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Regarding the cartoon or toy quandary, I think there is a sweet spot where you give each one a nod... and where extra parts (like the grille on Inferno) or alternate heads or faces can deliver for BOTH types of fans... (or those like me who like to switch their display between the two styles.) I hope Takara can lean that direction as much as humanly possible.

Maybe their red and police Sunstreakers can sport some toy accurate heads that can possibly be released on an upcoming more-toy-accurate issue of Sunstreaker. (one with smoke/clear windows instead of blue)

I finally got my MP-39 Sunstreaker last night, and he is absolutely delightful! The extra articulation is welcome, and he looks great in car, super car, and especially (and most importantly) robot mode. This is quite the evolution for the Masterpiece line. I've got high hopes for Jazz, Hound, Trailbreaker, and Hoist now.

As for Sideswipe, I've seen people pining for a new version of him, to "better match" Sunstreaker. What would you really change mold-wise besides adding better articulation, though? Honestly, Sideswipe looks almost perfect in terms of screen accuracy, especially the "Anime Color" edition, despite a few funny proportions like his wide chest, which is a constraint of the transformation and vehicle mode scale. I'd much rather see Takara push forward with the rest of the Season 1 and 2 cast, including more of the minibots, than revisit a character already released by implementing small improvements.

@WolfMan Jake - I wholeheartedly agree that I'd rather Takara forge ahead.

Sideswipe is already excellent. While there have been a few advancements, the thought of making one with the hood all chopped up to try to make it thinner, etc. doesn't appeal to me. Current version is close enough... looks great in both modes (close enough to toy and toon) and is – maybe as important — fun to play with and transform. I hope they don't lose sight of that important note.

The Ark crew is at the top of my list. Stoked for all those you mentioned, and also anxiously awaiting Mirage, the Minibots... not to mention Reflector, Insecticons, and other Dinos. Here's hoping.

Have to say, though, the first wave cars are at the top of my list.

I think Sideswipe is still good.

Incidentally, someone made an interesting looking custom (that retains its ability to transform - with partforming though?), check it out --











More pix.

gothsaurus wrote:The Ark crew is at the top of my list. Stoked for all those you mentioned, and also anxiously awaiting Mirage, the Minibots... not to mention Reflector, Insecticons, and other Dinos. Here's hoping.

I forgot all about poor Mirage. We need him too! Dang, there is still a loooong way to go to fill out even Season 1 roster characters in Masterpiece form.

Damn that custom is awesome! I like Sideswipe and his repaints but I often feel that he is too "easy" for an MP. Like I can basically do the transformation blind folded in 20 seconds. Can't say the same thing about any of the others I own (especially Megatron who is the only MP I actually need the instructions for).

I think that's why I LIKED the earlier masterpieces. They feel like the original toy 'grown up'. Still fun to play with, seem like the same size as the originals did in our little kid hands, etc.

gothsaurus wrote:@WolfMan Jake - I wholeheartedly agree that I'd rather Takara forge ahead.

Sideswipe is already excellent. While there have been a few advancements, the thought of making one with the hood all chopped up to try to make it thinner, etc. doesn't appeal to me. Current version is close enough... looks great in both modes (close enough to toy and toon) and is – maybe as important — fun to play with and transform. I hope they don't lose sight of that important note.

The Ark crew is at the top of my list. Stoked for all those you mentioned, and also anxiously awaiting Mirage, the Minibots... not to mention Reflector, Insecticons, and other Dinos. Here's hoping.

Have to say, though, the first wave cars are at the top of my list.

I'd really like a Cliffjumper or Windcharger; just to know we have the Porsche and Pontiact liscense.

I'm fine with Sideswipes body, but his toy-style head clashes too much with Sunstreaker's cartoon-style head for me. I feel like they really missed an opportunity to sculpt a new head when they did the cartoon repaint.

Emerje

Wolfman Jake wrote:I finally got my MP-39 Sunstreaker last night, and he is absolutely delightful! The extra articulation is welcome, and he looks great in car, super car, and especially (and most importantly) robot mode. This is quite the evolution for the Masterpiece line. I've got high hopes for Jazz, Hound, Trailbreaker, and Hoist now.

