(Paul weighs in with a comment of his own regarding Lunchtime Specials. He writes the following in response to a poster who proposes that Tin-Tin Happy's clear versions are made by unscrupulous factory workers):

No, no no!
They ARE official, between 5-10 of ALL Takara
re-issues have been made clear for Takara employees,
all ARE boxed, Ive seen them (Might even own some  )
They are not supposed to leave Takara hence none can
be pictured.
I know of people with them all.
Do you really think employees can just mix up the
correct clear plastic and do all the work required to
replace diecast pieces with clear plastic
As with any toy, tests are done on these clear
versions, these are what leak out.
Changing regular toys to clear versions is VERY
expensive, this isn't done by sneaky empolyees!!!
trust me on this!!!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Message: 18
Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2004 15:12:32 -0000
From: "Himawari"
Subject: Re: debunking Paul Hitchens

I love his addition to the "story";

>>"Yeah, clear plastic has different properties to solid, and the
mold pressure and temperature have to be different. You can't just 
pour plastic into a die cast mold!"<<

So Mark, what do you think of this? Perhaps he should get one of us
plastic guys to respond? Don't get me wrong here, but resin is resin.
Sure, a machine has to be set up for any type of resin, may it be
clear or not that *isn't* the main factor, it depends on the type of
resin and it's melt index or how much you need per shot (so you don't
undershoot). That is why there are testshots in the first place! When
there are changes in resins after "soaking" the machine, and purging,
a few runs may have to be made to match the color or to check for
shrinkage. This is done by the setup operator. The only
thing "expensive" to changing resin is not the material, but the down
time. Every second lost is where nothing is being produced. That
costs money. More than the cost of resin. In fact, most test shot
items (for cycle shot time and shrinkage not purged material since
it's degraded) go into regrind to be mixed with virgin material. Or
at least it is supposed to. Obviously, they aren't(hence the LS)

As for the items being "official" sounds
like he is on the same wavelength as Tony "watch me pull a clear
boxed prime out of my hat!" Presto!
Thanks.         -Himawari

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Message: 13
Date: Thu, 19 Feb 2004 00:16:19 -0600
From: "Mark"
Subject: re: more on paul and plastic

Himawari - I agree.  The resin is the resin and you really dont need to
change anything based on color or no color....sigh.   You would have to
change stuff for metal vs. plastic.  :)  Personally - I think this guy is
just clueless and just doesnt see the sheer number of stuff coming out on
ebay.  If he saw/knew that, maybe he would change his tune....who knows?
His tone is pretty piss poor though as he doesnt even leave the door open
that something MAY be going on.  Even we do that...:)

Later,
M
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Message: 1
Date: Wed, 20 Feb 2004 16:47:16 -0000
From: "Himawari"
Subject: Re: debunking Paul

One thing I wanted to add, but didn't have time since I was leaving
for school but anyhow, I'm not totally dissing what he says about
them being "real" but the way he puts it sounds like he is claiming
everything that is coming out, is legit and meant for employees. I
guess if that is the case, I don't blame the employee for ebaying
their bobba fett heads that were still on a sprue. I guess I would
too if I got the short end of the stick! Heck, I'd at least like to
have a full figure as a present. Now, back to getting serious, I have
seen items that were meant for "friends" of the company, and they are
complete one offs not meant for retail or mass production. However
they have never turned up on ebay either. You see, what I'm trying to
say is just like black tracks or the 5 limited versions of starscream
were meant as limited authentic versions, however lunchtime specials
of them have been made, the same with the sixshots. We shouldn't
confuse these as the same thing. I guess another reason why of late,
I don't call anything truly authentic unless it is accompanyed with a
letter, or special mailer box. Anything else, is just speculation.
Thanks.  -Himawari (now will resume with his solidworks modeling... 
boring, stupid plastics course!:-)

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

"You know, it's funny; this argument never ends. It's been going on for two years or better as I type this. I attended a panel in 2005 held by some alverez fellow who put together a rather...well, slipshod panel on 'rare' things. I think if someone would have polished his presentation a bit, it would have been better accepted. As it is, I think of it as a loose collection of already-known things, with a bunch of ripped off ebay and website pictures thrown in for fun. No questions were answered, and in-point of fact, some very contradictory things were said(things he said simply didn't add up when compared to statements made by more reliable sources at the convention).

