Welcome back for another annual TFW2005 staff pick round up, from the big wide world of unofficial products!
2019 saw long term favorites Fans Toys and Mastermind Creations continue to dominate with members of their recent combiner teams featuring in a number of lists. Magic Square cast a spell with MS-01 Light of Freedom, while Iron Factory and New Age toys fixed legends scale cravings for others.
Impressive build quality and engineering struck a chord with the team, and the continued evolution and elevation of unofficial offerings is clearly appreciated by our contributors. Please take a moment to peruse the team’s thoughts, and let us know whether you agree – or have other favorites in mind. All the best for 2020!
We don’t want to spoil too much, so you can now click on the bar to read what the team had to say. After that, we would love to know which are your personal 3P choices for 2019.
(Big thanks to our very own Shockwave81 for this summary on the 3P side)
axiom
Magic Square Toys MS-01 (MP OPTIMUS PRIME)
This year was all about 3rd Party Legends Scale for me. So, it says a lot when my top pick isn’t even in the Legends Scale department (though it did get a mini version a little later).
MS-01 hit every checkbox for me. Robot Mode is exactly what I imagine when I think of the heroic Optimus Prime, Truck Mode is big and bulky, Transformation is simple yet elegant and Articulation is outstanding.
Robot Mode looks great in a static pose, but really comes to life when placed in any type of action pose. Articulation is top notch, there’s nothing finicky about getting him into countless poses and the joints are all stiff enough to hold whatever pose my mind can think up. Transformation is great, straight forward but challenging enough to keep me interested. A few have said that the truck mode is where this figure falls short. I disagree, no it’s not 100% G1 cartoon accurate and that’s a good thing. This Truck Mode just looks like a tough, rugged semi-truck with a beefy grill and front bumper that was built to take down some of the biggest Decepticons. The tall smokestacks in the rear just compliment the bad-ass vibe this truck puts out.
MS-01 had a lot of completion this year when it came to MP Optimus Prime figures, but for me, it had all the positives and none of the negatives from the others.
Runners up: Magic Square Light of Justice (metallic mini MS-01), New Age Manero (clear windows), Iron Factory Phantom (Mirage), Iron Factory Hexwrench (Wheeljack)
Big Bronze Rim
Fans Toys Roadking
Fans Toys FT-31A-E Marauder (Masterpiece Menasor/Stunticons)
Hands-down this is my favorite third-party figure of the year. The engineering is incredible, the fit and finish is spot on and his presence on the shelf is undeniable. The fact that an MP 10 size trailer and truck folds up into his backpack and turns into a robot with almost no kibble is nothing short of amazing. There were numerous third-party figures I received this year that were great, and if not for this guy, would have been solid contenders for figure of the year. There is just something about this guy that just pushes him to the top of the list.
Runners up:
Transform Element Prime
Transform Element TE-01 (Optimus Prime)
This figure is a close second for my 3P pick. He’s just a fantastically well executed version of Prime. The engineering and transformation is unique and different from how we typically expect Prime to transform, the build quality is great and he nails a toon aesthetic. If anything let’s him down a bit, it’s that he doesn’t have hip rotation, relying only on a rotation above the knee, which occasionally can look a bit weird in some poses. But for the price, he is absolutely amazing and is a great alternative to MP-44.
Fans Toys Goose
FansToys FT-30A-E Ethereaon (Masterpiece Superion/Aerialbots)
Fanstoys does it again. They produced another figure with exceptional build quality, absolutely spot on aesthetics and a finish that is hands down the best out there. To top it off, the transformation is actually fun and intuitive, which is a nice change from many of Fanstoys recent releases which are definitely not fun to transform. I am now anxiously awaiting the rest of the team as I know they are going to look amazing on my shelf.
Magic Square MS-01 Light of Freedom/ Optimus Prime
MS Toys MS-01 (MP Optimus Prime)
This was the year for Masterpiece Primes! MP-44, TE and MS-01 all put out their MP versions and there was a Prime for everyone (even legends!). For me, the MS-01 Prime was my Prime of choice and my vendor (thanks Toy Dojo!) got my preorder to my house at the beginning of the year to start it off right.
While perhaps the underdog in the Prime options, there was just something about it that really made me love it. It fit in perfectly with my (older) collection without looking like a stand out that was too toon with everything else. It cleaned up all the kibble from MP-10 and to my eye, just looked like Prime from The Movie.
