The Energon Pub

After drooling over pics of every new MP release since Grimlock and watching them pass by, telling myself they're too expensive, and fooling myself that I can live without them and that the Classics / Generations line was a suitable substitute, I finally caved in and took action. I received MP Red Alert in the mail yesterday and I'm still beside myself. These are the TFs I've dreamed of since I was five years old in 1984 - aesthetically beautiful & dynamic, sophisticated, super articulate, and faithful to the cartoon / comics models. As someone who grew up with G1, obsessed with TFs all throughout elementary school, this feels like the only real TF line to me. Not approximations, reimaginings, interpretations. The real deal.

After selling a bunch of stuff and arranging trades for my art, I've got Takara's MP Rodimus Prime, MP-11 Coronation Starscream, Hasbro's MP-10 Optimus Prime, Hasbro's Thundercracker, Sideswipe, Prowl, Bluestreak, and Smokescreen all on the way. Haven't pulled the trigger on Soundwave yet. Trying to get a hold of the TRU release. As much as I hate hate hate the yellow eyes, the value of getting all the cassettes cannot be beat. If I can't get a hold of him I'll get the Takara rerelease without a doubt. I'm hoping that the rumored rerelease of Grimlock soon becomes a reality, too. eBay prices are astronomical for this guy.

As expensive as these figures are, I've justified it to myself by collecting only MPs now (which shouldn't total more than a couple hundred a year at most now that I can jump on the new releases), and because of the fact that these things only appreciate in value (not that I have any plans on selling these).

As far as Red Alert goes, he's pretty much perfect save for two things. 1) His thighs should be silver just like his forearms for cartoon accuracy (the main goal of MPs in my mind) and 2) My Red Alert's shoulder is ridiculously loose. I don't play with them and don't plan on transforming these guys more than once or twice, but for the price it's disappointing to see this discrepancy in QC. I would've loved if they'd figured out a way for the door panels to hang from his shoulders, but I won't hold that against him. I'd say 8/10 at least.

One final note is the persistance of mistransfomations I've seen online. Fold those doors on his backpack in and flip up the top outer pieces of his calves, people! And when posing, legs akimbo! Having both feet point strait forward looks so stiff and derpy. Same with the hands. Rotate them a little for some dynamic tension! *rant over*

I would have loved to get MP Grimlock when I saw it in TRU a while back. And MP OP keeps looking at me from the shelves here in Norwich. And MP Soundwave...

But.

Still haven't caved in, and a lot of people have recommended Soundwave over OP, and OP over Grimlock, in terms of posing and other stuff. I cannot justify, afford or fit three collectables in my flat, so it'll have to be one.

Do I go for the iconic Optimus Prime? The chrazzimatic Soundwave? Or the fan-favourite Grimlock?

Good to hear that you were able to take the plunge, Dean, and wish you luck in future hunts.

Va'al wrote:I would have loved to get MP Grimlock when I saw it in TRU a while back. And MP OP keeps looking at me from the shelves here in Norwich. And MP Soundwave...

But.

Still haven't caved in, and a lot of people have recommended Soundwave over OP, and OP over Grimlock, in terms of posing and other stuff. I cannot justify, afford or fit three collectables in my flat, so it'll have to be one.

Do I go for the iconic Optimus Prime? The chrazzimatic Soundwave? Or the fan-favourite Grimlock?

Good to hear that you were able to take the plunge, Dean, and wish you luck in future hunts.

Man, I'd say pull the trigger on all of them. I couldn't afford it either so I sold and traded a ton of stuff to make it work. But these figures became top priority in my mind. And if you don't want to keep 'em for whatever reason, you can easily resell them without taking a loss. They seem like the safest investment going.

And - Thanks!

Congrats on taking the plunge, the MP line is definitely worth it

Dean ML wrote:I've got Takara's MP Rodimus Prime

I hope you tracked down version 2 of this mould. V1 is a disappointing piece of crap (I should know, I've got it ), but v2, from what I'm told, fixed most if not all of the issues.

Va'al wrote:Still haven't caved in, and a lot of people have recommended Soundwave over OP, and OP over Grimlock, in terms of posing and other stuff. I cannot justify, afford or fit three collectables in my flat, so it'll have to be one.

Do I go for the iconic Optimus Prime? The chrazzimatic Soundwave? Or the fan-favourite Grimlock?

