Monthly Archives: March 2018

Random Rants

Betrayed by our Cricket Icons

Leave a comment

The mightiest of Australian icons has fallen.

 

There are not many institutions, let alone individuals, who are held up on seemingly unshakable pedestals.  Pop stars are not – we just wait for the next drug scandal or bad album.  Scientists are not, even though they should be.  Politicians?  Forget about it – the amount of credibility to be found in Canberra would not fill a metaphorical teaspoon.

 

So who does that leave?  Well for us Aussies it’s usually our sporting heroes.  But even those are not universally revered.  If you live in certain states then chances are you don’t give a stuff about AFL and likewise with Rugby.  Basketball still has the stigma of being an American sport and Soccer is considered too European too be a true Aussie pursuit.

 

So we have the cricket.

 

To wear the Baggy Green is a dream that even the most sporting inept of young men dream of.  Even I did.  I was on the school team in Primary School, though my lack of coordination combined with an inherent fear that a speeding ball was going to remove my head guaranteed I was perpetually the worst on the team.  But even I dreamed of playing for Australia, smacking 6’s out of the park all over the world for the glory of my team and my country.  We hold our test cricketers in esteem with a level that no other sport receives in our great brown land.  We pin on them so many of our hopes, our dreams and our national pride.

 

Yesterday that all came crashing down.

 

For those that don’t know,  our team was caught cheating.  So what, all teams cheat now and then, everyone does it etc etc etc.

No, not the Australian Cricket Team.  Not before.  Not until now.

 

The greenest member of our Test Side, a young man named Cameron Bancroft was caught on camera ball tampering.  By the application of yellow tape to make the ball pick up grit, he hoped to change the way the ball flew in order to frustrate the opposing batsmen – a well known and much despised way to cheat.

Attempting to hide the evidence in front of television cameras – not bright

But we cannot lay the blame simply at the feet of this young man, because it was the leadership members of his team that put him up to it, headed by the team skipper Steve Smith.  After being caught in this flagrant act of cheating a press conference was called and Smith admitted that it was a premeditated action, multiple members of the team conspiring to purposely cheat.  He even had the audacity to go on in his interview that he felt he should still remain captain.

 

Well he won’t be captain any longer if the public has anything to say about it.  The public are pissed off!

 

Why are we so pissed off?  Well as said before, we hold our cricketers up to a level that perhaps only the biggest of our Olympic heroes also reach.  They represent us on the world stage in a sport that we have so often ruled.  They go out into the world, armed with a green hat and a piece of willow and shine for us.  To be captain of the Australian Test Cricket Team is perhaps the highest position a player of sport could ever hope to achieve in our nation.  Beneau, Border, Lawry, Ponting – they are names that every person knows.  As for Bradman, he is a true legend in our society (and didn’t have to put on a metal helmet and rob people to become it).  Our cricketing captains are the closest we have to home-grown royalty and someone that little boys see as tangible heroes.  Oh they go may through slumps in ability or difficulty with the ACB, but for the most part they are unimpeachable.  Unlike so many other countries teams, our team and our captains have always been the squeakiest of squeaky clean and beyond reproach.

 

Smith’s actions took that away from us.  He stole that from us.  He ruined that for us!

How dare he.

HOW DARE HE!?

You bastard!

How dare you Steve Smith!  How dare you sir!  You were given the top job in Aussie sport and you sullied it, you dragged it through the mud!  Do you really believe Australians will forgive you?  You might as well forget about the massive amount of sledging that our team will have to endure from other counties on the field for years to come, you need to worry about what you will cop from the home crowds when you next play in Australia, if you ever get that chance.  The Captain of the Australian Cricket Team is a sacred position, a sacred trust.  You have betrayed that trust.  You have betrayed us.  My 5 year old son is really getting into cricket, shows no interest in other sports but is always eager for us to head down to the local nets and smack a few balls around.  I won’t be buying him a poster of you anymore, I won’t be holding you up as a figure to emulate. In fact I’ll go out of my way to make sure he never learns your name.  Because I don’t want him to feel disenfranchised with a sport in which his interest is just beginning to grow. You have gone from a source of national pride to a source of national shame.  Aussies are very fair minded and the fact that you put your youngest, most inexperienced team member up to such an act, putting him in such an awkward position that he either betrays his captain or his sport, just compounds the nature of your crime.  If you had any decency at all, you would quit right now and do your best to become a ghost because you will not be welcome in many social circles on your home turf anymore.  We can forgive losses, but we cant forgive this.

 

So can Australian cricket ever recover from this.  The answer is yes, but perhaps not entirely.  As the years progress it will become a matter of history but Australia can never get back the ‘Well, we have never cheated’ mantle – its gone forever.  It has been stolen from us and the nation mourns.

 

My love of the sport remains, but my love of our team and especially its captain, does not.

 

Got something to add?  Would love to read it in the comments section below!

 

 

 

Fan Interviews & Art, Transformatorium

Transformer Fan Interview – Chris

Leave a comment

Welcome to the latest in a series of interviews with Aussie Transformer Fans.  Last time we talked to Michael, an absolutely brilliant customizer!  Today we talk to someone who has also had a crack at the customization game – as well in his spare time brushing up on his Metallikato skills – today we talk to Chris.

Name or what friends call you?

Christopher Turner.

 

State you live in?

Queensland.

 

Your age?

33.

 

How did you hear about www.bigangrytrev.com?

Transformers Collectors Club Australia.

 

Transformers Allegiance, if you had one?

Decepticons.

 

Your Techspec motto if you had one?

“Do not scorn the weak cub. It may grow to become the brutal Tiger.”

 

What existing, official Transformers character best describes you?

