Takara Tomy MP-13B Soundblaster to Feature both Red and Purple Chest Windows

El Duque wrote:Thanks to our friends at Autobase Aichi we have some new details on Takara Tomy's upcoming MP-14 Soundblaster with Ratbat from the pages of Hyper Hobby Magazine. So far all the images we've seen of the figure feature the animation accurate purple chest window, but apparently it will be detachable and there will also a toy accurate red version. A nice little touch allowing fans to choose between the two for their displays. MP-14B Soundblaster with Ratbat is set to release in March of next year.

I think you mean MP-13B, not 14B^^

That ratbat sure is sexy.....

The number of black repaints we're getting in the Masterpiece line is epic.

-Black Rodimus
-Black MP-10
-Black/G2 Sideswipe
-Soundblaster

i am waiting for my soundblaster and g2 sideswipe to be teamates to my mp-10b black optmist prime...

megatronus wrote:The number of black repaints we're getting in the Masterpiece line is epic.

-Black Rodimus
-Black MP-10
-Black/G2 Sideswipe
-Soundblaster

MP-1B Convoy Black Version (A.K.A. Daniel Witwicky)
MP-4S Convoy Sleep Mode

WOW, Takara. Nice curve ball. I did not see the toy accurate red chest/door being paired with the show accurate purple in the same package coming. Sold!

Sabrblade wrote:

megatronus wrote:The number of black repaints we're getting in the Masterpiece line is epic.

-Black Rodimus
-Black MP-10
-Black/G2 Sideswipe
-Soundblaster

MP-1B Convoy Black Version (A.K.A. Daniel Witwicky)
MP-4S Convoy Sleep Mode

I tend to not bring pre-MP08 figures into consideration

Am I the only one who doesn't care? It's pretty horrible how Takara is wasting effort on releasing a black version of SW... when they could potentially be using those hours/budget to do a (I don't know) Reflector???? That'd be a nice MP...

So when they say "for those who want to display him as toy accurate versus those who want to display him as cartoon accurate"... is there anyone who actually gives a f*ck about "toy accurate"?!?

Seriously... is there, like, 3 guys out there that prefer "toy accurate"? The entire point of the MP line is for CARTOON ACCURATE. So the whole "toy accurate" thing sounds like a contrived explanation for reselling the same SW... but in chocolate.

Feel free to discuss amongst yourselves!

Metrosuplex wrote:Am I the only one who doesn't care? It's pretty horrible how Takara is wasting effort on releasing a black version of SW... when they could potentially be using those hours/budget to do a (I don't know) Reflector???? That'd be a nice MP...

So when they say "for those who want to display him as toy accurate versus those who want to display him as cartoon accurate"... is there anyone who actually gives a f*ck about "toy accurate"?!?

Seriously... is there, like, 3 guys out there that prefer "toy accurate"? The entire point of the MP line is for CARTOON ACCURATE. So the whole "toy accurate" thing sounds like a contrived explanation for reselling the same SW... but in chocolate.

Feel free to discuss amongst yourselves!

So... what the heck is wrong with you?

I'm asking seriously. If you really don't care, you shouldn't write a post like this. That you did write a post like this indicates that you care a lot. But in the wrong way.

A black Soundwave isn't just about a Soundblaster figure - a legitimate enterprise in its own right for those who DO care about the Japanese Headmasters franchise. Especially since it takes very little effort to recolor an existing figure, and offer such a minor, toy accurate accessory.

Rather, it's about selling a figure that will enable Takara and Hasbro to design and produce additional MP figures. That's essentially what every single MP redeco is about. Be it Red Alert, Tigertrack, MP-10B - you name it. So why don't you just simmer down.

If you truly don't care, just back off.

Those who care about toy-accuracy are those who grew up more on the toys (and possibly the comics, which also went for toy-accuracy) than the cartoons.

Sabrblade wrote:Those who care about toy-accuracy are those who grew up more on the toys (and possibly the comics, which also went for toy-accuracy) than the cartoons.

I'm always impressed by your cool-headed, matter-of-fact posts. I don't always share this virtue.

If Hasbro had offered such an option with Soundwave's visor, I'd have bought that one and saved myself some money rather than buying Takara's version and buying all of Takara's cassettes (and a Hasbro Rumble because they did him in the more show accurate purple instead of the toy accurate blue that Takara chose for him).

xyl360 wrote:If Hasbro had offered such an option with Soundwave's visor, I'd have bought that one and saved myself some money rather than buying Takara's version and buying all of Takara's cassettes (and a Hasbro Rumble because they did him in the more show accurate purple instead of the toy accurate blue that Takara chose for him).

