Toy Review - DK-2 GUARD (Masterpiece)

DiaKron-2 GUARD
Series - Masterpiece
Sub-line - Gestalt, Giant, Great
Size/class - N/A
New/remould/redeco - Repaint of Masterpiece Ironhide
Wave - MPG-11
Released here - March 2025 (The Gamesmen)
Approximate Retail Price - 19800JPY ($215); AU RRP: $250
Approximate Size - 16cm
Allegiance - Autobot
Alt-mode - Nissan Cherry vanette
Main Features/Gimmicks - Weapons sled
Main Colours - Red, grey.
Main Accessories - Autobot Face, Knockabout Bomb, Bomb Catapult, Terrain Scanner, Weapon Rack, Beta Gun, Ion Storm Rifle, Energy Nail Hands (L, R), Shield Projector, Heat Ray Muzzle, Jump Thruster, Effect Parts (x2)

NOTE: See the MP-27 Ironhide review thread[/url] for comments on the original mould. This review thread will focus on changes made.

MPG Lift-Ticket and DK-2 Guard in box.
https://i.ibb.co/CpDgSqwj/MPG-dk2guard00.jpg

VEHICLE MODE
https://i.ibb.co/RGrbNFc3/MPG-dk2guard01.jpg
Pretty much paint-by-numbers recolour of Ironhide with his Diaclone (DK2 Guard) colours. Looks great. :)

VEHICLE MODE (rear)
https://i.ibb.co/9HK8CmkW/MPG-dk2guard02.jpg

ROBOT MODE
https://i.ibb.co/0bp5K4h/MPG-dk2guard03.jpg
Terrain scanner is the same as Ironhide's Sonodar. The sonodar readout card that goes in Ironhide's chest has been replaced with a card with a G1/e-Hobby-accurate face sticker. The Autobot logo on the chest is a sticker. The decos on the knees and shins are factory-applied tampographs. There is also a sticker that goes on the back that resembles the back of G1 Ironhide/Ratchet's heads. The blast effects have been changed from orange to blue. The waist has also been tampographed to more closely resemble the G1 look.

COMPARISON W/ GENS SELECTS DK-2 GUARD
https://i.ibb.co/twxW55Q3/MPG-dk2guard04.jpg
The red upper legs and face are clearly inspired by GS DK-2 Guard. MPG DK-2 Guard also adds red hands and red "ear guards" on the sides of the helmet. These would've been things that were not possible for Gens Selects due to gang-moulding and relatively smaller budget, but it's nice to see MPG using the MP buget to add extra details like these.

COMPARISON W/ G1* & GENS SELECTS DK-2 GUARD
https://i.ibb.co/ynBRsvY3/MPG-dk2guard05.jpg
*Protect Ironhide, the e-Hobby exclusive reissue of Ironhide in his Diaclone colours. For those who may not know, "DK-2" is a reference to Ironhide's Diakron number. And obviously Guard = Protect.

W/ G1* DK-2 GUARD
https://i.ibb.co/dJ1hPdk9/MPG-dk2guard06.jpg

REGULAR & AUTOBOT FACES
https://i.ibb.co/vCLSdszr/MPG-dk2guard07.jpg
The Autobot Face is a repaint of Ironhide's shouty face painted like Ironhide's G1 face. But the odd thing is that what were originally Ironhide's eyes are now resting on his cheeks, with the actual eyes resting above the G1 face deco. It's most likely due to the original sticker face being a square which doesn't fit the more elongated proportions of Ironhide's cartoon face.

It's a thing you can do if you wanna do it. :p
https://i.ibb.co/CKNbB3qh/MPG-dk2guard08.jpg

G1-accurate(ish) Ironhide!
https://i.ibb.co/k6yCj097/MPG-dk2guard09.jpg

Marvel-Comic colour accurate Ironhide (except for the black crest).
https://i.ibb.co/mVwhnzqL/MPG-dk2guard10.jpg

With Lift-Ticket.
https://i.ibb.co/Ngt2qcmS/MPG-dk2guard11.jpg

P.S.: This toy is currently on sale at AmiAmi, The Gamesmen and Amazon AU.