I know exactly what you mean, man. The glints that seem to run from the bottom of the eye to the upper lip and the shadows on the cheeks from the helmet throws off the face sculpt a bit, but those are really the products of lighting. I think he'll look terrific in hand. Can't wait!

 

Yeah man, I was even 100% on board with this guy before (because the Batman-esque scowl I thought he had still looked cool to me, even if it didn't seem quite right   ), so I guess I'm at 110% now! I'm sure you're right about the lighting. Now to see if I can be patient enough to wait for an eBay flash sale or something to make up for no AJ discount...

 

These mp+ versions are knocking it out of the park!

 

Hi-res pics of 18+ from Hasbro Pulse website:










The only MP on pre-order that I've actually paid off - and two copies no less!

 

Thanks, @Sam ! Man, his yelling face in the pic of him shooting his cannons up into the air looks spot on!

Y'know, with all the outrage and disappointment with MP-45 Bumblebee's feet, the Datsuns' feet don't look that far off to me. Having that panel on the inside of the feet really helps them, though.

 

Bumblebee's feet are a total non-issue for me, the shots from ToyFair where he's closer to other bots just highlight how small his backpack and feet really are. His feet look about the same size as MP-21's, except at least they're actually cartoon accurate in size from certain angles, unlike 21's  



(frickin' dream table right there)

I'm all good with Bluestreak's stoic face, but I think most of the time he'll be sporting that smiling mug! Such a shame there's no photos of him wearing it.

 

I'm really looking forward to this, which is a first for the 'plus' line. I bought the original Datsuns on eBay and only paid £55 for all three as the seller didn't know if they were genuine, but only Prowl was a KO with Streak and Smokescreen being the real deal. Best bargain I've had since I started collecting!

Anyway, that aside, so much of my collection is 'toon accurate now I don't feel bad about replacing both Streak and Prowl with the plus versions. In fact, I impulse ordered MP-17+ today, along with MP-20+ as I currently only have a £15 KO version of Wheeljack (admittedly a very good one). MP-18+ just looks so much more 'toon accurate and I love the new head sculpt. I don't think I'd replace MP-19 as he's not a favourite character and, livery aside, is mostly toon accurate as is (without serious mould changes).

As I've recently replaced MP-10 with TE-01 and now have the former displayed in alt mode with his trailer, I'll display MP-17/18/20 with him in a similar fashion as and when I swap them out for the plus versions. After that the only member of my Ark crew that's arguably not that close to 'toon accurate is Badcube's Brawny, but I plan on replacing him with FT's Hunk anyway.

So much for not buying repaints. Rationalisation is both a blessing and a curse!

 

Has anyone noticed that all of the images have fake photoshopped autobot logos on his chest?

 

Yup.

 

Weird. Do they do that often or is this new?

 

Its probably just an early hand painted prototype with a mock symbol for the promo shots.

 

I don’t remember seeing that before, so I think it’s new. Can’t be sure without going back and checking though.

 

Yeah. I still find it surprising they take painted prototype photos and then they use it on the box.

 

Hasbro does the exact same thing for there Star Wars vintage line. Honestly doesn’t surprise me .

 

Well now I’m not surprised lol.

 

I've POed this from Hasbro Pulse because I was curious to try them out, but now with all of these delays for Hasbro-sleeved MPs I'm wondering if I should cancel and go with someplace like TFSource that appears to still be going through Hasbro Asia. Otherwise, if I'm going to have to wait anyway, maybe just pick it up on eBay during a flash sale or using my eBay Bucks. Oh the decisions.

 

Well, you'll get him eventually. The question is whether your time is worth more than the time you will spend to get it on eBay, and how that figures to the potential difference in cost. I'm a big fan of the concept of the bird in hand.

 

When this out again? Imma buying

 

Careful! I thought the same of mp20+ Wheeljack, that he’s the only plus version that really interested me, but within a month of having him I’d bought Prowl and Sideswipe too and am eagerly awaiting this guy