The Energon Pub

News Credits: 3 · Mon Nov 23, 2009 6:43 pm

Has anyone got a clue which Transformer will be new for the Masterpiece line? I have read some threads about it being Devastator, but it could be an encore Devastator as well. Or will they complete the Dinobots, after having made Grimlock?

Certainly a Hot Rod / Rodimus would be awesome as well. Not to mention Soundwave as he looks already very cartoonaccurate, so that wouldn't be a lot of work to do B-)

News Credits: 1452 · Mon Nov 23, 2009 7:00 pm

There has been speculation that the next Encore figures will be Devastator and the Dinobots.

When it comes to Masterpiece, the only thing I can see in the future is Hasbro Thundercracker. For a possible new mold, your guess is as good as mine.

News Credits: 7 · Mon Nov 23, 2009 7:30 pm

I think we may see a possible Sunstorm or Acidstorm repaint of the MP seeker mold; maybe a slight remastering for Ramjet/Thrust/Dirge. Also, G2 colors for Grimlock?

For new molds, I'm hoping for a MP Swoop.

Mon Nov 23, 2009 7:35 pm

I don't see any encore dinobots in the future. Remember, hasbro has repeatedly stated that the molds have been lost. As for a Masterpiece, i can see soundwave being a viable option for the Decepticons, and Ironhide for the Autobots, assuming of course they make new molds. Most likely, as stated, it will just be another repaint. My money is on a black Megatron

News Credits: 14 · Mon Nov 23, 2009 8:44 pm

Aluus wrote:I don't see any encore dinobots in the future. Remember, hasbro has repeatedly stated that the molds have been lost. As for a Masterpiece, i can see soundwave being a viable option for the Decepticons, and Ironhide for the Autobots, assuming of course they make new molds. Most likely, as stated, it will just be another repaint. My money is on a black Megatron

Yes, but since Hasbro has nothing to do with the Encore Line the real question is does Takara have dinobot molds it can use?

Or can it reverse engineer some form existing toys and still turn up a profit without them being ridiculously overpriced?

I wouldn't want to have to pay more than $200 bucks for all 5. $40 a pop seems about right. Maybe $50 for Grimlock since he's most popular.

Would people like to see them in a box-set or individually?

As far as Masterpiece molds. I think we'll see a Grimlock recolor first, before anything else. Though Soundblaster may be a good candidate for Masterpiece-ness.

Also a repaint of Megatron is more than overdue in this line.

News Credits: 217 · Tue Nov 24, 2009 1:44 am

MP Tailgate. Do it, Takara.

News Credits: 9 · Tue Nov 24, 2009 4:59 am

Aren't there enough of these threads?

I think the next release will be a repaint. I really want a new Decepticon mold.

News Credits: 3 · Tue Nov 24, 2009 10:55 am

Overcracker wrote:As far as Masterpiece molds. I think we'll see a Grimlock recolor first, before anything else.

You're right...

News Credits: 241 · Tue Nov 24, 2009 11:29 am

Overcracker wrote:
Aluus wrote:I don't see any encore dinobots in the future. Remember, hasbro has repeatedly stated that the molds have been lost. As for a Masterpiece, i can see soundwave being a viable option for the Decepticons, and Ironhide for the Autobots, assuming of course they make new molds. Most likely, as stated, it will just be another repaint. My money is on a black Megatron

Yes, but since Hasbro has nothing to do with the Encore Line the real question is does Takara have dinobot molds it can use?

You're forgetting that Hasbro and Takara share resources and thus molds. If Hasbro says the molds are lost, chances are Takara can do squat. And the Encore Devastator rumor keeps persisting? It's false people, that box shot was fake.

I agree with the next Masterpiece being a repaint, if there is gonna be any. Picking a famous character is getting harder and harder with each new release. If they're gonna make a new mold, I'm hoping it's Star Saber from Victory.

Tue Nov 24, 2009 11:38 am

I could see them doing Soundwave as a new mold. That would give them plenty of options for MP tapes to sell. I know I would buy every one of those. Heck, they could do a black repaint as Soundblaster and a red one as Blaster. Make that money!

News Credits: 5749 · Tue Nov 24, 2009 12:06 pm

If they could retool the MP Seeker mold into a conehead we would obviously get Dirge, Thrust, and Ramjet. That seems the most logical. As far as a brand new MP mold I'm sure they would want something they could get at least one repaint out of. Iron and Rachet come to mind and they didn't appear in teh BT/Alt line. Bumblebee and Cliffjumper come to mind as well, but considering they are making an appearance in the Alternity line that probably diminishes their chances. A MP combiner would be truly epic in my book, but that also seems unlikely.

