I just got my glasslite lion-o misb today from Brazil. The box looks fantastic (with one small dent), there are no rips in the cellophane outer plastic (it’s nice and tight), the inner bubble is still attached also. I wanted to get this piece graded, but now I dont know. When I got it I heard a rattling in the box and was freaking out. Rightly so lion-o’s left leg is detached from his body. The torso is split apart at the seem and the head is close to coming out. It wasn’t like this in the pic and I thought I might have been deceived, but then I remembered glasslite figs have screws in there backs holding the fig together rather than glue. Because nothing is broken I assume that the screws came out of the back (as I have a similar problem with my loose glasslite mummra because it is missing only one screw). WIth this liono i found no screws in the bottom of the bubble or the box (remember the cellophane is 100%sealed). I have now come to the conclusion that the screws were forgotten in putting this piece together (or at least 2 of them were). Long story short should I send it in to the AFA to grade it. I mean how often do boxed lion-o’s get graded. WOuld it even be worth it since everything else would get an 80 and the figure would get say a 0. What’s everyone else think as I have never actually sent a fig in. I can post pics later today if anyone needs to see them for a judgement.
Being that the figure has a detached leg Im not too sure it would score too high on AFA’s grading system. If you want to get it graded I would just use the very slowest service which will cost you anywhere from 48-60 depending on the size + insurance and shipping. I’d say if it ends up being $48 plus shipping and insurance you will be looking at about $60-65 with a 40-45 business day turnaround (just over 2 months)
If I were you, I would not consider grading it…the grade it will get is the lowest grade of figure, card, and bubble. So let’s say you get 30, 85, 85 - it’s still a 30…not worth it in my opinion.
Vintage,
I think it was picked up on eBay for a pretty penny. If memory serves, that Glasslite Lion-o went for over $200 before shipping.
Hi dan07, was that one?
Yes, I remember seeing one on eBay a couple of weeks ago, but I thought it was that guy, i-bought-this-tc, that got it… He buys everything! If he’s not a re-seller he’s an army builder.. Probably he has an entire armada of Thundertanks…
Sorry about that Matt, have you decided if you will let it like that or will you carefully open and fix it?
What probably happened is that with the vibrations it got detached… the weather in Brazil is very hot and even if it is kept in a room, toys always have a tendency to “melt” (they become sticky). I remember going to the garage to find my good-stored toys all sticky like someone dropped glue on them!
Let us know if you’re planning on keeping him that way or if you’re opening the box to tight the screws.
I’m going to leave him the way it is just not get it graded, (its a shame about the grading though cause if the fig was good it would have gotten a good grade). It doesnt look that bad on a shelf, and I bought it to be mib
Sorry about the confusion, Matt. That is a cool looking piece…it’s a shame that it fell apart on you…Is it possible to open it without damaging the box? If it is, that may be worth it. The Lion-o would look much better all together.
Sorry to highjack this thread but Im almost sure that the 8 back Tygra i won yesterday would score above an 80, I’ll post pics when I get it and you guys can give me your opinion
The Y grade alone will knock the value down. Most collectors do not like the yellow bubbles. That Tygra is really nice besides the yellowing though and is a tough one to find. Personally I avoid the yellow bubble stuff unless it is a super hard variation like this.
Value as in price or value as in grade. I really dont think it will bring down the grade simply because the bubble is yellow. The Y value is a grade in itself, take for example Andrew’s very same Tygra 8 back. It has grades of C-80 B-85 F-85 and yet the grade that was given was a 80Y. I think collectors that look for Thundercats figures in NM packaging are few and far between simply because they are so hard to find and even more harder to find in pristine condition. I totally agree with you though in that with the not so rare figures I would take a clear bubble over a yellowed but as you mentioned with such an ultra rare piece one cant be too picky IMO. I mean hell I would take a Luna Lasher Mumm-Ra with a cracked bubble any day even if it had the lowest AFA grade ever. I have only seen a total of 4, 8 back Tygras in the few years Ive been collecting. One belongs to Andrew, tthe other one belongs to someone who purchased it on Ebay and the other 2 I own. That in my book qualifies as ultra rare
I am just speaking of value. Typically I can pick up yellow bubble MOC figures for 1/2 to 3/4 of the value of a clear bubble figure. I have come accross 8 to 10 Tygra 8 Backs in the last year for sale not counting the ones you are speaking of. They have all been in subpar condition and most yellow bubbled. These are all non-eBay at conventions or private collections. They are for sure rare MOC. The stuff is out there but it just might not be in the quality of condition that some of us are wanting. It has been 2 years since I was offered a Luna Mumm-ra. I just have patience that one of these days I will find what I need for my collection in great shape. There are only 4 MOC figures I need to either upgrade or get so I will patiently wait. Besides it works out when some of us don’t bid against each other on the bay like that Tygra.
Well here is my Tygra. The condition is unbelievable for such a rare piece I would even go as far as saying that out of all my 8 backs this is in the best shape. Your thoughts…
Im not too sure one would be able to pick up figures for 1/2 to 3/4 of the value of a clear bubble figure. Not with Thundercats at least…I’d like to know were these conventions and private collections are so I can go there myself and grab me a couple of them, they would sure make my day even with a yellowed bubble.Thats outsanding that you only need 4 MOC figures to complete a whole set of Thundercats figures…given they are all LJN that would mean you have over 80 figures including all the existing variations. Thats quite a feat in my book, I for one would love to see pictures of such a massive collection
Come on Jaga, post your collection in the Collector’s Showcase! We’ll love to see it!
I am sure that lots of user have amazing collections and it would be so sweet if everybody showed their Thundercats in that thread… Don’t think “Oh, some collections are awesome, mine is not as good, so I won’t post” because if you check that thread for my collection you’ll see that is the cheaper of all but hey, it’s there and I’m proud of it!
I have never said I have a collection of every single variation. I am missing 4 MOC Figures on US cards with one being the Tygra 8-Back. A complete set to me is one of each figure made on a specific language card. I do own 46 MOC figures that are not part of what I sell or trade that are in my personal collection.
As far as prices go and where I find/buy go… Well I have been collecting toys since the late 80’s and selling/trading since the early 90’s. I know dealers and collectors of all types that I have dealt with over the years. The one thing I have learned is with patience and money you will find something you are looking for. Finding MOC that are in lesser condition is not a feat. There is a GOOD amount of Thundercats MOC out there. There are some rare pieces but there are some that are just not.
In my experience over the years with yellow bubble MOC I have always paid less and sell/trade them for less. Ask fellow collectors what they prefer and the majority will say clear bubble and defect free cards. If I were to set out with a goal of getting every variation like you Manny I would be happy with an example of each in any condition first. Then once complete I would focus on getting better packaged examples. But being that I collect other lines I focus a little different for my collection.
With all of that said… The Tygra you got is nice and one of the better condition ones I have seen lately. The best part is the price you paid for it. I guess the good thing is it did not have a clear bubble since we might have had to go in to a bidding war on the bay for it!
Eventually I will upgrade but with things so expensive Im not too sure it would be possible to upgrade unless i get a good deal. Im not sure how many people viewed the auction but it leads me to believe that not a whole lot of people viewed hence the quick sale. I saw one sell last year for over 200 and it was in far less condition than this one
