Masterpiece MP-36+ Megatron

Discussion in 'Transformers Feedback & Reviews' started by Starscream Gaga, Dec 28, 2018.

  1. Starscream Gaga

    Starscream Gaga Protoformed This Way

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    Masterpiece MP-36+ Megatron

    Category is: Hideously Expensive 80's-themed Exclusive Redeco EXTRAVAGANSA!

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    Fresh off the heels of MP-36+ comes the leader of the Decepticons himself, Megatron and tonight he is bringing some 1984 realness in a redeco of the already outstanding MP-36 Megatron toy that homages the original 1984 toy rather than the cartoon version of the character. To be specific, MP-36+ is homaging the original American release of the toy, which featured a striking chromed deco, broken up by some truly ugly grey plastic. This particular deco of the '84 toy wasn't actually released in Japan outside of reissues, but it was presumably chosen because the original deco used in Japan was a bit too similar to the deco of the original MP36... and you've got to get that chrome, right?

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    As someone who prides themself on an extensive and all-encompassing Megatron collection, it's kind of embarassing to admit that I don't actually own the original American colourscheme of the G1 toy, so the Ehobby Black Version is the closet thing I have to compare it too.

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    Of course, the star of this toy is the two new accessories: a face based on the original toy and a new chest that features Megatron's famous "chest swirls". It's worth noting that the swirls aren't just painted on: they're molded into the chest plate! Very nice. Seriously though, I am gagging for that new face! Just look at it! He's planning some galaxy=spanning, genocidal facism but he won't tell.

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    As with the original MP36, MP-36+'s stock and silencer can combine into to configurations, just like the original 1984 toy's could. With the accuracy to the original toy, this feature is perhaps now more relevant than ever considering that it was never used in the cartoon, but it's still looks pretty ridiculous-looking. The first configuration is the "Particle Beam Cannon" whilst the second is the over-the-shoulder "Telescopic Laser Cannon".

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    Just like with MP36, they can also combine into a flight stand that I, for the life of me, can't figure out how to actually attach to the figure. Any advice on that would be appreciated! Theoretically that flight stand would be used for flying poses, but it's another feature that's pretty specific to the cartoon-version of the character rather than this toy accurate version. The Fusion Cannon, like the original, features lights and sounds but batteries are not included

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    Next to the original MP36, it's actually striking how much he stands out with his almost obnoxious shiny chrome. There's no getting around how ugly the grey plastic is, but it is accurate to the original toy so it gets a pass... the lucky bastard. The little details like the original stickers being painted onto the insides of the arm and crotch look absolutely oustanding and the Decepticon emblems on the sides of the guns amusingly become ass-tattoos on the robot-mode, which ends up being somewhat endearing.

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    MP-36+ also comes with another chestpiece, a straight redeco of the original MP-36's chest that features a toy-accurate Decepticon insignia and no chest swirls. It also comes with three of MP36's four faces, specifically the neutral, yelling and laughing faces. These toys come decked out with yellow eyes rather than the cartoon's red. Honestly, I'm never going to use them as I'm all about the new face and chest, and yet I'd still be hypocritically pissed off if they weren't included. I suppose they could be used to represent the Marvel Comics version of the character, but he of course had a blue/black helmet.

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    MP-36+ has two different positions for the gun barrel suggested by the instructions, the first is the cartoon-accurate look that places it on his back and is intended to be used with the three extra faces and chest-swirl-less chestplate and the the other is to swing it down by his side like the original toy did. The thing is... the photos on the box have it sitting at a perfect right angle, but it didn't come in the box like that and I simply can't get it to not be staying at an angle and I'm too afraid of breaking the figure to try it too hard. Hopefully someone else will be able to confirm if I'm just not trying hard enough.

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    Of course, both MP-36 and MP-36+'s accessories are interchangeable. I'm not sure exactly why you'd want to, but it's always nice to have options. I suppose the MP-36+'s chest gives a bit of bling to the grey colourscheme of MP-36.

    Of course, he transforms into his gun mode. The chrome on the figure is so thick that I figure you can do it without having to worry too much about scratching it off. I personally haven't transformed it yet, but that's mostly due to the gun mode simply being too big to fit into my lightbox... and official photos really gives you a good a look at it as I could ever provide.

    And now... the bad. This toy was an exclusive in Japan and as such fetched a high price (almost $400AUD after postage!), so the lack of accessories is quite inexcusable. First of all, the toy lacks six of the original's accessories (The Energon flail and it's interchangeable chain, the Energy Dagger, the Laser Pistol, The Key to Vector Sigma and the Control Helmet) and while he does come with a new face and new chestplate they replace the battle-damaged face and chest of MP36. To me, it really seems inexcusable to have less accessories on a more expensive release of the same toy... even for toy accuracy the Transformers Collection reissue of the original toy in the very same deco that this toy is based on came with an Energon flail accessory! The other big omission is the lack of Laster Rifle and Sword accessories. When Masterpiece has previously released new, toy-accurate versions of their toys they've often included new weapons based on the ones that the original toys have, so it was a massive disappointment that this toy lacks the expected weapons. Hell, the originals scale with this one pretty well so they could have even just repacked them!