So...we're in the same boat as before. A bunch of people with opinions, and no official word either way. Just because you heard some goof blab it at a panel doesn't mean it's true." -BJ

++++++++++++++++++++++++

Subject: Re: Alvarez BC Panel

> SOME of those clear ones are official. There are
> ones which I believe are not and are
> proper 'Lunchtime specials'.

A couple of other things reported about the
panel don't make sense or are contradictory to other
information. Like how it was stated that the Universe
Seacons would not be released in Alvarez's panel, yet
Archer stated that they're still shopping them around
in the Hasbro Product presentation panel. And grouping
the G2 Stunticons and Protectobots with unreleased
figures didn't really make sense because the Hartmans
have stated that those were released in limited
quantities through what they said was an "in house"
store at Hasbro. So I guess they're technicalities but
a couple of things in the panel don't quite fit with
previous credible sources. I'd expected the Hartmans
would have proofread some of this presentation. I
wonder if they did. - steve with evil PROPER

5c. The end of the lunch time toy??
    Posted by: "Northern"
    Date: Tue Aug 29, 2006 8:03 pm (PDT)

The guy I'm buying my clear Hotrod and now clear
Astrotrain and clear Sunstorm with a clear Megs gun is
telling me that it was manily his collection that was
Botcon and that Hasbro makes about 10 of each TF only
because of quality issues. I have asked him about the
clear rollor in the picture but he has not answered
about it yet. He also said he has a chrome and clear
Starscream.
Here is exactly what he said:

"A little history on these (unless you already have
some clear toys).  The Lunchtime Special is not true
and was started by fans.  Takara makes 5-10 clear
and/chrome toys of each mold but are limited due to
quality purposes.  If you were at Botcon last year,
Hasbro finally admitted these exsist and most toys at
the presentation were from my collection."

Pretty interesting. Anybody at Botcon last year
confirm this?
N~

+++++++++
1a. Re: The end of the lunch time toy??
    Posted by: "Himawari"
    Date: Tue Aug 29, 2006 11:13 pm (PDT)

My response...
Pffft....
Thanks.                            -Himawari
(w/ totally chromed starscream - took me more than one lunch hour 
though)
++++++++++++

> Pretty interesting. Anybody at Botcon last year
> confirm this?

That's probably not entirely accurate.  Hasbro/Takara do make some 
special ones for employees etc, but there are also lunchtime ones.

There are differences for example some clear Sunstorms you can still 
see the metal rods in the toy, but I think the proper prize one has 
clear rods as well.

There are differences, and there are a group of people who get 
offered these things by email.

All the best
Maz...not on the list. 
====================

1c. Re: The end of the lunch time toy??
    Posted by: "Ras"
    Date: Wed Aug 30, 2006 3:29 am (PDT)

If that's what Hasbro said, then it must be true.
I heard this a while ago from several reliable sources, and while 
not totally convinced; I had no reason to completely shun the idea. 
While the reason for these "In-House" items varies from person to 
person, it's more-or-less what I go by.

The trick is not to tar all the feathers with the same brush.

Sadly, with many such items, there appears to be a very fine line 
between authentic and fake. Coupled with the high price tags that 
many demand and my lack of interest in most of it, I simply stay 
away unless: I'm certain, I like the piece, and/or it's diiiiirt 
cheap.

If the items that you're buying are indeed completely legit, and 
Hasbro actually did use the pieces from this guy's collection for 
the BotCon panel then many congrats:).

I'd certainly like to know more about this guy, what he has and his 
relationship to Hasbro. Some pics too, definitely some pics:)

Ras
===================

1d. Re: The end of the lunch time toy??
    Posted by: "Northern"
    Date: Wed Aug 30, 2006 7:03 am (PDT)

According to "Jon" there has been a clear toy produced
for every toy up TM Hotrod. They were even going to do
a clear Predaking but they never did it. 
Since the merger they have stopped making the clears. 

He also has a clear Prime with the roller for $850 no
trailer and gold chrome Armanda Prime for $450. Clear
and chrome Starscream, forgot the price. Sold a couple
of clear green Hounds (Now those would be nice) and
according to his feedback he has sold a clear Jazz for
over $300.

My package is should be here sometime next week. 
Sorry Maz, as of this time pictures all you are going
to get :) The pictures I do take you can use for your
site if you find them acceptable.
N~