The Energon Pub

[DedicatedGhostArt]

I hope they retool him as Grapple to go with the CW/UW Constructicons.

That Silly, is more guaranteed than the sun rising

Considering the fact though that they have not done a Cliffjumper retool of Bumblebee yet, I am not certain of anything at this point.

Let us hope they never do a Masterpiece Cliffjumper out of a Bumblebee. I'd like to see Cliffjumper transform into an actual Porsche and figure out how to do a proper Cliffjumper robot mode out of it. I'm OK if the Porsche is smaller than a regular sized Masterpiece figure, I just want to see him be a proper Porsche.

If you actually observe the size, transformation scheme, and dimensions of the new Bumblebee MP, along with the dimensions of a normal Porsche, it is possible to retool into a Porsche. All it takes is skill, and a lot of shell retooling, not a whole new design.

[ScottyP]

I was excited to submit this news and all these replies are just f'n depressing. I don't know what y'all want out of this stuff. This looks like a cool, fun toy. Want cartoon purity MP Inferno? Buy MMC's. Want toy time fun times? Buy Maketoys'. Want a cool compromise with a profile that hides the backpack like magic? Here's this.

Check please.

[Hellscream9999]

I was excited to submit this news and all these replies are just f'n depressing. I don't know what y'all want out of this stuff. This looks like a cool, fun toy. Want cartoon purity MP Inferno? Buy MMC's. Want toy time fun times? Buy Maketoys'. Want a cool compromise with a profile that hides the backpack like magic? Here's this.

Check please.

Why? It's basically just everyone crapping on my opinion, everyone - apart from Seibs - seems to be in love with this reveal

[wilcosu35]

Ah, new pictures He looks nice. Can't wait to see more of him.

[Seibertron]

I'm not entirely getting the responses here... Masterpiece is a line -solely- dedicated to absolute cartoon accuracy. What were you guys expecting? If you want cool updates, check out Generations or Third Parties or even new versions of the characters in new series or something... but Masterpiece is a G1 Cartoon line - with a few surprises in Star Saber and Optimus Primal here and there - and that is what it is. It doesn't make sense to criticize something for being what it is, it's kind of ridiculous.

Since when? The majority of them are not cartoon accurate. Masterpiece Grimlock isn't absolute cartoon accurate. Soundwave isn't absolute cartoon accurate. Prowl, Wheeljack, Lambor (Sideswipe), and Optimus Prime are not absolute cartoon accurate. None of them are cartoon accurate. It wasn't until Ultra Magnus that they started going down the road with "some" of them. I don't want simplified looking Transformers. Magnus didn't do it for me. I want detailed figures like Masterpiece Wheeljack and Prowl who look like real world vehicles and have detailed panels on their limbs. I don't want simplified panels like Ultra Magnus and Hot Rodimus had, nor do I want them to try to mimic on-screen colors like Shockwave.

[Seibertron]

I was excited to submit this news and all these replies are just f'n depressing. I don't know what y'all want out of this stuff. This looks like a cool, fun toy. Want cartoon purity MP Inferno? Buy MMC's. Want toy time fun times? Buy Maketoys'. Want a cool compromise with a profile that hides the backpack like magic? Here's this.

Check please.

You know where I stand with 3rd party stuff. I also want the Masterpiece line to be consistent. It's not at this point, and seeing Masterpiece Inferno makes me think the line is taking a major turn which I don't want it to do.

I just want Masterpiece figures to live up to Prowl and Wheeljack ...





And I guess I'll throw Lambor (Sideswipe) into the mix as well, though I think the alt mode is severely lacking because of the mold cuts to make the arms for the doors, however, the robot mode is really awesome and has lots of detail).

[Seibertron]

Here are the cartoon examples that I don't want any more of ...

[Seibertron]

Here's proof, compare this:



to this:



Clearly, you can have a show accurate toy, without being completely smooth and plain, that is the issue

Bingo. Well said. And thank you!

[Hellscream9999]

Here's proof, compare this:



to this:



Clearly, you can have a show accurate toy, without being completely smooth and plain, that is the issue

Bingo. Well said. And thank you!

Honestly, I'm just happy to finally have someone on my side

[Rodimus Prime]

I'm happy to see this. Some upgrades for this character are long overdue. I thought with all the repaints Hasbro did in Combiner Wars, we'd get Inferno out of Hotspot with some retooling, but this is even better. Bring on the Big Red Machine!

[Seibertron]

I'm not entirely getting the responses here... Masterpiece is a line -solely- dedicated to absolute cartoon accuracy. What were you guys expecting? If you want cool updates, check out Generations or Third Parties or even new versions of the characters in new series or something... but Masterpiece is a G1 Cartoon line - with a few surprises in Star Saber and Optimus Primal here and there - and that is what it is. It doesn't make sense to criticize something for being what it is, it's kind of ridiculous.

