I just got MP28 Hotrod in hand and wanted swing by this thread to give my impressions and thoughts on how that figure and FT's Hoodlum could happily co-exist in a large Transformers collection...

First, I'll say that the car mode of MP28 is mostly great. Mine doesn't roll so well, but he really looks the part and everything held together pretty firmly. He's a great match size-wise to the existing car bots (although, that's irrelevant to me, considering he's not an earth vehicle).

In bot mode everything tabs together fairly nicely, and poseability is great. However, he lacks any considerable heft (I might be getting spoiled by FT's Insecticons). IMO, his backpack is more of an eyesore than his squared off chest (and neither are great). I like him better than MP Tracks or Ironhide (which I felt were weak MP releases), but not by much.

So why am I reviewing MP28 here? Well, for me, and I think a lot of collectors, he does not feel like he fits into my MP collection very well. As a matter of fact, I think he looks best standing next to CW Ultra Magnus, and CHUG Springer... to me he comes across as a perfect CHUG/LL Hotrod, and that's where mine is going on the shelf.

If FT does eventually return to the Hoodlum project, I think they could guarantee a certain portion of the collector market to buy in by scaling Hoodlum better with MP Ultra Magnus, FT's own Tesla and UT's Buzzing.

You can show me scale charts 'til you're blue in the face, but the fact is, the amalgam impression I have of the season 3 bots' size (after watching all the shows, living and breathing the animated movie, and reading 30 years worth of comics), is that Arcee should be the height of MP 28, Springer the size of MP Ironhide, and all the rest about the size of Buzzing, or in between.

If Fans Toys were to make their Hotrod in between MP09 and MP28, I'd certainly still bite.

There's even a chance that at MP28's scale, I miiiiiight still buy Hoodlum, but I think for so many potential collectors, that ship has sailed with MP28's release. He's not fantastic, but for most he's good enough.

If FT doesn't come back to Hoodlum, I hope somebody else will tackle Hotrod at a larger scale. For reasons I can't explain, it's how I've always seen them in my mind.

Of course, there's a chance that MP Magnus being "oversized" has thrown off my perception, but even if that's true, I'd prefer the S3 bots to be scaled around him, as opposed to the carbots or Prime.

Anyway, my 2 cents for potential MP28 buyers and FT Hoodlum hopefuls.

 

+1

 

I agree with this. I've got DX9's Carry as my Rodimus, and considered MP 28 for my Hot Rod, despite some of the issues, but he's just a bit too small for me to look past those issues.

If Hoodlum scales the same, at least I prefer the renders more. If he is a little larger, I'll be thrilled.

Just, like, a head taller or so. That's all I want.

 

It's a tough one. Ultra Magnus is seriously oversized and I struggle to find a place for him anywhere in my MP collection. I think UM will stand next to TW Devastator as that will hopefully make him feel smaller.
Mp-28 (and MP-29 Shockwave) are both just a little bit too small and peitie for my liking. I could do with a half head or so on each.

I really don't want them all to scale with UM though because he's just too tall. Plus I personally prefer the Season 2 and movie scale rather than the Season 3 idea that everyone's the same height.
Takara have also shown an inclination for variable heights based on earlier seasons rather than Season 3 uniformity and I suspect most 3P's will adhere to this scale. Buzzing cops a lot of flack for being too tall, and he simply doesn't fit with MP-28. I said the same thing in the XTB Kup thread - they'll match to official TT product rather than a competitors 3P figure as that's what will garner most sales for them.
FT are in a difficult position. They tend to be very strict adherents to the "official scale chart" for all their figures, but as you say, MP-28 pretty much has that size tied up. FT's can either:
1 - go with a larger sized figure to appease the S3 guy's (though doesn't MP-09 already work pretty well with MT's Headmasters etc?)
2 - Try to stay roughly in scale but add a half head to a head over MP-28 to get those collectors who stick with TT's official scale but think MP-28 is too short.
I expect they'll take the second option as the first means abandoning the scale they've already established.