Powerful and strong looking with just the right amount of details to make it “pop” and look interesting on my shelf. I know you can take the official or TE and say it’s more toon and you’d be right, they are. However most of my collection of MP isn’t 100% toon as I’ve been collecting MP since the beginning. MS-01 has some realistic detail to the bot that makes this figure fit right in. I honestly don’t recall getting another figure this year, opening the box and going “This is just amazing and I love how it looks!”
While not a factor for consideration in this list, it sure didn’t hurt any either that he was 1/4 the MSRP of the official either.
I don’t know about some of you, but some items are opened and while I want them, they’re more “Meh…open box…display on shelf. Check off list of characters as completed.” This is the one I got this year that made me go “Wow…I’m actually excited to have it!”
Runners up:
1) Fans Toys Roadking
Fans Toys FT-31A-E Marauder (Masterpiece Menasor/Stunticons)
This guy takes a whole semi’s trailer and incorporates it into the backpack. That’s impressive engineering and even my wife saw it come together and went “That’s really something!”. The bot and alt mode are spot on and solid all the way around.
2) Fans Toys Goose
FansToys FT-30A-E Ethereaon (Masterpiece Superion/Aerialbots)
This is a great figure that is solid and beautiful in hand with a transformation that is smooth and easy to do unlike many recent Fans Toys products. It actually takes me back to the FT Dinobot days for the ease of transformation. It’s great other than a weird waist swivel design that still, in the end, does the job.
3) Transform Element Prime
Transform Element TE-01 (Optimus Prime)
As I said before, there is a Prime for everyone and honestly, for what TT was charging for their release (including all the QC and design issues people experienced), I only consider TE and MS-01 as the real contenders. He wasn’t for me but if you wanted a ‘toon Prime, this is your guy. Solid and quality product for a good price.
4) Mastermind Creations Reformatted R-35 Magna/Inventa (Skylynx)
Mastermind Creations R-35 MAGNA (G1 Sky Lynx)
I know this guy isn’t technically Masterpiece and we got the first part at the end of last year but I wanted to include him since we got the final piece at the beginning of this year. It’s a solid combined Skylynx and one of the “not MP” exceptions in my display. Other than the scale, he fits into my display just fine and is a great rendition of the character. The issue with the floppy, non-ratcheted neck keeps him from getting anywhere near top of the list.
C310 Ginrai
NEWAGE – NA H3 Harry
New Age Toys Legends Scale G1 Datsun hhh
In 2019, my collecting focus narrowed even more with different life obligations and lack of diversity in third party offering that interests me. In comes Newage toys with their next release after the popularity of their first one, Flipper. This figure made me see the possibility of having a very poseable figure with interesting transformation in G1 designs in a pocket size toy. We have seen Newage released a good number of figures since Harry, and it’s a dangerous floodgate for myself to not fully dive in.
edgs2099
Assuming that I can pick all 5 of Iron Factory’s D.E.C members as my pick of the year, they win hands down. As they are homages to some very niche comic only characters, the “spirit” of the subject matter comes across very well, something Iron Factory is getting better and better at as time progresses.
While acknowledging IF EX-Dubhe’s shoulder issue (which was taken care of with new shoulders included in the box of IF EX-32/33), I can’t find anything that I would specifically improve with this fantastic Iron Factory combiner. The improvements made from Iron Factory War Giant to Iron Factory D.E.C only make me more excited for their next foray into Legends+ scaled combiners.
Runners up: Everything listed in my runners up are hardly “runners up”. More fantastic Iron Factory offerings, 2 of 5 of MMC’s new very cool “All-In-1” Assaultus, A VERY good MP version of the red truck, and a Planet X effort that I enjoy quite a bit.
Runners up: Iron Factory IF EX-39 Hexwrench, Iron Factory IF EX-38 Optics Hunter, MMC Ocular Max PS-13 Impetus, MMC Ocular Max PS-15 Fraudo, Transform Element TE-01 OP Leader, Planet X PX-C02 Kadmos
Gamerlingual
Fans Toys Roadking
Fans Toys FT-31A-E Marauder (Masterpiece Menasor/Stunticons)
This was the biggest surprise for me in third party. How can you transform a full MP-10 sized figure and trailer into one robot. Great engineering in this one while still having that premium fit and finish Fans Toys is known for. Accessories aren’t excessive and nothing about it feels fragile to transform when you fiddle with him. Well done, Fans Toys!
