The Energon Pub

[robotmel]

Found some lovely in hand photos of Takara Tomy Masterpiece MP-11T Thundercracker over on ACToys.net (huzi558)

[Sabrblade]

:D
Found some lovely in hand photos of Takara Tomy Masterpiece MP-11T Thundercracker over on ACToys.net (huzi558)

And all of them are broken.

[robotmel]

Along with this shot also on ACYoys.net (我是小强)



...also these on ACToys.net (warden)






...more!

[Hellscream9999]

Links are still broken

[Sabrblade]

:D

Along with this shot also on ACYoys.net (我是小强)



...also these on ACToys.net (warden)





...more!

More broken pics.

[robotmel]

And all of them are broken.

They all display perfectly fine on my PC bub! Try a refresh perhaps?

[Sabrblade]

And all of them are broken.

They all display perfectly fine on my PC bub! Try a refresh perhaps?

Does no good, sir.

[william-james88]

Fellow Seibertronian Robotmel, found some new in hand images (some definitely seem to come right off the assembly line) of the upcoming MP 11T, Takara's Masterpiece Thundercracker. There are comparisons to the Hasbro version where the different shade of blue is very evident. These pictures come to us from ACtoys.net and weibo.com/lovemomo5288.

[Starsaber468]

Looks Great!

[AutobotAlvaron]

Takara MP Thundercracker looks good. It's not nearly as loud, bright, & obnoxious, as he seemed initially, but I really do love my Hasbro TC's darker, metallic shade. The $200.00 price is what makes this easy to pass though. For those who worship cartoon-accuracy, this is the best you're going to get, so enjoy!

[Wolfman Jake]

For those who worship cartoon-accuracy, this is the best you're going to get, so enjoy!

I definitely worship at that alter. Though I have the Hasbro release from a few years back, this latest Takara release is the DEFINITIVE version in my eyes, even if still not entirely perfect. Why the black nose cone, for example? I find it interesting that each one of the MP-11 classic Seeker trio has something that makes it not quite "cartoon accurate," but among the three, it's a DIFFERENT set of things for each one. MP-11TC has the black nose cone, as already said. MP-11SW has some embellishments in the form of pin striping on his "pectorals" as well as his wrists and shoulders. MP-11 has those black tabs on the top of the fuselage in alt mode. Weird.

By the way, I've got a question for anyone who's got expert knowledge of the various releases of MP-11 Starscream. What color plastic is the nose cone cast in? The TFwiki page claims that the original Japanese and Asian releases had a blue plastic nose cone painted over in gray to match the rest of fuselage and primary wings. Then, a 2013 Chinese release came along with a nose cone cast in the same or a similar gray plastic to the fuselage, etc. It also featured gray (either painted or cast in gray plastic) tabs to replace the black ones on the top of the jet mode for the original release. My MP-11, however, has the black tabs on the top of the jet AND a gray plastic nose cone. I'm certain it's not painted gray, as you can see light through the plastic from inside to out. So, is something off with the wiki description of these variations? Which release do I likely have?

[Sabrblade]

For those who worship cartoon-accuracy, this is the best you're going to get, so enjoy!

I definitely worship at that alter. Though I have the Hasbro release from a few years back, this latest Takara release is the DEFINITIVE version in my eyes, even if still not entirely perfect. Why the black nose cone, for example? I find it interesting that each one of the MP-11 classic Seeker trio has something that makes it not quite "cartoon accurate," but among the three, it's a DIFFERENT set of things for each one. MP-11TC has the black nose cone, as already said. MP-11SW has some embellishments in the form of pin striping on his "pectorals" as well as his wrists and shoulders. MP-11 has those black tabs on the top of the fuselage in alt mode. Weird.

By the way, I've got a question for anyone who's got expert knowledge of the various releases of MP-11 Starscream. What color plastic is the nose cone cast in? The TFwiki page claims that the original Japanese and Asian releases had a blue plastic nose cone painted over in gray to match the rest of fuselage and primary wings. Then, a 2013 Chinese release came along with a nose cone cast in the same or a similar gray plastic to the fuselage, etc. It also featured gray (either painted or cast in gray plastic) tabs to replace the black ones on the top of the jet mode for the original release. My MP-11, however, has the black tabs on the top of the jet AND a gray plastic nose cone. I'm certain it's not painted gray, as you can see light through the plastic from inside to out. So, is something off with the wiki description of these variations? Which release do I likely have?

The best person to answer this would be Powered Convoy/Randy, as he's a major Seeker expert.

[1984forever]

I guess no one ever noticed that this bat-winged, pot bellied POS doesn't look much like the animation model. The classics seeker mold is the only masterpiece I see here.

[Deathsanras]

WTF is up with people wanting and/or expecting "baby blue" as if it was in any way accurate to either the show or the original toy.

I guess no one ever noticed that this bat-winged, pot bellied POS doesn't look much like the animation model. The classics seeker mold is the only masterpiece I see here.

Try again.

[Starsaber468]

Looks Great!

[1984forever]

WTF is up with people wanting and/or expecting "baby blue" as if it was in any way accurate to either the show or the original toy.

I guess no one ever noticed that this bat-winged, pot bellied POS doesn't look much like the animation model. The classics seeker mold is the only masterpiece I see here.

Try again.

I agree completely! Takara should try again. This is actually Michael Bay's version of Thundercracker. Robotic, pointy and overly detailed. Takara would have come out a lot better simply upsizing the classics mold, adding articulation and modifying the null Rays to be animation accurate in robot and jet modes.

[Wolfman Jake]

Takara would have come out a lot better simply upsizing the classics mold, adding articulation and modifying the null Rays to be animation accurate in robot and jet modes.

