Smallest WST G1 BAPE - "Convoy Reissue BAPE "

I know....it's been almost a week now since my last real posting so I have to apologize. 

You start a site like this, and everything is gung-ho from the start.  I was doing good there for almost two months and then "real" life starts to take over.  This was really starting to bother me because I have all these ideas but to sometimes wait till family/work time is over, I'm just plain exhausted to do a nice photo shoot,  and some research, then write it up, and then proof/rewrite everything.....basically, I needed to put something up.  But, it couldn't just be anything.  It had to be something that is different that what you normally read from people......let me tell you,  when it arrived I was really pleased.

So here it is.....a green box.


A gorilla in a box ?

A Bathing Ape (or BAPE) is a Japanese clothing company founded by Nigo in 1993.The company specializes in all types of lifestyle and street wear.

www.bape.com





So far there have been three full sized, different colored versions of the BAPE Convoy.  Here's a brief history on them.

The original full size Optimus Prime that was created with the BAPE design was back in 2011.

Here's a link to the BABE site : http://www.bape.com/transformer

Convoy Reissue BAPE GREEN CAMO Version (A Bathing Ape exclusive, 2011)

• ID number: 01
• Accessories: Laser Blaster, 2 fists (left & right), Trailer/Combat Deck, Roller, 4 rockets, hose, nozzle, fuel pump

Available exclusively from Japanese clothing company A Bathing Ape in July 2011, "Convoy Reissue BAPE Green Camo Version" is a redeco of the original Optimus Prime toy sporting a unique new green color scheme, along with a tan trailer decorated with a camouflage pattern. Both trailer and Prime himself feature the A Bathing Ape logo in place of an Autobot symbol, while the floor of the trailer's Combat Deck mode features new Bathing Ape-themed labels. The figure comes in a recolored version of the original Japanese Optimus Prime packaging.

Convoy Reissue BAPE Ver. BLACK CAMO (A Bathing Ape exclusive, 2012)

• ID number: 01
• Accessories: Laser Blaster, 2 fists (left & right), Trailer/Combat Deck, Roller, 4 rockets, hose, nozzle, fuel pump

Available exclusively from Japanese clothing company A Bathing Ape in April 2012, "Convoy Reissue BAPE Ver. BLACK" is a redeco of the original Optimus Prime toy sporting a unique new grey color scheme, along with a grey trailer decorated with a camouflage pattern. Both trailer and Prime himself feature the A Bathing Ape logo in place of an Autobot symbol, while the floor of the trailer's Combat Deck mode features new Bathing Ape-themed labels. The figure comes in a recolored version of the original Japanese packaging.

Convoy Reissue BAPE RED CAMO Version (A Bathing Ape exclusive, 2013)

• ID number: 01
• Accessories: Laser Blaster, 2 fists (left & right), Trailer/Combat Deck, Roller, 4 rockets, hose, nozzle, fuel pump

Here is a link for this one : http://www.bape.com/transformers_3

Available exclusively from Japanese clothing company A Bathing Ape in March 2013, "Convoy Reissue BAPE VERSION RED CAMO" Ver . RED CAMO) is a redeco of the original Optimus Prime toy sporting a unique new red color scheme, along with a red trailer decorated with a camouflage pattern. Both trailer and Prime himself feature the A Bathing Ape logo in place of an Autobot symbol, while the floor of the trailer's Combat Deck mode features new Bathing Ape-themed labels. The figure comes in a recolored version of the original Japanese packaging.

To date I still don't own one of these guys.  Honestly, at first I didn't really have that much interest in them since they seem to come across as something gimicky.  Why would I want to have a Prime that was basically sponsored by a clothing company?  This would be like having a Megatron (G1) with a Nike logo on it.....just plain stupid.  Not to mention, these BAPE figures are currently going for around $150 each which is pretty expensive for a redeco Prime.

Now here's the thing.  The more and more I see all three of them together, or even posed with Prime and Ultra Magnus, the more I want them. *sigh*.... there goes some more money I don't have.

Until the times comes that I finally pull the trigger. I grabbed this mini KO version of the green camo Convoy from one of my favourite Transformer KO maker....."HeeroToys".

Here's a link to his main page full of mini KO Transformers : http://www.heerotoys.com/index.php

Here's a link to the BAPE figure : http://www.heerotoys.com/goods.php?id=36

Great prices ! Great figures ! Fast delivery !  Try one for yourself.  They don't all come with boxes like this mini BAPE Convoy did, but there are KO replica boxes you can buy.

Nicely clamshelled out of the box.

A great little box and nice clamshell accompany this figure, along with a character card, folded instructions, two guns for Prime and a little Roller figure.

Man, if only Hasbro could put some effort into some of their products like this......

Roller is literally the size of your pinky nail.  It's too bad that it didn't come with the fuel hose.

BAPE Convoy loose from the clamshell.  I really do like the color scheme on this little guy.

Fold out legs for trailer support like the original.

Rear fold down door for Roller.

The best part of this is that the guard turret actually has full movement.  With the JustiToys version of the Optimus trailer, the turret doesn't actually move which is a real shame for what I call a "legit" KO figure.  Sadly though, neither of them do shoot the missiles out.

Another nice close up.

HeeroToys even went so far as to add stickers on both sides the same as the original.

Although Bape Convoy does look similar to Optimus, it does lack a few details such as the fold down cab front windows, removeable fists and front lights detailing.....but really, how can you complain?

Some nice detailing on the side.

All in all, I really do hope that I said enough about this figure to either make you want to go out and get out, or at least bring some extra appreciation to the KO market that's out there.

Really, for $25 I don't see how anyone can say that you don't get your moneys worth from this little guy.

For those who are a figure completionist, it's an easy edition to your collection...a no brainer if you will.
For those with a love of detail, this KO certainly fills that market for you.

Either way, we should all just appreciate the little things in life.

Autobots....roll out !!