News Credits: 14 · Tue Nov 24, 2009 12:08 pm

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:
Overcracker wrote:
Aluus wrote:I don't see any encore dinobots in the future. Remember, hasbro has repeatedly stated that the molds have been lost. As for a Masterpiece, i can see soundwave being a viable option for the Decepticons, and Ironhide for the Autobots, assuming of course they make new molds. Most likely, as stated, it will just be another repaint. My money is on a black Megatron

Yes, but since Hasbro has nothing to do with the Encore Line the real question is does Takara have dinobot molds it can use?

You're forgetting that Hasbro and Takara share resources and thus molds. If Hasbro says the molds are lost, chances are Takara can do squat. And the Encore Devastator rumor keeps persisting? It's false people, that box shot was fake.

I agree with the next Masterpiece being a repaint, if there is gonna be any. Picking a famous character is getting harder and harder with each new release. If they're gonna make a new mold, I'm hoping it's Star Saber from Victory.

True, but Hasbro also said Omega Supreme and Sky Lynx were utterly unattainable, yet Takara got the molds and produced the encore versions. Which can still be purchased at very reasonable prices by the way.

So I'll still hold some hope that we may see the Dinobots at some point. Devy would also be cool.

However at this point I'd rather see Blitzwing and the Stunticons first.
Blitzwing at least is a good possibility since there is a mold in existence.

News Credits: 5749 · Tue Nov 24, 2009 12:22 pm

Has/Tak has already stated that reverse engineering a mold is a piece of cake, so loss of the original mold shouldn't be that big of an issue. They have also stated they don't really consider doing reissues of figures that have been KO'd since the KO's are essentially filling the demand for that particular figure. That seems like the more reasonable explaination to me.

News Credits: 3 · Tue Nov 24, 2009 12:40 pm

SJ21 wrote:I could see them doing Soundwave as a new mold. That would give them plenty of options for MP tapes to sell. I know I would buy every one of those. Heck, they could do a black repaint as Soundblaster and a red one as Blaster. Make that money!

My only concern with a(n) MP Soundwave is they may not have much room to jazz it up and it'll just turn into an oversized version of the G1 figure with gimmicks and a little added articulation, even more so than Grimlock. I guess for some people that would be considered perfection, but for $100-150 I want a little more action than folding out the arms and legs and flipping up the head. Maybe they could do more with the cassettes, but even those seem to be limiting in options. But if it happens, maybe I'll be surprised...

News Credits: 241 · Tue Nov 24, 2009 1:18 pm

Overcracker wrote:
JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:
Overcracker wrote:
Aluus wrote:I don't see any encore dinobots in the future. Remember, hasbro has repeatedly stated that the molds have been lost. As for a Masterpiece, i can see soundwave being a viable option for the Decepticons, and Ironhide for the Autobots, assuming of course they make new molds. Most likely, as stated, it will just be another repaint. My money is on a black Megatron

Yes, but since Hasbro has nothing to do with the Encore Line the real question is does Takara have dinobot molds it can use?

You're forgetting that Hasbro and Takara share resources and thus molds. If Hasbro says the molds are lost, chances are Takara can do squat. And the Encore Devastator rumor keeps persisting? It's false people, that box shot was fake.

I agree with the next Masterpiece being a repaint, if there is gonna be any. Picking a famous character is getting harder and harder with each new release. If they're gonna make a new mold, I'm hoping it's Star Saber from Victory.

True, but Hasbro also said Omega Supreme and Sky Lynx were utterly unattainable, yet Takara got the molds and produced the encore versions. Which can still be purchased at very reasonable prices by the way.

Wasn't that before the Takara-Tomy merger? Sky Lynx and Omega Supreme were Tomy's property after all.

News Credits: 609 · Tue Nov 24, 2009 1:52 pm

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:Wasn't that before the Takara-Tomy merger? Sky Lynx and Omega Supreme were Tomy's property after all.

That was it exactly.

News Credits: 1082 · Wed Nov 25, 2009 10:27 am

Masterpiece Transformers news has been on our minds recently. With the new images of the Black Convoy repaint of Masterpiece Prime, and the upcoming release of the Grimlock special edition (comic colors), fans are trying to guess the future of the Masterpiece line.

