MP-01 Convoy and MP-04 Convoy

[emmai]

What is the difference between these two figures: MP-01 Convoy and MP-04 Convoy?
- only the wrist communicators are different MP1 has Bumblebee and Starscream and MP4 has Grimlock and Megatron

i Also heard rumers of overall quality difference

i just collect MP line, i got the MP1 but looking for MP4

Cheers,

[GoktimusPrime]

MP04 comes with the trailer and sold exclusively at Target. MP01 was never released in Australia (we only got the Hasbro versions which IMO aren't as good).

[emmai]

Thank ^^
MP-04 released in Australia (exclusively at Target) is Hasbro or Takara versions?

[blackie]

takara
but youll be very hard pressed to find one

[SOUNDBLASTER]

Thank ^^
MP-04 released in Australia (exclusively at Target) is Hasbro or Takara versions?

There is a guy over here in NZ that has one for sale .. He has it listed sometimes on our local auction site and his starting bid is $450nzd which is around $370 AUD....

This is a link to one of his closed auctions as its not listed at the moment .

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Toys-models/Action-figures/Transformers/auction-242485061.htm

Or better still ...
http://cgi.ebay.com/Transformers-Masterpiece-MP-04-Optimus-Prime-Trailer_W0QQitemZ200387405212QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH _DefaultDomain_0?hash=item2ea805259c&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

[iceburn]

i've got an MP04 if you're interested...

[emmai]

Thank any one.:)
MP-01 and MP-04 coloure are the same?

[emmai]

i've got an MP04 if you're interested...
thank mate
i'm a new member. i can't treading in this board yet

[griffin]

MP-01 and MP-04 coloure are the same?

yes. only things that appear to be different are the communicator stickers, and the added trailer. I think even the gun colour is the same (grey), despite Hasbro releasing theirs with a black gun.

[emmai]

yes. only things that appear to be different are the communicator stickers, and the added trailer. I think even the gun colour is the same (grey), despite Hasbro releasing theirs with a black gun.

So if i got MP-01, i should buy only trailer or MP-04. what are you recon?
thank for your time:)

[griffin]

Since the trailer doesn't get sold separately - if you are not fussed about the communicator stickers, it would be better to get MP4. I just can't think of anything significantly different between the actual robots though.

[emmai]

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r286/magicm_arch/JIT10000.jpg

thank i will get MP4 :D but i just found this pic. what this trailer is?

[iceburn]

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r286/magicm_arch/JIT10000.jpg

thank i will get MP4 :D but i just found this pic. what this trailer is?

that's a knock off trailer

[Jaisun]

yes. only things that appear to be different are the communicator stickers, and the added trailer. I think even the gun colour is the same (grey), despite Hasbro releasing theirs with a black gun.

I am pretty sure I got severely shafted on this... If these are the only differences you mention (and your knowledge is reliable ofcourse), and the seibertron galleries of both versions agree, then wtf is this on my MP-04?
http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/2966/dsc09158h.th.jpg (http://img39.imageshack.us/i/dsc09158h.jpg/)
I have MP-02 also, and that has the proper moulded lights as shown on the boxart, so... was it just me that got shafted? I got it from Target, so it can't be a KO. The only saving grace is that I only display in bot form, so this isn't seen, but still...


i Also heard rumers of overall quality difference

I can't vouch for MP-01 specifically, but I can confirm that my MP-04 has a significantly lesser quality than my MP-02, which I would assume to be quite similar to MP-01 in quality. Some such issues I have read reports about are things like the chest windows not latching properly, leg extension mechanism not locking into place, and the included batteries being already drained (even from a MISB), all of which are present on my MP-04, but not my MP-02. They are hardly deal-breakers, but still quite annoying considering the cash layout...

[GoktimusPrime]

The MP04 robot is a reissue of MP01 and there have been reports of quality issues with it.

From TFwiki (http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Optimus_Prime_%28G1%29/toys#20th_Anniversary.2FMasterpiece):
"there have been reports that this release of Masterpiece Convoy has much poorer quality control"

[griffin]

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r286/magicm_arch/JIT10000.jpg

thank i will get MP4 :D but i just found this pic. what this trailer is?

