The Energon Pub

Pretty much what I was thinking.

I just focus on characters and that the line continues long enough to get the ones I want. Jazz, Hound, Kup, Galvatron, Cyclonus, Scourge...etc.

Sigma Magnus wrote:Agreed! If anything, I expect a cartoon-accurate redeco, maybe a slight retool if they're that eager.

A "cartoon accurate" redeco of MP-10 Optimus Prime would probably be numbered something like MP-10+. For recent proof of such, see the "Anime Color Edition" of Red Alert. The original release of Masterpiece Red Alert was MP-14, but the latter "cartoon accurate" release is simply MP-14+, not a new number.

Straight repaints usually don't get their own "number," but instead get a special letter or other character affixed to the end of the original mold's number, even if the repaint represents a completely different character. For instance, Masterpiece Sideswipe, MP-12, was repainted into MP-12T Tigertrack and MP-12G G2 Sideswipe. MP-14 Red Alert was repainted as MP-14C Clampdown. Starscream is MP-11, while Skywarp, Thundercracker, Sunstorm, and Acid Storm are MP-11SW, MP-11T, MP-11S, and MP-11A, respectively. They all share the exact same mold, with no differences among them.

If there is extensive retooling, then a new number is usually applied. Beyond the obvious, like Optimus Prime, Megatron, and Hot Rod, there are modern examples such as MP-25 Tracks and MP-26 Road Rage, the latter of which received not only a new head, but some more extensive "feminizing" retooling elsewhere to make the character more distinctive. Ironhide and Ratchet differ only in sculpt/mold in terms of their heads and the added light bar for Ratchet. Ironhide is MP-27 and Ratchet is MP-30. Masterpiece Wheeljack is MP-20, while his repaint "Exhaust" is MP-23 and features a new head sculpt.

Of course, none of the above is always true, with the seekers being the most obvious exception to these rules. Even though the "Coneheads" feature extensive retooling from Starscream, and among each other, they each also get the MP-11 designation, differentiated by their suffix letters (NR for Ramjet, NT for Thrust, and ND for Dirge). Masterpieces Sideswipe and Tigertrack also follow the "Seeker" pattern. Tigertrack is not actually just a repaint of Sideswipe, being that he uses the similar but nonetheless distinct face sculpt from MP-14 Red Alert. The same happens with Masterpiece Tracks' other repaint, Loudpedal, who is MP-25L instead of a different number like Road Rage. Yes, Loudpedal lacks the extra mold differences found in Road Rage, but he still has a different head sculpt, so he's not a straight repaint of Tracks. Now consider that Masterpieces Prowl (MP-17), Bluestreak (MP-18), and Smokescreen (MP-19) are all retools and repaints of each other, but they have distinct numbers, and they're consecutive on top of it all! Compare to the two Masterpiece Bluestreak repaints, "Silverstreak" and "Blue Bluestreak." They're MP-18S and MP-18B, respectively. "Siverstreak" is just a repaint of Bluestreak, so this makes sense, but then "Blue Bluestreak" borrows some distinctive molding differences, like face and pelvis, from MP-17 Prowl. The only difference from Masterpiece Prowl, in fact, is the lack of the light bar for vehicle mode. Conceivably, "Blue Bluestreak" could have just as easily and credibly been "MP-17B" instead! Then we have cases like Masterpiece Ultra Magnus, MP-22, and Masterpiece Delta Magnus, MP-31, who have NO mold differences between each other, at all. Delta Magnus is a straight up repaint of Ultra Magnus, yet gets his very own number. He's not even an "essential" G1 character, but a nod to Transformers' Diaclone origins. Note, this list of exceptions is NOT exhaustive.


The moral of the story? We probably put a lot more thought into these number designations that Takara does. I don't expect MP-50 to be anything "special" or "significant" in the line-up.

