On a side note, I’ve now seem this photo listed 4-5 times. First for the set, then without Bengali available but the same photo. Then without lynx-0 and various other combinations. They are now relisted as the set of 3 again!
I still can’t get my head round the fact that why various unseen so called prototypes or discarded models are now turning up in a time when it is so easy to cast your own items. Give me some high grade liquid silicone and clear resin with appropriate colouring i can cast you whatever you desire and I’m far from an expert. 3-4 years ago I may have been tempted to buy but there is too much of a risk in this day and age. Like blackiecats? I’m glad i bought most of my loose collection before possible unscrupulous dealers have got involved. These recent auctions may well be genuine but for the prices I wouldn’t chance it. Just my 2c.
How many former LJN employees are out there? I’m not saying all are fake or frauds so calm down, but it seems (or feels) like all of a sudden prototypes, test shots, original molds etc. are all over the place and going for crazy money. It hard to tell a real deal from a fraud sometimes.
EDIT
I just looked at that “THUNDERCATS FIGURE JAGA CAST RESIN PROTOTYPE HARD COPY PARTS LJN TOYS”
and the other prototype stuff that that seller offers. IN MY HUMBLE OPINION they are not legit. It’s just my gut feeling, not necessarily the truth! I will try to explain:
when you think of it, why would a resin hardcopy prototype need a copy of the Sword of Omens? It was re-used from Lion-O and already existed…
NOTE: Not sure on this one > Should the Battle-Matic-Action lever be on Hachiman’s belt when on a hardcopy without moving/working parts? I don’t think that’s a part of the basic sculpt of the figure… *BTW notice the arms are shown backwards..
Why does Jackelman’s torso have that neck hole already in place?
As far as I can tell, all the limbs on all 4 “prototypes” have pegholes but the heads/necks have a clean surface, so were they never properly assembled?
Were weapon “prototypes” molded in the same resin as the figures?
Again, this is what I think about it. Food for thought so to speak.
I dont know about others prototypes, but the 2 my friend was able to purchase had no ‘battle matic action’, not even a lever sticking out (resin hardcopy) it was flat where the lever should be.
I saw the Hachiman on ebay, ive never seen a hardcopy prototype cast in resin WITH a lever that doesnt perform the battle matic action, surely a ‘step back’ for a model maker? Anyway thats why i didnt bid.
I dont want to put anyone down on here and i dont know many of you guys here so hapefully no offence has been taken if its owned by a member here.
I owned in my side 2 hand painted Hachiman Hard Copies (just sold one of them on eBay the last week).
Here are some closed pictures to show you the lever in details: http://www.grayskullmuseum.com/forum/man1.jpg
The lever is not a real one, just sculpted directly on the body and very different than the one working of the produced toy.
I cannot say exactly why Hachiman got a lever on it because I confirm also that on my other prototypes no one has a lever, only the both Hachiman.
About the Jaga’s sword thunderianroyalguard you are right, I am just thinking about a Lion-O’s sword coming with him for the auction to complete it.
The resin used for the weapons is the same one, I can confirm that.
I know that a lot of you are septics about these Prototypes but when you have them in hands they are very different than toys, on my side I have no doubt concerning their authenticity.
I am a long time collector and have been scouergin eBay since around 1997 - 98. I thankfully amassed most of my collection before the “repro’s” started showing up (though I still need a couple of figures). While there is no doubt I would not have the collection I have if it weren’t for ebay bringing a convenient place for sellers and collectors together, we are now seeing the side of eBay that is actually hurting our beloved hobby.
There are a lot of scammers out there who know just how popular - valuable some of these items are and could care less about selling us a knock off just to make a quick buck. As previously stated, with the right technology and know how, these items can be reproduced very accurately. These repro weapons stand to cause the most damage as all it takes is one uninformed fan / collector purchasing one, then unknowingly reselling it as legit and wallah, we know have a repro in circulation passing as legit.
I know that me personally I would be very ticked off if I came to find that one of my weapons turned out to be a knock off.
I am speaking in general here and not targeting anyone, though I will say that as a long time collector of Thundercats, even a “new” item casted from an original LJN mould would be considered a “repro” to me and not truly original.
there’s no way to tell for certain imo and there are too many items from this person for me to logically believe these are legit. that’s what i think, anything is possible but i dont see a reason why someone would hold onto hundreds of weapons/accessories from a short-lived/ obscure toy line such as say tigersharks in order to sell them 25 years later.
99% of the time, if it’s too good to be true it probably is, and the other 1% of the time it still is…
While the thundertank hatch is amazingly cool looking, the shipping is ridiculous on these items. But that’s a whole different area and story there. What gets me about this whole thing is back a few years ago when I talked to a certain story writer for Tcats and Silverhawks, he had told me a lot of the production stuff was destroyed and or thrown out. I dont know if the toy side was different but that’s just what he told me.
It will never ever stop, customs, fakes, bootlegs, knock offs, etc.
The only way to know is to have ‘The History’.
Who, when, where, and a contact detail, every journey of the figure from ljn to the current owner.
I wouldnt part with £1 unless i knew the basics of where it came from, or the chain of people so it could be traced back, and then id want to have contact with them to make sure!
Not fussy, just sensible.
If sellers can prove this, id be happy to purchase.
