KO Korner: G1 Transformers Metamorphs SL-313 "Quickmix"

Anytime you have something popular and sells well at retail there is the likelihood there will be knockoffs at some point.  Toys, specifically Transformers aren't any different.  I'm sure you've seen a few KO Transformers at your local dollar store, discount store like Big Lots or even at the flea market down the road.  Most aren't worth purchase price.  However every once in awhile you run across a knock-off that is intriguing.  This post is about one of those instances.

I have no idea about the back story of the line of KO Transformers simply labeled as Metamorphs.  I don't know who made them, what year they were made or which G1 characters they did.  I just know that the few I've come across in my collecting years all have been decent - some bordering good.  Before I decided to jump head first into collecting and building Liokaiser I ran across the Metamorph equivalent of Gaihawk.  The colors were spot on.  The small Breastforce member was included.  Heck, even the box used the original Takara box art.  It was cheap so I bought it.  Once in hand I was surprised at how well it was made...especially for a KO.

The next KO I acquired was that of the G1 Micromaster base Skyhopper.  Again I was surprised with the quality of the plastic and that the colors were dang near perfect.  There were a few small differences, but nothing glaring.  So after going 2 for 2 I formed the opinion that of all the "vintage" KOs these Metamorphs were better than a lot of the garbage I've seen flooding the market.

All this brings me to this post.  SL-313 - or better known as the G1 Targetmaster Quickmix.  When I had the chance to acquire this awhile back I didn't hesitate.  Metamorphs don't show up for sale that often and when they do they ain't always cheap.  I saw a MIB Double Dealer go for $100+ a few months back.  Anyhow one of the things that stood out about SL-313 was the color scheme.  Obviously this one isn't G1 accurate...and for once I didn't mind.  Actually I kind of liked it!

We'll start with the packaging.  The box uses the same style logo and design I've seen with other Metamorph releases such as "Landcross".  There are two things about the box that stood out to me though.  1) The toy is shown in two different color schemes and 2) the box art is - dare I say original.  To the left is the box art from the original G1 Quickmix.  The new art isn't bad, but it isn't to the level of detail as the real deal.

Quickmix originally came packaged on a blister card, but the back of the Metamorph box does have some similarities with the back of the blister card.

 

Oddly enough the original box art is used for the instructions.  Even the names of the two Targetmaster robots retain their original G1 names.  Odd.  Actually the whole instruction panel is a reproduction from the original as seen here.

On the top of the box you can get a better look at the two different color schemes as well as the Targetmasters Boomer and Ricochet.  Oddly enough my Ricochet is lime green and not a hot pink/red as shown.

Enough of the packaging though.  Let's open the box and take a closer look at the figure itself.

Not to be surprised the toy comes in a cheap plastic tray with molded areas for "Quickmix" and his Targetmasters.  I was surprised to see the sticker sheet was held in place by a piece of double sided tape.  Speaking of the stickers I got a chuckle out of the window stickers with the driver.  So much for holograms.  I also liked the little Mercedes emblem sticker.

I've got to say the toy is a faithful reproduction (is it a reproduction or just reverse engineering?) of the original G1 Quickmix toy.  The white and orange colors look good on the mold too.  Dare I say these colors look better than the original red and white?

There were a few factory applied labels that I removed before taking these pictures.  On top of the cab (which form the legs and feet of the robot) were two ugly gray rectangles.  One of them was horribly faded and peeling so I removed both.  There was also this weird starburst like sticker on one side of the mixer barrel.  The only other sticker already applied was the black 'CE' on one side of the cab.

As with the vehicle mode there aren't any real surprises or differences with the robot mode.  The plastic is much shinier than the original, but it doesn't feel that cheap.  Actually the mechanism that hides the head inside the cement mixer works better than it does on my G1 Quickmix.

  

Boomer and Ricochet appear to be cast from the same mold as the originals as well only with a different color of plastic.  Thankfully the gun barrels are tight and not floppy.  Loose joints always seems to plague KO Transformers.

The Targetmaster guns fit snuggly in each hand.  They also fit into each other quite well if you want to combine them for a bigger gun.

I've referenced the original G1 Quickmix several times already so let's take a look at a few comparison pictures.  I'll let them do the majority of the talking as there isn't much more for me to say.

  

  

I'm not a collector of KO TFs, but I can appreciate a good KO.  That may sound odd, but when it all comes together and has a unique look of it's own like SL-313 does here I can find a way to work it into my collection.  If you are curious about "vintage" G1 KOs and you run across anything branded as Metamorphs then give it a try.  They aren't perfect - but they aren't dollar store trash either.  Hope you enjoyed this look at a unique odd ball piece of Transformers lore.