First Look At Masterpiece Starscream Ver. 2.0 Prototype

DarkEyes

Are people still calling it, MP v2? I thought it was explained a long time ago why it is a v3.

Anyway…

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Collector20

So does every frame of G1.

Not true technically, and so what?

also, year-old post, mate.

Prime of Shadows

As cute as the meme is, it’s ignoring the scale chart.

So does every frame of G1.

So, I got my hands on this mold, today and I'll give my thoughts in a sec, but wanted to address a few posts, first.

Throway

I adore this figure. I really do. It's easily my favourite MP of all time. But I cannot do this anymore with MP52. I have had 3 of these figures and all 3 have broken on me. It's horrible, I want to enjoy it but this has lead to nothing but frustration and heartbreak every time I replace it. Why does my favourite G1 character have to be the one with all these problems??

First one had a cracked ankle

Second one had a broken bicep

And now after months and months of owning this one, I thought I had the perfect copy. Zero cracks, tolerances were great and no QC problems to speak of. I was happy. I replaced it as a present for myself when I passed my Japanese exam, I was elated to have this mold back. I check today over half a year later and that part is cracked in half for no reason. Literally in my favourite pose on the shelf for weeks and it just decides to do that, as if I am fated to have this exact figure always fail on me every time I own it. There is no excuse. I am not unlucky, this is what this figure is. I was in denial of all the flaws, I wanted to blindly enjoy it and now I just have to come to terms with the fact that unless it is reissued every copy has a more than reasonable chance of breaking on me. 3 out of my Starscreams all have broken. This isn't sellable to cut my losses, this isn't fixable as its where a part tabs in with a lot of friction and tightness (may be the reason that area broke)

I don't want to hear about how I can frankenstein it back together or what KOs I should buy, I am absolutely done with this figure. I desperately want to own one that is not fucked, but I am not getting the emotional return I want from this hobby.

Yikes. I'm so sorry that happened to you. I'll be sure to be careful with mine now that I know that's a thing. Geez…

smkheidze

Takara gonna takara. Sorry to hear that. My hound disintegrated on my shelf… so I understand your pain.

This is why I've decided that my new dabble into MP will be 3rd party and KO. I appreciate Takara-Tomy's design choices, just not the quality. I can feel better (but not over the moon) about a KO having issues at $50-120.00 than I can $200+ The prices, the quality, it's what drove me out the first time, and the second time. So far, this 3rd time's been the charm.

smkheidze

I don't know about that… but I did end up selling my entire MP collection because the prices and the QC just don't line up anymore. I have since shifted my collection to a more focused direction. I don't buy any where near as much, but what I get makes me happy. I still get TFs… even MPs, it's just much more laser focused.

Same.

Roadbuster25

I feel your frustration. I stopped buying Takara MPs a while ago because I was so frustrated with their quality.

I don't know why QA for MPs are so difficult. Is it because of the number of parts? By comparison my daughter's rescue bots have been abused from 2 yrs of toddler manhandling and are still rock solid. So why do MPs that are handled by experienced users fall apart? Even my G1 Transformers with arthetic joints are holding up better.

Takara MPs have always been plagued with QA issues – some small, some annoying. In the early years it was mostly tolerance issues and paint issues – like the jets. The cars did fairly well. But the first major transformation and structural issue that I can think of was Ultra Magnus v2 with his waist shearing in half. Maybe someone has an earlier one they can recall.

After Ultra Magnus the quality started changing: Ironhide, Ratchet, and even Megatron were pretty good and the plastic quality was good. While Grapple, Tracks, Inferno, convey 3.0 and Sunstreaker had thinner plastic and loose tolerances.

Then things went downhill from there. Plastic got even thinner, fastners got cheaper, tolerances got worst, and breakages were plentiful: Hound is where I stopped cold turkey and said no more. They seem to continue of this path with lower quality. I would rather put my money towards 3rd party MP figures. Overall, they handle better.

I never had an issue with Grapple or Inferno, but I can certainly see why people did. There's just so much going on in these figures, they're basically plastic origami. But man, it works.

zark225

Why would it be joking? I don't have that figure but it looks on par with, and arguably better than, MP-52 Starscream and seems just as articulated. The only real downsides are that the transformation can be a pain and it doesn't have as many accessories, which may be a good thing for some so that might not even be a negative. From what I've seen it is a totally valid alternative to the official MP. Hell, I've been tempted to get it, especially with the current discounted price but I'm afraid to get tempted to start collecting another set of MP Seekers lmao.

The transformation of DS is an absolute pain. Geez, is it bad. Jobby was about in tears. I do like that it has a waist swivel, but after having MP-52 in hand, I can't say that one was absolutely necessary. Would it have been nice? Sure, of course. Would it have added to the insanity inside? Oh, yes. I'm not sure the waist swivel is all that necessary. (I know, I'm one of the people who complained the most about Earthrise Starscream not having a waist swivel, but it doesn't bother me here. I think it has a lot to do with the engineering. I can see why they didn't add one here, I can't see why they didn't there.)

