Fantastic! Thanks for letting me know! I saw this post on the front page but didn't even look into it since I thought it was only Takara Legends figures.

Just gotta hold out for August! Glad I didn't bite the bullet and buy from eBay.  

 

Hell yea, surprised that guy wasn't rereleased

 

Almost. APS-01U has gunmetal gray shins and biceps whereas MB-11 has plain gray plastic for shins and biceps. Also MB-11 comes with a faceplate where APS-01U does not. Other than that they are pretty much identical.

This is the main reason why I skipped MB-11 since the molded gray plastic is inferior to the gunmetal gray on the APS version.

 

They are basically the same. Like I said, I have both. The MB-11 is missing the gun metal grey, and instead has dark grey unpainted plastic. (Big disappointment) He also has the battle mask instead of the open face. But I got him to replace some parts on my APS that had some defects.

My favorite is definitely the Evasion Mode. He is exquisite in the new deco.

 

I like the new evasion deco because it matches up with DOTM DA28 Striker Optimus, my favorite deco of all the movie leader Optimi and Walmart DOTM voyager Prime.

 

Huh. Some of these guys must have been way more popular that TakaraTomy was expecting, because I just noticed that Amiami has a second run pre-order for Megatron, Evasion Prime, and Soundwave set for an August release.

 

I'm in for Soundwave. I did notice that Soundwave and Prime preorders closed early on at HLJ and stayed closed. In the meantime I can try to find decent guns for Soundwave.

 

Does HLJ charge upfront for preorders? Trying to decide if I should order with them or wait for BBTS of TFSource to open their preorders.

 

Nope, you pay for the item + shipping once it's out  

 

A fact that is painful to admit. I've been following the changes in this mold since the first version, and I know virtually every difference from release to release, but ironically the only one I own is what I consider the worst version of the mold, the first battle hooks version. I found it for $15 and couldn't not get it. But from 2009 until now, all I've wanted is a premium paint job with a battle mask and gas tank gun. The 2 pack buster prime worked for that, but I could never justify spending money on jetfire too just to get a battle mask.

MB-11 would've been exactly what I've wanted for so long, especially considering I actually prefer the APS-01u deco to the buster/APS-01 deco, and just before release, when some of the pictures seemed to lack shine on the grey parts, I brushed it off as bad lighting. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. The worst part is, if APS-01u didn't exist, I'd be more than content with MB-11, it has everything I was looking for. Yet knowing that one exists that is even better, but completely unaffordable and without a battle mask, pretty much ruins the whole thing for me. My perfect ROTF leader prime doesn't exist, and likely never will.

I have confidence that the MPM prime will be better than the ROTF mold (unless it's yet another redeco, as leader prime is around MP size), but I think I'll always feel a fondness towards leader prime, and a sadness that I never had the one I sought after.

 

I've just received my MB-11 (leader optimus prime).

The figure is what it is, probably the most popular movie mold. But I'm really, really disappointed by Takara's false advertising. In all the promotion materials, including the figure's box, he has a full metalic grey paint. I already have buster prime, so I thought he'd be similar with few additional bits of paint on the upper arms and legs. It's sadly not the case, and a good half of his body is just plastic grey.

It's clearly false advertising and I don't understand why they ended up saving on paint when buster prime was already fully painted years ago.

 

I definitely love him, but one of the issues I have with the figure is how they did the shoulders. I really wished they cound a way to connect the two wheels to the body instead of the top of the shoulders. As it is, he has a really limited range of articulation if you want to have those two wheels by the side of his head and they get in the way of a ton of poses.

 

Agreed. I've given up and pushed them up until they rest against the fenders giving them a slight slanted look. Not accurate, but better than no articulation.

 

I've thought of that before bit I have no facts only speculation. That's a great idea you gave though I would think humidity isn't great, or hot hot sun obviously wouldn't be good. Cols isn't bad until you start moving them in the cold. I may do some research today to see

Ok so I got mine, and I'm not really finding any problems with it. I think if anything it's easier to use then my ROTF Leader Class Prime. Is there a place in specific that you are looking to see about I can check that. I put a review up on it (see my channel link below or video review section if interested). I'll have the other one up with opposite transformation this weekend.

About MPM-04, yea it's confirmed to be Optimus through trial and error and code names ect. through solicitations at TRU. But not hasbro themselves yet I'm guessing they are waiting for HasCon?

 

Did this happen to anyone else? I got MB-11 Prime today from BBTS and my figure does not have the faceplate head. I has the APS-01U face.

 

Oh man, that kind of sucks! Mine has that face now, but by choice, I switched it with my APS-U. Is there a way to get the right face for it?

On a brighter note, my MTB Megatron looks great next to my customized AOE "Revenge" Optimus Prime!

 

If you ask they might send you a face to swap in.

 

Wow, how is that even possible? I'm legitimately curious...