Good clear coat for protecting Transmetals?

I've finally gotten my Beast Wars toys out of my parents' house, and I'm seeing some flaking. What kind of clear coat should I use to protect them? Is there anything I should avoid?

Chip's sales / trade thread

I've got a backlog of stuff I'd like to clear out, and I'm getting bored with ebay. You can check out my feedback here. If you have any questions or would like to see photos, let me know. Also, if you scroll to the end there's a short list of things I'd be interested in for trades.

All convention toys have their bio cards and instructions. Unless otherwise noted, all non-convention toys are also loose and complete, but won't have bio cards or instructions.

Transformers for sale

BotCon/Club/OTFCC
All convention toys are loose and complete including bio cards and instructions.

BotCon Euro 2002
Rook - mint in sealed bag

OTFCC 2003
Roulette
Shadow Striker

BotCon 2005
Empty "Descent Into Evil" box with "Changing Gears" pin and certificate of authenticity
Ironhide
Fallback/Outback
Chromia/Moonracer- SOLD
Ricochet
Flamewar- SOLD
Flareup- SOLD

BotCon 2006
Comic: Timelines #1, convention edition

BotCon 2007
Comic: Timelines #2, convention edition
Bug Bite
Alpha Trion - Beta Maxx has one warped vertical fin.
Weirdwolf

BotCon 2008
SG Megatron

BotCon 2009
Empty "Wings of Honor" box with Elite Guard pin and certificate of authenticity
Comic: Timelines #4, convention edition
Scourge
Thunder Clash
Kup
Landshark
Leozack/Lyzack- SOLD
Skyquake
Banzai-Tron
Elita-One- SOLD

BotCon 2010
Empty "Generation 2: Redux" box with Decepticon pin and certificate of authenticity
Comic: Timelines #5, convention edition
Spark/Pyro
Streetstar/Streetwise
Clench/Colossus
Breakdown
Slice / Slicer / SG Wheeljack
Turbomaster Scorch w/ SG Ravage- SOLD
Sharkticon: Land Shark

BotCon 2011
Empty "Stunti-Con-Job" box with Autobot pin and certificate of authenticity
"First 100" Stunticon pin
The Motormaster
Wildrider
Drag Strip
Breakdown
Dead End
Sideswipe - I've removed some paint from inside one shoulder to relieve stress on the joint so it'll pop off less

Transformers Collector's Club
Note: the Nexus Prime guys are loose and complete, with bio cards but no instructions.
Skyfall
Landquake
Breakaway
Top Spin
Heatwave
Dion

Generation 1

Vintage
Topspin - missing his gun and that bar that holds his feet together, so he can't transform.
Fortress Maximus - complete with all parts. There's some sticker wear, and mild but consistent yellowing on his entire front surface. Otherwise in outstanding condition.

Reissue
BBTS Tentakil - has both guns & stand
BBTS Overbite/Jawbreaker - no pistol or monster claws, has stand

Generation 2
Hero Megatron - great shape, has pistol but no missiles

Animorphs
MEGA
Visser Three/Inferno Creature
Ax/Scorpion

Beast Machines
Primal Prime

Robots in Disguise

Japanese Car Robots
Wild Ride
Vuldigus / Baldigas / Japanese Ruination - include bio cards for all 5 members

American RID
BASIC
Obsidian
Slapper

DELUXE
Bruticus

LEADER
Ultra Magnus

KB CLEAR REDECO SPYCHANGERS (sold as set)
white Hot Shot
red Crosswise
purple WARS / SG Camshaft
orange REV
green Mirage
blue Ironhide / Hoist
See Universe (2003) for more Spychangers!

STORE EXCLUSIVES
Dreadwing & Smokesniper - includes art "cards" cut out of box
Jhiaxus
Megabolt
Sideways
Axer

Wal-Mart Dinobots - include art stickers
Grimlock
Snarl
Triceradon
Terranotron
Slapper
Sludge

Alternators
Silverstreak/Bluestreak
Swindle
Optimus Prime
Prowl
Rodimus - spoiler slightly warped on one side, and one of the pins for his chest can work its way out
Decepticharge

Titanium
War Within Megatron
Hot Zone

CHUGTHULU

Universe (2003)

MICROMASTERS:
Devastator
Superion

MINI-CONS:
Emergency Team and Air Military Team redecos from Whirl and Magna Stampede / Stockade

SPYCHANGERS: - sold as a set
yellow RID Optimus Prime
black RID Ultra Magnus
Ironhide (Trailbreaker colors)
Prowl (Red Alert colors)
G1 Prowl
G1 Wheeljack
G1 Silverstreak / Bluestreak
G1 Hoist
G1 Optimus Prime
G1 Jazz

CYBERJETS:
Air Raid (stress marks on transformation hinge; neither mode affected
Space Case
Wind Sheer

DELUXE:
Reptilion
Fireflight
Ratchet
Frostbite
BiaB Ransack
BiaB Ultra Magnus - stacks have been glued on.