 

without sounding judging, why buy things you only half like? it doesnt sound like you are a completist, just curious why you would purchase something you feel will give you less than what you want. impatience? placeholders?

i dont believe there is a such thing as having more money than you know what to do with either.

 

I'll buy this. I so passed on MP-28... Those skinny legs and fatboy torso looked funny as hell.

 

Sorry, I missed your post at the time.

I'm a recovering (main line, never even tried at Bape) completist. I pre-ordered Tracks and Roadrage after good experiences with Magnus and Star Saber. But since then things have gone down hill. I haven't ordered anything after Roadrage.

I also like judge things in hand rather than through pictures/video or reading others opinions. My problem is I'm not very good about selling things after I've judged against them. I've sold Giant and Quantron, but that is just about it. Fortunately I've started going to a monthly local meet up where I can get a chance for hands on with figures I don't own, that has saved me a lot of heart ache from regretted purchases. (For example Pandinus is impressive, but I can't see myself spending $400 on it).

When I first started 3P I actually did try to buy everything (my bank account quickly taught me the error there). I got both Hercules and Giant to compare them directly for example, and I have 14 of 15 3P Predacons (UT, MMC, TFC).

 

Sorry, I must disagree. I go with scale charts over toon screenshots, because of how unreliable the latter tends to be.

 

That's why I didn't say ”screenshots.”

I said amalgam representation from all the G1 media. And i recognize it's a personal definition. That said, i think there are already a good handful of toys that represent what I see in my mind's eye, and I expect more to follow, which didn't exclude the same characters being made at other scales as well.

 

Fanstoys should just scale him up to be Rodimus Prime size (make him Radius prime style wise) and that would be the new 3rd party Rodimus prime. They would sell more in this case instead of competing directing with mp-28 hot rod.

 

There already is a Hot Rod alt mode that turns into Rodimus Prime that is the right size, it's MP-09.  

I personally like how FansToys saw MP-28, said we think our design is better, and threw it out there anyway.  

 

MP-09 is a bag of shit. Neither here or there. Ofcourse thats my opinion and that figure needs revising. How many people will disagree with me in that we need a better completely new Rodimus Prime?. Doing another Mp-28 scale Hot Rod is silly unless its significantly better than the original which in this case it is not.

 

So you just want a new Rodimus Prime, ok I misunderstood your previous post. I agree that a new Rodimus Prime is needed, but I also want Hoodlum as I believe the robot mode kicks MP-28's ass.

Getting one doesn't mean we won't get the other. Maybe post in the "I Wish Fanstoys" thread.

 

I cannot wait for this. My impatience almost made me go against my better judgment and almost place an order for a chrome fading, no undercarriage clearance having, non rolling TT version.

 

I'm starting to realize I made a mistake by getting the official. It's not a bad figure but it's just flawed. The headsculpt is amazing but proportions and the other issues you mentioned take it down a couple notches. I'm pretty certain now that Takara's won't be the definitive version for me, especially since he scales so poorly with UT Buzzing and MP Magnus.

 

I bought one too to try it out, and I agree, but at least he makes a great CHUG Hotrod/Rodimus IMO.

 

MP-09? I think you mispelled "DX-9 Carry"  

 

I picked one up off eBay that was unopened for under 60. Figured I'd try it out since I didn't get the vans or ol one eye. It is a fun toy to transform and as great articulation. Horribly loose ankles has since kept him in attached to tracks' flight stand even after sticking future all in the hinge. I prefer the proportions on the render that fanstoys did for bot mode and TT nailed the alt mode. Whats a bummer is that TT didn't learn from mp 9 and how it also had clearance issues and had to make a V2. No doubt fanstoys will be taking notes on mp 28 to better their own version.

 

  Check the bolded.  

 

see I am a tad confused here I thought the 3rd party made MP figures of characters not out yet by Takara/Tomy like Hound, Mirage, etc. Since we have personally a fantastic Hot Rod (which I love) why would they make one now, *shakes head*?