Takara Asia Exclusive Henkei Ultra Magnus

[King Atlas]

I stopped caring along time ago about an eventual Henkei release...but finally, here it is

http://www.robotkingdom.com/images/products/thumb/TFTCSMU%5B3%5D.jpg

http://www.robotkingdom.com/services/eshop/main.php?action=details&CatType&II=TFTCSMU&lang=us

[Trent]

Looks good in its own right, but those white legs won't go with the city commander upgrade at all.

[kurdt_the_goat]

Criminal what they're charging for this guy just because they know how in demand the original figure is!

[Doubledealer]

So what's that gonna be, around $90 inc. shipping? They're havin' a laugh.

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

Looks good in its own right, but those white legs won't go with the city commander upgrade at all.Robot mode should still work OK.

Either way, he's better than the nothing I currently have to fill my CC set, or the $250 odd most Classics UMs (that ship to Oz and/or Japan anyway) go for these days. And he's presumably coming out here in Japan, which is handy.
Coincidentally, if anyone - particularly non-3rd-Party collectors - has a loose, good condition, complete Hasbro Ultra Magnus that they'd like to trade for a MISB Henkei UM then please let me know.:)

[kup]

I stopped caring along time ago about an eventual Henkei release...but finally, here it is

http://www.robotkingdom.com/images/products/thumb/TFTCSMU%5B3%5D.jpg

http://www.robotkingdom.com/services/eshop/main.php?action=details&CatType&II=TFTCSMU&lang=us

Awesome! Now would it be as hard to get as the other Asian exclusives?

[gamblor916]

Robot mode should still work OK.
Coincidentally, if anyone - particularly non-3rd-Party collectors - has a loose, good condition, complete Hasbro Ultra Magnus that they'd like to trade for a MISB Henkei UM then please let me know.:)

I'll trade!

[Trent]

Robot mode should still work OK.

Either way, he's better than the nothing I currently have to fill my CC set, or the $250 odd most Classics UMs (that ship to Oz and/or Japan anyway) go for these days. And he's presumably coming out here in Japan, which is handy.
Coincidentally, if anyone - particularly non-3rd-Party collectors - has a loose, good condition, complete Hasbro Ultra Magnus that they'd like to trade for a MISB Henkei UM then please let me know.:)

The legs will still look a little patchy, as you can see in these photos I just took,

The CC side leg panel has a hole in the middle for UM's leg. You can tell as its a slightly different shade of blue:

http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc88/Wrxus/5033F7A9-E0A2-4A66-8F9C-2D3D0C614730-251-00000034D9A380EE.jpg




From the front it would be the inside of the legs that would be mostly white on the Henkei one:

http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc88/Wrxus/2D444EAC-BFD9-49F3-B9C0-8D84A57AEF16-251-00000034E1A8BFAC.jpg




And the same at the back:

http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc88/Wrxus/F8D24AB8-FC43-4723-923C-A93C5C37E70B-251-00000034EA6A2A55.jpg



Just some observations to keep in mind.:)

[KalEl]

I preordered it :P

[UltraMarginal]

that's a lot of white, but it does look nice.

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

The legs will still look a little patchy, as you can see in these photos I just took,

The CC side leg panel has a hole in the middle for UM's leg. You can tell as its a slightly different shade of blue:It's more that the vehicle mode will work better, and the robot mode will be about the same.
I'll trade!PM sent.:)

[1orion2many]

Too much white just like the UM-MP, I'm glad I bought the 2 pack ages ago when it was first released. For people that still need one for their CC kit it'll be a welcome relief:).

[Hursticon]

*snip* I'm glad I bought the 2 pack ages ago when it was first released. For people that still need one for their CC kit it'll be a welcome relief:).

My thoughts & feelings exactly dude ;):), it's amazing how alike it is compared to the original G1 Magnus Cab it is in colour - Pretty cool but unnecessary for me. :cool:

[SuspectimusPrime]

Wow - it's amazing how much more heroic UM looks with white legs... but it's just white paint :o I paid about the same price for my Classics UM a few years ago, so will be leaving this one on the back burner.

Also, good to see that flow on demand from 3P releases are impacting Takara's choice of releases (like with United Rodimus to a degree). Almost like a subtle acknowledgement? :p

[Paul Agnew]

Is it wrong for the first thing springing to mind upon seeing that white Magnus was "Bart, can we stop for ice cream"? :p

[kup]

Cool box:

http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/classics-ultra-magnus-asia-exclusive-promo-images-and-official-release-date/25702/

It's trying to tribute the DW cover

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

Apparently it's meant to be a Chinese exclusive.
Bugger.
Come on Japan, release this baby here already!:(

[GoktimusPrime]

Meh... I don't think it looks any better or worse than Classics Ultra Magnus (both versions have their good points IMO). Don't see any reason to pick it up. I didn't even want the original Classics Magnus in the first place, only got it for Skywarp. :p


I paid about the same price for my Classics UM a few years ago, so will be leaving this one on the back burner.
Yeah but Classics UM also came w/ Skywarp which made it better value.