Agreed, but not for yet another Masterpiece Seeker mold, but for a new "Classics"/Generations release at the Voyager scale. Upsizing the 2006 deluxe Seeker mold with added articulation would be a perfect fit in terms of scale with most of the rest of my Classics collection. Starscream et al. should at least be bigger than the Autobot deluxe cars.

[william-james88]

Takara would have come out a lot better simply upsizing the classics mold, adding articulation and modifying the null Rays to be animation accurate in robot and jet modes.

Agreed, but not for yet another Masterpiece Seeker mold, but for a new "Classics"/Generations release at the Voyager scale. Upsizing the 2006 deluxe Seeker mold with added articulation would be a perfect fit in terms of scale with most of the rest of my Classics collection. Starscream et al. should at least be bigger than the Autobot deluxe cars.

While I was gonna agree 100% with your statement, wolfman jake, wouldnt you rather a seeker updae finds a better way to conceal the nosecone than to just leave it in back of the head? The only toysthat have ever concealed the nosecons properly are HFTD Leader Starscream and the Prime Dreadwing mold.

For the coneheads however, upscaling that classics mold with better articulation is perfect!

Also, about this Thundercracker being Michael Bay's seeker, its more the other way around. Before the films came out, the initial MP 03 was released and the objective of that transformer (as dexcribed by the designer) was for it to have a pefect looking jet mold (at the cost of the robot looking less like that character it was aiming to be). So the whole idea was that it would look like a real world jet (just like the alternators were real world cars). So pretty much live action before the live action movies existed, hnce why you see tah they share a similar real world aesthetic. And I think that was ok for MP03, if seen as a stand alone figure. The problem is that the same mold has been used since for all MP seekers (including the coneheads!!) so that real world aesthetic stays all throghout.

You know, I find it off. When the Clubs said they woudl retire the classics deluxe seeker mold, the fandom was ok with it saying it was quite outdated. The MP seeker mold base is as old and it doesnt show any signs of ending. We have more coneheads to come plus all their redecos.

[Wolfman Jake]

Personally, I don't mind hiding the nose cone behind the head as the 2006 deluxe Classics Seekers do. It's not the most elegant solution, but it works, and doesn't require the use of faux cockpits or anything. I figure with an upscaling of the design to Voyager class, a few more options will become viable in terms of engineering and space to get the nose cone as tucked away as it can be.

As for the MP-11 mold, it's not really fair to say it's as old as the MP-3 mold. Yes, there is some common engineering involved and parts of the plane are identical in tooling, but for the most part, MP-11 is a brand new mold, especially where any of the robot mode parts are concerned. With the revised Masterpiece Seekers being roughly 90% (or more) brand new tooling, I don't think anything held over from the MP-3 design would be produced on those old sprues anyway, rather they would have been recast for the new MP-11 molds.

[william-james88]

As for the MP-11 mold, it's not really fair to say it's as old as the MP-3 mold. Yes, there is some common engineering involved and parts of the plane are identical in tooling, but for the most part, MP-11 is a brand new mold, especially where any of the robot mode parts are concerned. With the revised Masterpiece Seekers being roughly 90% (or more) brand new tooling, I don't think anything held over from the MP-3 design would be produced on those old sprues anyway, rather they would have been recast for the new MP-11 molds.

I was referring more to the real life jet aspects which still preserve the dimensions of the jet along with how the wings look in both modes. They still keep all the real jet gimmicks too like the antenna in the nosecone and the air brake along the back. The robot mode has been redone though, especially the legs area, but it does still exhibit elements of a real life jet which was the goal of the original. And that is all I was responding too.

Also, and this is not related to any previous comment (just for conversation purposes), while the tooling is new, the transformation for anything above the waist is nearly identical to MP 03. It's like Dark Cumplezone, who people dont realize is almost 100% new tooling since its all just aesthetic. He still transforms the exact same way so people who disliked of the mold wont change their minds with 100% new tooling.

[Sabrblade]

The only toysthat have ever concealed the nosecons properly are HFTD Leader Starscream and the Prime Dreadwing mold.

What about the Generations Legends class Seeker mold?

[william-james88]

The only toysthat have ever concealed the nosecons properly are HFTD Leader Starscream and the Prime Dreadwing mold.

What about the Generations Legends class Seeker mold?

I never experienced that mold. I was looking at deluxe or above since that is what was being discussed. But glad to know those have it worked out too.

[megatronus]

The only toysthat have ever concealed the nosecons properly are HFTD Leader Starscream and the Prime Dreadwing mold.

What about the Generations Legends class Seeker mold?

I never experienced that mold. I was looking at deluxe or above since that is what was being discussed. But glad to know those have it worked out too.

Don't forget the FOC deluxe Seeker mold.

[william-james88]

The only toysthat have ever concealed the nosecons properly are HFTD Leader Starscream and the Prime Dreadwing mold.

What about the Generations Legends class Seeker mold?

I never experienced that mold. I was looking at deluxe or above since that is what was being discussed. But glad to know those have it worked out too.

Don't forget the FOC deluxe Seeker mold.

HAHAHA! Aside from the fact that it doesnt turn into a jet, there are reasons that mold doesnt come up when I think of toys done well : http://www.seibertron.com/energonpub/top-5-worst-cases-of-visible-head-syndrome-among-transformers-toys-t104938.php

I guess I will take this opportunity now to say that this toy will reappear on a list in 2016. Either the most overrated or underrated Transformers. I will let the suspense build as to which of the two that toy appears on.

[Sabrblade]

The only toysthat have ever concealed the nosecons properly are HFTD Leader Starscream and the Prime Dreadwing mold.

What about the Generations Legends class Seeker mold?

I never experienced that mold. I was looking at deluxe or above since that is what was being discussed. But glad to know those have it worked out too.

It's a better Seeker mold that the Classics Deluxe one, though.