Ditto. But give them their 15 minutes mein freund. Some solace to their individuality.

Not to mention that this IS a discussion forum. If we all agreed on everything, it'd make for some pretty dull discussions.

[Sabrblade]

I see way more molded detail on this MP than what was on the cartoon model, and the cartoon model was already pretty detailed with lots of lines and shapes all over his body.

The MP's torso and headsculpt are especially more defined and detailed than those of the cartoon model.

[Kurona]

... hang on, wait, what's not cartoon accurate about Soundwave and Sideswipe and all the other guys you mentioned? A few little bolts you can hardly see littered around the chest area?
I'm sorry, I'm just not getting this. When I see any masterpiece figure, I see a figure absolutely loyal to the character as depicted in the G1 cartoon (barring, y'know, road rage and such who weren't in the cartoon). I'm not trying to be patronizing here, I legitimately don't understand where you guys are coming from.

[shajaki]

Post MP10, the only one I've thought was especially not cartoon accurate is Wheeljack. Which has annoyed me since day 1. Prowl I feel is the perfect mix of cartoon and toy accuracy.

All that said, let's say they made toon Wheeljack first. I'd still have bought a second run "real world" variant because I still love the toy itself.

Serbs, question: would Repro's on his smooth surfaces help? Do you like OG toy accuracy?

[Seibertron]

Here's proof, compare this:



to this:



Clearly, you can have a show accurate toy, without being completely smooth and plain, that is the issue

Bingo. Well said. And thank you!

Honestly, I'm just happy to finally have someone on my side

No problem ... and I don't see how adding some detailing to the panels takes away from those who want "cartoon accuracy". I just don't want giant smooth panels. And I want the line to stay consistent. Stick to what they were doing with Masterpiece Grimlock, MP-10 Convoy, MP-12 Lambor, Wheeljack, etc and I'm good to go. Deviate from that and go with the more simpler animation look and I'm not a happy camper because I think "Masterpiece" should be more than replicating on screen looks. Maybe on a deluxe class figure, but on a $70 to $200+ figure it should have a little detail to the figure. I don't think I'm asking a lot.

[Hellscream9999]

Honestly, I'm just happy to finally have someone on my side

No problem ... and I don't see how adding some detailing to the panels takes away from those who want "cartoon accuracy". I just don't want giant smooth panels. And I want the line to stay consistent. Stick to what they were doing with Masterpiece Grimlock, MP-10 Convoy, MP-12 Lambor, Wheeljack, etc and I'm good to go. Deviate from that and go with the more simpler animation look and I'm not a happy camper because I think "Masterpiece" should be more than replicating on screen looks. Maybe on a deluxe class figure, but on a $70 to $200+ figure it should have a little detail to the figure. I don't think I'm asking a lot.

Isn't that what we had Animated for

[Seibertron]

Post MP10, the only one I've thought was especially not cartoon accurate is Wheeljack. Which has annoyed me since day 1. Prowl I feel is the perfect mix of cartoon and toy accuracy.

All that said, let's say they made toon Wheeljack first. I'd still have bought a second run "real world" variant because I still love the toy itself.

Serbs, question: would Repro's on his smooth surfaces help? Do you like OG toy accuracy?

I feel like we're all looking at two totally different sets of images. I just want some details added to the legs. His upper body has details. Just add some details to all of these panels so that it doesn't look so plain and boring. I don't get why my desire to have these figures have some detail to them is met with so much resistance. If you guys want simplified looking toys, have at it. Here you go. I expect better of Takara and Hasbro to push the boundaries and do the best that they can do. Simple panels is not the best they can do. don't settle.

[Hellscream9999]

I thought with all the repaints Hasbro did in Combiner Wars, we'd get Inferno out of Hotspot with some retooling, but this is even better.

I would have LOVED a Grapple out of Hotspot

[Wolfman Jake]

I see way more molded detail on this MP than what was on the cartoon model, and the cartoon model was already pretty detailed with lots of lines and shapes all over his body.

The MP's torso and headsculpt are especially more defined and detailed than those of the cartoon model.

Yeah, I don't know what some people are missing from these pictures. This looks spot on with what Takara has been doing with MP for years now. It's got all of the cartoon shapes and details in there PLUS the real world vehicle details too. That checks all the boxes on my want list for a Masterpiece figure's sculpt.

