Toy Review - MP11 Starscream

[griffin]

(Please post photos, comments or even a fully comprehensive review - these are just brief details to start you off)

Series - Masterpiece
Sub-line - N/A
Size/class - N/A
New/remould/redeco - New? (heavily redone MP3?)
Wave - N/A
Released here - Not here (released in Japan & HK March 2012)
Approximate Retail Price - US$160
Approximate Size - 23cm
Allegiance - Decepticon
Alt-mode - F-15 fighter jet
Main Features/Gimmicks - 'Masterpiece figure'
Main Colours - Light grey, red, blue.
Main Accessories - Cape, crown, 2x shoulder-pads.

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/tftoys/jp2012a12.jpg

[SharkyMcShark]

I've not been impressed massively with what I've seen of this (I think MP3 looks far better in both modes) (although I am willing to concede that this might be closer to the G1 look) I may import this at some point, seeing as I'm finished with the Prime line.

After one figure.

[Trent]

Not owning either figure and having recently decided to acquire a MP Screamer, IMO, from what I have seen 11 is a much better all round figure than 3. MP3's alt mode looks better but the mp11 bot mode looks HEAPS better. I like the more G1 accurate look.

[Deonasis]

I own the old MP-3 mould in Ghostscream I was pretty happy with it as a display piece, you know the too fiddley and too brittle type of toy that we accept just has to remain attached to it's display base in either mode. Dispite being 90% the same figure MP-11 manages to be something very different..

The face, photos don't do it justice. Photos usually make it look either very dark or silver but look at a still from the G1 cartoon and that is just how this face looks like in person. The head/helmet is bigger now and the new single facial expression is great, it looks like it is "changing" or "alive" honestly like the Mona Lisa does. It is far superior to both of the previous 2 faces/MP-3 face swapping gimmick.

The cape is excellent and is actually far more versatile than any cloth cape could be. It opens wider, swings left, right, forward, back and never interferes with Starscream. The moulding is perfect. The crown and shoulder pads are also really good and complete the coronation picture but this cape is one of the big standouts of the entire box.

The feet don't look like blue painted fingernails anymore! ..And they are useful! Yes, this Starscream stands very well! The lower legs are bulkier, look nicer and are the new home to the old hip kibble.

With the paint, pictures on the internet are mostly colour correct but I will mention the grey plastic is not the feared Hasbro grey, it is darker. The placement of the blue, red and white is great. I especially love the dark grey boxes where the wings connect to the fuselage in jet mode - very reminesent of the G1 wing joints. The only lazy part is the chest missiles which are plainly painted white (I look at them once). And I just noticed he has a dash of green paint also.

The face, the cape, the feet, the paint.. nothing is a step backwards. The notoriously snappy tiny wing joint has been modified into a clip* and are finally moulded in grey plastic, no more little black squares across your jets wings! And despite mentioning it above and it being the most obvious change, I should say ZERO HIP KIBBLE again.

I really think.. I like MP-11 more than MP-10. :cool:

And despite just buying 2 MP-09 moulds, if.. in 4 years time they re-release MP-09 with improvements to the magnitude of MP-11, I know I will be happy to put down fresh money because this version doesn't feel like the money grab some MP's are.

EDIT: MP-11 does not come with the display stand or stinger missile racks. Both omissions do not really bother me because I never had a G1 Starscream on a stand or with extra realistic missiles and G1 is clearly what MP-11 is all about. Plus, I would take the cape and clever re-mouldings any day over a stand/missile inclusion.


*honestly, only time will tell if this is the solution to that crack-prone joint but they addressed the problem and so far it works well.

[yoshi594]

The remould is awesome! Much much more playable n poseable now. I like how they tucked away the back feet. The grey reminds me of g1 screamer. Only gripe is that the masterpiece toys seem to b omitting sticker applications n the stands (i dont even apply stickers anyway!).

[Ultra Mackness]

Awww man! I've only just decided that I can't justify buying one of these and now you're making me rethink!! Can I ask, how well does the bracket that keeps his weapons permanently attached work? It looks like it has ball joints in photos, are the weapons able to be removed? And is it an improvement?

