The Energon Pub

News Credits: 187 · Fri Mar 30, 2012 9:16 am

There is a large collection of in hand pictures of the New Masterpiece - 11 Starscream that examines the many changes made to the original MP Starscream now online. The photographs detail the new features of the toy and they goes beyond a new tail fin assembly. Alfes 2010 has posted multiple galleries showcasing the new paint, head, weapon system and coronation kit with tons of pics and comparisons to the first MP SS and MP - 10 Optimus prime. Some of the images have been mirrored below but I encourage anyone on the fence to visit these thorough and informative galleries from Alfes 2010 on higekumatoytoy.blog:

Packaging and Jet Mode
Robot mode and Articulation
Coronation Kit
Comparison to orignal MP SS

News Credits: 1 · Fri Mar 30, 2012 9:28 am

So no more hip binders (to use a Gundam term) at the cost of more exposed robot kibble in jet mode. Is it me or is the head on the new one slightly larger?

*edit* It's not a bad figure IMO. But I'm not sure what to think of the exposed ball joints on the fuselage sides.

News Credits: 187 · Fri Mar 30, 2012 9:39 am

I think this will come down to personal preference. The jet mode is more realistic on the original. And even a little "cleaner" as Dark Ops pointed out. For me, Robot mode reigns supreme when debating a purchase. I love the lighter, brighter colors and I never picked up the 3rd P. Coronation kit for the first one, so I'm all in!

Fri Mar 30, 2012 10:04 am

i wish whoever took these photos would've pushed the intakes forward in robot mode.. makes him look a lot better.

anyways. i'm all in for this. grey starscream will always beat out white starscream. especially with the light blue. it's perfect.

Fri Mar 30, 2012 10:06 am

Man, what a huge improvement on the robot mode. Ever since MP Grimlock, the robot modes have been kicking ass. I love their organic, streamlined aesthetic compared to the earlier "stack of blocks" look of the first few MPs.

News Credits: 7 · Fri Mar 30, 2012 10:14 am

I really wish I could like this newer version, but in my opinion, he's like a juniorized Masterpiece, comparable to the Hasbro versions of the Takara Masterpieces (although ironically, with this figure this has now become the standard for Takara!).

I don't like the plastic-y color on him: and I feel that Takara are leaning more on the 'toy-value' of this item than on the 'display-value' (and I'm guessing they are banking on a cheaper 'translation' to a future Hasbro release). Same thing happened to Binaltech (before that fizzled out).

Economically, it's probably a good idea but, as a fan of highly detailed Japanese toys like the Yamato 1/60 Macross figures, to me this seems a step backwards in the 'Masterpiece' aspect.

News Credits: 3 · Fri Mar 30, 2012 10:38 am

A thing of beauty

I just hope they didnt use that softer plastic

News Credits: 198 · Fri Mar 30, 2012 10:48 am

I like the look of the new version a lot-saw it up close in Singapore. I just don't like the lack of ankle articulation. No excuse for that when the iGear version has it.

Fri Mar 30, 2012 11:16 am

I can't tell if MP-11 still has the elbow pistons :-(

Fri Mar 30, 2012 11:20 am

Nvm, found it:

I'm glad they kept them

News Credits: 3 · Fri Mar 30, 2012 11:29 am

MP-11's new, simplistic paint job looks cheap.

News Credits: 2 · Fri Mar 30, 2012 11:41 am

Starscream's courage rating is at 9!? :???:

Since when he is that brave.

News Credits: 3 · Fri Mar 30, 2012 12:29 pm

paul053 wrote:Starscream's courage rating is at 9!? Since when he is that brave.

Since he looked so cheap.

News Credits: 25 · Fri Mar 30, 2012 1:20 pm

So again, I think I'am in the minority that's actually going to buy this. Why? Well honestly that's the only Mp figure that's appealing to me.........

