The Energon Pub

[chuckdawg1999]

[ScottyP]

We need some tips and tricks in here.

There are many copies of this where folks are running into issues. Some of these are user error, some are not.

Common Problem 1: Broken smokestack tabs. This is almost definitely something you did, if it happened. Go look at the manual and make sure both of the smaller robot's knee joints are unlocked. When you press the back of the calves onto the tabs, there should be little to no friction. You want the legs almost perpendicular to the smokestack tabs before tabbing them in. No forcing it. Whether this is good design is debatable, but hopefully that helps.

Common Problem 2: Super Ginrai's head won't stay down. The general cause of this is that the toy is designed with tolerances at a high level of precision that probably cross the line into "way too picky" territory. I really don't like how they made the head attach, it leads to the same issue that Fans Hobby's version of this guy had where if everything isn't in place near-perfectly, that head isn't staying down. Put another way, ughhhhh Ono-san why did you do this to us ;_;

The cause of this in practice can be either user error or qc. Or both. Let's start with user error.

Press the truck cab cube down as far as you can, so that the top of it is even with the top of the sides of the "box" it sits in, before attempting to plug in the Super Ginrai head.

Flush

You have to take care when you do this, or you could end up back at common problem 1 because you pressed down too hard in the wrong place, moved the legs and broke the tabs. I recommend swinging the arms out at the shoulders on the horizontal butterfly joint, then grasping the Super Ginrai torso and pressing down with both thumbs on the top part of the cab only. You'd be touching the red painted areas here. Once satisfied, swing the head down and peg it in. If it still doesn't want to go, press on the joint from the back (just behind the smaller Ginrai's feet) while also pressing down on the head. You should be good now, unless you have an actual QC problem. Like I did.

I had two.

The first thing to check is that your Ginrai chest cube thing is transformed correctly, with everything nicely in alignment. I can't quite do this on MPG-09, but can with MP-60. Why? MPG has an extra bit of junk, seen below on the left where the die-cast piece meets the small robot's chest, preventing it from clipping in all the way

On the very very left where things tab in gently, hard to see

I didn't want to shave this down and can get everything in place regardless, but it does make the SG head want to pop out every now and then. I've also seen a case where the rotating peg holding little Ginrai's head assembly on was put together backwards in the factory. If that happens to you, you have a pin to knock out to fix that up.

The second issue I noticed was when using the MP-60 truck cube to verify the first one. I still couldn't initially get the cab nice and flush in the box. Then I looked and oh good, what's this stress mark?

Stress mark on right inside cube cradle thing

Seen from the front, you can see where this was caused by me putting downward pressure onto the cab. It pushed that piece on the right which isn't entirely squeezed in correctly. Both of those pieces needed a little shaving.

Stress mark seen from the front

Thankfully, this was an easy fix. Take out the screw that holds the ab crunch joint, then gently separate the torso halves vertically, and voila. Clearance to shave those parts down achieved.

Torso unclipped

At this point, I was able to shave those pieces a little, put it back together, and finally get the toy into Super Ginrai mode properly.

Common Problem 3: The Godmaster keeps falling out super easily. Yep, it sure does. I got nothin' helpful for this.

Between all that and MP-60's stupid drop down hip mechanism being pretty loose on my copy, and with this being smaller overall than my imagination wanted, and with it using some of that accursed cheapo plastic seen on recent Generations stuff in places, I'm not liking this guy very much. It feels more like a slightly nicer Commander Class dude than a Masterpiece.

Hope this helps someone out there to enjoy it more than I have!

[chuckdawg1999]

[ScottyP]

One look at that thumbnail says you need to press the truck cube down more.

[Counterpunch]

This all seems like way too much of a hassle for a release this expensive and high-profile.

[chuckdawg1999]

One look at that thumbnail says you need to press the truck cube down more.

You're right and I did. It's just about perfect now.

[ScottyP]

This all seems like way too much of a hassle for a release this expensive and high-profile.

Completely agreed! MPG-09 bringing shades of MP-9, only less severe.

[chuckdawg1999]

This all seems like way too much of a hassle for a release this expensive and high-profile.

Completely agreed! MPG-09 bringing shades of MP-9, only less severe.

I have to disagree, this is nothing like the abomination of all that is holy MP-09. Even though this is the most playable Masterpiece in a long time, that doesn't mean it should be handled like a Generations toy. From what I've seen breakages were happening due to people not paying attention or using care. As I've said before Transformers shouldn't be expected to pose like a master Yogi.

[Emerje]

Mine showed up yesterday, I'll probably open them later tonight or in the morning.

