I'm gonna say, probably the latter.

Gotta say, I'm not super feeling this guy. I mean, I'll get him, but I somewhat doubt he's going to be replacing my Thrilling 30 Rhinox for my Beast Wars display.

Not really into the shading they've used for the plastic of his rhino skin, and the speckles on it aren't really tickling my fancy, either.

I agree, the lower legs feel over-engineered, just from these shots, at least. Also, it's clear that his chest isn't actually formed from the beast mode mouth. You can clearly see that the mouth is still attached to his rhino head in robot mode, and it seems like it folds up somehow into the beast mode.

Also, take a look at his chest. On the right side, right next to his fake beast chest-mouth, there's a pretty big hole, you can see right through to his back kibble.

And lastly... the head. Not into it. Just feels off to me.

 

They said Scorponok was designed in partnership with Takara so i was thinking him instead

 

Porque no los dos

 

When they said Scorponok was designed in collaboration with TakaraTomy it basically cemented in my mind that he is next. Not my first choice for the next BW MP but after seeing that Kingdom figure I am definitely okay with him.

 

Now THIS is the type of wild speculation that I love!

 

It's my calling card  

 

I haven't watched any of these events, do we know what other figures were designed in collaboration with Takara? does that mean other figures are designed in the US solely by Hasbro?

I feel like there are 2 vastly different levels of 1996 Beast Wars screen accuracy in the Kingdom Line.

Some of them are exraordinarily close to their OG designs:
Optimus Primal
Dinobot
Blackarachnia
Megatron
Airazor
Rattrap

Others are recognizeable but seem much more like loose homages to the 1996 characters:
Cheetor
Scorponok
Rhinox

the second category even seem to have much less reminiscent head sculpts than the first category.

Does anyone else feel this way? Is there an explanation? Is Takara's collaboration the cause? Are existing masterpiece designs the cause? Could it just be multiple design teams with differing talents or priorities? Cheetor and Scorponok in particular just seem so misproportioned and strange amongst the rest of the Kingdom Beast Wars characters.

I ask all these questions to try to better deduce which MP BW Takara is currently working on.

 

Every figure is designed in partnership with Takara.

 

This does actually give me hope for a damn excellent looking MP Rhinox. The faux chest, tidy skirt piece into grated with the thighs and origami shell-former lower legs will almost definitely be features of the MP but executed to perfection.

If Scorponok is the next MP then I need TT to announce him quick before I go and blow all my TF cash getting a pair of Dave’s version. It’s so annoying having absolutely no indication as to who could possibly be next. It could literally be anyone at this point and, thanks to Kingdom, Scorponok actually seems like a real possibility.

 

Exactly, lol!

 

Likewise, proportionally it's fine but the devil is in the details and that's where the kingdom version falls short. I'm very fond of the T30 and while it's problematic below the waist the face sculpt, the show accurate maximal insignias on the head, to even the paint application on the figure are fantastic. The kingdom rendition of the face doesn't read for the character in contrast to the other show figures we've seen so far plus the lacking paint application does it another disservice. It's definitely a pickup but the value of that T30 is only going up.

This is a fun game to take part in, if a MP Rhinox were on the horizon I could definitely see some of the core mechanics and construction cues in the kingdom line adapted into the figure. It would be no small feat of engineering to get so much size concealed under that alt mode shell and panels.

 

I would LOVE a Masterpiece Scorponok. Something about his design always just worked for me and his original toy was one of my favorites (despite how inaccurate to the show he was and how fragile).

I’m honestly not sure how I feel about the new Kingdom Scorponok. It’s like it both works and doesn’t work for me A Masterpiece would be more than welcome.

 

I would love nothing more than my insane ramblings from the last few years to come true

 

Oh man, if Scorps is the next official release, I can totally see you like-

 

If he is next, I will be 100% convinced we are getting everyone in MP form.

If scorponok can get an MP, anyone can get an MP.

 

Tihihihehehe...

 

Im finally posting after lurking a while here after Scorponok being announced as part of Kingdom line!!

I hope he gets a MP release too. He and Inferno are the one that I want to get the most.

What do u guys think of the likelihood fof Inferno? I know his vintage version was shelfwarmer but BW is incomplete with the loyal soldier of Megatron.

 

IF Scoponok is next, everyone is getting a figure. I really don't see Inferno being left behind.

 

I think Inferno is probably the easiest to do an MP out of the first season cast. His robot mode character model is essentially just his toy model. If they can pull off god damn Dinobot as good as they did, Inferno will be a piece of cake.

 

But i heard he isnt popular. That's why he isnt in the kingdom lineup as well. Kinda sad cause the kingdom basically covered everyone from S1 except Inferno.