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Fan Interviews & Art, Transformatorium

Transformer Fan Interview – Dallas

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In this latest interview with Aussie TF collectors we are talking to Dallas, a great bloke I was privileged to meet at the Collectormania Toy Fair last year (he even bought me a beer!).  So lets chat to this fine fellow and avid collector of all things Cybertronian.

 

QUESTIONS ABOUT YOU
Real name or what friends call you?
Dallas, D, big D. some of the guys on my baseball team have droppd a D-rod, or D-Train here and there. None of it really sticks.

State you live in?
NSW.

Your occupation?
Would you believe, Trained as an Aerospace Engineer, employed as a Mechanical engineer working on Boats and Submarines and trucks posing as radar targets…

Your dream job?
Drummer in a band, an internationally massive band.

Your age?
Why do you ask, is this some sort of scam?

Single/married/kids?
We’ve just been blessed with twins this last year. They are now the centre of our universe. And we’re married, just gone 9 years! We met nearly 18 years ago.

What other (non-toy) interests do you have?
Baseball.
Star Trek
Star Wars,
The Phantom
General Science fiction, some fantasy, squash, I dabble in lego from time to time.

Do you collect anything besides Transformers?
I’ve selectively picked some of the Star Trek Starships collection.
I’ve been collecting the Phantom Comic regularly since I was about 13, (with the exception of a few years while I was at uni and couldn’t afford it)
I have a hand full of Keaton Era and Batman Animated Batmobiles.
Apparently I collect drum kits as well. I have the one my parents bought me when I was 10 (it was 20 years old then), the good acoustic kit I bought in 1995 and the Electronic kit I bought after I finished uni and had a full time job.

How would you rate yourself on a C scale? With C1 being ‘Junker not worth it even for parts’ to C10 being ‘Perfection’.
C6, fairly good condition, some loose joints. Nothing a bit of spit and polish * wouldn’t fix.

Editors Note: I’ve told you about 20 times now – I’m not giving you a ‘spit polish’ no matter how many times you approach me about it!

How would you rate how sexually attracted you are to Trev? With 1 being ‘Extremely’ to 10 being ‘I dress up as Chrissy Amphlett and sing ‘I Touch Myself’ by the Divinyls into a hairbrush as I stare at the poster I have of Trev on my wall’. 
It involves a Mankini *, where does that fit on the scale?
Editors Note: I’m hoping it was just an educated guess on your part that I actually do have one of those!

TRANSFORMER QUESTIONS
Transformers Allegiance, if you had one?
Autobot –Engineering Corps

Your Techspec motto if you had one?
Wait, What?

What existing, official Transformers character best describes you? 
Is there someone that’s a cross between Jazz and Wheeljack?

Which special ability of any Transformers character would you want to have for yourself? 
Skywarps teleportation, we love to travel and that would take so much of the shitty bits out of it.

Fan/Collector since (year)?
1984-85 I’m pretty sure it was that Christmas that I got my first two transformers. There have been periods when I wasn’t an avid collector or even aware that there was a series on tv.

What drew you to Transformers, making you become a fan/collector?
I can’t remember, it’s so long ago. Probably the excitement of giant robots and the Robots in Disguise element, still the best gimmick of the line.
I slowly lost interest towards the end of G1 and G2. I remember seeing all the G2 stuff with these huge stickers on them that ruined the ‘robots in disguise’ concept. Like the G2 Optimus that had the massive sticker down its side with his name emblazoned in big bright lettering on an otherwise black truck. The G2 show disappointed me as well, I was looking for new shows/stories not just the original show re-edited. I remember how excited I was when I saw the CG intro, and then how devastated I was when I saw that it was just the old cartoon. For years I lost touch with the brand, not through lack of interest but through lack of knowing anything existed. I kind of missed beast wars, when it was on TV, I didn’t like that they had moved away from vehicles and that they were re-using the names of characters without them being the same characters. I couldn’t figure out why they didn’t just give them a new name? I’d visit toy sections every once in a while through late high school and Uni but never felt any attraction to the toys for these reasons. Names of G1 characters being applied to toys that bore no resemblance to the character as I knew it, and mostly vehicles that could not be considered ‘normal enough to be in disguise’ anywhere. I don’t think I even realised that RID 1.0 or the Unicron Trilogy were actual shows. My collecting started again in 2005 when I was out of Uni, had a full time job and found out about these things called Alternators. I bought some from eBay and Casefresh. They were incredible, then I saw the Masterpiece line. As an Aero Engineer, the MP starscream was the most stunning transformers toy I’d ever seen. A colleague saw him on my desk once and thought it was a legit model aircraft. I got back in to mainline toys when the ‘generations’ line started creating new moulds reimagining G1 characters. I’ve been collecting steadily ever since.

Do you think you will collect Transformers until you die?
It’s quite likely that I will in some capacity, though there has to be limits. I can’t imagine the space needed to store and display transformers collected over a 120 year period.
Editors Note: You are gonna live 120 years?! You must eat a frag of a lot of kale!

Were your family/parents supportive of collecting toys or did you have to hide your passion from them and friends?
My first transformers came to me from my parents (Mum did all the Christmas purchasing) and Santa Claus. So in that respect yes, supported. Over time my Dad hasn’t quite understood the long running interest. He’s generally not said much but once in a while he’s dropped a comment indicating what a waste of money he thinks it is.
In Primary school Transformers were the business so there was no hiding, the only frustration I had was someone stealing Thundercrackers rocket launchers from my bag after lunch once.
The rest of my family, even married into family seem to accept it if not support it. My sister just went to Japan and asked for a shopping list before she went.
My friends and colleagues vary in their acceptance. Some get it and are as bad as me with other types of collections, others just don’t understand. My wife was a bit misled as when we met I wasn’t actively collecting, it was only after we’d been going out for several years when my interest in collecting was reignited that she saw that side of me. Long before we tied the knot though.
I don’t believe in hiding my passions and interests it defines who I am. I do filter them a bit from time to time though.

Have you attended any fan-meets, Fairs, Conventions?
Have I ever! I’ve been to Botcon 2011 and 2014. I had a great time at both, probably the biggest highlights of my experiences as a collector.
I used to go regularly to the Parramatta collector fair and the post-fair breakfast at the Westfield. I now mainly go to the Penrith fair, it’s a bit of a hike but there are a few good stalls and a lot of others generally turn up so some good chats are had.

Any creative endeavours with Transformers (drawing, writing, customising, etc)?

I have always liked creativity. I dabble a bit in drawing, though I realise I’m pretty bad at it.
I have done some designs that I’ve had made on shapeways, they didn’t pass the prototype stage but I thought they were solid concepts and if the CAD package I’d been using hadn’t had a 30 day trial limit on it, I might have continued dabbling in that. I have a whole lot more ideas in my head and on paper. Keep an ear to the ground for a company called ******* toys, if it ever happens, chances are it will be me and my buddy, Myself.

Customising class – Botcon

I participated in the Custom class at Botcon both times I went. I really enjoyed it and it gave me a good understanding of the structure of transformers. That gave me the confidence to pull apart a few here and there and fix internal damage or change something.
I have a lot of plans for creative stuff. I have a couple spare deluxe Airachnids from TF-Prime, I plan on modding one up to have the right number of legs. I have a couple Revoltech Starscreams, I need a third so I can repaint two into the other two seekers. It’s not something I want to spend a lot of money on though and those things are expensive.
I have a big thing for creative/dynamic displays, shoulder to shoulder displays are great for saving space but they are often over crowded and very static. It feels like a waste to have all these awesome figures that are so articulated and not have them posed doing something. (Saying that, Sinnertwin has a very well organised display with bots standing in columns and rows and his collection room is almost breathtaking.). My display is often spread out, with many bots in alt mode and others facing off across the shelf. I try to augment my displays with interesting risers and backgrounds. The DOTM leader box internal sleeve was good for this. I have one as a background in my display cabinet at the moment. This last week I finally went to throw out the stock cooler for my CPU that I bought in 2009, I realised that under all the crappy fan cowling plastic there was a nice solid flat heat sink. I’ve kept that bit and plan on using it in a display in the future. I have manufactured some risers out of left over polycarbonate from work and some stand-offs from eBay. I also have some aluminium structures left over from prototypes that I have or plan to modify into risers and stands for my display. It will need some paint, sometimes there is a fine line between looking interesting and other worldly and looking like you’ve been picking through someone else’s rubbish. I have purchased a number of display panels (the machine robo nests and the recent Zeta EX display stands that ToyBotImportz were stocking. I haven’t incorporated them yet but I’ve started touching them up with gundam markers to add some colour and they’ll be getting added to the display at some point.

Favourite series/era/year, and why?
I’m always going to be a G1 fan, that’s where it all started for me and it’s the baseline for my expectations of modern interpretations of characters.

But, the series I’ve enjoyed the most was Transformers Prime, outstanding design, excellent show from so many perspectives and an outstanding toy line. Imagine being a 10 year old and having that as your G1!

Least favourite series/era/year, and why?
That would have to be the Unicron Trilogy, I didn’t even realise it was on TV at the time. Probably because I was at Uni and for a few years didn’t even have a TV. But at the same time, I was perusing the toy isles at the time and the toys just didn’t appeal. I’ve always felt, if you’re going to make a new character, in a new show that has a different personality, different strengths/weaknesses and abilities you should give that character a new name, not re-use the name of a character from an earlier interpretation of the franchise *. I get the whole different universe’ thing and generally accept it, a lot more now than I used to.

Editors Note: I agree with this 100%!

Collect any comics (which ones)?
YES.
In the G1 era I didn’t even know they made transformers comics. My interest in comics started when I was a young fella delivering papers for the local newsagent. They’d let me read them in the shop after I’d finished my round. I became a collector of the Phantom comics, still am. I saw my first transformers comic at Comic Kingdom in Sydney in the late 90’s. I was very excited but at the same time confused, it was a G2 comic and didn’t seem to have any relationship to the re-hash tv show. I bought it anyway.
I then was super excited when I saw a digest style transformers comic at the supermarket. I bought that and then chased down all the Dreamwave Trades and the singles that never made it into trade. I have since never stopped. I collect trades, it’s more affordable, I prefer reading the stories in larger chunks and with less advertising. They also look better on the shelf. I’ve picked up all the TFCC comics and even went out of my way to get hold of the TFcon TF Animated comic that was released last year.

Favourite Comic issue/story, and why? 
Probably the first issue of the Dreamwave G1 comics, seeing those characters in vibrant artwork with a story after all those years was a joyful moment. I missed Dreamwave when they fell apart. I had no idea at the time and hate Pat Lee for the way he treated his employees but I enjoyed the art, it was vibrant and colourful and while the style was unrealistic I felt it was very polished and clean. I’ve never been a fan of scratchy looking artwork in comics, I thought the early IDW work felt unfinished.

Favourite Cartoon episode/story, and why?
The G1 episode where Jazz in car mode cranks out a super funky tune that disrupts the Decepticons. It was a type of music I’d never heard before, I thought, if this is Jazz, I need to find more Jazz. Turns out it was more of a funk/rock. But I have grown to love many different types of music from the drive to discover more music that this episode ignited.

Favourite Video/Board game and why?
Probably the Fall of Cybertron game. Great fun from start to finish and a more polished gameplay than the War for Cybertron.

Favourite Character, and why?
I’ve always liked Jazz, the attitude, the stylings of his alt mode, the G1 toy was a standout for me, being a fairly different transformation to so many of the other early autobots.

Sexiest Transformers (robot) Character? 
I honestly find sexifying transformers, or other franchises, kind of weird and uncomfortable. I’d never turn up in the Boudoir wearing a transformers Mankini and expect the missus to get excited.
Editors Note: Make the Mankini metallic with gun-ports – that might rev her engine!

