This might sound like a stupid question, but do you have the heel spurs out on yours?

 

This is good information to have, thanks!

 

I've ordered the Takara version but I'll be assessing both in-hand before I decide who stays and who goes. I reckon it's going to be a close one! Did the same with the DS Seekers and MP-52 to ensure I had no regrets. Seems to be happening more and more and it's not always obvious from pictures which figure works best in my collection.

 

Transformed my OG Phoenix for the first time in years just now, and even after being super careful with unlocking the tab, it partially broke (there's a stress marks and it moves to the touch). So yeah, still a terrible design. Not sure it'll surpvive another transformation, so probably a good thing it'll end up in alt mode permanently when Skyfore arrives. Just a really bad design.

 

I'm selling an Ft-10X if anyone's interested

 

Nothing about the official figure looks better to me. I even struggle seeing the supposed toon accuracy in the facesculpt. It gives me zero vibes of the depth, melancholy and confusion of his iconic appearance in FITS. Lookwise Phoenix completely destroys MP57 imo. Even his headsculpt convinces me more. But hey, to each his own, I guess.

 

It’s certainly accurate to… something.

 

I totally agree. It all comes down to 1 thing in my opinion: Takara doesn't make masterpieces, they make TOYS. FT, XTB, and other 3rd party companies make high end Masterpiece figures worthy of displaying. I'm not into an oversized derpy looking CHUG. Phoenix for the win for me!

 

Can you define what makes a masterpiece ?

Takara use Diecast where necessary, they use paint, they use all modern engineering.... sooo what is a masterpiece ? Because that sounds exactly like what you have here with Phoenix.

What you are saying is you do not like cartoon interpretations. If anything Phoenix is more like a CHUG figure here being a more stylised non literal interpretation of the G1 cartoon.
It's such a weird take to dislike the Takara masterpiece line saying it's not really masterpiece when they are the only ones in a position to state what the Transformers Masterpiece line looks like.

Saying you don't like the design is one thing but to declare an actual Masterpiece figure as a non masterpiece when you prefer a figure which is imitating the masterpiece line is some strong mental gymnastics.

 

Yeah, exactly, but definitely not accurate to the better drawn frames of Skyfire. Phoenix looks much closer here. TT doesn't even get the shape of the eyes right.



I'm in the same situation I was with FT vs TT Trailbreaker. FT simply looks better to me. So I'm happy there is an alternative to TT.

 

To me, the biggest problem this figure has is simply that Quietus is better. To me, for my collection, those two figures set the bar for excellence in Transformers toys. And nothing even comes close.
It's why I get so disappointed when they miss; their hits are HUGE.
Ok, here I go back to apparently being a Fans Toys hater again.

 

mas·ter·piece
/ˈmastərˌpēs/
noun
a work of outstanding artistry, skill, or workmanship.

To me, Takara isn't outstanding. It's a Honda Civic with nice paint and ground effects pretending to be a Ferrari.

I know beauty is in the eye of the beholder. This is just my opinion.

 

Doesn't matter what you think. Takara's line is literally called Masterpiece.

 

Posted some thoughts in the MP-57 thread based on a plane mode comparison alone. Basically I prefer Phoenix's jet mode BUT I prefer MP-57's finish and paint.

It's a VERY close call. Don't believe anyone who says one completely dumps on the other! Whichever you prefer is more likely to come down to personal preferences on what's important to you and your collection and there is no wrong answer.

 

Ah, be careful suggesting that names mean anything. I suggested on the toxic FB group once that FansToys figures were toys, and I got a ranting reply "I suppose you think that Hot Toys figures are toys too?!". (He seemed annoyed that I had never heard of Hot Toys.)

Maybe "Masterpieces" aren't masterpieces, and "FansToys" aren't toys. I suppose that would at least be consistent.

(For the record, I think that Phoenix looks better out of context. But I think that the MP looks much more like Jetfire.)

 

Takara is still "Masterpiece". But these third party companies have caught up big time in terms of quality, finish, likeness, transformation, articulation, etc. Back in the days, it would almost be an instant thought of waiting for the official figures to drop to replace the third party equivalent - not so anymore. Both Takara and certain third parties make "Masterpiece" figures.

I haven't been paying attention to MP-57. I assume he's more articulated than Phoenix, but does he have a waist swivel and/or ab crunch?

 

I'm sticking with Phoenix. MP-57's face just looks too narrow and derpy to me. He also looks young, like it was a version of him while he was on Cybertron hanging out with Starscream. The TT version has superior articulation, which is great, but both Skyfires are so massive that posing them like anything other than a generic statue will take up a ton of space on a shelf.

 

And MP-57 is already pregnant!