Beast Wars Neo C-53 Big Black Convoy

I'm a big fan of the Beast Wars Neo and have been ever since I learned about it in the late 1990's. I think what draws me to it the the sheer uniqueness of the beast modes that populate the line. Giraffe, Penguin, Rabbit, Archaeopteryx, Styracosaurus, Tanuki?? It's kinda crazy. Of course one of the most easily recognizable figures is that of Big Convoy, the Woolly Mammoth. American Transformer fans are just as familiar with this figure as their Japanese counterparts due to the mold being released as Universe Nemesis Prime and the character being heavily featured in the Beast Wars IDW comics. However the figure was repainted in an almost all-black color scheme and sold in Japanese Toys R Us Stores as Black Big Convoy. Personally I call him Big Black Convoy instead because the words flow better and it sounds more menacing. The figure was also released as a lucky draw in a blue color scheme (Big Blue Convoy :)



Now because the Universe Nemesis Prime figure was painted almost all black Big Black Convoy hasn't really held his value very well giving me an opportunity to snatch him up quite unexpectedly. In fact, this particular specimen is MISB and I am having misgivings about opening him. I know I said I could probably do it to a Beast Wars figure, but now that I have one it is just as hard as it would be with a G2 figure. Why do I do this to myself?

His Woolly Highness

Coincidentally the Transformers Collectors Club just announced they would be re-releasing this mold yet again as Ultra Mammoth, an Ultra Magnus homage in red, white and blue colors. In the past I have made an agreement with myself to not be completist about any mold that includes a lucky draw but I may have to make an exception in this case. I imagine it would look pretty stunning lining up five different Woolly Mammoths.