Bludgeon. He’s a Decepticon warlord bound by a strict code of honour.

 

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

Bludgeon’s mastery of Metallikato. His supernatural skill with the blade makes him a match for even the most powerful Transformers.

 

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 – Out of the box but in good nick.

 

Fan/Collector since (year)?

I’d like to say 1984, but that was the year I was born so my interest didn’t truly develop until about ’86-’87.

 

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

I used to watch the G1 cartoon and I was always drawn to the Decepticons. I always thought characters like Soundwave and Starscream were so cool. I also had a lot of hand-me-down G1 toys that belonged to my older brother and my Uncle.

 

Do you think you will collect Transformers until you die?

Without a shadow of a doubt!

 

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

No one among my family or friends really shared my passion for Transformers but I never hid it nor was I ashamed of it. I have made friends in the TCCA now so I have a lot of fellow collectors in my life. My fiancè is very supportive of my hobby. She’s bought me several Transformers as gifts and lets me display my collection in our living room. My stepmother once remarked that our house looks like a “museum for Transformers”.

 

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

I was lucky enough to meet Peter Cullen at Supanova a few years ago. He’s a really great guy and it was one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life. I hope to meet Frank Welker one day so my life can be truly complete. As the current QLD Rep for the TCCA I have hosted a couple of meet-ups for local members.

 

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

I recently collaborated with the very talented John Ryan to customize a G2 coloured FoC Bruticus. Our next joint project is going to be a Decepticon throne.

 

Favourite series/era/year, and why?

I will always have a soft spot for G1 but I actually like most TF series out there, including the obscure Japanese ones. And yes, I even like the Bay movies and the Machinima cartoons. Transformers Prime is probably my favourite of the most recent series.

 

Least favourite series/era/year, and why?

I could never get into Transformers Animated. The childish humour, simplistic style, and general “wackyness” didn’t appeal to me.

 

Collect any comics (which ones)?

I have a fair few of the Marvel G1 comics, and a couple of IDW releases.

 

Favourite Comic issue/story, and why?

It’s a three way tie between Dreamwave’s War Within: Dark Ages (still the best version of The Fallen to date), IDW’s All Hail Megatron (a fantastic re-telling of G1’s origins), and IDW’s Stormbringer (Bludgeon and Thunderwing… ’nuff said).

 

Favourite Cartoon episode/story, and why?

Does the G1 movie count? I love everything about that story.

 

Favourite Board/Video game?

War for Cybertron and Fall of Cybertron were amazing games. Best Transformers games of all time in my opinion.

 

Favourite Character, and why?

Bludgeon. He’s a skeleton samurai that turns into a tank. I don’t know what else you need to make him any more badass. Though he’s never appeared on screen, in the Marvel, Dreamwave, and IDW comics he’s an absolute beast. Has to be one of the greatest villains in Transformers history.

 

Sexiest Transformers (robot) Character?

I don’t really get how some people can find robots sexy. I guess I like Airachnid in the sense that the woman who voices her in Transformers Prime (Gina Torres) is really hot.

 

Which Transformers character would you want to exist for real?

Optimus Prime. I’d like to say a Decepticon but let’s face it, the reality is an actual ‘con would probably just kill me.

 

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

Around 200 or so.

 

Sealed collector or out-of-packaging collector?

Out of box all the way. I like to display my bots.

 

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

It has to be in the thousands.

 

Any rare/expensive figures in your collection?

I have quite a few but the ones that spring to mind are my TFCC Barricade, Titans Return Trypticon, Universe Unicron, most of my Unicronian figures (Galvatron, Cyclonus, Scourge etc) are Takara Henkei, CW Devastator, Jinbao OS Predaking and Bruticus, Micron Arms Galvatron… that’s the tip of the iceberg.

 

 

What interesting Licensed Merchandise items do you have?

I have the Takara Soundwave that transforms into a fully-functional Mp3 player. I also have a G1 print signed by Peter Cullen.

 

First Transformers toy?

G1 Duocon Battletrap.

 

One toy you most want?

At the moment I’m keen to get my hands on Power of the Primes Rodimus Unicronus.

 

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

It’s a tie between my MMC Kultur (3P Tarn) and my DNA Susanoo (3P Bludgeon). Both fantastic Decepticon figures that look amazing on display.

 

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

Probably G1 Soundwave + tapes.

 

Worst toy(s) ever in your opinion?

Probably the little crab dude from RID. What even is that? What were you thinking Hasbro?

 

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

I hated CW Menasor. Sold him pretty quick. His individual bots were quite nice but in Combiner form he was a dumpster fire. No amount of upgrade kits could make that eyesore look good.

 

Thoughts on gimmick and non-convertable Transformers toys?

I think certain gimmicks really detract from toys. Sometimes they go to so much trouble to get a figure to launch a projectile or do something flashy that it just ends up ruining it.

 

Thoughts on unlicensed fan-project figures/accessories?

It’s great to have those options as a collector. Especially when official avenues leave gaps in the market. The fact they exist at all is proof of a thriving hobby.

 

Thoughts on the Transformers Brand over the last five years?

I think Hasbro needs to pick a direction and stick with it. They seem to change their minds so rapidly about where they want to take the franchise. Constant cancellations and re-boots are antagonizing the fanbase. On a positive note, I think Titans Return has been the best line yet for CHUG collectors.

 

Which single TFs toy should every fan own?

Any of the CHUG Deluxe Seekers. HasTak nailed it with that mold.

 

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

Maybe some Decepticon cufflinks.

 

 

Got any extra questions for Chris?  Pop them in the comments section below and I’m sure he will do his best to answer them.