Which Transformers character would you want to exist for real?
Most definitely Jazz, then we could Jam!

Approx TFs toy collection count (or give a range like 200s, 300s, etc)?
I honestly have no idea. When I was a kid I counted my G1 collection as some number around 120. Since then I’ve collected a bunch more G1 toys/reissues. I’ve collected every mould and some remoulds/repaints of the Masterpiece line and the Alternators/Binaltech line. I’ve been collecting Generations toys since the time they stopped just repainting Unicron trilogy toys and started actually making dedicated new moulds for classic characters. I tend to have at least one of every mould type. I have two complete sets and 2 mostly complete sets of Botcon toys and I’ve collected a lot of Movie toys since 2007, again generally having one of most mould types of the main line of scout/Deluxe/Voyager and Leader toys. I have the entire cast of animated, Prime and RID. I’m going to have a ballpark guess and say somewhere around the 1500 mark. It’s literally over 25 years since I did a collection count.

Sealed collector or out-of-packaging collector?
My general intent is to be an out of package collector, there are caveats though. I collect faster than I seem to open transformers. Part of the driver for this is that I have limited display space so generally when something is opened it replaces something else on display. So I have a lot of sealed stuff that is patiently waiting for its time in the sun/artificial light.
Some things, like the TF Prime New York Comic Con exclusive pack with Bumblebee and Arcee have stayed in package since they look so good like that and I have both moulds otherwise.

How much do you think you’ve spent on your collecting habit?
I honestly don’t want to think about it. I could probably buy a very nice car with the money that I’ve collectively spent on transformers over the last 20 -30 years.

Any rare/expensive figures in your collection?


Probably the rarest would be Botcon 2011 Custom Class Minerva. The most expensive would be the Mega Action Series Optimus Prime, actually no a G1 Skorponok that I bought several years ago, in excellent condition, I think I paid about $280 for that.
The Chevy Aveo Swerve that was released years ago, I picked one up at Botcon 2011.

What interesting Licensed Merchandise items do you have? 
Mega Action Series Optimus, soon to be joined by Mega action series Megatron. One day they will be the centrepiece of my display space.
I still have my metal food tray from when I was a youngster that has the stunning box art of Metroplex on it. I have a stunning Beanie that I bought from BBTS that has the Decepticon Logo on it, it’s exceptionally good quality being a New Era product. The Transformers Legacy book has my name in it, I sent the Author a bunch of High res scans of some of my original toy boxes that he was having trouble procuring original art for.

First Transformers toy?
As mentioned above, I received Thundercracker and Skids at the same Christmas, I can’t tell you which one I opened first.

One toy you most want? 
This is a tricky one, I’ve done a good job of buying some representation (Either reissue or good condition 2nd hand) of a lot of the big ticket G1 toys, especially the western characters. I had no knowledge of the existence of a lot of the Japanese characters until more recently (In the last 10 -15 years). So unless it was in a G1 show or toy catalogue here in Australia, my drive to collect other toys is a little lower than others. I’d like a G1 Overlord. Some of the bigger MicroMaster base toys.
If this was a hypothetical question, I’d want a Masterpiece Jazz. Now.

The centrepiece/favourite toy in your collection at the moment (and why)?
It’s not even on display at the moment but I really do love the MP-04 Optimus prime. I really like the recent Masterpiece Inferno and other recent G1 masterpiece toys. They all look so good and are a lot of fun, many of the ones from the teens have had articulated hands added to them making them a fair bit more expressive.

Favourite toy in your early years of collecting (if it was more than 10 years ago)?
Thundercracker and Skids hold a special place in my heart, and always will but again, G1 Jazz was unique amongst his peers and was a favourite. However, now that I think about it, Skids must have been a favourite as my original is so worn out it won’t hold together at the waist any more.

Worst toy(s) ever in your opinion?
I think the Dark of the moon Ravage variants are definitely in the top 5. They are flimsy, the plastic feels cheap, especially when compared to other movie toys at the time and it transforms into a lump of robot cat. It’s representation of the screen character is OK detail wise but it’s not fun in the slightest. I do feel that it’s a victim of the movie script however. The 2007 movie Scorponok is a close second, at least it has markings that look like it could be part of a helicopter.

Toy(s) that were most disappointing when you got them?
The Ravage above, I expected it to be shit and even though I bought it on special I was still disappointed with it.

Thoughts on gimmick and non-convertible Transformers toys?
I’ve always felt that Transformation is the best Gimmick of the transformers toy line. I get so much enjoyment out of a transformer that has two clean modes and an elegant transformation.
Having said that, I really like light piping when it’s done well, but I also really like well-defined eyes that aren’t light piped (Generations Deluxe Warpath is an excellent example).Gimmicks that inhibit the transformation or muddy the appearance of one mode or other of the toy irritate me. I much prefer a leader/Ultra/Voyager toy that doesn’t have a huge box at its core full of electronics because I feel that sort of thing greatly inhibits the freedom of the transformation design. The same often applies to deluxes that are forced to keep a space available for a cockpit. I feel that that’s one of the greatest pitfalls of the headmaster concept. Having a removable head allows for the transformation to not need to accommodate it, but instead it has to accommodate a cockpit space that is often bigger than the head. I think that was best handled by the Fans project Smart Robin (Brainstorm), an inspired but simple transformation design.
Non-convertible transformers are something that I used to not really like/understand. Especially statues. I picked up some statues from BBTS years ago on clearance and I have to say I really like them. I have a hard time justifying spending much on them because, ‘they don’t transform’. But, statues and action figures can achieve appearances that traditional transforming toys cannot. They can look a lot more like the on screen/page appearance. They don’t feature much in my collection but I definitely have some and will be getting more.

Thoughts on unlicensed fan-project figures/accessories?

I was initially very cold on the idea of complete ‘indie’ transformers inspired figures. All the usual arguments about IP applied but I also felt that there were problems with essentially non-professional designers making engineering decision on products that require very detailed rigorous engineering. This was highlighted for me on one of the very early Megatron figures that used clear plastic in the ratchets for its knees. I was able to handle someone’s brand new figure at a meetup and just picking it up I could see small flecks of clear red plastic around the knees, I quickly put it down without moving the legs. Design work like that, clearly not taking into consideration the strengths and weaknesses of mating materials is pretty bad, especially on product that costs more than $100. Other things that irritated me about ‘Indie’ transformers for a long time and often still does is the lack of finish on a figure. If you pick up an official toy, and have a very close look at the corners and edges, you’ll see that nearly every single one has a small chamfer or radius on it (unless it mates with another part to create a smooth surface), it’s not a sharp edge. This is a sign of good finished design. It takes a lot of time to apply that sort of finish to a complex CAD model but the completed appearance is much less harsh looking and also has other benefits of being easier to manufacture the moulds and allowing for easier part release, less opportunity for plastic deformation as a result of different areas of a part cooling down at different rates. It also feels smoother in hand and allows for better tolerance in the motion between parts that swing past each other, though this is minor it also reduces the opportunity for edges to burr when they do contact. Very many early Indie toy designs didn’t have this and many still don’t.
That all being said, I have the original city commander armour that Fans Project released and I like it a lot, it definitely has issues, some born of the above discussion. Is it ‘redundant’ now that I have the more recent Takara IDW inspired Magnus, I’m not sure. It’s certainly going to keep a place in my collection at the moment.
I really like Indie additions to existing HasTak product, they often flesh out the figure in a way that may not have been realistic for the original product, even if it’s as simple as a bigger sword or the inclusion of a gun. I do find that a lot of the more recent add on kits, especially for the combiners are way overpriced to the point of lunacy. If you compare some of the recent add on kits, for part count and complexity against entire masterpiece ‘scale’ or style Indi transformers and then compare the price the ratio isn’t close to equivalent. Plastic makes up a very small amount of the cost of a toy, just look up the cost of a few kilos of raw plastic pellets and you’ll see what I mean. These kits often have a lot of unnecessary parts that I personally wouldn’t want, to essentially ‘value add’ and justify a higher price tag.
I also really like that there is a lot of choice because of the Indie companies, and product available that would otherwise never be made by Hasbro. I’m talking about the DJD that MMC have developed, I can’t see HasTak releasing a transformer that turns into an electric/torture chair. I also have caved and bought the Fans toys Dinobots and a few other third party figures that I didn’t think HasTak would ever be able to justify. Some of those I was wrong, but at the same time I can’t seem to bring myself to pick a favourite and get rid of the other. I’ve been very selective with my Indie purchases because they are expensive and its money that I could be spending on official product. As a result most of the Indie product I have is fairly well designed and manufactured and most of it is unique, at least for the moment.

Thoughts on the Transformers Brand over the last five years?
The transformers brand has gone from strength to strength over the last 15 years. Over the last 5 it may have waned a little with the loss of popularity in the movies and associated toys. I have been frustrated by the lack of broad cast product from the movies, especially the last knight. So many Decepticons that should have had a toy representation, especially when compared against the random non-existent characters and repaints from the first two movies in the series.

I’m still dirty that we didn’t get a three pack of dreads with an identical alt mode and three different transformations and bot modes. I hope they find a production house to make another game as good as the War for and Fall of Cybertron series. The amount of choice that still exists between main line toy show, kids show product and collector oriented lines is astounding. I only hope it continues. I would like to see more of the ‘modern update’ designs for G1 and later characters rather than the ‘original toy with articulation ‘approach.

Which single TFs toy should every fan own?
yes
That really depends on the person doesn’t it? Where their interests lay. Car, Truck, Gorilla, Dinosaur, Jet, biplane, futuristic other worldly race car. All of these things are very different and that’s part of what’s so awesome about the transformers brand. I could probably recommend a favourite of each but I’ve already waffled on enough. Generations Warpath.

Which Transformers toy/product would you give as a wedding present?
That’s a tricky one, some of the previous answers to this question have been quite romantic and I wouldn’t have thought of them. Perhaps a version of Hound or Jazz, characters who even though they are good at war, their main drive is appreciation of the beauty around them be it physical in terms of flora and fauna or more spiritual in the form of music and companionship/mateship.

FAN Questions

BigAngryTrev
Question: I really enjoyed meeting you at both Collectormania and the Hasbro Sneak Peak last year. Do you find a lot of your toys and figures at these kinds of meets? Or do you usually do your TF shopping in stores and/or online?
Well thank you, I too enjoyed the company of the Enigmatic Trev.

I have a habit of wanting to buy something when I go to an event like Collectormania. The old Parramatta fair was particularly ‘bad’ for this because I’d want to have something with me for the get together in the food court afterwards. I ended up bringing a new toy from home that I hadn’t opened yet, in case nothing piqued my interest at the fair proper. When I was at Botcon those two times, I bought a whole lot of Transformers, luckily when the customs officials ask what’s in the box and you say toys, they dismiss them as not having much value…
Normally my collecting is mixed between bricks and mortar and Online. Primarily these days, I buy online between a couple local companies and overseas for Japanese and some “Indie” product. I would buy more at shops but online is often cheaper, than even the sales.

Seraphim
Question: How do balance collecting and being a new dad?
I don’t. I try to but, invariably a lot of my personal time has disappeared. Most of my online shopping happens at lunch times at work, I get less shopping time and when I do I feel like I’m letting the team down by not doing something for the kids or my wife. I have a stash of unopened toys and unread comics in the ‘office/study/music room’ and also in the corner next to the couch in the lounge. This gives me the opportunity to open something up and play with it while we’re watching an hour of TV in the evening between our chores and trying to get some sleep.

