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CBratetron wrote:Buzzsaw/Laserbeak's head still looks like a camera flips out of the forehead. Has anyone confirmed this?

I marvel at the lack of add-on bits for Laserbeak and Ravage.

yes, a camera does flip out. I can't recall where the picture is but I have seen it.

I am really digging these guys. Strange that they are not showing more of what the pile drivers turn into when not actually pile driving. from the accessory that clips on, I am guessing they are turn into batteries? Can anyone else confirm?

Love the face on Frenzy. Does Rumble have a different face mold? The silver paint on Frenzy's chest is bothering me. Is there a way to fix it, paint it? What is the L2412 reference on Frenzy? Scale wise, I believe both are just slightly smaller than then the originals.

Strange to see that there is only one bio card for the two figures. That's a masterpiece first.

A second set of images of Takara Tomy's MP-16 Frenzy and Buzzsaw have emerged over on ACToys. These images give an even better look at the dastardly Decepticon duo.

Additionally we also have a couple of shots of their instruction sheet from the poster who shared the earlier set of images. It appears the upcoming MP-13 Soundwave will be able to store Frenzy's weapons in alt mode and mount his pile drivers on his arm as a double barreled cannon of sorts.

Lastly we have yet another image from ACToys detailing MP-13 Soundwave's chest compartment where he can store up to three cassettes.

Images mirrored below.

I love how the parts integrate into Soundwave. Next to MP Soundwave, that Lazerbeak/Buzzsaw mould could go down as the best mould of the year, and it's only January. I still say that the head on Frenzy/Rumble are too large and I hope a kit-basher makes replacement heads for them.

The more I see of these little guys, the more impressed I am with them, especially considering that in cassette mode, they're the same size as the original G1 cassettes. I can't imagine more perfect versions of these guys. Bravo Takara engineers, you knocked this one out of the park.

Now PLEASE do the same thing with Ratbat !

Not getting this MP-16 twin pack, just the other one.
All I need is Soundwave, Ravage and Laserbeak.

i think they are very nice wouldn't change a thing

MP Soundwave is looking more impressive with each news posting. Very cool how they designed him to work with his minions besides only being able to store multiples (3!?! OMG!) in his chest. Still going to wait for the Hasbro release though.

Kinda' surprised there hasn't been a MP Soundblaster announcement yet.

Rumble looks pretty good. And Buzzsaw is spot-on; identical to the cartoon.

they spelled rumble wrong.

This whole set is so beautiful. I want one so bad

CBratetron wrote:Not getting this MP-16 twin pack, just the other one.
All I need is Soundwave, Ravage and Laserbeak.

Ditto. Lol.

If, by the off chance, this set goes on sale, I might snag it. I don't feel compelled to spend $60 on these guys.

mooncake623 wrote:

Honestly I believe all apps are hand painted. Doing things by hand has always been something asian people are very talented at. They are masters at detail. And Chinese labor is dirt cheap. Thats why the Has/Tak factories are in China instead of Japan. But looking at the latest pics above this post, the paint apps are all screwed up on these. Just look at the silver on the left side of Rumble/Frenzy's chest ans the crotch as well...

Thanks completely untrue. And way to generalize Asian people. Also Has/Tak's factories are in Vietnam... its not the same...

First time a compliment has ever been attacked as being "generalizing". I wouldnt be the first person to say Asian people have steady hands when it comes to painting. Im not saying others cant do it, Im just saying people in the asian hemisphere have mastered the craft.

Ive never heard of Tampographs and dont know what they are. But once again, I dont believe there is a machine with robot hands that can be programed to press paint apps on different shapes of plastic. Theyre not that high tech. Im sure these "Tampographs" must be laid on the plastic and centered by hand. Are they like stencils ? And Vient Nam, China, Taiwan, etc, the point is Hasbro wants to pay less. Blurrz had mentioned that they dont want to deal with ethics and it's cost. It makes sense for Hasbro since the figures will be shipped to the western hemisphere. But dont you find it kind of dishonorable that Takara chooses to outsource to a country only a few hundred miles away ? Rich Asians exploiting poor asians ? I know Im touching a very sensitive issue that will trigger some people on this site to go ape s**t. But looking at Frenzys messed up paint apps boggles the mind as to how the process is done and the human aspect behind it.

Rated X wrote:Ive never heard of Tampographs and dont know what they are.

http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Tampograph

Rated X wrote:Ive never heard of Tampographs and dont know what they are. But once again, I dont believe there is a machine with robot hands that can be programed to press paint apps on different shapes of plastic. Theyre not that high tech. Im sure these "Tampographs" must be laid on the plastic and centered by hand. Are they like stencils ?

