The Energon Pub

by **bruticus1978** » Thu Jun 19, 2014 3:00 pm

I finally decided to start collecting the Masterpiece line after deciding that I'm going to sell off most of my other TF collections.
What are all the official and unofficial accessories out there for the Masterpiece line?
Which ones are really good (must-haves)?
The figures I plan on having in my collection are:
MP-08 Grimlock
MP-10 Prime
MP-11 Starscream
MP-12 Sideswipe (bought)
MP-13 Soundwave (bought)
MP-14 Red Alert (pre-order)
MP-15 Rumble & Ravage (pre-order)
MP-16 Frenzy & Buzzsaw
MP-17 Prowl
MP-18 Bluestreak
MP-19 Smokescreen
MP-20 Wheeljack (pre-order)
MP-21 Bumblebee (pre-order)
All of them will be the Takara versions.

A couple of other questions related to Masterpiece.
I read on another thread that MP-10 and MP-11 are going to be re-released next year. Is that true?
Has Takara released Thundercracker and/or Skywarp? Is that possibly a future release?
Are there any others that a must-haves for the collection?

News Credits: 372 · by **Cyberpath** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 2:04 am

TFwiki actually lists all the accessories, just click on the characters that you want here:
http://tfwiki.net/wiki/The_Transformers ... neration_1

The way I see it, there are the "essential" accessories: the characters' signature hand guns, shoulder weapons, Prime's trailer -- anything that is the extension of the character, anything that's part of their character model.

Then there's the really neat stuff that you can't miss out on like the "Megatron" gun or Red Alert's sensory energy signature.

And finally the rest of the items -- those cool reference, like Soundwave's sensor from Fire in the Sky.

As for 3rd party pieces, it's usually extra guns and cannons and overly articulated hands. I don't have any of these.

Regarding reissues of MP-10 and MP-11, someone said it was just a false rumour, but I haven't heard anything about it since.

Takara released both Thundercracker and Skywarp before, but in the pre "Masterpiece, Take II" molds. I think it's only a matter of time before they redo them in the MP-11 mold. My guess is that they didn't want to overdo it with the jet repaints so soon after the "relaunch" of the Masterpiece line.

btw, I recommend Hasbro's original version of MP-10, for the baby blue eyes. Takara must agree because starting with Prowl they've been colouring their Autobots eyes like this, too. Only downside is that Hasbro's Roller is blue.

News Credits: 119 · by **megatronus** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 1:04 pm

Cyberpath wrote:btw, I recommend Hasbro's original version of MP-10, for the baby blue eyes. Takara must agree because starting with Prowl they've been colouring their Autobots eyes like this, too. Only downside is that Hasbro's Roller is blue.

I was able to give my Takara MP-10 blue eyes by swapping them with YOTH Prime. Totally worth it, IMHO.

News Credits: 119 · by **megatronus** » Fri Jun 20, 2014 1:09 pm

The only 3rd Party accessories I consider essential are Dr Wu's Pink Energon Cubes, and Dr Wu's Partners (Spike & Sparkplug - really, really nicely sculpted)

Non-essential but really fun might include SXS's Prime Jetpack. Maybe you might want to get Guilty's set of shoulder cannons for the Datsun's, but I was able to get the official Amazon ones for Prowl, and MP-18S comes with a set for Streak, so I happen to be covered in that department.

by **bruticus1978** » Tue Jun 24, 2014 4:03 pm

Thanks for the advice and information!
I have started on my list now...I was curious about Reprolabels stickers for the MP line. Are any worth it?
Any other info is greatly appreciated.

News Credits: 372 · by **Cyberpath** » Tue Jun 24, 2014 5:37 pm

No problem. I don't think you'll be disappointed with the line. I almost still can't believe these toys are real.

As for stickers, don't like them in general. I prefer sculpted details. And symbols and logos to be printed directly on the plastic. Otherwise it looks kind of cheap in my opinion. Either way, I don't think the toys are lacking in any way.

News Credits: 251 · by **Mindmaster** » Tue Jun 24, 2014 6:26 pm

bruticus1978 wrote:I read on another thread that MP-10 and MP-11 are going to be re-released next year. Is that true?
Has Takara released Thundercracker and/or Skywarp? Is that possibly a future release?

If no one has addressed these questions: there are indeed plans by Takara to reissue Optimus Prime and Starscream. Starscream is to be reissued next March, with Optimus following suit in April.

Takara has not yet released Thundercracker or Skywarp using the MP-11 tooling, though Hasbro has with Thundercracker. Knowing Takara, it's an inevitability, though we don't know when.

by **bruticus1978** » Tue Jun 24, 2014 7:00 pm

So then it might be better to hold off for a year to get MP-10 and 11?
How much were they when they were first released?

News Credits: 119 · by **megatronus** » Tue Jun 24, 2014 11:24 pm

bruticus1978 wrote:So then it might be better to hold off for a year to get MP-10 and 11?
How much were they when they were first released?

The first run of MP-10 was $250. The second run was $300, but it came with a neat stand.

The first run of MP-11 was $160. The Asia Reissue is $200... they're near identical, but I consider the first run to be of slightly better build, and the Asia Reissue to possess slightly better paint apps.