[canofwhoopass_87]

Thanks for the lowdown Deonasis. From the reviews I've read so far, it seems that the pre release photos did MP-11 no justice whatsoever.

Would be great to get more input on plastic quality though.

[1orion2many]

Plastic quality can be a test of time thing sometimes, GPS anyone:rolleyes:

[Deonasis]

Awww man! I've only just decided that I can't justify buying one of these and now you're making me rethink!! Can I ask, how well does the bracket that keeps his weapons permanently attached work? It looks like it has ball joints in photos, are the weapons able to be removed? And is it an improvement?Compared to all his other needed improvements this is a gimmick, it works great but is only a tiny improvement and wasn't needed. It uses a small piece of plastic that has a ball joint at both ends to attach to cups in the upper arm and null ray. It works great but the cups stick out of the upper arm so if you want to remove the guns you will see the cups.


Thanks for the lowdown Deonasis. From the reviews I've read so far, it seems that the pre release photos did MP-11 no justice whatsoever.

Would be great to get more input on plastic quality though.Thanks, I actually liked the offical pics but saw quite a few other ones that had me worried about a black face and hasbro grey. I trawled the net and found some good galleries but the were foreign and I can't find them now :(

And I am no plastic conisuer (I rarely "get it" when people mention cheapo feeling plastic) but it seems fine. Like the original MP Starscream mould this one can have very stiff legs to extend during transformation, with building pressure and a little wiggling my legs slammed down out of jet mode and I have checked for stress marks/cracks/etc and found none (unlike MP09 which has broken like pastry for me).

Plastic quality can be a test of time thing sometimes, GPS anyone:rolleyes:My only concern is the small clip that the wings hinge on but they have tried to address the problem here (not that any of mine have broke) and I haven't read about any new ones breaking so far, and yep only time will tell.

[Slag]

O.k. it looks better..
I wonder if Hasbro will release a version of this?...
in green

[Tober]

The plastic isn't quite 'Hasbro gray' but it is more shiny and not as matte as Hasbro's MP Starscream, which is semi-accurate to an actual F-15. The finish isn't as nice but is closer to the color of an actual F-15.

The crux of MP-11 is that it favors bot mode over alt mode. For every improvement (sans the head and wing-hinge fix), the alt mode suffers. The loss of the conformal tanks that were the 'problem' of MP-3 results in a haphazard appearance from the side. The swing bar for the null-rays give the front view a strange silhouette, and the retool of the feet result in the rear and side view looking strange. It looks good from top three quarter views, but beyond that it begins falling apart. The color scheme is a G1 homage, but thankfully there is no black or blue nosecone. In retrospect I can see why Kawamori made the changes that resulted in MP-3, I just wish they had been better implemented.

I was pleasantly surprised by how good MP-11 looks tho. It is quite brilliant although I still don't quite like Starscream's head with a pointy goatee, but it's a vast improvement over the previous squashed head, which I detested to the point I made my own. Nice to see a light-pipe that actually adds something too.

[Firefox]

I just got mine from HLJ for less than A$160. When I got it out of the box I was slightly disappointed by the plastic used. It gives the MP-11 a cheap looking and fragile feel. Though the plastic is actually the same or better than MP-3. Takara fixed many of the MP-3 problems but also create new problem (at least with my MP-11). The wing hinges are different from MP-3. It was supposed to reduce stress mark found in MP-3 (strangely, my MP-3 and MP-6 never have this problem), but mine keep popping out during transformation. They also corrected the shape of the vertical and horizontal tail sections. Now the tail section look exactly like the real F-15. The horizontal tail ends are somehow rounded. Luckily, they didn't do that to the dog tooth section like the Walmart/Toys R Us Starscream Masterpiece.

Overall, MP-11 looks more balance in bots mode. The alt mode is bit bulky at rear but it look sleeker without the CFT. I actually prefer MP-11 over MP-3 in its overall appearance. Only the MP-11 could have all the stencil printing of the MP-3...