As for Sideswipe, I've seen people pining for a new version of him, to "better match" Sunstreaker. What would you really change mold-wise besides adding better articulation, though? Honestly, Sideswipe looks almost perfect in terms of screen accuracy, especially the "Anime Color" edition, despite a few funny proportions like his wide chest, which is a constraint of the transformation and vehicle mode scale. I'd much rather see Takara push forward with the rest of the Season 1 and 2 cast, including more of the minibots, than revisit a character already released by implementing small improvements.

I guess I didn't look at it from that point. I'm only missing 2 characters from season 1 (aside from the Dinobots which are too expensive for me right now), and they are both coming out this year.

just missing two... so I guess you are skipping/not interested in a few of the remaining Ark crew?

Anyone have confirmation on the G1 masterpiece releases this year?

Not from me, but i suspect we'll be seeing Blaster.

gothsaurus wrote:just missing two... so I guess you are skipping/not interested in a few of the remaining Ark crew?

Anyone have confirmation on the G1 masterpiece releases this year?

no, I mean I'm only missing 2 original Ark crew members. Cliffjumper, and windcharger, and they are both getting made this year.

There are actually already offerings of them out there, but I personally don't care for them.

Ironhidensh wrote:

gothsaurus wrote:just missing two... so I guess you are skipping/not interested in a few of the remaining Ark crew?

Anyone have confirmation on the G1 masterpiece releases this year?

no, I mean I'm only missing 2 original Ark crew members. Cliffjumper, and windcharger, and they are both getting made this year.

There are actually already offerings of them out there, but I personally don't care for them.

Are you referring to 3rd party figures?

Wolfman Jake wrote:

Ironhidensh wrote:

gothsaurus wrote:just missing two... so I guess you are skipping/not interested in a few of the remaining Ark crew?

Anyone have confirmation on the G1 masterpiece releases this year?

no, I mean I'm only missing 2 original Ark crew members. Cliffjumper, and windcharger, and they are both getting made this year.

There are actually already offerings of them out there, but I personally don't care for them.

Are you referring to 3rd party figures?

I am certain he is, he collects those too.

Good point. With one cassette mold already revealed, Blaster has to be coming soon. Bet it will be pricy, though. He's considerably larger than Soundwave in alt mode.

By my count, these are the missing Season 1 bots:
Hound, Jazz, Mirage, Trailbreaker + Hauler
Brawn, Cliffjumper, Gears, Huffer, Windcharger
Slag, Sludge, Snarl, Swoop
Jetfire
Reflector, Devastator
Kickback, Bombshell, Shrapnel

Season 2 missing (omitting Combiners):
Skids, Hoist
Warpath, Seaspray, Powerglide, Beachcomber, Cosmos, Outback, Pipes, Swerve, Tailgate, Hubcap
Omega Supreme


I think they have mentioned Trailbreaker, Hoist, Jetfire and Hound being in the works (?) I hope they get around to the Diaclone cars at least. I could see them doing the minibots who have easy retools. But guessing the others are further down their list, having less repaint/retool value.

And though they are season 3, I do hope they skip ahead and throw in Overkill and Slugfest for the cassette collectors out there. I know I'm one.

I think a Grimlock would be needed too, since the original is out of scale compared to the rest of the MP's, not to mention a bit dated in design.

I totally agree with that. Grimlock was way too small.

gothsaurus wrote:Good point. With one cassette mold already revealed, Blaster has to be coming soon. Bet it will be pricy, though. He's considerably larger than Soundwave in alt mode.

