ENCORE #23 FORTRESS MAXIMUS BOX PICTURES! ETA MID TO LATE APRIL 2013!

10:41 AM in 1988 Headmaster, 2013 Reissue, ATTACK BASE, Big Robot, Encore, Fortress Maximus, Japanese G1, NOT YET RELEASED, Vintage

HI FOLKS, JUST ANOTHER SHORT POST TO UPDATE THOSE GENERATION ONE AFICIONADOS THAT TF:YUKI FROM TAKARATOMY'S OFFICIAL TWITTER PAGE HAS JUST REVEALED THE UPCOMING BOX DESIGN FOR NONE OTHER THAN ENCORE #23 FORTRESS MAXIMUS!  IT HEARKENS BACK TO THE DAYS OF THE ORIGINAL JAPANESE BOX/ GRID AUTOBOT DESIGN, RIGHT DOWN TO THE FONTS AND PICTURES USED! EXCITING TIMES, IS IT NOT?!  **ENCORE IS ON THE LEFT AND ORIGINAL ON THE RIGHT*

JUST A SIDE NOTE: SEEMS LIKE TAKARATOMY HAS OR IS TRYING TO TIGHTEN UP IT'S LAX QC ISSUES OF LATE BY DOUBLE-CHECKING THE CONTENTS OF THIS BEHEMOTH RELEASE. THUS, CHANCES ARE THAT YOUR FORT MAX BOXES MIGHT BE 'DOUBLE-TAPED' ON THE OPENING OF THE BOX FLAP. AS CONFIRMED BY TFW2005 MEMBER Joshua, HE HAS SENT AN INQUIRY TO TFSOURCE. COM, AND THE CONFIRMATION IS RELAYED AS FOLLOWS:-  

''Originally Posted by joshua 

From TFSource's Facebook page just now:

TFsource
Here is an Encore Fortress Maximus Update - be sure to read through! Preorder yours at TFsource here:
Encore #23 - Fortress Maximus
Encore #23 - Fortress Maximus - Early Release Air Shipment

Today Takara pulled back all of the Fort Max stock for a second QC inspection. Due to this some stock did not pass, and Takara has to do a new run. This will not be finished until the end of April. The good news - TFsource will receive all of our stock on schedule shipping out later this week. Many shops will not.

The bad news - all of the first run of Fort Max will be double-taped. Some collectors are very particular about this, so be aware all stock we receive will be double-taped. It's unavoidable due to the circumstances, but also a check to show that the product passed the QC check. Takara did not release any information on what the QC issues are that caused this.''

PERSONALLY, THIS IS GOOD NEWS TO ALL OF US WHO ARE PUTTING DOWN A FAIR BIT MORE OF OUR MONEY INTO SOMETHING AS HUGE AND IMPORTANT AS A FORTRESS MAXIMUS RE-RELEASE, NOT LEAST  FOR THE SHEER SIZE BUT AS A DISCERNING AND 'PICKY' COLLECTOR, THIS GIVE SOME SENSE OF RELIEVE. CANNOT WAIT TO ADD THIS TO MY COLLECTION, BTU AT THE SAME TIME, I AM SURE THAT SPACE- OR RATHER THERE LACK OF IT WILL BE AN ISSUE WHICH MANY OF US WILL FACE! 

ENCORE/ FORTRESS MAXIMUS/ HEADMASTER COPYRIGHT 1988/ 2013 TAKARATOMY , HASBRO

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THE SECOND COMING OF ENCORE #23 FORTRESS MAXIMUS!

11:24 PM in 1988 Headmaster, 2013 Reissue, ATTACK BASE, Big Robot, Encore, Fortress Maximus, Japanese G1, NOT YET RELEASED, Vintage

Hi guys! It's me again, Wing_Saber-X! Sorry for slacking off lately in updating my blog. Loads of awesome news in terms of Transformers releases lately that I can't even catch my breath! Well, to be perfectly honest I don't know where to start! It's all so overwhelming to say the least. All I can say is that some of the newer confirmed releases have gotten my head in a spin-- all giddy and light-headed- sort of like someone with a bad hangover....To all one true, hard core Transformers Generation one fans out there, you may already know that Encore # 23 is something special and one which was rumored - - the first inkling of a possible 'release't which as initially made out to be a hoax- by none other than uber G1 collector extraordinaire Heroic Decepticon- sometime back in April 2012, turned out to have been right on the money after all. So, does this mean this imminent release has been in the works for sometime?! Yes folks, I'm talking about the one and only Fortress Maximus! 

