Hasbro’s renewed Masterpiece Transformers line continues with their second stateside release of Starscream, and we have a look at him today. Starscream uses the upgraded body type for the seeker mold seen in Japan over the last several releases and is rocking an anime inspired deco. He doesn’t come with the coronation gear or Megatron add on but does have a new more proportional head and connected null ray cannons.
I’ve personally been rocking the V1 seekers since their release so this was my first interaction with the newer upgraded body type, and the upgrades are nice. Coupled with the head and the paint he’s definitely worth an upgrade if you’re in the same boat. There are some issues with this run of the figure tho, misaligned parts, sloppy sprue cuts and even some bent metal is present, all randomly & not on every figure, so you may need to do some work after you get it to get him in line. Fixes can be found on the 2005 Boards.
Check our full gallery here: Masterpiece Starscream (Hasbro 2015) Full Gallery.
You can check out some key shots and discussion after the break!
Insectabot
Perfect, that makes a lot of sense,thanks both!
WinstoBot
Pushed forward to simulate the cartoon look.
Pushed back to simulate the toy look.
Fallout
forward, but that's just because i like the little things that change up the bot mode.
Insectabot
So what is the proper way to display the seekers? Those vent stacks next to their heads, forward or back? I always had them forward, but more and more, I see them pushed back.
[Wing_Saber-X]
unsightly sprue marks are actually a strange pet peeve of mine, especially since I am a GUNPLA builder …
Raiyuki
Paint on mine is solid. As long as you don't mind the metalic paint, sprue marks, and lack of coronation gear TRU's Starscream will look fine with your other MPs.
[Wing_Saber-X]
wow, thanks for the updates! I really want one without paying Takara prices, and this Hasbro version might just be the thing!
I admit that I was a-little cautious about the flaws that Tony_B pointed out, but that shouldn't happen in the first place. sigh.
DVD
Got mine yesterday, and while I don't have the Takara version to compare it to, I can vouch for the plastic quality and overall good QC. I do have other Takara MP figures and this feels like the same plastic was used. He's 100 times more solid than the other TRU MP Seekers. I'd love to have his coronation gear, but the stand and missiles are always a plus. Now bring on Skywarp!
jres80
https://youtu.be/Uy6zUh6_ty8?t=508
Check out Peaugh transforming him. It's easier than explaining.
He messes up at first but explains it well.
Raiyuki
One thing I really wish they'd done and would probably have saved them paint money is to have used the toy accurate darker blue. The metallic paint is nice aside from the hands lacking it but overall I would've loved a toy accurate especially since with Hasbro's Thundercracker I'd have had two Diaclinish seekers.
The plastic to me seems fine. He looks perfectly good and doesn't feel fragile.
The one thing that genuinly bothers me is the visible sprue marks. They're very much visible kn his red plastic. This is one issue that I did notice Takara Seekers not having wheras the Hasbro ines have a bit of it but I didn't notice till this Starscream and for some reasin they do stick out a lot more. Granted MP22 also had that issue so who knows.
Overall still worth it and I do love seeing your pics. If we can see this guy with some of the other Seekers or at least all the Hasbro knes that gallery would be complete.
Mine came out of the box that way actually. The fingers were all backwards.
Personally I wish both Hasbro and Takara would just include. Oth sets of accessories. The gear looks fabulous and it should,ve been included since MP3 plus it's a nice TFTM piece while the stand helps display nicely and the clip is still relevant since MP Soundwave comes with a Megatron and it's another thing you can repro from the show. The missiles are mostly pointless but I like how they decorate the stand personally. I hope you get your hands on it; I found mine more easily than expected (had to call up a backup store as the one near me sold out but I did find him at the other place with no problems). Good luck!
It actually feels TOO tight to me. It's like someone between Hastak heard the complaints and made damn sure that thing wasn't loose,
Whirl E Bird
Made an account just to ask this.
How in the world did you get his missiles flat against his arms?
unicronic
Does this figure still have the torso that often doesn't lock into place?
GizmoTron
It's actually neat that this mold can actually stand ok without the heels out, while the MP-3 mold always desperately needed that support.
