The Energon Pub

News Credits: 668 · Tue May 31, 2011 2:59 pm

Okay, a few things.

1.) The guy at Toy Fair didn't know his ass from a hole in the ground, when he fed Counterpunch all of thar disinformation.

2.) I have to agree with Amelie, it looks like a cheap bootleg. No chrome? For the price they're commanding, chrome could've been given.

3.) The accessories look pretty bad. I have no problem with the Targetmaster, he seem rather neat. The painted handguns look like a kitbash project gone wrong. Really bad....

4.) Owning the Japanese Masterpiece, I can honestly say it is incomplete without the trailer. If you had it in hand and tinkered with it, you'd feel differently about it.

5.) It's a TRU exclusive. Bad idea for those who actually want it. I found Grimlock by luck, twice. Never saw him again.

News Credits: 332 · Tue May 31, 2011 3:01 pm

So is this going to be a repaint of the original Hot Rod or repaint of the forth coming Takara Retool?

News Credits: 5 · Tue May 31, 2011 3:01 pm

Autobot032 wrote:5.) It's a TRU exclusive. Bad idea for those who actually want it. I found Grimlock by luck, twice. Never saw him again.

I saw him one time at TRU. But then I managed to get lucky and grab the Takara version with the upgrade for $100 off eBay

.

Tue May 31, 2011 3:04 pm

YESSSSSS!!!!
Going to be my first MP (well, maybe)

News Credits: 129 · Tue May 31, 2011 3:06 pm

Autobot032 wrote:Okay, a few things.

1.) The guy at Toy Fair didn't know his ass from a hole in the ground, when he fed Counterpunch all of thar disinformation.

I have to be fair to the Hasbro guys in that this is what I originally wrote:

Counterpunch wrote:General info from Hasbro Reps
-MP Rodimus is not immediately forthcoming-
So, there is real interest in bringing it over. However, don't expect to see anything soon. Essentially, this will depend on a retailer coming through with an exclusive. From the tone of the conversation, it seemed as if that was not going well. Remember though that it took around a year to get Grimlock from Japan to the Western markets. However, we also got info on that at Botcon and SDCC. So, I would look to that as your answer on if we'll see Rodimus in this year or next.

I betcha this is revealed Sunday at BotCon just like I expected and it apparently did take a retail exclusive to bring it around.

News Credits: 4 · Tue May 31, 2011 3:06 pm

I wasn't bothered about the trailer or a Targetmaster, one way or the other. Was holding out for this because of the price and ease of availability, but the colours have ruined it for me. I only wanted MP Hot Rod, but I suppose I'll have to splash out for the Takara one.

News Credits: 462 · Tue May 31, 2011 3:11 pm

He's no longer show-accurate! :cry:

News Credits: 668 · Tue May 31, 2011 3:15 pm

EDIT: I missed two things in my original post.

1.) He does have chrome on his pipes. It's not standing out from the rest of it, but it is chromed. It's like some of the luster has been removed...

2.) They gave him the Matrix from Convoy/Optimus. It will never fit in his chest. That was one of the reasons his Matrix is downsized, so it can fit in his chest. Why would they remove TWO gimmicks from this guy?

First the trailer, which I can understand due to cost.
Now, the Matrix? Dang.

I just think this is crappy all around. It better be something like $60.00 and no more.

craggy wrote:I wasn't bothered about the trailer or a Targetmaster, one way or the other. Was holding out for this because of the price and ease of availability, but the colours have ruined it for me. I only wanted MP Hot Rod, but I suppose I'll have to splash out for the Takara one.

Ouch.

I can see the appeal of the Hasbro pricing, but I can't see the appeal of the current import pricing. It's now around $210.00 or so, I believe...

I got mine at the preorder price of $199, and I realize when you're that high up, what's another $10? But...yeah, I probably would've skipped him at that price.

$200+ is a lot for this or any figure, so keep that in mind when making the purchase. I don't think you'll be disappointed, in fact I like him quite a bit. Possibly my favorite of all the Masterpiece molds.

News Credits: 5 · Tue May 31, 2011 3:16 pm

Counterpunch wrote:
Autobot032 wrote:Okay, a few things.

1.) The guy at Toy Fair didn't know his ass from a hole in the ground, when he fed Counterpunch all of thar disinformation.

I have to be fair to the Hasbro guys in that this is what I originally wrote:

Counterpunch wrote:General info from Hasbro Reps
-MP Rodimus is not immediately forthcoming-
So, there is real interest in bringing it over. However, don't expect to see anything soon. Essentially, this will depend on a retailer coming through with an exclusive. From the tone of the conversation, it seemed as if that was not going well. Remember though that it took around a year to get Grimlock from Japan to the Western markets. However, we also got info on that at Botcon and SDCC. So, I would look to that as your answer on if we'll see Rodimus in this year or next.

I betcha this is revealed Sunday at BotCon just like I expected and it apparently did take a retail exclusive to bring it around.

Makes sense to me.

News Credits: 33 · Tue May 31, 2011 3:18 pm

If anyone is having trouble with MP Grimlock - my local TRU in Brighton, UK, has mountains of them. They're £60 at the moment, but give it a little time and they will probably put it on sale.

Also - $60 vs $210? I'm unemployed and the Takara is still better bang for my buck.

News Credits: 11 · Tue May 31, 2011 3:18 pm

I have very mixed feelings on this. On the one hand, I really like the color choices - toy accurate looks nice to me. I also like the darker grey face used here. I'm also not convinced that's not chrome on the exhausts, it very well could be. Even if it's just painted, it still looks alright. The Targetmaster is cool as well.