Now in terms of how a big a deal this sudden but not shocking surprise release will affect the 'collector' market value for the original remains to be seen. One thing's for certain, I will put in a pre-order for this bad-boy as soon as my regular shop here where I'm at puts in an official order form. It's the second time that an out and out Fortress Maximus toy release has been announced within the span of a couple of month of this year alone, with the other being the Kabaya Gum version. Prices will vary depending on when you decide to buy the humongous toy. Some sites are reporting an early February 2013 release- i.e. via Hong-Kong based online toys company, Robotkingdom-  with a suggested retail price of only $299 USD, or wait till it reaches US shores via BBTS.com for $350- $400? Personally, I wont want to be the person paying the hefty shipping price for that giant toy.... and will be getting this locally, natch. :D But the problem will obviously be the issue of where the toy will be stored one I receive it...... :/

Okay so many of you who did't grow up with the original Transformers Generation One series might second guess or even question what the appeal of this huge chunk of giant plastic brick of a toy can possibly hold? Well, firstly it's a huge 2-meter robot which has three modes of pretty damn versatile modes of transformations. Add to the fact that during the 80's this was one of the most desired thing in the whole universe in the bleary eyes of then Saturday morning-cartoon addicted   kids who grew up watching Transformers, just adds a level of desire and appeal to want to own this important piece of Transformers  toy lore. I am personally glad to be finally be able to be one of the 'regular' - lol- vintage collector - to own my very own Fortress Maximus after so longingly desiring this from afar. Bottom line, just go out and get this bad boy or you might regret it and kick yourself later!

Fortress Maximus, Transformers Headmasters and Encore Copyright Takaratomy 1988, 2012

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NEWLY RELEASED PICTURES OF ENCORE #22 TWINCAST AND #21 SOUNDBLASTER!

10:50 AM in 2012 Reissue, Encore, Generation 1, Japanese G1, Soundblaster, TAKARATOMY, Twincast

Hello folks! just a quickie update to say how pleased I am to be excited for the continuation of Takaratomy's Generation One homage sub line that is the Transformers: Encore series.

These next short days (to those living in Asia-Pacific region) will see the final distribution and release of two 'Cassette-trons', aka Encore #21 Soundblaster and Encore #22 Twincast. They come with  Great homages to the original releases, and they fixed the faces of the toys to fit their anime during the Headmasters continuity appearance! The pictures of the newly and soon to be released reissues are liked and credited to Hobbysearch.jp. 

Text linked / credited to user Powered Convoy from the Allspark forum: 

The latest Encore figures Soundblaster with Enemy and Wing Thing and Twincast with Nighstalker and Stripes!  These highly anticipated reissues feature modified versions of the the original Soundblaster (now with an all silver face plate, red eyes, and tampographed insignia symbol) and Twincast (with a yellow face, blue eyes, smooth tape deck, and tampographed insignia symbol) as well as new Cassettrons based on very obscure Cassettron related characters!  First up is Enemy, a red and dark blue redeco of Frenzy based on the old Transformer Radio and Voice Changer.  Next is Wing Thing, Action Master Soundwave's animal partner, who is presented as a black and orange redeco of Rat Bat.  On the side of the Autobots is Nightstalker, a black redeco of Steeljaw with Ravage's weapons, who was once partners with Ravage in a UK story.  Last but not least is Stripes, a orange and gray tiger redeco of Ravage with Steeljaw's weapons, who was presented in one of the original Transformers:  The Movie scripts.

Stripes: Blaster's preliminary Autobot cassette (which was) supposed to be part of the draft script in the 1986 Transformers animated movie. Idea was scrapped and he was (thankfully) eventually replaced by Ramhorn or Steeljaw.

-Nightstalker: a character in a Marvel UK exclusive text story. 'State Games' 

-Enemy: Homage to the Original Micorchange MC-01 version of Rumble/Frenzy 

-Wingthing: Soundwave's Action Master partner.

Verdict: Beautiful, vintage box-art. and the contents are perfect. What more can one ask for?!! Thus, I am buying TWO of each release! 

Encore/ Twincast/ Soundblaster Copyright Takaratomy 

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