Sure, why not?!

Masterpiece Inferno and Grapple are on their way (not to me though!). There are rumours of Masterpiece Reflector, this got me thinking. Would I get Reflector? What characters am I collecting? I see Classics as being my representations of the characters from the comics, and Masterpiece of the G1 cartoon. That's my starting point. The first season of the cartoon is incredibly iconic, season 2 was more of the same (with, to be fair, far less notable characters). Season 3, I think never got shown in the UK (we got videos though). I want to get the characters from season 1 (including the 1985 characters such as Shockwave). I'd throw the Dinobots, Insecticons, Jetfire and Devastator in as well, and so, Reflector, sure, why not?

I also really like the licensed carbots - most of them are in season 1, but Tracks I particularly admire (I once saw a Corvette Stingray in a museum, beautiful car), and Skids because I've come to like the character. Of the other season 2 carbots they're all (both?) repaints. I'm also going to throw Runabout (who I had a kid) and Runamuck in as well because the Lotus Esprit and Pontiac Firebird Trans Am are also great looking cars to me. (Thanks James Bond and Knight Rider!)

I collect Grimlocks, Ravages, Razorclaws and Steeljaws. Grimlock and Ravage are both season 1, but I'd also get MP Blaster and the other cassettes along with the Predacons and Ratbat. So there you have it, season 1, plus the best looking (unique) carbots and my favourite characters. That's what Masterpiece is and should be about for me. Thinking about what other characters would make me stop and reconsider, well clearly Ultra Magnus, Hot Rod, Inferno, Grapple, Ramjet, Thrust and Dirge haven't. Astrotrain and Blitzwing would be fairly tough to resist, but as with almost every other character, the Classics versions are fine.

This gives me 60 characters to aim for. To be realistic, I think I can cross the (other) Dinobots, Insecticons and Predacons straight off that list as never going to happen, so that's 48 characters. I have Optimus Prime, Grimlock, Sideswipe, Prowl, Bluestreak, Wheeljack, Bumblebee, Tracks, Ironhide, Ratchet, Soundwave (plus cassettes) and Starscream. I'm going to include Generations Jetfire and Combiner Wars Devastator as Masterpiece, because they mostly fit scale wise and they're not likely to get actual Masterpiece figures. I'm going to exclude Skywarp and Thundercracker because I'm not so taken with the mold that I need it three times. I'm still waiting for a more toy accurate Shockwave, so he's still on the list. That leaves 21 characters I would buy if Takara decides to make them. (Jazz, Sunstreaker, Hound, Trailbreaker, Mirage, the Minibots, Megatron, Shockwave, Reflector, Blaster with cassettes, Skids, Runabout and Runamuck.) Jazz, Sunstreaker, Megatron, Shockwave and Blaster are top of my most wanted list!

Picked up Weirdwolf today, having found Mindwipe last week, so happy to have the original seven headmasters. They complete a bit of a milestone for me. My remaining Classics milestones are Super Ginrai, Trypticon, Overlord, Dinobots, Abominus and Scorponok. I suppose Broadside and getting a full set of Insecticons will also be a big deal, but because I've had unofficial versions of those characters it doesn't seem quite so significant - almost like I've already ticked them off once.

After that, throw me a Mega Bloks TMNT blimp with Donatello, 6" scale Tygra, Cheetara and Snarf and I am sorted! Maybe I'll start collecting stamps instead.

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I collect toys, mostly updated versions of the characters and vehicles I wanted as a kid.  Updated is an interesting idea, with Transformers, I bought Universe Springer - a green repaint of Cybertron Evac. Despite being a green helicopter it didn't feel like a Springer so I replaced it with the Fansproject Springer. That still didn't feel like Springer despite being a triple changing green helicopter. Generations Springer does feel like a Springer, more so than the G1 toy I would say.

I've had that feeling where a toy doesn't quite do it a few times, it used to be common with transformers where there were repaints that didn't quite work for me (particularly where the head wasn't remolded). I got it with the Lego TMNT toys - I wanted classic Turtles (which Mega Bloks finally delivered). I didn't get the new Thundercats for that reason and I think I'm getting it with the Thunderbirds (Are Go) pod vehicles. The actual Thunderbirds are fantastic despite their updates from the classic vehicles, but the mole and firefly I'm not sure about. I tried to convince myself that the customisation gimmick was fun, but really I think I just want the classic versions. I toyed with painting them, but will perhaps look into getting some older toys instead - Konami or Bandai.

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NYCC for me was all about the preview night for Titans Return, great to see some of wave 3 and beyond. I'm not sure about Broadside yet, the render shows he has a white head so I hope the actual figure has that. Getaway I wish was a bit more than a recolour of Chromedome, but I think I'll get him. Doublecross and Trigerhappy look great. I'm very optimistic about Overlord after seeing Black Shadow, so overall a good showing from Transformers, just a shame about everything else I'm interested in, 3.75" figures for example.

I re-watched (for the first time in over 10 years) the return of Optimus Prime and the Rebirth G1 cartoon episodes, mostly because so many of the characters are getting new toys, but a little because of the MTMTE comic, so strange seeing them have so little character! I followed it up with the original More than meets the eye (the very first 3 episodes of G1). Optimus, Bumblebee and Spike were the only characters that were in both, but it was quite interesting to see how they changed. I rather enjoyed it, it's funny how close Megatron was to actually getting back to Cybertron after episode 3.

I also watched Avengers (the movie) for the first time in a couple of years. Watching it again having seen Civil War, there is quite a lot of preluding, particularly with how Iron Man and Cap get on, but also a number of fights between the other Avengers before they come together.

I have also now finally bought Supersize Thunderbird 3, I've never waited so long to buy a toy available in shops. I waited because I knew it would still available and there were other things I wanted that wouldn't hang around, that might be some personal growth right there! The toy is an example of big is beautiful. Somewhat bizarrely (to me), it also turns into an upside drill (which I assume it does in the new TAG TV show) adding some extra play value. It also has a smoke feature which is actually steam, if I ever happen to have some distilled water to hand I might try it out. Anyway, according to Nigel Sadler's great little chart, it scales very nicely with my existing toys. (Granted the scale chart is the original vehicles, but I'm assuming the scale has to be reasonably similar for the new versions.) One day I'll make a paper mache Tracy Island for them! I still have the Blue Peter instructions somewhere......