Favourite Masterpiece Transformer?

[GoktimusPrime]

I find both MP-1 and MP10 really fun toys to play with. Play-wise the main downside with MP-1 is the way he doesn't hold his rifle very tightly... that's my biggest beef with that toy. But when weighing up the pros and cons of both MP Primes, I still find MP-1 comes out on top. But MP10 comes a close second and is a really great toy in its own right.

As for others...
+ MP Ultra Magnus: well, it's a straight up repaint of MP-1, which makes sense but I couldn't justify getting it, even for $80 at Target.
+ MP Starscream: the first one was really disappointing, felt more like a pre-built model kit than an action figure. The colours look nice in jet mode but dubious in robot mode. The subsequent Hasbro version improved on the colours and plastic quality.
+ MP Skywarp/Thundercracker: continuing to use improved plastic quality was nice, but still suffers from the inherent drawbacks of the original MP Starscream mould.
+ MP Sunstorm: this is the only version of the new MP Starcream retooled mould that I have, and they have definitely improved it as a toy. But damn its expensive RRP!
+ MP Grimlock: Nice but somewhat simplistic for a Masterpiece. The top half of the toy fundamentally feels like G1 Grimlock to me with most of the more MPish style engineering happening from waist down. The toy has some clever gimmicks and the laser rod thing is cool. As someone who's always preferred the G1 comics over the cartoon, I was delighted that they omitted the standard TakTOM accessories in favour of the crown. It is a nice toy, but not worth the $150 RRP IMHO.
+ MP Megatron: an ambitious toy, trying to make a thin gun transform into a chunky robot was never going to be easy. Admirable effort for sure, but the laboriously time-intensive transformation is just too damn complicated that it ceases being fun to transform.
+ MP Soundwave: Great toy... transformation is very similar to G1 toy, which is probably more indicative of just how awesome the original G1 Soundwave toy is. I paid $135 for my TakTOM version, which is quite expensive compared to the upcoming Hasbro release. FML. :/
+ MP Cassettes: very nice toys, but expensive for such small figures (despite their complexity). The backward compatibility w/ G1 is a nice touch, and the engineering of the figures is clever for what they are. Again, Hasbro version trumps out with price.
+ MP Rodimus: Got the Hasbro version, which is quite nice and addresses some of the flaws with the TakTOM version. The toy-accurate colours are nice, but the execution itself is lazy. But overall quite a nice toy.
+ MP Lambor: Disappointing and overpriced at RRP. The shoulders' inability to firmly lock into place is really poor for a Masterpiece toy and I wish that it had come with a rocket pack accessory (possibly with an additional clip that lets it attach to MP10 too).
+ MP Alert/Tigertrack: skipped after my experience w/ Lambor.
+ Movie MPs: I personally don't even consider these toys to be true MPs.

...none of the limited exclusive repaints have interested me, 'cept for Sunstorm.

[millhouse]

Anyone thinking that if Takara were to merely shrink down the existing Masterpiece Megatron to the current scale (same height as MP-10 Prime for argument's sake), it would not only address the scale issue in robot mode, but alt mode would be closer to actual size too?

Put a new head on it (I never really dug the original head), and I'd pony up if I could get one through customs.

Either that, or take a cue from the Fans Toys Quakewave. Clever way to work the legs/handle combo.

[Kazza]

Grimlock is my favorite MP. A dino/robot best combination ever. Topped of with a crown (hasbro version).

[Nevac]

I loved MP1 when it first came out I bought the Hasbro one at first and later MP2 and 4. It's heavy, big and loaded with gimmicks. I was excited at getting MP3 since it was a new mold but disappointed that they changed his color and strayed too far from his cartoon model. MP5 was awesome such an ambitious design but it does have his faults always afraid I'm going to break something transforming him. After MP5 my interest in Transformers waned and I skipped MP6-9.

Got back into it with MP10 (Hasbro), at first I didn't like that he was smaller and less die-cast but after having and playing around with him I really started to appreciate his design he is much closer to the cartoon model and the addition of roller and his trailer is great. I also think his gun seems kinda small and looks a little off with all the joints to fold it up, but it is cool that you can store it in his back. MP11 is what MP3 should have been no question the retooled parts are a nice addition but at his core he's still got MP3's engineering and it really shows when comparing his design to MP10/13. Just feels so flimsy and fragile while the other 2 are solid and transform smoothly.

