Masterpiece Optimus Primal

[Tober]

When pre-orders do come online, who are the preferred online stores to deal with? I've not bought an MP before.

Local store Premium Collectibles has become the preferred source within a year. They're very competitive given the poor exchange rates.

Otherwise if you want it ASAP, I'd recommend HLJ or Hobby Search due to their excellent customer service.

[MEEEGGGAAATTTRRROOONNN!!!]

From Tagoal:

[llamatron]

Loving all the extra faces and accessories MPs are coming with.

Now just hurry up TT and put out solicitations!

[Bladestorm]

Those extra faces are cool!

I can't wait to see the finished product in hand.

[Raider]

I know I'll get this (I love my MPs) and I realise that it is exceptionally difficult when you are using an animal, but parts of it just irk me, such as the feet and elbows. I am being way too picky though.

I also kinda wish that the outside plastic in beast mode had an almost hair like feel to it. I think they are attempting that with the look of the paint but it would be great it it's not just a smooth plastic feel.

[MEEEGGGAAATTTRRROOONNN!!!]

... but parts of it just irk me, such as the feet and elbows. I am being way too picky though.

I don't think you're being too picky, I think they are legitimate criticisms.

Those elbows, for example, are just terrible and really ruin what looks like a premium figure, particularly with the paintjob reveal.

[BruiseLee]

I'm in the trukk not munky camp and wasn't that keen on this as it doesn't fit what I have until I saw that dancing munky pose. Now I'm officially on the fence for this!

[GoktimusPrime]

One of the strengths of the original BW figures was the meticulous detail that they poured into sculpting features like fur, scales, feathers etc. I agree that it's a shame that this appears to be absent in the MP figure, but I think that it's because they're going for show-accuracy. So the surface of the beast mode is screen-accurately flat. We've seen the same approach being taken w/ G1 MPs, so it's not all that surprising.

[MEEEGGGAAATTTRRROOONNN!!!]

Some screencaps from a new video, taken by Tagoal:

[MEEEGGGAAATTTRRROOONNN!!!]

Coloured images of beast mode and swords (via Tagoal):