VOYAGER:
Soundwave
King Atlas
Ramjet with Thunder Clash and Air Military Team
Magna Stampede / Stockade

Robot Masters
Optimus Prime

Classics
LEGENDS:
Perceptor
Fireflight - see Universe, below, for more Aerialbots

Universe (2008)
LEGENDS:
Onslaught
Red Alert
Beachcomber
Razorclaw
Hun-Grrr
Hot Zone
Scattershot
Silverbolt
Skydive
Air Raid
Blades
Thrust
Ramjet

DELUXE:
Tankor/Octane
Red Alert

VOYAGER:
Blades
SDCC Nemesis Prime

ULTRA:
Storm Cloud
Powerglide (white)
Wal-Mart Powerglide (red)
Wal-Mart Hardhead

Generations
DELUXE:
WFC Optimus Prime
WFC Bumblebee
WFC Cliffjumper
Wheeljack
Warpath
Thrust
Thundercracker

Reveal the Shield
DELUXE:
Cyclonus
Rodimus
Wreck-Gar
Fallback/Outback

Questionable Knockoff
Henkei Skywarp- SOLD
Henkei Thundercracker- SOLD

Movies

Transformers (2007)
LEGENDS:
Rescue Ratchet

REAL GEAR ROBOTS:
Power Up VT6
Night Beat 7
Hacker X3

SCOUT:
Armorhide

DELUXE:
Bonecrusher
Longarm
Landmine
Stockade
Wal-Mart Crankcase
Wal-Mart Fracture- SOLD

VOYAGER:
Blackout

Revenge of the Fallen
LEGENDS:
Recon Bumblebee - MOSC
Runamuck (Straightaway Shootout)
Ironhide (Straightaway Shootout)
Mudflap (Straightaway Shootout)
Swerve (Straightaway Shootout)
Devastator 7-pack

SCOUT:
Scalpel - Some of the ball joints for his legs are cracked
Ejector
Knock Out
Rollbar
Insecticon
Dune Runner
Sonar
Brakedown/Breakdown
Dirt Boss
Deadlift

DELUXE:
Soundwave
Ravage
Dead End
Bludgeon/Wreckage
Skids (gold tooth)
Mudflap ("TRAX" license plate)

VOYAGER:
Mixmaster - has instructions, you'll need them
Long Haul
Mindwipe

HUMAN ALLIANCE:
Bumblebee

Transformers (2010)
SCOUT:
Firetrap
Breacher
Brimstone
Sunspot
Oil Pan

DELUXE:
Tomahawk
Terradive
Jetblade
Hailstorm

VOYAGER:
Sea Spray
Deep Dive

HUMAN ALLIANCE:
Jazz

Power Core Combiners
Huffer
Searchlight
Smolder
Sledge
Bombshock / Combaticons
Skyburst / Aerialbots

Dark of the Moon
MINI-CON
Dualor
Triceradon
Rav
Catilla

HUMAN ALLIANCE:
Backfire
Half-Track

DELUXE:
Comettor
Roadbuster
Topspin
Barricade
Crankcase
Thundercracker
Laserbeak

VOYAGER:
Megatron
Shockwave
Sentinel Prime
Twilight Sparkle Optimus Prime

Animated
ACTIVATORS:
Grimlock
Cliffjumper

DELUXE:
Soundwave - no Laserbeak, overly matte layer of topcoat on his back to seal the paint. Good for parts.
Blurr
2-pack Optimus Prime

LEADER:
Megatron - symbol painted gold, with moderate success.