Iceburn is half right - it is an unauthorised Trailer toy produced by some Asian source, but was produced a couple years before MP4's Trailer (so technically probably can't be a knock-off). That unauthorised Trailer doesn't split open - it just has the back ramp that opens and is completely hollow inside.


I am pretty sure I got severely shafted on this... If these are the only differences you mention (and your knowledge is reliable ofcourse), and the seibertron galleries of both versions agree, then wtf is this on my MP-04?
http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/2966/dsc09158h.th.jpg (http://img39.imageshack.us/i/dsc09158h.jpg/)
I have MP-02 also, and that has the proper moulded lights as shown on the boxart, so... was it just me that got shafted? I got it from Target, so it can't be a KO. The only saving grace is that I only display in bot form, so this isn't seen, but still...
I can't vouch for MP-01 specifically, but I can confirm that my MP-04 has a significantly lesser quality than my MP-02, which I would assume to be quite similar to MP-01 in quality. Some such issues I have read reports about are things like the chest windows not latching properly, leg extension mechanism not locking into place, and the included batteries being already drained (even from a MISB), all of which are present on my MP-04, but not my MP-02. They are hardly deal-breakers, but still quite annoying considering the cash layout...


There were a number of quality issues with MP4, but most of the problems were not related to mould degradation that other figures reissued over and over again, suffer from. Things like heavy chrome chipping straight out of the box, paint issues, headlights missing (like yours - it was reported a few times, but I don't think anyone was unfortunate enough to be missing both like you are), and alignment problems with the chest panels (but that is probably mould degradation).
I think each of the MP Convoy versions (MP1, MP2, MP4) have been produced twice so far, and the upcoming black MP1 will mean a seventh usage of the mould, so we could see more signs of mould degradation (like the reissue Combaticons, which have been done so many times, I'm surprised the moulds still work).

[GoktimusPrime]

Jaisun: My MP01 had a missing ladder panel and I called Takara who FedExed me replacement parts (and some free bonus goodies) within a few days.

But I wonder if Hasbro Australia would be willing to service this toy considering that they released the toy here. You could try to call Hasbro Australia and see what they say. They might advise you to return the toy for an exchange at Target, but you need to point out that the toy is no longer on sale (and thus Target is unable to provide a replacement). Now this is assuming that you purchased the toy from Target in Australia and not imported from overseas, because by law* Hasbro can only service toys purchased in their market; Takara cannot service a Hasbro toy and vice versa. If you purchased the toy from Japan then you may need to contact TakaraTOMY, but be aware that TakaraTOMY staff generally don't speak English so unless you can speak Japanese you may need to ask a Japanese-speaking friend to help you. In my experience with my MP01 problem Takara's customer support was fantastic; so it's a good option if you're able to overcome the language barrier.

Otherwise I guess another option is to get a loose Hasbro MP Optimus Prime, swap the parts around then sell the spare toy off.

-------
*Hasbro and Takara have a contractual agreement which forbids them from 'interfering' in each other's market unless they have a prior agreement/arrangement. So Hasbro Australia were able to import MP Ultra Magnus and MP04 because they had permission from Takara(TOMY) and likewise TakaraTOMY occasionally release Hasbro TFs in Japan with permission from Hasbro.

[griffin]

Now this is assuming that you purchased the toy from Target in Australia and not imported from overseas...
...

I got it from Target

[GoktimusPrime]

Allow me to open my mouth and change feet! :p Yeah, call Hasbro AU. :)

[Jaisun]

Allow me to open my mouth and change feet! :p Yeah, call Hasbro AU. :)

Lol, no need for that, Target is overseas too, so I can understand you saying what you said. Anyways, thank you very much for the tips griffin and Gok, I will give Hasbro AU a try, and hopefully they wont be anal and demand reciepts etc, cause I've had him for around 12-18 months now, so a PoP is out of the question. If headlights missing is a reported issue, I'd rather both or none, cause one missing would be wierder and would look more defective than none imo =oP

Anyways, wish me luck, and thanks again =o)

[GoktimusPrime]

My MP01 was missing one ladder panel but Takara sent me a pair of them, most likely because they manufacture left-right parts like this in sets. This means that if they do decide you send you replacements then they should send you both. There's no point in HasTak keeping the other one... for example, if they sent you a left headlight panel what on Earth are they going to do with the right panel? It was probably for this reason that I was sent both ladder panels and I'd imagine that they'd do the same for you.