Mayza
Question – As the twins are now 1, when do you plan on introducing them to Transformers and which series?
They have already been exposeexposed. I have watched most of Transformers RID in the lounge, where they play most of the time. Often early on the weekend when I have taken the kids out of their cots after waking up so they don’t disturb their mum. Once fed and changed we have a play in the lounge and I’ll put on something that my wife doesn’t like to watch, Transformers, Star Trek, Agents of Shield, the Orville. It sometimes takes an hour and a half to watch an episode if the kids are cranky or need extra attention but I get there. They generally don’t ‘pay much heed to what’s on the TV yet but they do perk up from time to time, especially with the younger target audience animated stuff.
Once they are a bit older, I’ll be making the G1 Series available to them, I have all of the available Rescue bots on DVD, and by the time they are old enough I’ll have all the recent RID as well, as its released in season box sets.

Trent
Question: As nerds, we already face ridicule and mockery from general society by essentially being grown men who collect/play with toys.* How do you then face the “double whammy” that also comes from being a drummer? I mean, as a toy collecting skin beater you must be the butt of every joke that you hear! 
Editors Note: What’s this ‘we’ you speak of paleface?
They’re called heads, you Musical Luddite. Drum heads, only people that don’t know what they’re talking about call them skins.

Question: Also, I have garnered that space is a significant issue for you and as such a majority of your collection is in storage. Do you think that most of your collection will remain in plastic tubs for the rest of your life or do you have a plan? A vision? A goal? And do you see that goal as realistically being achieved before you grow sick of the hobby?
I don’t understand ‘grow sick of the hobby’ can you re-phrase the question?
Well, yes, at the moment we are in a 3 bedroom apartment with a lot of stuff. I admit a lot of it is mine, between collecting transformers and having 2 drum kits. And two kids worth of stuff. We have a lot of stuff.

I would love a ‘collection room’ but have come to realise from seeing the struggle of others, and how much space a collection like Griffins takes up, that even a small bedroom converted into a collection room probably isn’t a big enough space.
I would one day like a decent size mancave space to put my collection in and display it but it would have to be a space where I had some sort of central volume/area that I could use for a more dynamic display, something I could pose the figures on rather than just having them all in cabinets. I think I will probably always have some element of my collection in storage, I just hope that in the long run, we move into a place that has room for the majority of it to be on display rather than in storage. I will probably have to do a cull eventually but it will be a struggle. (Not pictured, 6 large plastic bins and 3 epic BBTS boxes full of opened and unopened transformers respectively.)

Carlo
Question: Is Botcon (though gone now) something that every Aussie TF fan should go to/experience once? Equivalent of TF Mecca or is buying the toys enough? 
I would say that it’s something that most dedicated fans should try to attend. It’s a very expensive venture and to make it worth the trouble of international travel you really need to do the full ticket that the show has to offer and try to experience as much of the event as you can. The closest thing now would be Hascon or TF con, one being official and the other more dedicated specifically to Transformers with a strong bent towards the Indie scene. If I was overseas around the time of a TF Con, or even Hascon I would try to fit it into my trip.

The script reading panel. Actors from G1, and Rescue bots.
As for buying toys, when the Aussie dollar was close to parity the dealer room was a veritable Transformers Mecca. Many lines available at US prices, so cheap compared to here and a lot of ‘antique’ older line transformers available from some sellers. I didn’t do the numbers but Griffin has commented in the past that the dollar value he saved on all the toys he purchased while on a Botcon trip pretty much met the cost of his flight. Probably the best purchase I made at a Botcon was the Hard Hero Devastator bust for $15. MISB. I haven’t opened it yet so I hope it’s not full of bricks.

Question: If your kids aren’t interested in TF , what will you do with your toys in the future?
I don’t have any plans to stop collecting, and while it will be a bit saddening that I can’t share my biggest hobby with them, I will enjoy it like I do now and probably one day sell a lot so it’s easier to get rid of when I eventually move on to be one with the Allspark.

Michael
Question: Dallas, you seem like such an amiable, friendly and positive guy online. Let us see a little bit more of your “dark side” – What are your pet peeves? (TF related or otherwise). What really burns your biscuits? What makes you see red?
Editors Note: Squirrels! He stomps squirrels to death – I’ve seen it!
The term Lazy Design. This is one of the most bullshit descriptions I see in comments or reviews on toys. People don’t get into toy design to make money, they get into toy design, because they love designing, or they love toys or both. It’s a rude thoughtless label. I can guarantee you that the reason there is an apparent design flaw in a toy is because of budgetary or time constraints most likely enforced by someone who has no idea of the effort required to design something properly from scratch.
Litterers: I don’t care how busy you are, or how far it is to a bin, there’s no reason to leave your garbage behind, be it food wrappers, cigarette butts, gum. You’re selfish laziness is just creating work for others, or it’s getting into the environment causing problems. So much of our rubbish doesn’t break down.
People parking in visitor spaces: Our apartment complex has 98 apartments and 25 visitor spots. Nearly always all taken up by residents who all have at least one and many have either a double length garage or two garages. I have family visit from all over the country and they often can’t get a park. I feel that guests should be given priority, mine or someone else’s.
Pro tip, I’m a pretty friendly guy, but don’t get on my bad side. It’s a short list but once you’re on there, getting back over the fence is extremely hard.

Just Chillin’
Question: You and your partner have been together for a long period of time now (congrats ), so my questions is: How did she react when she found out you collect these little plastic toys? and as a follow up: how does she react now when you bring a new one home?
Wife/Girlfriend, she hates the term Partner, we don’t run a business together. 😉
We met in late 2000. She had a pretty good idea I was a nerd from the get go. We both worked at the Coles not far from the university campus and one night, while I was working she bought up her flatmate to check me out. Her flatmate popped her head around the end of the isle and turned around and burst out laughing!! ‘That’s the president of Spocksoc” I was at the time the president of the Campus Science Fiction, Fantasy and Animation club. Her flatmate knew because she had been to our Buffy the Vampire Slayer screenings. I wasn’t collecting at the time but as mentioned above I started again when I was not long out of uni and Alternators were hitting the market.
These days we keep 10% of our incomes to ourselves to do with as we please (it also helps hide how much we spend on each other for gifts). So there’s never any complaining about spending ‘our money’ as it’s only ever used for the household. However given the aforementioned space issues, when I come home with a large order from somewhere or if a few parcels turn up in the space of a week, I occasionally get comments like’ where is that going to go’ and to be fair they are warranted. I’m starting to think I am going to have to do a big cull of boxes because they are taking up too much garage.

 

Thank you all for the questions, I’ve really enjoyed answering them!
Got any more questions for Dallas?  Pop them in the comments section below and I’m sure he will do his best to answer them!
Fan Interviews & Art, Transformatorium

Transformer Fan Interview – JP Martin

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Welcome to the next in a series of interviews with different Aussie Transformer fans.  Last time we chatted to Paul, a near 20-year veteran of the Online TF community.  Today we will be talking to JP – a younger fan of the genre who shows a real love of giant shape-changing alien robots!

 

Name or what friends call you?

JP Martin

 

State you live in?

Victoria

 

Your age?

23

 

How did you hear about www.bigangrytrev.com?

I’ve read a few of your reviews and interviews. Always a great read!

 

Transformers Allegiance, if you had one?

Decepticon

 

Your Techspec motto if you had one?

“Don’t stop until you’re the last one standing”

 

What existing, official Transformers character best describes you?

Hm, if I had to choose one character, I would say that Ultra Magnus would be the best fit. A strong and by the book warrior, that has some leadership qualities but would rather work on the ground to get the job done.

 

Which special ability of any Transformers character would you want to have for yourself?

I would really like to have the Insecticons’ ability to clone themselves. Would give me the chance to keep up and do all the things I want to do all at the same time.

 

How would you rate yourself on a C scale, C10 being MISB Mint perfection to the lowest C1 ‘junker not worth it even for parts’?

C8, Pretty good condition, missing box but have all the accessories

 

Fan/Collector since (year)?

I want to say 1999 when my brother introduced me to it but 2001 was when I really started as a kid. Fell out roughly around Transformers Cybertron and Dark of the Moon. Really got into collecting December 2016 when so many Christmas Clearance Sales drew me back in.

 

What drew you to Transformers, making you become a fan/collector?

My brother had a few G1 toys from when he was a kid. I remember playing with his Optimus Prime trailer and being a huge fan of Bumblebee. I really loved the mythos and lore behind each series and toyline. As I’ve grown older I’m really into the more obscure and side stories that help create the Transformers Mythos.

 

Do you think you will collect Transformers until you die?

Absolutely! The Autobots and Decepticons war will never end and they will need more troops for the shelves!

 

Were your family/parents supportive of collecting toys or did you have to hide your passion from them and friends?

Family is quite open to my collecting so when I swapped back into Transformers it was welcome. However they are beginning to notice the tubs and boxes coming in the mail. Friends love their own collections (Warhammer, Game Memorabilia, Star Wars etc) so this is my “thing” in our group.

 

Have you attended any fan-meets, Fairs, Conventions?

I attend most of the big conventions in Melbourne. I do take the time to stop by and say hi to the TCCA guys, see how things are and if it’s available, get membership on the spot. Will need to see the guys next time since I haven’t joined up for 2018 yet!

I have yet to attend a fan-meet as they always seem to fall on days when I have some type of event going on beforehand. Hope to head to one eventually!

 

Any creative endeavours with Transformers (drawing, writing, customising, etc)?

Oh boy! I’m a huge fan of the universe so me and a friend have been playing a Transformers RPG over the last year using bits and pieces from each series/reality.So I have quite a few dozen characters that I aim to eventually make figures of.

My main character is a Decepticon Gladiator named Treadcrusher who acts as a Decepticon Drill Sergeant that takes on new recruits and tempers them for the war before sending them to different Warzones and battle groups.

Regarding actual figures, I have created three of my bots so far. First up is Raidwave, an Autobot Communications Specialist and Conspiracy Theorist focusing on secret Quintesson plots both within the Autobots and Decepticons.

I also have made the main characters of the RPG: Gearzone and Warsmith. Gearzone used to be a guard on Garrus 9 before a Decepticon breakout destroyed his body. Warsmith is a former elite guard and Decepticon general who surrendered to the Autobots after becoming disillusioned with the Decepticon cause and Megatron. Here’s a pic of the two in their Wrecker Campaign colour scheme.

 

Favourite series/era/year, and why?

It would have to be Armada. It was the series that I was so invested in as a kid and I absolutely love mini-cons and the whole fight to control or save these little bots between the two factions.

 

Least favourite series/era/year, and why?

Bayverse transformers after Dark of the Moon. The trilogy was okay but Age of Extinction and Last Knight really frustrated and confused me with how weirdly humans acted towards the transformers and even the Autobot groups themselves. The movies had the Autobots become progressively more and more like movie Decepticons in their actions and disregard for life and property so there was very little justification for any of the characters or war anymore.

While I am not a fan of the movies, I will say the bayverse toys are amazing and I do love those bots. A personal favourite would have to be the scout class Hubcap and Depth Charge who remain on my main Autobot shelf.

 

Collect any comics (which ones)?

I collected the old Dreamwave Comics as a kid. Big fan of the Age of Wrath series before the big bankruptcy. Today I pick up the IDW Lost Light series each month. Likewise I am also a subscriber to the Definitive Generation 1 comic series so I can have a read of the original Marvel US and UK series as well as the early IDW stuff before the big renumbering back to 1.

 

Favourite Comic issue/story, and why?

Last Stand of the Wreckers is an all time favourite for me. I was always a big fan of the Wreckers and to see a story arc dedicated to the team and their final battle on the Prison of Garrus 9 was absolutely amazing and quite heart-wrenching. WRECK AND RULE!

Another contender would be the Dreamwave Armada ‘Worlds Collide’ story arc with  dimension hopping heralds of Unicron wiping out different universes. Since Armada is my favourite series, it was awesome to see G1 bots go head to head with the Armada crew.

G1 kicking the other universes butts!

 

Favourite Cartoon episode/story, and why?

