The Energon Pub

News Credits: 100 · by **-Kanrabat-** » Tue Feb 16, 2021 8:05 am

Emerje wrote:I'm sure the reason why figures like Megatron and Dinobot are so expensive is because Takara Tomy has no intention of reusing the molds. They padded the price with extra accessories, but you'll notice some of those (Dinobot's stand) got reused elsewhere and they're making up the costs every time.

Emerje

Wrong.

You forgot this sweet guy:

News Credits: 10 · by **sol magnus** » Tue Feb 16, 2021 8:22 am

-Kanrabat- wrote:
Emerje wrote:I'm sure the reason why figures like Megatron and Dinobot are so expensive is because Takara Tomy has no intention of reusing the molds. They padded the price with extra accessories, but you'll notice some of those (Dinobot's stand) got reused elsewhere and they're making up the costs every time.

Emerje

Wrong.

You forgot this sweet guy:

I thought he was talking about Beast Wars Megatron, but yeah.

News Credits: 100 · by **-Kanrabat-** » Tue Feb 16, 2021 10:10 am

sol magnus wrote:I thought he was talking about Beast Wars Megatron, but yeah.

If they did that repaint/remold, I wouldn't rule anything out.

Also, MP-44 is worth a fortune and they still did the obligatory Nemesis repaint.

News Credits: 6 · by **AllNewSuperRobot** » Tue Feb 16, 2021 10:16 am

Let's not forget, Hasbro has been reusing molds since the very beginning. It something they have applied in and out of fiction.

Beast Wars is no exception...

News Credits: 10 · by **sol magnus** » Tue Feb 16, 2021 10:16 am

-Kanrabat- wrote:
sol magnus wrote:I thought he was talking about Beast Wars Megatron, but yeah.

If they did that repaint/remold, I wouldn't rule anything out.

Also, MP-44 is worth a fortune and they still did the obligatory Nemesis repaint.

I still can't believe they didn't do MP-44+ toy version. Somebody even mocked one up.

by **Spartron** » Tue Feb 16, 2021 1:22 pm

-Kanrabat- wrote:
Emerje wrote:I'm sure the reason why figures like Megatron and Dinobot are so expensive is because Takara Tomy has no intention of reusing the molds. They padded the price with extra accessories, but you'll notice some of those (Dinobot's stand) got reused elsewhere and they're making up the costs every time.

Emerje

Wrong.

You forgot this sweet guy:

He looks like he went to West Coast Choppers for that amazing pinstriping.

side note: based on some reviews and comments here, just purchased MP-21 as opposed to the new version! and just received MP-17 in the mail! Collection is up to 6 now.

News Credits: 241 · by **Jelze Bunnycat** » Tue Feb 16, 2021 1:47 pm

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:Let's not forget, Hasbro has been reusing molds since the very beginning. It something they have applied in and out of fiction.

CyclonusArmada.jpg

Dinobot.jpg

Beast Wars is no exception...

We're talking TakaraTomy, who have their own way of doing things and call the shots for the line, despite the BW ones being a Hasbro idea.

News Credits: 6 · by **AllNewSuperRobot** » Tue Feb 16, 2021 2:20 pm

Jelze Bunnycat wrote:We're talking TakaraTomy, who have their own way of doing things and call the shots for the line, despite the BW ones being a Hasbro idea.

That's true. But, then again - Quick Fire Quiz - How many redecos are in the Masterpiece line, to date (2003 - 2021)? Including two for Optimus Primal, that don't really have anything to do with Hasbro...

News Credits: 100 · by **-Kanrabat-** » Tue Feb 16, 2021 2:34 pm

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:
Jelze Bunnycat wrote:We're talking TakaraTomy, who have their own way of doing things and call the shots for the line, despite the BW ones being a Hasbro idea.

That's true. But, then again - Quick Fire Quiz - How many redecos are in the Masterpiece line, to date (2003 - 2021)? Including two for Optimus Primal, that don't really have anything to do with Hasbro...

Takara us certainly not shy for repaints, premium or otherwise.
(Starring at MP-10)

News Credits: 6 · by **AllNewSuperRobot** » Tue Feb 16, 2021 2:50 pm

-Kanrabat- wrote:(Staring at MP-10)

Indeed. I tried to count them myself, from the Wiki. The number of Prime redecos is ludicrous 8-}

News Credits: 241 · by **Jelze Bunnycat** » Tue Feb 16, 2021 2:59 pm

Point is, I don't see them doing redecos that are merely based on Hasbro toy-only redecos. Grimlock may have a shot due his appearance in the comics, he has a different head plus he's a staple character. But nothing more.

News Credits: 6 · by **AllNewSuperRobot** » Tue Feb 16, 2021 3:11 pm

Time will tell. We do currently have three redecos in the BW line already. Two of which were not exactly expected. By anyone.

Ultimately, we are now six characters into the initially planned fourteen of Season One MP Beast Wars. If they decide to keep to that benchmark. After Tarantulas, everyone else is a unique one and done design. Seems like a lot of expensive molds going to waste. Half of the roster, in fact. I wouldn't be surprised if alternate uses have been greenlit, regardless of where the redeco came from.

News Credits: 456 · by **Sabrblade** » Tue Feb 16, 2021 3:36 pm

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:Time will tell. We do currently have three redecos in the BW line already. Two of which were not exactly expected. By anyone.

True, but, all three of which were also Takara-based decos, whereas something like BW Grimlock was a Hasbro-based deco that Takara never brought to Japan.