No one can really suggest one over the others as they are all great, but since (and before I guess) the line was restarted with MP-10, Grimlock's size has been an issue with many. He really is a little small when compared to the others...

Personally I'd say OP or SW are the better choices, but if you get SW will you also want all the cassettes? If so, Hasbro's version is the way to go, but do you know if you can even get it?

Not an easy decision when you have to chose between such great toys.

welcome to a world of pain and hurt, of empty wallets and eating Scooby snacks ..............

Arctorro wrote:Congrats on taking the plunge, the MP line is definitely worth it

Dean ML wrote:I've got Takara's MP Rodimus Prime

I hope you tracked down version 2 of this mould. V1 is a disappointing piece of crap (I should know, I've got it ), but v2, from what I'm told, fixed most if not all of the issues.

How will I know which version I have? Where does it say? I haven't picked him up yet. My buddy's holding him for me in Denver and I won't be out there until September.

Btw, what are the QC issues with V1? I remember hearing about shoulders popping off. What else?

Dean ML wrote:

Arctorro wrote:Congrats on taking the plunge, the MP line is definitely worth it

Dean ML wrote:I've got Takara's MP Rodimus Prime

I hope you tracked down version 2 of this mould. V1 is a disappointing piece of crap (I should know, I've got it ), but v2, from what I'm told, fixed most if not all of the issues.

How will I know which version I have? Where does it say? I haven't picked him up yet. My buddy's holding him for me in Denver and I won't be out there until September.

Btw, what are the QC issues with V1? I remember hearing about shoulders popping off. What else?

I forget if the v2 boxes where marked as such and the shoulders on mine seem to be fine.

If he has any of the following (as mine does) then he is v1;

1) A panel on each leg fell off as I pulled him out of the packaging (they came pre-broken, now thats customer service!).
2) He can't hold his guns.
3) When in Hot Rod alt mode there is a panel hanging down that prevents all wheels from touching the ground.
4) Alt modes don't tab in properly.


There might be other problems that mine doesn't have, but I don't know of them.

I only have one Masterpiece: Thundercracker. I guess I'm sort of sitting on the edge of the pool, dangling my feet in the water. I'm staying the American pool, though. That Japanese pool is much bigger but I can't afford membership.

I'd be swimming around instead of sitting on the edge if TRU wasn't so awful about inventory and distribution.

Arctorro wrote:

Dean ML wrote:

Arctorro wrote:Congrats on taking the plunge, the MP line is definitely worth it

Dean ML wrote:I've got Takara's MP Rodimus Prime

I hope you tracked down version 2 of this mould. V1 is a disappointing piece of crap (I should know, I've got it ), but v2, from what I'm told, fixed most if not all of the issues.

How will I know which version I have? Where does it say? I haven't picked him up yet. My buddy's holding him for me in Denver and I won't be out there until September.

Btw, what are the QC issues with V1? I remember hearing about shoulders popping off. What else?

I forget if the v2 boxes where marked as such and the shoulders on mine seem to be fine.

If he has any of the following (as mine does) then he is v1;

1) A panel on each leg fell off as I pulled him out of the packaging (they came pre-broken, now thats customer service!).
2) He can't hold his guns.
3) When in Hot Rod alt mode there is a panel hanging down that prevents all wheels from touching the ground.
4) Alt modes don't tab in properly.


There might be other problems that mine doesn't have, but I don't know of them.

Thanks for the heads up. I take it these aren't returnable?

Arctorro wrote:Personally I'd say OP or SW are the better choices, but if you get SW will you also want all the cassettes? If so, Hasbro's version is the way to go, but do you know if you can even get it?

Not an easy decision when you have to chose between such great toys.

I will be able to get to Soundwave, according to my TRU staff friends. And they have 20% discount on them. So yes, definitely the Hasbro version. But at the same time, if I'm only getting one, OP feels ..better. As an icon.

Though Soundwave has more to go along with it, and as much as everyone loves having a trailer (apparently), it's just a hollow piece of plastic, with a six-wheeled car and a plastic human. Hmmmmmm.


As for MP Rodimus, I hear the shoulders also break quite easily. Really easily. Stupidly easily.

GuyIncognito wrote:I only have one Masterpiece: Thundercracker. I guess I'm sort of sitting on the edge of the pool, dangling my feet in the water. I'm staying the American pool, though. That Japanese pool is much bigger but I can't afford membership.

