MP11 Masterpiece Starscream V2 Review

Discussion in 'Transformers Feedback & Reviews' started by Shin Densetsu, Apr 4, 2012.

  1. OMEGAPRIME1983

    OMEGAPRIME1983 Well-Known Member

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    Wow, what a review! I really like how this looks, though.. I can't understand WHY they made his head sit so high.. it looks to me that his head is sitting literally between the intakes, and it could probably sit down on the flat surface of the cockpit. Would have made it look worlds better I bet..
     
  2. Jarrod

    Jarrod Semi-retired Builder

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    Or maybe we say it's superior, because we really do think it is. Every point you mentioned above is exactly why I like it better.
    -The head: MUCH nicer sculpt, totally looks like Starscream to me. The first version was way to small, they head vents were too narrow, and the face changing gimmick, while nifty was just a gimmick. I never used the "normal" face anyway, plus it meant the neck joint was in a weird place because of it.
    -The nullray struts, while ugly to you, are an awesome way of not having to remove pieces too me. They do not stand out in vehicle mode in my eyes. And the lack of missiles? Big whoop, SS was NEVER shown to have them, and they would just have to be swapped out for robot mode anyway.
    -The crooked nose...yeah I had to fix that on 3 of my seekers, I shouldn't have to fix it, this one does it right out of the box. Not to mention it just fits together more solid anyway.
    -MP3's feet always looked ridiculous to me, the angle they sat at, and the curvyness of them made them look like horse hooves or something. Yes MP11 could use some ankle articulation, they do LOOK much better. It's far less obvious in person surprisingly. As for the heels, I'll take big ugly heels that provide incredibly solid support versus none anyday. They are totally needed when using the cape...and while I had no problem standing my MP3 before, MP11 does stand significantly better.
    -The hip kibble, are you kidding me? Yeah, it "could" be popped off and attached awkwardly to the legs, sticking up far past the knee, while preventing any kind of straight legged pose. Or you could more heavily mod it like I did (and I-gear) and have it permanently attach, and slide, on the lower leg. But no matter what it still looks "tacked on" and did not really follow the lines of the legs very well. All of which you still had to do something on your own to the toy. On the other hand, here is MP11, ready to go right out of the box, with the mod already done.
    -Hold MP11 once, and you'll see his hip articulation is FAR greater. The little flaps on his hips DO NOT get in the way at all. In fact the ball joints on the original mold DO limit articulation...that is a fact, not opinion. As for the front flaps, they are hinged the exact same way as the original, meaning just as useless as the original. Neither one can actually flip upward/forward because the abdomen parts get in the way. I can move the legs forward the exact same degree on both molds

    -In my eyes, the lack of CFT's does indeed made the jet mode look "sleeker." MP-3 looks too fat now...and that's not me being "deluded" thats just me expressing my opinion of what I think an F-15, and especially an F-15 representing Starscream in particular should look like. (This goes for regular, real world F-15's too...I think the CFTs make them look fat). And yes, it does expose some of the robot mode parts...the arms, that's it. I'd guarantee that if that one panel of the lower arms was just painted grey, we wouldn't have any of these complaints, there'd just be a flat, smooth grey panel.
    If any part makes it look more "jagged" its the lower legs, which definitely are more pronounced...but that has nothing to do with the CFTs.
    As for the original mold being "flawed", think about it this way: MP Starscream is supposed to be the Masterpiece version of the character, yet is a pretty significant departure in appearance from the actual character, so therefore it is inaccurate. Not saying its a flawed toy, just not the best representation of who it was supposed to be.
     
  3. StarFire_MK2

    StarFire_MK2 'Till All are One!

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    Thanks for a great review! I didn't realize MP-11 was the same scale as MP03 until just now. I already have a Seeker armada so I won't be getting these, but I suspect one day, when the wing fracture happens, I'll replace MP03 with this!
     
  4. Acidophilus

    Acidophilus Well-Known Member

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    Thank you jarrod for confirming that the front hip flaps do move just as mp-03's did. I thought that is what it looked like form the pictures I've seen.

    So forward hip/leg range is just as good as the original, and the figures overall articulation is improved.

    This looks like the figure MP-03 Should have been.

    I have placed my order for it.
     
  5. NLWprime

    NLWprime Well-Known Member

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    when compared to the old one this looks way better then the old one
     
  6. Ratzo99

    Ratzo99 Well-Known Member

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    I could debate the merits and issues of both, but it doesn't matter - if you like it better, hey, that's great. I would disagree with the quoted text above, though.
    You make it sound like there are vast improvements made. You can plainly see in comparison photos that both molds are nearly identical. My argument is simply that Mp11 is every bit a downgrade, in certain respects, as it is an upgrade, in other respects. Add to that, the huge pricetag (above what it cost the first time this mold came out), and all I'm left with is a big pass.

    I'd like to see a pose that you can do with Mp11, that I couldn't duplicate with MP3. Please prove what "FAR greater" amounts of articulation this new mold has, as you've claimed.
     
