The biggest change would have to be finding a way to fill in Tigatron's beast mode belly.

Tigatron would need a lot of new parts, but the core engineering would remain exactly the same with certain parts (legs) just being scaled up copies.

 

The beast legs? I’d say it’s more than just a scale up, they’re bulkier and more built.

 

Robot legs. They're the same model.

 

Oh yes, definitely. Those are just scaled up for sure.

 

That and maybe the waist plate are the only things that are straight up upscaled as far as I can tell, the bot arms are slightly different, beast legs on the back are different, beast head on chest is different, bot head is different, panels that rise above bot head are slightly different

 

I fall asleep reading shit from these all.the time!   No worries bro as long as its not a dig. I wouldn't mind something from G1 like a toon Optimus Prime Masterpiece that doesn't feel flimsy.   Or how about JAZZ oh mighty Takara! Do you hear us?  

 

All of this discussion about the beast mode accuracy of a panther that’s actually just a black version of a cheetah that was based on a stylized low-polygon 1990s CG model of a cartoon cheetah is really… um…

 

 

Amen to the flimsy Prime. I don't care so much about the toon colors, but the joint tolerances? I paid a pretty steep price for MP10, and I can hold it by the leg and it just flops all over the place. Chest won't close. But lo and behold, I buy a KO MP-10B (which also comes with a trailer that the original and reissue failed to include) and it's a fraction of the price, and the joints are tighter than Ebenezer Scrooge's asshole, the chest closes perfectly, and it's objectively better than my other 2 official MP-10s in every way. What I'm saying is, not only is it damn frustrating waiting on Takara/Hasbro to finally shit out the next character in what appears to be a schedule designed to keep the line from being finished until the 50th anniversary of my death, but when we DO get them, they're sloppily made and full of issues that KO makers will fix.

And yes on the Jazz. Except that I kind of already have one and may not even buy the official when it comes out.

 

There really is no denying that Tigatron shares the same transformation scheme and could share some parts with Cheetor however that is where the similarity ends. He's not just "Bigger and with a different head (in both modes)." there is a lot more to it. The biggest difference is he transforms into a totally different big cat with quite different proportions, not to mention the size and shape differences in robot mode too. Tigers are MUCH more bulkier than Cheetahs, a simple retool and upsizing of the Cheetor mould with new heads would not work as Cheetor's alt-mode is very slender, if they were to do this a lot of fans would be put off buying it. Heck not bulking up Shadow Panther's alt mode has already irritated some fans and he is not a well loved show character.

Sure there is no precedent within the line for upscaling moulds but that does not preclude it happening. TakaraTomy regularly surprise us with the MP line and have time and time again proved they will go above and beyond to achieve show accuracy. To achieve show accuracy in Tigatron's case he would NEED to be larger than Cheetor in robot mode and both modes would need to be bulkier and extensively retooled/redesigned. Can they make him without an entirely new mould? MAYBE, some parts could be upscaled and reused, the transformation scheme is essentially the same, but would it be a simple upscaling with new heads? I think not. As to wether they will do it or not? That's anyones guess, I gave up predicting TT years ago....personally I think it would be a real shame if they didn't, they've done more than half the work with Cheetor, it would be a cheeper project for them than a totally different character and surely a bit of a no brainer?

 

MP Tigatron will probably be as similar to MP Cheetor as...

Cybertron Thundercracker is to G2 Hooligan/G2 Jetfire/R-Blade/etc.,


Or Energon Starscream is to G2 Smokescreen/ATB Starscream/RiD1.0 Smokejumper/etc.


Or arguably more so.

 

This is troubling me. If Shadow Panther would have looked better as a Tigatron repaint, could the fact Takara made him as a Cheetor repaint be an indication they simply don't intend to ever make Tigatron?

 

Or it could be an indication that it’s easier for consumers to stomach a non show character as a repaint if tigatron, seriously, what’s with the sky is falling mentality so many people seem to have? (No offense to you, just saying them not repainting a potential tigatron into shadow panther has absolutely no bearing on if tigatron will happen)

 

I don’t think that it’s a given that Shadow Panther would look better from Tigatron than Cheetor.

A black tiger isn’t a jaguar just as much as a black cheetah isn’t a jaguar.

Plus he’s a spy, not a soldier, so the more lithe Cheetor bot mode likely fits better than a bulkier Tigatron body.

 

Maybe TT will do a black version of both Cheetor and Tigatron, then we get to pick.

 

I see your point but I guess Shadow Panther seemed like the best repaint option for this mould regardless of any Tigatron plans they may or may not have. It maybe that they are yet to green light Tigatron and are therefore perusing repaint options on the basis Tigatron may never happen. I could be that they are waiting to make their money back on this mould before they go ahead on creating a Tigatron one. It's TakaraTomy, they are unpredictable at best so its really hard to say. Personally I'd be disappointed if they don't create an MP Tigatron when they've got this close, but I'm totally prepared for it for it not to happen.

I like your thinking. It's a very similar situation, same basic transformation scheme but very different moulds.

 

That's my take. Honestly, they may or may not have Tigatron plans in the future, but right now they wanted a quick repaint for Cheetor just to reuse the mold. And who doesn't like a basic black bot with some highlight colors? There may be other possible repaints for the mold, but this was the one with serious sell potential.

Thinking it has any implications whatsoever about the possibility of Tigatron, especially considering the slow trickle the masterpiece beasts are coming out as, is jumping the gun in the extreme.

 

Tomy Should make MP Tigatron after Shadow Panther like the one in MP Dirge?

 

Agreed. That’s the obvious mold choice.



*Note: artist rendering. Not final product.

 

Just managing expectations.

This was really all I was getting at.

 

No, I'm not asking Tigatron mold is MP Dirge. Tigatron's mold toy is Based on Cheetor figure.