115 replies to this topic

[Behemoth]

GIVE ME ALL OF YOUR BEHEMOTHS NOW!!!

[bigburty]

So, after seeing Soupie's comment in the MUSCLE archive in regards to what has been mentioned in this thread, am I right in thinking that the general consensus is arforbes originally photoshopped some of the figure pictures he sent to Soupie, to make people think he had them, then him paying such a high amount for a particular figure proves he never actually owned it? It's kinda crazy to get my head around the fact that someone would actually bother going to all these lengths.

[imperfecz]

arforbes crazy.

 

Fixed that for you.....

[adiy009]

So, after seeing Soupie's comment in the MUSCLE archive in regards to what has been mentioned in this thread, am I right in thinking that the general consensus is arforbes originally photoshopped some of the figure pictures he sent to Soupie, to make people think he had them, then him paying such a high amount for a particular figure proves he never actually owned it? It's kinda crazy to get my head around the fact that someone would actually bother going to all these lengths

i thought arforbes talk was banded 

 

however i think he has a master set he has lots of super rare figures too (and the soupie pictures are real )

i think he knows there is another collector closing in on a master set and is

trying to stop that happening  

i have heard rumours he hoards class a figures 

Edited by adiy009, 22 February 2014 - 01:35 PM.

[Jet-Mech]

i thought arforbes talk was banded 

 

 

I'm not sure if it's banned, but it's definitely frowned upon. Posting his auctions, though, is strictly verboten.

 

To address the rest of the points you brought up: I'm not sure about the master set, but the others definitely wouldn't surprise me.

Edited by Jet-Mech, 22 February 2014 - 02:21 PM.

[ALLSPORTDVD]

I find it interesting that no feedback has been left by the seller yet.....so the buyer has probably not paid up.....

[bigburty]

Where's the pic of the 134r gone? I just tried to open it and it disappeared. What did it say on the paper in the background?

[Soupie]

Where's the pic of the 134r gone? I just tried to open it and it disappeared. What did it say on the paper in the background?

 

I saw it too. It had the date on it and his handle. Hopefully Jkaris can snag it some how.

[Jet-Mech]

If he's trying to "stop" people, then I feel incredibly sad for him - more so than ever. I have so many other things in my life. I can't imagine actively worrying about who has a master set of MUSCLE toys.

 

Well said. He did not earn his nickname without good reason. In my opinion, anyway, M.U.S.C.L.E. collecting long ago stopped being a hobby for him...it instead made the transition to full-blown obsession. Actively trying to prevent others from obtaining a master set is a good example of being obsessed. I don't know if I should feel sad or angry for him because of that.

[SmokinGun]

The second highest bidder is Aidy009. 2 super crazy final bidders. LOL!!

[GRANDTHEFT]

did the person who sold it have any idea of the value?

 

imagine if he just wanted to make a few quid , then woke up one morning checked his auction to see if anyone even bid on it , ( then across Yorkshire ) Jesussss !

 

 

good luck to him if that's how it panned out.

[iwao]

did the person who sold it have any idea of the value?

 

imagine if he just wanted to make a few quid , then woke up one morning checked his auction to see if anyone even bid on it , ( then across Yorkshire ) Jesussss !

 

 

good luck to him if that's how it panned out.

I'm sure it was a complete surprise. The auction listing didn't even have "MUSCLE" in it. I can't imagine the amount of time spent searching and scanning random toy lots for figures that aren't even in the auction title, but I guess that's needed for anyone obsessed with getting a master set.  It almost turns the hobby into a job.

[Ericnilla]

Does anyone actually believe this sold for this price?

 

[jmckinnon316]

I reckon it's been bought, paid for, sent and received by now!

 

And who's to say that 68r was not in Alex's possession when he submitted the photo for the DB all those years ago, then he traded it to someone (who's perhaps not an LRG member but still collects MUSCLES hard. Let's face it. It could happen and we'd be arrogant to think it's not possible).

 

He may have traded for something equally special, thinking he'd pick up another one fairly soon but had to wait until now to get it again.

[adiy009]

I reckon it's been bought, paid for, sent and received by now!

 

And who's to say that 68r was not in Alex's possession when he submitted the photo for the DB all those years ago, then he traded it to someone (who's perhaps not an LRG member but still collects MUSCLES hard. Let's face it. It could happen and we'd be arrogant to think it's not possible).

 

He may have traded for something equally special, thinking he'd pick up another one fairly soon but had to wait until now to get it again.

Yeah agree i have always wondered how many m.u.s.cl.e collectors there is in total  

i know a few in canada and a couple in england that all have class a figures

but have not joined this site 

i was a lurker on this site a few yeas before joining 

 

i am not sure why alex got banded he was for sure dodgy 

but if he could change his shady ways 

i am sure he would be a good member after all i regard 

him as the no1 muscle collector

even if he can't buy or sell 

i personally fell he has the greatest knowledge on m.u.s.c.l.e

and could give so much to muscle fans worldwide

Edited by adiy009, 24 February 2014 - 03:22 AM.

