Potential First Look at Missing Link C-03 Bumblebee and C-04 Cliffjumper

I kinda wish they offered a second version of Bee with his retooled cartoon-based head to go with the cartoon-colored Optimus toy.

And if Cliffjumper needs second version, his could have been Hubcap.

Sabrblade wrote:I kinda wish they offered a second version of Bee with his retooled cartoon-based head to go with the cartoon-colored Optimus toy.

I'm hoping this figure just comes with a second head/face since CJ comes with the bazooka.

Emerje

Glad they're doing this, but I have the equivalents that my favorite 3P Impossible Toys went out of business to produce, so these aren't quite as tempting as they should be.

(I.T. brought it on themselves by not doing every last Quint design in the cartoon)

And while they should do a 2nd 'toon-head Bee, as these are priced better for double-dipping than M.L. Convoy, it's more important to do the toy head, as I've had one argument too many with fans who don't remember Bumblebee's 1st toy having a plate-mouth, and the awesome Takara retool probably muddied the issue when it hit the pegs at WalMart.

Mostly, I hope they repaint them into missing links to all those South American variants. Those I'll buy the bejeezus out of, and send on international missions with all my Funskool Joe homage toys. To take on Roboskull MKII, you need a Supercop, Superhero, Street Hawk, Rednok, Canary Ann, and a great-white-Bumblebee that may or may not be Bug Bite! And blue Snake Eyes to match M.L. Glyph, as she deciphers the lawsuit-dodging names.

Bumblevivisector wrote:Mostly, I hope they repaint them into missing links to all those South American variants. Those I'll buy the bejeezus out of, and send on international missions with all my Funskool Joe homage toys. To take on Roboskull MKII, you need a Supercop, Superhero, Street Hawk, Rednok, Canary Ann, and a great-white-Bumblebee that may or may not be Bug Bite! And blue Snake Eyes to match M.L. Glyph, as she deciphers the lawsuit-dodging names.

Depending on the price I could see them getting a lot of milage out of them. I'd personally love some chromed out G2 repaints, but that might be outside the scope of Missing Link and its G1 mission.

My fingers are crossed that these end up around $25-$30 USD considering how Prime's prices ended up. Doubt I'd buy them from Amazon Japan since the shipping price would probably be $20+, save that and go with Hasbro, I can't imagine their final price would be more than importing.

Emerje

Emerje wrote:

Bumblevivisector wrote:Mostly, I hope they repaint them into missing links to all those South American variants. Those I'll buy the bejeezus out of, and send on international missions with all my Funskool Joe homage toys. To take on Roboskull MKII, you need a Supercop, Superhero, Street Hawk, Rednok, Canary Ann, and a great-white-Bumblebee that may or may not be Bug Bite! And blue Snake Eyes to match M.L. Glyph, as she deciphers the lawsuit-dodging names.

Depending on the price I could see them getting a lot of milage out of them. I'd personally love some chromed out G2 repaints, but that might be outside the scope of Missing Link and its G1 mission.

My fingers are crossed that these end up around $25-$30 USD considering how Prime's prices ended up. Doubt I'd buy them from Amazon Japan since the shipping price would probably be $20+, save that and go with Hasbro, I can't imagine their final price would be more than importing.

Emerje

I have always found getting figures from Amazon Japan to be cheaper than getting them from domestic retailers. You might think the shipping cost is expensive but when you compare to domestic options for the same time frame it's not.

ah dammit.... they look good

I love these guys, Bee here will look great next to my original G1 Bee, I can’t believe they haven’t made these sooner (sorry 3P). All that being said, anyone else sad that we’ll probably never get a G1 Megatron in this line? Not unless he’s ungodly amalgamation of safety colors, which, pass.

chuckdawg1999 wrote:I have always found getting figures from Amazon Japan to be cheaper than getting them from domestic retailers. You might think the shipping cost is expensive but when you compare to domestic options for the same time frame it's not.