Anyway, good luck! :)

[Jaisun]

My MP01 was missing one ladder panel but Takara sent me a pair of them, most likely because they manufacture left-right parts like this in sets. This means that if they do decide you send you replacements then they should send you both. There's no point in HasTak keeping the other one... for example, if they sent you a left headlight panel what on Earth are they going to do with the right panel? It was probably for this reason that I was sent both ladder panels and I'd imagine that they'd do the same for you.

Anyway, good luck! :)

I guess they could send 1 side and hope someone else would eventually need the other...? =oP j/k, it would be cheaper and simpler for them to distribute sets than keep track of loose individual sides. Anyways, progress report: I called Hasbro AU after my last post, left my number for them to call back, but as I have the flu atm, I had to have a sleep in the arvo, and ofcourse, they called back while I slept =oP Better luck tomorrow...

[Jaisun]

Mmkay, I got on to Hasbro AU today, and they told me that anything Takara, even if officially released over here, has nothing to do with them. So I guess Target got them direct from Japan through Takara then? If so, I better brush o on my Japanese... Any ideas for contacting them?

[GoktimusPrime]

W H A T ?

Okay, first of all, if Target called TakaraTOMY and tried to directly import MP04 from then, unless Target had permission from Hasbro Australia then TakaraTOMY would tell Target to go jump. I know this because when I was organising the Sabretron 2004 convention I called Takara in 2003 and asked them if they could help me make some convention exclusive toys. They told me that since the convention was going to be in Australia, a Hasbro market, then I would have to seek permission from Hasbro Australia first and they also explained to me about this contractual agreement between Takara and Hasbro which expressly forbids them from interfering/contaminating each other's markets without permission.

Secondly, all the Masterpiece Transformers released in Target here had legal blurbs written in ENGLISH on a sticker attached on the bottom of the box. I suspect that Hasbro Australia must've attached this sticker. Could someone here with an Australian MP Magnus or MP04 confirm what's written on this sticker and whether or not Hasbro Australia's name/address appears on it or not?

Thirdly, unfortunately Hasbro Australia has been known to say things that are untrue. Zaul called them a few months ago and they told him that they would not be releasing ROTF Skids, Wheelie and Chromia in Australia. They later told someone else (griffin?) that they would - and sure enough they have. The verdict is still out on MP Grimlock (Hasbro AU told me that we won't be getting MP Grimlock here but many people aren't sure whether or not to believe them on that).


If so, I better brush o on my Japanese... Any ideas for contacting them?
Their call centre numbers are located on the bottom or back of the box. Here they are:
0011-81-3-5650-1031 or 0011-81-6-6395-1031
They're open weekdays from 10:00-17:00 JST (+9 UTC)

They also have online customer support here (http://www.takaratomy.co.jp/support/index02.html)

[Jaisun]

http://img188.imageshack.us/img188/6725/dsc09160g.th.jpg (http://img188.imageshack.us/i/dsc09160g.jpg/)
MP-02 has an english sticker, MP-04 does not, just to make things confusing ofcourse. All of this is a bit of paradox. One would assume Hasbro AU would be the distributor for the MP's that were released here, but they have a contractual agreement with Takara not to meddle with each others stuff... So, I guess this is a matter for Takara after all? I'm confuzzled...

[GoktimusPrime]

*sigh* You've already tried Hasbro with no luck. You can try to call them again and see if they give you a different answer (as they did with the news about ROTF Chromia, Skids and Wheelie) or call TakaraTOMY first and explain to them that you've already contacted Hasbro Australia and tell them what they told you.

Failing that you might want to consider buying a loose Hasbro Masterpiece Optimus Prime, swapping the panels, then selling the spare - customisers like KC99 would be willing to buy it for spare parts. :)

[GoktimusPrime]

btw, there's a discussion thread about quality issues regarding MP04 here (http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?t=1719)... so your problem isn't an isolated incident. :/