So I managed to get the Takara version of leader Optimus recently, and thought I'd post some pictures. I don't have a Hasbro version on hand to compare it to, but hopefully these pictures will show current Hasbro owners and prospective owners the differences between the two.

The robot mode has silver paint covering a lot of the grey plastic on the upper arms, thighs, feet, and torso. The head is also silver - in fact, silver is the dominant colour, with a few blue paint applications.

The Takara version actually has less chrome than the Hasbro version - the chest plate is painted silver instead of chrome, with red and blue paint on top. Note the different patterns of red and blue on the chest, and the flame deco absent from the Hasbro version.





The vehicle mode is pretty much the same, except for silver paint applications on the hitch and wheels. As the torso is painted silver, the sleeper cab guard is also silver.





On the mould itself: I find it's not instantly attractive, rather, it grows on you. I appreciate the effort to replicate the CGI model's slimmer, sleeker frame, the transformation isn't too hard, and the robot has a great range of movement. It's just a shame that the hitch couldn't be collapsed further or more integrated into the robot.