JP Missing Link toyline

[Tha_Phantom]

Clearer images of the "Missing Link" Convoy have surfaced.
There are two different versions. One is the cab and trailer in Prime's traditional G1 deco. The other is cab only with a more toon inspired deco and accessories.
https://i.ibb.co/QrjG06R/364632108-818602799881870-7660939671157378225-n.png (https://ibb.co/0hV35fS)https://i.ibb.co/tz5zJMk/364472681-611951364403207-1318280970314781978-n.png (https://ibb.co/3vHvCyG)

[Seraphim Prime]

Some nice clear differences beyond just the head which make some of an appeal to get both

Head - hard to tell if we have "toy" head and "toon" head
Eyes - Yellow on C-01; Blue on C-02
Emblem - both shoulders on C-01; left shoulder only on C-02
Windows - yellow on C-01; blue on C-02
Grill - Silver Details on C-01; Yellow details on C-02
Forearm, knee and toe details on C-01, left clean on C-02
Deeper blue on C-01 compared to C-02

[KELPIE]

Do the hands fold in or pop off?


This was DrLockdown's (http://www.otca.com.au/boards/member.php/4259-DrLockdown) idea, which I think is great, but Hasbro could crowd fund reconstructing G1 toys where the original moulds have been lost. The reissues would be dearer than the average price, but I reckon enough collectors would be willing to back it to make it commercially viable.
Count me in. Especially if it's for the few I mentioned above.

[JJJ]

Do the hands fold in or pop off?

Fold.

[Tha_Phantom]

TakaraTOMY's official X/Twitter account have posted a teaser for the Missing Link Convoy. So it's no longer a rumour.

https://twitter.com/TF_pr/status/1687395452885618689?t=ZUgjLiJB0owH7P7rWO4FLg&s=19

[JJJ]

So, now that we know it's real (and probably a whole line of toys, not just a one-off - there's someone on TFW2005 from Japan saying that the the solicitation says so)...

Where should we order from (when orders go up)?

I'm going to presume that this is Takara-only, and won't be coming from Hasbro (well, maybe Prime will, but I doubt anything further would see a Hasbro release).

Hobby-Link Japan? Amazon JP? Other?

[Tha_Phantom]

not just a one-off - there's someone on TFW2005 from Japan saying that the the solicitation says so)

Oh that's exciting! I'd love to see more G1 classics done in this style.

[JJJ]

Oh that's exciting! I'd love to see more G1 classics done in this style.

Same here. If this were just Optimus, I probably wouldn't bother beyond looking and thinking "that's nice".

[DELTAprime]

I might buy the Cartoon Accurate version, but I'm hung up on the fact it seems there's no trailer and roller in that version.

[griffin]

I would be very surprised if Hasbro doesn't release them (except Megatron of course), as they tick a lot of boxes for them - iconic characters, reissue, 40th anniversary.

We are going to be going to have issues with importing Megatron again... :(

[Tha_Phantom]

We are going to be going to have issues with importing Megatron again... :(

That is a hill I will die on. :p

[GoktimusPrime]

I renewed my Megatron permit back in January :)
Hint: it's easier to renew the permit if you do it before it expires. Mine had expired, so I had two police officers come to my TF room to perform a safety compliance check. Got a police event number which I put into my application form and then it was done. Previously I had renewed my permit before it had expired and did not require a compliance check. I know of another NSW collector who was in the same situation as me, and he also had a compliance check done and got a new permit.

I've now laminated my permit and stuck in on my collection room door; just so that the expiry date is visible to me and to remind future me to update it on time. :)

I think Missing Link Convoy will be like MP01 Convoy... they'll just do one first and if it sells well enough, it they can do more. I suppose Missing Link Convoy will be ML-01. Micron Legend was MC-XX, so AFAIK "ML" hasn't been used.

[DELTAprime]

I found it incredibly easy to get a letter from the QPS for MP Megatron V2. I didn't end up needing it, but it was better to have it than be caught out without it.