My favourite cartoon episode would have to come from G1. The Golden Lagoon. Seeing the Decepticons becomes so overpowered and indestructible was quite entertaining. Even when watching the episode I always get giddy when the Autobots are repelled and have to outlast the Decepticons to defeat them.

 

Favourite Character, and why?

My favourite character would have to be Punch/Counterpunch. Something about an Autobot Double Spy tricking Decepticons sounds amazing. Also, with recent FunPub stories, I like the whole idea that he may have started as a Decepticon Spy but the Autobot persona has taken over and he’s just in this morally gray world where he is not sure who he truly is.

A seriously overlooked character by the comics

 

Sexiest Transformers (robot) Character?

G1 Arcee for sure.

 

Which Transformers character would you want to exist for real?

I would like Armada Demolisher to exist in real life. He would be an awesome and loyal friend to hang out and just have to help when things get tough.

 

Approx TFs toy collection count (or give a range like 200s, 300s, etc)?

I…Hm. I think I probably have 300ish bots on me. They are all in different boxes that get cycled out to sit on my shelf every few weeks.

 

Sealed collector or out-of-packaging collector?

Out of Packaging! Free the bots from their cardboard and plastic prison! I can understand why people would want to keep them safe in the box but I think that people should go and have a play with their bots. Especially if they spend heaps of dollars on them to have them in their collection.

 

How much do you think you’ve spent on your collecting habit?

That is a very dangerous and thought provoking question. Probably far too much but hey, it’s a collector’s hobby so you are bound to spend a lot to fill out your collection.

 

Any rare/expensive figures in your collection?

A few Japanese exclusives I picked up while I was in japan earlier this year but nothing too special or rare. I actually am not a big hater of retools and repaints so if a simple construction green repaint of Scoop now flipped into a Decepticon, that will find a place in my collection.

 

What interesting Licensed Merchandise items do you have?

I also like little rubber figures so I own an old Soundwave Eraser. I’m also a big fan of the old Ladybird G1 books and they hold a very fond place in my heart and collection.

 

First Transformers toy?

That would be Robots in Disguise 2001 Two pack Spychanger Mirage and Ironhide. Two of my first bots and they still from a special place within my collection.

 

One toy you most want?

At the moment, I am looking at picking up a few random Combiner Wars sets but the most important thing I currently want is a G1 Punch/Counterpunch or the FunPub Botcon exclusives.

 

The centrepiece/favourite toy in your collection at the moment (and why)?

At the moment I am loving my CHUG G1 Cars. I recently picked up Sunstreaker, Bluestreak and Red Alert and they look amazing together. There’s also the Fall of Cybertron Sideswipe that I absolutely adore his giant path blaster and alt mode.

 

Favourite toy in your early years of collecting (if it was more than 10 years ago)?

Every battle that I had when I was a kid always featured the RiD Spychangers. Just having a wide range of simple, cheap price point bots were always awesome to have starting my collection and just having such great designs and colour variations.

 

Worst toy(s) ever in your opinion?

G1 Broadside. That thing is an absolute brick. Thank goodness for the Titans Return remake.

 

Toy(s) that were most disappointing when you got them?

I got a Movie 1 Scout Class Warpath. I thought the Alt Mode looked quite nice but then the bot mode was an absolute ugly mess. Which is honestly strange since I liked most of the Cybertron scout figures. More recently, it would be Titans Return Blitzwing where parts kept falling off out of the box. On the shelf he looks amazing but I don’t bother transforming him as pieces keep falling off or disconnecting from their housing.

 

Thoughts on gimmick and non-convertable Transformers toys?

Not a big fan of non-convertible transformers but happy with gimmicks. I know shelves are chock full of One-Steps and Simple transformation bots but people still buy them and certain gimmicks can be heaps of fun i.e. Power Core Combiners

 

Thoughts on unlicensed fan-project figures/accessories?

Transformers is honestly a weird world regarding 3rd party things. Before returning to Transformers, I was heavily into building Gundam/Gunpla. In that community 3rd party and KO kits are heavily frowned upon and often a source of tension within the community, so when I came back to TFs, I was amazed by how open and welcoming towards 3rd party/KO Oversize and Add-on stuff.

For my own thoughts, I do not mind them as they are quite interesting but on the whole they do not interest me due to their high price points and fragile nature. I love to play and transform my figures rather than having them sit on a shelf due to their price and fragile nature.

 

Thoughts on the Transformers Brand over the last five years?

Overall I think it has been a strong five years of TFs. Between the Prime Wars Trilogy stuff and the cartoons and toys on the shelf, things seem to be going quite well.

The same however cannot be said for the movie franchise and the recent news about the possible cancellation of further movies. While I may not have the most love for Bayverse stuff, I do hope a reboot occurs and helps revitalise the movie franchise into something awesome and coherent.

 

Which single TFs toy should every fan own?

Hmm, that is a tough one. I think everyone should have a G1 Bumblebee or similar minibot as these guys are always timeless and fun to just have sitting on your desk. For a more modern pick, I would say CHUG Thunderwing as that figure is just so well done.

 

Which Transformers toy/product would you give as a wedding present?

As a wedding gift, I think I would be Energon Omega Supreme or any of its retools as you need both parts to make it into its bot mode and a nice symbol of two coming together.

 

Got any other questions for JP?  Pop them in the comments section below and I’m sure he will do his best to answer them for you!

 

Related Articles:

Fan Interview – Raymo

Fan Interview – Lisamaree

Fan Interviews & Art, Transformatorium

Transformer Fan Interview – Raymo

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Welcome to the next in a series of interviews with different Aussie Transformer fans.  Last time we chatted to Lisamaree who was at the time living abroad.  Today we will be talking to Raymo, a country lad like me who now, luckily for his hobby, lives a lot closer to the big TF shops up in Northern Australia.

 

Transformers Allegiance, if you had one?
Autobot

Your Techspec motto if you had one?
All too easy. Which is sort of opposite of my own personality and more like my alter ego, or as I say my wrestling personality, cocky but relaxed about it.

What existing, official Transformers character best describes you?
I always go with G1 Brawn, although Bayverse Jetfire is probably more accurate now, old, slow but will do a solid if someone needs it.

Which special ability of any Transformers character would you want to have for yourself?
Flying, which in bot mode makes me a dirty con

How would you rate yourself on a C scale, C10 being MISB Mint perfection to the lowest C1 ‘junker not worth it even for parts’?
C6

Fan/Collector since (year)?
1984

What drew you to Transformers, making you become a fan/collector?
The box art and the cartoon, I do remember though that my friends and I would get pissed off because rather than the dynamic poses we saw on the boxes and cards the toy itself was a glorified brick.

Do you think you will collect Transformers until you die?
I will certainly have them until then, and maybe one will go with me, but I’m not sure if I’ll be actively collecting, even in the last three years my actual accumulation/collecting of them has slowed, I still have a good collection though. Confused?

Do people outside of the hobby know you collect TFs (like at work/school)?
For sure, I’m actually more comfortable sharing pictures outside of the collecting community with others, and any chance to show someone “the room” I take it.

Were your family/parents supportive of collecting toys or did you have to hide your passion from them and friends?
Everyone has been supportive, despite some very heavy spending periods it never became a financial problem. I think most people have seen it as a positive and fun influence on my life. We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.

Have you attended any fan-meets, Fairs, Conventions?
Yep……………………

oh you want more info?

2004 Sabretron in Sydney, loved it, here is a picture of my young self

Went to NYCC in 2015, hated it, but got to see the Toy Hunter and he truly loves what he does.

Any creative endeavours with Transformers (drawing, writing, customising, etc)?
Does dusting and building fancy cabinets count?

Favourite series/era/year, and why?
G1, I think as time has gone on I became something I hated previously, an f’ing geewunner!! Yep, I had it all, everything up to stinking animorphs and then some, and over the years it’s all been pared back to something a geewunner would own. I love the Transformers Prime series and the toys and was hoping it was the first step to making a canon TF universe, but no, it was a one off, but a brilliant one, I also like the 2001 RID, it’s a bit more of a JP based cartoon but being a big fan of the rising sun it’s my style. But yeah always come back to G1, it’s the original; it’s what created a juggernaut. It’s classic good versus evil with the greatest hero ever G1 Optimus Prime.
Least favourite series/era/year, and why
The movieverse has taken a big steamy Sludge like dump over what could have been something amazing, I get the attraction, and considering now that someone who was ten when the first one came out is now 20 and still loving it is probably more the demographic they were aiming at rather than us old farts. But to me as a toy collector a lot of the figures look like melted plastic with a shitty head stuck on top.

Collect any comics?
Had a good stash of the IDW/Dreamwave stuff but got rid of it, was good when it came out but has no personal connection. I do still have a tonne of 90’s x-men and some very large G1 TPB’s. My brother knows more about my comics that me, I’m pretty much a toy guy these days.

Favourite Comic issue/story, and why?
IIRC the one where the Dinobots were already on earth as well as Shockwave, something, something darkside, I’m not so good with stories and have forgotten how much I hate space travel.

Favourite Cartoon episode/story, and why?
Fire in the Sky, as explained earlier

Favourite Character, and why?
Optimus Prime, the most noble of heroes, something any kid should aspire to be, certainly shaped who I am today.

Sexiest Transformers (robot) Character?
A typical perv question from Big Angry Trev.
G1 Arcee (does anyone think her voice sounds like Tea Leoni from the movie Bad Boys?) and TF Prime, although BW Blackarachnia, grrrr baby grrrr, that voice…………droooooooooooool.

Which Transformers character would you want to exist for real?
Black Zarak, bad ass looking, and huge.

Approx TFs toy collection count (or give a range like 200s, 300s, etc):
A lady never tells

Sealed collector or out-of-packaging collector?
Varies, if it has a window it’s sealed, if not it’s opened. Mostly.

How much do you think you’ve spent on your collecting habit?
A couple of bucks

Any rare/expensive figures in your collection?
Black Zarak, both Goodbye sets MIB for all of them, lurve my boxes.

What interesting Licensed Merchandise items do you have?
Nothing out of the ordinary, bed sheets, bed tent, board game, Soundwave tape deck etc.

First Transformers toy?
Now this is something, I’m not 100% on this. No matter the time I put into working it out I can’t nail it but it’s either Brawn or Bluestreak.

One toy you most want?
Powered Convoy Giftset MIB

The centrepiece/favourite toy in your collection at the moment (and why)?
The custom Metrotitan that a guy named Michael did, it may not mean a lot to most, but to have G1 Metrotitan and Metroplex as well as their modern gigantic counterparts all together is just so perfect.

Favourite toy in your early years of collecting?

Brawn

Worst toy(s) ever in your opinion?
Some piece of junk bayverse one step Prime my mum thought would be good to get me for xmas a few years ago.

Toy(s) that were most disappointing when you got them?
MP-09 Rodimus Prime, the literal version of ambition out weighing talent.

Thoughts on gimmick and non-convertable Transformers toys?
Non-convertible transformer, oxymoron central. At least action masters had something that transformed.
They went too complex with the early Bay movie toys and now it’s gone too simple with the crap being put out now, some look like a giant bar of soap or those old shampoo bottles shaped like TF’s.
Thoughts on unlicensed fan-project figures/accessories
I used to be totally against them, but they certainly fill a collecting gap for the addicts, and as we’ve seen are also free R&D for Has/Tak.
Thoughts on the Transformers Brand over the last five years
It’s in a balance, it’s good we have Beast Wars MP figures coming out but the bread and butter movies need a re-boot, even when they are released the shelf space and hype has dwindled. Now we’re going back to the old chestnut of Bumblebee, FFS we have already been saturated with his toys in the first three movies, now, more. I get it he sells, but most kids already have him.

