The Energon Pub

[Everharm]

2 In Janesville WI Toys R Us

[SlyTF1]

I went to my local Toys R Us today and saw 2 of them. I was genuinely surprised. But disappointed, because I literally only have $2 to my name. It'll be a while before I can afford one of these things.

[Va'al]

Courtesy of regular news source Loopaza Mega Store on Facebook, and the magazine Figure King 235, we have some images of the Takara Tomy specific release of Transformers Movie Masterpiece MPM-4 Optimus Prime! The images are mirrored below, and you can compare this to the Hasbro release by checking out our gallery here.

[Autobot Roadburn]

Do we know when this guy's set to release? The extra blue paint and lighter grey plastic that's a lot closer to the silver paint might make him worth the wait and the extra money.

[Cybertronius Primus]

Them lighter colours look much better. But how much will it cost?

[dragons]

I'm fine with hasbro version if I didn't buy version I would have bought for this version depending what price is

[Quantum Surge]

Is it me, or does the lighter gray have kind of a beige look to it? I'll probably stick with the Hasbro version and add tge extra details myself.

[william-james88]

Is it me, or does the lighter gray have kind of a beige look to it? I'll probably stick with the Hasbro version and add tge extra details myself.

It does. For some reason, Takara went for a more matte look and while I havent seen too much complaining here, lots of fans elsewhere have expressed unhappiness in the matter. I still preffer the fact that he has blue paint on his feet. But ultimately, I think I will just stick to the recent MB release, as sacriligious as that may sound. MPM 3 BB proved you could have something look great with an intuitive transformation that is complex but in no way annoying (once you get the hang of it). It doesnt prove to the same with this Prime. Plus I dont like his eyes and that is a huge factor when thinking of dropping loads a money on a toy.

[Quantum Surge]

Is it me, or does the lighter gray have kind of a beige look to it? I'll probably stick with the Hasbro version and add tge extra details myself.

It does. For some reason, Takara went for a more matte look and while I havent seen too much complaining here, lots of fans elsewhere have expressed unhappiness in the matter. I still preffer the fact that he has blue paint on his feet. But ultimately, I think I will just stick to the recent MB release, as sacriligious as that may sound. MPM 3 BB proved you could have something look great with an intuitive transformation that is complex but in no way annoying (once you get the hang of it). It doesnt prove to the same with this Prime. Plus I dont like his eyes and that is a huge factor when thinking of dropping loads a money on a toy.

Funny you mentioned that, I thought you were the one that did the podcast/twincast on him (someone else did it) and I was wanting to ask you if I can get a hold of it (or if we'd do some trade).

[DecepticonFinishline]

Wish I would've known that Takara and Hasbro were going to have different versions...

[Notesandtabs]

Everybody is so chill here compared to TFW. We have been arguing back and forth for over 350 pages about MPM-04, and we saw the Takara testshots weeks ago (about a month ago).

Cool to see most people here like the Takara grey.

[william-james88]

Everybody is so chill here compared to TFW.

I know, I am so surprised at how different the discussion is. I don't mind it of course, its just cool to see how different the same fanbase could be

[wilcosu35]

I like the looks of this one, i think i'll get the Takara.

[Ironhidensh]

Everybody is so chill here compared to TFW.

I know, I am so surprised at how different the discussion is. I don't mind it of course, its just cool to see how different the same fanbase could be

it's only because I'm following the "if you can't say something nice, then don't say anything at all" rule.

[Rodimus86]

Toydojo.com already has the Takara version of the MPM Optimus up for ore order I ordered mine just now for $149.99

[Quantum Surge]

I think Takara gray looks fine, but I'd prefer the Hasbro's version (if I had one ). Sure it'd be clashing with the brighter colors on it, but I think it kind of fits the rough Cybertronian metal better for me. Maybe a happy medium between the color grays would be good enough, but what I'm more worried about is distribution (maybe a knockoff copy would be good if not better).

[Autobot Roadburn]

Toydojo.com already has the Takara version of the MPM Optimus up for ore order I ordered mine just now for $149.99

Thanks, just went for one myself! too bad he's a penny short of free shipping though, that's a bit unfortunate. Hopefully he's in sooner than later, I like his colors better and I feel like there's a chance the panels work better than the Hasbro version but there's going to be nothing stopping me from picking up Hasbro's if I see it in store, $50 is a big difference.

[shajaki]

Personally I don't see the point in getting all up in arms until we get side by side comparisons. And I'm getting both regardless so....

[Notesandtabs]

Plus 1. Everybody on TFW is freaking out, but we have no clue what the Tak version will look like, and most of us don't even know what the Has ver looks like.

[skywarp-2]

So, I finally found and re-uploaded my signature to another free image hosting website since Imageshack and photobucket require a half a grand to register pics for a year... Anyhow, I have the Hasbro MPM-04 Optimue Prime and I have seen the images of the TAKARA TOMY ver. coming out soon. I think the Hasbro is the better choice, as I believe the other will be exactly the same, with some additional paint apps. I have transformed mine and it works in either bot or alt mode. I think the only thing that is missing, is the additional paint apps to the Hasbro.

I will be releasing a full photo pic of my progress with the paint apps in the customization forum this evening. Please check there to see how the Hasbro version, with just a few minor paint apps.. nothing huge, can really make the Hasbro version surpass the Takara Version.

I wanted to make the bot look like it came that way from the factory, not go all out like a full blown custom paint job. The objective was to still keep it with the plastic colors, just add the additional silvers, golds, and blue where they Hasbro failed to do.