[Doubledealer]

Even with the new mould changes the first Hasbro MP Screamer utterly obliterates this new one in my eyes, especially in jet mode. This one looks dull as ditch water. You have to pay $160 for this? :/

[Tabias Prime]

I personally prefer my modded MP3 with the MP11 feel:p:p:p:p:rolleyes::rolleyes:

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd33/Tabias_Prime/IMAG0181.jpg

[griffin]

I haven't transformed it yet, so don't ask about QC yet.
These are just some photos showing the differences I can see so far.

Head is completely new, being bigger and wider...
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/346.jpg

... and has a different ball joint.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/347.jpg

Different waist, or at least the exterior sculpting.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/348.jpg

Lower legs from the knees down are different.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/349.jpg

Including the feet, above and below.

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/350.jpg

But the thing that surprised me was the human figurine. It's a pilot instead of Dr Arkeville... so what was the point of having it in clear blue plastic with no paint? If it were Dr Arkeville (again), the different colour & plastic would have just been to make it a variation from all the other ones. Being a new human figurine, it should have been properly coloured or even half-painted to look like a hologram. (because even holographic humans still looked like humans)
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/351.jpg

[GoktimusPrime]

I clicked on "Not Interested." I already have the original Greenscream & Hasbro Starscream -- don't see the reason to get a third MP Starscream. I've got MP Sunstorm on pre-order, so I will end up owning a version of this mould at least. :) If they repaint/retool this mould as other new Seekers (e.g. MP Dirge, Ramjet, Thrust) then I'd get them. But not interested in getting the first three Seekers again.

[ITZTRU]

I so badly want to be "not interested" in this toy either as, like many others, I already have the original 3 seekers plus ghost ss as well.

...but I BADLY WANT Malibu Stacy's new hat :( :(

[SharkyMcShark]

Just caved and ordered this.

I'm terrible at resisting this kind of thing when studying for exams.

[GoktimusPrime]

I so badly want to be "not interested" in this toy either as, like many others, I already have the original 3 seekers plus ghost ss as well.

...but I BADLY WANT Malibu Stacy's new hat :( :(
Sunstorm will have the new hat (albeit in different colours). That's good enough for me. :)

[1orion2many]

:confused:Is it just me or is the newer version less detailed, It also looks like it's made from cheaper materials:confused: I don't own one just asking the question.

[kup]

:confused:Is it just me or is the newer version less detailed, It also looks like it's made from cheaper materials:confused: I don't own one just asking the question.

Much of it is the same mold but looks less detailed as it doesn't have the paint wash to bring out the detailing.

Like the back of the shoulder intakes, one has the shading to bring the detail out and the other does not making it seem flat but if you look carefully, the detail is there.

I can easily see how just a few parts can 'upgrade' your existing MP-3 Starscream into the new. The most notable are the boots and of course, the head. The hip joints become irrelevant if you change the boots.

[Deonasis]

I so badly want to be "not interested" in this toy either as, like many others, I already have the original 3 seekers plus ghost ss as well.
Well, sell your old one and put the $$ towards this one if you like (keep the black stand if you'd use it). Unless people are completionists this is an improved* but pricier version (like a premium painted movie figure).

Anyone thinking of replacing an old MP SS should probably hold off until we see which mould and paint details Hasbro has decided to put into its upcoming Thundercracker release. Know that Takara may update its seekers in the future too.


*eye of the beer holder and all, etc..

[SharkyMcShark]

So mine arrived yesterday (ordered Friday, arrived Monday, I love RK).

Jet mode is won by MP3. MP11 looks slightly more chunky (especially towards the rear), and horrifically more chunky if looked at from behind. The only bit of MP11 I prefer in vehicle mode is that the intake ramps* can be moved about because nothing is attached to them, unlike MP3. Basically you can do this

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/92/F-15E_Strike_Eagle_is_parked_by_a_crew_chief_from_El mendorf_Air_Force_Base.jpg/369px-F-15E_Strike_Eagle_is_parked_by_a_crew_chief_from_El mendorf_Air_Force_Base.jpg

It's not a massively harsh criticsm to be fair because MP3's jet mode was verging on perfection.

*I had to google the proper name of that, I'm not a jet person

People keep saying how much easier the transformation is compared to MP3, but I'm not really seeing it. All you're doing differently is not worrying about the faux scabbards? I do like that it feels like there's a lot less pressure on the infamous double wing joint than in MP3 and its repaints.