Normally I would agree, but that's when dealing with larger $100+ figures. These are going to come in tiny boxes most likely but we wont save anything in shipping since the minimum cost from Amazon Japan is pretty high.



Emerje

Emerje wrote:

chuckdawg1999 wrote:I have always found getting figures from Amazon Japan to be cheaper than getting them from domestic retailers. You might think the shipping cost is expensive but when you compare to domestic options for the same time frame it's not.

Normally I would agree, but that's when dealing with larger $100+ figures. These are going to come in tiny boxes most likely but we wont save anything in shipping since the minimum cost from Amazon Japan is pretty high.

k1078241445.1.jpg

Emerje

AJ fast shipping is three days, compare that to what BBTS charges and the cost is roughly the same.

chuckdawg1999 wrote:

Emerje wrote:

chuckdawg1999 wrote:I have always found getting figures from Amazon Japan to be cheaper than getting them from domestic retailers. You might think the shipping cost is expensive but when you compare to domestic options for the same time frame it's not.

Normally I would agree, but that's when dealing with larger $100+ figures. These are going to come in tiny boxes most likely but we wont save anything in shipping since the minimum cost from Amazon Japan is pretty high.

k1078241445.1.jpg

Emerje

AJ fast shipping is three days, compare that to what BBTS charges and the cost is roughly the same.

I'll point out that pre-ordering from a domestic retailer would cost way cheaper in shipping, yes, but they may ship the thing MONTHS after Amazon Japan.

I preordered the Ghost Starscream and Waspinator set from Age 3 & Up a good while ago and they plan to ship it... in December. Paying around 40$CAN more would allow me to get the thing RIGHT NOW from Amazon Japan.

I'll wait.......................

Let's hope the difference in shipping time won't be as bad for MP Super Ginrai.

Yeah, I'll wait months if it means saving money. I only import when it saves me money, three day shipping is just a perk but not a guarantee (my last order for Riggorus took two weeks, they don't always ship DHL).

Emerje

Emerje wrote:Yeah, I'll wait months if it means saving money. I only import when it saves me money, three day shipping is just a perk but not a guarantee (my last order for Riggorus took two weeks, they don't always ship DHL).

Emerje

Also depends entirely on the figure. I usually go Amazon JP for MPs, but the funny thing is, the recent MPs after shipping were the same cost at BBTS basically, and BBTS has $4 shipping, so hardly a big difference. Also, most of the recent MPs were available at BBTS within 2 weeks of Amazon JP shipping, so the gap has narrowed significantly there.

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:

Emerje wrote:Yeah, I'll wait months if it means saving money. I only import when it saves me money, three day shipping is just a perk but not a guarantee (my last order for Riggorus took two weeks, they don't always ship DHL).

Emerje

Also depends entirely on the figure. I usually go Amazon JP for MPs, but the funny thing is, the recent MPs after shipping were the same cost at BBTS basically, and BBTS has $4 shipping, so hardly a big difference. Also, most of the recent MPs were available at BBTS within 2 weeks of Amazon JP shipping, so the gap has narrowed significantly there.

Indeed, I think Riggorus at Amazon Japan only saved me like $10 over Hasbro Pulse once factoring in tax, and Pulse had it in stock remarkably fast compared to other recent releases. Hasbro used to price figures by taking the Japanese MSRP and just moving the decimal point over, but now they seem to be using real conversion prices so once you factor in the extra Japanese discounts but add back the increased shipping prices the prices are pretty close. We're really only saving anything because the conversion gap continues to widen between pre-order and release.

Emerje

Amazon Japan listings with official images of Missing Link C-03 Bumble and C-04 Cliff.

Sabrblade wrote:Amazon Japan listings with official images of Missing Link C-03 Bumble and C-04 Cliff.

Nice, but almost 60$CAN plus taxes, plus almost 40$CAN of shipping for around 100$CAN EACH is a big fat NOPE.

I'll wait for them to be in store (not as pre-order) at A3&U or something.

