Takara Style MP Starscream Custom Box

Takara Style MP Starscream Custom Box
Tuesday, January 6th, 2009 8:27PM CST
Categories: Auctions, Reviews, Toy News
Posted by: Stormrider
Discuss This Topic!

Seibertron member, Coolpop has found a interesting custom box for Masterpiece collectors, MP Starscream U.S. Edition in a TakaraTomy style box. Coolpop gives us his review:


Custom Made Takara Style Masterpiece MP-3 Package Set

This set is made by a Chinese TF fan and he only produced 50 sets of them (probably all sold out now). The fixed selling price was RMB150, plus all shipping and fees, it came out to be around RMB314 (I used Airmail for international shipping from China to USA), and this is about US$47.50 shipped.

The purpose of this custom package set is to convert US Masterpiece Starscream into Takara style Masterpiece packaging. Unlike another MP Starscream custom package set seen last year on eBay that only comes with outside color box (you put the whole US MP Starscream w/ original package into this custom box), this new set actually comes complete with inner plastic clampshell tray, plastic nose & tail holder/divider, updated graphic/art instruction booklet & character card.
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US Masterpiece Starscream & all accessories placed in the inner plastic clampshell tray
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Side by side comparisons with origial Takara MP-3 Green Starscream:

Inner tray with toys & accessories
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Color instruction booklet & character card (front). It's a pity that the creator decided to use actual toy shot instead of using toy art like the original booklet cover
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Color instruction booklet & character card (back)
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First two inside pages of instruction booklet
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Front of box
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Back of box
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Top of box
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Bottom of box
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Side of box (both sides are the same)
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Another comparison photo
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Final comparison shot
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Overall the quality of this custom package set is very good, I am very impressed with the extent of details the creator has paid attention to match with the original MP Starscream box and inserts (reshoot of the toy with correct position, angle, distance, light source, reflection, placement, art, font, color, etc.). I consider myself very fortunate to have the opportunity to purchase this custom box set, and it will surely add that extra specialty to my complete Masterpiece collection.

Later comment:
So much for the 50 sets limited run, hahaha. I just found out the Chinese seller I bought from just put out 10 more sets for sale, I guess the creator saw both bigger demand and extra income, and he decided to pump out more.

It can be found on Taobao but only open to Chinese residents. Panli does allow foreign transactions.
Credit(s): coolpop, Taobao, Panli
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Re: Takara Style MP Starscream Custom Box (861919)
Posted by Tekka on January 5th, 2009 @ 6:51pm CST
Phenomenal work! If I were an MP collector I'd invest in this.
Re: Takara Style MP Starscream Custom Box (861933)
Posted by DevastaTTor on January 5th, 2009 @ 7:24pm CST
What a cool idea.
Re: Takara Style MP Starscream Custom Box (861958)
Posted by kirbenvost on January 5th, 2009 @ 8:03pm CST
Wow, definitely a very nice custom packaging set! Well worth it I'm sure. :)
Re: Takara Style MP Starscream Custom Box (861976)
Posted by Firebird on January 5th, 2009 @ 8:19pm CST
Only 50 of them produced, oh well looks like I missed the boat.

I would have totally bought this box, it looks very professional.
Re: Takara Style MP Starscream Custom Box (862014)
Posted by Narc on January 5th, 2009 @ 9:55pm CST
Is this still available? Where?
Re: Takara Style MP Starscream Custom Box (862025)
Posted by coolpop on January 5th, 2009 @ 10:27pm CST
So much for the 50 sets limited run, hahaha. I just found out the Chinese seller I bought from just put out 10 more sets for sale, I guess the creator saw both bigger demand and extra income, and he decided to pump out more.

Here's the Taobao link where I got the set from:
http://auction1.taobao.com/auction/item_detail-0db1-82d03a665234db05257adb1ca852196f.jhtml?pm1=1

It's a bit tricky to buy from these Chinese sources where they aren't set up from international buyers. I have US credit cards and US Paypal account, but they don't accept those. So the workaround method is to buy through a buying service agent, after researching I picked this major player called Panli (http://www.panli.com), set up an account with them and you can fund your account using your US credit cards and/or Paypal account. However the problem is both Panli and Taobao sites are all in Chinese language only, see if you can find a friend who can translate/walk them through for you.

Let me know if you have further question, I'll try my best to help.
Re: Takara Style MP Starscream Custom Box (862301)
Posted by Narc on January 6th, 2009 @ 3:31pm CST
I'll try it. Thanks!
Re: Takara Style MP Starscream Custom Box (862433)
Posted by Stormrider on January 6th, 2009 @ 8:27pm CST
Nice review. Are all the pictures re-shot or are they photoshopped modified of MP-03?
Re: Takara Style MP Starscream Custom Box (862442)
Posted by dragons on January 6th, 2009 @ 8:46pm CST
if it came with a starscream i tap that i mean buy that
Re: Takara Style MP Starscream Custom Box (862462)
Posted by coolpop on January 6th, 2009 @ 9:14pm CST
Stormrider wrote:Nice review. Are all the pictures re-shot or are they photoshopped modified of MP-03?


