I've started pre-ordering all my MP's from Japan through HLJ or Anime Export. They have great prices if you can get them before they sell out. I think my MP Bumblebee pre-order was something like $45! I think Wheeljack was somewhere around $60. I don't think it's worth waiting to see if Hasbro will release any particular MP stateside; they may never do it, and even if they do, it won't necessarily be cheaper.
Apparently painted, which surprised the hell out of me. I'll go along with the "very good, but not seventy bucks good" assessment. I will say the single biggest crime here though is packaging Prowl in robot mode, and having the included instructions only cover vehicle-to-robot.
Yeah, near as I can figure, the car panels are all painted. Hands, shoulder cannons, and some of the internal components are just cast in unpainted white, but everything you see in Datsun mode is paint. Weirdly, the fold-in fender panels housing the rearview mirrors are cast in the same clear plastic as the windshield, then painted over. Given that they're pinned, transforming parts in translucent (and thus, traditionally brittle) plastic, I've got some worries over long term durability, but no problems thus far. And back to the packaging, this is perhaps a fun little Easter Egg I haven't seen anyone else bring up since the switch to the new visual language. Seems like whoever's doing graphic design over at Hasbro must be a big Warren Ellis fan. I'm having a hard time believing that the similarities here are pure coincidence.
I tried collecting Masterpiece transformers but soon found out that I got quickly priced out of the hobby. I just can't afford them as much as I love and want them, so I turned to the dark side and started collecting my other passion: Star Wars action figures. I can afford $10 and $20 here and there for my favorite figures compared to purchasing just one MP transformer.
So I found out the hard way that one of my side mirrors was twisted and warped out of package. Why did they ever decide to package this guy in robot mode?? Anyone else get factory damaged mirrors?
Probably because it would look ridiculous with just one car, when the box can fit 4 cars in if packed in car mode instead. The instructions are not friendly at all. Prowl came packed in bot mode but his instructions start from car mode. Sunstorm came packed in jet mode yet his instructions start from bot mode. Hasbro guys are really trying to mess with us.
I just got my order from TRU.com and for some reason they sent me 2.... I only ordered one.. what a birthday present.. after the kids are in bed i'll get around to checking them out..
Absolutely agree. This is how I got priced out of buying Masterpieces. If Hasbro wants a piece of my semi-disposable income, these price hikes need to reverse. Otherwise I fear I'll be lured to the KO side of the force... Or just loose interest in the hobby entirely.
I understand where you are coming from. I got priced out a long time ago and sold off my tiny collection and started buying MOC Star Wars action figures. $10 and $20 here and there for an action figure is a lot easier to swallow.
opened one of them, and it's flawless short of one small scratch on the drivers side rear fender.. both boxes in great condition
Just picked one up to take to my work. I have the Takara version already. I must say, the Takara one feels WAY better. I pick up the Hasbro, and it just feels differently. The plastics perhaps. Not quite as high quality I believe. The tabs that connect the back underneath the lights just don't fit together as well as the Takara. I think there's some mold degradation already. So if you have the option, I'd recommend getting an actual Takara version.
Left side mirror was warped on mine too, bet it has to do with being packed in robot mode and the factory worker not making sure that the mirrors don't overlap in the chest in robot mode(they were overlapping when I transformed from bot to car mode). The left window may even be torn a bit but it hasn't dangling by a thread so I might just add a drop of kraZy glue to fix it. Otherwise I'm happy with my purchase. Figured if I bought a Takara Prowl NOW with shipping it would've been around the same price as TRU. Next time for a car MP I'll just preorder Takara. It's cool that TRU wanted to sell these but their markup is a bit much. Their MP's used to seem like a bargain compared to Takara. The only other car MP I have is Sideswipe(also have MP-10 but he's a truck). I like how the car MP's feature a simpler transformation than Binaltech/Alternators and feel much more durable. They're a real treat for those who had the original G1(and G2) molds. I think Hasui Shogo is a genius. The leg transformation on Prowl especially is impressive to me.
ok, so after having mine for a few days, I found a glaring flaw... so I returned it... and this one has the same flaw.... The guns? blasters? that come over Prowls shoulders, before you even have a chance to extend them, they already have cracks on them. If you do extend them, the will chip and break. I even had this issue on the one that I returned.. so that's 3 of them, 2 from TRU.com and 1 from in store.. Also, the passenger door, doesn't quiet line up like the drivers side door. This even happens when I move the arms out of the way, to make sure they are not stopping the door from closing. At least the "Z" on this one is legible unlike my last one, which was just a dot. Anyone else have an issue with the blasters?
I will have to check my blasters, does this only happen when you extend them? I have to say the paint on mine is almost perfect, he looks great but I miss the tires the Alternators had as these feel and look cheap. Last thing and it is very minor but does everyone have a small divot/gouge mark on Prowls left raised front bumper stop? It looks like its there on the photo of the box also, but I don't know why they would do that unless there was a sprue mark there they removed.
I haven't purchased the Hasbro Prowl, but I've heard of this product "stamp" some where on the foot but have not been able to find pics of it. Can anyone assist?
I'll have to check mine for the mark later once I get home from work. With the blasters, you can see the stretch marks on the out side of the part that pulls out, even without pulling out the blaster. Once you pull out the blaster, the stretched part breaks or should I say splinters.
