Masterpiece G MPG-05 Seizan gets Fully Revealed

He looks neat! I wonder how the backpack affects his balance.

Day 1108 of waiting for Transformers Armada Masterpiece news.

I've always had a soft spot for Trainbots. I'd really wish they use the second Diaclone colour scheme for a second run of the molds.

The main reason why I'm getting these MP is because I don't see a standard Generations version happening any time soon unfortunately.

Sabrblade wrote:Yeah, one of the main reasons that this set is even happening at all as Masterpieces instead of as normal figures is because of the MP budget allowing for Takara to try appealing to the Japanese model train demographic, with each of these being not only super realistic in vehicle mode but also being scaled to a real-world model train scale.

The only problem is that although they are on the same scale, they aren't on the same gauge track. MPG-02 Getsuei rides on narrower tracks than MPG-01 Shouki. Not being a train model aficionado myself, I'm not sure if that's because they are two different types of trains and that's just the way they are, or it that was a concession of engineering the internal robot. Either way, I think it would have been a nice feature to be able to link them together as a single train so that they could ride the same track, but that's by no means a deal breaker.

Anyhoo, the last 4 of these bad boys are the only things on my must-have list. The fact I'm going to be waiting until next Christmas for the last one is killing me.

Brokebot wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:Yeah, one of the main reasons that this set is even happening at all as Masterpieces instead of as normal figures is because of the MP budget allowing for Takara to try appealing to the Japanese model train demographic, with each of these being not only super realistic in vehicle mode but also being scaled to a real-world model train scale.

The only problem is that although they are on the same scale, they aren't on the same gauge track. MPG-02 Getsuei rides on narrower tracks than MPG-01 Shouki. Not being a train model aficionado myself, I'm not sure if that's because they are two different types of trains and that's just the way they are, or it that was a concession of engineering the internal robot. Either way, I think it would have been a nice feature to be able to link them together as a single train so that they could ride the same track, but that's by no means a deal breaker.

Anyhoo, the last 4 of these bad boys are the only things on my must-have list. The fact I'm going to be waiting until next Christmas for the last one is killing me.

If I understand correctly, real trains in Japan have 2 different track widths and this is relfected in the individual trains having the appropriate width at that scale for the tracks the were used on. Takara is being super accurate to the train modes.

Unfortunately that prevents you from being able to line all six up front to back and roll them on the same set of tracks. Still works fine on a floor or tabletop though, so I'm not too bummed by it.

Seizan looks pretty nice! I love the sword pose, kinda neat how they are spreading out all of the accessories over the releases. I think Suiken still looks better than Seizan, but the arms both look to be strong individuals.

As for the conversation related to the combined mode, I think it is clear that they were focusing on the train modes as the primary modes here, with the robot modes built in 2nd and combined mode last, and like Sabrblade said, it makes sense that a character like this might need an avenue where they can focus on another aspect (i.e. the train community) of the characters to help them actually sell. I for one am OK with it, especially since I very much dislike the 3P Raiden.

Also, speaking of combined mode, the image below started circulating. Not sure where it came from, but it shows a black and white sketch of Kaen in there too.

Sabrblade wrote:The type of engine that Getsuei turns into is a narrow gauge engine, making him the odd one out.

The Shinkansen duo Shouki and Yukikaze are standard gauge; the other four are all 3'6" narrow gauge. The latter was used in the British Empire, and areas they had a hand in.

Sabrblade wrote:Raiden's arms look a little short.

Pretty sure they're bent at the elbows and the panel that frees the articulation is hiding his upper arms.

Incidentally, Wonder Festival 2023 [Winter] is a few weeks away, we might get our first look at Kaen as a gray model there and the mostly complete Raiden.

Emerje

Immortal Starscream wrote:besides the fact that they were still trying to figure it out AFTER the first 2 were released, the design itself seems off.

So they designers didn't start with Raiden being the end goal?!

o.supreme wrote:

RotorstormNZ wrote:

Immortal Starscream wrote:besides the fact that they were still trying to figure it out AFTER the first 2 were released, the design itself seems off.

So they designers didn't start with Raiden being the end goal?!

Raiden has always been part of the design. It's just that making the individual train modes for model train enthusiasts in Japan seems to have been the priority (again this is all fan conjecture, nothing has been stated anyone at TT as far as I am aware).

I'm sure however when it is all said and done it will be quite the accomplishment.

Also keep in mind that whatever is drawn on paper or modeled in CAD may not always work out the way they're supposed to in real life, so tweaks are made "on the go".