[GRANDTHEFT]

I'm sure it was a complete surprise. The auction listing didn't even have "MUSCLE" in it. I can't imagine the amount of time spent searching and scanning random toy lots for figures that aren't even in the auction title, but I guess that's needed for anyone obsessed with getting a master set.  It almost turns the hobby into a job.

True mate , if you added the time up and paid for it by the hour just searching for that particular figure you'd end up having a part time job for the year earning $7500 

[bachamn]

i thought arforbes talk was banded 

 

i am not sure why alex got banded he was for sure dodgy 

 

[adiy009]

banned happy now

[jmckinnon316]

My concern, and I think most die-hard MUSCLE collectors would agree, is with the validity of the pictures from so many years ago - and the impact it has on the information regarding Parts and Trees. I love the MUSCLE hobby. Collecting the figures is my least favorite part. I care about all MUSCLE collectors having access to information true information. As a MUSCLE collector I'd like to know which figures may be errors and which ones may be mass-produced parts of trees. That's the fun part to me.

 

I, of course, am also concerned about the validity of the pictures and how this affects the trees and parts - as we know them. 

 

However, it is my feeling that in this case the 68r which has caused so much excitement doesn't actually make that much of a difference to things. 

 

I believe it is generally acknowledged that even Alex doesn't have a Master Set of MUSCLEs at this point in time - was it not just 6-8 months ago that he was bidding on a 186G? That should have been the first clue that he didn't currently have a Master Set.

 

We all like to buy/sell and trade MUSCLEs - having a MUSCLE 10 years ago and not having it today is not that surprising. I would not be too worried, just yet.

 

The trees/parts hold firm, as far as I can see. I have seen nothing to make me worry about the integrity of the theory.

 

Just don't get me started on 100G

 

Before coming to my conclusion here, I did have a look and then a second look at this image from Soupie's archive....

 

 68.jpg   47.79K   30 downloads

 

I looked at the fist position of 68r and 68m and wondered whether the red was a re-coloured magenta one (since they had the same pose), but then decided 'No, that's crazy......'

Edited by jmckinnon316, 24 February 2014 - 07:36 AM.

[Sixthwizard]

Nobody will ever know how many colors were made.  Workers in production facilities often 'customize' some things for themselves.  

 

Could be that there was a collector of muscle working in a facility and decided to take some of the red rubber and cast a few #68 sculpts for himself at the end of the day or something.  Too many possibilities to say for sure if there are a lot of 68 reds, purple 153's, bhs'.....etc.  

 

The info quest about the trees reminds me of people searching for Noah's Ark, the Holy Grail, etc. - nobody will ever know 100% as to what and how many colors were made.

 

The green 100 just shows up after almost 30 years?????? 

 

Has not a scientist remade the m.u.s.c.l.e. rubber?  While at first thought this may seem like a lot of trouble for a small rubber toy, but probably very simple for a scientist.  They can create diseases which are lifeforms, but can't reproduce m.u.s.c.l.e. rubber?  come on now... 

 

And there are tons of tonal variations in the colors.  There could be 100 of the same red figure, each with slight tonal differences from 30 years of being exposed to different situations.  

 

Nobody will ever know the truth

[Soupie]

Nobody will ever know how many colors were made. Workers in production facilities often 'customize' some things for themselves.

A bit of MUSCLE history:

Before the MUSCLE Database and later the MUSCLE Color Code, collectors literally had no idea which figures were available in which colors. Some of the pioneering collectors trying to create Master Sets probably had an inkling of what might or might not be out there based on figures for which they had been searching for a long time or figures they knew others had that they didn't have or had never seen, etc., but for most MUSCLE collectors, due to the large number of sculpts and colors, they simply had no idea what was what.

The MUSCLE Database began to change that, and the MCC did change that. With 99.9% accuracy (completely made up percentage), MUSCLE collectors can now say which sculpts were made in which colors, and therefore they can gauge where they are in their journey towards a MS. Furthermore, because of the MDB and MCC, we can say which figures are easier to locate than others.

To suggest otherwise, as you seem to be doing, is simply not accurate.

Are there one-of-one figures (sculpt + color) that were not mass produced? Yes. Will this impact the MCC? Yes, that's why we have to share accurate/true information with each other and discuss possibilities (like we used to ). But that does not discredit the MCC or mean those of us cataloging the MUSCLE Master Set are chasing Noah's ark.

Edited by Soupie, 24 February 2014 - 12:21 PM.

[Sixthwizard]

Well said Soupie.  

But i know about the history and the MCC, etc.

If I sounded like i was discrediting anything, that wasn't my intention.  

Maybe it sounds better to say that because new things pop up after so many years unseen, the quest for m.u.s.c.l.e. truth will most likely be never ending...

Matter of perception I suppose.

[Sixthwizard]

I also didn't mean to sound like I think the green 100 is fake.  I believe it is 100% authentic.