Thanks! According to one of the associate creators, all pictures are re-shoots to exact match the originals. As for myself, I actually don't mind it either way, as long as the finished product is at this professional level, I am all in.
Re: Takara Style MP Starscream Custom Box (862466)
Posted by Stormrider on January 6th, 2009 @ 9:28pm CST
It would be cool if BBTS or one of the other online retailers had these in stock.
Re: Takara Style MP Starscream Custom Box (862476)
Posted by Bumblebeast on January 6th, 2009 @ 9:55pm CST
It's... a box.
Re: Takara Style MP Starscream Custom Box (862478)
Posted by Harpua626 on January 6th, 2009 @ 10:00pm CST
its definitely a photoshop job. if you look at the box top, you can see a mistake in the where the color is. im a graphic designer so i can usually tell a doctored photo. still looks awesome though and would love to get ahold of one of them!
Re: Takara Style MP Starscream Custom Box (862479)
Posted by Starscream on January 6th, 2009 @ 10:05pm CST
OLD NEWS ALERT!!!!!!!!!


Any Starscream collector would tell you this is not really news. This has been available for sometime.

However, the comparison shots are quite nice and I thank you for that. Not sure why anyone would pay the $50+ they've been asking for this box though on ebay.
Re: Takara Style MP Starscream Custom Box (862495)
Posted by Stormrider on January 6th, 2009 @ 11:30pm CST
Starscream wrote:OLD NEWS ALERT!!!!!!!!!


Any Starscream collector would tell you this is not really news. This has been available for sometime.

However, the comparison shots are quite nice and I thank you for that. Not sure why anyone would pay the $50+ they've been asking for this box though on ebay.


This is the first time it's been posted. Don't get this box confused with the double box that appeared last year.
Re: Takara Style MP Starscream Custom Box (862504)
Posted by coolpop on January 7th, 2009 @ 12:38am CST
Stormrider wrote:
Starscream wrote:OLD NEWS ALERT!!!!!!!!!


Any Starscream collector would tell you this is not really news. This has been available for sometime.

However, the comparison shots are quite nice and I thank you for that. Not sure why anyone would pay the $50+ they've been asking for this box though on ebay.


This is the first time it's been posted. Don't get this box confused with the double box that appeared last year.


Storm is absolutely correct!

There was another custom box which has been around quite some time on ebay last year (creator/seller was from Singapore, around $48 shipped), and it's double boxing which I personally didn't really prefer, that's why I didn't go for it.
Image

This new custom box didn't get released until 12/13/2008, when ACToys member "36Zhen" (三十六针), who happens to be a good buddy of the creator "October's Fireworks" (十月の烟火), received his set fresh off the press and posted an introductory post on the forum (http://www.actoys.net/bbs/read.php?tid-319789-fpage-0-toread--page-1.html). I followed the given information, purchased through a buying service agent, which took longer for placing order, receiving order, repackaging, then relay the shipment to USA into my hands. I thought I should be amoung the first people (if not "THE" first) in USA to receive it, so please do not mistaken this for an old item/news.
Re: Takara Style MP Starscream Custom Box (862511)
Posted by mandingo_rex on January 7th, 2009 @ 1:16am CST
They did a pretty flawless job. I believe that they did reshoot the majority of it. They are SLIGHTLY off, but not enough that I'd notice without comparing side-by-side. Getting them repositioned like that must have been a pain.

Only 2 flaws that really stand out to me are the reflection of the foot on that marble-colored linoleum-looking base... The foot reflection is silver, not blue like the foot should be.

Other than that, the illustration should have been Photoshopped to match the new colors, if you ask me. All the other MPs have illustrations, not photos. That's the biggest turnoff of the whole set. Everything is topnotch though.
Re: Takara Style MP Starscream Custom Box (862522)
Posted by typh0id on January 7th, 2009 @ 1:54am CST
Despite the fact that it looks very nice, I can't even begin to conceive of spending $50 on a BOX...

Not to mention the blatant copyright violations...I mean, I'm sure the laws on that are far looser over there but still...
Re: Takara Style MP Starscream Custom Box (862630)
Posted by Harpua626 on January 7th, 2009 @ 8:36am CST
coolpop wrote:
Stormrider wrote:
Starscream wrote:OLD NEWS ALERT!!!!!!!!!


Any Starscream collector would tell you this is not really news. This has been available for sometime.

However, the comparison shots are quite nice and I thank you for that. Not sure why anyone would pay the $50+ they've been asking for this box though on ebay.


This is the first time it's been posted. Don't get this box confused with the double box that appeared last year.


Storm is absolutely correct!

