Identifying a Chinese (HK) Transformer


As discussed on the previous page, a number of the Hong Kong toys, for all intents and purposes, are identical to their counterparts. Those that show a significant toy difference are documented on the main page. This section goes into a more generalised description of the packaging differences on Hong Kong TFs.


We begin with the 'naughty' Chinese/HK TFs. As seen above, one subtle difference is that small black sticker on the right corner of the package. This is what would be considered a complete redo, ie a potentially unlisenced version. These boxes come with several other telltale signs, such as the box flaps: you can see a point where the normal print which was fading from red to dark red suddenly is cut off, and a just plain red strip is present. The manuals are blurry, and almost never perfect (looking as if the picture has been double printed). These manuals look poor, and are a darker shade. If you see one of these (even visible through a sealed baggie) there's a good chance your TF is HK in origin.

On the presumed 'legal' releases of TFs, you would find a large piece of black tape slapped somewhere on the box. On carded TFs, you will see a sticker with the word: "Transformers" on it slapped across.


Finally Hong Kong had the singles of Road Caesar and 2-pks of Landcross. The key is to take where the word "Transformers" is written on a normal Japanese box, and compare it to the word "Transformer" on the flap. It is very different. The Katakana (type of Japanese writing) is replaced with the Chinese word for Transformer (note also the palm-tree logo in-place of the Takara Dokachin).

(Pic In-Process)

(See Also: Fracus' Trip)

(See Also: TF Source's Original Article)