An interview with the designer of the upcoming Revenge of the Fallen 'Buster Prime', Hirinori Kobayashi, shares some insight into the design process, designers not always being happy with what the company ends up producing, and a possible hint at what the next Masterpiece figure is.

He (referring to Hirinori) was in charge of all Masterpiece products, except for MP-3. He again hints of the new MP next year 2010, which has a significance to Transformers. ("2010" is s Japanese title for G1 season 3.)

You can read the rest of the translated interview at Tformers.com, and come on back over to discuss what you think this clue leads to in the 'hunt for the next masterpiece figure'.

My guess...

Make your own predictions below!

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News Credits: 5749 · Wed Nov 25, 2009 10:44 am

Hope you're wrong. There are so many other figures I would like to see get the MP treatment before Hot Rod/Rodimus Prime.

News Credits: 1082 · Wed Nov 25, 2009 10:51 am

El Duque wrote:Hope you're wrong. There are so many other figures I would like to see get the MP treatment before Hot Rod/Rodimus Prime.

I could be wrong. 2010...leader, takes over as Prime. Possible to make as Hot Rod and transforms into Rodimus...I think it might be kind of sweet.

Lots of other possibilities too.

Wed Nov 25, 2009 10:55 am

Kibble wrote:SJ21 wrote:
I could see them doing Soundwave as a new mold. That would give them plenty of options for MP tapes to sell. I know I would buy every one of those. Heck, they could do a black repaint as Soundblaster and a red one as Blaster. Make that money!
My only concern with a(n) MP Soundwave is they may not have much room to jazz it up and it'll just turn into an oversized version of the G1 figure with gimmicks and a little added articulation, even more so than Grimlock. I guess for some people that would be considered perfection, but for $100-150 I want a little more action than folding out the arms and legs and flipping up the head. Maybe they could do more with the cassettes, but even those seem to be limiting in options. But if it happens, maybe I'll be surprised...

I am sure they could come up with a way to make Soundwave more more intricate to transform. I know the G1 mold doesn't involved much, but neither did Grimlock's. They managed to make Grimlock a great figure. I would like to see a new Decepticon mold before another Autobot comes out.

If they are planning on using Hot Rod / Rodimus Prime, my guess is that they choose Hot Rod. You really can't do R.P. without his Winnebago-trailer-thing. Making that would probably cost them a lot more money. I mean, they didn't origionally include a trailer with MP Prime.

I like Hot Rod's car mode better anyway.

News Credits: 3642 · Wed Nov 25, 2009 11:26 am

El Duque wrote:Has/Tak has already stated that reverse engineering a mold is a piece of cake, so loss of the original mold shouldn't be that big of an issue.

They have more-or-less stated that. Please note that it is extremely expensive to do this which I imagine is more the reason why they haven't started pumping out reissues of old school Transformers left and right yet.

El Duque wrote:They have also stated they don't really consider doing reissues of figures that have been KO'd since the KO's are essentially filling the demand for that particular figure. That seems like the more reasonable explaination to me.

They definitely DID NOT state that. If anything, the KOs would show the exact opposite point ... which is that they should make these figures because there's a demand for them.

FYI - KO figures that were recently reissued: Takara Tomy's Encore Rumble and Frenzy.

Wed Nov 25, 2009 12:04 pm

I'm holding out hope for MP Galvatron as far as new MP molds go.

I expect and demand a US release of Thundercracker. My US MP Starscream and Skywarp look lonely. Plus I want to re-create some AHM scenes with Cracker and Warp.

News Credits: 2 · Wed Nov 25, 2009 12:08 pm

heh...funny hint but I`m gonna guess on that hint that it WON`T be Rodimus Prime but MP-09 Ultra Magnus Perfect Edition WITH his trailer armor. why? well gee, it`ll take the least effort and they can milk the MP-01 mold some more. plus, Prime got HIS trailer in MP-04 so Magnus is overdue for his.

News Credits: 1 · Wed Nov 25, 2009 12:16 pm

Rodimu's trailer is MUCH smaller than Optimus' ... and MPs in general are smaller, so they may very well do him, trailer and all.

Although I'm much more of a Hot Rod fan myself ...

News Credits: 11 · Wed Nov 25, 2009 12:33 pm

I'm hoping for Hot Rod/Rodimus Prime, myself, as he's one of my favorite characters. I can only imagine how awesome an MP version could be. Of course, I'd be just as happy with a Galvatron as well.