The Dinobot reissue went up $30 so it could be worse!

 

I want another Dinobot, since mine has a shoulder issue. However, I'm not paying more for him. Nope.

 

Someone reported in the BBTS thread that Cheetor has actually gone up $25, so maybe it is worse?

I put 80 weight shock oil on my Dinobot’s shoulders right out of the box and it seemed to help a lot. I would definitely try that on yours unless it’s actually broken.

 

Not broke, but stressed. Where do I get this oil?

 

With regard to reissues, is it the US shops that are showing price increases, or all shops? Quite simply, if the JP shops are giving the same prices, then it has nothing to do with Takara or anything, it's the US shops raising the price. Keep that in mind. A lot of people like to buy from US shops even though it's literally throwing money away when you can get the product faster and cheaper from the source.

 

I'm taking these are Hasbro Asia releases since we've seen no japanese solicitations.

 

Haven't seen anything on the usual JP shops. I stupidly waited on him the first time; he was so cheap. But now $100 looks like a deal.

That's what I was thinking; I don't know of any HA shops that do any sort of discounts like the JP ones right? I think Robot Kingdom is a non-JP asian shop and they're usually pricey.

 

With the lack of G1 releases I have been on the fence about adding Beast Wars to my MP collection. This will help, but I'll post on here for Cheetor as well.

 

I'd like a second Dinobot and Cheetor but I'm not paying more than I paid for the first. I do have the Primal reissue coming, but he is priced the same as the original release.

 

So Does anybody reckon amiami will stock the cheetor and dinobot reissues?

 

This most likely is a Hasbro Asia reissue, just like the Dinobot figure. These have always been higher priced than the Japanese market stuff.
If Takara does release a reissue of this we'll be able to find it through Japanese retailers (including Amazon) and get that nifty 30%+ preorder discount.

Only if Takara reissues the figure for the Japanese market. So most likely no, for now.

 

They’re not actually just “hiking the price”, that’s a wild oversimplification. They’re putting in more parts, more features, more accessories, bloody electronics - all of which is being asked for by us, or Japanese fans, all via the surveys. They’re literally giving the fans what they’re asking for, and that comes with a higher price tag.

It’s really, really simple demand and supply. Now, the question then becomes at what point can they not maintain sales to service those features? I honestly think Dinobot is amazing, but I’m not into the figure enough to pay that price twice. Totally happy with MP-36, on the other hand. This Prime is a bit different because it’s Optimus Prime, THE marquee character. Will it work out? That’s a good question.

What it is absolutely not is a price hike. You’d have to be blind to miss how much has gone into this figure. I’m not saying they’re not making money - they have to do that, they’re a privately held business - but all of this “price hike” bitching and moaning is childish and frankly incorrect.

 

Does Prime come with $100 worth of electronics inside him?

 

I can tell you that all you really need to look at to get a damn good idea of what built that price is the number of parts in the toy. Once you add up all the bits, MP-44 will outstrip MP-36's parts count by a country mile. I'm not claiming that the price isn't high - but I'm pointing out that arguments like "the electronics are making it too expensive, wah" are useless. It's a cumulative effect of development, parts, features, marketing, and them wanting to penetrate the high-end collectors market. If Takara is choosing to leave you behind, that sucks, but that's what they're doing right now.

 

If MP-44 did come with $100 worth of electronics inside, which would you prefer? A microwave oven, a fancy toaster, an mp3 player...
I'd like a fondu maker. Put a block of cheddar in his backpack, watch the melted cheese come out of his ion blaster.
Maybe even try some Wensleydale.

Ah damn I've just made myself hungry.


I'm no longer expecting much for the end of 2019. Could look something like this:

January:
February: MP-20+ Wheeljack
March: MP-43 BW Megatron
April: MP-34 Cheetor reissue (assuming it's TT as well)
May: MP-18+ Bluestreak
June: TTS exclusive MP-39R
July: maybe MP-18+ here
August: MP-44 Optimus Prime
September: or maybe MP-18+ here
October: MP-45 Hound
November: MP-13+ Soundwave
December: MP-46 Rattrap/Sporknok/Terrorsaur


And y'know, after last year, I'd be ok with that. Maybe 13+ and 18+ is wishful thinking, and I'm no longer expecting Blaster in 2019 (but hoping for him in early 2020). Fingers crossed we at least get Hound next year, too.

 

I'd so love it if MP-19+ snuck in there too so we could finish off these older + carbots...but I'm not holding my breath!

 

I'm a non-believer in MP-19+ being a toon repaint if he ever happens at all, but maybe I'm just a heretic because I don't care either way   He deserves an outline insignia like MP-44 though if they do go full-toon, that's for sure. I also think his face sculpt would look a million times better in a less reflective off-white.

If we're talking about finishing off the older carbots, I'll take a lighter yellow 21+ first  


Guys, can you believe after Hound is out we'll only be missing Jazz, Trailbreaker, Hoist, Skids and Mirage to finish the deluxe carbots? Only five of those fuckers left? Seeing that group shot in the Generations book reminds me of how much we've gotten already. We're putting the band back together!

 

Yeah I could definitely see 19+ going either way or never happening. But I'm holding off on buying him in case there is a toon redeco in the pipeline, so I want to know what's happening now dammit!  

 

I'm pretty happy with MP-19s deco. Some of the toon deco's simplification looks really good - Wheeljack's being a perfect example - but I find Smokescreen's toy deco balances really. It may be that most of the deco change would be to remove the words and probably a bit more white, but it's not a massive look change.

 

I bought mine in a local hobby shop that sells model kits, R/C cars etc. It’s typically used on R/C cars. The 80 weight part is the thickness of the fluid I believe. It’s most likely sold online as well.

I’ve had the Pledge Future floor polish for tightening joints and the 80 weight shock oil for lubricating tight joints for many years. I guess I’ve had bad luck but I usually need one or both for almost every figure I own. On Dinobot I need both. Shock oil for the shoulder ratchets and floor polish for his useless ankles.

All I can say is that MP-43 and 44 better be able to stand up without floor polish or I’m going to riot.