My brother was asking me about this after YouTube put your video on his YouTube home page. He's been killing time with the Hasbro G1 cartoon stream so I guess the algorithm is working for you!

Emerje

[chuckdawg1999]

Mine showed up yesterday, I'll probably open them later tonight or in the morning.

My brother was asking me about this after YouTube put your video on his YouTube home page. He's been killing time with the Hasbro G1 cartoon stream so I guess the algorithm is working for you!

Emerje

May I counter that it's my elaborate plot to CONQUER THE WORLD!!??!!

[Emerje]

Mine showed up yesterday, I'll probably open them later tonight or in the morning.

My brother was asking me about this after YouTube put your video on his YouTube home page. He's been killing time with the Hasbro G1 cartoon stream so I guess the algorithm is working for you!

Emerje

May I counter that it's my elaborate plot to CONQUER THE WORLD!!??!!

That's what algorithms are for.

Emerje

[william-james88]

Fans have been getting the newly released MPG 09 Ginrai, which includes his trailer to turn him into Super Ginrai. However, an issue has come up with the connection point near the smokestacks when turning Ginrai into Super Ginrai. Those tabs snap off, and we have proof of two instances along with several other reports. A piece of Ginrai's white crotch-plate in normal mode has also been confirmed to break off.

Of course, not everyone has their copy yet, so we don't know how widespread these issues are, we just want to give you a heads up to be extra careful at that connection point. There are several images of both MPG 09 (Super Ginrai) and MP 60 (Ginrai, without his trailer) which we have posted below coming from Transformers Botsposting, TM Review and HK TF on Facebook along with Baidu.

We also have a review of MPG Super Ginrai for you along with transformation videos from Takara.

[angtre]

Of all the white repaints of Optimus Prime we had over the years, Super Ginrai would be the only one I'd really be interested into. It'd be a fun diversion from the classic Ultra Magnus look, other than a more proper usage of an OP mold due to the combining-to-the-trailer gimmick already being in place. OFC a new head for the combined mode should be a must.

[Hero Alpha]

I dont quite understand Masterpiece rules now. Scale seems all over with the Trainbots and now Ginrai who both seem more CHUG/Generations scaled. Looks like the cab robot is same size as SS86 Prime. If I had known that I prolly would have bought Ginrai instead, but I assumed he would be near MP44 size. I guess he was a bit smaller in the show, just not by that much. Also I thought MP was over, is this one of the last ones or are just doing kinda random one offs from now on.

[Sabrblade]

Also I thought MP was over, is this one of the last ones or are just doing kinda random one offs from now on.

There are two lines, Masterpiece and MPG, and both have their own Ginrai release. MP-60 Ginrai is the toy-accurate version that is just the cab robot, while MPG-09 Super Ginrai is the show-accurate version that is both the cab robot and the trailer. MP-60 Ginrai is the final release in the Masterpiece line, while MPG is continuing with more releases to come after MPG-09 Super Ginrai.

[cloudballoon]

What I don't get is why end the MP line? And only going with MPG? The G stands for Gattai (合体), which means "combining." One can argue Super Ginrai is a MPG because the it "combines" the truck with the trailer into a robot. But then there aren't that many proper MPG figures to do outside of combiners that fall into the Gattai definition, limiting TT's options. While keep the MP line doesn't limit TT's hands introducing combiners into the line.

Is "Masterpiece Gattai" represent more of a scale thing now started by Raiden's size? With TT finding the old MP scale in its "2.0" articulaiton complexity too expensive for the market?

I got out of the MP game after Tracks (only got Megatron 2.0 post-Tracks) as I couldn't stand the too-Sunbow look and increasingly poor QC. But then Skids came and the design interview gave me hope. Only to find out that's an anomaly... and then it ends with Ginrai. Was glad I got out when I did.

I wouldn't mind TT is re-starting Masterpiece 1.0 engineering & design style in a smaller scale and call it "MPG." But it doesn't seem to be the case for now.

[Sabrblade]

What I don't get is why end the MP line? And only going with MPG? The G stands for Gattai (合体), which means "combining."

In the time since MPG first began, TakaraTomy updated their website to provide a more elaborate explanation for what the G stands for, saying it not only stands for "Gattai" but also for "Giant" and "Great", and not just referring to the figures' sizes but also to the technology used to make them.

[cloudballoon]

What I don't get is why end the MP line? And only going with MPG? The G stands for Gattai (合体), which means "combining."

In the time since MPG first began, TakaraTomy updated their website to provide a more elaborate explanation for what the G stands for, saying it not only stands for "Gattai" but also for "Giant" and "Great", and not just referring to the figures' sizes but also to the technology used to make them.

Ah. That gives me hope yet! Thanks for the clarification. I really missed the MP1.0 days.

