Comments on: Men of Metal Transformer from MINI

By: Jackson

Jackson — Thu, 07 Jul 2005 21:30:03 +0000

Hey Scott, I heard you say McFarlane’s studios are in New Jersey. Do you know where? I’d love to go check them out or send them a portfolio. Any info? Thanks.

By: nomios

nomios — Wed, 09 Mar 2005 23:20:23 +0000

These are avalible on miniusa.com

Just go to Gear Up> Minimotoringgear

They have three diff styles and they are 20 bucks.

By: Gabe

Gabe — Wed, 09 Mar 2005 16:57:05 +0000

Yes he was God bless’em. Doess anyone know who was the red lambo? If I remember righht he died in Transformers the movie.

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 09 Mar 2005 16:54:50 +0000

I thought bumblebee was an old VW Beetle

By: Doug

Doug — Wed, 09 Mar 2005 07:50:35 +0000

Thanks Scott,

I used to follow the toy trade while I was involved in it in an auxillary sense. Macfarlane is consistant with their attention to detail. Best in the Biz.

With this being said, MINI had to be high on themselves when they denied the rights to Hasbro. AKA Transformers. It would have been metal or a good plastic, it would have actually TRANSFORMED and it would have been sold out! There is a character in the Transformers named Bumble Bee. He is a MINI I believe.
Not only have the Transformer's community missed out on a great toy, we have too.

This MINI produced pile of recycled Pepsi bottles is probably worth, $5.00... really. But the joke will be on MINI when they stop production, collectors will make the $ in sales and trades.

Get this, First issue SPAWN figures in new condition are worth more than new. Sometimes 10 times more than new.

Mark this up as another swindle by MINI!

By: Trevor

Trevor — Tue, 08 Mar 2005 19:24:52 +0000

Funny! But where is the other 2 wheels???

By: 05DSMCS

05DSMCS — Tue, 08 Mar 2005 18:48:09 +0000

nervous, that is so cool! Haven’t ever seen one of those before, and I comb eBay constantly for odd MINI items.

By: nervous

nervous — Tue, 08 Mar 2005 13:38:15 +0000

Doesn’t transform? I prefer this one… http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00023DEZS/t/002-5851560-8274456?v=glance&s=toys&me=A3UN6WX5RRO2AG&vi=pictures&img=14#more-pictures Same price & it does transform!

By: Scott

Scott — Tue, 08 Mar 2005 12:58:50 +0000

99-00-0-006-748 MINI Robot Red U.K. Flag 99-00-0-006-749 MINI Robot Blue U.S. Flag 99-00-0-006-750 MINI Robot Silver Checkered Flag

By: Scott

Scott — Tue, 08 Mar 2005 12:47:42 +0000

Ian,

Doug is on the right track. The APU by McFarlane sold for $20-30 and is amazingly detailed. Most 8-in figures are in the $10 range and have outrageous detail. On a side note, McFarlane's design studios are located in New Jersey.

I'll have to check this out though.

By: Doug

Doug — Tue, 08 Mar 2005 07:36:52 +0000

Well listen to this. Todd MacFarlane Toys are "collectibles" only in terms by those who "collect" them. The Macfarlane Figures are usually under $10 but have $40 worth of detail. It's pure penny pinching while raping a cutomer base. $20 for a cheap plastic minibot? There are asian model kits around with greater detail for near the same price.

Would I buy it? Depends on the wholesale price.

By: Goatherder

Goatherder — Tue, 08 Mar 2005 01:45:59 +0000

As a model builder extraodinair, I can see many possibilities with this item. What scale would you say it is? It would be easy to convert this into metal if the scale is close to other 1/18 or 1/24 scale diecast collectibles. Thats what is great about model building. You can take a cheap looking toy and create an excellent collector’s piece. I will get one right away! Now how will make it into a convertible. Hmmm….

By: Gabe

Gabe — Tue, 08 Mar 2005 00:52:51 +0000

No problem Frank… I kinda burried it in the post.

By: Frank

Frank — Tue, 08 Mar 2005 00:44:26 +0000

Duh! My bad. Sorry didn’t see the price before.

By: Ian

Ian — Tue, 08 Mar 2005 00:35:03 +0000

Frank, The $20 price is posted in Gabes original article - and repeated in my comment.

By: Frank

Frank — Tue, 08 Mar 2005 00:34:36 +0000

Twenty bucks is very reasonable. I want one!

By: Frank

Frank — Tue, 08 Mar 2005 00:33:13 +0000

It all depends on asking price. If they want $50+ for one of these toys, then they can keep them.

On the other hand, if they retail for $20-$30, that is not terribly bad and it seems to be a pretty unique and fun collectible even if it is lacking in materials, detail and full functionality.

I am a die-cast car collector, but when it comes to these "special" toys I am not too demanding, then again, provided the price matches the quality.

So, how much?

By: Ian

Ian — Tue, 08 Mar 2005 00:32:11 +0000

Jon, I wonder how expensive the collectibles are that you are describing? MINI is in the business of selling CARS not collectibles - but for fun they have produced this "trinket".

Priced at (only) $20 I think it is well priced. For $50-$100 you might expect metal, transformation, etc. But surely not for $20.

AntsMINI, The robot was at MINI Peabody today - just came in.

And the part number on the back of the box is 99 00 0 006 748.

By: RB

RB — Tue, 08 Mar 2005 00:26:16 +0000

Looks kinda fun, cheaply built or not. I'd get all of them.

COST?

By: Jon

Jon — Tue, 08 Mar 2005 00:06:12 +0000

Kinda disappointing... Have you seen any toy designed by Todd McFarlane (Creator of SPAWN)? I have a few of his collectables, one of which is an APU from the Matrix Revolutions. He designed a bunch of the Matrix figures, and those are absolutely incredible, as far as level of detail. That is the level I'd expect for one of these MINI robots.

But unfortunately, the shoddy plastic parts, and lack of detail is really downright insulting. Because of this these are more geared for children, than adult collectors. It was a great idea, squashed by the penny-pinchers at MINI. After seeing them, I think I'll pass.