Triple Takeover Toycast

Released at a time when Transformers were already firmly on the wane after six years on toy shelves, 1990's Action Masters were Hasbro's attempt at 'rebooting' the line by bringing back familiar A-list characters and delivering them in more 'action figure' style. The concept was inherently divisive from the start: they're Transformers that don't transform. For a brand built entirely around transformation, this felt to some like abandoning the core premise.
Soon seen as having killed the franchise after they proved to be the last year of original series product in North America (even though it continued elsewhere in the world), Action Masters have never quite shaken the infamy ever since. The very mention of them online typically triggers passionate reactions about how they represent everything wrong with late-G1 desperation, a fundamental misunderstanding of what made Transformers special.
However, there are also collectors who have given them a sharp reappraisal in more recent times, finding a lot to admire about these admittedly clunky efforts to deliver something different — even if the flaws are there for all to see. Today we give this derided roster another look, taking in the vintage charm these surprisingly unposeable specimens possess, alongside the goofiness of the accompanying accessories and vehicles they were packaged with.
We discuss what Action Masters were trying to achieve, why the concept failed so spectacularly with fans, and whether modern collectors approaching them without the baggage of 1990 can find merit in their quirky existence. Did they really deserve the hate, or were they simply the wrong idea at the wrong time? The action is alive — whether you want it to be or not.
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Enjoying the show? There’s more than meets the ear...
Find show notes at https://www.tripletakeover.com
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This episode is the opposite of our Hidden Gems discussion. Rather than bigging up amazing Transformers toys that nobody mentions, we're re-assessing former releases which are already well known — but not in a good way. These are the perceived stinkers, the Renford Rejects, the real bottom-of-the-barrel stuff. The toys that as soon as they're mentioned online, everyone will quickly jump in to give them a major kicking, swiftly pointing out in elaborate detail why they are just plain bad.
And it's not so much that we disagree with a lot of the points commonly made — it's more that we think the toys we're putting in the spotlight maybe have more going on beyond their all-too-often highlighted flaws. Sometimes a toy can be a bit of a letdown but still offer something that makes it otherwise enjoyable, or perhaps it just doesn't deserve the harsh reaction it so typically garners. Maybe the hate is justified, or maybe time and perspective reveal redeeming qualities that got lost in the initial backlash.
That's what we're evaluating here, as we each choose a toy from Transformers history to sit in the dock and be judged all over again. We examine why these figures earned their reputations, what they actually get right despite their failings, and whether the community's collective memory is fair or simply piling on. Some might still be irredeemable disasters, but others might surprise you with hidden merit that's been overshadowed by swift judgement.
Do they deserve the hate? There's only one way to find out.
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Enjoying the show? There’s more than meets the ear...
Find show notes at https://www.tripletakeover.com
Join the conversation with us on Discord
Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tripletakeover

Q-Transformers is a 2014 Japanese exclusive line centred around being both a homage to and a spin-off from Takara's own classic Choro-Q line of super-deformed cars (known as Penny Racers in the West). Except here, the central gimmick isn't a pull-back-and-go mechanism but the ability to transform from licensed-but-chibified real world vehicles into familiar robots in disguise characters. Plus, as the name suggests, they're super cute!
We examine what makes this line a real sleeper hit for collectors. Despite their tiny size and unparalleled accessibility on the aftermarket, the toys boast impressive levels of detail and paint far beyond what you might expect. With a wide range of desirable and often unusual car model choices employed — from classic sports cars to obscure Japanese market vehicles — there's plenty here for Transformers fans and petrolheads alike to appreciate.
We also unpick the origins behind the execution of the toys, comparing them to vintage Choro-Q design and indeed the Micro-Change-inherited minibots from Transformers' earliest years. There's a surprising amount of heritage baked into these diminutive figures, connecting them to decades of Takara's toy design philosophy. The enthusiasm at play in this episode is palpable throughout.
This one started as a Patreon commission by our patron John Pearl, but we thought it was so deserving of the full episode treatment that here we are. Fair warning: this is peak enablement territory.
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Enjoying the show? There’s more than meets the ear...
Find show notes at https://www.tripletakeover.com
Join the conversation with us on Discord
Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tripletakeover