[Skyfire]

So, now that we know it's real (and probably a whole line of toys, not just a one-off - there's someone on TFW2005 from Japan saying that the the solicitation says so)...

Where should we order from (when orders go up)?

I'm going to presume that this is Takara-only, and won't be coming from Hasbro (well, maybe Prime will, but I doubt anything further would see a Hasbro release).

Hobby-Link Japan? Amazon JP? Other?

Japanese sites are now listing Missing Link C-02 and C-01 (e.g. HLJ, Amazon JP, Ami Ami) as well as Robo Robo in Singapore.

[JJJ]

Who would you recommend?

[Skyfire]

Who would you recommend?

I'd wait for (your favourite :)) TFH to put up their list. When Robo Robo does, TFH does soon too (and vice versa).

[Tha_Phantom]

I preordered the trailer version from AmiAmi for $148aud plus post. I'm happy with that.

[JJJ]

That's a pretty good price - Amazon Japan is about $185 all up, and HLJ seemed to be $180 plus whatever the postage might come to.

[GoktimusPrime]

For some reason my credit card's stopped working with AmiAmi. :( Preordered on HLJ. Dearer than AmiAmi, but I'm willing to pay more for reliability.

[JJJ]

For those who have ordered via Amazon Japan, how did you log in? I can log into Amazon US with my standard Amazon AU account, but when I try to do the same thing with Amazon Japan it tells me that my e-mail address is unknown.

[Rodimus Cron]

Same here when I ordered my Ultimate Optimus Primal from them JJJ. I just opened a new account for Amazon JP and am able to switch between AU, US & JP accounts with no issues.

[JJJ]

Ah, thanks.

[JJJ]

So, it would seem that the packaging has been revealed as well. Very G1. (https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/missing-link-c-01-and-c-02-g1-convoy-optimus-prime-revealed.1251563/page-94#post-21584973) The familiar box with plastic window and lots of styrofoam packing.

[reillyd]

Two quick questions-

Why is roller white/grey and not blue? Did Takara only do it that colour, and Hasbro did him in blue? (I’m assuming roller is male; maybe them is more appropriate?)

Do we know that it’s moving beyond convoy to other characters, or just speculating? How likely is that its just a one off initially (like when Masterpiece was JUST convoy for like years)

[JJJ]

The Takara solicitation (https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/takaratomy-missing-link-fully-articulated-g1-toys-wishlist.1251570/page-5#post-21574291) declared it a line of toys.

No idea about roller, sorry, but given the sheer work and effort that seems to have gone into this there is almost certainly a deliberate reason for it.

[High_Q]

I'm very happy that the Missing Link series has included die-cast, just like the original Optimus mold.


So, it would seem that the packaging has been revealed as well. ... The familiar box with plastic window and lots of styrofoam packing.

I've preordered C-02 and hoping that its box art is similar to C-01's, with the vintage G1 designs. If not, i might cancel and preorder C-01 instead.


The Takara solicitation declared it a line of toys.

Great news. We need Missing Link versions of the 84 car robot molds, and i also want Cliffjumper or Hubcap without arms that pop off after rotating it for a few times.

Also just noticed that for Prime's lower arms, where the stickers used to be on the original mold, the Missing Link has molded the sticker designs in plastic, and for C-01, painted them like their stickers. Wow.

[Tha_Phantom]

Two quick questions-

Why is roller white/grey and not blue? Did Takara only do it that colour, and Hasbro did him in blue?

Roller has gone back and forth between grey/silver and blue from the very beginning of G1.
Initial toy release was grey, hence him being grey in the cartoon. Was quickly switched to blue for most of the G1 run. Later reissues and updates to Prime have gone back and forth between the two.

[JJJ]

I did not think this would be carried by Hasbro. I was wrong. They're getting it three months later (mind you, they're pricing both toys the same, so there are some issues just now :) ).

[danny-boy]

I renewed my Megatron permit back in January :)
Hint: it's easier to renew the permit if you do it before it expires. Mine had expired, so I had two police officers come to my TF room to perform a safety compliance check. Got a police event number which I put into my application form and then it was done. Previously I had renewed my permit before it had expired and did not require a compliance check. I know of another NSW collector who was in the same situation as me, and he also had a compliance check done and got a new permit.

I've now laminated my permit and stuck in on my collection room door; just so that the expiry date is visible to me and to remind future me to update it on time. :)

I think Missing Link Convoy will be like MP01 Convoy... they'll just do one first and if it sells well enough, it they can do more. I suppose Missing Link Convoy will be ML-01. Micron Legend was MC-XX, so AFAIK "ML" hasn't been used.

Strange, I received a letter before my permit expired. I had plenty of time to send the renewal paper work.

I pre-ordered both C-01 and C-02 from Amazon Japan. I couldn’t resist.

[Paulbot]

Saw this tweet - that says the Matrix Chamber in Optimus is removable, leaving behind 'drivers seats

https://twitter.com/TF_pr (https://twitter.com/TF_pr/status/1690543695638962176?s=20)

https://i.imgur.com/OCZXzUI.jpg

[GoktimusPrime]

Strange, I received a letter before my permit expired. I had plenty of time to send the renewal paper work.
That happened to me the first time my permit expired, so I was able to renew it in time. The second time I'd changed addresses and neglected to inform the NSW Police Firearms Registry, so the reminder letter would've been sent to my old address. I did have mail redirect for 12 months after my last move, but it expired a few years after that, so the mail redirect was no longer in effect. Mea culpa.

[zaneiken]

I ordered both from Amazon JP. A bit more expensive than AmiAmi, but at least I know up front the what shipping cost will be. I've been through some bill shock with shipping from Japan of late.

[Skyfire]

JB Hi-Fi preorders for 2024 release:

Missing Link C01 (https://www.jbhifi.com.au/products/transformers-masterpiece-missing-link-c-01-optimus-prime-with-trailer-figure-action-figure) $224 and C02 (https://www.jbhifi.com.au/products/transformers-masterpiece-missing-link-c-02-optimus-prime-animation-edition-figure-action-figure) $139.

[Skyfire]

Gamesmen preorders:

C-01 $219.95, releasing May 2024.
https://www.gamesmen.com.au/transformers-masterpiece-missing-link-c-01-optimus-prime-with-trailer

C-02 $129.95, releasing June 2024.
https://www.gamesmen.com.au/transformers-masterpiece-missing-link-c-02-optimus-prime-animation-edition-figure

[griffin]

More images "tweeted" by TakaraTomy to show some differences between accessories between the two Missing Link Convoys...
https://news.tfw2005.com/2023/08/31/takara-tomy-missing-link-convoy-optimus-prime-laser-rifle-energy-axe-matrix-update-493758

And scans from the latest Figure King magazine gives us more images of the Missing Link Convoys, giving us a good look at the new joints, and comparing them to the original 1984 Convoy toy.
https://news.tfw2005.com/2023/08/29/figure-king-no-307-masterpiece-movie-bonecrusher-lunar-cruiser-prime-legacy-studio-series-more-493645

[Deano85]

I ordered both from Amazon JP. A bit more expensive than AmiAmi, but at least I know up front the what shipping cost will be. I've been through some bill shock with shipping from Japan of late.

I'm glad I pre-ordered with Amazon Japan, after seeing the cost to get them locally.

[JJJ]

Assorted Japanese retailers have started charging and delivering. My C-01 from AmiAmi (paid today) might be on the way as early as Monday :) And then it'll be around 2 weeks until it lands here in the Dead Heart. What a version to have as my first ever G1 Prime!

Oh, and it turns out that it does have a proper waist swivel after all, not just leg hinges that allow some movement other than just back and forward. Bizarre the way Takara seemingly went out of its way not to show that properly, particularly as it was, amongst all the heaping praise, the most prominent criticism of the thing...

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

Saw one on the shelf today. Feels very nice. Patiently awaiting the delivery of mine.

[Deano85]

Assorted Japanese retailers have started charging and delivering. My C-01 from AmiAmi (paid today) might be on the way as early as Monday :) And then it'll be around 2 weeks until it lands here in the Dead Heart. What a version to have as my first ever G1 Prime!