Runners up:
Fans Toys Goose, Fans Toys Maverick, Fans Toys Spoiler
Onslaught24
Mastermind Creations/Ocular Max Impetus
I didn’t really buy any third party figures this year due to a lack of space and interest, but the few I did buy were stellar, especially Impetus. The Ocular Max Perfection Series has had a rough start, but I can tell just from this one entry in the series of Combaticons that they’ve found their footing. Impetus is a brilliant representation of Vortex in all modes and the fact that they’ve pulled off both modes while integrating the combiner hand so flawlessly into the figure itself speaks volumes to MMC’s abilities. Not only is the engineering top-notch, but I have yet to experience any QC issues whatsoever and the figure as a whole feels better than nearly everything Takara has produced. As the site’s resident Combaticon zealot, this is the Masterpiece Combaticon set to get by far and I can’t wait to get the rest of the team.
Runners up: Mastermind Creations Inventa/Inventa Magna, DNA Design MPM Ironhide Upgrade Kit
optimusfan
For the second consecutive year my third party acquisitions were limited to a very narrow focus. I dipped my toe into legends class and was quite pleased with both the New Age and Magic Square Cosmos offerings. Honestly you can’t go wrong with either, so pick your preferred aesthetic or size and order without delay!
Runners up: Magic Square Traveler , New Age Max (the blue one), New Age Max (the clear one), Zeta Toys ZETA-EX07 Traveller
Raiju
Although I’ve slowed down on my Third Party purchases considerably as of late (mostly due to getting back into Lego so something had to give budget-wise), the market for 3P Legends scale Transformers figures has continued to garner my interest. It’s only gotten even more competitive with more companies like NewAge Toys releasing very faithful adaptations of G1 characters and then some with interesting redecoes.
Enter NewAge Toys H5B Alonzo, a black and purple repaint of their Smokescreen Datsun mold to create Decepticon Barricade inspired by his live action movie “bad cop/police car” design but with Floro Dery G1 proportions. Highly articulated in bot mode with a very sharp alt mode, the color palette is just slick, all in a cute, tiny scale. Great things do come in small packages!
Runners-up: Iron Factory Hexwrench (Legends scaled Wheeljack), Newage Toys H-13 Lucifer (Legends scaled Starscream), NewAge Toys H2 Manero (Legends scaled Jazz)
Superquad7
I LOVE the Stunticons. As a kid, they were hands down my favorite combiner group. The standout character for me from the group was Wildrider, as I loved his recklessness and complete lack of regard for really anything. He really embodied what I thought all of the Stunticons represented: Decepticons who want to tear up the road, destroy some Autobots, and care nothing about anything that stands in their way!
Upon each release of information of X-transbot Berserkar figure, I became more and more excited. Finally Crackup got in my hands, and I loved it! It wasn’t long before I was able to get ahold of Flipout, and I was over the moon. The transform is fun (which is an oddity among 3rd party figures), and it’s beautiful in both modes. Not only does it look like it just straight out of the cartoon, but the sparkly paint thrills me to no end. It represents everything I look for in a figure.
There were so many good releases of 3rd party figures this year, and I couldn’t get all of the ones I want, even! Giants like having figures of an Overlord, Sky Lynx, and even Superion are mindblowing and such a blessing to even have, but Flipout strikes me in ways few other figures do. I’d add X-transbots MX-15 Deathwish (Dead End) to my list, but he wouldn’t really bother.
Runners Up: Zeta Toys Kronos; MMC Magna/Inventa; Fans Hobby Master Series MB-08 Double Evil; X-transbots Savant
bri888
Yeah I was wondering why they never went after ms and te too because Prime is their flagship character. Unicron on the other hand is not really a major character. I think Zeta screwed up on when they trolled hastak with their pics. We're still fortunate that we're getting 3p products like this though.
Sanity Bleeds
Eh, I'm not happy with them going after Zeta, but I completely get it. I know for a long time they've kinda had the outlook of "If you don't tell us about 3P, we don't go looking at 3P", but that seems to have sorta lead to many Takara… fanatics, to make it a point to try to derail as many 3P initiatives as they can, sometimes out of their devotion to Takara, sometimes just to troll 3P fans.