 

Related Articles:

TF Fan Interview: Raymo

TF Fan Interview: Lisamaree

 

Meaty Goodness!, Random Rants

Househusband Tales #6 – The Power of the Platter!

1 Comment

Is there any parent out there who doesn’t have trouble getting their kids to eat healthy?  Or getting them to eat everything on their plate?

The little buggers always seem to have their tastebuds geared towards sugar, or if not then selectively whatever you don’t have to hand.  And if, like me, you have two of them at home it can be double the frustration as what one likes the other hates.  It makes feeding them a nightmare!

Well, while dinner times might still be an onerous chore for their mother and I, I have at least figured out a way to get them to eat their lunch with nary a complaint every single day.  No, I haven’t given in and let them have junk food, I have discovered the Power of the Platter!

Yep, no more making sandwiches they only eat half of.  No more trying to get fruit down their gobs only for them to whine “I don’t wanna!”  By giving them a wide selection of tucker to choose from, making sure it’s all near bite size and letting them pick what they eat first and at their own pace, I find they end up eating most everything!  Plus when they get bored of one ingredient, you just swap it out for another with minimal fuss.

 

Let’s have a look at a platter I made for my son:

And now one for my daughter:

 

To ensure they are getting all the nutrients their little bodies need I always make sure to put in:

*A couple of types of fruit

(Strawberries, Blueberries, Grapes, Sliced Banana, Sliced Apple, Cubed Watermelon, Glass of Watered-Down Juice)

 

*At least one kind of nut

(Almonds, Cashews, Walnuts, Unsalted Peanuts)

 

*At least one kind of dairy

(Cubed Cheddar Cheese, Sliced Tasty Cheese, Occasional tub of Yoghurt, Glass of Milk)

 

*At least one kind of meat

(Sliced Ham, Sliced Chicken, Tuna)

 

 

*At least one kind of plain cracker (even plain ones are seen as a treat!) and/or piece of non-white bread.

 

I also find that it pays to put in one (cheap) food that you know they are not really keen on.  For my kids that’s sultanas – they don’t hate them but don’t really love them either.  By putting that on their plate and then ‘letting them off’ from eating it, it gives them a feeling of ownership in deciding what they do and do not consume from their platters. That sense of control means they eat the rest more eagerly without it seeming like a chore to them.

 

By following this pattern, and changing up the ingredients used, it’s turned into a very effective way of getting a bit of everything my kids need to eat into their bellies each lunchtime without it becoming a major battle.  I hope it works for you too!

 

Got any other tips on how to get kids to eat healthy?  Would love to read them in the comments section below!

 

Related Article:

Househusband Tales #1 – Pampering Poorly Perfected

Fan Interviews & Art, Games & Competitions, Transformatorium

Transformer Fan Interview – ‘I wanna be like Mike!’

4 Comments

Last time we talked to Con, a fan up in the far north of Australia.  This time we head back down south to talk to Michael, one of the true Kings of Customization in Australia and a helluva nice guy a few years ago I got the pleasure of meeting!

Oh, and don’t forget to check at the bottom of this post for your chance to be a future interviewee on www.bigangrytrev.com!

 

Real name or what friends call you? 
Michael. Mick to my family (literally only blood relatives call me this).

State you live in? 
Victoria

Your occupation? 
I’m a community nurse, that is, I deliver nursing care to people in their homes.

Your dream job? 
Writer.

Your age?
41, or as I like to think of it, old enough to know better.

Single/married/kids?
Married, 2 teenage step-kids, 2 boys of my own, 3 & 5 years old.

Any websites/blogs/picture/social sites? 
My customising work is at Facebook.com/MsToyCustoms. Twitter @michaelfouche. Working on a Twitter and Instagram profile for my customs work. I had a writing blog (a considerable body of work to which I have not added for some time) at michaelfouche.blogspot.com.au. It was/is little more than an exercise in writing and not much use to anyone, to be honest. There’s a couple of TF based pieces in there if you want to dig a bit. I keep promising myself and my editor that I’ll write more, but it hasn’t happened yet.

What other (non-toy) interests do you have? 
I love writing and I’m a (very amateur) singer and musician. I used to love illustration, too, but haven’t adequate skill to pursue it as fervently or productively as I would like. Dyed-in-the-wool Western Bulldogs (AFL) supporter*. Obsessively follow politics, which intrigues and disgusts me in equal measure. I enjoy cooking but my fussy family means I don’t get to stretch those muscles nearly as much as I’d like.
*All TF fans should be Essendon supporters – our mascot is a Bomber Jet!

What type of music/movies/TV/books do you enjoy? 
I’m a huge music fan, pretty eclectic tastes. I have all my most favourite music on my phone – about 3,300 songs. I love to read but struggle to find time. Got 3 books going (on and off) at the moment. I devour podcasts, if I’m doing anything like housework or gardening or driving I usually have one on. Love movies, all kinds, my favourite being The Incredibles. I have little time or patience for most TV, but my favourite show of all time that I could watch over and over and over again would be The West Wing.

Do you collect anything besides Transformers? 
TFs are definitely my first love, but a part of my heart belongs to Masters of the Universe and Lego.

 

How would you rate yourself on a C scale? With C1 being ‘Junker not worth it even for parts’ to C10 being ‘Perfection’. 
C6? Could do with a pretty good reno, but there’s bits that will never ever be mint. An argument could be made for flawed straight off the factory floor due to poor QC.

How would you rate how sexually attracted you are to Trev? With 1 being ‘Very’ to 10 being ‘I make my wife dress up in a Trev costume whenever we make love’.
Are you kidding? I met my wife after she won first prize in a Trev look-alike competition*. Where else would one go to find a suitable partner? Can you think of somewhere better? Well? Go on. I’ll wait.
*I was in that competition – I came fourth 

Transformers Allegiance, if you had one? 
Autobot

Your Techspec motto if you had one?
The one listed in my high school yearbook remains apt: “What are we talking about again?”. I’m perpetually distracted.