Oh, and it turns out that it does have a proper waist swivel after all, not just leg hinges that allow some movement other than just back and forward. Bizarre the way Takara seemingly went out of its way not to show that properly, particularly as it was, amongst all the heaping praise, the most prominent criticism of the thing...

Amazon Japan has charged me for both Missing Link Optimus Primes and shipped out C-02.

[High_Q]

The toy looks really sturdy, based on the video reviews i saw on Youtube of people transforming and posing it. Surprised given the requirement for both modes to have the same dimensions as the original. I'm torn on whether to feel excited (yay for G1 Megs) or dread (how to import without hassle) the day if Takara releases Missing Link G1 Megatron.

[danny-boy]

Got my C-01 and C-02 from Amazon Japan on Monday which is lightning quick. The C-01 box is a work of art.

I can’t wait to see what this line brings us. Missing Link G1 Megatron has to be next.

[JJJ]

Missing Link Convoy arrived today.

Words almost fail me :) I haven't cared for G1 toys in decades; this changes that entirely.

Those waiting for it from JB or Amazon will find it worth the wait, eventually.

[JJJ]

We have some alleged Takara solicitation material (https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/missing-link-c-01-and-c-02-g1-convoy-optimus-prime-revealed.1251563/page-308#post-22302963) that has leaked. If real, then the next two ML toys will be Bumblebee and Cliffjumper. Apparently we'll see on the 8th of May.

Those two were waaaaaaay down the list of likely candidates, due to the intricate engineering required to give them articulation.

[danny-boy]

Nice. The popularity of these makes it seem like the line will branch out to many more characters. I hope we get close to a full 84-85 line up.

[reillyd]

Hmm….I thought Bumblebee and Cliffjumper WERE articulated. Their arms move up and down, but left and right and are all floppy. Or at least mine is…. Has had a lot of play wear.

[Skyfire]

I have a bad feeling these are going to be really expensive for tiny toys.

[High_Q]

Best TF news of 2024 if true. I've always wanted an MISB/MOSC G1 Cliffjumper toy.

I'll be getting Bee and multiples of Cliffjumper because Takara might never release an official chibi MP Cliffjumper.


Hmm�.I thought Bumblebee and Cliffjumper WERE articulated. Their arms move up and down, but left and right and are all floppy. Or at least mine is�. Has had a lot of play wear.

I had two Micro Change Familia Pre-Bumpers as a kid, and both not only had floppy arms, but sadly, both had arms that eventually fell off from play wear. So this Missing Link version, with reengineered shoulder joints, is very welcome indeed. You're lucky yours are only floppy. Maybe the Transformers branded minibots had better QC compared to the older Micro Change ones.

[Skyfire]

C-01 and C-02 are coming into stock at Australian sellers now e.g. Gamesmen (https://www.gamesmen.com.au/search?q=missing+link), Ozzie Collectables (https://www.ozziecollectables.com/pages/search-results-page?q=missing%20link), Toy Igloo (https://www.toyigloo.com.au/catalogsearch/result/?q=missing+link).

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

I am curious to know hoe much these guys will be, but will also shamelessly fork over the money for them.

[valkyrie_76]

I am curious to know hoe much these guys will be, but will also shamelessly fork over the money for them.

Be curious no more........AmiAmi has them listed now for 4750yen/$47AU and the full price is 5940yen/$40US/$60AU

[danny-boy]

Currently at about $135 AUD shipped for both from Amazon Japan. $65-$70 for a little penny racer these shouldn’t be more than $20. I know everything is expensive these days but that price is a bit excessive.

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

Currently at about $135 AUD shipped for both from Amazon Japan. $65-$70 for a little penny racer these shouldn�t be more than $20. I know everything is expensive these days but that price is a bit excessive.

These guys are quite a bit more complex than a penny racer, but I too feel the RRP is a bit over the top.

To be honest though, I'm surprised TT are pushing through with these guys for a number of reasons.
1. They are small
2. I bet they were not easy to make.
3. They don't project value for money when you see how small they are.