  7. pud333

    pud333 Well-Known Member

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    I don't know what the naysayers are seeing. MP-11 is the better toy. The only thing that bothers me on it, are the bars that attach the null-rays permanently to the arms. They look terrible in fighter mode. They could have completely avoided this by leaving that part of the original design alone. But whatever. I think this toy takes a few steps forward, and one step back, so it's still not the perfect Jet transformer, but it's still very nice and better than the old one.
     
  8. Megatron31

    Megatron31 I Belong to Nobody!

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    would you mind confirming if the correnation accessories fit onto the mp3 mold
     
  9. dkr7

    dkr7 Well-Known Member

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    They dont, different shoulder design = different size shoulders
     
  10. CyberShadow

    CyberShadow Wheeljacks Lab

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    In your opinion. Thats the thing. I am not a nay-sayer. I am happy that you like it. But, personally, the original is a better figure for me. This is aimed at a different collector. That doesnt make it better, just differently focussed.
     
  11. Megatron31

    Megatron31 I Belong to Nobody!

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    thanks what about crown and cape?
     
  12. Rewind

    Rewind Swoosh!

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    The main thing I'm seeing is all of that swirly, goopy looking plastic. I would never accept that on my Macross figures and I don't think its acceptable on a Masterpiece figure in the same price range. Imagine a Yamato valkyrie looking like that. ;) 
     
  13. Jarrod

    Jarrod Semi-retired Builder

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    As you say, if you like MP-3 better, that's cool. But it almost sounds like your trying to downplay the changes so that you're still happy with it. I'm curious as to how you can argue that MP-3 is a better representation of G1 Starscream...not why you like it better, but how it is actually a better representation of who it supposed to be. I don't recall Starscream in either the cartoon or toy form as having CFT's, giant hip scabbards, and big curved feet. Color wise, mold wise, and detail wise, MP-11 looks more like G1 Starscream. There may be a blend of toon and toy, but there are no huge, glaring departures.
    Also, as I can "plainly see" in person, the mold is not nearly identical. There are as many new parts are there are reused. The side-by-side differences in person in robot mode are staggering, MP-11 has a significantly different silhouette.

    As for the articulation, and unmodded original mode, cannot spread his legs this far, nor get the same angle as the right leg. Oh, it'll raise forward that far, but when you try to angle it outward, the ball joint gets in the way. This part is not opinion, MP-3's hip movement is hindered. Not saying you can't get great poses out of it, but Mp-11 does have a greater range. Also, thanks to the heels, all of those poses are easily doable without trying to find a good balanced stance.
    [​IMG]

    All that said, I still think the original mold is fantastic. It has an amazing, hyper-realistic alt-mode, a satisfying transformation, and a pretty bad-ass robot mode. As a generic seeker, its great, but as the iconic G1 Starscream, I just feet it falls short. MP-11 fixes all the problems I had with it, and will forever be easily worth it in my opinion.
    Again, if you like the first version better that's cool, but if you every handle one in person, I think you'll see the improvement are far greater than you assume by pictures alone. In my eyes, this is the perfect rendition of Starscream.
     

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  14. pud333

    pud333 Well-Known Member

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    Yeah, it's all subjective at the end of the day. For some reason, I just honestly don't see any of the complaints raised by some people here. I think the toy is great. (For the record, I enjoyed the earlier version too. But sold it to buy this one).

    Actually the toy looks fine to me in person, but when I compare it to, oh, one of the renewal 25s, it doesn't even compare. I guess I have different standards for TFs for some reason, haha. It's a great transforming jet, but the Macross stuff still blows it out of the water.
     
  15. Shark Jumper

    Shark Jumper さあ、お前の罪を数えろ

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    are the panels that fold the wings still a pain in the ass to fold? I accidentally broke my WM MP starscream doing that... They really need to stop making the panels rub against each other.
     
  16. Jarrod

    Jarrod Semi-retired Builder

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    Agreed, totally on both accounts. The grey definitely looks better in person, and while it could have looked better, I still prefer it to the US white, and of course the original green. I also have higher standards for my Macross jets...I guess its because TFs, even the Masterpiece ones, all still have a more "toylike" aspect to them. MP TF's still feel like they are marketed to all ages, while Yamato's stuff feels 100% like an adult collectible.
     
  17. Rewind

    Rewind Swoosh!

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    I have completely different standards for TFs too - ones that aren't in the Masterpiece line. ;)  I've grown accustomed to Bandai & Yamato-like finish and detail with Masterpiece toys so I guess that's what is such a bummer for me when I look at photos of this one. It looks like what I would expect from a more budget-conscious Hasbro release. :/
     
  18. Shin Densetsu

    Shin Densetsu I WILL DESTROY YOU Content Contributor Veteran

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    Thanks man. It's a lot more durable than MP3, MP3 was okay but you did have to be cautious with certain areas, and you didn't have as much wiggle room.