Wolfman Jake wrote:Straight repaints usually don't get their own "number," but instead get a special letter or other character affixed to the end of the original mold's number, even if the repaint represents a completely different character. For instance, Masterpiece Sideswipe, MP-12, was repainted into MP-12T Tigertrack and MP-12G G2 Sideswipe. MP-14 Red Alert was repainted as MP-14C Clampdown. Starscream is MP-11, while Skywarp, Thundercracker, Sunstorm, and Acid Storm are MP-11SW, MP-11T, MP-11S, and MP-11A, respectively. They all share the exact same mold, with no differences among them.

If there is extensive retooling, then a new number is usually applied. Beyond the obvious, like Optimus Prime, Megatron, and Hot Rod, there are modern examples such as MP-25 Tracks and MP-26 Road Rage, the latter of which received not only a new head, but some more extensive "feminizing" retooling elsewhere to make the character more distinctive. Ironhide and Ratchet differ only in sculpt/mold in terms of their heads and the added light bar for Ratchet. Ironhide is MP-27 and Ratchet is MP-30. Masterpiece Wheeljack is MP-20, while his repaint "Exhaust" is MP-23 and features a new head sculpt.

Fight the urge to coorect, fight the urge to correct...

Of course, none of the above is always true, with the seekers being the most obvious exception to these rules. Even though the "Coneheads" feature extensive retooling from Starscream, and among each other, they each also get the MP-11 designation, differentiated by their suffix letters (NR for Ramjet, NT for Thrust, and ND for Dirge). Masterpieces Sideswipe and Tigertrack also follow the "Seeker" pattern. Tigertrack is not actually just a repaint of Sideswipe, being that he uses the similar but nonetheless distinct face sculpt from MP-14 Red Alert. The same happens with Masterpiece Tracks' other repaint, Loudpedal, who is MP-25L instead of a different number like Road Rage. Yes, Loudpedal lacks the extra mold differences found in Road Rage, but he still has a different head sculpt, so he's not a straight repaint of Tracks. Now consider that Masterpieces Prowl (MP-17), Bluestreak (MP-18), and Smokescreen (MP-19) are all retools and repaints of each other, but they have distinct numbers, and they're consecutive on top of it all! Compare to the two Masterpiece Bluestreak repaints, "Silverstreak" and "Blue Bluestreak." They're MP-18S and MP-18B, respectively. "Siverstreak" is just a repaint of Bluestreak, so this makes sense, but then "Blue Bluestreak" borrows some distinctive molding differences, like face and pelvis, from MP-17 Prowl. The only difference from Masterpiece Prowl, in fact, is the lack of the light bar for vehicle mode. Conceivably, "Blue Bluestreak" could have just as easily and credibly been "MP-17B" instead! Then we have cases like Masterpiece Ultra Magnus, MP-22, and Masterpiece Delta Magnus, MP-31, who have NO mold differences between each other, at all. Delta Magnus is a straight up repaint of Ultra Magnus, yet gets his very own number. He's not even an "essential" G1 character, but a nod to Transformers' Diaclone origins. Note, this list of exceptions is NOT exhaustive.


The moral of the story? We probably put a lot more thought into these number designations that Takara does. I don't expect MP-50 to be anything "special" or "significant" in the line-up.

Thank you! Way too much indeed, as we've been over this before and no such pattern exists for the "lettered" and "new numbered" releases.

One day we'll crack the Masterpiece Vinci code. One day...

Having had both FT Willis and MT Gundog, and being okay yet not quite happy with both,I really hope the next MP is Hound. Want to see what Takara has to offer.

I admit, the three I most wanna see are Jazz, Hound and Hoist.

Big Grim wrote:I admit, the three I most wanna see are Jazz, Hound and Hoist.

I like your Hoist choice. Means Trailbreaker would join the line too

Hmmm... I'm not entirely sure which MP I'd most want. Since the characters I really want MPs of already have MPs out and are practically perfect - Optimus, Hot Rod and Soundwave - that leaves my investment in the line in being towards the obscure character repaints. I love Road Rage and I love so many other of the repaints and retools made from more popular characters thrown out there so I'm wondering which of the remaining Autobot Cars would provide the most interesting of those. Detritus, Stepper, that red Mirage and red Sunstreaker from their Diaclone days...