I'd be swimming around instead of sitting on the edge if TRU wasn't so awful about inventory and distribution.

I hear you about TRU / Hasbro MP releases, except even if they didn't have availability and distribution issues, it looks like there's little to no chance of any 'bots that require a license from a car manufacturer getting a Hasbro release. I grew tired of missing out on these guys while I continued to spend money on figures that could never make me happy like MPs can. Very expensive, but I justify it because now they're the only TFs I'll be buying. Plus, there are only a few released each year, with all G2, Diaclone, and non-G1 repaints being passes for me. I'm fortunate enough to pick up extra work on a weekend if there's a release beyond my funds.

If Hasbro released the new car MPs in the U.S., I'd probably buy all of them.

Dean ML wrote:Thanks for the heads up. I take it these aren't returnable?

Guess it depends where you buy them from. There was no point me returning v1 at the time, because of international shipping and not knowing v2 was going to follow, so I just sucked it up

Va'al wrote:I will be able to get to Soundwave, according to my TRU staff friends. And they have 20% discount on them. So yes, definitely the Hasbro version. But at the same time, if I'm only getting one, OP feels ..better. As an icon.

Though Soundwave has more to go along with it, and as much as everyone loves having a trailer (apparently), it's just a hollow piece of plastic, with a six-wheeled car and a plastic human. Hmmmmmm.


As for MP Rodimus, I hear the shoulders also break quite easily. Really easily. Stupidly easily.

Side by side there is something more about MP-10 that I can't quite describe if I'm honest, and I don't display him with the trailer and Spike either, they just get in the way.

Just had another look at Rodimus' shoulders and they feel really solid. Might just be this particular one, but not going to risk it and do something stupid, so I'll leave him be

Arctorro wrote:

Va'al wrote:I will be able to get to Soundwave, according to my TRU staff friends. And they have 20% discount on them. So yes, definitely the Hasbro version. But at the same time, if I'm only getting one, OP feels ..better. As an icon.

Side by side there is something more about MP-10 that I can't quite describe if I'm honest, and I don't display him with the trailer and Spike either, they just get in the way.

That is exactly what I mean. Dammit.

I only have 3 MPs at the moment - Hasbro's Optimus and Takara's Soundwave & Ravage and Rumble.

I absolutely adore the first two, but that minion set for Soundwave is really rather uninspiring, in my opinion. Ah well. They look great with Soundwave, but on their own they're kind of lame for the MP category.

That aside, after the debacle with TRU and Optimus last year I wasn't waiting and hoping for Soundwave. I never saw Optimus in my area and only managed to get him because I got lucky with the pre-order. Soundwave's pre-orders were sold out by the time I got up at 7:30am EST this year, so I would have been stuck with scalping prices or the Takara version anyway.

Aside from the MP's being simply amazing, it helps deal with the growing issue of space for me. Lol. I'm buying far fewer figures to be able to get these guys and they're well worth it.

Va'al wrote:

Arctorro wrote:

Va'al wrote:I will be able to get to Soundwave, according to my TRU staff friends. And they have 20% discount on them. So yes, definitely the Hasbro version. But at the same time, if I'm only getting one, OP feels ..better. As an icon.

Side by side there is something more about MP-10 that I can't quite describe if I'm honest, and I don't display him with the trailer and Spike either, they just get in the way.

That is exactly what I mean. Dammit.

Optimus looks more dynamic and alive. Soundwave is stiffer and blockier, much like MP-01. This is mostly from the hips down.

Dean ML wrote:

Va'al wrote:

Arctorro wrote:

Va'al wrote:I will be able to get to Soundwave, according to my TRU staff friends. And they have 20% discount on them. So yes, definitely the Hasbro version. But at the same time, if I'm only getting one, OP feels ..better. As an icon.

Side by side there is something more about MP-10 that I can't quite describe if I'm honest, and I don't display him with the trailer and Spike either, they just get in the way.

That is exactly what I mean. Dammit.

Optimus looks more dynamic and alive. Soundwave is stiffer and blockier, much like MP-01. This is mostly from the hips down.

But then, he does turn into a box.

Va'al wrote:

Dean ML wrote:

Va'al wrote:

Arctorro wrote:

Va'al wrote:I will be able to get to Soundwave, according to my TRU staff friends. And they have 20% discount on them. So yes, definitely the Hasbro version. But at the same time, if I'm only getting one, OP feels ..better. As an icon.

