Hot off the back of the reveal of the Takara-Tomy release of Defensor for Japan, Hisashi Yuki has tweeted a teaser of a Unite Warriors version of Ultra Prime. The silhouette in the teaser has the distinctive head design of Ultra Prime, and we can also make out some parts of the Stunticons in the silhouette, which matches up to the rumored lineup of the “Masquerade” Autobots – Prowl (Dead End, right arm), Mirage (Dragstrip, right leg), Sunstreaker (Breakdown, left leg, based on the foot component), and Ironhide (Offroad, left arm).
No word on how this one is getting a release in Japan, but we’d bet on this being a mass retail release – for those crying, why is this not an exclusive, remember, Japan loves their hero characters, and things in Transformers do not get much more heroic than Optimus Prime!
Sins of Virtue
With how much Takara's been sticking to referencing the cartoon maybe they might just go this direction with the limbs?
There doesn't seem to be any mention of names for the limbs at least.
Shatterpoint
All according to keikaku .
Wh33l JcK
I would only be interested if it was indeed the original Maquerade bots: Windcharger, Jazz Sideswipe, and Mirage.
Autovolt 127
Nice One.
PredaConvoy
Funny how Google Translate didn't manage to work out that Teashi means "limbs"…
BattleUpSaber
But of course! Get Hasbro's Menasor to be the 'real' Menasor while the Takara can be the 'Masquerade' one! Sheer genius!
I'm not joking. I actually think that's a good idea.
[Wing_Saber-X]
I want Prime, Red Alert and Mirage from that team to re-create the 'Goodbye Convoy giftset'.. Imagine that awesome homage.
Bountyan
There already is an accurate Masquerade team. Here it is.
Hanzkaz
I still think the reason Takara are releasing an 'inaccurate' Masquerade team is because of Optimus Prime. By the time it gets released, it will be about a year after Hasbro's Ultra Prime.
Hastak seem to be concentrating on the 'original' Combiner teams (more or less), remolding/repainting figures where necessary. 'Extra' Combiners, like the Autobot cars are probably mostly simple repaints of these with new heads (or vice versa). I'm guessing that in Takara's opinion, there is currently no suitable Unite/CW figure design that can be modified into Jazz and Windcharger. Obviously, they could probably repaint a Stunticon like Jazz, but I imagine that for design team that went out of their way to create Unite Groove, that may be less than satisfactory. They could be waiting to see if a better solution comes up while they work on Bruticus, Computron – or Victorion.
It was probably only worth making a completely new mold for Groove, because it could be used for Afterburner later.
SunSwipe5
If TT is doing Masquerade, they'll more than likely release Swipe, Jazz and Windcharger as individual pieces (like Hasbro is doing with Wildrider and Slingshot). I'm not too worried about it.
This will probably fall in with Unite Warriors and be released as a set, like Superion, Menasor and Defensor
Hanzkaz
I'm waiting for Takara to do the Sweeps.
CodeXCDM
If Takara doesn't, I'm sure FunPub will. Cyclonus and "his Armada" is too easy for them to pass.
80sforged
Please don't say that! I spent two hours driving around looking for the orphans, got Off road and rook at retail and bought an Alpha Bravo pretty cheap off E-Bay.
Zenstrive
So who's waiting for Takara Tomy Unite Warrior Galvatronus with Voyager Cyclonus and the replacement bots as limbs ?
80sforged
If unable to get Windcharger on the chest, then a Legend BB would be the next best choice. Call him Arkatron or something as a reference to being all Ark crew.
Raiyuki
Well there go my hopes for a proper Grand Convoy. Didn't think they'd do this so soon. Also if Takara's really doing a Masquerade set then is it possible one of the limbs is Sideswipe rather than Sunstreaker?
CodeXCDM
Considering the slavish G1 treatment of Superion, Menasor, and Defensor (making a *new* figure!)… I figured they would have actually gone as far as making a G1 faithful Masquerade team…
But if this translation is true…
Guess not. Shame, because they could have made it easily enough… Same figures for their Menasor, just four new heads and paint and done. Jazz is the only one that wouldn't look quite right in the CW Car mode, I suppose… But Sideswipe as Breakdown, Mirage as Dragstripe, and Windcharger for Wildrider seem perfectly fine.
Would have been great too because stateside we're rumored to have Sunstreaker, Prowl and Ironhide (No doubt Ratchet could show up)… Would have been a ton of G1 Ark crew folks that could combine with Prime…
I mean really…
THIS. WOULD. BE. PERRRRRFEECCTTTTT
Takara, Y U NO DO DIS!?!?!?
Autovolt 127
Well that's cool they're doing the Masquerade wave…..though I was hoping they were gonna be cartoon accurate.
It's gonna be a full 100% G1 deco.
I think it still has a chance.
PoweredConvoy
Yes, but the tweet mentions them not being in G1.
Randy
NemiMonkey
Huh that's a surprise. Considering how they are sticklers for G1 I would have thought they'd go the normal Masquerade lineup. Oh well no Jazz from Dead End.
That that's a lot of combiner…………