Also, good to see that flow on demand from 3P releases are impacting Takara's choice of releases (like with United Rodimus to a degree). Almost like a subtle acknowledgement? :p
IMO it's a smart move. Unlike some other unlicensed stuff, 3rd party accessories have a mutually beneficial effect with the officially licensed product because they are both interdependent upon each other to function as a complete toy. City Commander needs an Ultra Magnus, and Ultra Magnus is enhanced by City Commander. And as you said, it's nice and subtle. Not sure about the pricing though... but do we know if this is TakTOM's RRP or is it just Robot Kingdom's inflated dealer price?

[griffin]

Not sure why it is being called "Henkei", but this is an "Asia" exclusive, meaning it is released by Hasbro HK (sourced from TakaraTomy, like various Encore & MPs), so unless it is noted as being released in Japan, there is no indication as yet.

More info and pics here (http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/classics-11/asia-exclusive-henkei-ultra-magnus-details-new-images-175814/), saying that it will have shiny parts and unique packaging. (similar to the HK exclusive reissue of Sixshot, which was also not released in JP)
To be released September 28th.

[snaketales]

Like others have said, it looks nice but not nice enough for me to justify spending that amount (especially as I already have the Hasbro version)

[SuspectimusPrime]

Not sure why it is being called "Henkei", but this is an "Asia" exclusive, meaning it is released by Hasbro HK (sourced from TakaraTomy, like various Encore & MPs), so unless it is noted as being released in Japan, there is no indication as yet.


Perhaps its a marketing objective? Since the recent "Asia exclusives" are not exclusive enough. Henkei-line Classics toys did have the greatest show-accuracy and quality. Or just something else to justify the high secondary-market-level RRP.

[Decepticon]

He looks sexy!

[gdmetro]

I think this was rumored a while ago? I remember UltraMagnus saying something about it a while ago.

The colour scheme, though plain, does look nice. Its expensive for what it is. But its exclusive. And I always wanted a Takara version of this character/mould. And even though its slightly disappointing to me that its a limited release (and not in the Henkei styled box) Ill still count it as a Henkei release since the figure is in substance, Henkei UM. Chrome Grilled! :D

As for City commander compatibility, as I already have the Hasbro version, its not that big of an issue, but would be interested to see how it looks in the armor even with mismatched white/blue legs.

Overall I'm unsure whether to get it.


Not sure why it is being called "Henkei"

Is that an official reference, or just a convenient reference by fans/RobotKingdom/retailers? The box does say "classics ultra magnus" in those pics.

Despite that, I think the reference to Henkei is apt, being that the toy is in essence, a "Henkei-fied" UM with the g1 faithful colour scheme and chrome in the rights places, where henkei convoy had it.

[griffin]

Ahhh, it could just be RK using the term as a guess then... because even though Hasbro HK gets a lot of JP toys for themselves, they did just produce "Generations" toys, so don't have a problem with using "Hasbro" terms if a toy isn't being released in Japan at all.
I think the same happened with Sixshot - fans and online stores were labeling it as "Encore", but since it was a Hasbro HK exclusive, it wasn't actually labelled anywhere officially as "Encore" - which we know is a JP-exclusive product line.

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

Some in-hand pics (http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/in-hand-images-transformers-asia-exclusive-henkei-classics-ultra-magnus/25820/) courtesy courtesy of Full Metal Hero by way of seibertron.com.

[Doubledealer]

I am weak. :( Pre-paid for this last night. What's that saying again... "It's only money" right? :p

[Zippo]

Damn, I had forgotten all about this and my funds are pretty tight again for the next couple of weeks. Fingers crossed it is still in stock when I can afford -- 2 of them!

[griffin]

We FINALLY get to see the box for this toy.... as it is about to be officially released. (http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/japanese-transformers-40/united-ultra-magnus-in-package-image-176055/)

Surprisingly, the packaging says "United", despite this being a HK Hasbro release, NOT a JP release.
I know we've had JP toys released here in JP packaging, and Hasbro toys released in Japan (as TRU exclusives), but they were just stock taken straight from those markets and released as-is to the other market. I don't recall Hasbro or TakaraTomy ever producing a toy exclusively for their own market but having it the other market's packaging.

[SuspectimusPrime]

Just mentioned in the unauthorised products section, but this news impacts this thread's topic at least financially (aggregate demand due to increased availability of a complimentary product :) good old economics :)) - BBTS has restocked Fansproject City Commander. Looks like Henkei Ultra Magnus may make a jump on evilBay.

[kup]

We FINALLY get to see the box for this toy.... as it is about to be officially released. (http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/japanese-transformers-40/united-ultra-magnus-in-package-image-176055/)

Surprisingly, the packaging says "United", despite this being a HK Hasbro release, NOT a JP release.
I know we've had JP toys released here in JP packaging, and Hasbro toys released in Japan (as TRU exclusives), but they were just stock taken straight from those markets and released as-is to the other market. I don't recall Hasbro or TakaraTomy ever producing a toy exclusively for their own market but having it the other market's packaging.


I believe that whatever arrangement Hasbro and Takara had when it comes to their markets, it has been revised and changed after the merger with Tomy or simply no longer applies as we knew it.

[Hursticon]

I have one that has been sitting at Customs in Sydney for 2 days & will now look to be staying the weekend too; This is after having to email RK about the whereabouts & status of my order to which I found out it had been shipped off 3 days prior. :o

I appreciate RK's extremely swift response, would like to know what the Customs Officers in Sydney aren't doing though. :rolleyes: