wow the underside of the jet to me is a huge downgrade for me compared to mp3 and mp11 :/

but i also know i seem to be in the minority with wanting altmodes to be just as clean if not cleaner then bot modes

 

Looks like part of the Null-ray armature forms the back of the bicep.

 

"Look, up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! No, it's a robot wearing a plane on its back!"

 

Jet mode: I keep thinking the intakes look short/fat, but every "marker" I use to reference/align their length/position to, matches up. Can't figure out what's going on.

The text seems to mention F-15, A and C model, the figure seems to have some elements of an F-15C MSIP II, but not enough to actually make it an MSIP II variant. It is a "90's or later" version though, as the tailhook fairing is (finally!) gone. (Seriously, it gets in the way of the foot/ankle articulation of almost every seeker, especially MP-03, and the real thing had it removed decades ago due to how many problems it caused)

Not totally sure on it being an A/C version and not a J----in some pics the mass balances look symmetrical, some they look asymmetrical.

 

So usually I view all of these reveals and stuff as great and don’t whine about issues but this is honestly trash. (In my opinion) The jet has more robot kibble than the previous MP and is ridiculously bloated in both modes. The thing that really gets me is that cockpit though. They could have saved so much room on both modes using a real cockpit. Cartoon accuracy is obviously MP’s only concern at this point, but the fake nose actually removes accuracy by how negatively it effects the overall shape. I’m sure some people are fine with it but just not for me. (And I am also biased against fake kibble)

EDIT:
The the engineering is actually admirable for getting such a detailed F15 top view. I also like that little panel on the bottom of the jet that goes between the vents. And the detailing on the legs and overall shape of them is pretty cool. Not sure how the cockpit transformation actually works but I heard that the seat is the same in both modes so I’ll give them props for that prop.

(More negative rant)
The current MP trend of detailed alt modes with character model accurate robot modes seems unbalanced because of a lack of bot mode detailing. The upper leg section is literally blank.

 

He looks terrific.

My biggest question is what the heck I’m going to do with the pile of older MP Seekers I’ve got, who one by one will become obsolete.

 

This is exactly how I feel. As much as I want MP 44, the QC has killed any chance of me getting it for now. I'm hoping they tighten things up for the seekers. I'd definitely be intetested in getting all of the 84' seekers.

 

Welp.. in my opinion, he looks amazing... 


(Edit: I didn't realize how huge this image was)

Literally me right now:

 

Wow. Ok!

 

Woah, when did we become the minority? This was part of the appeal for the Masterpiece line.

 

Wow I was worried the jet mode would look too simplistic but I’m glad it doesn’t! Hope this is an issue free release as I’m tempted to preorder

 

Yeah, he looks good... But I like Meteor better. Maybe I'll be able to get some heads from the new Starscream, and stick 'em on him. Not sure exactly what it is, but it looks to my eye like the transformation is going to be hellish on this new Starscream, much like Hound or Prime. And I dunno, he has too much kibble to just leave in bot mode all the time.

 

Heh gerwalk legs, fitting since Kawamori designed the Diaclone F-15 a while before working on Macross. Maybe it’s an homage to him?

Only things throwing the look off for me in robot mode are the skinny thighs. If they were just a tad thicker all around it would improve the look, but possibly hinder rotation, so perhaps that’s why they’re thinner.

The horizontal stabilizers looked small to me but it could be the angle. The underside kibble between the intakes throws the look of the bottom fuselage off from the side but it could’ve been much, much worse. Overall I’m happy with it and somewhat relieved.

 

The way the real cockpit folds up under the fake one is incredible!!! Gives me mp-45 back-window vibes and makes the whole mass shifting/shape changing aspect of the G1 transformations in the cartoon really come to life.

I. Am. In. LOVE.

 

I'm not sure I follow what you're thinking of, my guy, but goddammit Screamer needs an operation on those vents.

 

Super far from a dealbreaker though, just a tiny touch i'd personally change. Still pre-ordering this in an INSTANT.

 

...the sculpt and articulation look like great improvements, but i expect he'll get a flat cel-shaded color scheme to result in a lifeless figure unfortunately replete with flaky paint, delicate transformation, and an exorbitant price point...

...hopefully i'm wrong on one or more of those points!..

 

This guy looks beautiful. I personally haven’t liked how the masterpieces have gone from the aesthetic MP-10 had to the extremely cartoon look now, but this guy just looks amazing.

 

...target makes the best trash bags!..

 

Recently I’ve been feeling that the ‘masterpiece moments’ are a bit lacking in modern mps. Sure mp-44 has that clever window trick, and 45 has his bumper which alters the shape of his foot to make it look more compressed, but for some reason, amidst all of the (wonderful) complexities of the rest of the transformation in each case, they get a little lost.

Screamer on the other hand looks to be a return to the mp-36 model of transformation with mp moment after mp moment! Im thinking the cockpit trick will be incredible as will the stabilizer/wing sandwich, the intakes (which have always been a neat trick), the null rays, and the feet seem to be interesting as well! So...I guess what I’m saying is that this transformation looks to be one giant, epic masterpiece moment !