Which single TFs toy should every fan own?
G1 Optimus Prime

Which Transformers toy/product would you give as a wedding present?
MISB G1 Optimus Prime

Do you collect other toys?
I have a very good MOTU collection and an ok Voltron one which has recently been majorly downsized. Oh yeah and Lego, enough to sink the Titanic.

What other interests do you have?
Science (Physics (not bloody quantum though) and astronomy) Nature and the environment, AFL, NFL, health and fitness, fishing, Star Wars and the family.

What type of music/movies/TV/books do you enjoy
Cranking psytrance as I type this, love metal, some old hip hop, K,C,J-Pop, very eclectic, will even rock some country. Movies, we have been spoilt for choice lately, marvel stuff, Star Wars, then the earlier stuff Avatar, Terminators, Alien series, Pacific Rim, all the usual nerd stuff. TV is Battlestar Galactica new and old version, Star Treks, Law and Order, Brooklyn 99, Seinfeld, House, Stargate, Better Call Saul, Breaking Bad, it’s a big list J Books, I have generally been a non-fiction reader but since the flow of canon Star Wars novels have come out I am into those, as a huge fan of Ventress the Dark Disciple novel was off the chart awesome. Lots to read still but unlike Transformers where I can say my love these days is really with toys, with Star Wars it is with the mythology…….but not the legends stuff, the new canon, it’s like the Marvel CU, we need a continuous story to get invested……..Transformers I’m looking your way!

If you died today, what would your tombstone say?
Solid (pun intended)

Questions from other Fans

From Dallas:

What is your preferred design for G1 Jetfire? the animation model or the toy? please elaborate. 
It’s the toy, so cool, tall, sleek, powerful and proud, a true warrior. But the anime version is certainly up there, even now that we sort of have a combo version from the generations toy as well as FT Phoenix I can still say the G1 toy is the one for me. Here’s the funny thing, I grew up in a very small town, about 3000 people, our local news agent was the toy shop. There was a massive area of Transformers, but there was a secondary area of Robotech fighters, I looked at them with disdain, what the hell is a gerwalk mode!? But if I could go back now I would buy the entire section! For its time the toy had superior articulation, size and quality, plus the badass look in bot mode with all the armour.

How Many Jetfire toys do you have?
Only nine, but my Energon and Armada versions are in the “to sell pile” so really seven. I’m a small fry in the toy collecting department of Jetfire, there is a fella on TCCA who has a ridiculous amount of the G1 toys MIB, loose, or whatever. I’d love a sealed one, but in the past few years I’ve managed to get one with the painted Robotech symbols, as well an MIB version that only had one owner from Australia who told me the history of it, to me that is something special, toys can pass through many hands, even sealed ones could have had 10 owners previously, but I got this Jetfire from the only person who had ever had it, the guy who opened it as a kid, almost as good as opening an old case found in a warehouse somewhere in China full of sealed boxes.

From Marty:

Has your collecting rate increased since you moved from a rural to a more suburban setting?
There have been two collecting phases in my life, childhood and adulthood. Both coincide with pre-internet and intra-internet, as well as rural then urban. I will expand on this….. as an adult the internet has essentially gone from a rural service to metro, so yes this change has made finding things easier, in 2002 when I first got onto ebay it was like a small country town, and it was full of friendly people, now, especially post movie era, it is a place where scammers and dickheads live. While you can get more, the prices are higher and the risk of dodgy goods is everywhere.
So to answer the question, my peak was between 2002 and 2004, I was living in Canberra, there were a lot of good TF toys in the stores, RID and Alternators, as well as very good prices for G1 stuff online and a huge second hand market at garage, car boot and market sales. That was a golden era for collecting for me.

Have you been able to draw your daughter into the world of giant transforming robots at all?
I have tried, she’s not a big fan, she knows I love them but the common toy interest we share is Lego, she loves building them and playing with them. We have amassed a decent train collection, as well as her friends sets.

Besides Big Angry Trev, is there anyone that you admire in the world of Transformers (fellow collectors, actors, comic artists, toy designers etc)?
I love the writings of a guy called Maz, he is a true TF historian and someone who I genuinely think I would get along with in real life. Heroic Decepticon is good too due to his ability to financially accommodate his G1 collecting, but probably out of mine and most people’s league. I’ve got to know a few guys through TCCA on facey who have similar collecting interests to me, they have mostly lurked in the shadows as I have, people who are humble in their collecting impress me.

From Trent:

Name one thing about the TF community that you don’t like.
I can name two things. The…………… how do I put this…………..dick waving shit of my collection’s, bigger, worth more, better than anyone else’s crap.
Here’s a fun fact, I had 1500 Transformer toys in 2004. At the time from what I could tell one of the biggest in Oz, did it give me anything? No……… (unlike my collection now, which when I look at it gives me genuine happiness)
It took up a lot of space and cost a lot of money. Now this is pre-movie era, so I had every Western G1 to Animorphs and whatever was coming out at the time, PLUS, most figures I had two of to display in both modes, if it was a triple changer or combiner then there were more figures I had, it was out of control, and the display was bots just jammed up against each other, with boxed stuff from Armada getting stored away. That’s not collecting, that’s an addiction and a hoarding issue. Luckily I had the income to support this insanity, and when push came to shove a couple of years later I was able to sell most of it and take a pause for the better.
So yeah, back to the question, there are many fans out there, some might collect era’s we don’t like, some may have 10, or 1000, or 5000 figures, that doesn’t matter, we all love the same thing, people use “till all are one’ a lot but let’s mean it. We are ALL ONE, we love Transformers, lets embrace it.
Old man rant over, for now,…………………oh wait my second, or third point, or wherever I’m up to.
I don’t like how there is a secrecy around parts of the TF collecting community, I’m not saying that some departments should open their doors for all and sundry, but when an important topic that effects all collectors in that area regardless of personal connections comes up it should be shared, I’m a massive fan of the history of the toys, but some of the people who have the knowledge choose to not share it. What’s the point?!

Conversely, name the thing (or things) that you really like about the TF fandom.
There is a guy named Kelvin who really embodies passion for the hobby and I think that kind of passion is great!  To go further I can easily say that 90 plus percent of the people I have met in the TF community are so similar to me and that they share a passion for what is basically a toy line, but being nerds we fear human interaction so most of my contact while on the whole is positive and online only.

From May:

What was your opinion of ROTF Jetfire?
Loved him, based on one of my favourite planes the SR-71 Blackbird, merely a spy plane, but the fastest ever. He was such a good character, since the movie I have toured the US extensively and got to see Jetfire in person and it was so good, smaller than I expected but beautiful and sleek despite the age. He made the ultimate sacrifice to help Prime, he got so elevated in my opinion when that happened, he’s the only Bayformer toy I own.

What is your favourite Jetfire toy?
G1 all the way. I have to give positive mention to the Generations version, looks amazing and did well to not get sued by the a-hole from Harmony Gold.

 

Got any other questions for Raymo?  Pop them in the comments section below:

Fan Interviews & Art, Transformatorium

Transformer Fan Interview – Lisamaree

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One great thing about being a Transformers fan is getting to meet other members of the fandom.  Of course that was all but impossible in the pre-internet days (yes kids – some of us are old enough to remember that) unless they went to your school.  Nowdays you can meet Transfans from around the globe without ever having to leave your laptop!
Someone I have had great conversations online with over the years is fellow blogger Lisamaree.  Being a former Sociology major (one of many degree’s I have that proved to have no value in the real world) she fascinates me since she is a Kiwi who was living in Australia and now is raising a family in China.  As a Transformers fan she is a great person to chat to and debunks the theory that you have to be some sad virgin male living in his parents basement to be ‘one of us’.
Here are Lisamaree’s answers to questions about her passion for all things Autobot.

Transformers Allegiance, if you had one?
Where Optimus Prime goes I go… so I guess I have a tendency to show extreme bias to the Autobots
.What existing, official Transformers character best describes you?
Movie Optimus Prime. Honest, caring, loyal to a fault but have a tendency to rip peoples heads off and tear them in 2 when they piss me off.
How would you rate yourself on a C scale, C10 being MISB Mint perfection to the lowest C1 ‘junker not worth it even for parts’?
C7/C8 with C10 tendencies I guess. I’m not much one for the junker stuff at all.Fan/Collector since (year)
Fan since 1984. Collector since 2013. My parents wouldn’t let me have Transformers (specifically Optimus) when I was a kid and my husband believes that has lead to my “over-compensating” now.What drew you to Transformers, making you become a fan/collector?
The G1 cartoon when I was a kid. Optimus Prime. First time I saw the cartoon and saw/heard him I was hooked. It was my “must run home from school to watch TV” show.
Lost touch while I grew up/worked/uni’ed/worked, refound my passion when the first Bay movie came out and I was sitting in the cinema almost wetting myself in excitement when I heard that voice say “Before time began, there was… the cube!” Turned to my husband and said “that’s the REAL Optimus Prime!” with giddy excitement to which my husband had no clue what I was talking about. Didn’t think much about the toys though as I was still adulting my way through life. Then in 2013 we kept walking past YoTH Optimus Prime at various places like Toys’R’Us and I kept drooling all over it with my husband dragging me away… he ended up getting it for my birthday that Christmas and I’ve never looked back. Or as my husband like to say – I’m now making up for lost time.Do you think you will collect Transformers until you die?
Yes. And my kids have already planned how they will divide some of the figures in my collection between them when I drop dead. Thoughtful aren’t they?!Do people outside of the Fandom know you collect TFs (like at work/school)?
Yes.

Were your family/parents supportive of collecting toys or did you have to hide your passion from them and friends?
My husband supports my collecting. He says, and I quote, ”If all you want is one or 2 Optimus Prime figures a month I’m getting off lightly compared to my colleagues whose wives spend a fortune on handbags, jewellery and makeup.” Of course… every now and then there MAY be more than one or 2 figures in a month… but he’s cool with it most of the time.
My parents on the other hand think I’m mad and that I am wasting my time and money on “stupid kids toys” (which they wouldn’t let me have even when I WAs a kid). But they also think the same thing about my kids having Transformers toys… so whatever. *shrugs*
My friends think it is weird and cool. People who see the VERY small portion of my collection on display when they come over LOVE it, even if they think I’m nuts.

Have you attended any fan-meets, Fairs, Conventions?
Yeah. Cybertroncon in Shanghai last year (2016) to meet “Sir” Peter Cullen. That was a blast and fulfilled a childhood dream for me… and my daughter!
I’ve met up with Ozformers in Sydney a couple of times when I’ve been over and had a chance to escape the in-laws. They’re a great group of guys and it’s always fun to catch up and I learn so much.
I’ve been to several of the HK ani-con’s where Hasbro and a lot of the licensed toy designers have booths and you generally get the SDCC figures for sale, get to say hi to Bimbo-bee, etc.
I’ve also been to some exclusive Hasbro toy events for Transformers ranging from Toys’R’Us movie nights  to private toy preview events where I’ve been the only “westerner” and definitely the only chick there.
I went to the Transformers Expo in Macau in 2014.
Never been to a big US event but would really like to do that at some point.

Any creative endeavours with Transformers (drawing, writing, customising, etc)?
I’m learning to draw ballpoint & ink pen line art from a famous Hong Kong artist so my first endeavour was my favourite bot of all time.

Currently working on a Transformers 5 Megatron … because my art teacher said I needed something more challenging than my previous pieces… and good grief is it challenging all right.

Favourite series/era/year, and why?
Give me a G! Give me a 1! G-1! G-1! G1!
I love the original 2 seasons because Optimus Prime … DUH!
Seriously though, as dated as they are now, they were and still are FUN. Silly sometimes, nonsensical but great whimsical concepts, interesting characters and fun good vs evil cartooning with kick arse designs and super cool bots. It’s the show that started it all and will always have a special place in my heart.