Which special ability of any Transformers character would you want to have for yourself?
Skywarp’s teleportation. There’s no ability that tops it, not even close.

Fan/Collector since (year)? 
I collected as a boy, ’84 & ’85 mostly, then lost interest as a teen and gave all my (beautifully kept) TF collection to a younger step-brother who destroyed them (the snotty little brat that he was!). I’ve regretted that desperately ever since. Recommenced collecting in 2007, at the onset of the Bay films.

What drew you to Transformers, making you become a fan/collector? Back in the day, I was the perfect age at the birth of the brand – about 7-8 years old. I used to watch the G1 cartoon from the very first episode on The Early Bird Show with Marty Monster.
More recently, around ’07, my wife bought me one – a Movieverse voyager Ironhide. I bought my second one, she bought the 3rd, and we were off to the races.

Do you think you will collect Transformers until you die?
I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately and don’t have an answer. It’s certainly possible I’ll reach a stop point, but I haven’t got there yet. To me, toys are about joy. Who wants to stop having joy?

Were your family/parents supportive of collecting toys or did you have to hide your passion from them and friends? 
Not really an issue, although my wife has facetiously asked me on a couple of occasions “Haven’t you got them all yet?”. She also reminds me that I really am out of space to display my collection, and I have more space than many do.

Have you attended any fan-meets, Fairs, Conventions? 
Mostly local fan meets, most of them Ozformers ones, a few TCCA ones. They are always a joy.

Any creative endeavours with Transformers (drawing, writing, customising, etc)?
No. Nope. Nada. Never. Wouldn’t dream of it. Why do you ask? Ridiculous notion…

…Actually, come to think of it, it’s suddenly coming to me, I do rather enjoy customising Transformers*
*To understand the depth of this smart-arseary, check out the pics in the Questions from other fans section

Favourite series/era/year, and why?
G1 (for the nostalgic reasons above) but I absolutely do not begrudge fans of any other era. If things (brands like Transformers) don’t evolve and open themselves up for reinterpretation, they die. Simple. Not all of it is my cup of tea, but I’d rather it exists for the enjoyment of others so that the brand lives on.

Least favourite series/era/year, and why?
I’m pretty cold for The Unicron Trilogy. I’m really ambivalent towards the Bay-verse stuff, because I feel it is deliberately disrespectful at its core (in so many ways, but not in the sense of “Michael Bay raped my childhood!”, which is utter nonsense). On the other hand, it is also responsible for reigniting my passion for all things TFs. My biggest TF confession is that I’ve never seen a single episode of Beast Wars* (even though I believe many people who say it’s some of the best TF fiction ever). One day.
*There is a monkey that talks and a wasp that explodes a lot – that’s the main jist of it.

Collect any comics (which ones)?
I have a bunch of the newer IDW stuff that I got cheap via a Humble Bundle, but haven’t had the time to read it yet. I own a few thousand comic books (mostly Marvel circa 1990-2005 or thereabouts) in a cupboard. I still collect and read Kurt Busiek’s Astro City via TPBs.

Favourite Comic issue/story, and why?
Target 2006, from the old UK Transformer comics (also foolishly disposed of when I was younger. I swear if I met a younger version of me I’d fully smack some sense into myself). It seemed like the *perfect* sequel to the ’86 animated movie, all edge-of-your-seat excitement.

Favourite Cartoon episode/story, and why?
The animated ’86 movie was more or less a feature length episode of the G1 cartoon, so I’ll say that one. Still the best TF movie ever!

Favourite Character, and why?
I always had an affinity for G1 Hound. Gentle, softly spoken, but unlike most of the Autobots of his time, he’s a military vehicle (as opposed to a sports car of a truck or a sedan or something). There’s an interesting dichotomy there. Also love the Protectobots.

Approx TFs toy collection count (or give a range like 200s, 300s, etc)?
Around 350.

Sealed collector or out-of-packaging collector?
Out-of-package.

How much do you think you’ve spent on your collecting habit?
I try not to. I am lucky in that due to my customising and commissions work, I have earned enough to effectively pay for my collecting for the last 2 years. No impact on the family budget means the good lady wife is (relatively) happy.

Any rare/expensive figures in your collection?
Not really. Not that kind of collector I guess.

First Transformers toy? 
Can’t fully remember. I think it might have a G1 minibot, Brawn springs to mind.

One toy you most want? 
At the moment, it’s an MP11ND Dirge. Ordered from PC (so yeah, flying pigs anyone?), and now it’s at a price that I can’t justify spending on what is basically the 328th repaint/remould of MP11.

The centrepiece/favourite toy in your collection at the moment (and why)?
MP10 will be exceeding difficult to surpass in my eyes. It’s so damned beautiful a toy.

Favourite toy in your early years of collecting (if it was more than 10 years ago)? 
G1 Defensor (because I hunted for him over several weeks and got him piece at a time) or G1 Hound (for reasons above).

Worst toy(s) ever in your opinion?
DOTM HA Thunderhead. Not only an idiotic toy, but my hatred of it also comes from a sense of self-loathing in that I also bought the recolour of it in Crosshairs, during a fit of anal-retentive completionism.

Toy that was most disappointing when you got them?
A recent disappointment of staggering proportions was POTP Starscream. The robot mode is insanely out of proportion, the jet mode doesn’t tab together at all neatly, his stickers are bad quality and uniformly poorly applied, and worst of all, I can’t get the SS head to fold away in torso mode (so it looks like he’s giving birth to himself… eeeeewwwwww). Feels like a first draft that was accidentally released before it was ready for public consumption.