News Credits: 6 · by **AllNewSuperRobot** » Tue Feb 16, 2021 3:47 pm

Also true. However, Beast Wars molds are a bit more nebulous than G1. Mostly because the Beast Era didn't extend supplementary material to parallel the shows and give the wider line more exposure.

My concern though. Just by sticking to 'one region - one use' for these releases. I think all it will do is prompt them to raise prices to offset the cost of the mold. That's risky as most of the less popular characters are up next. Do they think they could charge the same price for Airazor or Scorponok as Blackarachnia, and they will sell just as well??

Which they don't have to if they decide to play this line differently to G1. I believe we previously estimated closer to 30 releases out of these 14 characters. This brings us back to 'time will tell'.

News Credits: 456 · by **Sabrblade** » Tue Feb 16, 2021 3:49 pm

Like I said before, Takara can still do Destron Rhinox and Vok Blackwidow since those were actually in the show.

And maybe Double Punch since he was a Japanese release.

MyFigureCollection.net collection · by **Emerje** » Wed Feb 17, 2021 3:40 am

Yes, I was talking about Beast Megatron and I agree with Jelze and Sabr. MP-10 only got so many repaints because he's Optimus Prime, no other figure got that kind of treatment. Maybe an argument can be made for Bluestreak, but that still didn't hold a candle to Prime.

I doubt we'll see a toy colors Beast Megatron, the only reason why we got that with Primal is because he showed up animated with Lio Convoy that way. And we still don't have a Flash Lio Convoy. Takara Tomy just isn't in any hurry to exploit the Beast Wars MPs for all the repaints they can get away with.

Emerje

News Credits: 100 · by **-Kanrabat-** » Wed Feb 17, 2021 5:00 am

Emerje wrote:Yes, I was talking about Beast Megatron and I agree with Jelze and Sabr. MP-10 only got so many repaints because he's Optimus Prime, no other figure got that kind of treatment. Maybe an argument can be made for Bluestreak, but that still didn't hold a candle to Prime.

I doubt we'll see a toy colors Beast Megatron, the only reason why we got that with Primal is because he showed up animated with Lio Convoy that way. And we still don't have a Flash Lio Convoy. Takara Tomy just isn't in any hurry to exploit the Beast Wars MPs for all the repaints they can get away with.

Emerje

You got a point here. No bizarre MP repaints appart MP-10 so far.
As if Optimus Prime is a diva who just love fashion.

News Credits: 6 · by **AllNewSuperRobot** » Wed Feb 17, 2021 9:38 am

I'd love to see the sales figures for all those Technicolour Primes.

I was with a [non-TF] friend at a comic book shop once, and he spied the Delta Magnus MP. Decrying it as a 'knock-off Ultra Magnus'. I just smiled that he knew who Ultra Magnus was...

MyFigureCollection.net collection · by **Emerje** » Thu Feb 18, 2021 1:06 am

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:I'd love to see the sales figures for all those Technicolour Primes.

The Bape and Labron ones sold out within hours, they were only available in stores with people lining up to buy them. I think MP-711 had to be reserved in person at Japanese 7-11 stores with none made available after. Even Black Convoy sold well enough to be reissued later. The only ones that really seemed to linger were the Evangelion and Shattered Glass ones, but those were available online and not as limited.

Emerje

News Credits: 6 · by **AllNewSuperRobot** » Thu Feb 18, 2021 1:33 pm

I do recall going into a larger comic book shop (Forbidden Planet, maybe?) and seeing about three or four Shattered Glass MP Primes on display. I did a quick skim of the Wiki and didn't see any other MP with SG colours. Maybe that is the reason?

News Credits: 10 · by **sol magnus** » Thu Feb 18, 2021 1:35 pm

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:I do recall going into a larger comic book shop (Forbidden Planet, maybe?) and seeing about three or four Shattered Glass MP Primes on display. I did a quick skim of the Wiki and didn't see any other MP with SG colours. Maybe that is the reason?

Would it be the reason that MP SG Optimus Prime didn't sell, or the reason they didn't make any other SG MP figures? I mean, if Optimus Prime is gonna shelfwarm, what hope does a SG MP Ratchet have?

News Credits: 6 · by **AllNewSuperRobot** » Thu Feb 18, 2021 2:18 pm

I only know of it from the Wiki, so how popular is SG?
Clearly a big enough deal for a couple of redecos. But not in too high demand?

News Credits: 100 · by **-Kanrabat-** » Thu Feb 18, 2021 2:24 pm

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:I only know of it from the Wiki, so how popular is SG?
Clearly a big enough deal for a couple of redecos. But not in too high demand?

If we go by how much the original Botcon SG toys now sell for, SG is pretty damn popular.

News Credits: 10 · by **sol magnus** » Thu Feb 18, 2021 2:25 pm

As I type this, I'm watching a Shattered Glass Stop Motion animation on Youtube.

It has a following, sure. But not enough of one to dedicate a whole line to it. It was a club exclusive thing, and mirror-universe stories are fun, but they will likely always have limited appeal when you're paying 100+ dollars for a toy of it.

If you care to check it out - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyCi6k9hz4c

News Credits: 456 · by **Sabrblade** » Thu Feb 18, 2021 6:27 pm

Yeah, 2006 and 2008 are definitely the most expensive of the BotCon sets on the secondary market.

Although, one thing that irks me about the MP SG Optimus is that it got SG Optimus's purple totally wrong, and now that wrong purple has spilled over into the Selects version.