Least favourite series/era/year, and why?
Animated. I hate it. Haven’t even collected any of the Primes from that series and don’t intend to despite several people trying to convince me I should have an Animated Optimus in my collection.
I dislike the characterisations. Sari is an annoyance and I hate how they portray Optimus and Megatron. I don’t mind that Optimus isn’t leader and I’m open to alternative versions of characters but there’s something about this series that just makes me shake my head and go NO! Having said that I have watched one episode of Energon and that looks even worse so that could jump to number 1 if I ever had the will to watch it.

Collect any comics (which ones)?
Not really. I have started collecting the Optimus Prime series, not just because of the title but because I’ve finally been able to find a comic store here that gets comics in at a reasonable price with regularity (thanks to another amazing Ozformer) and I could start collecting from part 1. Also brought a few compilations recently while in the US.

Favourite Cartoon episode/story, and why?
Oh gosh… just one?
The episode where Wheeljack builds the dinobots was funny.
So was the one where Optimus & co pretended to be Menasor…
Oh – and the one where Megatron turned Optimus into a giant alligator.
… and the one where the decepticons got drunk on energon…
Also loved the episode of Transformers Prime where Agent Fowler was trying to drive Optimus … Convoy.

Favourite Character, and why?
Optimus Prime.
Because he’s Optimus Prime!
Ok – seriously? Because he’s the same archetype as Superman (who happens to be my favourite superhero).
He’s “perfect” as a hero – strong, brave, enabled and yet you know there is something vulnerable underneath that metallic exterior and hiding behind that faceplate – he’s full of compassion, honesty and sincerity yet he’s not full of himself.
G1 Optimus in particular is quite prone to making mistakes but unlike a lot of other characters he ADMITS his faults which ironically makes him more human than a lot of the humans around him. I just love that about him.

Sexiest Transformers (robot) Character?
Uh… what? I guess I have to say Optimus but honestly I don’t think of my bots in that way.

Which Transformers character would you want to exist for real?
G1 Soundwave or Movie Prime.
G1 Soundwave because he’s so portable and lethal all in one hand carry sided package.
Movie Prime because I’m a sucker for a Peterbilt.

Approx TFs toy collection count (or give a range like 200s, 300s, etc)?
Um… 200+ (excluding my son’s collection of which he has *cough* a few *cough cough*)
I’m not sure of the exact number as I haven’t catalogued them all yet. That’s a current ongoing process right now.

Sealed collector or out-of-packaging collector?
Both. I used to like being a SMIB gal but recently thinking about the fact all these figures need to be relocated to OZ and space running out here I’ve started cracking many of my beauties open. Certain figures I haven’t opened because I enjoy knowing they’re minty new and want to display them at some point in their original state. Having said that there are also quite a few figures that I open because I just love playing with them. Sooooo… yeah… both.

How much do you think you’ve spent on your collecting habit?
Let’s not think about that, especially around my husband ok??? … too much, but given I’m in Asia and tend to only collect Optimus not as much as a lot of you folks I’m guessing.

Any rare/expensive figures in your collection?
Most expensive figure is Ultimetal Optimus Prime – my hubby gave him to me for our wedding anniversary… does he count given he can’t transform?
Rare – I have one of the limited edition black box dinobots prizes from Age of Extinction.
Priceless – My Peter Cullen autographed Optimus Prime and Ironhide.
I may have other rare/expensive pieces but I honestly wouldn’t know as I don’t collect them for that reason.

What interesting Licensed Merchandise items do you have?
I have a fair number of t-shirts and I seem to be accumulating a decent collection of movie drinking containers too.

First Transformers toy?
Year of the Horse Optimus Prime. My hubby gave him to me as a birthday present because every time we’d walk past one I’d drool over it and complain about how he was the ONE TOY I wanted as a kid. My parents didn’t believe girls should have “boy” toys which is why I was never allowed any Transformers when they first came out in the 80’s.

One toy you most want?
One thing I’d really love to get one day is one of the gold Optimus Prime prize figures.
I don’t have any one toy I specifically want as I know there are so many out there I’d like to have. I’m kind of spontaneous in my buying. If I see something I don’t have and the price is right I will probably buy it.

Worst toy(s) ever in your opinion?
One steps and the non transforming titans. My god those things are FUGLY. I got a non transforming titan Optimus Prime for AU$3… and still feel like I paid too much for that piece of plastic.

Thoughts on unlicensed fan-project figures/accessories?
Personally I don’t collect unlicensed figures normally. I’ve only gone out of my way to buy one – Positum (Croctimus Prime). I got him because of my fondness for the G1 episode and the assumption Hasbro would probably never release such an obscure Optimus representation.
I do collect licensed 3rd party figures from companies like Kidslogic, Herocross, etc as long as Hasbro or Takara officially approve/endorse them.
Insofar as unlicensed stuff in general, whilst much of it is nice I tend to be one of these people who likes to support the licensed figures in the hope of keeping the momentum of popularity in the Transformers brand alive.

Which single TFs toy should every fan own?
A Masterpiece figure. I’m obviously bias and think MP-10 or MP-27 as they are my 2 favourites. Ask my son and he’d say you should own an MP Megatron or MP Soundwave.

Do you collect other toys (which ones)?
Not anymore. I used to collect Jurassic Park toys and Buffy figurines. They’re all in storage back in Sydney. I’ll probably keep the Jurassic Park stuff but I’m seriously considering selling the Buffy figures when I move back to Oz.

What other (non-toy) interests do you have?
I bake and decorate cakes that people actually seem to enjoy eating.

Love to write (NOT fanfic) but haven’t had time or commitment for it recently.
What type of music/movies/TV/books do you enjoy
Music: Icehouse, Midnight Oil, Tears for Fears & movie soundtracks
TV: Currently enjoying the show Lucifer. It’s written to cater to my perverse sense of humour. One of the shos my hubs and I love watching together. *
Books: Anything by Michael Crichton, Anne Rice or Ken Follett.

If you died today, what would your tombstone say?
No idea, but it would probably make colourful use of the F word.

Given that a lot of Fandoms, especially ones like Transformers, can often have huge ratios of men compared to women, how do you find being a female Transformer fan?
Gender doesn’t play much of a role when engaging in online forums, which is as it should be.
Unfortunately I can’t say the same for Hong Kong. I’ve been to events where a few collectors have been taken aback and somewhat upset that not only a westerner but a GIRL westerner is at an event with them and they will go out of their way to ignore me. I’ll be treated with scepticism by some until they hear me talking and then I’m suddenly acceptable because I can talk the transformers lingo or speak Cantonese. Hasbro HK love me because I’m such a novelty to them when they see me at events… and obviously as the only female collector they always remember me.
I think the biggest issue I have is collectors in general have a hard time believing a woman or girl could have a passion for a “boys toy” so I feel like I have to prove myself before being accepted.

What stands out as some of the big differences between the AU/western fandom and the Hong Kong/China fandoms? Conversely, is there anything that you would have expected to be the different but was the same?
As I mentioned above the Oz fans are far more tolerant. I also find the Oz collectors aren’t as rabid as the Hong Kong collectors. The HK guys have to have their toys the DAY they come out. They’ll line up waiting for stores to open to be the first to get their hands on a figure (even if they’ve pre-ordered it!!) or in extreme cases fight over the last of a figure on a shelf. I’ve witnessed 2 grown men fighting over a Combiner Wars figure at a store in Wan Chai. I was in a store once and as I went to grab a Warpath Legend sized figure off its hook a guy shot his hand out in front of me grabbed it, gave me a cheeky “I got it first” smirk and bounced off to pay for it. I wasn’t that desperate and just laughed in amusement. I also find the HK guys collect everything. When I say everything I mean not only the official figures but the unofficial licensed and unlicensed figures and some pretty garish KO rubbish as well. They will pre-order and queue for ages at Action Robo just to pick up their unlicensed 3P stuff. This amuses me as the apartments here as so small I couldn’t figure out where they store it all. I’ve since learnt some pay for storage units and fill those up while others have their satisfaction of being the first to get a hold of a figure then when they grow bored of it a few weeks/months later take it to a store like Toyzone and put it on consignment to be sold off.
The mainland China (Shanghai) fandom surprised me in how different they are from the HK guys. They guys I met were more like Ozformers – easy going, truly passionate and fun-loving. They surprised me in the fact they prefer the English versions of the shows and movies and used me as an opportunity to practice their English – one guy had even learned English by watching Transformers!

How do non-TF collectors react to your Transformer hobby?
Generally with confusion. A lot of the expat woman here think I am truly the weirdest person they’ve ever met because of it. How odd am I that I have no idea about their latest designer handbags because I’m too invested in my odd plastic toys! My husbands work colleagues and friends generally think it is unusual but cool.

What are some of the things you have put your partner through with your hobby, in terms of events and toy-hunting?

My poor hubby has been through it all with me.
He’s been through the Transformers Expo in Macau (twice) when it was on.
He’s been to several of the HK Ani-cons to hold my purchases while I continue walking around.
He’s carried the box for Ultimetal Optimus Prime from Yau Ma Tei (Ins Point) to Mong Kok (about 800 metres) where we parked our car one time. Anyone who has seen or tried lifting the box (not just the toy) will know that packaged up that figure is EXTREMELY heavy.
He’s gone out of his way to venture with me to toy areas in countries including Taiwan, China, Japan, Vietnam, Philippines and most recently Bangkok in Thailand. In some cases this has meant a special trip in a taxi to areas off the beaten track. He now allocates time in our travel itinerary (especially in Japan) for us to detour to at least one of the Transformers shops he knows I will want to go to.
He’s also gone out of his way to get things for me during his free time on work trips – eg he got some Transformers mens beauty masks (yes you read that right peoples!) while away for work in South Korea one year because he noticed they had Optimus Prime on them.When I was ill and immobile last year he ventured over to Mong Kok for me a couple of time to pick up Transformers I had pre-ordered on my behalf. He will reluctantly come with me to Sino Centre and Ins Point on the odd shopping trip as long as we go and have a nice dinner afterwards.
He has come to a couple of Hasbro VIP events, including a Star Wars event I was invited to. He’s not a collector nor is he a huge fan of Transformers… but love is love… what can I say? I know what a lucky woman I am.
Oh – and the poor bastard has to deal with one corner of our bedroom towering up with boxes of Optimus Primes I don’t have room to display.
I’ve never had to sneak anything into the apartment. I HAVE asked his approval a couple of times before outlaying on figures if they’re on the pricy side. The only time I’ve hidden MY Transformers from the kids is when I’ve brought figures for my husband to give to me as presents so the kids think he’s gone out and brought them. This always impresses the kids when they help him wrap the presents; daddy is so thoughtful he’s able to get exactly the right Optimus Primes for their mum.
 As a Transformers fan, when you move back to Australia, what are you going to miss most about Hong Kong… considering that you have easy access to both Hasbro and TakaraTomy Transformers in toy stores, along with a plethora of collectable cubicles, selling old and new toys, and the occasional fan events?
What will I miss most about Hong Kong? Hobbybase and In’s Point. The convenience of walking into a store to pre-order all my Takara figures (and the odd Hasbro figure) I will miss greatly. I haven’t even thought about how I’m going to replace that luxury when we move back. I’ll also miss the ability to shop around and price check stores (all in the same mall) to find the best deals on figures. But mostly I’ll miss the easy and relatively cheap access to Takara merchandise. That and some of the local food that I’ve never had replicated correctly elsewhere.
If we look at my non-toy Transformers items it’s well up over the 300 – 400 mark. If you add in my children’s Transformers collections it would be over the 600 mark. My son probably has well over 200 of his own Transformers…
My favourites… Ultimetal Optimus Prime is my favourite non transforming figure. I absolutely love it. MP-27 is my favourite masterpiece figure to transform. My autographed 2002 New Years Encore Optimus Prime is my favourite SMIB figure.

