Supposedly a mere joke, but I think it was a teaser. Though I could be very wrong about that. Now... WHERE ARE THE PICTURES OF EVERYTHING IN THE CASE?!?! I wasn't to see details on these things dag Babbitt!!
I'm not even just thinking about car mode. I think that as Sideswipe, he's going to look off, standing next to other Classics. I was planning on using MP-10 as my Classics Prime, but if this MP line grows into a thing... well, I may have to let myself get hooked, and give them their own shelf. At this stage, I'd be happy to sell off most of my Alternators to finance that project. I love this style. Well, he's a space-truck, so all bets are off. I agree that his Hot Rod mode (while looking great as a car) is way off, but as Rodimus, you can get away with a lot just by being a "space-truck" with no fixed scale. I think the Winnebago is a common reference point for Rodimus. I don't actually know if he was designed in the US or in Japan... if he was designed by Americans, I think it's impossible to miss the Winnebago associations, but if you instead look at him in the context of Japanese trucker culture, his proportions and flamboyant style actually match those smaller Japanese transfer trucks, which are often customized to the max. If you do a google image search for "Japanese trucks" you'll see some of what I mean. I wouldn't either, but personally, I'd rather see them hit more oldschool Diaclones and such, before backtracking for a Rodimus/Hot Rod. As for the Dome Zero... I don't think the original Hot Rod was necessarily based on that car at all... though his Classics version was. It was a good choice, because it allowed them to retain his space-age aesthetic while giving him a "real" Earth mode. Any way you slice it, those guys are awkwardly scaled. But then... with MP Starscream already in the line-up, vehicle scale in the new MP line is already screwed. Watch, Takara will just repaint Classics Powerglide and call him MP Powerglide! I joke... Classics PG isn't even an accurate A-10. But although sacrificing G1 accurate alt modes seems to be against the new MP spirit, I'd actually love to see Powerglide as a WWII fighter plane (possibly a smaller one). I always thought that concept suited him better than an A-10 anyway. zmog
The teaser Shockwave is a good one,i seriously do not believe they do not have the intention to come out MP Shockwave.
All I can say is YES I just hope its not really expensive. I want this for sure and hope to get this next year when I can afford it.
All I've ever wanted was bot mode cartoon scale 'accuracy', so needless to say, I am more than pleased with that very thing being the new focus of Takara with this reborn Masterpiece line. They said around the release of MP-10 that they were going to (now) focus on maintaining bot mode cartoon scale accuracy, and what we've seen with MP-10 thru MP-13, they've absolutely nailed it to a tee. Assuming we get a quasi complete line of characters, it's going to make the releases of bigger guys like Ironhide & Trailbreaker that much more interesting. The only thing that could possibly make this line more perfect (for me) would be the re-release of Grimlock (and the other Dinobots) at a scale about an inch or so taller than MP-10 and a Skyfire that is as large as MP-01. Beyond that, as long as they continue what they're doing with MP-12/14 sized Autobot characters, I have no complaints whatsoever that some of the alt modes may look out of whack next to each other.
I was never a big stickler about scale, more about engineering and articulation, but if there was a scale I would like them to follow, I'm good with cartoon robot scale. Yeah Grimlock is still Prime height, but that's something I can live with considering how much I like the Grimlock we have. Sideswipe seems perfect to me- it's like classics but... more classic.
The engineering for Sideswipe sure look impressive,it sure is G1 enough & the Lambor car just make it sweeter.
In preparation for Sideswipe I bring you this: CannonBall Run Fever Part 3 - Opening - YouTube Cannot wait for this guy!!!
Is there a chance that there will be a Master Piece "Bluestreak", "Prowl" and "Smokescreen"? If Takara doesn't do it I'm pretty sure some 3rd party company will make them.
I just got my Masterpiece Sideswipe in the mail today, and I have to say that I lucked out in terms of paint apps..It looks pretty good to some of the ones I have seen people post pictures of and review on You Tube....whew!