Side by side there is something more about MP-10 that I can't quite describe if I'm honest, and I don't display him with the trailer and Spike either, they just get in the way.

That is exactly what I mean. Dammit.

Optimus looks more dynamic and alive. Soundwave is stiffer and blockier, much like MP-01. This is mostly from the hips down.

But then, he does turn into a box.

damnit you beat me to that. my son keeps trying to get me to transform soundwave, and i wont... i explain he turns into a box... i got him for the robot mode and will never transform him...hooray boxes

VioMeTriX wrote:damnit you beat me to that. my son keeps trying to get me to transform soundwave, and i wont... i explain he turns into a box... i got him for the robot mode and will never transform him...hooray boxes

It's a pretty box.

Va'al wrote:

VioMeTriX wrote:damnit you beat me to that. my son keeps trying to get me to transform soundwave, and i wont... i explain he turns into a box... i got him for the robot mode and will never transform him...hooray boxes

It's a pretty box.

yeah but i can look at pictures of the box and be happy. hes a box

Va'al wrote:

Dean ML wrote:

Va'al wrote:

Arctorro wrote:

Va'al wrote:I will be able to get to Soundwave, according to my TRU staff friends. And they have 20% discount on them. So yes, definitely the Hasbro version. But at the same time, if I'm only getting one, OP feels ..better. As an icon.

Side by side there is something more about MP-10 that I can't quite describe if I'm honest, and I don't display him with the trailer and Spike either, they just get in the way.

That is exactly what I mean. Dammit.

Optimus looks more dynamic and alive. Soundwave is stiffer and blockier, much like MP-01. This is mostly from the hips down.

But then, he does turn into a box.

True! His blockier hips, legs, and feet fit his animation model, too.

Hey man congrats on your first MP. I recall a short while back the possibility of a MP Grimlock re-release on the horizon. I suggest you not let him slip by again. It's clear why he's a fav with most. I sold off my Hasbro Grimlock and with the awesome amount I got for him I put that towards King Grimlock.

I know that King Grimlock is by no means affordable but he's worth every freakin' dime IMHO. I think over all Grimlock is one of the top fav MP's and he looks great in dino mode displayed with deluxe figs and Henkei OP. Good luck on your next MP of choice dude!

Nemesis Destron wrote:Hey man congrats on your first MP. I recall a short while back the possibility of a MP Grimlock re-release on the horizon. I suggest you not let him slip by again. It's clear why he's a fav with most. I sold off my Hasbro Grimlock and with the awesome amount I got for him I put that towards King Grimlock.

I know that King Grimlock is by no means affordable but he's worth every freakin' dime IMHO. I think over all Grimlock is one of the top fav MP's and he looks great in dino mode displayed with deluxe figs and Henkei OP. Good luck on your next MP of choice dude!

Grimlock is definitely a must have for me. Unfortunately, Lunar Toys' site said they were sold out when I checked the other day. I'm crushed! Can't believe I missed that boat. He will be mine, though.

I do consider Grimlock part of MP 2.0. Same with Rodimus Prime. Their dynamic aesthetics match perfectly with MP-10 and all MPs after. Grimlock's scale might be a little off, but it appears he's roughly as tall as Optimus and Rodimus, which I believe is how he was depicted in later episodes. It seems like he was only portrayed as much taller than OP et al in his early appearances.

If you have any leads on good MP Grimlock deals, please PM me!

Just got Hasbro's MP-10 OP, Hasbro's Thundercracker, and Takara's Ravage and Rumble (I grew up on the cartoon, so he's Frenzy in my mind). My mind is blown! This OP is my new favorite TF figure. Ever. I feel like an 8 year old at Christmas again. Been waiting nearly 30 years for these toys!

Should be getting MP Sideswipe and Buzzsaw and Frenzy (Rumble in my mind, of course). Have Coronation Starscream and Takara's Rodimus Prime on the way next week.

Grimlock, Soundwave, and Prowl should be here in September. Never been this pumped about TFs before!

Btw, is the Seeker mold really loose in the torso? Like, it doesn't really lock together? When I raise Thundercracker's arms, his chest pops up and his torso doesn't really connect to his waist? I wasn't really that excited about him, but he looks amazing when posed right!

How did you manage to put aside enough money to get ALL of those?