The big improvements in robot mode are
- the head (not so much the face but I like the wider vent/IDW comics style).
- The heel spurs.

I think I was one of the few people that really dug the faux scabbards on MP3 so if I'm being honest I'm sad to see them go. Personally I feel that having the tail fins/stabilisers/whatever the proper name is attaching to the side of the legs makes them a bit too bulky and gives the figure too busy a side profile.

Two main gripes. First the head feels like it could be a little bit too far up compared to the shoulders.
Secondly, and this is a criticism of both MP3 and MP11 (which cops it for not having fixed it) - the torso doesn't clip into anything. Move an arm without pushing down on the shoulder and it all comes apart.

Basically the jet mode is worse than MP3's but the bot mode is better engineered.

[griffin]

Finally transformed the pair a couple weeks ago, and as promised in post #15, these are the comparisons of their jet modes (MP3 & MP11).

Jet modes, with Gen1 Starscream to see how the MPs compare. (MP3 is on the left with the black scorching on the back)
Not much noticeably different from the top. Underneath is where it is more obvious.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/412.jpg
.
Underneath you can see the different blue, and the rear section as being standout changes. The different robot waist and head joint can be seen.
The weapons on MP11 have that bar attached to the middle, which I think is redundant, and ruins the look.
And if you look closely, you can see that MP11 has been trimmed down completely on the sides. MP3 has an entire segment wider than the air intakes on each side.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/413.jpg
.
That's the most significant design change, to improve the robot mode, but makes the jet mode less authentic... less "aerodynamic". Which the next two pics show.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/416.jpg
.
This one also shows the remoulded "feet".
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/414.jpg
.
As does this one.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/415.jpg

I think MP3 is better for the Jet mode, but for displaying it in robot mode, either one works for me.
Because these aren't really playable toys, so it doesn't matter much to me where the kibble hangs.
The deciding factor would probably be the colouring. MP11 is more Gen1 accurate with the colours and striping (and no scorching).

[1orion2many]

The MP11 looks really cheap with a side by side comparison like that, Thanks Griffin.

[Paulbot]

Wasn't sure it was worth starting a new thread for the Hasbro version, so I thought I'd add my comments here.

Pros
Feels more like a Transformer than MP03 did (I had the Hasbro one of that too)
Is a good looking Starscream in both modes
Like that it has the toy's blue nosecone rather than the cartoon's grey one
Superior head sculpt and details

Cons
Not a fun transformation, really annoying
Stupid swiverly arm guns
Hands and forearms are different colours
Comes packaged in jet mode, has instructions that start in robot mode

Overall, he'll look good on the shelf with MP Soundwave and Shockwave, but the transformation puts me off buying Skywarp and Thundercracker (although they look great in their TakTom colour schemes but I can't justify spending so much on duplicates of a toy I don't enjoy).

[drifand]

I am surprised as I felt the transformation was way easier than mp-3.

I bought mp mp-11 at about under $160 so it was great to display it in cape and crown especially with the absence of magatron or galvatron .
The grey plastic could be better and I thought hasbro would have pulled off a white version but didn't

Is a good buy today to Sunday at 20% off at tru on full priced items.

Doesn't he has a display stand unlike TT version?

[Paulbot]

Yep he has the same stand as the earlier Hasbro MP Starscream came with.

I didn't like MP3's transformation either, so I sold that toy too.

[Trent]

MP-3 will always have the better alt mode. The conformal tanks make the side view heaps better. That said I don't have a problem with MP-11 in alt mode.

[Magnus]

Having had a chance to play around with MP11, I appreciate some of the engineering improvements, such as the new head, the big hinges for the wings being less prone to breakage, and particularly the heel spurs. The one challenge for me was getting the wings to swing out when transforming back to robot mode - the tabs locking the leading edge of the wings into the fuselage are tight and I was concerned I'd be breaking something. Overall, it's clearly an improvement on the original from an engineering point of view.