I think some of us may be experiencing Masterpiece fatigue at this point. They've been coming in so hot and fast for the past two years, this year especially, that there isn't a lot of breathing room to take things in anymore and really appreciate the intricacies before the next figure is already on the horizon or in our collections. If this really is "plastic crack" as a lot of collectors joke, it probably works on us like actual drugs do. It gives you a nice, satisfying "high" at first, but with repeated "use," you get less bang for your buck. In less bleak terms, let's say it's "too much of a good thing" that's making some of us sour on the Masterpiece line right now. Maybe Takara needs to hit the breaks a bit on the releases and leave us wanting more instead of spoiling us rotten.

[Seibertron]

I think some of us may be experiencing Masterpiece fatigue at this point. They've been coming in so hot and fast for the past two years, this year especially, that there isn't a lot of breathing room to take things in anymore and really appreciate the intricacies before the next figure is already on the horizon or in our collections. If this really is "plastic crack" as a lot of collectors joke, it probably works on us like actual drugs do. It gives you a nice, satisfying "high" at first, but with repeated "use," you get less bang for your buck. In less bleak terms, let's say it's "too much of a good thing" that's making some of us sour on the Masterpiece line right now. Maybe Takara needs to hit the breaks a bit on the releases and leave us wanting more instead of spoiling us rotten.

Hi! As stated above, it just needs details in its extremely simplistic and blocky panels on its legs. As it is right now, it looks like the mold is an unfinished mold. Hopefully they add some details before the finished product. I'm signed off on the upper body. It's the lower body that need to be finished/detailed.

[fenrir72]

I hope they retool him as Grapple to go with the CW/UW Constructicons.

That Silly, is more guaranteed than the sun rising

Considering the fact though that they have not done a Cliffjumper retool of Bumblebee yet, I am not certain of anything at this point.

My answer....IH and Ratchet. WJ and Exhaust. 'nuff said.

[fenrir72]

I see way more molded detail on this MP than what was on the cartoon model, and the cartoon model was already pretty detailed with lots of lines and shapes all over his body.

The MP's torso and headsculpt are especially more defined and detailed than those of the cartoon model.

Yeah, I don't know what some people are missing from these pictures. This looks spot on with what Takara has been doing with MP for years now. It's got all of the cartoon shapes and details in there PLUS the real world vehicle details too. That checks all the boxes on my want list for a Masterpiece figure's sculpt.

I think some of us may be experiencing Masterpiece fatigue at this point. They've been coming in so hot and fast for the past two years, this year especially, that there isn't a lot of breathing room to take things in anymore and really appreciate the intricacies before the next figure is already on the horizon or in our collections. If this really is "plastic crack" as a lot of collectors joke, it probably works on us like actual drugs do. It gives you a nice, satisfying "high" at first, but with repeated "use," you get less bang for your buck. In less bleak terms, let's say it's "too much of a good thing" that's making some of us sour on the Masterpiece line right now. Maybe Takara needs to hit the breaks a bit on the releases and leave us wanting more instead of spoiling us rotten.

Next Mp is Primal on August 2016 (iirc). Inferno might be for December/January 2017. Lot'sa time to save for.

[Seibertron]

Despite my qualms with the lower part of his body, if the ladder really does get "hidden" in robot mode, I'm extremely impressed despite the aesthetics or level of detail not being at the level I think they should be.

[fenrir72]

I was excited to submit this news and all these replies are just f'n depressing. I don't know what y'all want out of this stuff. This looks like a cool, fun toy. Want cartoon purity MP Inferno? Buy MMC's. Want toy time fun times? Buy Maketoys'. Want a cool compromise with a profile that hides the backpack like magic? Here's this.

Check please.

You know where I stand with 3rd party stuff. I also want the Masterpiece line to be consistent. It's not at this point, and seeing Masterpiece Inferno makes me think the line is taking a major turn which I don't want it to do.

I just want Masterpiece figures to live up to Prowl and Wheeljack ...

I think I get what you say about consistency. Some figs have more "details" over the other. But looking at the original source materials of several of the figures (Star Saber being the exemption), it all still depended on the original Diaclone incarnation/inspiration.

The Lancia then WJ, the latter indeed had more of those exhaust vents or something. When in robot mode, depending on how it transforms, still retained the details. Same with Lambor too. Minimum "bling"

Starsaber on the other hand near carbon copy of the Toei animation model. MP-01 and MP-10 is a mix of all the best of G1. 1986 Movie, 1984-86 cartoon and IDW's back ion rifle compartment.

[Hellscream9999]

Despite my qualms with the lower part of his body, if the ladder really does get "hidden" in robot mode, I'm extremely impressed despite the aesthetics or level of detail not being at the level I think they should be.

It does seem to in the oblique angles, I'm interested in the weird joint on the end of the hip skirt-thing