By my count, these are the missing Season 1 bots:
Hound, Jazz, Mirage, Trailbreaker + Hauler
Brawn, Cliffjumper, Gears, Huffer, Windcharger
Slag, Sludge, Snarl, Swoop
Jetfire
Reflector, Devastator
Kickback, Bombshell, Shrapnel

Season 2 missing (omitting Combiners):
Skids, Hoist
Warpath, Seaspray, Powerglide, Beachcomber, Cosmos, Outback, Pipes, Swerve, Tailgate, Hubcap
Omega Supreme


I think they have mentioned Trailbreaker, Hoist, Jetfire and Hound being in the works (?) I hope they get around to the Diaclone cars at least. I could see them doing the minibots who have easy retools. But guessing the others are further down their list, having less repaint/retool value.

And though they are season 3, I do hope they skip ahead and throw in Overkill and Slugfest for the cassette collectors out there. I know I'm one.

Outback, Pipes, Swerve, Tailgate, and Hubcap are all Season 3 characters. They debuted in the "Five Faces of Darkness" miniseries that follows after "The Transformers: The Movie."

I can see Road/Load Hauler being done eventually as padding and a good reuse of the Grapple mold. Takara doesn't shy away from repaints with Masterpiece and has given us a considerable number of eHobby/Encore exclusive additions to G1 and Diaclone homages with the likes of Tigertrack, Clampdown, Road Rage, Delta Magnus, "Blue" Bluestreak, Silverstreak, Exhaust, Nemesis Prime/Black Convoy, Loudpedal, Stripes, Nighstalker, Enemy, Wingthing, Sunstorm and Acid Storm.

I'm sure Overkill and Slugfest are good possibilities. Takara has already strayed into Season 3 territory with the likes of Ultra Magnus and Hot Rod, so that's not off the table.

gothsaurus wrote:I think they have mentioned Trailbreaker, Hoist, Jetfire and Hound being in the works (?)

Not sure about Jetfire, I never heard that. And I realize now that is one toy I am not excited about for toon accuracy in alt mode.

william-james88 wrote:

gothsaurus wrote:I think they have mentioned Trailbreaker, Hoist, Jetfire and Hound being in the works (?)

Not sure about Jetfire, I never heard that. And I realize now that is one toy I am not excited about for toon accuracy in alt mode.

The Jetfire rumor is a fairly old one. It popped up around the time those 3rd party ones were coming out.

A hypothetical Masterpiece Sky/Jetfire brings up an interesting question. Just how far is Takara willing to go with cartoon scale accuracy when it comes to the bigger characters? Will they even dare to do any of the combiner teams/gestalts? How much would such figures cost!?

Wolfman Jake wrote:A hypothetical Masterpiece Sky/Jetfire brings up an interesting question. Just how far is Takara willing to go with cartoon scale accuracy when it comes to the bigger characters? Will they even dare to do any of the combiner teams/gestalts? How much would such figures cost!?

Now I don't know for sure but I'm pretty certain that Takara themselves said that they're weren't going any bigger than Star Saber

steals_your_goats wrote:

Wolfman Jake wrote:A hypothetical Masterpiece Sky/Jetfire brings up an interesting question. Just how far is Takara willing to go with cartoon scale accuracy when it comes to the bigger characters? Will they even dare to do any of the combiner teams/gestalts? How much would such figures cost!?

Now I don't know for sure but I'm pretty certain that Takara themselves said that they're weren't going any bigger than Star Saber

I remember something along those lines and it was further reinforced when they confirmed that there were no MP Combiners planned or even on the roadmap.

william-james88 wrote:

steals_your_goats wrote:

Wolfman Jake wrote:A hypothetical Masterpiece Sky/Jetfire brings up an interesting question. Just how far is Takara willing to go with cartoon scale accuracy when it comes to the bigger characters? Will they even dare to do any of the combiner teams/gestalts? How much would such figures cost!?

Now I don't know for sure but I'm pretty certain that Takara themselves said that they're weren't going any bigger than Star Saber

I remember something along those lines and it was further reinforced when they confirmed that there were no MP Combiners planned or even on the roadmap.

I know they said they weren't doing MP combiners but I don't think the height limit would apply to them. I think the height limit only applies to individual bots so combiners would be safe. Though isn't Star Saber supposed to be the height of a combiner? So wouldn't that mess up everything if they eventually wanted to do MP combiners?