Which item in your collection do your kids most envy and want in their own collection?
My son has his eye on my Kidslogic Grimlock. My daughter has her eye on MP-27 Ironhide and loves setting up Ultimetal Prime in interesting poses.

What started it all for you? Was it an episode, a toy or a character?
It was the G1 show that I fell in love with and the asthetic/voice/characterisation of Optimus Prime. He was the one toy I always, ALWAYS wanted as a kid (other than K.I.T.T) but was never allowed.

 

Don’t forger to check out Lisamaree’s blog:  http://www.lisamaree.com – well worth a read!

And if you have any other questions for her, pop them in the comments section below and I’m sure she will do her best to answer them!

Ask Trev!, Fan Interviews & Art, Transformatorium

Fanscan interview with Big Angry Trev

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This is a transcript of an interview I did where I answered questions from fellow Aussie Transfans – enjoy!
Women want him (to stop belching mainly)
Men want to be him (so that his toys becomes theirs)
He is the Alpha Trion and the Omega Supreme. He is all things to all peoples. As he travels the globe he brings a sense of hope and the scent of heavily fried bacon into the lives of all he touches.
He is a hero of the fanbase
Big Transformer Trev!

Fanscan Interview: August 2017
Subject: Big Angry Trev
Interviewer: Dr. Hook, PhD, OBE, FIBRIR
Master of Processes: Mr. S Megatron

Dr. H: (takes a seat) Thank you for joining me here today.
BAT: (takes the seat opposite) No probs.
Dr. H: Care for a water? Or tea?
BAT: Na. Got any beer? Maybe some jerky or a couple of rissoles?
Dr. H: Er… no.
BAT: I take it a fried egg & bacon sandwich is out of the question?
Dr. H: We have no meat or alcohol on the premises
BAT: Shit, really? Don’t worry then
Dr. H: Ok, we are going to go through some of what are referred to as the ‘stock’ questions, then some questions from some of the Aussie Transfans out there.
BAT: (leans back) Go for it.

Dr. H: Getting straight onto the topic of Transformers, if you had an Allegiance, what would it be?
BAT: Decepticon. I find humanity for the most part to be made up of fricken idiots! I’d love to rule the planet and thusly run it the way I think it needs to be run, under the threat of force from my giant army of killer shape-changing robots from space!

Dr. H: (Underlines ‘messiah complex‘) What would your techspec motto be?
BAT: All shall love me and despair
Dr. H: You stole that from LOTR didn’t you.
BAT: (shrugs) Don’t give a f*ck – always really loved that phrase.

Dr. H: Which existing, official Transformers character best describes you?
BAT: Back in my hippy/backpacker years I would have said Beachcomber. When I was a brash young man I would have said Hot Rod. Now, I dunno, I guess maybe Brainstorm from The Lost Light? Good deep down but a smart arse, slightly amoral and thinks he is more intelligent than everyone else. Chuck in a bit of Whirl psychoticness for good measure andSwerve’s obsessive need to amuse in the hope he will be accepted by his peers.

Dr. H: Which special ability of any Transformers character would you want to have for yourself?
BAT: Blurr’s super speed, I reckon that beats almost every other power if you are too fast to stop or hit. But since I’ve been a kid I’ve dreamed about flying. To have personal flight like the G1 cartoon Cons (a Disney-Movieesque sparkle enters his eyes), what freedom that would be!

Dr. H: How would you rate yourself on a C scale, C10 being MISB Mint perfection to the lowest C1 ‘junker not worth it even for parts’?
BAT: For a long time I’ve felt like C3 at best. In the past few months with no booze, smokes and energy drinks I reckon I’d be a C7 or 8. Or as close to as someone my age can be. I’ve lost nearly 10 kilos and do physical work all day with breaking nary a sweat.

Dr. H: How long have you been a fan of Transformers?
BAT: Since the very first episode aired on TV here in Australia back in 1984 – love at first sight!

Dr. H: And how long have you been a collector?
BAT: As a kid you just take what toys you are given so I reckon I started being a ‘collector’ as a teenager. I started collecting a lot of the reissues that I had originally missed like the combiner groups and stopped when G1 finished. I then started collecting again when a friend gave me a G1 Optimus for my first wedding in 2001 and have been going ever since.

Dr. H: Do you think you will collect Transformers until you die?
BAT: Is that a threat?! (smashes bottle on side table and brandishes it) IS THAT A THREAT YOU FILTHY BASTARD?!?!
Dr. H: (looking shocked and slightly disgusted) No! Now sit down sir.
BAT: F*CK YOU!
Dr. H: I SAID SIT DOWN SIR!
BAT: (sits, looking properly chastised) Ok, no need to be snippy.

Dr. H: Ahem. Now. Do people outside of the general Transformers fandom know you collect TFs?
BAT: (grinning again) Oh my yes, have you seen my ute?

Dr. H: Were your family/parents supportive of collecting toys or did you have to hide your passion from them and friends?
BAT: Mum ran a little toy shop so during my teens I got all my TF’s at cost price. I vaguely remember her being annoyed once when I bought my 3rd pack of Micromasters in the one fortnight. Dad, well, Dad stayed on the farm all his life and had a few issues so to be honest probably couldn’t have told you what I collected, since if it wasn’t related to the farm he wasn’t interested. My friends have always been really supportive of my collecting as an adult.

Dr. H: Given your rather gregarious nature, have you attended any fan-meets, Fairs, Conventions etc?
BAT: When I lived in Melbourne I used to go to Supernova each year but was never aware of any Transformer-specific events.

Dr. H: Being creative, do you do any such endeavors with Transformers such as drawing, writing, customising etc?
BAT: I used to write fanfics about 15 years ago. My Soundwave vs The Borg one was the top rated on Lexicon for quite a while. But no, not really, except for reviews on my blog.

Dr. H: What is your favourite series, era or year, and why?
BAT: I’m a geewunner through and through. I have enjoyed pretty much all the iterations of the Transformers, even the movies, but G1 wins hands down for me.

Dr. H: And your least favourite series/era/year, and why?
BAT: I really didn’t like the first Robots in Disguise series back in the naught-ies. I found the cartoon awful and while many of the toys alt-modes looked fantastic – the best I’d seen since early G1 – I found the majority of the toys had needlessly complicated transformations, especially the 3 Autobot brothers.

Dr. H: Do you collect any of the comics?
BAT: I’ve collected most everything from the Marvel G2 run onwards and have since gotten a lot of reissues of the Marvel G1 ones.

Dr.H: And what have been your favorite comic stories?
BAT: I really loved the first half of the IDW ‘All Hail Megatron’ storyline. It was great to see how easily the Decepticons handed humanity their arse! I quite liked the Sunstorm story arc from Dreamwave and am currently enjoying MTMTE/The Lost Light. And since they were the first comics I ever owned the entire run of, I really enjoyed the G2 twelve-parter, even if the second and third issues were pretty weak.

Dr. H: Collect any cartoons?
BAT: (looks up a pic on his phone and holds it up smugly) You tell me doc.

Dr. H: Er, yes, well done. Do you have a favorite cartoon or episode?
BAT: G1 is da bomb baby. Do people still say that? F*ck it – I’m bringing it back! The mutha-f*cking bomb yo! Optimus Prime actually sounded happy and used to laugh back then! Call of the Primitives was an awesome episode from season 3 but I could happily watch nothing but seasons 1 & 2 for the rest of my days.

Dr. H: Who is your favourite character, and why?
BAT: Aw man, that’s like asking a guy to pick his favorite kid again. Don’t have an absolute favorite but I really dig Soundwave, Swindle, Shockwave, Starscream, Grimlock, Hot Rod, Omega Supreme, etc.

Dr. H: Who do you think is the sexiest Transformer?
BAT: (looks aghast) Dude. They are giant alien robots. There is nothing sexy going on.
Dr. H: I took the liberty of looking at your blog before this interview started. Care to explain this image from one of your reviews then?

BAT: I..I like to have a comfortable mousepad for my wrist is all.
Dr. H: So why did you need two?
BTT: I’ve…. got two wrists?
Dr. H: (sotto voce) And I bet they both get worn out pretty often.
BAT: What was that?
Dr. H: Nothing.

Dr. H: Which Transformers character would you want to exist for real?
BAT: Omega Supreme. Always loved him, plus he is big enough to intimidate entire countries and get me off planet if needs be.

Dr. H: Favourite TFs movie?
BAT: The animated one from 86’ – I can recite every word off by heart and have the soundtrack in my twincab CD player permanently.

Dr. H: Which was your very first Transformers toy?
BAT: G1 Dirge. Got given it for my birthday from a lady my mum used to babysit for. I went that nuts that when it was Xmas the next month I scored both a Mirage and a Cyclonus from my siblings.

Dr. H: Given you have been collecting for over 30 years then, approximately how many Transformer action figures in your collection now?
BAT: I haven’t done a database update for a while but I know earlier in the year I passed the 2000 mark. And I’ve got about a thousand other TF items like clothing, books, mugs and stuff.

Dr. H: Do you keep the action figures sealed or do you take them out to play with?
BAT: I reckon I’ve got maybe 100+ that have never been opened. Half of those would be because I never got around to it, like a lot of the DOTM Human Alliance toys.

Dr. H: Given your impressive collection, how much do you think you’ve spent on your collecting habit all up?
BAT: Oh f*ck knows – thousands, probably tens of thousands all up.

Dr. H: Are any of these particularly rare or expensive?
BAT: The MP Coneheads were stupidly expensive. I spent about $500 on a MIB G1 Scorponok about 5 years ago and over a grand on a 100% complete G1 Fortress Maximus the year before that. Of course 5 months later they announced the reissue that was going for a quarter of that price – was kicking myself. Also got the Botcon Stunticon lot shipping as we speak. As for rare, I do have a G1 Bumblebee red-variant somewhere.

Dr. H: What interesting Licensed Merchandise items do you have?
BAT: I have a tshirt from the actual visual effects team from the first live action movie. An American mate of mine had a friend who worked on TF1 and he passed it along. I’ve also got Big Grim from TF4 as well of course, though he is currently awaiting repair.


Dr. H: What’s one toy you most want?
BAT: One? Bwah haha! You are joking mate – there are bloody tons! If I was to make up a list off the top of my head though from different continuities I’d say:
G1 Overlord
G2 Megatron
BW Blackarachnia
BM Obsidian
RID(01) Scourge
Armada Powerlink Thrust
Energon Beachcomber & Galvatron
Cybertron Skywarp
Animated Blackout & Ratbat
Prime Bludgeon
RID(15) Cyclonus
RescueBots Salvage
Movieverse TLK Leader Megatron
Timelines Slicer
Henkei Ratchet
Arms Micron Breakdown
Titanium Prowl

Dr. H: Whoah – that’s quite a list! I can’t believe you came up with that off the top of your head! One would almost think you Googled the toylines in advance in anticipation of my question.
BAT: (looking shifty) Na, I wouldn’t do that. Hey look over there – that wall is pretty rockin eh!

Dr. H: Moving on. What is the current centerpiece or favoured toy in your collection at the moment?
BAT: Titans Return Trypticon with G1 Overdrive an honorable second.

Dr. H: What was your favourite toy in your early years of collecting?
BAT: As a young kid it was the Stunticons as it was the only combiner group I had.

Dr. H: Which Toy do you like transforming most and why?
BAT: The reissue Powermaster Optimus Prime. That’s so much fun and so satisfying.

Dr. H: What’s the worst toy in your collection?
BAT: RescueBots Quickshadow – what a f*cking piece of shit! Only one damn movement to transform and it still f*cks up!

Dr. H: Along those lines, which toy was most disappointing when you got it?
BAT: Masterpiece Star Saber. Paid a ton for it and its just such an underwhelming toy.