Kamen Rider Decade

Now THAT is an insane break, one which I've never even heard of happening before on either the official MP52 mold or either of the MP52 KO molds!! Worst I got with my Starscream KO (Eagle EG01 version) were: the long landing gear door in the right foot is slightly stressed and doesn't stay closed anymore…the long landing gear door in the left foot is stressed, bent, and close to snapping off (but actually stays closed)…a stressed and slightly cracked side panel that wanted to fight me to no end the first time I transformed it to jet mode…and a small crack in the port for the null ray on the left arm. I've only transformed it into jet mode and back ONCE since then, and that was after learning that the instructions missed a step in transforming the feet. (Not that it matters, nothing sits flush in jet mode anyway). And when bad luck strikes, I tend to get nailed hard no matter what figures I by – CHUG, MP, or KO. (Ex.: My copy of Combiner Wars Blades has a bizarre molding mishap that makes it impossible for him to go into helicopter mode. Can't go into leg mode, either. Also, my MP40 Targetmaster Hot Rod has an oddity in vehicle mode where one of the two spring-loaded panels you can stick the guns in on the roof doesn't work – it won't pop back up when the gun is removed. Also, the gun of my MP18 Streak: the handle can't fold to reveal the vehicle mode post at all. It's stressed a bit from trying to make it fold. It completely ignores that rotation point.)

And nothing for me – not even my Starscream KO – has been a worse experience than Hasbro's Year of the Goat Soundwave and his Minions. No idea who thought predominantly CLEAR PLASTIC was any sort of a good idea for a Masterpiece figure. Soundwave is almost a junker, but still serviceable. The birds, one was decapitated (but the head will still stay in place somewhat) and the other has stressed wings. Ravage…is oddly fine, considering THAT'S the mold everyone seems to have had the most breakage issues with. Rumble and Frenzy have kinda stressed forearms (and one had a bad torso slider straight out the box so it doesn't stay extended in robot mode), but are otherwise fine.

Eagle EG-01 is the KO I bought, had it arrive today. While I can tell it's a KO (fit and finish and all that), it's definitely closer to the original than most KOs are compared to their originals. I've transformed him back and forth multiple times since opening him today and I'll be very careful with him from here on out. And yes, producing a Masterpiece (especially one transforming the way Soundwave does) in primarily translucent plastic with a bunch of die-cast weight dangling off of it must've chosen chaos that morning.

rendsora

Here's what happened to mine. View attachment 29726581

0_o

Onto my thoughts:
Yes, I know mine's a KO so it doesn't have the fit and finish the official one does but it at least gives me a chance to experience and appreciate the original mold as TT had intended. I have to say, this is some of their best work, I just hope the quality (not just KO, but official too) withstands the test of time. There was a time I collected MP like crazy and pretty much bought anything they hurled our way (short of repaints/remolds) and I've experienced almost all of it, so I can honestly and confidently say that this is by far one of my most favored of their releases. As MPs go, this Starscream is the physical definition of that name/description.

The transformation is a bit trickier than I gave it credit for, but you get into the flow of it pretty quickly. The colors seem to be just right, the real world jet and insane toon accuracy in robot mode just boggles my mind. MP-36, to me, is a gem and always will be. This guy might've dethroned him. (No, I'm not kidding.)

MP-03 was so-so. MP-11 was better but still not perfect, but a much sturdier figure by comparison. This guy, however… Wow. The lack of a waist swivel, I already addressed above and I'm fine with it being omitted considering all of what the torso is required to do. (I mean, c'mon!)

I do think they went a little accessory-heavy, even though I like the display/flight stand. I'm not sure all of the facial expressions were super necessary. I kind of miss Dr. Arkevil, honestly. I'd have much rather had him than some rock and a vice-grip hand.

All in all, though, I am really enjoying this MP-52 mold and love how it's basically just origami made out of plastic and metal but it works. Man, does it work. Geez, Takara-Tomy… I don't know how you guys do it, but you do. It's witchcraft, it has to be. This thing shouldn't be possible and yet it's standing on my table right now as I type this. Like, wow. What?!

A+

rendsora

It's already fixed. Thanks to member @Wheehs for his kind assistance on this. Much appreciated bro.

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And looks even better!! Is that a metallic red you have goin' on there?

Kamen Rider Decade

WOW. That's nuts, the metal is just about completely cleaned off!! I thought the paint wear on some of my stuff was pretty harsh, but you got me beat.View attachment 29733732 View attachment 29733733 View attachment 29733734 View attachment 29733735 View attachment 29733736 View attachment 29733737 View attachment 29733738 View attachment 29733739 View attachment 29733740 View attachment 29733741

Closest thing is my MP01 first issue. The red and blue paint on the angled areas easily scrape off. Like the paint is very thin 

4249david

Hey @Blingotron they changed the thread name!

Might be GL at work. 

Hey @Blingotron they changed the thread name!

Stop playing with the sandpaper

Wow, what are you guys doing with your toys?? lol

Jeepers creepers! I would be pissed if my MPs looked like this  , I obviously don’t mess with them nearly enough!