Does the chrome on the Takara cassettes makes them significantly better in your opinion? Does the matte silver on Hasbro's Rumble go well with Takara's Frenzy gold plate/chrome?

megatronus wrote:

xyl360 wrote:If Hasbro had offered such an option with Soundwave's visor, I'd have bought that one and saved myself some money rather than buying Takara's version and buying all of Takara's cassettes (and a Hasbro Rumble because they did him in the more show accurate purple instead of the toy accurate blue that Takara chose for him).

Does the chrome on the Takara cassettes makes them significantly better in your opinion? Does the matte silver on Hasbro's Rumble go well with Takara's Frenzy gold plate/chrome?

The chrome vs silver doesn't make too big of a difference to me, but yeah, I would have preferred it be chrome personally. They look OK standing next to each other to me, but you can definitely tell the difference as mirror gold vs metallic silver (instead of chrome/mirror silver) is pretty distinctive.

Would love it if he came in purple as Soundwave is in Marvel's comic book, I would have bought him at once.

Shogo Hasui posted a new photo of Ratbat & Soundblaster:

Takara Tomy designer Shogo Hasui has taken to his twitter account to give a look at the soon to be released Transformers Masterpiece MP-14B Soundblaster with Ratbat. Online retailers are expecting this set to arrive later this month, for now enjoy the image mirrored below:

Can't wait for Ratbat and his Soundwave repaint accessory!!

They both look really good. Like, really really good.

That Soundblaster is beautiful. Can't wait for Ratbat!

So unlike G1 Soundblaster, who was more than a recolor of G1 Soundwave, MP Soundblaster is just a recolor of MP Soundwave, right?

Joetx wrote:So unlike G1 Soundblaster, who was more than a recolor of G1 Soundwave, MP Soundblaster is just a recolor of MP Soundwave, right?

No, his chest door has been altered to jut out more, like the G1 toy.

Sabrblade wrote:

Joetx wrote:So unlike G1 Soundblaster, who was more than a recolor of G1 Soundwave, MP Soundblaster is just a recolor of MP Soundwave, right?

No, his chest door has been altered to jut out more, like the G1 toy.

I didn't realize that - well played, Takara. That's a really nice touch.

Sabrblade wrote:

Joetx wrote:So unlike G1 Soundblaster, who was more than a recolor of G1 Soundwave, MP Soundblaster is just a recolor of MP Soundwave, right?

No, his chest door has been altered to jut out more, like the G1 toy.

Does that mean he's able to carry 1 more cassette than MP Soundwave?

Joetx wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

Joetx wrote:So unlike G1 Soundblaster, who was more than a recolor of G1 Soundwave, MP Soundblaster is just a recolor of MP Soundwave, right?

No, his chest door has been altered to jut out more, like the G1 toy.

Does that mean he's able to carry 1 more cassette than MP Soundwave?

Probably not. The door's just probably thicker.

Though, between Soundwave and Soundblaster, both them together would be able to fully store all six cassettes at once, with each of them containing three.

Shouldn't the title say MP-13B Soundblaster?

On the extended cassette door: It seems pretty stupid to replicate a corny G1 toy gimmick on a figure thats supposed to be shooting for cartoon accuracy. Im still torn on buying this just to get a classics ratbat. I hope the KO guys do their magic.

Rated X wrote:On the extended cassette door: It seems pretty stupid to replicate a corny G1 toy gimmick on a figure thats supposed to be shooting for cartoon accuracy.

The extended door is cartoon-accurate. It's just difficult to see in The Headmasters cartoon since his torso is mostly black and the change is really subtle.

Here's Soundwave's character model.



And here is Soundblaster's.

I was never a strong fan of the SoundBlaster because the color variance is not that strong compared to Soundwave. Ratbat is the only toy I want.

Freakin sick. If I collected this sorta scale, I would be all over this. Looks so deliciously evil, especially paired with Ratbat.

Eventually there will be a way to get MP Ratbat on his own or part of a later set. I eagerly await that time.

Sabrblade wrote:

Joetx wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

Joetx wrote:So unlike G1 Soundblaster, who was more than a recolor of G1 Soundwave, MP Soundblaster is just a recolor of MP Soundwave, right?

No, his chest door has been altered to jut out more, like the G1 toy.

Does that mean he's able to carry 1 more cassette than MP Soundwave?

Probably not. The door's just probably thicker.

Though, between Soundwave and Soundblaster, both them together would be able to fully store all six cassettes at once, with each of them containing three.

I'm not trying to be a demanding fan, I swear!