Soundwave is by far the best MP to date in design and his tape gimmicks are awesome. He is expensive but you do get a lot for what you pay and especially with the hasbro version that will be an absolute bargain. He would be my pick for best MP so far.

Now if they could release a REAL MP Ultra Magnus I'd love to have it, as well as a new Skywarp based on MP11.

[Lint]

I'm really surprised you picked MP1 over MP10 Goktimus, considering you ended your description with "better toy"...surely 10's easier for the pick up and play we know you value highly!?

I think Soundwave is objectively the best out of the lot - with the least general design issues and no (i think?) QC problems. That said, my personal taste is for Hot Rod. They nailed the vehicle mode better than i could have ever imagined, and he has a perfect look in robot mode with a wealth of articulation. The good stuff made the QC issues a non-issue for me (i considered mine only minor anyway).

While MP10 is certainly the better looking bot and toy however MP1 just has a certain level of majesty about him. Also he was a supreme step up in toy engineering and design detail compared to prior (and some future) releases whereas MP10 was more of a natural progression.

Soundwave and Grimlock are definitely two of the best looking and articulate MP's so far however they really are (especially GrimlocK) just giant versions of their G1 selves. Megatron, Starscream, Prime, Sideswipe and Hot Rod have much more design genius to appreciate.

[doublespy]

MP-10 Hasbro version. The definitive G1 Optimus, hands down. Didn't realize I still have such strong emotional ties to the G1 era until I got him(The childhood memory value of G1 figures quickly faded away not long after I started collecting re-issues in the early 2000s. Modern toy engineerng is the main thing that keeps me collecting nowadays) And this figure got me back into collecting Masterpiece.

MP-09 TakTom verson would come close in the 2nd place. Has minor design flaws and is uber finicking to transform but the end results in all four modes are quite impressive. I think it's Hironori Kobayashi's finest work in the MP line.

I have yet to get the Hasbro soundwave but he should be in top 3 just for the money value.

P.S. I loved Hironori Kobayashi's creativity but gotta now Shogo Hasui's Masterpiece figures have won me over. He's an absolutely brilliant designer.

[Ravagecat]

The First MP I got was Optimus Prime in the 20th Anniversary Box (from Target). I was really impressed with his likeness to the cartoon, extra details (communicator, matrix etc) and the amount of die cast they put in him

QC issues aside, aesthetically I like MP 11S Sunstorm with his cool cloak and awesome colours and MP 12 Sideswipe because he is a favorite of mine from the G1 series and I'm a sucker for Lambo's

On the note of Masterpiece's, does anyone know how many versions of MP Megatron were released?? From what I've heard, I'm pretty sure there was a version released where he was in his gun mode then that caused import issues for some countries so they changed him to robot mode?? Also I'm hearing that he is very flimsy and light...was there ever a version that had more die cast in him (like MP1) or has he always been mostly plastic??

[UltraMarginal]

On the note of Masterpiece's, does anyone know how many versions of MP Megatron were released?? From what I've heard, I'm pretty sure there was a version released where he was in his gun mode then that caused import issues for some countries so they changed him to robot mode?? Also I'm hearing that he is very flimsy and light...was there ever a version that had more die cast in him (like MP1) or has he always been mostly plastic??

Only 1 version that I'm aware of. I don't know of it ever being shipped in alt mode. It was picked up by Australian Customs because of the nature of it's alt mode.

It's mostly plastic, certainly not as heavy as a real gun, but that's not possible. It's not so much flimsy as it has a lot of thin panels and some of the transformation is very scary with regard to the apparent amount of force required to get certain parts to move into place.
The scopes size makes it relatively heavy and as a result it's hard to pose his arm outstretched with the canon installed, the shoulder just doesn't have the strength.

As long as you go through the right channels and get a replica gun license he's pretty easy to import. there have been entire threads about the MP megs and associated issues, you should be able to search for them and dig them up.

[BigTransformerTrev]

The scopes size makes it relatively heavy and as a result it's hard to pose his arm outstretched with the canon installed, the shoulder just doesn't have the strength.

Yeah, my Megs always looks like he has had no sleep as I have him sorta slumping against the shelf wall with his cannon arm and his legs askew

[Sinnertwin]

Yeah, my Megs always looks like he has had no sleep as I have him sorta slumping against the shelf wall with his cannon arm and his legs askew

Yep, that's our guy