Good news for those still looking for a modern Masterpiece Skywarp to fill their collections, TakaraTomyMall will be releasing him again this September. Cost is listed as 14,904 which is about 150 US. This should allow him to trickle out to US based online stores for a markup, but that’s still better than the current aftermarket prices. Stay tuned for updates and discuss over on the boards!
PoweredConvoy
No one probably knows about the factory. But both were made in China. The first says copyright Takara, the later one copyright Tomy.
Chiller
I'm curious, do we know if the new Takara MP11SW was made in the same country/factories as the original Asia release MP11SW ?
Prowl 76
Finally got my copy of this guy.
Gotta say, I'm a little disappointed with it. I have the original Hasbro Asia version and it's one of my absolute favourite MPs. Individually the differences are really minor, but when viewed as a whole this version just comes across as kinda cheaper looking and less satisfying overall.
The biggest offender for me is the purple plastic—it's almost a fuscia colour and is quite different than the original in certain lights. It's quite swirly and in some instances, looks downright pink. The painted purple elements (tail fins, his feet, the trim on his wings), are the same blue-ish shade of purple as the original (and similar to the original G1 toy), but the molded plastic parts (his arms and null rays) are definitely a different, pinkish shade of bright purple.
Also, a lot of the black plastic doesn't look great—lots of scuffing and imperfections in it. Could just be my copy though. I also have some purple paint on the nose cone, but I can get that off with some paint remover.
Not sure why this version feels like such a step back in quality—maybe because TT does smaller runs than HA they needed to keep costs down?
It's still a nice figure and people looking to add Skywarp to their collection will be happy with it. It's tight and well-assembled, I just prefer the look of the original release.
I have two copies because my long-term plan is to build a display featuring both alt and robot modes of each character. This version will definitely be staying in jet mode, which it will be fine for because the pinkish plastic parts won't be visible.
XXLMagnus
Yeah, sorry didn't mean to get ol' Starscream involved, I was just curious specifically about MP-11SW … I picked up the first Hasbro Asia release couple years back, the one Chinese bureaucrats opened up leaving a huge gash on my box and a worthless set of instructions … I was going to use the new Takara reissue as a MISB back-up since I loved the guy so much, but now I was considering swapping the reissue for the original if the deco was more anime accurate (and yes I read Randy's breakdown above and realize whatever changes exist are relatively minor, still curious and know the OCD runs strong on these boards lol)
PoweredConvoy
There are some times slight differences between releases (for example the first Japanese release and the Chinese reissue of Starscream or the Chinese release of Skywarp and the Japanese release 2 years later). But they are usually fairly minor and just slight tweaks to color or if something is molded in one color versus painted.
You're better off waiting for the re-release in a few months as it's cheaper.
Randy
boomerdave
What the difference really btw a Hasbro Asia release and say a reissue? I was thinking of getting a second Coronation Starscream so one can wear the armor and the other can just be old Screamer with Thundercracker and Skywarp.
That said, BBTS has the Asia release of Coronation Starscream for $199 (and they have ALOT of them) but the new rerelease is coming in April for $139. True the Asia one comes with a coin but other than that, aren't they the same? No one is going to pay $199 when you can the same figure for $60 less in a few months (unless I'm missing something about the Asia version).
MP-11 Masterpiece Coronation Starscream Reissue – Transformers Masterpiece Masterpiece
MP-11 Masterpiece Coronation Starscream Reissue with Collector Coin – Transformers Masterpiece Masterpiece
PoweredConvoy
Skywarp comes with the one that came with MP-1 Convoy, while Soundwave's is a retool (at least) of that. The Soundwave is more sturdy and less fragile than the Skywarp / MP-1 version.
Randy
Arie
Anyone else who noticed that the Megatron gun which comes with Skywarp is different than the one which came with Soundwave? Mostly the stock of the gun, but also a red dot on the scope for example.
neko
The trio is now complete!
Megatron31
Man this guy doesn't dissapoint
Thrust was ki d of a let down. The shoulder joint ratchets are non existent and that waist wobble….Man. if he was as solid as skywarp he'd be one of the best figures I've got in a while
PoweredConvoy
Neither is really more accurate than the other as both have the same inaccuracies: extra stripes, wrong orientation on wing symbols, silver knee vents.
XXLMagnus
So given the relatively minor deco differences, what would someone going the more anime-accurate route prefer? – the reissue or the original Hasbro Asia release from a couple yrs back?
Megatron31
Just in time for Christmas
boomerdave
Yeah but all things considered, it's a pretty minor inward tilt. I wouldn't notice it but I usually give these a pretty good look over as soon as they arrive. I didn't send it back over it.
I wonder how many others are like that.
anubis20
I just noticed mine has the same misaligned boob cover
boomerdave
Got mine from CP, Other than a slightly misaligned right boob cover he's good. Much tighter than Thrust at least. His legs do collapse (transformation wise) a little easier than I'd like but he holds a pose fine. Maybe I'll see if tightening some screws will help that some. Never messed with that part before.
Prowl 76
Oh man, I'm a little disappointed to hear there's a fair amount of differences with this release compared to the previous one. This will be my second copy, so I'm concerned the two won't fit together too well.
Sounds like this version will stay in jet mode while my original Hasbro Asia one will be displayed in bot mode. That copy is one of my absolute favourite MPs – the matte black, silver and purple look amazing.
I picked the slower shipping option from AE, so it's been in transit for over two weeks now. Will have to see how they look together once it gets here.
Stitches
I didn't have Skywarp previously so I am glad I could get him.
I'm in love with the color of this Skywarp, he just exudes being a decepticon in my opinion.
Edit: Don't know what it matters, but my box was double taped from BBTS. In fact, the bottom looked like it was incorrectly packaged (presumably the second time) as the box tab inside was kind of folded over like the box was heavily rushed to be closed and re-taped.
PoweredConvoy
Finally opened him up.
Here’s the rundown:
The Good:
– Black painted biceps and knees are now black plastic
– Chest fans are considerably darker
– Joints are really nice and tight (unlike Thrust and his wobbly waist), though this isn’t any better than the original
– Heel spurs, and jet exhausts are darker
The Bad:
– Torso area behind his biceps is no longer painted silver, just silver plastic
– Bottom of shoulder pylons are considerably darker
The Indifferent:
– Purple is much warmer purple
– Symbols are lighter
– Chest missiles are darker
– Silver feet detail is darker
– Buttocks is black plastic
– Yellow wing paint is lighter and does not extend past molded detail
– Window is lighter but less clear
So really nice. I do like the old purple better, though this purple is similar to what was on the Henkei (not exactly the same). The biceps and knees being cast in black rather than painted is a definite improvement. As they are kind of distracting on the original. The lack of paint on the chest section is disappointing.
So it’s a matter of how much the change in purple bothers you (if it does at all) and how much the lack of paint (good for the biceps & knees, bad for the torso section) matter to you.
Looking at them from here, the black plastic biceps and darker chest fans are winning me over right now. You can’t lose with either of them. The ideal for me would be the 2016 version with the 2014 purple and painted chest part.
In all the pics the China 2014 version is on the left, the Japanese 2016 on the right.
Randy
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