What I am doing is trying to see whether I can justify spending the money when I already have the TRU release of MP Soundwave & Co., & all I really want is Ratbat.

They both look super rad!!

They both look super rad!!

Hasui: "The chest expansion panel of MP-13B Sound Blaster is removable. The the inner chest panel is toy-accurate clear red."

Takara Tomy Masterpiece designer Shogo Hasui has tweeted an image demonstrating MP-14B Soundblaster's optional snap on purple chest piece. The figure comes with a base red chest window for toy accuracy, plus the aforementioned purple chest expansion piece for animation accuracy. The set also includes the brand new Masterpiece Ratbat figure. The figure should be out later this month.

Ah ha! So that's how it pulls off the two different colored chests.

And the attachment is reminiscent of both the MP Soundwave version that came with that attachable grid window, as well as being accurate to both the original toy and cartoon model that each had an extended chest window.

Can't believe it never occurred to me before that this is how they'd pull it off. A little disappointed that there's no Decepticon insignia if you go with the red chest... unless there's a sticker

This is one time I'll hope for a KO production. I want Ratbat but I'm not going to spend another $130.00 for one.

I really want Ratbat so I'm just going to slap a symbol on the red door and call it my G2 Soundwave. Sideswipe needs someone to gnash his teeth at!

Mkall wrote:Eventually there will be a way to get MP Ratbat on his own or part of a later set. I eagerly await that time.

Yes, I am waiting for the purge, too.

Hasui posted this comparison photo of MP13B and G1 Ratbat, and added that the former is more cartoon accurate and transforms without extra parts (like MP Laserbeak.)

Takara designer Shogo Hasui keeps trickling visual information about the upcoming Masterpiece repaint figure MP-13B Soundblaster - and it's time to take a proper look at the cassette Ratbat! Check out the image below, a comparison of the original G1 cassette and the one included in the release.

Want that Ratbat soooo baaaad.

Ill never get the logic behind the MP scale. Soundwave doubles in size, but the cassettes stay the same and retain G1 toy scale ? Dumb as hell but it works for me since the cassettes scale perfect with classics. I really want that ratbat without having to buy another useless coffee table figure. KO guys please make it happen...

I 2nd the KO idea please ...not going to buy a repaint mold just for Ratbat . I already have 4 Masterpiece Soundwave (1 open and keeping the other three in box) .


~reluctantyouth~

Rated X wrote:Ill never get the logic behind the MP scale. Soundwave doubles in size, but the cassettes stay the same and retain G1 toy scale ? Dumb as hell but it works for me since the cassettes scale perfect with classics. I really want that ratbat without having to buy another useless coffee table figure. KO guys please make it happen...

really?.. you don't understand the logic behind the MP scale.. what is it that you don't understand?.. is it that they didn't want to make MP soundwaves chest gigantic, but rather keep it relatively in scale to itself?.. or that they wanted MP soundwave to obtain the ability to house the cassettes in his chest.. which, leads me back to my first point..

so.. again, which don't you understand?

not sure how it's "dumb as hell".. but hey, you can continue to believe it.

Rated X wrote:Ill never get the logic behind the MP scale. Soundwave doubles in size, but the cassettes stay the same and retain G1 toy scale ? Dumb as hell but it works for me since the cassettes scale perfect with classics. I really want that ratbat without having to buy another useless coffee table figure. KO guys please make it happen...

Isn't it obvious? It's for backtrack compatibility with the G1 Soundwave and Blaster toys. It's to give them an extra level of playability across both lines to let them each use each other's cassettes.

It's the same reason that the Ravage that came with Universe Hound was likewise scaled to fit inside G1 Soundwave's chest (though, specifically the remolded chest version, which Hasbro did release at TRU during Classics).

Not to mention that the G1 Soundwave chest was proportionately huge compared to the rest of his body. Guy looked liked billboard with limbs and a head. But keeping that chest door size scaled as it was and upscaling the rest of his body brings out a more reasonably proportioned bot, with proportions that not only look more natural but also match up with his cartoon model proportions. Otherwise, had G1 Soundwave been proportionally-correct from the beginning, either his G1 toy would have already been MP-sized (like G1 Blaster's toy was) or his chest door and cassettes would have been teeny-tiny.

I don't know how but there has to be a way to release rat bat without Soundblaster. Then again there might be more cassettes on the way so this might get a summertime us release.

chuckdawg1999 wrote:I don't know how but there has to be a way to release rat bat without Soundblaster. Then again there might be more cassettes on the way so this might get a summertime us release.

I highly doubt there will be a release of Ratbat by himself or in a 2-pack. Wingthing, on the other hand...