Seeing that Wheelie from Jizaitoys got me thinking. If Hasbro/Takara made masterpieces of transformers that were small in the tv show (minibots, insecticons, etc.) they could sell those in between the larger figures to close the gaps. If it is going to happen eventually anyways, might as well do it in between projects. This way we could have a constant flow of MP's and we could buy MP's for less cost. Anybody agree?
That would be cool, but I can't see hasbro EVER doing something like this. Takara will just re-release the G1 figures again.....
somewhat, but the figures of the masterpiece line are to be identical to their original form in all ways pretty much ie...have their original alt mode (onslaught big ole missle truck if made into masterpiece)
But I haven't bought any classics for one reason: They are new takes on the old figures. Astrotrain turns into a bullet train, I want a freight train. Besides the seekers (which fall very short to MP SS), they are completely different characters to me. I want complete G1 likeness, not just the character with a completely different style that strays from the TV show.
I would imagine (though this is purely speculation) that the MP figures, given their quality and sophistication, are incredibly expensive and time consuming to produce (relative to your basic, run of the mill TFs). Given this, I don't think the potential benefits of producing, say, a Masterpiece Brawn or Shrapnel, would be worth Takara's energies. It wouldn't sell like a Megatron or Optimus, and you couldn't use its mold to make several different figures (like Starscream), which might would help to justify costs. . .I guess that I agree with Peaugh. I don't think of the Classics as anything related to MPs myself, though, given their size and quality, I do consider the Alts to be in the same "family" (despite the fact that many of them diverge from their G1 counterparts in one way or another).
No I don't agree. Masterpiece is masterpiece there should not be any deviation. For smaller "masterpiece" there are a couple of lines like Alternators/Binaltech and THS hybrid series.
what deviation? Alts and Binaltech are not in the "usual" definition of a masterpiece in that they are not exact replicas of the tv show. By small masterpieces I mean well detailed figures which are exactly the same as their tv counterparts just like MP SS, Optimus and Megs. I am just saying that it would be nice to get those figures who were not nearly as tall as OP or Megs in the show into in an MP form in scale with Op and Megs so that they aren't all aroud 12" tall. This would be the only solution if you don't want a 12" bumblebee that is a tall as Op.
That would actually be pritty dope! They could bundle them together like they did with the mini-bots for Encore if they wanted to keep the higher pricepoint (if that would be a decideing/influencing factor). Although I woldn't mind a "regular" Masterpeice sized Bumblebee and/or Cosmos.
Your expectations are not only unreasonable, but also flawed. The Masterpiece line is anything but G1 Cartoon Accuracy. Prime is fairly close, but Megatron and Starscream? Starscream's original release had him in green/"grey" and he has those "scabbards" along the side of his legs. Not very cartoon accurate at all. Megatron is anything but show accurate. Chicken legs and skinny arms. Not to mention the head is missing the unibrow. And really, with all the design engineering devoted to an accurate gun mode, they really should've focused more on the robot given how the gun ends up being oversized anyway. MP Megs is more of an update on the original toy than a recreation of the cartoon character. Businesses are there to make money. The mini-bots will never recieve the masterpiece treatment because they lack the "assured sale" power that a character like Optimus Prime or Megatron always has.
Well the way I pose my CARTOON ACCURATE colored Starscream is with the "scabbards" posed so that the tailfins are behind his back not visible (the way he was meant to be transformed. I'll give you the fact that megatron is too skinny, but that is only for a cartoon accurate gun mode. There was no way that he would have turned out the way he did if he had fat legs and thighs. The only thing not cartoon accurate on those three would be the extra details on the plasitc (like the lines on MP SS's wings), but that is only to get a realistic looking alt mode which is what the G1 show was going for). The fact that MP SS doesn't look like a revoltech is good thing since the slat paint of revoltechs would make for unrealistic alt. modes. In G1, starscream was supposed to be an F-15, Megs a walther P38, and Ops a truck. Some things (like the "scabbards" of SS or the skinny limbs of Megs suffer due to this, but that is all for ultimate accuracy and detail.
I personally have always concidered the MP figures to be the ultimate toy for that character, and not really toon-accurate representations (something like that could actually be done a bit easier and a bit cheaper, imo). Some smaller one's would be nice, but I don't think that they're likely to happen. Hopefully we get some news about a new mold for the line. I could see them doing some MP versions of non-G1 characters, as there aren't too many extremely popular characters that they could justify the MP treatment for. A MP Optimus Primal would be cool. They could even give him faux fur. I'll be surprised if we don't see something special for next year. If I'm not mistaken that's the 25th Ann. of TF's. A MP Grimlock would, imo, be the perfect way to celebrate the occasion.
I agree with the opinion that an MP is the ultimate toy for that character also. Basically, I agree with everything you said, but while I am not in love with the minibots (although that jisaitoys wheelie is amazing a and MP bumblebee would be cool), I still think that there might be a chance. As for MP Optimus Primal, it could happen, but I still want to see more G1 before they move on (rodimus, galvatron, soundwave, grimlock all come to mind).
I want as many G1 TF's as possible because Masterpeices are the only transformers that I will ever buy again. As soon as I got MP SS and DVD Prime, I knew that I would never buy another Starscream or Optimus again. Masterpieces are the perfect transformers. While the Takara ones sometimes have QC flaws, that has nothing to do with the mold. I'm sure that if they made an 8" shrapnel or bumblebee(which will never happen due to VW's decision not to "be involved with war") everyone would buy them. How wouldn't that make Hasbro/Takatomy money? I know its a business, which is exactly why I am suggesting this idea.
I would like to see all 18 of the original autobots given the masterpiece treatment. I know it is unlikely. I am using alternators as a fill in for now and I am working on my last two customs (ratchet and trailbreaker) then I will have them all minus the minibots. I still need the minibots but the japanese classics bumblebee looks pretty darn good so that might fill the spot if they can just make the other minibots.
