The Energon Pub

[william-james88]

While we had an inkling that this toy was in the works, we were not expecting an image today. Below you will get your first look at the upcoming Masterpiece Jetfire (Skyfire seems to be the official name of this Japanese release though). This is a tiny image, we will get more info on June 3rd, as it says in the photo.
We found this photo on the Planet Iacon Facebook page.

[muswp1]

I wonder how much that borrows from Siege Jetfire or if it's a brand new mold

[william-james88]

I wonder how much that borrows from Siege Jetfire or if it's a brand new mold

Brand new mold, 100%. It's even written on the picture.

[william-james88]

It's cool how they are doing a mass shifting thing by having a tiny optimus for the alt mode.

[Immortal Starscream]

I was kinda hoping for a new mp beast wars reveal. But I can honestly say, I didn't think this one was on the horizon.

[william-james88]

I was kinda hoping for a new mp beast wars reveal. But I can honestly say, I didn't think this one was on the horizon.

We newsed it would be coming a year ago

https://www.seibertron.com/transformers ... led/45918/

[AutobotAlvaron]

Looks interesting, but I'm very happy with my Commander Class Skyfire, and I don't want to pay $300-400 for this.

[primalxconvoy]

[sol magnus]

I won't be getting it, but I want it.

[BumbleDouche]

This may be considered blasphemy to some, but I think I prefer FansToys Phoenix. There'll have to be some significant flashing lights and spinning wheels, so to speak, before I consider shelling out for this thing.

[ZeldaTheSwordsman]

Well, does Phoenix have that nice stand?

I find myself very amused by this thing, and wondering where the crap Mirage is already.

[Emerje]

I'm curious just how compressed the jet mode is. He comes with the same stand as Beast Megatron but doesn't seem to dwarf it the same way he does.




Emerje

[BumbleDouche]

Well, does Phoenix have that nice stand?

I find myself very amused by this thing, and wondering where the crap Mirage is already.

Phoenix does come with a stand, a very sturdy clear stand, very similar (if not the same as) the one that comes with FansToys Soar.

[blackeyedprime]

I'm probably going to be out due to pricing but it would be nice to get one, especially if it doesn't have sieges ugly style elbows.

[AllNewSuperRobot]

Looks interesting. Supposed to be the full on reveal/preorder tomorrow. So we'll see where we stand price-wise. It is nice to see we are finally starting to get new characters in the Masterpiece line again.

In the meantime, I personally just await the next MP Beast Wars reveal.

[TulioDude]

Neat.

I wonder how it will differ from the War for Cybertron one. And if he is tall, that will open a nice precedent for Masterpieces that need to be big, like Armada Jetfire and Movie Jetfire.

Day 884 of waiting for Transformers Armada Masterpiece news.

[GreenLantern of Cybertron]

A MP Skyfire sounds amazing.

But would this end up costing $600+ or something?
MPs are so expensive now. But I haven bought one in a while.

[primalxconvoy]

A MP Skyfire sounds amazing.

But would this end up costing $600+ or something?
MPs are so expensive now. But I haven bought one in a while.

That's what many of us are worried about it at least expecting...

I feel this is almost the opposite of MP Star Saber, where Hasbro (with help from Takara), ended up "upstaging" it with a cheaper and arguably "better" CHUG version...

[optimeow]

I hate to admit it but the pricing of MPs now have made me a supporter of KOs of the designs I really like.
I just can’t afford to pay so much for 1 toy.

[primalxconvoy]

I hate to admit it but the pricing of MPs now have made me a supporter of KOs of the designs I really like.
I just can’t afford to pay so much for 1 toy.

That and the almost MP-quality of (severall all?) the Siege/Legacy/Studio Series figures

[Overcracker]

Interesting. Probably too expensive for my wallet sadly unless I win the lottery or something.

Kicking myself now for never picking up Siege JF when I had the chance and the money for it.

[AllNewSuperRobot]

Hindsight being what it is but, if so many people hadn't literally thrown money at the blatantly overpriced MP-44. HasTak might have given pause to the price hikes of the MP line.

[sol magnus]

Hindsight being what it is but, if so many people hadn't literally thrown money at the blatantly overpriced MP-44. HasTak might have given pause to the price hikes of the MP line.

The price hikes started way before MP-44. And I was quite happy with what I got for that money.

[primalxconvoy]

Hindsight being what it is but, if so many people hadn't literally thrown money at the blatantly overpriced MP-44. HasTak might have given pause to the price hikes of the MP line.

"So many people"? Almost everyone I know in my (real-life) TF-collecting circle of chums didn't bother getting it, due to the price, QC issues, aesthetic choice (compared the VERY popular MP10), etc.

The price hikes, amongst other things, were due to a shrinking market. Takara shed most surplus fans (interested in the previous aesthetic for MPs) and concentrated upon a smaller, but consistent "hardcore G1/toon aesthetic" demographic of older Japanese collectors. I think this moved into alignment with them then largely abandoning spending more money on extensive repaints of CHUG figures (to share such costs with Hasbro) and concentrating their "hardcore domestic collectors' line" more MPs, similar to how Bandai does with their (IMO, absurdly overpriced) collectors' figures (Gundam metal builds, Macross, etc).

[AllNewSuperRobot]

Hindsight being what it is but, if so many people hadn't literally thrown money at the blatantly overpriced MP-44. HasTak might have given pause to the price hikes of the MP line.

"So many people"? Almost everyone I know in my (real-life) TF-collecting circle of chums didn't bother getting it, due to the price, QC issues, aesthetic choice (compared the VERY popular MP10), etc.

If that circle refers to people in the range of four or five figures. That makes it an effective metric, for a collector line. I do a lot of sourcing figures. MP-44 was one of a small handful of MP's consistently sold out across multiple outlets. By the same token, the few available on the secondary market have an insane mark-up. Yet, they too also sell. Indicative of demand. Subsequently, since the first month or two after MP-44 was released. I see a lot of used MP-10's appear on the secondary market.

The price hikes, amongst other things, were due to a shrinking market. Takara shed most surplus fans (interested in the previous aesthetic for MPs) and concentrated upon a smaller, but consistent "hardcore G1/toon aesthetic" demographic of older Japanese collectors. I think this moved into alignment with them then largely abandoning spending more money on extensive repaints of CHUG figures (to share such costs with Hasbro) and concentrating their "hardcore domestic collectors' line" more MPs, similar to how Bandai does with their (IMO, absurdly overpriced) collectors' figures (Gundam metal builds, Macross, etc).

The distinction being, prices always rise. That is the nature of retail. But there were certain milestones wherein the price leapt to a far higher level than it's contemporaries. From the Beast Wars line, Blackarachnia is the prime example. Yes, Megs and Dinobot are very expensive. But unlike BA, they aren't more expensive than figures bigger and better made than them (within the line). That hike, which they tried to justify with the inclusion of a stand.

An opportunity presented itself. Both Takara and Hasbro seized upon it and MP-44 was sold for the price he was. Conversely, MP-49 was released with what was probably a more honest mark-up (and better knees, apparently). Those that buy into the idea the trailer covered the price difference between them...