Just wanted to chime on this thread. I love love love the Masterpiece line. Here's some pics of me messing around with my Hasbro MP1 reissue: Megazord vs Optimus Prime - Imgur

I guess you could say I appreciate the articulation on these newer toys. The old Megazord is so clunky, Bandai should make a masterpiece line!

 

I'm looking to get grimlock and wanted to know which was better, the Takara (non comic box) or the hasbro. I found both for under $300. Thanks in advance for facts and opinions. Also pics of differences would be great too.

 

I don't have him, but I love the blue on the knees. Looking forward to seeing your pictures.

 

  here you go:









obligatory auto bezerk shot

 

^^^Very nice! You sure didn't waste any time. They sure look good together.

(grumbles about needing them both)

 

the amount of remolds they did from swipe to alert is pretty cool

remolded the head crown, shoulders, chest, and face.

 

Yeah...after picking up Sideswipe, I can't WAIT to get a hold of Red.

 

It seems like Takara Masterpiece is degrading. I'm hoping If they are going to release a MASTERPIECE, make sure that's its really a MASTERPIECE... just like what
they used to release before...

 

I have Hasbro and I love him. Its just a fantastic figure and got me into collecting the MPs in the first place. I don't know the specific differences between Takara and Hasbro's versions, but I found this review on youtube that spends 14 minutes comparing them:

MP Grimlock Review US TRU version vs. Japanese Masterpiece - YouTube

If someone else knows more, feel free to chime in.

 

I am partial to the Hasbro version because I LOVE the fact that it comes with the crown, Grimlock is King so you gotta have dat crown

I just got my Grimlock today actually bought it from a guy here on the forums MiB for $140! It is flat out awesome...

Safe to say im so happy right now I have been wanting this figure badly but e-bay prices are insane.

 

Sorry -Disagree 100%. The original masterpieces don't particularly look like the characters. MP01 only has 1 decent mode! And the grill chest looks weird in bot mode! Megs looks really awkward -Cannon is WAY too big. Sorry -I don't find them impressive at all... Size wize I guess thats kinda cool, but there are few redeeming qualities. The Seekers with the stupid scabbard look... no.

Grimlock is when Masterpiece became true Masterpieces. The reboot with MP-10 was genious and the breakout of other less iconic characters like Sideswipe and Red Alert has made this the premium line to demand and collect. Just my opinion, but personally I've gone from a 0 to an 11 in anticipation of this line.

-There will never be a finer rendition of these cartoon characters than what this line will produce. How is that not Masterpiece?

 

So after watching that video, it comes down to this:

Hasbro has more paint applications on the arms/legs in both modes. Hasbro's autobot symbol in dino mode is also a little brighter.

The grey color is ever so slightly lighter on Takara.

Hasbro has slightly rounded teeth and claws so they aren't quite as sharp, though its not that noticable.

Hasbro comes with the crown accessory, while Takara comes with waiter outfit, drinks tray, and mind switcher gizmo.

Other than those minor things they are nearly identical.

 

^you got it, and the nice takara box

agreed, i had the get some here and there attitude with 1-7, 8 onwards, gotta get them all lol

although, i find mp-05 to be an amazing feat of engineering

 

Thanks alot guys. Now I still can't decide!  
I guess it comes down to the one I can get. Ever since I got Hasbro MP 10 I've been crazy about MPs. I love MP-12 and 13 and MP11 TC. Do the Takara seekers stay together in bot mode better? My TC comes apart if I pick him up by the cockpit.

 

You might have a small miss transformation in there.

 

This echoes my thought entirely. The new releases have been nothing short of amazing, while the older ones all had some significant flaws. Hell, the old seeker version couldn't even stand up on its own.

 

Agree 100%. I could care less about size, die-cast and weight. I'm looking for cartoon accuracy and scale, and that's what the Masterpiece line has finally started to deliver.

 

Click for full size

Click for full size

As much as I love my Hercules (and Uranos!), TFC's designs just take too many liberties to fit the "Masterpiece" aesthetic...

Plus, with all the seekers and Insecticons on the 'Con side, it was already hard enough to come up with an equal number of "Masterpiece" Autobot figures for their group shot!

Ultimately, cartoon scale determined who got to appear in each pic; MP-09 Rodimus and MP-10 Optimus are just too large next to Masterpiece Grimlock, but iGear's "Faith Leader" is the perfect size (particularly when Inferno, Grapple, and iGear's "Specialists" are included). For the same reason, iGear's minibots (such as "Hench") were rejected because they're just a little too small, particularly next to Art Feather's Bumblebee.

Come to think of it, that Powerglide's probably a little too small as well...  

Oh, and anyone wondering why Megatron is absent from the 'Cons need only look in Skywarp's left hand.  

 

I know that the Takara release of a masterpiece is for something like 15 years and up, but what is the age for the Hasbro release of a masterpiece figure?

 

wow, I love the 3P/official stuff you mixed there. really stunning how well faith leader fits, too. think I was most surprised by that.