On the other hand, there's a distinct lack of paint detail. Black headlights? completely red forearms? They could have done better, they really could.

Hasbro did really well with Grimlock, he actually has more paint apps than the Takara version. So I don't understand why they removed so many here. Honestly, they could have done the gun all black and taken those paint app allocations to use on the main figure instead. I'm disappointed and saddened.

In the end, I will likely get it anyway. I hope this is just an early promo image and there will be more paint apps. If not...who knows, I might get the revised Takara version too.

Actually, come to think of it, if it does get released with few paint apps, I'm sure Reprolabels will step up and make some improvements. I guess I can take comfort in that.

News Credits: 62 · Tue May 31, 2011 3:20 pm

Why not be happy this is getting released at all.

If you want the Takara one with Trailer buy it. If you want the USA one buy it.

I am buying both! So I do not really care.

News Credits: 5 · Tue May 31, 2011 3:20 pm

Amelie wrote:If anyone is having trouble with MP Grimlock - my local TRU in Brighton, UK, has mountains of them. They're £60 at the moment, but give it a little time and they will probably put it on sale.

Really? That is awesome. I don't need one but cool nonetheless.

News Credits: 1 · Tue May 31, 2011 3:25 pm

I'm impressed that Hasbro have gone to the effort of creating a brand new Targetmaster figure in order to make-up for a lack of trailer, and that they've bothered to add paint apps to the guns (even if they don't look great). It's just a pity Rodimus looks like arse.

News Credits: 129 · Tue May 31, 2011 3:27 pm

I may buy two actually.

One will serve as my Hot Rod. The other will be kept for spare parts for my Takara version.

But seriously, if the spoiler is molded plastic, I will swap it with the Takara one.

Tue May 31, 2011 3:28 pm

Nah! This thing is not for me. I dont think that i will want to spend my all cash on this guy. Next post please.

Tue May 31, 2011 3:31 pm

definitely in 2 minds.. like the targetmaster but without the trailer he's just an iffy version of hot rod

still have the original toy and his robot mode was so embarrassingly bad that i keep him displayed in his winnebago alt mode.

who next for mp reformatting? was disappointed that they've come back with another optimus prime... maybe the smaller prime might give way to a proper mp magnus (one can wish can't he?)

one toy i'd like to see them redo in one form or another is sludge. It looked good but the dno mode bothered me cos the legs couldn't be moved

News Credits: 1 · Tue May 31, 2011 3:32 pm

Amelie wrote:If anyone is having trouble with MP Grimlock - my local TRU in Brighton, UK, has mountains of them. They're £60 at the moment, but give it a little time and they will probably put it on sale.

Give it a little time and you'll probably miss out altogether. I've never seen one in the shops. I'd go for it before they send them back to the distribution centre.

News Credits: 33 · Tue May 31, 2011 3:34 pm

Primeultimus wrote:Why not be happy this is getting released at all.

If you want the Takara one with Trailer buy it. If you want the USA one buy it.

The point is that Hasbro seem to have really come short here by being cheap. A lack of trailer was acceptable, even the idea of a toy-accurate colour sceme was a nice idea. Leaving the figure basically bare with almost no painted details and (seemingly) ditching the chrome is dick, though.

Not everyone can afford the Takara one. People held out on the hope that Hasbro would do the mold some justice - instead it seems like they've gone for too many cheap options. Now I'm looking for a way to conjour up $250+ (nearly $300 in fact, because I'll have to pay import VAT in the UK) for the Takara one - before Takara stop producing it and the price flies through the roof.

News Credits: 5 · Tue May 31, 2011 3:34 pm

frogbat wrote:who next for mp reformatting? was disappointed that they've come back with another optimus prime... maybe the smaller prime might give way to a proper mp magnus (one can wish can't he?)

one toy i'd like to see them redo in one form or another is sludge. It looked good but the dno mode bothered me cos the legs couldn't be moved

I think the next logical step would be another Megatron.

News Credits: 3 · Tue May 31, 2011 3:34 pm

Since I bought the Takara version, I don't mind this one is so much different. It actually makes it more appealing to buy it a second time for more than just the TM. There was a bit of butt-hurt associated with how similar Grimlock was...made the Takara one for twice the price kind of a regret.

News Credits: 20 · Tue May 31, 2011 3:34 pm

Counterpunch wrote: The other will be kept for spare parts for my Takara version. But seriously, if the spoiler is molded plastic, I will swap it with the Takara one.

I'm strongly thinking this is what I'm doing. Both points quoted. Yes, this is exciting. Still, it looks a bit awful. I'm likely making one solid MP Rodimus Prime for myself out of bits of both. Sometimes I know I'm doing something stupid and I do it anyway. Isn't that a step towards madness?

News Credits: 1 · Tue May 31, 2011 3:34 pm

Counterpunch wrote:I may buy two actually.

One will serve as my Hot Rod. The other will be kept for spare parts for my Takara version. But seriously, if the spoiler is molded plastic, I will swap it with the Takara one.

That's not a bad idea my friend!

I have one of the press joints in one leg that is pretty weak.

Tue May 31, 2011 3:36 pm

I haven't read every post in this thread yet - has it been established that he exhausts are chromed yet? Because they are.

News Credits: 1 · Tue May 31, 2011 3:36 pm

frogbat wrote:one toy i'd like to see them redo in one form or another is sludge. It looked good but the dno mode bothered me cos the legs couldn't be moved

Agreed! He was the only G1 Dinobot I owned, and I'd love to see all of them remade, preferably to MP standards. Think I'd be better off winning the lottery and making them myself though.