I know nothing about how Transformer paint apps are applied, but I do know that robots can do this. I don't think it would be that difficult....if the majority of the process is assembly line robots the precision would be pretty incredible. The tampograph machine would simply need to know the coordinates for the tampograph(s). There are some pretty incredible videos out there for precision robotic assembly.

Sabrblade wrote:

Rated X wrote:Ive never heard of Tampographs and dont know what they are.

http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Tampograph

You can see the process explained, at 3:50 you can also see the mass production version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yq24QaLArso

While these are just samples, the poor paint apps — coupled with what we saw out of Sideswipe — doesn't give me much hope. I hate the notion of dropping masterpiece prices and getting knock-off quality paint apps. It definitely needs to be addressed.

wait. I just read hold three cassettes. HOLDS THREE CASSETTES!!??? Wow. Nice job Takara. Nice job.

Deruji wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

Rated X wrote:Ive never heard of Tampographs and dont know what they are.

http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Tampograph

You can see the process explained, at 3:50 you can also see the mass production version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yq24QaLArso

Very interesting. But if it's this easy, then that just opens the door for arguments on why Hasbro versions have SOME of the paint apps, but not ALL of the paint apps Takara versions have. I hate that American market vs. Japanese Market argument Hasbro always throws up in convention pannels. Theyre basically saying American kids are savages who destroy their toys and dont deserve the extra 50 cents worth of Tampo ink. Or are they saying Japanese kids dont buy toy robots, only Japanese adult collectors ? Either way, something seems lazy and cheap on Hasbro's part.

The fact that Soundwave can actually store/use the cassettes' accessories is just downright awesome.

I wish Frenzy (Rumble!) came with Ravage instead, I'd much rather have those two over Rumble (Frenzy!) and Buzzsaw.

Rated X wrote:

Deruji wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

Rated X wrote:Ive never heard of Tampographs and dont know what they are.

http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Tampograph

You can see the process explained, at 3:50 you can also see the mass production version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yq24QaLArso

Very interesting. But if it's this easy, then that just opens the door for arguments on why Hasbro versions have SOME of the paint apps, but not ALL of the paint apps Takara versions have. I hate that American market vs. Japanese Market argument Hasbro always throws up in convention pannels. Theyre basically saying American kids are savages who destroy their toys and dont deserve the extra 50 cents worth of Tampo ink. Or are they saying Japanese kids dont buy toy robots, only Japanese adult collectors ? Either way, something seems lazy and cheap on Hasbro's part.

It's indeed Japanese vs. American market. Unlike Hasbro, TakaraTomy has to compete rather aggressively with big companies like Bandai. And I mean BIG: Bandai has I think the lion's share in the robot toy figure department and then some, in both the kids' and adult collector's market.

From what I've heard, Hasbro has a budget for a number of paint apps PER wave of toys. Guessing the competition gives Takara a bigger paint app budget. Amazing what a few paint apps do for a toy, like comparing the FOC Prime and Jazz. Sigh.

Plus, TakaraTomy likely begins with the Hasbro color schemes as a base, expanding upon and enhancing them to make their own color schemes. Using said existing color schemes to make their own is likely more of a money-saver than for them to create their own super extensive decos from the ground up, as such cases seem to be rarer cases than the more common occurences of the Takara decos just looking like enhanced version of the Hasbro decos.

I wonder how they hash out who does the "toy accurate" and "show accurate" versions. Seems like they flip flop back and forth.

These are some of the most clever engineering yet for the MP line. Love seeing how Frenzy can get a decibel decimating backpack, and the the piledrivers and Frenzy/Rumble accessories store in Soundwave.

MP Soundwave and his minions are going to be tough contenders to knock out of the top Transformer for 2013.

Stormrider wrote:These are some of the most clever engineering yet for the MP line. Love seeing how Frenzy can get a decibel decimating backpack, and the the piledrivers and Frenzy/Rumble accessories store in Soundwave.

MP Soundwave and his minions are going to be tough contenders to knock out of the top Transformer for 2013.

Agreed. All that added playability really reminds me of what some of the 3rd parties often try to do (FP, PE etc.). It's very unlike Has/Tak to add all those extra touches, but it seems that Takara is really going all out with the new MP's and it's about time in my opinion and all I can ask for is more. If they keep making them, I'll keep buying them.