­This afternoon a dozen auctions ended on Yahoo Japan Auctions for various testshots and samples of Generation One and Diaclone figures.  The auctions ended in total for over $7,600­­ (£5,167)!­  The auctions were for:

• Blaster (testshot)
• Tracks (hardcopy / mock-up)
• Huffer (testshot)
• Ironhide (testshot)
• Sideswipe (testshot)
• Hoist (testshot)
• Astrotrain (testshot)
• Convoy (testshot)
• Skywarp (testshot)
• Thrust (testshot)

We waited a few days before putting these image galleries online to allow the auctions that were on Yahoo Japan to end to try to help protected the bidders against shill bidding.   Before anyone asks, no we did not win any of the auctions as we did not bid.  The figures are will soon be in the hands of collectors so keep an eye out for newer images in the coming months, and some items may be sold on via eBay in the future.

For anyone interested in early samples, especially mock-up pieces, the Tracks mock-ups (more likely a Diaclone mock-up) are amazing pieces.

Powered Convoy has posted two links on allspark.com to Taobao auctions for two more Botcon 2010 exclusives.  First up was Sky-byte and then there was a new previously unannounced figure, Gnaw.  Both toys are recolours of Energon Sharkticon.  You can view the mirrored images below.

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S250 has posted an image on TwitPic of a recoloured Transformers Energon Downshift in ActionMaster Slicer's colour scheme! Could this be a store exclusive or an upcoming Botcon toy?  Time will tell.

S250 has "tweeted" another rumour, this time that a new Unicron repaint will be released by Takara Tomy in September  2010.  S250 goes on to speculate that the figure may be released as part of the "Welcome to Transformers 2010" theme of TakaraTomy releases.

Again, this should be considered a rumour, but S250 does have a good record for these things hence this rumour report.

TFClub.com have posted images of the upcoming Transformers War for Cybertron Optimus Prime figure which they have recently acquired.  The toy will be released under the Transformers Generations banner to coincide with the release of the video game.

Credit to Seibertron.com for the report.

Thanks to Shadowdancer for submitting the following story:

"Just to let you all know The Entertainer toy store is now doing the Universe figure Optimus prime G1 reissue for £19.99 from £39.99.So grab em while you can .I brought mine online."

­TakaraTomy have updated their website with information on more Japanese exclusive campaigns figures.

First up they have a page dedicated to the Transformers Animated EZ Collection "Crystal" figures.  These are clear recolours of Transformers Animated EZ Optimus Prime, Prowl, Bumblebee and Starscream.  The figures are Toys R Us Japan exclusives and are due in stores towards the end of this month starting from tomorrow.  You can view images of the toys ­below.

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Next up Takara have updated their "Welcome to Transformers 2010" sub-section which is an area that will contain information on four other exclusives which will be available by using a "robot-points" style stystem.  First up is MP-4S, Masterpiece Convoy "Sleep Mode" an all black and grey version of the Masterpiece toy depicting Convoy/ Optimus Prime from his death scene in the original 1986 film, Transformers: The Movie.  The toy is not cheap, costing­ 21,000 yen (that's ­£146 or $224) and 4 robot points and comes with his trailer, light up Matrix and recoloured weapons.  The toy is different to the recent e-Hobby's MP Convoy Black Edition for tohse wondering.  You can view all the images in our gallery here.

Hong Kong Toy World forum member tom.com has posted various Transformers Anmated images from TakaraTomys ordering catalogue including the first images of Ultra Magnus and Swindle.  The full list of the figures that were shown is:

Leader Class Megatron
Ultra Magnus
Sentinel
Jazz
Blurr
Elite Guard Bumblebee­
Wreck-Gar
Rodimus (two images)
Optimus Prime / Rodimus Crystal two pack
Prime Vs Megatron
Cybertronian mode Ratchet
Jet Pack Bumblebee
Wing Blade Optimus Prime
Waspinator
Samurai Prowl
Sunstorm
Swindle

You can view the mirrored images below.

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Kapow Toys have updated their blog with some images of upcoming Japanese Transformers figure including the highly anticipated Rodimus figure.  They have also published release dates for various toys, some of which have been seen before on Japanese sites.

1) Animated Leader Class Megatron - July
2) Animated Swindle - July
3) Animated Jazz - July
4) Animated Sentinel Prime - July
5) Animated Wreck Gar - July
6) Animated Blurr - August
7) Animated Ultra Magnus - August
8) Animated Samurai Prowl - August
9) Animated Cybertron Ratchet - August
10) Animated Rodimus - August
11) Animated Jetpack Bumblebee - September
12) Animated Wingblade Optimus Prime - September
13) Revenge Human Alliance Jazz - July
14) Revenge Insecticon - September
15) Revenge Battle Blade Bumblebee - September
16) Revenge Battle Blade Optimus Prime - September
17) Revenge Deluxe Ironhide - September
18) Disney Label Buzz Lightyear - July

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