The Energon Pub

So I got to thinking the other day about how a lot of molds get reused for repaints just because has/tak wants to get the most bang for the buck when it struck me.

Why did MP-05 never see a repaint? Was there not a diaclone version of Megs that people would snatch up? Or even a black helmet/comic version? it's like for every incarnation of Prime there's a repaint of magnus and nemisis. And don't get me started on seekers.

Why no black/brown version or comic version of megatron?

Hell, we even got a nemesis version or Rodimus.

What gives?

I would guess mostly because MP-05 is widely regarded to be a pretty bad mess of a mold. Not much sense in repainting something nobody really wants to begin with.


Edit: I really need to stop trying to make posts from my phone when the typebox is being laggy.

Explain the Rodimus repaint then.

Rodimus , though a piece of junk on its own, wasn't the gangly catostrphic mess that was megatron.

VioMeTriX wrote:Rodimus , though a piece of junk on its own, wasn't the gangly catostrphic mess that was megatron.

It's really astounding how BAD that mold was. I mean, the thing breaks, horrifically and unfixably, on its own.

Yeah, at least MP Rodimus *looks* good. MP-05 only had its alt mode going for it in my opinion, and even that was way off due to it being oversized just to fit in scale with MP-01.

I guess they could have done a retool into Browning or something, but I suspect the sales of that particular release were so lackluster that Takara just dropped that mold and moved on. Rodimus sold in sufficient numbers from the start for them to not only retool the mold to fix some of the issues, but also do an expensive eHobby repaint and even Hasbro got in on the action by doing a domestic US release as MP Targetmaster Hod Rod. A mold with issues? Certainly. But the decent looking alt mode and superb looking bot mode were enough to convince many (including myself) to drop some major coinage on them (I got Takara's initial release as well as the Hasbro version).

Thankfully mine never broke, but I transformed it VERY carefully after seeing all the complaints and reviews and only did so about 4 or 5 times in total. Now he sits in car mode (no trailer attached) next to the Hasbro version, which also sits in car mode.

it would be so nice if takara would take back all the version one crap for credit... wishful thinking...

VioMeTriX wrote:it would be so nice if takara would take back all the version one crap for credit... wishful thinking...

Yeah, that is kinda rough and I don't know if any of the etailers offered such an exchange, but I doubt it (probably just one v1 for another).

The answer is simple really: there was no viable template aside from a black one.

Let me explain: in Microman Megatron came in three varieties; The chromed version with the extensions (which was the basis for US Megatron), standard grey plastic without extensions (which was the basis for Japan's G1 Megatron and e-Hobby Megaplex), and a black version. That is it.

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:The answer is simple really: there was no viable template aside from a black one.

Let me explain: in Microman Megatron came in three varieties; The chromed version with the extensions (which was the basis for US Megatron), standard grey plastic without extensions (which was the basis for Japan's G1 Megatron and e-Hobby Megaplex), and a black version. That is it.

They could still have made the black version, and a comic coloured version, blueish gray with black helmet.
I would have jumped on the black version.

Dead Metal wrote:

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:The answer is simple really: there was no viable template aside from a black one.

Let me explain: in Microman Megatron came in three varieties; The chromed version with the extensions (which was the basis for US Megatron), standard grey plastic without extensions (which was the basis for Japan's G1 Megatron and e-Hobby Megaplex), and a black version. That is it.

They could still have made the black version, and a comic coloured version, blueish gray with black helmet.
I would have jumped on the black version.

Remember the hassle the Australian Border Patrol had to go through with those guys?

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

Dead Metal wrote:

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:The answer is simple really: there was no viable template aside from a black one.

Let me explain: in Microman Megatron came in three varieties; The chromed version with the extensions (which was the basis for US Megatron), standard grey plastic without extensions (which was the basis for Japan's G1 Megatron and e-Hobby Megaplex), and a black version. That is it.

They could still have made the black version, and a comic coloured version, blueish gray with black helmet.
I would have jumped on the black version.