There was another custom box which has been around quite some time on ebay last year (creator/seller was from Singapore, it was around $35-$40 shipped, I don't remember exactly), and it's double boxing which I personally didn't really prefer, that's why I didn't go for it.
Image

This new custom box didn't get released until 12/13/2008, when ACToys member "36Zhen" (三十六针), who happens to be a good buddy of the creator "October's Fireworks" (十月の烟火), received his set fresh off the press and posted an introductory post on the forum (http://www.actoys.net/bbs/read.php?tid-319789-fpage-0-toread--page-1.html). I followed the given information, purchased through a buying service agent, which took longer for placing order, receiving order, repackaging, then relay the shipment to USA into my hands. I thought I should be amoung the first people (if not "THE" first) in USA to receive it, so please do not mistaken this for an old item/news.


is that box the same size as the mp-3 greenscream box? would it fit the inserts that the takara mp seekers have or has the size been altered to bo closer to the hasbro/takara us mp screamer size?
Re: Takara Style MP Starscream Custom Box (862662)
Posted by Kique on January 7th, 2009 @ 9:32am CST
Great job!And yeah maybe BBTS should think of staking up on a few of these :D
Re: Takara Style MP Starscream Custom Box (862664)
Posted by Serpent O - R on January 7th, 2009 @ 9:36am CST
Bumblebeast wrote:It's... a box.


It's more than a box, it comes with a plastic tray and a magazine/instruction guide that is directly plagiarized from the original copyrighted material! By their own admission!!!

It used to be a joke, I thought, when these guys would say, "Warning, Seibertron contains Nuts."

edit: Just beat me to it, typh0id. Good call.
Re: Takara Style MP Starscream Custom Box (862776)
Posted by Narc on January 7th, 2009 @ 1:34pm CST
Serpent O - R wrote:
Bumblebeast wrote:It's... a box.


It's more than a box, it comes with a plastic tray and a magazine/instruction guide that is directly plagiarized from the original copyrighted material! By their own admission!!!

It used to be a joke, I thought, when these guys would say, "Warning, Seibertron contains Nuts."

edit: Just beat me to it, typh0id. Good call.



You gotta admit that it looks great though. :D
Re: Takara Style MP Starscream Custom Box (862830)
Posted by soundwave13c on January 7th, 2009 @ 2:39pm CST
wow that is awesome! I would love to put a masterpiece in that if i had any!!! :-x
Re: Takara Style MP Starscream Custom Box (862920)
Posted by Stormrider on January 7th, 2009 @ 4:42pm CST
Harpua626 wrote:
coolpop wrote:
Stormrider wrote:This is the first time it's been posted. Don't get this box confused with the double box that appeared last year.


Storm is absolutely correct!

There was another custom box which has been around quite some time on ebay last year (creator/seller was from Singapore, it was around $35-$40 shipped, I don't remember exactly), and it's double boxing which I personally didn't really prefer, that's why I didn't go for it.
Image

This new custom box didn't get released until 12/13/2008, when ACToys member "36Zhen" (三十六针), who happens to be a good buddy of the creator "October's Fireworks" (十月の烟火), received his set fresh off the press and posted an introductory post on the forum (http://www.actoys.net/bbs/read.php?tid-319789-fpage-0-toread--page-1.html). I followed the given information, purchased through a buying service agent, which took longer for placing order, receiving order, repackaging, then relay the shipment to USA into my hands. I thought I should be amoung the first people (if not "THE" first) in USA to receive it, so please do not mistaken this for an old item/news.


is that box the same size as the mp-3 greenscream box? would it fit the inserts that the takara mp seekers have or has the size been altered to bo closer to the hasbro/takara us mp screamer size?


There are two different boxes. The box above is the old box that came out last year. Read the beginning of the thread to see and understand the new box.
Re: Takara Style MP Starscream Custom Box (863256)
Posted by Harpua626 on January 8th, 2009 @ 9:32am CST
i get the premise of both executions, i just wanted to know if the older one was the same size as the other masterpiece seeker boxes or if it would look out of place due to a different size.
Re: Takara Style MP Starscream Custom Box (863463)
Posted by Stormrider on January 8th, 2009 @ 4:07pm CST
Yup, the older one is oversized and does look out of place. The first thing you'll is the off-center package design. Its width is wider than the other seeker boxes.
Re: Takara Style MP Starscream Custom Box (863473)
Posted by coolpop on January 8th, 2009 @ 4:20pm CST
Anyone who is interested in buying this new custom box, but does not have a friend who can translate Chinese language and walk you through http://www.panli.com, you can PM me your email address and I will forward you an email with buying instruction jpegs that I created (over 4MB in size). Sorry folks that's the most I can do to help out. Good luck shopping!
Re: Takara Style MP Starscream Custom Box (902495)
Posted by Prowl1529 on March 25th, 2009 @ 5:07am CDT
coolpop wrote:Anyone who is interested in buying this new custom box, but does not have a friend who can translate Chinese language and walk you through http://www.panli.com, you can PM me your email address and I will forward you an email with buying instruction jpegs that I created (over 4MB in size). Sorry folks that's the most I can do to help out. Good luck shopping!

The total price whit mail to Portugal do you know what is it?
Re: Takara Style MP Starscream Custom Box (902833)
Posted by coolpop on March 25th, 2009 @ 9:18pm CDT
Prowl1529 wrote:The total price whit mail to Portugal do you know what is it?


My total cost shipped to USA and another member on this forum's total cost shipped to UK were both less than US$50, your total cost should be around there too.

Good luck!
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