It's no surprise that Kapow haven't put up pre-orders with Brexit looming and no deal in place.

Yeah, as we can see from the photo I posted Roller has a rotating piece too. Here it is in action holding the fuel hose:

We assume that it will. Otherwise it's a sure sign of an impending v2 Sideswipe.

Oddly enough in Generations magazine the annotation next to the jetpack says it's from the episode A Prime Target (which @chchchch pointed out is where Prime uses a jetpack on top of his trailer as some kind of booster). Doesn't mention anything about it being from MTMTE pt 3, nor that it belongs to Sideswipe. Could just be an oversight though, as it's clearly Sideswipe's design and colour.

 

The pin in the rear of Roller tells the tale of his tail. Did I cover all bases with that one? As far as the jetpack, ‘A Prime Target’ is definitely the source but I think the question of how it will connect to the trailer/Prime’s back will answer the question of fitting on Sideswipe.

Are there any slots or small hooks on Prime’s back?

 

It looks like it slots a little bit into the space between on Prime's back between where the truck grill is





Also in this pic we can see that the part at the top of the rocket pack folds in (see the pin on the side), probably so that it can sit flat on top of the trailer.

I imagine it plugs into the rectangular slots at the top of the trailer, meaning it should be able to plug into the same-shaped hole on Sideswipe's back.


Can't really see anything from the straight-on accessories pic




But from the other shot it looks like at the very bottom there is some kind of panel that can fold/move:





Maybe the next Figure King will show us more!

 

Yeah that's gotta be an oversight, especially because the one in Prime Target looked like it was drawn to match the jetpack from Dinobot Island, being grey/chrome and less blocky.

 

I haven’t seen pictures 2 and 3 before. Looks like a snug fit and I was hoping the clip on top would allow for some attachment to Sideswipe. The bottom is interesting because the vents allow for the sound to escape from Prime’s back. I really want me hands on this.

 

There are a coupe more grey prototype shots with different angles of the rocket pack:




Looks like the tab that goes into the hole on the top of the trailer is in the wrong position to look good on Sideswipe, but maybe there's another tab deeper inside the pack.

 

That’s what I’m hoping. A 360 view of the jetpack would clear up this mystery. Of course, I’m sure we’ll see multiple pictures of Sideswipe with the jetpack somehow fitted. Was the rhomboid shape on the jetpack ever featured in the cartoon? I don’t remeber it.

 

You're mean the Optimus Prime Minister? I don't really understand anything about anything outside of the US (or even inside the US, who'm I kidding), but why are they called minister? I thought minister meant church person?

Some people have speculated that maybe the tab can slide around to the proper position for Sideswipe. Doesn't matter to me, because I think the Badcube Sideswipe is a million times better, and he comes with his own jet pack.

 

Not really on topic so I will refer you to Wikipedia.

Minister (government) - Wikipedia
Westminster system - Wikipedia
Government of the United Kingdom - Wikipedia

Just a bit of light reading. Essentially the Prime Minister is our head of Government, a bit like your President.

The UK is currently preparing to leave the European Union at the end of March (don't ask why) and therefore the free market. Meaning we will need to renegotiate trade deals with EVERYONE. That's going to make importing and exporting quite tricky in the short term. Hence how it affects getting MP-44 for some people.

 

I think he was making a joke but yeah, I am just scared of what is going to happen.

 

Best to assume he's not I guess....I'm terrified mate.

 

Speaking as a US person, there's a self-deprecating joke waiting to write itself in here somewhere...

 

You never know, by August UKers might be as lucky as the Americans and not pay any import tax from outside the EU.

Stranger things have happened.

 

Mixing a few images, the MP-44 is quite close to the iconic pose of the animation.  

 

What monster drew the Bay insignia on that G1 Prime  

 

I can't tell the difference... can you point it out? ;p

 

Wider nose, longer forehead slits, and angry eyes / furrowed brows.

Had to remove the one from 17+, it offended me so much  

 

Good thing I am not this picky with the autobot symbol!

 

Haha yes you are lucky. You won’t believe how grateful I am that MP-44 has the correct symbol (nothing but that outline would look truly right to me  )

 

Here is my possible last digibash of MP-44+ (G1 toy) in robot mode--the "vanilla" pose. If this is any good, much credit must go to @Sam for a ton of feedback and great suggestions! Oh and to @RichP for originally suggesting MP-22's hidden face as the basis of the head design! Oh and to @Digger for suggesting in the first place that I try to do an updated toy head in line with 36+!



Here is two more of the same thing, but with the S2 head in both toy and comic colors (i.e., blue vs. black face under the mouthplate):



And I've also updated my previous digibashes of MP-44+ to match the final colors and tampo design/placement of this latest version:



Finally, under the SPOILER tag are all the intermediate stages we went back and forth trying to determine the optimal head shape, insignia size, and tampo design, included so that you can feel our pain!!!

Spoiler: Insanity