Transformers (Generation One- Throttlebots) Chase 1987

Professor blog: 000009 Subject: Chase Brand of product: Transformers (Generation One- Throttlebots) Original Release year: 1987

Chase is a very interesting Transformer to me. He is one of the Throttlebots and has a transformation that is extremely simplistic compared to most of them. The transformation can be done in just a few steps. All of the Throttlebots had the exact same type of transformation. Now the most interesting part about them is that they have a little motor in the toys so you can pull them back and it zooms away. Chase has the “rub sign” that Hasbro put on most of the Generation One transformers to prove that they are legit. The rub sign is heat sensitive and shows the Autobot symbol when touched. He does not come with any accessories.

Now the Throttlebots are an interesting toy but they are some what hard to get compared to most of the 1984-1987 toys. I, personally, love my little Throttlebot. He is close in size to the mini-bots so he looks good around them in vehicle or robot modes. If you ever look up Chase as a character, he originally shows up in Season 4 of Transformers (the Headmasters series) but has a bigger role in the Marvel Transformers comics.

I think this is a good toy for new collectors who are looking into the variety of Transformers out there. He has a very interesting gimmick in the simplistic transformation and the pull back motor. The only problem is finding one twenty-seven years later that actually works.

Background of the toy: This particular Chase came to me opened from Transformerland.com. He arrived into my collection in December 2013. He has no breaks or chips and his paint looks amazing. He is complete because he came with no weapons. He is the proper color and has no damage.

Transformers (Generation One) Warpath 1985

Professor blog: 000008 Subject: Warpath Brand of product: Transformers (Generation One) Original Release year: 1985

I will start this out by saying that Warpath was my favorite Autobot Transformer as a kid because of the cartoon. He always said ridiculous stuff like “BLAM!” or “KABOOM!” and other hilarious non-sense. I will not let my sentimental side look at this toy and see it for what it is.

Warpath is modeled off of the General Motors M551 Sheridan Armored Recon/Airborne Assault Vehicle and is a lightly armored Vietnam-era tank. He was one of the original pre-Transformer toys in Takara’s Microman: Microchange toy line and is usually considered to be a Diaclone product by most collectors. Now Warpath’s toy has many molded details to appear to look like a real tank. He has a gunner’s hatch, a driver hatch, details all over the body of the toy as well as wheels in the treads, etc. He was designed pretty well for a toy that is barely the size of your thumb transformed. Now the only paint on this toy is the maroon body, black eyes and the silver treads. He also has a rub sticker, which Hasbro used to seperate their official toys from the competition. This is the most common Warpath out there but there is a variant with the mouth piece painted black instead of the eyes.

Now Warpath is a very simplistic toy. Like the other Mini-bots (Bumblebee, Gears, Cosmos, etc.), Warpath has a very simplistic transformation and is pretty small compared to most Transformers. The only down side to the mini bots is that they have no weapons and tend to have very simplistic paint schemes because of their small sale value in the 1980s. Now this can be a good thing as well as a bad thing. The good thing is that this makes him extremely easy to complete considering you only have to buy him. The bad thing is that he looks like of cheeky next to other Transformers. Now as bad as that would be, the mini-bots have grown on all of us so it is pretty hard to judge them accordingly. Now there is no other repaint of Warpath besides the Diaclone counterpart so collecting him for your collection will be unique and worth the hassle. He is fairly priced for his age and will make a great addition to anyone’s collection.

Background of the toy: This particular Warpath came to me opened from an Ebay auction. He arrived into my collection in November 2013. He has no breaks or chips and his paint looks amazing. He is complete because he came with no weapons. He is the proper color and has no damage.

Interview with Matt from Transformerland.com about the Dinobots in Age of Extinction and more!

Here is an interview with Matt from Transformerland.com. He is a professional Transformer toy seller. We would like to thank Mr. Matt for giving us an interview on their views about the upcoming live action Transformer film Age of Extinction!

1) We saw that the Toy Fair 2014 announced a brand new set of Dinobots. Three originals and two new members. What is your impression of these toys? Right, so we have Grimlock (T-rex), Strafe (two-headed Pteranodon), Slug (Triceratops), Scorn (Spinosaurus) and Slash (Velociraptor). Unfortunately my impression is that I'm not very impressed. Basically it appears to me Hasbro is picking up right where DOTM left off. The movie toys seem to be targeted more toward kids than collectors. I suppose many Transformers series are like that (Animated, Beast Wars, most of Unicron Trilogy, etc.), but something really changed with the main lines starting around DOTM and continuing through Prime. Figure size and weights are down significantly, and those with any bulk are largely simplistic in design, and they just seem...well, kinda 'holey' for lack of a better word. Holey meaning full of holes or empty space. Don't get me wrong, I still dig some of the lines obviously meant for collectors (Generations), but I don't think the Dinobots are being done any favors in AoE.

2) Do you think the Transformers: Age of Extinction movie will change the Generation one dinobot overall value? And why? Almost certainly. I mean we can use Devastator as a cast study; http://www.transformerland.com/show_parent_g12.php?action=get_parent&toyid=834&genid=1 price chart is parabolic in shape with a maximum around 2009-2010 as you might expect, due to his appearance in DOTM. The Dinobots will fare the same, barring some Encore or other re-issue.

3) Do you think this would affect all five original dinobots or just Grimlock, Slag and Swoop? I expect it to be an across-the board increase in value. Grimlock and Swoop will likely see the most benefit since, well, Grimlock is the main draw and G1 Swoop is about twice as hard as any other Dinobot to find unbroken.

4) Why do you think the Dinobots are so popular? I think they're an easy kid favorite. Most kids are fascinated by dinosaurs, I know I was! So now you'll have two generations growing up with Dinobots in the mainstream, though the G2 Dinobots, so-to-speak, won't be as long-lived one can safely assume.

5) In your experience, if the Dinobot toys value would change, how long do you think it would last before the market value evens out? It will even out in a year, again using the above price chart for Devastator as a case study.

6) Would you guess for this to just affect Generation one or do you think Generation 2, Universe, Animated, etc. Dinobots would be affected as well? Ha, good question...somehow I don't think it will have the same effect on prices for post-G1s as they are much more plentiful and much easier to find in decent condition, even sealed.

7) Which is your favorite Dinobot? I've always been a fan of Swoop, any huge flying reptile gets my vote!