Prime
VOYAGER:
Megatron
Starscream

DELUXE:
Ratchet
Hot Shot

Crossovers
Marvel
Thor

PVC

Takara "SCF"
Sixshot
clear Ultra Magnus
pewter Ratchet
BAF Grand Maximus left leg
clear BAF Metroplex right leg
Armada Red Alert

Hasbro "Heroes of Cybertron" - these each come with their tech spec card
Arcee
Megatron
Optimus Prime
Powermaster Optimus Prime Apex Armor / God Ginrai
Skywarp
Starscream
Optimus Prime w/ energy weapon
Megatron w/ energy weapon
Paradron Medic
Powermaster Optimus Prime Spark Attack / Fire Guts God Ginrai
Thundercracker
Ultra Magnus
Cyclonus
Galvatron
Ironhide
Autobot Espionage Team (Bumblebee and Spike)
Powermaster Gigatron / Overlord
Perceptor
BAF Fortress Maximus head and sword
BAF Fortress Maximus right leg
BAF Fortress Maximus left arm
OTFCC Sunstorm
OTFCC Starscream
OTFCC Thundercracker
OTFCC Skywarp
OTFCC Air Warrior (3)

Other toys for sale

G.I. Joe
BLOWTORCH (v2)
COBRA B.A.T. (v3)
COBRA C.L.A.W.S. COMMANDER (v1)
COBRA FAST BLAST VIPER (v1)
COBRA MORAY (v1)
COBRA SNOW SERPENT (v5) - currently missing dog
CROSS HAIR (v1)
DR. MINDBENDER (v3)
DUKE (v9)
FROSTBITE (v4)
HEAVY DUTY (v4)
OVER KILL (v2) - missing knife
SNAKE EYES (v10)
SGT. STALKER (v1) - missing Sound Attack machine gun
SHADOW VIPER (v1)
STORM SHADOW (v7)
WET-SUIT (v7)
ZARTAN (v3) - missing mask

Gundam

American "Mobile Suit in Action" style figures
MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM
RX-78 Gundam & G-Fighter box set - complete in box!
RB-79 Ball
RGM-79 GM
RX-75 Guntank
RX-77 Guncannon
RX-78 Gundam - different (earlier?) mold than the box set; green fists
MS-05B Ramba Ral's Zaku I
MS-06S Char's Zaku
MS-09 Dom
MS-14C Gelgoog Cannon
MSM-03 Gogg
MSM-07 Z'Gok
MSN-02 Zeong

MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM 0080: "WAR IN THE POCKET"
MS-18E Kampfer

MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM 0083: STARDUST MEMORY
RGC-83 GM Cannon II
RGM-79(G) GM
RX-78GP01 Gundam "Zephyranthes"
MS-14 Gato's Gelgoog

MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM WING: ENDLESS WALTZ
XXXG-01H2 Gundam Heavyarms Kai
XXXG-01S2 Altron Gundam
OZ-06MS Leo ground type
OZ-06MS Leo space mode (purple)

Model kits
RX-77 Guncannon real type 1/100
High Grade Universal Century 08th MS Team RGM-79[G] GM 1/144

Microman
Magne Power Robotman Dean - mint, complete with box
Magne Titan 026 Gun-Body - seems to be missing his bullets
Micro Force MF1-03 Gunner Microman
Micro Force MF1-04 Spy Microman
Acroyear-X AX-11 AcroScorl
Acroyear-X AX-12 AcroCleve
Acroyear-X AX-13 AcroVoltech
Acroyear-X AX-14 AcroBiom

Robotech - Toynami Masterpiece
Ben Dixon's VF-1A

Other
Spawn Series 4 Cy-Gor, gold armor
Godmars 1/440 scale model kit cast entirely in blue

Wanted:
G1 Insecticon Barrage
Gakken 1/35 Mospeada Alphas
Gakken 1/8 Cyclone/Blowsperior

P:RID Bumblebee / Hot Shot's shoulders

I picked up Hot Shot today, and I dig him. The one issue is that his shoulders don't fold back all the way to be perpindicular to his torso, and they really look like they should. It looks like the culprit is this blue prong in the center of his chest that moves in toward his torso and plugs into a little hole; if it were shorter, I think the shoulders could go back all the way and the torso would be tighter. I'm hesitant to just chop it because it looks like it's that way for a reason. Has anyone tried this? And is there something else I'm missing?

Institute for Global Labour and Human Rights report on Hasbro claims sweatshop conditions

Read the original report, reported by TFormers.

Given the timing and the weird focus on knockoffs in the preface, I wonder whether this has something to do with the crackdown on KOToys. Regardless, unless and until I see verifiable proof that this report is inaccurate or that things have changed, I can't buy any more TFs.

Is it still possible to buy a legit Henkei Starscream?

Like it says in the topic: is it still possible to buy a Henkei Starscream without just having to hope you haven't dropped a lot of money on the crappy knockoff? s there any way to tell from the packaging? I've been burned once on this, because I didn't realize the KO was available in normal Starscream colors. Should I just assume they're all fakes?