Kurona wrote:Hmmm... I'm not entirely sure which MP I'd most want. Since the characters I really want MPs of already have MPs out and are practically perfect - Optimus, Hot Rod and Soundwave - that leaves my investment in the line in being towards the obscure character repaints. I love Road Rage and I love so many other of the repaints and retools made from more popular characters thrown out there so I'm wondering which of the remaining Autobot Cars would provide the most interesting of those. Detritus, Stepper, that red Mirage and red Sunstreaker from their Diaclone days...

I'd love to see a red Sunstreaker repaint for a potential Masterpiece Sunstreaker. I've been working on parts swapping between Universe 2008 Sideswipe and Sunstreaker to make customs versions of Classics Tigertrack and the red Diaclone Sunstreaker. I've already come up with a name for that red Sunstreaker too: Hotstreak!

Wolfman Jake wrote:

Kurona wrote:Hmmm... I'm not entirely sure which MP I'd most want. Since the characters I really want MPs of already have MPs out and are practically perfect - Optimus, Hot Rod and Soundwave - that leaves my investment in the line in being towards the obscure character repaints. I love Road Rage and I love so many other of the repaints and retools made from more popular characters thrown out there so I'm wondering which of the remaining Autobot Cars would provide the most interesting of those. Detritus, Stepper, that red Mirage and red Sunstreaker from their Diaclone days...

I'd love to see a red Sunstreaker repaint for a potential Masterpiece Sunstreaker. I've been working on parts swapping between Universe 2008 Sideswipe and Sunstreaker to make customs versions of Classics Tigertrack and the red Diaclone Sunstreaker. I've already come up with a name for that red Sunstreaker too: Hotstreak!

I wonder what stopping Takara with Sunstreaker? They already have the license with Lambor, is it that hard to adapt the WJ style of of transformation into a Lamborghini structure?

fenrir72 wrote:

Wolfman Jake wrote:

Kurona wrote:Hmmm... I'm not entirely sure which MP I'd most want. Since the characters I really want MPs of already have MPs out and are practically perfect - Optimus, Hot Rod and Soundwave - that leaves my investment in the line in being towards the obscure character repaints. I love Road Rage and I love so many other of the repaints and retools made from more popular characters thrown out there so I'm wondering which of the remaining Autobot Cars would provide the most interesting of those. Detritus, Stepper, that red Mirage and red Sunstreaker from their Diaclone days...

I'd love to see a red Sunstreaker repaint for a potential Masterpiece Sunstreaker. I've been working on parts swapping between Universe 2008 Sideswipe and Sunstreaker to make customs versions of Classics Tigertrack and the red Diaclone Sunstreaker. I've already come up with a name for that red Sunstreaker too: Hotstreak!

I wonder what stopping Takara with Sunstreaker? They already have the license with Lambor, is it that hard to adapt the WJ style of of transformation into a Lamborghini structure?

Maybe they wanted to wait until they were done repainting the sideswipe mold before making a new identical one

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:

fenrir72 wrote:

Wolfman Jake wrote:

Kurona wrote:Hmmm... I'm not entirely sure which MP I'd most want. Since the characters I really want MPs of already have MPs out and are practically perfect - Optimus, Hot Rod and Soundwave - that leaves my investment in the line in being towards the obscure character repaints. I love Road Rage and I love so many other of the repaints and retools made from more popular characters thrown out there so I'm wondering which of the remaining Autobot Cars would provide the most interesting of those. Detritus, Stepper, that red Mirage and red Sunstreaker from their Diaclone days...

I'd love to see a red Sunstreaker repaint for a potential Masterpiece Sunstreaker. I've been working on parts swapping between Universe 2008 Sideswipe and Sunstreaker to make customs versions of Classics Tigertrack and the red Diaclone Sunstreaker. I've already come up with a name for that red Sunstreaker too: Hotstreak!

I wonder what stopping Takara with Sunstreaker? They already have the license with Lambor, is it that hard to adapt the WJ style of of transformation into a Lamborghini structure?