Thoughts on gimmick and non-convertable Transformers toys?
Mildly worthwhile, if only as cute curios. But they have to be charming to work.

Thoughts on unlicensed fan-project figures/accessories?
Cautiously accepting, in limited circumstances. That’s probably a much longer discussion than what there is time or space for here. I am a huge fan, and I mean massive, of Reprolabels (via Toyhax.com) as enhancements to toys in my collection.

Thoughts on the Transformers Brand over the last five years? 
If you’d told me 6 years ago we’d have this many modern Headmasters (ahem, sorry, Titan Masters) toys, Trypticon, Fort Max, so many extraordinary G1-inspired Masterpiece toys, I’d say you were dreaming. We are so damned lucky, spoiled for choice really. The Bay-verse is limping to an inevitable death, which was somewhat predictable, but going out with a bang toy-wise, with the Studio series. Overall, I’m optimistic that the brand is in good shape.

Which single TFs toy should every fan own?
MP10 Optimus Prime. Easy choice.

 

QUESTIONS FROM FELLOW FANS:
Big Angry Trev: I really enjoyed going to see TF4 in Gold Class with you a few years ago. It has been announced that the current Movieverse will end with this year’s Bumblebee movie and there will be a reboot in a few year’s time. What would you like to see in the reboot to make it something that truly does the Transformers justice?

That meet was a highlight for me too! It was the first time I went to see a Transformers film with a passionate TF fan*
*And one that looks like your wife apparently

I don’t think it needs to slavishly adhere to any previous versions of the fiction (as I said before, re-imagining and re-interpretation keeps the brand fresh, and every iteration is someone’s first). Having said that, the single biggest factor that first exploded TFs as a brand and secured it’s place in popular culture, in my view, was the introduction of individualistic personalities, characteristics, and abilities for each character. It elevated them from mere toys with a gimmick to something far more weighty, that really captures the imagination. Spectacle is an absolute necessity, but without character and story, the spectacle is empty and can only be maintained for a limited time – and I would argue that Michael Bay has stretched the public’s patience with respect to the movies as long as is possible, possibly to the next movie’s detriment (the Bumblebee stand alone and even beyond).

Focus on giving us an amazing and gripping story, filled with intriguing characters (robot characters for the love of Pete!) that we can care about and let the spectacle take care of itself.

 

Dallas: You are clearly very good at customising. I would consider myself a dabbler at best. I’ve done 2 of the Botcon Custom classes, and I’ve got to say they don’t come close to the level of complexity you constantly apply. 

Therein lies a tale. I feel like I’m asking for even more indulgence than I’ve already been given thus far in this interview, but here it is:

I started dabbling, and my first efforts were utterly abysmal because I essentially had little clue what I was doing. The first complete TF figure I did was a ROTF Brawn (see attached pic). I went out and bought another afterwards and did it again, so I could correct mistakes I made the first time, which were plentiful. The thing that kept me going was curiousity, a desire to improve and a bone-headed willingness to royally screw things up in order to get better. There’s a writer’s saying that you need to write out a million bad words before you get to any of the good ones. Put differently, you have to wade through a river of excrement (of bad customs) in order to get to clean waters (of good customs). With TF customs, I’ve been prepared to make ten year’s worth of mistakes in order to get at a level I’m almost happy with. That takes a tremendous amount of time, effort, frustrations and money.

Man alive, that really sounds really self important. Sorry.

Have you done one of the Botcon classes, if so were you disappointed?

I’ve never done a Botcon customising class, but I did enrol in a series of online customising classes by a famous and extremely talented customiser. After the first one I had learned all I was going to learn from that individual, but I enrolled in another 6 of his classes in order to make a combining Defensor (this was before Combiner Wars). He did the first few classes but then essentially lost interest in completing the others. He strung everyone (including me) along with false promises until it was too late to be able to initiate chargebacks and has disappeared from the TF customising scene owing me and a heap of other participants hundreds of dollars each. His name is mud now, and rightly so. Screw that guy.

I did get some early advice from a friend that was into Warhammer and the like, but other than that it was online tutorials and YouTube videos (of which there is a metric crap-tonne). One of the best places I found in the early days as a learning resource was http://h<a href=”http://www.jinsaoto…ustoys.com</a> (provided you are happy checking out that content despite that particular creator’s past controversies…). From there, the best teacher I had was experience, doing and failing, doing and failing, again and again, with a little less failing each time.

 

Trent: As a customiser, what sort of things tickle your interest? You seem to have enjoyed the custom you completed for me a few years ago and have expressed interest in my next one but there would no doubt be concepts that you aren’t keen on based on either the design or the work involved.

Simply put, I am intrigued by anything that pushes me creatively. Each and every custom HAS TO be better than the last one. HAS TO. Another confession: the last 2 commissions I’ve accepted and completed required me to perform techniques and skills I did not yet possess at the time of the request. Some stupid bravado there, perhaps, but fortune favours the brave (or the stupid, you decide) and now I have new skills I can employ next time. If I stagnate, I’ll look for something else to put my hand to.

There are some requests I get that I am not particularly keen on, but one can always say no. I’ve not traditionally been good at that, but I’m learning. I can find benefit and interest in every project regardless of my feelings about its value, and there isn’t a project I’ve done that I haven’t enjoyed to a degree. The love of customising is in the doing, not the end product. Not to say that that the final result isn’t important, but it’s not the be all and end all, for me anyway.

(And just quietly, I’m looking forward to your next project as I don’t quite yet know how I’m going to make it special. But it will be special.)

