The gap by the door on the Leader is a result of the remolding that was done for the DotM version. I noticed it with the Jetwing release, and it has been present on ALL of my DotM versions of the mold. The ab pieces do not lock in the same without the firewall section that the original RotF mold has. So not mold degradation, but result of the remolded bot mode.

I understand that you're extremely disappointed in this figure and have grown to love the Leader mold, but be careful to not become the next Norm West. When you are only criticizing a figure for what it's not instead of what it is, you quit adding to the conversation and start into trolling territory. I have enjoyed your input on this board up until you got your Takara version. Since then you have been only challenging those that enjoy the figure.

I personally love my two Hasbro MPM Optimus Primes!
I also love my many Leader Class Primes!
There is something for everyone! If this figure isn't for you, perhaps it is time to move on.
Just my  

 

Got mine today. After some screwing around I think I was able to get it tabbed in pretty well. Hood is flush as are the doors. No mods. Guess I got a good one. Looks good enough to me.

 

Jesus. I only now figured out what that emote means.

 

Personally i like the leader, it could function or transform in less of 5 minutes or so, but, his transformation isn't fun, some sections are too simplified for the sake of the vehicle mode, yes, i've said, his transformation is so simplified, resulting in a robot with a great amount of kibble, much less articulation, and strange proportions in some bits.
But, what's wrong with the simplified transformation?, first of all, the scheme is nothing accurate to the cgi model, and second, it's clever, NOT COMPLEX, i could be blaming the crappy instructions of those years, but that's not an excuse to say his transfirmation is complex, it's actually easy to do, HARDLY to have fun with it, but the transformation also feels is so shellform-ish.

I could say, even if they're different toys in quality and paint built, the ROTF leader is the equivalent to this guy.


Not so fun, faux parts, shellforming bits, massive backpack, not so poseable, but his vehivle mode "works".

 

I made the mistake of posing this guy in the display case...every time I go to mess with him I just can't bring myself to take him out...such an epic figure...

 

That's a pretty interesting display case, got any more pics of your setup?

 

Here's the "MP section" still got to get some lighting and some desert scenery (and metroplex) for the bottom shelf.



Edit: thrust is on the desk being worked on.

 

Mine just left Tokyo..

 

I only see one third party figure, this display needs more third party.  

 

There's actually 5 and a KO. Ironfactory shockwave, blitzwing, and Sixshot (at the bottom on top of trypticon), X-transbots beachcomber, KFC autoscout, and KO ratbat.

But honestly when it comes to g1 MP I've been trying to quit, there's just too much of it out there!!!

 

Can you blame the guy? UT Peru Kill and ST Firage hasn't dropped yet!

What's that...oh, I'm veering off topic. Back to MPM discussion

 

Yes, I sold mine to eltonlin

 

It's currently in a lot of pieces right now ehehehe, but I love the thing, and have no regret with my purchase

I hope you'll come back aboard someday should a revamped MPM-4 head out

 

Dropping almost $200 NZD for this is admittedly making me cringe somewhat, which is also a stark reminder why I don't tend to collect MP stuff very often, if at all.

But hey, he's something I'm looking forward to far more than any other package I've got coming in the mail.

Also, question: Does anyone here prefer displaying him without the battle mask? To me, it feels like this version of Prime is far more iconic without it despite it being a part of his character for the last almost 33 years. Him and Animated Prime feel far more characteristic without it.

 

oooh ooh me me!

Like seriously, him without his battle mask is supposed to be is relaxed mode, but I think of it more as his grim face. I think him without his battle mask betrays his true emotions. It's the visage of a guy whose world was scarred by war, and all those eons of conflict are finally getting to his sanity and he just wants it to end once and for all, at whatever cost

 

I agree. I love the swappable face, actually! I am not sure if I ever even had a movie prime without the mask... jetwing had it, the Hasbro evasion Prime did. Deluxe Walmart DOTM Prime did... yeah, I think this is my first. But I love his face.

 

So I've got a Takara one sitting in my purchases at Anime-Export. I pre-ordered it on the hopes that it would be fixed. I hate the grey. Can't find a Hasbro one around me to save my life. It's already been paid for and AE takes a 20% cut to cancel an order.

Should I ship it or cancel, take the hit, and hold out for a fixed Habsro release?

 

Cancel, if you hate the grey.

 

Buy because he's fragging amazing in hand, and not that bad to transform (especially with mods).

 

Edit to correct numbers:

I received my TT MPM-04 today from AE. I haven't had much time to handle it and get to know its ins and outs since I had to wait until I finished work before taking the toy out of the box.

My initial impressions are as follows:

• The grey plastic isn't bad at all in person. In fact, it transitions well enough from the metallic parts of the toy under the lighting I have in my home, to my eyes. I'd like to see the Hasbro version in person so I can determine how I perceive the darker plastic under direct observation.
• I would still rather a silver plastic, however, over the grey plastic used by TT.
• The transformation sequence, while involved, is noticeably smoother than RotF Leader Optimus Prime's transformation.
• The scorching/powder burn effect on the gun has a transition from the black paint to the grey plastic. It isn't abrupt as it appears to be in the photos of the TT MPM-04 I've seen in this thread.
• The tabs that are supposed to lock in the arms to the torso are both fairly loose on my MPM-04.
• The alt mode panels aren't flush but I've only transformed the toy from bot mode to alt mode once. I think I can make the panels fit better with better understanding of the transformation sequence after transforming the toy a few more times and taking a more detailed observation of all the parts and their placement during transformation. All of the panels that didn't align perfectly were just slightly askew and only one of the exhaust pipes is slightly off alignment.
• The bot mode proportions are very nice. The best on any transforming movie Optimus Prime toy to my eyes.

Overall, I have no regrets on this purchase. As I neared the time of its arrival, I was very apprehensive about MPM-04. I'm glad to say that it does surpass my expectations, though they weren't very high to be honest. I'll be watching with cautious optimism for MPM-05. I'm also curious about how I'll feel about MPM-04 over the course of the next month or so as I become more acquainted with it. I wonder what details of the design and engineering I'll pick up on as I spend more time with it.