Maybe they wanted to wait until they were done repainting the sideswipe mold before making a new identical one

Lambor's been out like since 2012. 5 years! It's been like Lambor, Clampdown,Tigertracks (re color), Alert (remold of head x 2) and G2 Lambor (mix retool of Alert and Lambor).(Still no Deep Cover) so is that last one that's holding them or is Lamborghini is asking for a higher price?

I seem to recall reading somewhere that Takara's license with Lamborghini stops them from making the modifications to Sunstreaker's car mode to turn it into the "Cosmo Countach". Something to do with representing the Lamborghini brand or something.

Black Hat wrote:I seem to recall reading somewhere that Takara's license with Lamborghini stops them from making the modifications to Sunstreaker's car mode to turn it into the "Cosmo Countach". Something to do with representing the Lamborghini brand or something.

"Cosmo Countach" is not a name for that model. Rather it's from a Microman toy, based on the regular Countach. It's just a Super Tuning custom model, one that isn't listed in the Lamborghini catalog.

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

Black Hat wrote:I seem to recall reading somewhere that Takara's license with Lamborghini stops them from making the modifications to Sunstreaker's car mode to turn it into the "Cosmo Countach". Something to do with representing the Lamborghini brand or something.

"Cosmo Countach" is not a name for that model. Rather it's from a Microman toy, based on the regular Countach. It's just a Super Tuning custom model, one that isn't listed in the Lamborghini catalog.

Holee sheet! Is that the reason why the delay? I think I have a legal wiggle room. Release Sunstreaker as a full Countach like Lambor (using the WJ system step of transformation) but have the rear end of what is part of the roof detachable with an optional exposed engine block accessory attachment.Similar to the henkei version.

So technically, it can be sold "whole". Unless Lamborghini is being an azz for this (hello? KOers are already making money from their design with their Spinout etc releases)

After the sudden reveal of MP-39 Sunstreaker from Takara Tomy Transformers, we now have a cautious rumour about an upcoming figure in the same line. Transformers fan Jun Hasui on Facebook has shared with us an image of promotional material for the upcoming Tokyo Toy Show (more info on the event here), which appears to show the silhouette of both robot and car mode for what looks decidedly very much like Jazz.

Check out the image below, let us know what you think, and stay tuned for updates as the story develops in the next couple of weeks!

UPDATE: Thanks to Italian fan Andrea Cheem Stefanelli, among others, we have confirmation that this was a modified image showing a composite teaser. Thanks for playing!

If true, notice the cartoon-accurate lack of door wings.

Va'al wrote:

Who's that Pokémon?!

MrBlack wrote:

Va'al wrote:

Who's that Pokémon?!

IT'S PIKACHU!

Sam on TFW has found that its possibly fake

Hmm, this will be interesting. I just hope the Martini sponsorship on him doesn't give us a repeat of the Exhaust fiasco.

For that matter I hope they don't skimp on real-world car details- I'd much rather they went the Wheeljack route of sacrificing a bit of cartoon accuracy in robot mode for the properly decorated vehicle mode.

Black Hat wrote:Hmm, this will be interesting. I just hope the Martini sponsorship on him doesn't give us a repeat of the Exhaust fiasco.

For that matter I hope they don't skimp on real-world car details- I'd much rather they went the Wheeljack route of sacrificing a bit of cartoon accuracy in robot mode for the properly decorated vehicle mode.

Unlike tobacco advertising, alcohol advertising is not universally banned (because nothing goes together like drinking and driving), and Martini is still a regular sponsor in motorsport. Whether or not they have permission to replicate the Martini stripes is another matter, but it shouldn't hinder the sale of the figure in most countries.

Bumblebee21 wrote:Sam on TFW has found that its possibly fake

Hope not. It would be nice to finally get an MP Jazz, but I've read a few rumors about MP figures over the years that didn't pan out.

We shall see.

Yep, it's a fake -- a composite of: the Sunbow model; the real flyer; and a photo from the MP-27 Ironhide reveal.

But eventually these rumours will be true, because it's only a matter of time until Takara makes an MP Jazz.

Yeah, look at the quality difference. Looks a lot like a photoshop.