The 3rd one makes them quite a gamble really. Optimus. Soundwave, and the bigger guys would easily get away with their high prices, but these guys being so small would be a tough sell.

(He says despite knowing that Amazon japan had 400+ pre-orders taken for them in the morning the listing was put up)

[JJJ]

However, nobody will be paying the RRP. Amazon Japan will heavily discount the price over the course of a few weeks, and all the other place in Japan that are taking orders have already applied much the same discount. Or at least nobody needs to pay RRP; anyone who waits for local retailers to stock these things will of course pay a higher price than those buying directly from Japan (higher even than adding the cost of postage from Japan), but that's a choice.

I don't think there is any special difficulty in making them, though. Plenty of other manufacturers have been making similar toys with parts the sizes we're seeing here for quite some time without issue, although yes, they too tend to have prices that some people say are high.

The price and value are all subjective judgement calls, right or wrong for us alone in our own heads, and really the only way to say whether it was "right" or "wrong" as a general thing is to look at the sales in the end. And these will, I believe, sell out, which would be as close to saying the price wasn't actually wrong (not the same as saying it was right) as we can reasonably get.

[Paulbot]

I wonder if they'll do Anime versions of these two? The alt cartoon face Bumblebee head has been around for a long time now. That's the one thing making me hesitate with these two. Missing Link Anime Convoy is fantastic.

[Skyfire]

AIE Games listings for C03 (https://www.aiegames.com.au/product/transformers-takara-tomy-missing-link-c-03-bumblebee-18093.html) and C04 (https://www.aiegames.com.au/product/transformers-takara-tomy-missing-link-c-04-cliffjumper-18094.html), releasing 3/3/25.

[Skyfire]

Several Aus retailers have C-03 and C-04 listed (cheaper to get from Japan):

Popcultcha $89.99 for Feb 2025
Bee: https://www.popcultcha.com.au/transformers-generation-1-bumblebee-missing-link-c-03-takara-tomy-action-figure.html
Cliff: https://www.popcultcha.com.au/transformers-generation-1-cliffjumper-missing-link-c-04-takara-tomy-action-figure.html

Gamesmen $94.95 for Mar 2025
Bee: https://www.gamesmen.com.au/transformers-takara-tomy-missing-link-c-03-bumblebee-action-figure
Cliff: https://www.gamesmen.com.au/transformers-takara-tomy-missing-link-c-04-cliffjumper-action-figure

Titan Pop Culture $99.99 for Mar 2025
Bee: https://titanpopculture.com.au/products/transformers-takara-tomy-missing-link-c-03-bumblebee?_pos=21&_fid=e9da6e24a&_ss=c
Cliff: https://titanpopculture.com.au/products/transformers-takara-tomy-missing-link-c-04-cliffjumper?_pos=20&_fid=e9da6e24a&_ss=c

Toy Igloo $99 for Mar 2025
Bee: https://www.toyigloo.com.au/transformers-takara-tomy-missing-link-c-03-bumblebee.html
Cliff: https://www.toyigloo.com.au/transformers-takara-tomy-missing-link-c-04-cliffjumper.html

[JJJ]

Just to illustrate how much cheaper, for those still on the fence about the idea of ordering from overseas...

I will be paying AmiAmi something around $50 for each of Cliff and Bumble, plus perhaps $20 postage from Japan (Convoy's postage was $30). $120-ish for the pair (and for those that care about such things, I'll have them before Christmas).

Or, in the best-case scenario, I would pay $180 to get them from Popcultcha (presuming the free postage for orders over $100 works for two separate items that may or may not arrive at the same time). And they'll turn up around March.

[Deano85]

Just to illustrate how much cheaper, for those still on the fence about the idea of ordering from overseas...

I will be paying AmiAmi something around $50 for each of Cliff and Bumble, plus perhaps $20 postage from Japan (Convoy's postage was $30). $120-ish for the pair (and for those that care about such things, I'll have them before Christmas).

