Toy Review - KAEN (Masterpiece)

Trainbot KAEN (say "kah-enn")
Series - Masterpiece
Size/class - N/A
New/remould/redeco - New
Wave - MPG-06
Released here - N/A (Japan, late February 2024)
Approximate Retail Price - 20350JPY ($208)
Approximate Size - 15cm (head); 17cm (backpack)
Allegiance - Autobot
Sub-Group - Trainbot
Alt-mode - JNR DE10 diesel locomotive
Main Features/Gimmicks - TT (12mm gauge) scale train mode, combines with fellow MPG Trainbots to form Raiden (say "Rye-dehn")
Main Colours - grey and red with black and white accents
Main Accessories - Power Laser gun, rail track, flight stand connector for Kaen, flight stand connector for Raiden, laser sword for Raiden, backpack panel

https://i.ibb.co/GTVbWBF/MP-trainbot-KAEN01.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/chxHjsq/MP-trainbot-KAEN02.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/GvDN5NQ/MP-trainbot-KAEN03.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/BzP4kbH/MP-trainbot-KAEN04.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/3f7twqc/MP-trainbot-KAEN05.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/NTDLHpd/MP-trainbot-KAEN06.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/PrZSYkP/MP-trainbot-KAEN07.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/LkN9NS0/MP-trainbot-KAEN08.jpg

Kaen was always gonna be a chunky boi given his G1 design and the fact that he's the load-bearing core of the MPG Raiden gestalt; the biggest sacrifice being the lack of waist articulation. The designers have done a commendable job in trying to balance out the body proportions, by having expanding torso panels and the hips on Zed-joints that allow them to narrow and extend the legs. Ther is a grey panel that can attach to the front of the backpack. This panel isn't essential and serves no other purpose than to add more G1-accuracy to the colour of the backpack. It does slightly hinder head articulation, but it's removable (and utterly needless if you don't care about the toy being that G1-accurate). The train mode is, as expected, a really nice replica of the actual locomotive. Overall, not the best MP Trainbot, but not the worst (Seizan's my least favourite). I do like how there is no partsforming on this toy - the front section of the locomotive is attached via articulated armature, similar to Shouki, Getsuei and Yukikaze.

I haven't tried assembling Raiden yet; I'll get to that later this weekend and make a separate review thread for Raiden.

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http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showth...-(Masterpiece)
http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showth...-(Masterpiece)
http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showth...-(Masterpiece)
http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showth...-(Masterpiece)
http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showth...-(Masterpiece)