BotCon 1998 – Headin’ Out West
Up until this point, BotCon had been held primarily on the east coast. When it was time for BotCon 1998, 3H Productions packed up and took the Transformers convention out west for its first of many trips to California. Not surprising, the convention continued to grow and raise the bar with its attendance, toys, and special guests. Their financial success though, remained stagnant….
Binaltech BT-13 to BT-16
Finish with a flourish
When Transformers collectors speak about Generation 1, the rose-tinted glasses come out and nostalgia colours perceptions. The technology employed at the time of manufacture is now appreciated for what it was in the grand scheme of things, and the figures that made up the line are enjoyed as venerable icons. When collectors now speak of Binaltech, they’re sometimes described as “ahead of …
Binaltech BT-09 to BT-12
Experimentation
Cowards play it safe. Think of a breakthrough artist whose first album showed glimmers of massive potential including an unforgettable debut hit that will be chanted in stadiums forever. The second album builds on that potential shown to establish the band as something special, but then comes the difficult third album where a crossroads is reached. Do you go for the same winning …
Binaltech BT-05 to BT-08
Enter the repaints
Binaltech, Alternators, reissues, Cybertron, Energon, Armada, Classics, Henkei, United, Generations, Movie, Animated, Prime, 3rd Party and Masterpiece, the scenery has been moving rapidly for Transformers collectors in the last decade. For completists the sheer weight of product must have been overwhelming, and for the dabblers not much easier. That’s to say nothing about the distraction of vintage collecting.
Often …
Collector Interview 12 – Brandon Yap
Very well presented
For this month’s dedicated Transformers collector interview, we wrap up the first year of features in style with one of the most impressive and well-known collections in the community, that of popular blogger Brandon “heroic_decepticon” Yap. I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have the honour of interviewing some of the hobby’s most respected luminaries in the last 12 …
3H Productions Takes Over – BotCon 1997
BotCon 1997 was the start of the 3H Productions reign over the official Transformers convention. 3H was a partnership that featured the return of BotCon founders, Jon and Karl Hartman, along with their partner Glen Hallit. Most fans are very familiar with 3H and can recall the conventions under their organization as well as the breakup that eventually occurred between the group, but we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Let’s …
Binaltech BT-01 to BT-04
Start of something beautiful
Licensed real-life vehicles, strong homages to Generation 1 Transformers, updated interpretations with much-improved posability and action figure technology, aimed at the collectors moreso than children, feverishly lapped up by fans during their pomp. No, this is not another article about the new Masterpiece Transformers toy line, I am talking about Takara’s Transformers Binaltech chapter, a series of toys that these …
What Now? (The New Masterpiece – Part 2)
Geneva Motor Show 1971?
What if Hasbro don’t release the Lamborghini Countach moulds as part of their Masterpiece Transformers line? What if Takara Tomy don’t do a second production run of either toy and instead move along to the other Autobot cars beyond Prowl, Streak and Smokescreen? Prices will continue to rise, that’s what. There’s not currently a whole lot of …
Here Come The Men In Black – BotCon 1996
Here come the Men In Black: the galaxy defenders … no, no, not those guys. We’re talking about a different MIB for this entry in TFsource’s Countdown to BotCon! BotCon 1996 featured new organizers, Men In Black productions, new toy exclusives from a different Transformers era, and a whole lot of mishaps that lead to the 1996 show being the only run convention under MIB Productions. …
Good Good Timing (The New Masterpiece – Part 1)
Photobomb!
My timing was not good. Just as the hysteria and popularity surrounding the Takara Tomy Masterpiece Transformers line was reaching record heights and the most popular items were selling out at all online stores, I finally cracked and decided to pursue a new Masterpiece collection. With the only options being the second-hand market or eBay, prices are escalating to the …
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