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    In conclusion, MP-36+ is a disgustingly expensive waste of money that seems to be intentionally pushing the boundaries of how much Transformers fans will be willing to shell out on their products and I feel bad for supporting it... and yet I still love it, am glad that it exists and don't regret buying it. I disgust myself. ...Although at least I wasn't enough of a sucker to buy MP-12+.

    Shante, you stay.
     
    Last edited: Dec 29, 2018
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  2. Shin Densetsu

    Shin Densetsu I WILL DESTROY YOU Content Contributor Veteran

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    Welcome back man I missed seeing your reviews! Figure looks great, it looked bad at Tokyo Toy Show under really bright(possibly flourescent lighting) but it's looked good in the photos I've seen it in since!

    Very tempted for this. Might get one eventually.
     
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  3. omegafix

    omegafix Mechanically Insane

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    I had to cancel mine due to hitting a deer last month and my insurance company not covering the repair to my car (those fuckers can do some real damage).............kinda glad I did cancel it too
     
  4. daddytron

    daddytron Made of too much clear plastic

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    Thanks for the great review and pics Gaga!
    I was torn between getting this and the normal version for Christmas. Ultimately opted for the normal one but I might look at this down the road if he doesn't sell out. Not much for updated G1 toys but Megatron is kind of an exception for me. I was always into how weird the G1 toy looked.
     
  5. DarkEyes

    DarkEyes Well-Known Member

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    I'm impressed, he looks like a complete different toy!

    Almost tempted to get one!
     
  6. LigerPrime

    LigerPrime Well-Known Member

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    I have now seen the toy first hand and darn it...this is my perfect version of Megatron...the one that’s on the box art on the G1 Megatron I got in 84(?) - sans the crotch piece! X)
     
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  7. Marto6

    Marto6 Well-Known Member

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    Really digging this version of Masterpiece G-1 Megatron. Have always enjoyed the toy inspired MP figures. Plus, It's cool that a exclusive is reflecting a North American deco of the figure.

    A question... Has anyone done a translation of the back page article on his instructions? I'm curious as to what it has to say. If anyone knows where to find that info ..thank you in advance for your help.
     
  8. Grendel163

    Grendel163 Galactic Transcender

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    20190925_114314.jpg 20190925_114245.jpg 20190925_114237.jpg 20190925_114203.jpg 20190925_114149.jpg 20190925_114129.jpg 20190925_114314.jpg 20190925_114245.jpg 20190925_114237.jpg 20190925_114203.jpg 20190925_114149.jpg 20190925_114129.jpg 20190925_114314.jpg 20190925_114245.jpg 20190925_114203.jpg This one's a beauty. He seems more menacing than the toon version. Glad I picked this one up. No regrets. Hopefully they'll come out with a MP-44+ to go with this guy 20190925_114314.jpg
     
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  9. Depthcharge

    Depthcharge Well-Known Member

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    Just curious but does anyone else have some problems getting this figure into gun mode? The tolerances seem off on mine and it's just not as smooth as my regular 36. Also, the flat piece that the scope mount onto for fun mode is earlier and curls upward away from the top of the gun leaving an unsightly gap. Are there issues common?
     
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  10. Grendel163

    Grendel163 Galactic Transcender

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    I havent tried to transform him into gun mode yet and I probably wont ever in fear I'd damage all the chrome goodness lol. Just knowing that it does transform is ok with me. But I imagine tolerances differ from the regular MP36 because of the thickness of the Chrome IMO.
     
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  11. Grendel163

    Grendel163 Galactic Transcender

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    MP-36+ is on sale for $199 at BBTS if anyone wants him!
     
  12. daddytron

    daddytron Made of too much clear plastic

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    Sorry about the thread necromancy but I’m looking for help. Bought this off ebay MISB and it is absolutely amazing. However, my copy came with two toon yelling faces but none of the neutral toon face. Then on top of that I accidentally dropped the toon chest plate on the floor and my puppy found it before I did and chewed it to hell. Granted, I bought it for the toy chest and face and my copy will spend at least 95% of its existence with those parts on. But I did intend to use the faceplate that was missing (it’s my favorite MP-36 face) and the chest plate that got rekt from time to time.

    Is there anybody that threw those parts into a drawer or back in the box never to be seen again that would be willing to sell them to me?
     
  13. chrisr291

    chrisr291 Master of the Unknown

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    Not sure why I never considered this figure in the past but ifs phenomenal. Frankly, I’m ready to dump the normal version of Megatron for this figure. My initial impressions….
    1. Tighter joints
    2. Better build quality compared to first run MP-36
    Beyond that, I can’t believe it took this long for me to buy this Megatron. It’s my favorite, hands down! If you are open to a unique Megatron in your collection, I highly recommend this one.


    08706A1F-9C36-40ED-B3EF-3E61B403B8D2.jpeg B844CFE7-C73C-40DA-8B4C-5A800D3CC7DF.jpeg 671FDBA2-B80F-4C70-B0C2-B409D5C53CE3.jpeg 3913CF1F-A129-48A2-BB31-463A11E4F07E.jpeg E03F139C-3D36-44E7-BF3C-B9D8C9C6092B.jpeg CE435192-706A-4988-950E-A9C16105060D.jpeg
     
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  14. daddytron

    daddytron Made of too much clear plastic

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    Yep, easily in my top three favorite things in my collection and just may be #1.