Main collection

Cyberverse season 2! Yep, definitely getting better. It’s amazing how strong the pull is to get toys of the characters I see on screen. I don’t need them to be the same style, just need those characters.

Quite a few toys will be doing double duty between my main and ‘Cyberverse’ collections. Not Arcee though since she wasn’t in the original toy line. She’s joined by Windblade and Slipstream, and now Acid Storm and Sky-Byte (making a comeback), Chromia, Lockdown and Clobber (Lugnut).

I vaguely remember watching the original RID cartoon when I was still at my collecting G1 VHS watching stage, but the only character I really remember was Sky-Byte ploughing through Tarmac with his dorsal fin showing. I picked him up initially from B&M when they had all the cheap 30th voyagers. I'm glad to get him back again, especially as he has such a good voice in Cyberverse.

She-Hulk finally came in so once I get the new modular armour Iron Man my 90’s cartoon lineup will be complete (I know She-Hulk’s costume is completely different but it’s a good look).

I’ve got my ‘main’ collection sorted in my head now. All the characters that appeared in the original cartoons and toy line, including Beast Wars and Japanese lines. (I include Return of Convoy despite that being Manga only.) If there’s a group that’s almost complete then I can get the missing figure e.g. Hubcap never appeared in the G1 cartoon whereas all the other minibots did. If a character is ‘original’ or a leader then I can get as many as it has modes. (Original means originated in Diaclone or Microchange, or in the first season of Beast Wars.) Finally, for Japanese exclusive characters, if the toy is a repaint of a Hasbro character then then I can get the Japanese and/or Hasbro characters (e.g. Nightbeat and Thunderwing).

So that means I need more coneheads!

I’m going to triple up on Astrotrain and Blitzwing. I’m going to double up on Punch-Counterpunch, because Punch, and Counterpunch. My spending has been fairly erratic over the last few months but is definitely a bit more stable now.

I’m really enjoying all of the WFC trilogy, Kingdom and Studio Series are great. Hope some new stuff is on its way soon.

Open season

So, main characters in Lego form, I got these guys:

As you might guess I’ve been watching a bit of Disney+, so I also felt inclined to get this figure:

I’ve got a movie Falcon, if I drill a hole in his back I could give him his wings.

Looking at new Lego sets got me thinking about the Spider-Verse film, I don’t think getting the figures in Lego form makes sense (as well as being crazy expensive), but 3.75” does, kinda the opposite of the discussion I had with myself about the Mandalorian. I had half the team already and found Legends Spider-Ham almost works (super large noggin aside) and there’s a SP//dr toy that is almost in scale. Just need a Spider-Gwen.

I also managed to get Netflix Cheetor. I’m not too worried about the missing leg paint, I just appreciate the darker blue.

After it occurred to me that we could get a Twincast repaint from the rumoured Generations Blaster I thought I’d better get Soundblaster. Some of the Siege figures were just great so happy to get this one again.

I opened Jackalman and mummy Mumm-Ra. Super 7 (well, Mattel) have done a great job. Really glad I decided to get the mutants as well, looking forward to completing the group. I prefer the dark red on Matty Mumm-Ra, but I want the skin colour to match the (Super 7) ever living version. For a brief moment I considered buying both and swapping the part, but that would be crazy so I won't do it. (Hi there Fortress......)

Legends MODOK also turned up, he's a very modest improvement of the ToyBiz figure for me, a slightly cleaner aesthetic. I also like the more neutral expression.

So that's it for a little while, I've not got anything to open, I'm not expecting anything anytime soon. I’ve put in a good amount of preorders for the various reveals. The new Rescue looks great but really paying a premium for a few extra bits for a figure I already have. Similarly the new Mark 85. I’m still getting them mind.

I’ve decided to pass on the new Lego Bugle set - I don’t need any of the mini figures and although I like the idea of collecting Marvel buildings in Lego, the Bugle just isn’t very, exciting. I like the idea of having the various heroes bases. It’s not like the Ghostbusters Firehouse which I wanted as a kid. Also that’s, £275 saved!

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Been thinking about the possibility of getting a new Blitzwing figure and ..... got this. I really like the idea of Astrotrain, Blitzwing and Octane being consistent but if they did a new improved Blitzwing then I think I'd need (several of) it. Getting Astrotrain then made me think about all of the other WFC figures I've passed over. I ended up getting Warpath and finally, Omega Supreme. I tried, I really did but I have a need to get the best version of each character and so it was inevitable. As I expected he's great but I'm a little sad to be replacing the YOTS version. I'm not replacing Jetfire or the coneheads though - I prefer them at the smaller scale. I'm also not replacing Arcee - I prefer the IDW 30th version.

I then started thinking that if we got some Omnibots they could go on my Diaclone shelf, but if I have a Diaclone shelf then I also need these guys. So I’m really really caught up on WFC now.