The general aftermarket value of second-hand Transformers items has skyrocketed in recent times, driven by what appears to be a collecting boom over the last five years or more. What was once a reasonably accessible hobby has become increasingly pricey, with even previously unloved releases now commanding premium prices. It's a hot topic that affects every collector, regardless of focus or budget.
We're here to establish whether such price hikes are justifiable — is this simply the market responding to genuine demand, or is the perceived value of certain items being artificially inflated to take advantage of increased interest? We discuss why some toys become astronomically expensive even when they weren't particularly desirable on initial release, examining the psychology behind grail hunting, and how scarcity (both real and manufactured) affects pricing.
There's also the practical question every collector faces: how can we continue to justify a hobby that's becoming ever more eye-wateringly exorbitant? We explore strategies for navigating the current market, from knowing when to walk away to understanding what actually holds value versus what's riding a temporary hype wave. There are definite frustrations to vent along the way, but we're also searching for solace and sensible approaches.
With thanks to Moltara Imports for providing key insight on the wholesale and retail side of the equation, helping us understand the bigger picture behind the numbers we see. It's a conversation that needed to happen. Find Moltara at: https://linktr.ee/moltaraimports
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Chapters
0:00:00 Intro
0:05:06 Sponsor Segment: Valart & Moltara Imports
0:15:06 The Current State of The Aftermarket
0:28:12 Will The Aftermarket Ever Bottom Out?
0:35:44 Why Condition Matters
0:43:36 Are Vintage Toys Still... Toys?
0:52:29 When Prices Are Artificially Inflated
1:16:31 How Collecting is Becoming Inaccessible
1:25:55 Sponsor Segment: Moltara Imports
1:28:14 Final Thoughts & Patron Questions
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Enjoying the show? There’s more than meets the ear...
Find show notes at https://www.tripletakeover.com
Join the conversation with us on Discord
Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tripletakeover

The so-called e-Hobby era has become a landmark of Transformers collecting for many fans. Running predominantly through the 2000s, the TakaraTomy-affiliated online store offered recolours of classic Transformers toys in weird and wonderful colour schemes — sometimes referencing Diaclone or Micro Change releases, occasionally diving into exceptionally niche corners of the brand's lore, and often just embracing pure creative experimentation.
What makes this period so fascinating is the dramatic shift in perception over time. Many of these toys weren't particularly appreciated when released, sitting plentifully available online for years before experiencing a swift and surprising renaissance. Today, individual e-Hobby releases can outstrip even the original vintage versions on which they're based, with some specimens commanding immense sums on the aftermarket. It's a remarkable transformation for what were once considered curiosities.
Even aside from their current desirability, there's genuine substance here worth celebrating: lush new colour schemes afforded to beloved vintage classics, the sheer unbridled creativity at play, and a willingness to serve the most dedicated collectors with references that rewarded deep knowledge of the franchise. We discuss our favourite releases, the ones that got away, and why certain examples have achieved such legendary status.
With Missing Link now promising a return-to-form that feels almost spiritually in-keeping with what the e-Hobby reissues offered, it's the perfect time to look back on what is, for many of us, one of the fondest periods of post-G1 collecting. If only it had gone on longer.
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Chapters
0:00:00 Intro
0:06:24 Sponsor Segment: Valart
0:10:14 Introduction to e-Hobby
0:26:23 New Characters From Old Toys
0:35:36 Will They Re-Do Some of These Repaint Ideas Again?
0:42:21 Availability on Release
0:50:01 Why Does e-Hobby Feel 'Exotic'?
1:09:52 Why Do They Still Feel Like Grails Now?
1:19:26 Sponsor Segment: TFSource
1:29:51 Final Thoughts & Patron Questions
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Enjoying the show? There’s more than meets the ear...
Find show notes at https://www.tripletakeover.com
Join the conversation with us on Discord
Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tripletakeover