Dr.H: What do you think about gimmicky and non-convertable Transformers toys?
BAT: I have almost zero interest in toy gimmicks, like I’d probably be happier if a lot of the Titans Return toys were not Headmasters. As for non-convertible, if it’s a display piece like a bust or statuette that’s cool, otherwise I don’t see the point of them. I do have most of the Robot Heroes though and love those little guys!

Dr. H: What do you think about unlicensed fan-project figures and accessories?
BAT: I don’t touch’em usually. I got an upgrade kit for my CW Menasor because frankly he looked shit compared to the other gestalts. I also picked up some 3P Quintessons simply as otherwise I’d have no toy of them at all.

Dr. H: Thoughts on the Transformers Brand over the last five years?
BAT: Pretty damn good – it’s an awesome time to be a collector, even if it hits the wallet pretty hard. The Beast Hunters cartoon and the Generations toyline are the definite highlights of the last half decade. The fact we have had two high-grossing live action movies bodes damn well for the franchise as well.

Dr. H: Best Memory with Transformers?
BAT: I’m forming new ones with my son every week.

Dr. H: Worst memory with Transformers?
BAT: When I was a kid I scored Omega Supreme because I literally got down on my knees and begged when I saw him in the shop on a family holiday. A few weeks later the movement gimmick of him stopped working and my mum returned him. A few days after that I was telling a mate at school and he said “Why didn’t you just keep it anyway?” It was such an obvious thing to do, I was kicking myself! Think I even went away and had a little cry.
These days it’s all the fighting and negativity that seems to permeate the fanbase. People seem to think that making personal insults to strangers, over something like a difference of opinion about toys, is fine because its online.  My motto: ‘If you wouldn’t say it to someone in the pub because you’d get a smack in the mouth – don’t say it online!’

Dr. H: In your opinion, which single TF toy should every fan own?
BAT: There are two, both masterpiece. MP Optimus with the trailer and MP Soundwave with the cassettes.

Dr. H: Which Transformers toy/product would you give as a wedding present?
BAT: I got a G1 Optimus for my first wedding and was thrilled, can’t think of a better one to give anyone else.

Dr. H: Do you collect anything else?
BAT: During the post-G1 years I collected memorabilia from the TV show Home Improvement. Clothing, mugs, board games, trading cards – the lot! A few years ago I was collecting anime figures like Super Sonico & Pochaco but it was cutting too much into my Transformers budget and stopped.

Dr. H: (subtly Googles ‘Pochaco’ on his phone, then writes under the other observations ‘probable mazophiliac’) What other interests do you have that are non-toy related?
BAT: Mainly hobby farming. For every minute I spend playing with my Transformers I probably spend a full day working on my farm. Everything from building cubby houses, pirate ships and sandpits for my kids to organically growing fruit, vegetables and the like. I have goats, chooks, ducks etc. I really do love living on a farm in the nice, quiet, beautiful countryside and growing plants and animals. I’ve quit teaching to see if I can make a go of it as a living.
Other stuff? Well I love meat – like I REALLY love meat! My wife was a vegetarian when I first met her 15 years ago – didn’t take me long to lure her back to the winning side. I intend to start making my own sausages soon as well as brewing my own beer.
I’m a big fan of Deadpool and also The Tick.
I’d say my family but that’s not an interest – that’s my reason for existence.

Dr. H: What entertainment do you enjoy for leisure? As in music, movies, tv, books and the like?
BAT: When it comes to music I don’t give a damn what is popular or what genre it is, it’s whether I personally like it. So back in the day I was just as likely to listen to The Spice Girls as I was hard rock. If I have a particular genre I like best it’s probably Speed Metal. The best way to describe it is, if the song makes me want to charge into battle and headbutt a tank then that’s the music for me! If I have a favorite band at the moment I’d say it is Baby Metal. What it will be in 6 months I honestly don’t know. Quite like Hilltop Hoods, Rammstein and The Wombats as well. Best show I’ve seen live was the Jon Butler Trio a few years back.
Movies, my tastes are fairly wide but generally action and/or comedy are the ones that appeal to me. A good sci-fi/horror gets my vote as well. Anything that talks about feelings – no thank you! Anything animated – yes please! I don’t watch movies that much because frankly you can figure out the plot and the probable ending in the first 5 mintues of a flick these days. I really liked Seven because it didn’t have a happy ending.
Television, I don’t really watch much as I’m an outdoors person and of a night we have the kids routine to work through. The shows I make time for would be Criminal Minds, Law & Order SVU & Mad as Hell. Just finished season 2 of Arrow. My fav show at the moment would be Rick & Morty – it’s awesome! I’m really hoping the new version of The Tick does justice to such a great character. The only reality TV show I’d ever watch would be if it chronicled me hunting down the f*cker that invented reality TV in the first f*cking place and shoving a movie camera forcibly up his bastard arse! Stupid f*cking shit that it is!
Books, don’t have much time for sadly which is a shame because I’ve always been a prolific reader. I enjoy reading classics that I’ve never encountered before, the latest one would be The Day of the Triffids and before that it was Animal Farm and One flew over the Cuckoos Nest. I’ve read the Discworld series to death and when younger used to read Footrot Flatsover and over. I like Deadpool comics as well.

Dr. H: If you died today, and no that’s not a threat, what would your tombstone say?
BAT: Realistically, and most accurately, probably ‘Loving Husband and Father’. But I wouldn’t mind it saying ‘Trev’s on his way – duck and cover God!’

Dr. H: And before we move onto the submitted questions from other Aussie Transfans, is there anything else you would like people to know about you?
BAT: Not really, I’m a very private person.
Dr. H: Yes, evidently so.

 

Quote:
Question by Bas View Post
Did you really get shitty at the thought of Prime being a primate?
Quote:
Question by ‘The Raider’ View Post
Monkey or Truck? 😛

BAT: Ok, let’s put this Beast Wars thing to rest once and for all.
My G1 collecting massively slowed down in the late 80’s as the majority of the Decepticons became weird monster things rather than vehicles. A few monsters and animals I didn’t mind being in there for variety and loved groups like the Dinobots and Predacons, but it was getting too much by 1988 and taking up too much of the line. Hence why I had groups like the Triggercons but not the Decepticon Headmasters. Then came the Pretenders and I absolutely hated them – organic shells seemed so stupid! Where were the armies of giant robots that turned into jets and trucks and sports cars and stuff that I fell in love with in 84’? So my collecting slowly died and I bid Transformers what I thought was a final sad farewell, with the Predator team being the last lot I collected that I really liked.
Animorphs came and went which I didn’t even credit as being Transformers. Then one day in 1996 I was flicking channels and there was some talking rat who looked up to a gorilla standing next to him and called him ‘Optimus’. What. The. F*ck!? I watched a bit more and found out that THIS was the new version of Transformers and that Optimus turned into a gorilla and Megatron turned into a T-Rex and both they and their armies were all really small and had organic alt-modes now. Also they were called Maximals and Predacons instead of Autobots and Decepticons which seemed to be just a bunch of new-age bollocks.
It was blasphemy! It was bullshit! It was a kick in the face to everything I had loved about the franchise! I was beyond pissed off and ranted, usually over several beers at the Uni pub, that this was everything that was wrong with the world and they might as well start dropping the bloody nukes right now!
Of course many years later on I learned better. I learned that these were not the original Optimus and Megatron and that the series actually paid a lot of homage to G1 and was a continuation of it rather than a replacement. Then came Transmetal bodies, The Ark, appearances by Ravage etc and I got right into it. So now I have the DVD box sets, a couple of toys, some comics, a poster etc. Yeah it’s not my favorite iteration of Transformers, not even in my top 5. But I can appreciate it for what it is and there are some episodes from late in S3 I’d happily watch again and again. I really like Depthcharge and have a soft spot for Waspinator.

Question by Scott View Post
So I hear you’re the current Ozformers Member of the Year (2016). The website owner has held this prominent position for many a years. Do you think the voters got ‘boss fatigue’ & voted for a non-traditional member? (just like Donald Trump for the White House)

BAT: I am nothing like Trump!

I don’t think I was Boss fatigue per’se, it was just a bit of fun to vote for someone different. In fact I think he himself had been encouraging people for years to not vote for him. If there is any element of what you are suggesting involved, at most it may be that the site owner is often forced into the teacher role trying to control peoples behavior whereas I’m often at the other end of the spectrum in the naughty-scamp role, stirring shit hither and yon.

Question by Scott View Post
The elections on that site are always shrouded in mud slinging & dirty campaign tactics but never get the light of day. Can you give an insight on how your campaign team was so overwhelmingly successful to achieve 29% of all primary votes.

BAT: It was all a bit of fun really. I Give all the credit to Scotty for doing campaign art!

Question by Megatran View Post
You’ve got more Transformers apparel than most people. Which Transformers apparel are you most fond of? How’d it come into your possession?

BAT: Well I already talked about the tshirt from the visual effects team. I’ve got a light-up Autobot tshirt somewhere that I like for the novelty value and about 8 different G1 Soundwave tops. I think my favorite one at the moment is my Optimus one where he is a Truck because of the message on it.

It’s not remotely PC which always gets my vote but also is self-mocking via the fact that anyone wearing a Transformers tshirt in public is actually very unlikely to be mobbed by the opposite sex.

Question by Michael View Post
My question: It’s no secret you have young kids. What do you do (if anything) to pass the torch of TF fanship to the next generation? Is it a concern for you if they decide to not pursue TFs as a hobby/interest?

BAT: Well considering my sons given names the poor little sod never had much of a chance to avoid the Transformers world. He truly loves it though and to be honest sharing it with him is now the highlight of the hobby for me! I never open a new toy without him and he loves putting the trading cards in my folder, holding the Titan Masters and weapons while I transform the figures and playing with them in both modes. He has a pretty extensive collection for a 4 year old, with the majority of the Rescue Bots, a lot of the Happy Meal figures and a few huge figures like the Stomp’n’Chomp Grimlock and RID(15) Bumbebee. He’s got tons of TF clothing himself as I buy it for him whenever I see it.

I have a crate up in the cupboard full of Transformer stuff for him for future birthdays, many based around his namesake.

My daughter has not fully escaped either. At only two years of age I’m getting her right into my little pony and even made a display of TF/MLP comic crossover covers for her wall.

If they hated Transformers I’d be disappointed but it doesn’t concern me if neither of my kids pursue it as a hobby or interest. They are awesome little individuals with their own lives and their own tastes. After all, I love my wife and I still haven’t managed to get her to even watch AoE yet! It was a major disappointment to my family that, despite me actually giving everything a go such as being on the school cricket and basketball teams, that I had bugger all interest in sport – it wasn’t who I was. I don’t wanna inflict that kinda judgment on my kids or try and force them into something they won’t enjoy – I’ve been there.
Question by JUST CHILEN YO View Post
If you could go back in time to collect a MISB Transformer, either Hasbro or TakTom, what would it be?
BAT: • If it was for desire I’d say G1 Overlord since that is one toy I will probably never own and I’d absolutely love to get my hands on – it looks so damn cool!
• If it was for profit I’d say G1 Fort Max, I’d bring him back to the future and flog him for a fortune!
• If it was out of bitterness, I’d say G1 Soundwave. I gave one to a close mate in my early 20’s and a couple of months later he turned into a total bastard and we weren’t friends anymore, so I regret giving him such a special gift – especially since I may have two G1 Soundwave’s myself but neither have their box.
• If it was MOSC instead of MISB I’d say Squawktalk & Beastbox since they are the only Hasbro Con cassettes I am missing.
Dr. H: Big Angry Trev, thanks for joining us today.
BAT: No wukkas, can you call me a taxi?
Dr. H: You’re a taxi
BAT: Oh, just fu*k off would ya!
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