A spate of new leaks also got me further thinking, with a new Blaster and Perceptor, combined with the rest of the Dinobots, I'm very close to having new versions of everything I wanted replacing. The only characters I really really want left are Star Saber, Deszaras and Thunderclash, but then seeing a photo of Masterpiece Star Saber with Legends God Ginrai and Fortress Maximus inspired me. Oh dear.

Somehow I ended up getting this as well (pupils!).

I've watched the first series of Cyberverse, it's not great but I understand it gets a lot better in later series. I did find myself wanting a Windblade and a Slipstream so this happened. Could be an expensive thing to be watching!

It has caused me to rethink my collection a little bit (again). My main collection is now all the characters simultaneously in both the original toyline and the cartoon, US and Japanese, G1 and Beast Wars. Arcee is now heading for the Cyberverse shelf, it all makes sense. Unicron is a bit of an exception but since he had prototypes for G1 and Beast Wars he can stay.

I will now have an auxiliary collection which is main characters who appear in Cyberverse, some will be in both collections but it gives me a reason to include a few of the 'modern' G1 characters and dig out a few old toys.

I also picked up one of the new Lego sets.

I’ve gone over all of the figures released in WFC, I don’t think there’s anything I’ve passed over that I might change my mind on. I hope not!

Reflection

It’s been over a year since the bad thing happened. Time for a bit of reflection perhaps.

I simplified my collection so that G1 was no longer separate. I sold off lots of G1 figures except where the G1 figure is no the best (or only) version of that character. I bought Titan’s Return Fortress Maximus to do a cheeky bit of parts swapping to make my perfect version. I didn’t buy Black Shadow before because I assumed they do a Thunderwing version, so picked him up. I got Legends Greatshot as I never had one before and there was no reason not to (bit of a Victory theme going on). I got Quickswitch as well to complete a trio (should be a foursome).

I realise that this is now the third iteration of my collection - G1 being the first, Classics, Universe and Generations (and third party) the second. And the Prime Wars and WFC trilogies the third. I don’t think I want there to be a fourth.

I picked up Super Megatron and Cloud Rodimus for my Lost Light shelf. I decided to start collecting the Diaclone repaints of the various original car bots. So in terms of new characters, it wasn’t too crazy but the biggest decision of all was to start collecting doubles of season 1 and 2 of G1 and Beast Wars plus leaders. I hope to be able to display them as they used to look in the catalogues. I got black Ironhide - Deseeus Army drone (I’m going to call him ‘Armorhide’.)

Finally, last but not least, I replaced almost all of my ‘84 - ‘86 Generations figures. That was amazing, the new figures are amazing. But, I think the replacement would have happened anyway. New replacements include Ultra Magnus and Hot Rod.

I decided what my Masterpiece collection should be, Optimus Prime, Megatron and Bumblebee. As G1 toy accurate as possible. I spent more on Megatron than any other figure ever.

I gave my Grimlock and Ravage shelf a bit of attention as well, a rare third party figure in the shape of a cassette - Mastermind Creation's Ravage. And I bought Studio Series Grimlocks, one from Age of Extinction and two from the '86 movie. 

Marvel Legends has been fairly consistent for me, I bought the Strong Guy wave in one go which was a first. I decided to build collections of the (cartoon) Masters of Evil and the Sinister 6. I decided to build a Lego Iron Man armoury, quite possibly the best desk toy ever. I now want to have a (Lego/Mega Bloks) New York theme for my desk with Turtles, Ghostbusters and Marvel. Wouldn’t it be amazing to have Avengers Tower, the Baxter Building and X-Men mansion in Lego form. Wait a minute.....

I embraced 6” Star Wars and assembled a Clone Wars lineup (not that one). I bought the main prequel and sequel characters in Lego form. I decided to get my favourite vehicles in some form (Lego or 3.75”  depending on availability), Jedi Interceptors and the Tigershark deco Republic Gunship. I'm on the look out for an AT-TE. Black Series Mace Windu, General Grievous and Asajj Ventress finally turned up.

Super 7 are going well, but slowly with the Turtles and Thundercats licenses. I decided to also collect Mumm-Ra and the mutants as I had several as a child. And in one of most expensive per gram purchases, I got a Mega Bloks Splinter (it did come with a Technodrome though). I also bought Zordon, pretty rubbish but fun.

So my collection has gone through several further iterations, Transformers is looking even more amazing now - I didn't realise I was compromising before. A few lines I'm done with or very almost done with and I've realised that my building block toys will be my permanent desk toys, that is where attention is now.

Putting this all together: I collect the ‘main’ characters in mini form (Lego, etc), ‘favourite/main’ as 6” figures and then I’m a bit more completist in 3.75”. Transformers even follows this - WST as minis, Masterpiece are equivalent to 6” and Generations are like 3.75”. Of course, the next question is, what constitutes a main character?

