I think I missed this before, and I feel the need to reply:

Because G1 Astrotrain, is modeled after Japan's most-famous locomotive. He's THE steam locomotive that is known and associated with Japan, and defines what "Japanese locos" look like. A non-Japanese alt-mode for Astrotrain's train-mode, would be kind of like making Tracks a Ferrari and Sunstreaker a Mustang. While their alt-modes do get updated, they generally keep the same "look and feel of the original alt-mode's country of origin", as each country tends to have their own spin on how things look.

While most people can't tell US from German from Japanese locos, they all do have their distinct looks. And Astrotrain is "ridiculously, stereotypically Japanese" as locos go. So any new version of him, should probably be Japanese.

 

I don’t feel the need to reply.

 

why not ms-18 as the third instead of two of the same?

 

Wanted a third for train mode and I wasn’t a fan of that color scheme for it.

 

Got my toy version in and stickered up.

 

@nomolos g1 stickers?

 

Nope. I used some left over toyhax stickers trimmed and pieced together. The chest is MT jazz hip and TR full tilt gun stickers. The train accents are from siege reflector toy version. The shuttle details are some eness (I think) set, not even sure which one, layed over some foil trimmed accents from TR Galvatron.

 

My own spin on @Matt Booker's classic joke  

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I didn't think I could love this mold more after having the cartoon colored one, but the toy version has won my heart.

 

Where did you get that original G1 toy version from ??
I can't seem to find that anywhere !!
Was it just a limited release ??

 

He is called ms-18

 

Finally got one for myself, after found one for a tempting price.



That is pretty good articulation.


I like how his wings have articulation too.

Only complaint is that the hip joint is a bit too loose for my taste, but that is easily fixable with nail polish (which i'm currently doing).

 

I sure hope mft upsizes this and gives it finger articulation

 

This is already mft, technically. And mft never made toys above legend+ scale anyway.

 

I also hope this gets some type of upscaling. so far the best Astrotrain out there.
Considering I have FT Thomas, I still have reservations about that figure being the ultimate Astrotrain.

this guy just need upscaling with proper ratcheting for the size difference and backwards articulation for the wings and that would probably crown this as the winning Astrotrain for sure.
Probably a slidable door in his shuttle mode also wouldn't hurt  

 

Hmm, i can get behind this. Maybe kbb, as they upscaled newage flipper before.

 

Yup I agree. If some company can upscale this and add more articulation, it could possibly dethrone thomas.

 

Is it just mine, or the tailfin are generally a pain to flip out from the chest? That one just so tight, and taking it out requires more force than it should be. I even tried to sand the inner walls of the chest, and while it does get better, it still put some pain on my finger everytime i try to pull it out.

 

I have two copies (toon and toy decos) and both are easy to pinch and pull out.

 

Not the case with mine. Even after sanding, i still need to pinch extra hard to be able to pull it out. Before sanding, it won't budge unless i wedge it with small screwdriver.