Ordered both at the same time but it looks like it'll be two separate shipments. I like how they look but I really, really hope we don't get a Bumblebee with a toon head down the line.

chuckdawg1999 wrote:Ordered both at the same time but it looks like it'll be two separate shipments. I like how they look but I really, really hope we don't get a Bumblebee with a toon head down the line.

At nearly 40$CAN each shipments, that's the dealbreaker for me.

OH, they are so beautiful!

They look great, but I'm definitely waiting to see what Hasbro prices them at. They're $30 on AmiAmi and have cheaper shipping options if you don't mind waiting (or want to bundle with other things to absorb some of the cost like I would). Amazon Japan will probably eventually reduce the price to $30, but that's still a lot for shipping, $18 which isn't going to change, meaning currently they're $55 each, and if they come down to $30 you're still paying $48 each.

Don't disappoint us, Hasbro, you've been doing a great job with import prices lately!

Emerje

I don't know if it's mentioned on Amazo Japan (because I can't go there on my phone without it trying to change the app location and I'm at work right now) but these do include rub symbols and foil stickers (for the Autobot symbol and robot chest design). What's shown in the pics aren't the default.

Emerje

So TFSource has them listed at $50 each, but I'm pretty sure that's just them importing since they have the same release month and we know how Hasbro times their releases initially. That is about $5 less than the current Amazon Japan price, but that price is going to come down and TFSource doesn't include shipping and Tax in their price so they're really only a good option if you're already getting free shipping from other orders.

Hasbro is doing a Transformers Tuesday next week so maybe they'll wait until then to start taking orders if they don't do it this week.

Emerje

I preordered Cliffjumper from BBTS for $40

I ordered both on AmiAmi, they're only $30 each there. Just added them to my November pre-orders since they're confirmed to be coming in small boxes similar to the one I posted earlier and should have much affect on the shipping price.

Emerje

Emerje wrote:I ordered both on AmiAmi, they're only $30 each there. Just added them to my November pre-orders since they're confirmed to be coming in small boxes similar to the one I posted earlier and should have much affect on the shipping price.

Emerje

Please help me out here.

If I order both at once from them, would they be smart enough to put them in the same shipping box, unlike Amazon?

-Kanrabat- wrote:

Emerje wrote:I ordered both on AmiAmi, they're only $30 each there. Just added them to my November pre-orders since they're confirmed to be coming in small boxes similar to the one I posted earlier and should have much affect on the shipping price.

Emerje

Please help me out here.

If I order both at once from them, would they be smart enough to put them in the same shipping box, unlike Amazon?

Yep, they always combine orders for the same month when ordered together, but you can also go into your account and just add orders to monthly shipments manually. I also recently found out that if you place an order for something in stock and you have pre-orders out for the same month you can just add them to the pre-order and they'll ship them when the pre-order comes in.

Emerje

Emerje wrote:

-Kanrabat- wrote:

Emerje wrote:I ordered both on AmiAmi, they're only $30 each there. Just added them to my November pre-orders since they're confirmed to be coming in small boxes similar to the one I posted earlier and should have much affect on the shipping price.

Emerje

Please help me out here.

If I order both at once from them, would they be smart enough to put them in the same shipping box, unlike Amazon?

Yep, they always combine orders for the same month when ordered together, but you can also go into your account and just add orders to monthly shipments manually. I also recently found out that if you place an order for something in stock and you have pre-orders out for the same month you can just add them to the pre-order and they'll ship them when the pre-order comes in.

Emerje

Good.

Now, if only I could pay now, when the yen is so low....

I don't know why, but I keep coming back to Cliff's head and bazooka, and I love both a lot

I have finally got my prime in hand, and he is lovely. I am so glad to finally at long last have such a great toy version of prime, I adore it.

Man, Missing Link Convoy is just a mind blowingly awesome toy. It is just pure TF eye candy. It's like if Optimus was in Toy Story, he'd be able to do this. It's the stuff of childhood imaginations from 30 to 40 years ago.

And yet, here it is in all of its glory -- the toy of our childhood imaginations finally realized in physical toy form! I'm still learning new things about this figure even after I opened it a couple of weeks ago and displayed it proudly in my living room (the only Transformer I have on display at home currently). I just discovered the ab crunch today!

