I haven’t seen any either, and I’ve had this figure since it was first released. I’ve seen a few customs that look okay, but no printed ones. The uncharacteristic head and skinny legs are why I think this mold is best for Red Alert. The chest is brilliant, but otherwise it’s just not quite Sideswipe.

 

It's funny how people have their little bugbears. I mean, I've no doubt we'll get a better and more accurate Sideswipe eventually, but for now I just can't imagine how someone would think MP-12's head is so much better than BC Steamroll's that it's worth giving up these proportions:




For...these:





(Ironically, MP-12 actually does fit pretty well next to the older MP Sunstreakers, all having that sort of Alternator/CHUG/MP hybrid sort of look)

 

The proportions are on point but man do I wish this guys had the sculpt of the Takara (throughout the body).

 

For me, it's not a question of "giving up these proportions". I bought MP-12 first, so I'd have to spend money and purchase a whole extra figure to represent a character I already have. That was not something I was prepared to do at the time.
If Steamroll had come out first, that would be a different situation. But it didn't.

 

That just speaks to the different types of collectors. I totally get your way of seeing your collection... hell...I wish I did it like you. Rather, I'm one of the schmucks that has to have the best version of said character. Before I sold off my MP/3P collection (minus sideswipe and sunstreaker) I was constantly buying and then selling when a new (better) version came out. That shit got old and led to me selling it (mostly) all off.

 

The "best version" of a character is subjective, though. Steamroll is more cartoon-accurate in many ways, but because cartoon accuracy isn't high on my list of wants (it's not on my list at all, in fact) then I prefer MP-12, despite its flaws. I'm unlikely to get what I consider a better version than MP-12 considering TT, Fanstoys, and most other manufacturers are on the animation bandwagon right now. If MP-12 had a collapsible chest and slightly better articulation, I'd love it.

I no longer use the term "best version" and avoid saying a particular is good or bad based on my preferred aesthetic. There are excellent figures out there that I don't want because they look like the cartoon. Likewise, there are flawed figures that I buy because I find the designs interesting, and which deviate considerably from the Sunbow models. A figure's "goodness" or "badness" is completely independent of its aesthetic, in my opinion.

Relative to this thread, I own Steamroll but feel that Recon is a better use of the mold. Steamroll has nice proportions for an Autobot, but is a bit too lanky to match Sideswipe's cartoon model, and isn't Diacloney enough to suit my personal tastes. I've considered just using him for a custom.

 

That official Sideswipe is sooo outdated. It reminds me of those simple Transformers toys from 80's targeted for children.

My favourite bots are Sideswipe and Jazz. FT showed us awesome looking Jazz but I'm dying to see Sideswipe from FT. I want him to look like he literally stepped right out from a cartoon.

 

I've thought about using Steamroll as either a Tigertrack or Deep Cover. But, I'd want to have the different arms/shoulders/doors from Recon but the normal back half/legs/engine cover from Steamroll. I'd think it is doable but I don't have Steamroll to see how much different the parts are.

 

Yeah that's why it just doesn't work for me. The chest and lower legs have absolutely no modification to make to make them more proportionate, they're just a folded front of a car and a split rear of a car. Easily the most simplistic official MP by far.

And I mean, that's great if you want a more articulated version of the orginal 80s toy, but for a toon-oriented collection it sticks out more than any other MP except MP-03.

 

So you’d rather it look like a simple Transformers drawing from the 80’s targeting children?

That’s fine— to each their own. But making a figure look like a cartoon doesn’t make it better. Not everyone likes that style. I agree that MP-12 is long overdue an update, but if it’s basically Sideswipe along the lines of MP-52, I won’t be interested.

 

@Zentropy it's not worth the time and energy, you can tell them the cartoon was drawn and produced as quickly and cheaply as possible in order to sell the toys, and it will be ignored. You can ask them how it can be "toon accurate" when they didn't draw it the same from one panel to the next. It doesn't matter to them, it is a philosophical difference that will never have a common ground.

 

If toon accuracy doesn't instantly transport you back in time, then it never will and you'll never understand. It's a magic button that your brain just doesn't have.

 

This is a complete non argument that ignores the simple that animation always these caveats whether you like the final results or not. It applies to nearly all mass media cartoons from Dragonball to Sonic X to Spider-Man. "Cartoon accuracy" is not a magic bullet reply to shut down discussion. Again, I point to Gundam with how it can have an entire line of high quality cartoon accurate action figures like Robot Damashii ver ANIME, but also more "realistically" styled versions of the same designs for Metal Build. Attacks on the original Transformers cartoon's quality always come off as an exaggeration, as if the show was somehow outside the range of a typical weekly series.

 

I'm not trying to knock anyone's preferences-- I just want to stress that "cartoon accuracy" doesn't equate to "better figure". That's a subjective call. I for one started collecting Transformers before the cartoon debuted, and it's the toys that captured my interest. The cartoon was moderately entertaining, but paled in comparison to the figures themselves and to my imaginings that they inspired. So I completely understand "nostalgia buttons", but mine aren't linked to an inconsistently-drawn cartoon. The toys were my muse. What transports me back in time are homages to those Diaclone details-- the washed-out, undetailed cartoon models look completely uninteresting to me in 3-D plastic form.

 

I mean yeah, it really comes down to what captured your interest as a kid. I can never relate to feeling that way about the toys, because I was hooked on the cartoon way before I got any of the toys. Most of the toys I owned were hand-me-downs from my older cousin, and I always thought they were strangely proportioned and inaccurate to the characters I already knew, like I vividly remember being so dissatisfied by Astrotrain's teeny tiny arms, for example (it wasn't until I got older that I really started appreciating the retro weirdness of G1 figures, though I still don't want any of that weirdness in my modern figures).

 

Yeah, I was debating upgrading Red Alert cause I had the toon coloured version but it still doesn't have blue windows and is just so dated looking with the proportions so I ordered Recon the other day. Definitely prefer Steamroll to Sideswipe.

 

When I was a kid the cartoon got me into the toys. I was always disappointed that the character models in the toon were so much cooler than the toys... but I loved them regardless. Now I get to have both options. I have my toon MPs and Their MP toy counterparts.

Best of both worlds baby!

 

Recon is a hair more tricky to get to stand than Steamroll because the bottom of the feet are a little different. Still, he's a night and day improvement for me, so much so that I sold off my official Sideswipe and Red Alert.

Everyone opinions going to vary but it was a huge upgrade IMO in my display.

 

Sorry the show started in my country in '90s and I never had any of Transformers toys. So I remember them strictly by cartoon. I think Sideswipe is well drawn unlike some other bots ( like Superion. It was horrible drawn and I would never buy toy that looks so bad ) With mp-12 it's not just toon accuracy but something that is aestheticially bad and not visually pleasing to my eyes. I mean that small head and face ( reminds me of that tiny MT Meteor faces which suck) Then his chest is too wide and it definitely need some work. And elephant shins. That is not how I want Sideswipe to look. Also his trasformation should be more complex to achieve better results. And this is correct by today standards. Well if you like mp-12 I'm perfectly fine with that. Tastes are subjective. I am patiently waiting for FT to see what they can deliver. I really like their aesthetics unlike Takara. Then again it's just my personal taste and opinion. And good for us if we can have more choices.