OK!

First, I'm judging on accuracy to the cartoon model mainly, as that's what I like, but also just what I think is more attractive or better engineered.

Areas I think TT nailed much better than MT...

- MT has a tiny pinhead with puckered up tiny face - like MP-12. TT head and faces - perfection

- MT shoulder pylons seem too big, but that might be the pinhead's fault. But worst of all they dont angle forward as they should

- Chest intakes - the way TTs taper backwards from inner side to outer side (sorta like Primes chest windows) looks so much more dynamic and appealing, and also model accurate, compared with parallel front facing intakes like MT and MP-11

- I dunno what's going on with the wierd ribs inside MT's canopy rather than any cockpit detail, but it looks strange and unappealing to me

- MT's forearms are parallel sided rectangular blocks. TT's subtly curved and tapered forearms look much more characterful and model accurate

- TT's has best hands evaaaar while MT's are tiny and suck

- Black plastic joint pieces in MT's elbows and null ray linkages look cheap

- MT's crotch looks more broken up with the front flaps all the way to the top. Central, uh, codpiece part too prominent. Or maybe hes just happy to see, uh, Arcee?

- Cuts in the front of MT's thigh very ugly.

- Shape of MT's lower leg all wrong. How they are straight on the inside but bulge out widely on the outside making the blue shin panel not central is inaccurate and unattractive to me. Not to mention how messy they are on the inside and outside/back with the folded tail fin. Boot cut is inaccurate - should slope backwards more towards the floor. TT's lower legs super clean perfectly shaped perfection.

- Kibble management on the back much cleaner on TT's - no visible nosecone.

- MT's F-15 not as accurately sculpted and detailed as TT's in panel lines and features. Tail fin hinges ugly

Areas MT nailed... uh...

- Has waist swivel!

- Underside of jet sticks down less


No contest

 

Hmmm. Shipping to UK.

If you calculate shipping at NY it gives you options ranging from 5000jpy £36 to £70 odd quid, and a ridiculous UPS quote which would cost about as much as MP 44.

It also gives you an option to download a PDF on current state of play on shipping options. Updated 5th August and given AE also state the covid shipping regulations relate to this date I'm assuming it's current.

According to this SAL shipping is out, which I usually opt for. EMS is available to UK.

Using an estimated weight of 1.5 kg (MP 11 mold listed as 1.2kg add some for a stand) EMS comes to 4100 jpy or 30 quid.
It does also say on the product page it can be shipped by airmail for 2310 or 16 quid.

So it looks like options are

AE £170-180 EMS £155 - £165 AIR (not sure how much PayPal will add on, or on my estimate of the weight)
TFS £195
NY is out for me as they are even less reliable than AE, figure more expensive, shipping costs more.

Provided the info on the Japanese websites is correct.

So it's whether the QC (and covid) gamble is worth 30 quid.

 

MP-52 Transformers Masterpiece Starscream Ver 2.0
Theres still this option, which I thnk is a close effin second (or in some cases 1st) when it comes to getting MPs vs Amazon Japan

 

Honestly, I've always liked Thundercracker, he wasn't there to necessarily take a bullet for the cause, but was there because they had free beer and he got to crack some skulls. Not saying he didn't come off as a bully, but not like Skywarp who was a bully and stupid.

 

Wow how did you get that price? When I looked it was @28000 Yen?

EDIT:
OOOPS never mind I see the discount!

 

@Liampope after explaining with surgical precision and irrefutable facts why 52 destroys the threepee

 

What did HLJ charge you for shipping? Or what WILL they charge if they haven’t done so yet?

 

Lol

I'm pretty hairy like him too! Similarities end there.

 

Technically, skywarp and thundercracker shouldn’t have accessories, and should be sold for far cheaper than starscream, but we already know TT will probably raise the price and mark each an “exclusive”. I’m a sucker for accessories, but I’m going to hold out and hope for a Target release at $199 or less. Nothing about this figure warrants the price tag for me. At least mp44 had the Peter Cullen sound chip, trailer, and TONS of accessories, and even that seemed to be pushing it at $330 (people who paid retail are crazy imho).

 

Liam is hairy. Now I'll never forget this. :/

 

Nothing yet which is strange as in the past they normally ask what shipping method you'd like. Thats my hang up right now because this could potentially be a cheaper option...well until I just seen this
Transformers Masterpiece MP-52 Starscream Version 2.0

 

AE is always 30% off retail price. HLJ is 20 something percent. HLJ might be a few dollars better with shipping but delivery cost during COVID is a big mystery to me.

 

AE is charging $188.

 

Do you guys think AJP will have more? I've never seen it sell out so fast. Ordered Arcee and Lio Convoy so late after first date since I couldn't decide on em.

 

Getting closer, lower price/different seller

 

But you're a superhero to me!

Don't understand the "technically Skywarp & Thundercracker shouldn't have accessories" bit. They should most certainly come with the blast effects, at least a few faces, and the flight stand and adaptor. Starscream should come out around $200 shipped and I'm thinking (and hoping!) that SW & TC will be numbered non-exclusive releases this time around and will be similarly priced. There's no indication that these will be like MPMs (a joint TT/Hasbro effort) and available at Target.

Yes people will have different opinions and are free to prefer either 52 or the 3P, but much of what Liam laid out are irrefutable, quantifiable facts.

 

Loyal and loveable bully. 

 

what places dont make you pay upfront