

The last piece I collected in this series was the Darth Vader Death Star set. It's huge, has lights and sounds effect, comes with mini Vader and Stormtroopers plus mini Tie Fighters that can turn to mech mode!! Cool!

Beware of Vintage Transformers Knock Offs

Recently there were many G1 vintage Transformers 'mint-in-box' toys available. Beware when buying these. These are knock offs (KO) from China! I was a victim of this when I bought Optimus Prime, mint in box!! (U can see the pic in my earlier blog - My Optimus Collection). I didn't realize until a collector from US told me to check certain features to confirm if it's a genuine vintage Prime. Very easy to spot - behind the KO Prime box you will see the picture of Ravage being chopped off! The original have the full Ravage. And the 'R' registered trademark is way above the 'Transformers' title. Check out the web for more tell tale signs and also some history of these knock offs, including who's the manufacturer!!
They didn't stop with just Optimus KO - there's also Black Optimus KO, Clear Optimus KO, Constructicons KO etc...Transformers fans beware..

My House Was Burglarized!

I received a call last Monday from the police - saying that my house was burglarized. My neighbor contacted the police after seeing my house's gate and doors damaged. I was in Sibu Island Johor on an assignment. Imagine how I felt....my toys!!!
The bad news is I lost my stickers collection (which I had since I was a kid, you can see this collection in my earlier blog), my badges collection and my vintage coins and notes collection!
The toys, thank God, are still there!
Now I'll split my collection and keep it in a few places..
Also makes me wonder..should I still continue this hobby...which takes up so much space..and risk being stolen...duuuuhhhh...

My Optimus Prime Collection

Transformers toys were not really in my collecting radar until the Optimus Prime re-issue in the late 90's. That was when I started to collect mostly Prime and Megatron..until today which I have over 100 Transformers toys..(up till now and still counting...). Here's are the many phases / faces of Optimus Prime - part of my collection

Optimus Prime Book Re-issue - the figure that mark the start of Prime collection
Vintage Optimus Prime Junior - rare from Japan

Vintage Optimus Prime Knock Off (KO) (missing instruction duh! but decals unapplied). The significant difference compared to the re-issue Prime US version are longer smokestack, the red transparent decoder, accessories like tyres, missiles and fist comes attached to tree frame, on the trailer embossed some Japanese words and '1980, 1982 Takara Made in Japan'. I was surprised to see bootleggers going the extend of recreating a high quality almost identical Prime with styrofoam and paperwork etc. I thought this was original until a collector from US alerted me (but was too late as I've already bought.) The tell-tale sign of KO Prime - at the back Ravages pic is chop off!

World Smallest Transformers (WST) Prime and Megatron VSX set. This was a free gift when you buy a Hobby magazine. There were no instructions, the instructions were printed on the magazine it came with. I bought this for RM40, now the price increased to RM100++. THS style Optimus Prime or Convoy as it's known in Japan - small scale Prime with fantastic details,

articulation and loads of accessories!

Star Convoy Re-issue - comes with mini Rodimus and Pepsi Convoy Re-issue.

Masterpiece Optimus Prime (1st issue) - got for quite expensive. Shortly after I got this, then came it's re-issue! Duh! The Takara version is different from the Hasbro version as it has a longer smoke stack! Masterpiece Optimus Prime with trailer - got it as a gift. Yaay!

Ultra Magnus and Optimus Prime (fire truck) twin pack. Both can combine. Cool!

Optimus Prime & Megatron twin pack with DVD.

Hasbro Alternators Prime. Takara KISS Convoy which is the same as the alternators Prime except it comes with a girl figure and extra weapon - a transforming surf board.

Optimus Prime Animated & Titanium Optimus Prime - a diecast transformable Prime.

Beast War Optimus Primal (Bat) and Megatron (Croc) set. Comes with mini comic. I got it cheap those days but the bubble had detached due to age. One of my favorites!

Beast War Optimus Primal - got this for only RM15 during warehouse sale back in the late 90s.

There were no ..err not so many scalpels back then.

Air Attack Optimus Primal, the one I have had a crappy box and damaged pvc window. Huge Primal with electronics lights and sounds from Beast Machines. Blast Punch Primal also from Beast Machines series.

Optimus Primal - Transmetal, mine comes with Megatron Transmetal with free video from Japan. 10th Anniversary Optimus Primal, comes with mini ship.

Big Convoy from Transformers Neo, I got this from Hong Kong many years ago. Leo Convoy also from Japanese cartoon Transformers series.

Mickey Optimus with Mickey figure, Mr Potato Optimash Prime comes with mini Prime and Choro-Q Optimus with blaster and pull back action.

G2 Laser Optimus Prime re-issue. Back in the early 90s, I saw this selling for only RM60! Unfortunatley I was still into model kits back then, so I didn't get it. Duh! Gen 2 Hero Optimus Prime which I got from Singapore last year.

God Ginrai Re-issue, there's actually another robot beside Prime in this set. The small figure can transform into an engine and fit to Optimus to activate some cool transformations. Cool features! Encore Optimus Prime is a re-issue of the 1st Prime. It comes with silver Roller.

Galaxy Force Optimus, quite a good CGI Transformers series, can transform into super mode! Energon Optimus - a trailer with 4 vehicles inside. The vehicles combine with the truck to form Megazo-er no..Optimus Prime!Armada Optimus features auto-change gimmick.

Alternity Optimus - smaller, detailed diecast Prime. Just like Alternators, only smaller. But price is higher, not smaller. TFU Optimus Prime, TFU Nemesis Prime (SDCC Exclusive) - this was a peg warmer here, I got this at a 50% discount. Optimus vs Megatron Animated twin pack features a battle damage Prime. Well I have more...Prime from the movies, spychanger, legend class etc..but I am too lazy to get the pics. Thats all for now, maybe next time I'll list the remaining Prime...

ToyBiz Batwing the 3rd!

This is the 3rd time I bought the Toybiz Batman Movie Batwing. I sold off the last two. Some history here...

The first one I bought was from an internet store in the US in the mid 90s, it came but missing the decals. When I conplained, they said they claim the toy to be MIB (mint in box) and not MISB (mint in sealed box). So I was suckered...duh. I am a completist, I don't mind the toy used as long as it's complete. So I sold off the Batwing. Next I bought one in eBay in 2008. They also said is mint in box complete. When it arrived, it's missing one missile! Not again! You can see pics of this Batwing in my earlier blog. I kept this for about over year. Not satisfied, I sold it. Finally..this one arrived yesterday. Yes this is mint in sealed box. Wooohooo! Of course it's not cheap. But satisfied.

And interesting variation - unlike the other two I owned previously, the back of this box is white with the Batwing illustration. Previously, the back is gold colored with a photo of the Batwing toy.