[ScottyP]

My (extremely dumb) theory is that the MPG refresh was done to clean up the packaging. With the advent of T-Spark, the MP-60 box now has several things slammed onto the front:

• Standard stuff: MP logo, Takara Tomy logo, banner with toy designation and name
• Takara Tomy's TF logo
• "Long life design" logo
• T-Spark logo
• Temporary, but who know how long they'll use it - TF 40th logo

Add in some extra text on Ginrai and wow, the front of the box is honestly a mess. MP really got lost in all their various branding exercises.

And tbh, the specifically MPG stuff of Super Ginrai and Raiden just doesn't feel the same as MP did. I really hope it turns a corner with whatever's next after Godbomber.

[aaronmvhardy]

Those exhaust pipes should have been die cast, the peg on my exhaust pipe sheared off. You wouldn't notice it to look at it. I've been hearing that you need to release the knee and keep the legs and trailer hitch connected when you go to combine it. I can't check that. I'm not super disappointed but not happy either. I don't know if it's worth the effort to fix on mine.

[DeathReviews]

Masterpiece? More like master PIECES! Wooooooah!

[Hero Alpha]

Thanks for the answers on MP stuff. I had forgotten about the MPG thing. Only MP's I really ever bought were the cassetes and that was only for my Generations stuff. Always been too expensive for me, but I did love a lot of the 2.0 Sunbow stuff(comic/toon accurate nerd here). I never pushed for more cartoon accuracy, cause I didn't buy it and I understand how/why people loved the 1.0 type figures with more detail. The one, besides cassettes, I own is Skywarp, the old one with the leg kibble, and it is pretty great.

[Emerje]

What I don't get is why end the MP line? And only going with MPG? The G stands for Gattai (合体), which means "combining."

In the time since MPG first began, TakaraTomy updated their website to provide a more elaborate explanation for what the G stands for, saying it not only stands for "Gattai" but also for "Giant" and "Great", and not just referring to the figures' sizes but also to the technology used to make them.

Were those titles assigned to anything specific? I'm thinking Gattai is combiners (obviously), Giant is regular sized MPs, and Great is the seemingly new scale which is really just up-charged Generations figures (Ginrai).

At this point I wouldn't be surprised if we got some MPG Headmaster Juniors. We had leaks for years for those in Legacy and all we got was a non-Headmaster Minerva and the 'Cons.

Emerje

[Sabrblade]

What I don't get is why end the MP line? And only going with MPG? The G stands for Gattai (合体), which means "combining."

In the time since MPG first began, TakaraTomy updated their website to provide a more elaborate explanation for what the G stands for, saying it not only stands for "Gattai" but also for "Giant" and "Great", and not just referring to the figures' sizes but also to the technology used to make them.

Were those titles assigned to anything specific? I'm thinking Gattai is combiners (obviously), Giant is regular sized MPs, and Great is the seemingly new scale which is really just up-charged Generations figures (Ginrai).

At this point I wouldn't be surprised if we got some MPG Headmaster Juniors. We had leaks for years for those in Legacy and all we got was a non-Headmaster Minerva and the 'Cons.

Emerje

「MPG」は GATTAI（合体）、GIANT（巨大化）、GREAT（グレート！)をテーマにしたこれまで培った技術の集大成。トランスフォーマーは次なるステージへ。

"MPG" is a culmination of all the technology we have developed so far, with the themes of GATTAI (combination), GIANT (giant), and GREAT (great!). Transformers are moving to the next stage.

[Emerje]

What I don't get is why end the MP line? And only going with MPG? The G stands for Gattai (合体), which means "combining."

In the time since MPG first began, TakaraTomy updated their website to provide a more elaborate explanation for what the G stands for, saying it not only stands for "Gattai" but also for "Giant" and "Great", and not just referring to the figures' sizes but also to the technology used to make them.

Were those titles assigned to anything specific? I'm thinking Gattai is combiners (obviously), Giant is regular sized MPs, and Great is the seemingly new scale which is really just up-charged Generations figures (Ginrai).

At this point I wouldn't be surprised if we got some MPG Headmaster Juniors. We had leaks for years for those in Legacy and all we got was a non-Headmaster Minerva and the 'Cons.

Emerje

「MPG」は GATTAI（合体）、GIANT（巨大化）、GREAT（グレート！)をテーマにしたこれまで培った技術の集大成。トランスフォーマーは次なるステージへ。

"MPG" is a culmination of all the technology we have developed so far, with the themes of GATTAI (combination), GIANT (giant), and GREAT (great!). Transformers are moving to the next stage.

OK, so I might now be so far off.

Emerje