What’s your all time favourite custom that you’ve completed and why?

I’d have to say the Metrotitan custom (from a Generations Metroplex). That was tough and long and it changed tracks on me a couple of times before ending up as it did. I think the length of time it took to complete was the thing that has made it stand out for me. I was supremely pleased when it ended up in the hands of an Aussie collector.

If the question had been “what is your favourite custom work”, the answer is always “the next one”. It sounds trite, but I swear it’s true.

 

Raf: As a parent, would you like your children to follow your passion for transformers? And as a follow up, how did you start breaking them in so to speak?

While I would love my kids to carry on my passion for TFs, I am learning from older, wiser and more experienced parents to find a way into their hearts by loving the things they love rather than trying to make them love what I love. They do often like to come into my man-child cave and play with my toys though. A good many of these answers were typed with my three-year-old on my lap playing with “my” stuff, asking me about my Minicon deskbots and swapping the hair between Lego Mr Incredible and Lego Marty McFly. He told me later that it was the best part of his day. It may well have been mine too.

The boys do, from time to time, like to play with my TFs – I have a small collection of deluxe figures (mostly from the recent RID line) that I keep especially for such purposes so they’ll leave my more expensive or precious ones alone, but they are usually pretty gentle with them anyway. I have also bought them a few TFs from time to time, like from the Rescuebots line (awesome cartoon by the way! Especially good to watch with the little ones).

 

The Gambler: Do you have other creative endeavors outside of customising Transformers?

I really feel an innate need to be creative and have a constant creative outlet, like a shark that sinks if it stops swimming. I enjoy music, illustration (but not for a while now), customising other toy lines (such as MOTU – I have a killer MOTU idea that uses the Shattered Glass concept from TFs but haven’t had the time to really get stuck into it as deeply as I would like). And of course writing, although again I haven’t written as much as I have answering these questions for some time. I suspect writing will be my ongoing creative outlet of choice one day.

 

Raymo: I think some of your creations are amazing, the crossover He-Man Prime Transformers was such a great concept and well executed, has someone ever come up with a concept and your first thought is….are you high? Or do you think nope I’m gonna have a crack and give it time?

Not really. Occasionally, a commissioner might make creative decisions I may not be in total agreement with, but in the end, the figure is going to sit in their collection, so they get the ultimate say. Sometimes, I get a really cool idea and float it with them, and rarely do commissioners say no if the idea is good enough.

Sometimes people see something I’ve done and ask “can I get you to do one of those for me?”. It’s not out of the question (I have made multiples of things before) but usually I want to move on to something new, not just rehash the same old stuff, even though I’m reasonably confident I can always do the second one better than the first.

The He-Man idea (and the figures involved) were such a no-brainer for me, I’m stunned nobody thought of the idea sooner (that I am aware of).

Speaking of, do you want to see more He-Man/TF crossovers? I have all the base figures for series 2 and 3… (16 more characters planned).

Which leads me to my next question, do you get complete timewasters in the custom world?

Most people I have encountered make an enquiry and when I respond they either say thanks but no thanks (ie the quoted price might be too high for them) or I don’t hear back. Time wasters haven’t been a big issue for me. There was this one guy (not anyone associated with this forum) who, every 6 months or so, says he’s desperate for me to do a particular project for him. Each time I’ve said yes, he stops communicating and it doesn’t happen. Then, after a little while, he comes back with the same request. We’ve been at this particular tennis match about 3 or 4 years now.

Lastly, when are you going to clean up your house?
Fair question. For those following at home, I have 2 kids under 5 and my house can be appropriately described as “lived in”. My youngest is 3, so I expect the house to be tidy around January.

January 2035.

I am reliably informed (like, I’m sure it was on the internet somewhere) that brainy people have messy desks. That’s truth man. 

 

Kevin: If someone were to create a movie about your life, what would it be about and who will be playing the lead characters?

I’m not very sporty and have a distinct lack of co-ordination. There’s even a way of falling over my mates have named after me (“The Fouché Flop”, trademark, copyright). Put that together with the fact that I have a good face for radio, and I can’t think of anyone better to portray me than a Mr. Bean-era Rowan Atkinson. Safe to say it would be a comedy of errors involving misunderstandings, tomfoolery and pratfalls.

 

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

 

COMPETITION TIME!

All the answers to the crossword below can be found in the interview above.  Be the first to put the answers in the comments section and it will be YOU appearing in a future fan interview!

Across
1. A Transformers Custom
2. What his family calls him
3. A beloved 80’s cartoon

Down
1. His first name
2. A MOTU Custom
3. Claims to be an amateur

 

Related Articles:

Fan Interview: Lisamaree

Fan Interview: JP Martin

Fan Interviews & Art, Transformatorium

Transformer Fan Interview – Con

1 Comment

Welcome to the next in a series of interviews with different Aussie Transformer fans.  Last time we chatted to JP, a younger fan from Victoria.  Now we are heading right to the other end of the country; right up to the tippy-top of the continent to talk to Con – showing collectors are spread all over this wide brown land!

Name or what friends call you?

Con Kosta Iliou

 

Where do you live?

Darwin N.T.

 

Your age?

34

 

How did you hear about www.bigangrytrev.com?

I heard about Big Angry Trev from Transformers Collecters Club Australia.

 

Transformers Allegiance, if you had one?

DeceptiCONS

 

Your Techspec motto if you had one?

‘Justice is a idea not a moral’ or ‘…..YEAHHH!!!’

 

What existing, official Transformers character best describes you?

Blitzwing from G1, he is a warrior but when times comes for doing the right thing he see past his leaders beliefs and ultimately does the right thing.

