The Ginrai toy is worth importing if you are either fully happy with it as it is, want a different, or "closer to G1" styled figure, or have the aim of getting the (perfect effect) upgrade parts and/or Reprolabels to make it "more G1". However, it might be worth considering getting the Hasbro version and/or an upcoming third party figure (especially of a God/Power-Bomber solution is also released) to possibly save money.
Things to consider before purchase are, IMO:
- The feet. Aesthetically, they don't really seem as "pointy" as the original toy, and IMO, even the Japanese anime. If Anime authenticity was the design aim, then the original animation model seemed far slimmer overall anyway. the feet also don't support the figure very well, or easily, either. Wotafa, a Japanese speaking reviewer on Youtube, stated that the figure can't stand up, legs together, in a straight or neutral pose, without it falling backwards (
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1VLlApu-9Rs ) . I have managed to do it, but only once. Usually, it needs to be put in an "A-stance", with one leg slightly more forward than the other.
- The lack of powermaster figure. this is an issue for some people. Perfect Effect are bringing out a kit that replaces the head with a light up, permanent version and a full powermaster mini-fig that either goes inside the existing cab, and/or attaches to a new chest/cab via a second add-on kit.
- The head. Regardless of the "Geewun not Tie-tanmahstur" debate, the existing head features sunk-in, eyes, which give the appearance of "dead eyes". This might be rectified with either modding, or the first PE kit. Also, to be honest, I can't see the point in having such a tiny head inside a massive helmet, unless that head also interacted with a twisted, smaller body, which brings me nicely to...
- The cab doesn't transform into a regular "Ginrai/OP" figure. This is an issue for me, just like it was for Ultra Magnus. Hopefully, the upcoming PE kit will make a decent cab-to-robot that folds out to make a fairly tall, if somewhat skin base figure (a bit like the original toy), and that PE brings out one for UM, too.
- The guns. IMO, they are a bit too slim and/or short. Both the white and black find just seem a bit "off" to me.
- The chest. It seems that the middle is recessed, while the faux side windstorms are precessed, which seems the opposite of the original toy. I kind of like this, but it seems something should have been done to advice this look better somehow? Hopefully, the second PE kit will rectify this.
- Paint/stickers. There are no chromed parts, and the anime look seems to be assistant, with silver parts painted white (such as the stripes). The original Japanese toy had lovely chromed thighs and trailer stickers. Reprolabels has a set out for PM OP, and although we could use that, I hope a specific version comes out for Ginrai, with chromed cab bumpers, full upper thigh fronts in chrome, and the white faux lorry stripes, actual cab stripes and trailer stickers having silver instead of white stripes. I also think the choice of red is a little bit too "light", and preferred the original darker G1 toy shade of red.
- No waist articulation. Although there is a mod that works for UM, there are no easy to apply kits that can give this waist articulation.
- God/Power-Bomber wings. These wings stick up too much for me and look silly, even if we ignore that it's not in keeping with the original position of the wings in the original toy/animation model.
In conclusion, if this is cheap, then go for it. I bought it and will get the PE and/or other kits to hopefully fix the most annoying lack of features and probably sell them and get a full third party solution if one comes out that blows even a mixed regular version away. That's because I'm a huge fan of the original PM Prime. If it's not cheap and/or you want to wait for a full third party figure, then wait. I'm waiting also for a "Fire Guts" version to have as "Ginrai", a black " Nucleon" version (which I really hope comes out using the Hasbro mold, whichwould tie-in with the lack of full transformation/lack of cab-bot and Piwer-Bomber). I might then have a Hasbro Nucleon Convoy, Takara/PE orange Super Power-Ginrai and a third party Powermaster Optimus Prime withPet-Bomber Apex Armour...
(Errors courtesy of typing this via a phone on a mobile-hostile website...)