I have no gap issues in Truck mode, and will show that off in my pics as well. Also, the only thing I wish I could find is a mini sculpted and painted Autobot logo to glue onto his chest. That is the only thing missing with the figure.. other then really minor paint apps.

The Back Pack I think can be reconfigured without mods, which would go along way to making the bot look thinner up top. The Hasbro Darker Plastic actually works well. I like that better then the TAKARA light grey, or even silver casting. the Dark Grey almost looks like dark metal, and is perfect for the figure to give contrast with the other metallic parts.

If I had to choose again.. I wouldn't get the TAKARA version.. I would still get that Hasbro version. Mine came near perfect, with no problems in alt or bot mode, except additional needed paint apps..

FYI I don't think the red chest pieces actually are supposed to tab into the chest, it's more like the door stop behind a door.. it rests the large tabs on it, but the tolerances from the actual windowed chest are what holds them in place. It's hard to explain, but I will also try to illustrate that in my review and customization post later tonight.

[skywarp-2]

Okay fellow Seibertronians, I know that I was going to upload a new forum post in the customizations forum section, but since this isn't about going all in depth, I wanted to show what I think was lacking in the Hasbro release as it comes to minor paint applications.
With my first pic here, you can see where I took some paint and added them to the mid sections on his chest. I used Testors Model Paint, and I am currently still in the process of painting the spots I feel HASBRO should have. As I have said before, My goal is not to go all out and do a super detailed Metallic style repaint of the entire figure.



1. A full on crazy repaint would look movie accurate, however it would not blend in with any of my other figures and would not look good next to my future purchase of MPM-03 Bumblebee.. So for me, I just wanted to make the MPM-04 Optimus Prime as perfect as I could without going so far as to knock him out of the similarity of the rest of the Masterpieces I own, or future Movie Masterpiece releases.



2. Making a full on paint redux to the figure would mean possible paint chipping in the fuuture, and it is a lot of work for a figure that I essentially want to remain the way it came in the package, however I do NOT consider minor paint app additions as such a big customization as to reduce the price of the figure, in fact I think the minor Paint apps were something Hasbro could easily have done, and if in the future they do the DOTM version with the redone abs, the rest of the paint Apps I have applied should be standard in any secondary or future release of the mold, barring any changes like the abs.



3. In the final paint work up, I will do a final reveal in the customizations forum like I stated I would earlier. This post is just to show what the bot looks like with some minor paint apps already applied, and to show that HASBRO could have easily surpassed Takara Tomy's rendition all they needed was to add minor paint apps, and mold the Gun in silver with the black scorch paint applied. If Hasbro wants us to remain loyal with purchases in the future for high end market figures, then they really should pay attention to fans and their detail concerns. THERE IS NO REASON THAT MPM-04 SHOULD HAVE BEEN RELEASED WITHOUT THESE MINOR PAINT APPLICATIONS APPLIED...COST IS NOT AN EXCUSE.
AGAIN.. The Purpose of this post is just to show where HASBRO should have added additional Paint applications.. as you can see, the darker grey body plastic works well, much better then i think the light grey plastic of Takara Tomy. All that is really needed is the additional accents of paint. Namely the feet, and the minor copper paints and some silvers and the missing blues.
I will detail all my paints, and clear coat spray to help with any seibertronian who desires to do the same when i do the full blog forum post on my mod to the bot.

Bottom line for me...
I think the Hasbro release of MPM-04 is the better choice, but for minor paint applications. other then that, I think the Hasbro version is great. I don't have tabbing issues, or chest problems myself. as others have reported. To me, the chest sits on the slots, held in by friction, as apposed to tabs plugging in. Yet, If I had to purchase the MPM-04 again, I would still get the Hasbro version. Painting my Masterpiece transformers isn't something I like to do, but with this release, I felt it just needed a bit of extra to put it over the top in my book. I hope you guys like what I have done and can see the potential of the figure from the Hasbro side. It really is the best version IMHO.

[Autobot Roadburn]

Just got a payment notification from AmiAmi for Takara Prime! He only cost $135 including shipping, so I feel pretty good about preordering him from them. If their eBay shipping speed is anything to go off, he should be here in a week or two and I'll upload a bunch of pictures then.

[skywarp-2]

They're orders are closed now..

[Rodimus86]

ToyDojo.com
Has it up for Pre order still at $149.99 that's where I ordered mine and he's due to ship this month apparently, over all I know this version will be accurate just due to the blue on tops of his feet are painted and the autobot insignia is on his chest, the lighter gray mixed with metallic silver is nice although I do like the dark gray hasbro used too. There is small video clip of the Japanese Takara versio. On YouTube of the production piece.

[Autobot Roadburn]

ToyDojo.com
Has it up for Pre order still at $149.99 that's where I ordered mine and he's due to ship this month apparently, over all I know this version will be accurate just due to the blue on tops of his feet are painted and the autobot insignia is on his chest, the lighter gray mixed with metallic silver is nice although I do like the dark gray hasbro used too. There is small video clip of the Japanese Takara versio. On YouTube of the production piece.

That's the main reason I went for the Takara instead of going with Hasbro's Prime, the dark silver/grey/whatever. There are so many pictures of him with that color in so many different shades that I can't tell exactly what color it is. Some of the pictures look nice but most seem to have the color as an almost bronze color and it clashes with the silver way too much for my liking.