And yet ...

I can't believe they did all of these insane improvements to this toy but his head only swivels left to right. It seems like a huge missed opportunity or a built in way for Takara Tomy to say "hey we improved it even more" in a potential future re-use of the mold.

Love the figure. It's a mind blowing update to a classic toy. Just wish he could look up!

Seibertron wrote:And yet ...

I can't believe they did all of these insane improvements to this toy but his head only swivels left to right. It seems like a huge missed opportunity or a built in way for Takara Tomy to say "hey we improved it even more" in a potential future re-use of the mold.

Love the figure. It's a mind blowing update to a classic toy. Just wish he could look up!

I kinda wish that the trailer-less, cartoon-colored version had instead used the redesigned head that was previously used for the Music Label Convoy toys, while keeping the original head for the toy-colored one with the trailer.


Transformers Music Label Optimus Prime iPod Docking Bay Gallery

Just found this:

Sowndwave76 wrote:Just found this:

I'll believe it when I see it. Whenever leaks come from Takara's side of the brand, they're typically covered in Japanese text, not English.

And how would that even work? That'd be like coloring Optimus blue and trying to pass it off as Soundwave. Or coloring Optimus silver and saying it's Megatron. A mere color change isn't gonna cut it.

Plus, Japan doesn't even use the name "Sentinel Prime" for that U-Haul Robot, since he went unnamed in the original cartoon (and they likely wouldn't even call him that anyway since Optimus Prime and Rodimus Prime are instead named "Convoy" and "Rodimus Convoy" in Japan). The only "Sentinel Primes" recognized by Japan are the one from Animated, the one from Dark of the Moon, the ones from the Marvel, Dreamwave, and IDW comics, and the one from the Generations Selects manga Red Sentinel Prime.

From TakaraTomy's Transformers 40th Anniversary Exhibition website and PR Times:

Missing Link C-01S Sentinel Prime

センチネルプライムはサイバトロン先代総司令官で、トレーラートラックからロボットに変形します。

ビークル本体の黄色のカラーリングは、アニメ「戦え！超ロボット生命体トランスフォーマ―」の第1話でメインコンピューターのテレトラン１がコンボイのためにスキャニングしたトレーラートラックがモチーフとなっています。

コンテナ部分は移動基地に変形し、センチネルプライムと組み合わせて遊ぶことができます。

そのほか豊富な武器やパーツが付属します。

商品名：ミッシングリンク C-01S センチネルプライム

発売日：2024年9月13日(金)

希望小売価格：18,000円(税込)

対象年齢：15歳以上

商品サイズ：約W75×H105×D313mm

著作権表記： © ＴＯＭＹ

Sentinel Prime is the former commander of the Cybertrons, and transforms from a trailer truck into a robot.

The yellow coloring of the vehicle body is based on the trailer truck scanned by the main computer Teletraan I for Convoy in the first episode of the anime "Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers."

The container part transforms into a mobile base and can be played with in combination with Sentinel Prime.

A wide variety of weapons and parts are included.

Product name: Missing Link C-01S Sentinel Prime

Release date: Friday, September 13, 2024

Suggested retail price: 18,000 yen (tax included)

Target age: 15 years old and over

Product size: Approx. W75 x H105 x D313mm

Copyright: © TOMY

This item is being sold exclusively at the Transformers Expo 2024 exhibition event in Tokyo, Japan.

One other thing to note is that while the description says the yellow coloring was based on the truck scanned by Teletraan I in the first episode, the truck only appears yellow in the Japanese DVDs, which used video masters from the LaserDisc release that had washed out colors.



(Sidenote: These washed out masters are why several Takara Galvatron toys have colored him in light pastel purple instead of dark purple.)

In the US DVD releases, the truck appears properly more orange.

That's actually pretty neat looking

Hmmm... for some reason I can't help but think of Costco Exclusive Armada Overload when I see this Sentinel.