Toy Review - SKIDS (Masterpiece)

[GoktimusPrime]

???????? - Indy Heat
Series - Masterpiece
Sub-line - Generation 1
Size/class - N/A
New/remould/redeco - New
Wave - MP-53
Released here - N/A
Approximate Retail Price - ?10780 (?$133)
Approximate Size - 16cm to top of head, 17cm to top of windscreen
Allegiance - Cybertron
Alt-mode - Honda City R
Main Features/Gimmicks - weapons can be stored in boot
Main Colours - red w/ blue and silver accents
Main Accessories - "Component X liquid nitrogen rifle, twin electron blaster

PHOTOS























Thoughts

Transformers Masterpiece started off as toys that had a blend of G1 toy and cartoon design aesthetics. However, it has progressively leaned ever more towards cartoon screen designs, leading to increasingly complex and expensive toys. MP Skids is a shift back towards the the hybrid toy x toon aesthetic; although it feels like it's about midway between the level of the older MP Cars (Lambor, Wheeljack, Datsuns etc.) and the newer MP Cars (Sunstreaker, Hound etc.). I personally prefer the blend of toy and toon and was never a huge fan of trying to make toys achieve a slavish level of toon-likeness, especially when other elements of the toy's design and playability are compromised. On the whole, I am really pleased with how TakaraTOMY have moved onto a new direction of toy x toon likeness. This toy does still have one faux vehicle kibble in robot mode though; false boot door halves on the back of the lower legs. Although it doesn't look bad nor does it really adversely affect the toy's design.

I only have two gripes about this figure. Firstly, too much blue. Yes, I know that it's the same as the G1 Sunbow cartoon model, but given that this toy's design is a hybrid of toy and toon, I would have preferred silver thighs like the toy. I also would have liked to see a swappable toy-accurate head. I suspect that the upper legs were made blue to not only make it look more like the G1 cartoon, but also to further differentiate this toy from MP Reboost. I would have also liked to see this toy come with the faux missile launcher accessory that Reboost has. I don't expect the scooter, as G1 Skids never had it, but the faux launcher would've been G1 toy-accurate.

Objectively speaking, Reboost is better value for money given that he has more paint ops and accessories at the same price as Skids. But of course, Skids is an original G1 character and a must-have for anyone looking to complete their G1 MP collection. Great toy!