Fri Mar 30, 2012 2:18 pm

metaphorge wrote:MP-11's new, simplistic paint job looks cheap.

i'd MUCH rather have a more "simplistic" "cheap" paint job as long as it's accurate to what the figure is trying to portray.. which, in this case, it is.

i certainly don't think it look cheap, in my opinion i think it looks way more crisp and less dull than the US release of the figure.

News Credits: 11 · Fri Mar 30, 2012 2:58 pm

I do feel that the one thing this version is lacking is paint detail. Does it come with a sticker sheet, or not? The intakes on his shoulders look especially plain compared to the first version. I also would have like them to keep the face-swap gimmick, since his smirk was one of the best things about him.

Otherwise this figure is a huge step up. The addition of heelspurs is especially ingenious.

Of course, all the improvements are what should've been done in the first place, so I have somewhat mixed feelings...still on my want list though, but I don't know if I'll ever get around to it unless they do a Hasbro release. I would like to see a Thundercracker repaint without the Coronation Gear.

Fri Mar 30, 2012 4:36 pm

Yeeeeeah I was feeling this thing up until I saw all that poopy boring grey plastic. Regardless of the improvements it bears, it looks like that "stock" MP Starscream that you could get from Takara. And I'm seriously not ok with that...pass. >:oP

Fri Mar 30, 2012 4:44 pm

You know, although this was an improvement... I think that the best lag mod would be the old legs with the tailfins modified *and the foot swivel being a ratchet instead of a hinge (with a heal). Just a thought.

Fri Mar 30, 2012 5:30 pm

It's a real shame that Takara didn't do a black wash to show the high levels of detail in this mold like the first release. Not being able to see the rivets, intakes, seams, and other gadgetry ruins the work that went into making those details to begin with. It looks like an incomplete figure with so much flat grey. For the Masterpiece series, it's all in the details! I like the updates, but not enough to buy it and/or put away the first version.

Again, Takara misses the mark and comes out looking cheap, although their prices say otherwise.

Fri Mar 30, 2012 6:39 pm

I'd just like to throw it out there that the mold may still have the problem where the cockpit doesn't peg into the waist. In this picture, it clearly isn't because of the lopsided pecks. Only time will tell :-(

I'd also like to mention that when looking at the prototype pics, you can tell that the hands are unchanged. This means that Shapeways hands are still compatible!

News Credits: 11 · Fri Mar 30, 2012 7:20 pm

The cockpit was never really intended to 'peg in', per se, there are no pegs to allow it to do so. It's held in by the nosecone pegging onto the rear panel and the 'codpiece' underneath the cockpit. Unless by problem you mean 'it wasn't designed that way' as opposed to an actual flaw in the mold.

Fri Mar 30, 2012 10:44 pm

How come no one's posted any pics of the alternate face yet?

Sat Mar 31, 2012 12:01 am

I meant the die-cast piece with the tab that is connected to the sliding track in the torso. If you use the heavy arm ratchets, the peck moves up, freeing the chest from the tab. The fold out part of the waist helps a little, but not much.

News Credits: 11 · Sat Mar 31, 2012 2:02 am

sky_fire12 wrote:How come no one's posted any pics of the alternate face yet?

I don't think there is one...

Optimus1116 wrote:I meant the die-cast piece with the tab that is connected to the sliding track in the torso. If you use the heavy arm ratchets, the peck moves up, freeing the chest from the tab. The fold out part of the waist helps a little, but not much.

I know what you mean... I guess it would have been nice if they had changed it to be more secure.

News Credits: 101 · Sat Mar 31, 2012 6:54 am

I'm a big Starscream fan. I own almost every molds of him. I also got TWO MP Starscream. G1 color and Ghost. Yeah, I hated the hip-kibbles like everyone. However, the flaw is quickly fixed just by detaching them off the hip's balljoints and just plug them back on his legs. Seeing that the "new" MP Starscream is just this mod officialized is a little underwhelming.

For over 150$, I would have prefered a completely new mold.

I will pass on that one unless Hasbro release him in Canada.
(Insert comment about the usual Store Exclusive Bullshit will happen again.)

For now, I'm plently satisfied with these: