The Energon Pub

[Va'al]

A post from the Cybergeeks Alliance Facebook page has made us do some digging, and it appears as though there may some foundation to the following rumour. Chinese website TaoBao has added some listings for upcoming Takara Tomy Masterpiece figures, including MP-25 Tracks, MP-26 Red Tracks (Roadrage) and MP-27 Ironhide! Check out the placeholders by clicking on the mirrored images below, and start preparing your speculation filters and wallets.

[steve2275]

interesting color tracking

[munkimus prime]

Shouldn't Tracks be MP25B or save him for a later MP release like after Ironhide. Instead of having two Tracks in a row.

My body is so ready for Ironhide. If these rumours are true of course.

[fenrir72]

Red Tracks or Roadrage? I hope they can feminize the mold for her.

[Fox Thiagarajan]

I would love some MPs of Ironhide and Tracks!

[Kup98ss]

Maybe for the first time ever we will get a good Ironhide and Ratchet. I've been waiting thirty years for this news. Also tracks is a great decision. Must be easier to get the licensing for him than Jazz.

Also, why the long wait for any of the coneheads?

[Black Bumblebee]

I'm quite happy with my 3rd party Ironhide, but I will be more than happy to pick up the eventual Masterpiece Ratchet!

[wilcosu35]

i hope these rumors turn out to be true if they're continuing on the path of MP levels that they've done in recent years, these will be awesome

[ScottyP]

This is good news all around. Can't wait to see how they pull off the flying mode. Wonder who's designing this round?

[wilcosu35]

tracks has been confirmed by a dutch shop (and, unofficially, ironhide and megatron)

[Tsutsukakushi]

Thought MP-25 was suppose to be Megatron? Guess it means the rumor was debunked as false or it will come much later than sooner,like Eight plus months later.

MP Tracks is great news, As It's a great character and design that will transfer nicely into a MP toy.

MP Ironhide and his mold mate Ratchet,I'm a bit worried about. As HasTak has tried and failed countless times before to create decent update toys for these characters. Will the bigger MP toy size help?

[Jelze Bunnycat]

Thought MP-25 was suppose to be Megatron? Guess it means the rumor was debunked as false or it will come much later than sooner,like Eight plus months later.

If you're thinking about that image Gen. Leader Megatron alongside MP-10 Convoy, that was merely a size comparison. Not an indication of that toy appearing in the Masterpiece line.

And Tracks and Road Rage? Makes sense. The two are basically the same in-fiction, except the lady has the toy's mouth plate. So there's the retool that justifies the new number.

[Tigertrack]

Does that mean Masterpiece Raoul as well? And maybe a Blaster in boombox form?

Love the idea of Tracks and Ironhide.

[Dead Metal]

Cool
Saddened that there still aren't any Decepticons, but also glad that that means I only need two figures this year

[megatronus]

Nice! With Ironhide on board, and the inevitable Ratchet, we'll have most of the major Autobots who died in the 86 Movie.

Just need Brawn & Windcharger...

[Bounti76]

Who'd have thought Road Rage would be the first female Masterpiece?

I'm surprised all the purists aren't flipping out over her having her own number, but it makes sense..

So there's the retool that justifies the new number.

Road Rage is fairly seperate as far as fiction goes, so the fact that she's a different character, with (hopefully) a different, mouthplated face justifies her having her own number in the line.

[megatronus]

Who'd have thought Road Rage would be the first female Masterpiece?

I'm surprised all the purists aren't flipping out over her having her own number, but it makes sense..

So there's the retool that justifies the new number.

Road Rage is fairly seperate as far as fiction goes, so the fact that she's a different character, with (hopefully) a different, mouthplated face justifies her having her own number in the line.

Precisely. New tooling = new number.

Though MP12G has the new face (and all new accessories, though those don't seem to count much in terms of assigning new numbers), and he didn't get a new number. But perhaps he's the exception that proves the rule? Or maybe it was because he was still explicitly a Sideswipe of some kind?

[Rodimus Prime]

I couldn't care less about Tracks and Road Rage, but Ironhide? Hell yes. And hopefully that means MP-28 is Ratchet.

[Jelze Bunnycat]

Though MP12G has the new face (and all new accessories, though those don't seem to count much in terms of assigning new numbers), and he didn't get a new number. But perhaps he's the exception that proves the rule? Or maybe it was because he was still explicitly a Sideswipe of some kind?

I think it has more to do with him being an exclusive. Exclusives always get designated with a letter, whether or not they're a new character. That's the bottom line. With that:

- New mold? New number.
- Straight redeco? Usually exclusive, so added letter (I'm discounting Frenzy and Rumble since they're a pair).
- Retool? New number if main line release, letter if exclusive.

Exhaust has proven that any character, no matter how obscure, is fair game for the main line.

*EDIT* Before anyone starts with MP-13B Soundblaster with Ratbat, consider Ratbat an exclusive accessory like G2 Bumble's jetpack.

[robotmel]

Im surprised by the welcome these rumours are getting considering its only a listing on the Chinese website equivelant of Ebay without any confirmed evidence.

I found this on Weibo via a very reliable source....

MP-28 Hound.jpg

[Mykltron]

I'll take a Tracks (love that car mode) and an Ironhide. It's gotta beat the Classics deluxe version!

I'd rather have some Insecticons though.

[padfoo]

Cool
Saddened that there still aren't any Decepticons, but also glad that that means I only need two figures this year

Yeah I feel the same way. Were looking for you Reflector your one of the original combiners.

[megatronus]

Though MP12G has the new face (and all new accessories, though those don't seem to count much in terms of assigning new numbers), and he didn't get a new number. But perhaps he's the exception that proves the rule? Or maybe it was because he was still explicitly a Sideswipe of some kind?

I think it has more to do with him being an exclusive. Exclusives always get designated with a letter, whether or not they're a new character. That's the bottom line. With that:

- New mold? New number.
- Straight redeco? Usually exclusive, so added letter (I'm discounting Frenzy and Rumble since they're a pair).
- Retool? New number if main line release, letter if exclusive.

Exhaust has proven that any character, no matter how obscure, is fair game for the main line.

*EDIT* Before anyone starts with MP-13B Soundblaster with Ratbat, consider Ratbat an exclusive accessory like G2 Bumble's jetpack.

In what way was MP12G an exclusive?

[Ultra Markus]

Nice! hopefully its true!
i would eventually like to all the first season G1 cars in masterpiece form

[Kollector]

Sweet. And with Toysrus raising prices on the smaller Masterpieces no real reason to wait for Hasbro releases.