 

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

Mirage’s invisibility

 

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’?

C5, no box but in good condition

 

Fan/Collector since (year)?

1985 when I was 3

 

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

I became a fan when I was in hospital in Adelaide I had to have an operation and my mum and dad were there for me as well as my older sister and so we’re the Transformers to get me through a tough time.

 

Do you think you will collect Transformers until you die?

Awwww yeah I will do it for a very long time.

 

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

No my parents, sisters and friends know how much I love the franchise and I don’t hide that fact from anyone lol.

 

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

No unfortunately but would absolutely love one day, to meet people and friends I have made through a community would be a really special memes to hope someday have soon.

 

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

I really like kit-bashing and repainting characters that Hasbro haven’t done yet or 3rd parties haven’t gotten around to like my custom Tarn…then a few months after Master Mind Creations brings one out lol – he is one of my favourites and don’t think I will get a the official knowing what I did to make the one I have, he may not transform but have the way he looks aesthetically.

 

Favourite series/era/year, and why?

Favorite is G1 from 1984 because the story and character development they took with each character.

 

Least favourite series/era/year, and why?

Least favorite if I had to choose is 2001 Robots in Disguise mainly because the show did that anime style too much and alot of the characters where to kiddy for me, some episodes are ok but in all I can give it a miss.

 

Collect any comics (which ones)?

I don’t collect any of the comics even though I have a few IDW’s from early 2000’s mini issues.

 

Favourite Comic issue/story, and why?

I don’t have a favourite comic but like the universe jumping one with Deaths Head where I think he goes from the Transformers universe to the Dr Who’s, then to a mediaeval Earth and then the doctor leaves him into of the roof top of the Fantasic Four. I like when franchises can merge like that.

 

Favourite Cartoon episode/story, and why?

My favourite episode is Web World and I like how Cyclonus takes Galvatron to the planet because he thinks he’s starting to go more Loooney Tunes then before and how those Planet of the Apes looking creatures psychoanalysis his brain and he turns a simple object into a gun and start shooting up the place and says “Let me outta here!”

 

Favourite Character, and why?

I really like Blitzwing because he can turn into a tank, jet and sword wielding gun shooting giant robot, he is the one robot army.

 

Sexiest Transformers (robot) Character?

Sexiest I would go Firestar as she is a firecracker and not afraid to get a job done.

 

Which Transformers character would you want to exist for real?

The Transformer I would like to wish exist would be Sideswipe, that way I could have a Autobot friend and a Lamborghini countach lol

 

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

300 and counting

 

Sealed collector or out-of-packaging collector?

Out of the package because I like to display them.

 

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

Alot…maybe $8000 worth probably

 

Any rare/expensive figures in your collection?

A rare figure I have is a sealed 1984 Soundwave with Buzzsaw, that is never coming out of his package prison.

 

What interesting Licensed Merchandise items do you have?

I think the most interesting licenced product I have is a plate that I think came with a mug, it has G1 Optimus and Megs on it.

 

First Transformers toy?

Optimus Prime was my first Transformer.

 

One toy you most want?

A really big (like as big as a building) size Unicron.

 

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

My centerpiece figure I would have to say would be my Knock Off Oversize Predaking because I think that the 3rd party ko guys got it right with the size and the look of each character and Predaking as a whole.

 

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

Early years my favourite transformer was the Autobot Grotesque because of the gimmick he came with you push the button on his head and sparks come out of his mouth that was cool back then it still is today actually.

 

Thoughts on gimmick and non-convertible Transformers toys?

I like gimmicks done right but when they are done wrong like mech tech then yeah not a fan.

 

Thoughts on unlicensed fan-project figures/accessories?

I really like what they have done outside of the licensed of Transformers because I believe that a lot of these guys and girls designers and Engineers I pretty much fans like us and get that image and look of what we remember from the G1 days but then there are other guys out there that do really good interpretations of characters that we remember and I really like that a lot too. I also want to say that if you want to buy knock offs it’s your choice as a collector, if it makes you happy I don’t see the harm in collecting them.

 

Thoughts on the Transformers Brand over the last five years?

Over the last 5 years I have really like what Hasbro has done with bringing the old school G1 look back and also pleasing the new generation as well as the older generation so everybody can enjoy that aspect I really do love. I hope one day that when I have a family of my own that we can sit there and play together old and new.

 

Which single TFs toy should every fan own?

Optimus Prime is a must for any collector or fan of the franchise.

 

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

A transformer that I would give for a wedding present would be Trypticon because who doesn’t like big robotic dinosaurs I know why do I’d love one for wedding present even though I already have one.

Got any other questions for Con?  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: JP Martin

Fan Interview: Raymo

Transformatorium

Alien Robot to be Barnaby Joyce’s new assistant

1 Comment

In the wake of the public scandal where former Deputy PM Barnaby Joyce lost his position due to having an extra-marital affair with a member of his staff whom fell pregnant, new rules have been introduced into parliament to prevent further indiscretions between Members of Parliament and their employees.

However it appears Mr Joyce has already found a way to circumvent these new rules with the hiring of his new primary aide.  Whilst this aide, named Alice, may appear to be a very attractive woman on the outside, she is actually an extra-terrestrial robotic assassin who starred in the 2009 Transformers film Revenge of the Fallen.

Apparently since she is not human but a Decepticon, Alice will not fall under the jurisdiction of the Code of Conduct.

“Since she is technically a robot, we are classifying her as a fax machine” said a spokesman in Barnaby’s office.

 

Nude photo’s already surfacing

 

Given Alice’s less than human nature, will this make it easier for Mr. Joyce resist temptation?

