Finally got this toy.

PROS
+ Aesthetically more G1 accurate than Generations Kup.
+ Kibble-free robot mode
+ Interactive Titan Master play pattern which doesn't impede with the toy's engineering.

Much like TR Wheelie, I really like the way that TR Kup is able to extend and compact his body to make it small in robot mode but large in vehicle mode. They've added some nice features to make it not look too slavishly G1 and more reality grounded, such as an actual tailgate, compartment doors on the sides of the vehicle etc. They've managed to recreate the G1 alt mode and improve on some of its core weaknesses, particular the rear section of the vehicle - something which G1 designer Ono Koujin has said was a particularly sore point for the 80s Takara design team. So it's cool to see that Takara have been able to revisit and finally address this issue.

I also quite like how the guns, when combined, have a Targetmaster-esque quality to it (although too short-barrelled for Recoil, but still neat ). The use of yellow highlights throughout the toy is also nicely done and helps to break up some of the grey. The metallic electric blue eyes are also a nice feature, and one that might elude some people unless you look closely.

The guns can be plugged onto the sides or rear bed of the vehicle, and on the rear the guns can be combined or plugged in separately into two separate holes. There are also several pegs to allow other Titan Masters to stand on Kup's tray bed, so Kup can actually carry a small squad of Titan Masters.

CONS
- Straight up - Generations Kup is the better toy (IMHO), especially in terms of value for money
- While G1 accurate, the lighter turqoise doesn't look as nice as the darker shade on Generations Kup
- The forearms and/or hands really should be grey
- That face. Not sure why this Kup has been sculpted with a smiling duckface. I know that a lot of people weren't fans of Generations Kup's "gasping Yoda" face, but I prefer it over "smiling duckface" Kup. He's not meant to be a teenage schoolgirl.
- The weapon stowage on vehicle mode - they either clip to the sides of the vehicle (which looks silly) or they can clip onto the vehicle tray and face backwards but not forwards. Generations Kup's rifle can either be clipped on the underside (forming a second muffler) or it can be clipped on the roof and pivot 360° on its x-axis as well as up and down along its y-axis. Generations Kup's vehicle mode feels like it's better equipped for anti-aircraft combat (like the human resistance vs Skynet )
- While TR Kup's sculpt has some great features, it's sadly lost due to the lack of paint apps. And quite frankly, the G1-accurate fantasy mode just doesn't look nearly as good as the more realistic looking ute on Generations Kup, with things like a painted grill, transparent head and tail lights, better sculpted and painted tray bed etc. Generations Kup is the superior robot in disguise, so objectively speaking (i.e. removing our G1 goggles), I have to give Generations Kup the win for alt mode.

OVERALL

I don't think that TR Kup is a bad toy; there are some really nice features on it. But IMHO Generations Kup is by far the superior figure. TR Kup is still a nice toy in its own right, but I don't think that it's worth paying $25 or more for, especially considering that Generations Kup sold here for $20-25.

PHOTOS