Or, in the best-case scenario, I would pay $180 to get them from Popcultcha (presuming the free postage for orders over $100 works for two separate items that may or may not arrive at the same time). And they'll turn up around March.

I pre-ordered both Missing Link Optimus Primes with Amazon Japan, and have both Bumblebee and Cliffjumper ordered there again. Definitely alot cheaper than getting them here locally.

[reillyd]

Thanks for the heads up all. I’d not heard of Ami Ami before, but will give it a go.

[Skyfire]

Missing Link C-03 and C-04 have been released in Asia e.g. AmiAmi, HobbyLink Japan, The Falcon's Hangar.

[danny-boy]

Got Cliffjumper from Amazon Japan but for some reason they shipped Bumblebee separately.

Payed $60 each including shipping and it feels like a bit of waste of money. Minibots are so tiny they should have gone the TFC Collection/Encore route and bundled 4 or 5 together.

Anyway looking forward to Missing Link Sunstreaker, Cordon, Arcee, and Ultra Magnus.

I don’t know why Amazon Japan have restricted Australia as a shipping destination for Sunstreaker and Cordon. I’ll have to pre-order elsewhere.

[reillyd]

Has Arcee or Magnus been confirmed yet? I know they had a mock up of Arcee, but it was only an early prototype. Magnus makes sense as they can reuse the prime mold.

[danny-boy]

Arcee they said they are working on under the missing link line and showed a rough prototype.

Ultra Magnus is just a rumour but it came from the same person who leaked Sunstreaker.

[Other]

Missing Link Sunstreaker
https://www.amazon.com.au/T-Spark-Transformers-Missing-Sunstreaker-Action/dp/B0DPFHV1KT/
Missing Link Cordon
https://www.amazon.com.au/T-Spark-Transformers-Missing-Cordon-Action/dp/B0DPFJZPTY/
Both are are 125.87AUD including GST, Free International Shipping

[Skyfire]

Missing Link C-07 prototype Arcee and C-08 Arcee pre-orders start today in Japan, for Sept/Oct release.

Amazon JP $134.92 delivered
C-07: https://www.amazon.com.au/T-Spark-Transformers-Missing-Earthy-Prototype/dp/B0DZ1X37PT
C-08: https://www.amazon.com.au/T-Spark-Transformers-Missing-Action-Figure/dp/B0DZ1WLHXJ

AmiAmi 10,560 Yen (before GST and shipping)
C-07: https://www.amiami.com/eng/detail/?gcode=FIGURE-183304
C-08: https://www.amiami.com/eng/detail/?gcode=FIGURE-183305

HLJ 10,920 Yen (before GST and shipping)
C-07: https://www.hlj.com/transformers-missing-link-c-07-arcee-prototype-tkt95738
C-08: https://www.hlj.com/transformers-missing-link-c-08-arcee-tkt95833

[Skyfire]

Now also up is Anime Export at 9,600 Yen each.

C-07: https://www.anime-export.com/index.php?product=89617
C-08: https://www.anime-export.com/index.php?product=89618

The Amazon AU via JP units pre-sold out after several hours. They weren't even in the top 100 Best Sellers for Toy Statues when I posted but are now #1 and #2 ;).

These will probably make it to Aust retailers too, but like C-01 through C-06, you will pay a fair amount more.

[Skyfire]

TFH Singapore's listings up now, SGD98 for Sept release.

C-07: https://www.tfh.com.sg/product-details.php?p=42365
C-08: https://www.tfh.com.sg/product-details.php?p=42364

[danny-boy]

Missing Link C-07 prototype Arcee and C-08 Arcee pre-orders start today in Japan, for Sept/Oct release.

Amazon JP $134.92 delivered
C-07: https://www.amazon.com.au/T-Spark-Transformers-Missing-Earthy-Prototype/dp/B0DZ1X37PT
C-08: https://www.amazon.com.au/T-Spark-Transformers-Missing-Action-Figure/dp/B0DZ1WLHXJ


I missed the Amazon AU for $134, so had to use Amazon Japan and got it for $144 shipped. I didn't realise they now charge upfront.