I think because Unicron was such a gamble on their part and they were willing to try a lot to make it work, they just weren't willing to suffer the interference of a 3P, especially with a number of recent crackdowns on several KO operations in China working in their favor. I'm honestly more surprised they never really went after MS or TE for competing against their MP-44 release. I doubt we'll ever hear the sales results, but I can imagine both having caused a fair bit of disruption to Takara's numbers.
bri888
Yeah it was skylynx and overlord? I'm very curious to see their take on sky lynx. Hopefully they can add something to its original design.
bri888
Yeah my guess is they wanted to rush these figures out to the market for their 35th anniversary. I'm still salty about them pulling the plug on zeta unicron bec. their version of unicron looks like a spiky turtle.
Sanity Bleeds
Aside from the throne teased for Grimlock, I vaguely recall talk awhile back that they had a G1 Skylynx in the works?
bri888
Yeah most especially his dino mode so freaking awesome! I'm all in for whatever gigapower has next.
bri888
Every year the 3p companies get closer and closer to cartoon accuracy and it's not just fans toys. Xtb, te, jiang xing and magic square are doing it too. Pretty soon fans will be arguing about some of the most petty things lol
Sanity Bleeds
I think I actually got lucky with my MP-47 with it not having any noticeable paint flaws or breaks yet, but given what I paid for it (even at a reasonable discount from Amazon Japan) that thing is gonna sit on a shelf untouched for about as long as I own it for fear of breakage. Same with MP-45. Ironically, I bought both of them expecting a number of design flaws to bug me, but once in hand, there was a whole list of different things that really bugged me instead. I think a lot of things like this is what lead people to make "Takara apologist" references. I don't mind people liking Takara designs, but people that accept and acknowledge Takara's bad decisions and QC and then defend it, mostly because it's official, and go so far as to bash 3P offerings because they aren't; are kinda asking for mockery in my book.
poor man
I'm still amazed by the fact that people in the official threads can say their copy of mp-47 is perfect except for various paint defects and cracked panels (which inevitably happen from just transforming the thing). Really makes you wonder how shitty a product takara has to make for people to stop salivating over the newest mp like its the second coming of christ.
WNDCHRGR
What I love is that there's so many great figures that we're distracted by TE Prime, MS Prime, FT Roadking, FT Goose, and MMC Skylynx and all the great legends from Iron Factory, Magic Square and Newage, that other great releases get lost in the shuffle: "oh yeah, that's right this was also the year of the XTB limbots" and the GP dinobots.etc….
…….what's funny is how easily we forgot how we started the year with people predicting that 2019 was the beginning of the end of 3rd party. LOL ……Well I gotta go budget my 3rd party money for 2020.
xavierleo
For me too. Gigapowers Grimlock/Superator is genuinely a thing of beauty. I've had it on my shelf for months now and still have to stop and admire it whenever i walk past.
Sanity Bleeds
Likewise, due to the excessive price of MP-44, and the missed QC and clunky designs of MP-45, and MP-47, plus the ghastly alt mode of MP-46, it's been a rough year for 1st party MP collectors.
bri888
This is probably the first time in 3 years that the winner is an mp scaled figure. Overall it has been a wonderful year for 3p collectors.
Sanity Bleeds
The fun irony of city bots is that when they're made to scale with other MP, they actually work as shelving and storage for other MPs, so they're sort of an unintentional space saver in a roundabout way.
primalxconvoy
This article needs more pics.
samisham
He wins by rank choice voting. My boy still made it
Metroplexcity2019
Like a G1 toon inspired MP class/representation of Scorponok and Trypticon? Only issue I see with those two is price point, I mean a point where enough people will buy to justify the overhead and production costs. DX9 and weijiang managed to bring us Omega Supreme MP's for reasonable price but city bots are even larger. I would LOVE to have a Metroplex exactly like the one photographed in this link: Masterpiece-scaled G1 Metroplex custom – Transformers Discussion – The Allspark Forums and I think it could be produced for reasonable price if it could be disassembled to reduce packaging size, die-cast would not be necessary, only durable plastic like children's outside toys. Where I would display such a large bot is another matter altogether! Maybe use him as furniture, not sure how my wife would feel about it…LOL It's one of those "I'll make room, something will have to go" deals.
Sanity Bleeds
Ironically enough, both KFC and Robot Hero both put out versions of Overkill, so even he's already seen more representation than dozens and dozens of other characters.
Black Convoy
About that, the votes were so dispersed that no single figure got votes for the first places but TE Prime was mentioned four times by the team and the pic was cool.