However, from an aesthetic point of view, I still prefer the sleeker look of MP3 (I own this mould in the form of MP6) in both modes. To me, MP3 looks more 'streamlined' and elegant in robot mode, which gives the impression of a fast flyer. I must also be one of the few who like the look of the Shoji Kawamori 'scabbards' on the hips - they result in far cleaner, sleeker legs which are actually more screen-accurate in that they don't have tail fins on them. Having the tail fins on the 'scabbards' swung to the back and the horizontal stabilisers unfolded also reinforces the idea of a sleek flying robot. While MP11's blockier legs more closely align with the G1 Marvel/Sunbow design aesthetic, I think they look a bit too chunky from some angles, and definitely look a lot 'busier'.

I also prefer the detachable cannons to having the ball-jointed struts.

If I could pick and choose, my ideal MP Starscream would still be predominantly MP3-based, but it would have

• The MP-11 head
• The re-engineered hinges for the wings
• The grey plastic and overall colour scheme (while I like the fact that the colour is screen-accurate, I kind of liked MP3's colour, and would have bought MP3 were it not for the reports of fragile plastic)
• The heel spurs
• Whatever subtle engineering allows the main landing gear to pop in and out smoothly (this was an issue on my MP6)

[drifand]

The problem is TT took cheap shortcuts and not paint Starscream, so by default in plane mode it looks bad as is all grey plastic.

If the done a proper painted starscream, this would have been it.

I still do not like mp-3, the transformation is rubbish and over complicated.

Overall masterpieces have gone down hill as they are not painted.

People who strongly continue to support mp line blindly definitely make it easy for TT to continue to get away with not spending on paint apps. Is a shame, as this is the masterpiece line and I expect the company to take more pride in it than taking short cuts.

[Ralph Wiggum]

I've yet to consider any of the Starscream releases to be a true MP cartoon release. If I could combine the colour of the Walmart MP3 SS with the MP-11 mold then that would be a winner for me.

[drifand]

I've yet to consider any of the Starscream releases to be a true MP cartoon release. If I could combine the colour of the Walmart MP3 SS with the MP-11 mold then that would be a winner for me.

You nailed it, I was hoping the Hasbro MP-11 starscream/TRU release to be different and had an entire white body.

Unfortunately that didn't happen, and whats more shocking is TRU Australia didn't bother to bring in more like what Sunstorm was.

[Magnus]

I don't mind the colour of the grey plastic, as it looks like a good fit to the character model in the cartoon. I'm just a bit annoyed by seeing the swirls from the liquid plastic in the larger parts. A matte finish would have been nice, but having MP11 as is hopefully won't be a deal-breaker.

Besides, it's not as if Takara has never done unpainted plastic before in MPs - Grimlock and Rodimus Prime had large swathes of unpainted plastic.

[Megatran]

People who strongly continue to support mp line blindly definitely make it easy for TT to continue to get away with not spending on paint apps.
Outlandish statements like this doesnt help your argument with your peers.

Have you written to TT seeking to understand why they do the things they do, which you don't approve?

[GoktimusPrime]

Outlandish statements like this doesnt help your argument with your peers.

Have you written to TT seeking to understand why they do the things they do, which you don't approve?
Yup.

Options include:
* Filling in the online survey (takaratomyfans.com) (see the How to fill in the online survey thread (http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?t=201)). This survey has been geoblocked as of late last year; I've been told that this can be bypassed via the use of a proxy or VPN.
* Posting on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/takaratomytoys/); although I have no idea if TakaraTOMY ever reads those comments. I've never seen the respond to anyone's posts.
* Customer support site (http://www.takaratomy.co.jp/support/index.html)
* Customer call centre: +81-3-5650-1031 (currently closed until 4/1/16)
* Email (https://my.tomy.co.jp/confidential/takaratomy/csc/)
* Snail mail? This is their old survey address which was supplied on self-addressed survey cards [i]before Takara switched to the online survey. I don't know if this address is still valid:
JAPAN 〒125-8701
東京都葛飾区
青戸4-19-16
株式会社タカラトミー
トランスフォーマープロジェクト
トランスフォーマーマスターピース係行

Be aware that TakaraTOMY staff do not speak English, so direct communication will need to be in Japanese. Otherwise, if you can manage it, filling in the online survey is the best option as it mostly involves clicking on buttons. :)