Remember the hassle the Australian Border Patrol had to go through with those guys?

So, Tak's main market is the Japanese one.

VioMeTriX wrote:Rodimus , though a piece of junk on its own, wasn't the gangly catostrphic mess that was megatron.

I think this says it all.

RhA wrote:

VioMeTriX wrote:Rodimus , though a piece of junk on its own, wasn't the gangly catostrphic mess that was megatron.

I think this says it all.

Pretty much. I think that's why a number here-including myself-hope a downsized, redone Megs is a future MP release

I think if Tomy will do a version 2, they'd add more die-cast on him and make him less skinny.

On the die-cast part, it should be die-cast for stability and strength like the original G1 fig.

Btw, I still haven't transformed my MP Megatron into gun mode due to all the horror stories about breaking.

Simple answer, he transformed into a gun. Now we are all a bunch of wusses who cannot produce a toy gun anymore. I hope I'm wrong, because I really want a good Megatron MP for the case, but this is why all Megatron toys made this side of the century are tanks instead of hand guns,

Starscream5150 wrote:Simple answer, he transformed into a gun. Now we are all a bunch of wusses who cannot produce a toy gun anymore. I hope I'm wrong, because I really want a good Megatron MP for the case, but this is why all Megatron toys made this side of the century are tanks instead of hand guns,

Or Nerf guns. (though the Maverick was a good choice)

I wonder if a MP tank version of Meg's could/would be viable?(as long as it doesn't come off looking like the leader class Brawl, not bad, but not a tank Megatron either)

MP-05 was my first MP and after transforming him once he sat in bot mode from then on.

ClockWorkMecha wrote:I wonder if a MP tank version of Meg's could/would be viable?(as long as it doesn't come off looking like the leader class Brawl, not bad, but not a tank Megatron either)

MP-05 was my first MP and after transforming him once he sat in bot mode from then on.

I'm sure that's what they'll do, since a Gun altmode isn't practical. Or more probably, they'll just skip G1 MP Megatron and do Galvatron instead. He's a sci-fi artillery cannon, and his barrel is even SUPPOSED to be orange.

There ya go! I'd take a shiny new(screen accurate) Galvatron anyday! And he better have Nimoy's voice in it if they go that route! hehehe

ClockWorkMecha wrote:I wonder if a MP tank version of Meg's could/would be viable?(as long as it doesn't come off looking like the leader class Brawl, not bad, but not a tank Megatron either)

MP-05 was my first MP and after transforming him once he sat in bot mode from then on.

Thing is, since it never appeared as Megatron in a cartoon, it wouldn't be Megatron, it would be BWII Megastorm

Good call, hadn't taken that into consideration. I'm still of the mindset with how they re-launched with MP-10, we'll see something of sorts for Megatron, but I'm beat for how'll they'll handle it.

Those are good points. Regarding how practical it is, Soundwave isn't a practical alt mode cassette player. But the other good point made is I'd never have Megatron displayed in alt mode anyways so as long as bot mode looks good...

That being said, Galvatron would be great. The deluxe class Galvatron looks great (even though alt mode is a tank) and I have him along side cyclonus and scourge. A MP Galvatron would look great w my MP rodimus and amazon unicron!!!

I do the same thing with my deluxe Galvatron, Cyclonus and Scourge(all three of them). The one time I did put MP Megs in alt mode, the gun was so huge I felt like a five year old holding a full size pistol it was so off scale. That came close to ruining the figure for me but I put him back in bot mode and there he stayed until I sold him,which I regret.

As for Soundwave, he's pure nostalgia, and I can't wait to get my hands on him.

Personally, if they wanted to get away from the gun mode and still be G1, they could always start from the bot mode and create a new Cybertronian alt mode (we never saw it, therefore it could be anything!) as long as the bot mode comes out being the G1 Megatron, I'm sure it will be fine. Most people display their figures in bot mode anyway.

I always thought that the Megatron on the show was way off base in comparison to the figure, but I think we can blame that on the animators and artists of the show.