    Thank you transplanting the lower leg might not work without heavy modification. I don't think it's worth the effort.

    Glad I could help

    Someone suggested using grey marker and it might look better, be cautious inking on the painted parts as I did, and I went out of the line and it's hard to take off. Grey is more subtle and may work better, I was inking with black.

    I can try to take a pic later. Crown can be put on but loosely, cape fits as it's the same backpack as MP3, shoulder pads won't fit.

    The issue I have, is that because the plastic is toyetic looking, it's hard to see the generous amount of detail on the mold without panel lines. The Walmart MP3 looked more detailed because the lines were inked in. To me, that looks better.

    The head looks influenced by the Dreamwave books. Overall it's a more playable toy, something that can be posed easily and is very durable. Posing MP3 was a challenge because each pose I had him in usually had him falling over. Sure you could customize it, but MP11 can be posed without toppling over out of the box.

    This is why I said you should probably think about buying it if you already have MP3. If you already have MP3 and love the fighter mode, you might pass. If you wanted more out of it, especially in bot mode, MP11 is the better buy. Also feels great to have a worry free transformation and have an easy one at that.

    Thanks man. I don't know where this "MP11 has limited hip movement" notion is coming from because MP11 can move his hips way better than MP11 can and is much more durable. Transformation is a breeze, and because the part that the stabilizers are attached to is pushed up, it doesn't scrape the ground while posing, like MP3 would if you attachedd the hip kibble to his lower legs(which sticks out a lot).

    Eriku we have a similar mindset when it comes to toys. You'll like this one once you handle it. In terms of durability and handling it's just below MP Grimlock, miles ahead of MP Rodimus, and a lot better than MP3.

    The VF-22 feels like glass almost, when compared to this. Hell the VF-11B I raved about, I harder to transform than MP11...and the VF-11B isn't hard to transform...

    They do move, same as on MP3, but the legs on MP11 can be moved up/forward more.

    No, no major production faults and is a way more sturdier release than MP Rodimus. MP rodimus is a more delicate toy, a very ambitious effort by Kobayashi for sure, but possibly too ambitious for the resulting toy.

    MP11 is a lot tougher, a lot easier to transform.


    I think the nullray bar is there to further the kanzen henkei(perfect transformation) aspect. While playing with it, it's both neat and convenient to me how they stay on the toy at all times, rather than having to detach and put them back on. With that said though, wish there were swappable missles or bombs like on the G1 toy.

    Yes compatible, but crown is loose.

    Well with Transformers I think we all know jets aren't going to turn out as good as cars. With that said though, anything this big by Yamato would be in the $200+ range.
     
    Last edited: Apr 5, 2012
  19. Timothy.R

    Timothy.R Well-Known Member

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    to me, this sort of sounds like someone who paid a good amount of money for the first edition vehicon and doesn't want to admit that the RiD vehicon is superior.

    MP11 is better, i think it's obvious. hell, just by the colors it's far superior.

    the new head.. i like it because it's bigger, i never cared for the dual face changing gimmick. i personally think the smirk looked stupid and was poorly done. now if the smirk looked really good, then i'd be more prone to agreeing.

    the null rays.. how in the world can two little struts ruin the whole jet mode? that doesn't make sense to me. but hey, people complain about losing stuff when they have to pop stuff off, and people complain in these type of instances, you can't win. i personally don't mind it at all.

    the nose cone.. i'm sorry but when you're spending this type of money on a toy, you shouldn't have to fix anything yourself.

    the feet.. i actually can't believe someone is saying that the feet on the first version are better. sure they stay flush against the ground, but i'm sorry, i'd much rather have a heel that keeps the figure stable.. at this point whenever my cats run around my display, my jets constantly fall against the wall.

    hip kibble.. i think you just made a point for MP11 in that assessment. they fixed it.. plain and simple. and even if you removed those pieces from MP3 and attached them to the legs.. that still leaves the ball joints. and as i stated before, we shouldn't have to remove those then cut off the struts with the ball joints.

    poseability.. i believe his point isn't that the figure has more joints.. but that it can hold more poses because of the new feet. which looks to be true.

    jet mode.. it does look sleeker up near the intakes. and am i missing a photo somewhere? where does it show a hole bunch of unsightly robot mode parts?.. as for the stand.. just use MP3's.. that's what i'm going to do. MP3 sucked anyway. that green is terrible. i don't even have it displayed which leaves me an extra stand anyways.

    face it. it's more accurate in both sculpt and color. more stable. the hologram pilot is better. it's got the coronation set.. which, this time, isn't a truly cheep piece of sloppily cut fabric.

    this is probably the most G1 cartoon accurate transformable starscream we've ever gotten.
     
  20. Rewind

    Rewind Swoosh!

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    Cool- I was under the impression that the skirt panels didn't move, which I thought was verified but apparently that verification was an assumption. Go internet! :lol  Glad to hear that area is all good.