Prototypes and test-shots
Before a toy's produced, a prototype is made and test-shots are done to trial out the quality of the mold.
I managed to acquire a few test-shots in the past through a dealer in HK after much "bot-hunting".
My favorite test-shot is that of TF Gen 1 Hoist (pic to your right). It comes complete with all accessories. The big green bot is Tidalwave from the TF Armada/Cybertron series (there's a small PVC Optimus Prime from Takara there for size comparison). The little bot in the bottom picture is that of minicon Corona Sparkplug from TF Armada that came with the Optimus Prime of that line. These guys cost me a bomb to acquire when they were first released... but I've no regrets.
PS: I'm not encouraging anyone to buy test-shots/prototypes as these were bought years back... it was something that I'd desired much as a kid after seeing the first Unicron prototype (the huge blue/yellow "soccer ball" with limbs... curse you Hazblo!)
I managed to acquire a few test-shots in the past through a dealer in HK after much "bot-hunting".
My favorite test-shot is that of TF Gen 1 Hoist (pic to your right). It comes complete with all accessories. The big green bot is Tidalwave from the TF Armada/Cybertron series (there's a small PVC Optimus Prime from Takara there for size comparison). The little bot in the bottom picture is that of minicon Corona Sparkplug from TF Armada that came with the Optimus Prime of that line. These guys cost me a bomb to acquire when they were first released... but I've no regrets.
PS: I'm not encouraging anyone to buy test-shots/prototypes as these were bought years back... it was something that I'd desired much as a kid after seeing the first Unicron prototype (the huge blue/yellow "soccer ball" with limbs... curse you Hazblo!)