“Well it doesn’t matter if he resists or not, it doesn’t break the new Parliamentary Code of Conduct”.  said another member of Barnaby’s staff  “However I noticed a difference in his breath.  It smelt like diesel – like a diesel-y tinge to it”

 

Many on Barnaby’s staff seem to think Alice should acclimatize well to her new role.  The Decepticon in question is a type of Transformer classified as a ‘Pretender’, due to being disguised as a humanoid rather than a car or truck.  Given Mr Joyce is an accomplished pretender himself, as demonstrated from his consistent preaching about the sanctity of marriage during the gay marriage debate, it is believed they will be a good fit for each other.

However despite this effort from the former Deputy PM to avoid further scandal, rumours have begun to circulate that Barnaby and his ‘fax machine’ could already be expecting an alien-hybrid offspring.

“The protoform might not even be mine but I’ll be sticking by her.  Anyway, it’s nobody’s business, it’s a private matter and that’s an end to it” said Mr Joyce.

“I’ll be holding a press conference to discuss it in full detail tomorrow”

 

When approached for comment, Alice attempted to lick reporters from across the room before converting her arm into a plasma cannon and blowing a hole in the wall, escaping into the night.

 

More details as they develop.

 

Related Articles:

Ask Trev – Who should I vote for in the Federal Election?

Movie Review – Transformers: The Last Knight

 

Random Rants

When donating, a simple thank you would be nice

4 Comments

Today was donation day for our household and we donated to three different places.  Two places left us with a warm glow, the third… not so much.

 

We are great believers in donating items that are still useable.  A hoarder at heart, I almost never throw anything away in case it can be reused down the track and I hate to see other items go to waste, so if they are still in good condition they go to the appropriate donation venue rather than in the bin.

Over the weekend my wife spent many hours sorting through the old toys, books and clothing of our kids, then last night I helped her split the items we decided to donate into three different groups.

 

The first lot – a huge crate of old toys that still worked (we even replaced the batteries in some) to take to The Green Shed at our local tip.  I get a lot of stuff at The Green Shed for gardening and they always charge next to nothing.  Some things like mulch you can even get for free!  So it felt good to give something back for them to sell.  As I am there at least twice a week dumping garbage (no bin service on our remote farm) my face is known to them.  They were very appreciative and stopped to have a nice chat afterwards about the use I am putting all the pots they sold me a week before to.

The second lot – a big bag of books.  These were all in excellent condition and aimed at 3 to 5 year olds.  However since our kids are ravenous readers (or at least love being read to) they have enough books to fill their own library and could easily part with these particular ones they never show interest in anymore.  We donated these to my kids Preschool.  My son was very proud handing them over to the lady that runs the place, who made a big deal of it and even got him to help apply stickers saying who had donated them.  Once again, it was a nice feeling.

 

Then it was time for my daughter and I to do our third and final stop – this time to a Vinnies.  These guys were getting the bulk of the items; a ton of books for 1 to 3 year olds, a ton of toys and six bags of clothing.  All in great condition.

My daughter and I took the six bags in first.  Gave the lady behind the counter a smile which was absently returned as I informed her we had a bunch to donate.  She replied ‘just put them on the floor’.

We put them down, went back to the ute then returned with the huge box of books and toys.  She saw us walking back in but didn’t even wait for us to sit it down or take an interest in what it was.  As we approached her counter she just wandered off to another part of the deserted shop and started sorting dresses on a rack.  My 3 year old daughter even said “Hey. Where’s that lady going?”

‘C’mon lady – this is good stuff!’

It left us feeling cold to be honest, like us donating this stuff was of no consequence.  Now bear in mind, in no way was I expecting some kind of fanfare or to be treated like the prince of altruism for simply donating some kid’s stuff that were no longer needed.  Thousands of people do that every day and it’s a shame even more don’t.  And for all I know we were not even the first people that day to bring in donations.

But it was the lack of interest that got me.  And to be honest, it felt a little hurtful as the items we were donating meant something to us.  Those books, toys and clothing – each one was doused in memories.  We probably have photos of our kids doing different activities in almost every outfit.  The books – many of those books we read to our children a thousand times before bed, them cuddled in our laps.  The toys came from many places; gifts from friends and relatives – some of whom are no longer with us.  Some we watched our kids unwrap with excitement on Xmas mornings.  But you can’t keep every single thing as a keepsake or soon you will need another house, plus it’s better for a child in need to get some use out of them then for them to sit in a box in the shed.

So yes, the items meant something to us.  And we were not just dumping rubbish like some people sadly do.  Every book was unripped, every toy cleaned with working batteries, every item of clothing washed and neatly folded.  So even an ‘oh thanks’ would have been appreciated.  But no, not a thank you for the clothing and didn’t even bother to stick around to acknowledge receiving the books and toys.  I know that the whole purpose of these donations are for them to go to people more needy than ourselves, not to receive kudos, but some small sign to show she registered on some level what we were doing would have been nice.  I don’t think she was a bad woman by any means, in fact she is probably a very nice person who was performing the 500th day in a row of donating her time and just happened to have other things on her mind at that particular moment (you can’t expect people to be infallible), but still.

 

Will this put me off donating further goods?  No way!  Both The Green Shed and The Preschool were very gracious and these items are going to people in need which is the main purpose of the whole exercise.  But there are two thrift stores in the town I took my goods to and next time I will take unwanted clothing to the other one.

 

Everyone likes to be thanked.

 

Got something to add?  Would love to read it in the comments section below!

 

Related Articles:

Don’t use the charity bins as your personal dumping ground! 

Sustainability Tip – get your mulch free – from the tip!

 

 

Fan Interviews & Art, Transformatorium

Transformer Fan Interview – JP Martin

Leave a comment

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