News Credits: 251 · by **Mindmaster** » Wed Jun 25, 2014 12:33 am

Also worth mentioning on the MP-11 Starscream Asia Reissue, is that it comes with a collector coin. This is the version I just had ordered to me as a graduation gift, and I'm uber anxious to receive the shipping notification. :BOOM:

I'm currently looking into getting the Year of the Horse version of Optimus Prime since it doesn't seem to garner much of a gigantic following like the original has, so it'll be much easier for a poor graduate like me to get it. Only things that really bother me are the translucent trailer and the lack of Roller. Don't particularly care about the absence of Spike. >:oP

by **bruticus1978** » Wed Jun 25, 2014 1:06 pm

Thanks for the prices...I had in my mind for some reason that MP-10 was cheaper than that. So I probably will not wait a year to get him...I've been looking on eBay and finding him for about $350. If the re-issue is priced similarly to the second release, then I'll only be saving $50.
Plus, I really want to get MP-10 very soon.
What got me really interested in the MP line was seeing pictures of Sideswipe rolling out of Prime's trailer...thought it looked so cool...reminded me of when I was a kid. I had Sideswipe and Optimus and I had them travel together like that.

by **bruticus1978** » Wed Jun 25, 2014 1:14 pm

Also worth mentioning on the MP-11 Starscream Asia Reissue, is that it comes with a collector coin. This is the version I just had ordered to me as a graduation gift, and I'm uber anxious to receive the shipping notification. :BOOM:

I'm currently looking into getting the Year of the Horse version of Optimus Prime since it doesn't seem to garner much of a gigantic following like the original has, so it'll be much easier for a poor graduate like me to get it. Only things that really bother me are the translucent trailer and the lack of Roller. Don't particularly care about the absence of Spike. >:oP

I am totally going to get the MP-11 reissue.
Has every MP figure had a collector's coin with it?

I'm in the same boat as you with YotH Prime. I would have gotten him if it wasn't for the translucent trailer and lack of accessories.

News Credits: 372 · by **Cyberpath** » Wed Jun 25, 2014 1:29 pm

The pre-order prices were actually cheaper.

MP-10 - ¥16,580-17,600 ($163-173)

MP-11 - ¥10,210-10,400 ($100-102)

If the rumour about a second production run is true, then you might want to get these straight from Japan.

News Credits: 119 · by **megatronus** » Wed Jun 25, 2014 5:35 pm

Mindmaster wrote:I'm currently looking into getting the Year of the Horse version of Optimus Prime since it doesn't seem to garner much of a gigantic following like the original has, so it'll be much easier for a poor graduate like me to get it. Only things that really bother me are the translucent trailer and the lack of Roller. Don't particularly care about the absence of Spike. >:oP

YOTH Prime is just awesome. He looks so slick in person. Also, if you have the original TRU MP-10, you can swap the parts to make a Takara-looking Prime.

bruticus1978 wrote:Has every MP figure had a collector's coin with it?

Yup - every figure since MP-09 has had a collector coin associated with it.

News Credits: 251 · by **Mindmaster** » Thu Jun 26, 2014 12:47 pm

megatronus wrote:
Mindmaster wrote:I'm currently looking into getting the Year of the Horse version of Optimus Prime since it doesn't seem to garner much of a gigantic following like the original has, so it'll be much easier for a poor graduate like me to get it. Only things that really bother me are the translucent trailer and the lack of Roller. Don't particularly care about the absence of Spike. >:oP

YOTH Prime is just awesome. He looks so slick in person. Also, if you have the original TRU MP-10, you can swap the parts to make a Takara-looking Prime.

Well, part of the reason I'm starting to get a taste for him is because TRU MP-10 was so heavily scalped, that I don't even know if it showed up here or not. :-(

by **bruticus1978** » Thu Jun 26, 2014 4:45 pm

Well, part of the reason I'm starting to get a taste for him is because TRU MP-10 was so heavily scalped, that I don't even know if it showed up here or not.

Yeah, I know what you mean...I never saw him on the shelves at the TRU's in my area at all...same with Soundwave...

by **bruticus1978** » Tue Jul 01, 2014 12:54 pm

So for all of the MP accessories out there, both Has/Tak and 3rd party, what ones have a cartoon reference and which ones do not?
Like Dr. Wu has gatling guns for Prowl. Was that ever in any cartoon? Or was that from the comics? Or just a cool add-on?
With the new throne for Grimlock being released with MP-8X, I was curious as to what source material all these add-ons are coming from.

News Credits: 372 · by **Cyberpath** » Tue Jul 01, 2014 1:42 pm

bruticus1978 wrote:So for all of the MP accessories out there, both Has/Tak and 3rd party, what ones have a cartoon reference and which ones do not?
Like Dr. Wu has gatling guns for Prowl. Was that ever in any cartoon? Or was that from the comics? Or just a cool add-on?
With the new throne for Grimlock being released with MP-8X, I was curious as to what source material all these add-ons are coming from.

All the official accessories of MP-10 through MP-19 come from the cartoon continuity. (With exception of Prowl and Bluestreak's Amazon-exclusive toy-accurate shoulder cannons; the MP-11 pilot; and the cassette cases.)

As for 3P: Dr. Wu made Sideswipe's piledrivers from Dinobot Island, part 2. And has a bunch of Wheeljack's inventions ready for the release of MP-20.

There's also Prime's rocket pack from SXS Toys.

Beyond these I think 3P accessories are either made-up or modeled after stuff from the comics.