As another person with both MP-11 and this TRU release, I can also say that this new version definitely is a lot tighter, almost too tight in some places. And the plastic on both is great. Only place Takara truly wins here is with the red paint since I'm pretty sure they went over it with another coat where Hasbro's might still need some touch-ups to cover the white sprue marks.
Otherwise, both are pretty great. Win win.
Bruticon
Ohhh, I can answer this! The metal frame that the attaches the upper body to the lower on some copies are bent inwards. This adds friction keeping the torso locked in more BUT on some copies its way too tight/bent too much. There is a simple solution which is to remove the two screws with a type 0 Philips screwdriver and use a plyers to slightly remove some of the bend out of the frame, it doesn't take much. I recommend using a rag between the plyers and frame to prevent chipping/scratching the paint.
Flaw's and all well worth $60 for any Transformer enthusiast. There was enough small differences (besides being half the price) between this release and TT MP11 for me to really dig this figure.
Nevermore
Hasbro and Takara are using separate numbering systems.
Takara started waaaay back in 2003, with MP-1 Convoy, who was released by Hasbro as "20th Anniversary Optimus Prime".
Takara released the first version of Masterpiece Starscream in 2006 as MP-3. Hasbro released that figure (in more G1-accurate colors) under the "Classics" line as a Walmart exclusive in 2007.
Takara then released an "updated" version with modified tooling as MP-11 in 2012. This tooling version was recently released by Hasbro as a Toys"R"Us exclusive.
Following the aforementioned "20th Anniversary Optimus Prime", Hasbro released some (bot not all) of Takara's Masterpiece figures as part of whatever line was then going (a re-release/redeco of Optimus Prime and the aforementioned Walmart exclusive first version of Starscream under "Classics", a Walmart exclusive Skywarp redeco of Starscream under Universe in 2009, a Toys"R"Us exclusive Grimlock under the 2010-onwards "Transformers" line in red early Generations-style packaging in 2010, followed by Rodimus in 2011 and Takara's "MP-10" version of Optimus Prime and a Thundercracker redeco of the "MP-11" version of Starscream in 2012, all as TRU exclusives in the same 2010-onwards "Transformers" packaging style).
In 2013, Hasbro finally launched their own Toys"R"Us-exclusive "Masterpiece" line with their own ongoing numbering system, starting with MP-01 Acid Storm. In 2015, the "Masterpiece" line became cross-branded as part of the "Generations" line.
So you have two different numbering systems for Hasbro and Takara Masterpiece releases:
MP-11A Acid Storm by Takara corresponds with MP-01 Acid Storm by Hasbro (actually, the Takara version is basically an "import" of the Hasbro version in slightly altered packaging).
MP-13 Soundwave by Takara corresponds with MP-02 Soundwave by Hasbro.
MP-8 Grimlock by Takara corresponds with MP-03 Grimlock by Hasbro (though there was a previous unnumbered Hasbro release).
MP-17 Prowl by Takara corresponds with MP-04 Prowl by Hasbro.
MP-11S Sunstorm by Takara corresponds with MP-05 Sunstorm by Hasbro.
MP-18 Streak by Takara corresponds with MP-06 Bluestreak by Hasbro.
MP-11 Starscream by Takara corresponds with MP-07 Starscream by Hasbro.
Autovolt 127
Starscream be all like "dubs check 'em"
Overall this is a nice gallery.
jres80
Having never seen the TT version in person, all I can say is I love how good the figure looks and how fun it is. TBQH, if I had to choose between TT and Hasbro, I'd have to go with the blue nose cone and the beautiful silver outlined insignia.
Really great fig and really great pics.
chuckcjc
I have both versions. It is remarkable how identical the Hasbro version is. If you like Starscream as a character at all, you can not do wrong here. He is so sturdy! My MP-11 will start to transform if handled improperly (you know the chest rail issue). My Hasbro version is just perfect in that regard.
Jerrimus
It's a non issue in hand. Picky picky!
And I can vouch for the plastic quality being fine. Much more sturdy feeling than the old mold.
There is a review on YouTube comparing this with the Takara version. Other than a few deco changes the reviewer claims they are identical in look and feel. Plastic quality and all.
This may come as a shock to the Takara champions, I know…
DOTM Bumblebee
I want this so much… I would have preferred the coronation set to a stand, but I'm mostly just happy for a version of this figure I might be able to afford.