Lego Rabbit Hole

All of my preorders seem to come in at the same point. I’m now caught up on Wave 2 of Kingdom and Studio Series ‘86. (They’re all on their way.) I’ve decided to join premium Pulse, just need to buy a few things to get my money back. Looking forward to the next batch of reveals.

Glad to hear MP Raiden is still happening, and at Unite Warriors scale. I think I might need two sets.....

They are doing some Beast Wars reissues which might be Transmetals. Which got me thinking, I’d quite like Depthcharge and Rampage figures. Assuming they sorted out the chrome that is. If they did though I’d need Silverbolt and Quickstrike figures......

Randomly I bought some new Yoshis to replace my custom versions. These even have some minor articulation in the head and arms.

SS86 Scourge is pretty special, as are almost all of the figures I’m getting at the moment. I’ve doubled up on Grimlock and Dinobot. Bring on more Dinobots, and a Grimlock redeco of Dinobot.

Have built another Armoury for my desk, you can never have too many! Feels like there’s a race between Lego and Marvel Legends to get all of the armours out first (I think Lego might just win).

I bought this guy for my Wreckers shelf, might try and make him a bit more Generations-esque. I like him though.

Am impressed with the new deluxes, Airazor and Huffer. Probably need a new Brawn now to work with new Minibots scale. Apparently there’s going to be a Terrorsaur remold of Airazor. Really hope they make him as tall as Primal.

Am loving the new MCU TV series, WandaVision and Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Great stuff!

Enjoyed PulseCon, especially the new modular Iron Man. Got all of my preorders in, but they definitely missed a trick not showing off Slag. That would have taken it from alright to amazing. The amazing news came before in the shape of Black Zarak and after in the shape of leaked Slag photos. Fantastic! I like the idea of just having Metroplex, Trypticon, Fortress Maximus and Scorponok as Titans but Black Zarak is something special. Slag looks great, hope we get a toy version but can’t wait for more Dinobots.

I’m stuck down a Lego scaled rabbit hole. Help help........

Grimgrams

I’ve got a Super 7 Retro Grimlock, I only really got him on the off chance they do more Dinobots. The Ultimates figures are quite interesting, I was intrigued by Super 7 saying they are doing a Bludgeon. I’d welcome them doing Octopunch and Stranglehold as well. And all of the Pretenders from Masterforce actually. And of the classic Pretenders as well. Oh and maybe a Marvel style Fangry. With a list that long it could take years, will make the cost a bit more palatable though.

A Pop! Grimlock exclusive popped up for sale from Game so grabbed it. This got me thinking about my Grimlock collection and decided I also needed this.

I saw rumours that the Mark III is going to get a release in Marvel Legends. Someone then speculated that they would also do the Mark II and so..... I went back and bought the 10th anniversary Mark I. It’s too small but nevermind. Came with a new Tony!

Getting Super Megatron for my IDW shelf made me think about it a little more. Pretty much of all the figures on that (hypothetical) shelf are doing double duty. But Drift and Nautica have nowhere else to go. Now I’ve got Siege Ultra Magnus, the Combiner Wars figure is at a loose end. Megatron is double duty with the leaders shelf (as Super Megatron since I’ve also got Netflix/Earthrise Megs), but I’ve got the second and third in command, plus the co-captain..... Then I bought Cloud Rodimus. And weirdly POTP Tailgate. 30th Tailgate can now be a permanent fixture on the IDW shelf (and if we get a new Gears and the likely Swerve repaint) then 30th Swerve can join them. It all makes sense. I also got a GDO Wheelie?!

So I’ve been doubling up on my collection, I don’t think I shared these pictures of Prowl, Ironhide and Soundwave. Inferno came in to complete the fire team. I’m looking forward to Tracks, then I just need the rumoured Earth mode Sideswipe, Mirage and Red Alert. And a new Skids. I might need a new Blitzwing as well.

I've had a little bit of a dilemma recently with upgrading figures, it's expensive and sometimes just a bit unnecessary. I'm glad I upgraded on Thanos though. I feel my Legends collecting has been very balanced recently, I've got a few preorders but I'm not going crazy.

Unlike this. I've been giving a bit of thought to my desk collection and decided these were needed. They're awesome, perfect for my level of MOTU appreciation. It would be quite cool if they took on Thundercats! I then realised I needed another Iron Man armoury. With all of the MCU armours. I've restricted myself to armours that Tony and his mates actually wear, but this is going to be a great thing to have on my desk (if there's room). Here’s team Iron Man.

Once I've bought everything on my want list my brain will search for things that are 'needed'. It reviews all of my collections to make sure nothing's missing, it would be nice if it would have a little rest though.... after my Star Wars collection. I think I might need some minifigures from the prequel and sequel trilogies.

Spin Master are doing a 3.75” scale DC line, the aesthetics are a little cartoony but they’ve done a Riddler so have grabbed him. Might need a bit of extra paint to tidy it up.

Time to slow down.....