Interested in the new Transformers Movie Masterpiece MPM-13 Blackout? Hasbro’s designer Sam Smith brings the rain… of images of a production sample of the latest installment in the Masterpiece Movie line.
The images show Blackout in all his glory under natural light in his robot and alt mode plus some great group shots next to other Masterpiece Movie toys. To top it all, Sam is also sharing his comments about this figure and how deco is planned to be.
Update: Additional images showing off Blackout’s poseability range and clear shots at Scorponok via Sam Smith’s Instagram stories.
Keep in mind that this is not the final product, but they are working on the deco to be as accurate as possible.
See all the images and Sam’s comments after the jump, plus and extra set of CAD and production material.
MPM-13 Movie Masterpiece TF1 Blackout
“[in Cybertronian] All hail Megatron!”
Time to talk screen to toy and overview a bit more of an in depth dive on Blackout. This was the first Movie Masterpiece figure that I have had the opportunity to work on, so I was thrilled to partner with Tomo Tatsumi at Takara.
MPM was a unique undertaking from a design stand point, as there were a number of additional stages for fine tuning the character. Studio Series set a high bar for this character, but Tomo quickly identified a number of areas that he wanted to improve on in order to deliver better articulation, a more screen accurate bot form, a complete vehicle mode, and to finally be able to deliver a 6 bladed turbine.
In addition to these improvements, we wanted to ensure that we were able to finally weaponize this character with more on-screen relevant weaponry and accessories. In the film we see Blackout utilize dual mini guns, along with a pulse cannon deploying from the center of the chest. We also wanted to start to introduce blast effects to the MPM line, and Blackouts weaponry was the perfect way to do this.
We got to work on finding an appropriate scale for the character, knowing from studio heigh charts that Blackout’s head would be slightly shorter than Starscream’s, while his upper back would be taller. The scale of this figure looks massive against the Studio Series but feels perfectly at home amongst his MPM deception faction members.
The figure is loaded with premium joints, some very clever engineering and some die cast pieces to add some significant heft to the over all design. The transformation, which at first can seem like a very daunting task, is actually very rhythmic, as it utilizes a lot of symmetry as you collapse and fold parts into the hull. In the end it deliver a near seamless representation of the Sikorsky helicopter.
For me, where this figure really gets the opportunity to shine? sheen? lack there of, (its a giant matte helicopter) is with the deco. There were so many fine details that we were able to balance this figure and vehicle mode out with. I truly enjoyed the task of combing through Blackout’s scenes frame by frame looking for subtle nuances to introduce to this figure. All of the screen used CH-53’s unique markings, lights, warnings, and insignias make their way onto the version of the character. We were also able to treat a significant amount of the exposed robot parts with metallic dry brushing to accentuate the sculpted detail.
Alright I think that’s enough coverage on this guy for a bit. There some Studio Series news I need to get back to covering off on. Stay tuned for more!
MPM BLACKOUT FEP 1
I woke up this morning… To some awesome feedback and had a lot of questions in regards to physical paint master vs production sample. So I wanted to help clarify some of the discrepancies. Paint masters are generated using grown parts prior to tool start, so they don’t account for base or molded colors. They are entirely painted, vs in production where you see parts molded in their intended color with paint and decoration placed on top of them.
The next series of photos depicts the FEP 1 production sample in RAW unmodified natural lighting, so I hope this can give you a better understanding of the intended look of the figure. There are a number of modifications still being made to fine tun the figure to match the paint master as close as possible. Ignore my crude poses, partial mistransformation and the sample numbers, it was 42 degrees this morning.
Hope that helps, but let me know if you have any further questions!
Khelthorn
I was totally unaware that there was another hinge under there. Thanks man! You have actually corrected two different things I missed and I've had this guy for months.
Dexatronic
Open the shoulder, extent the double hinge and then push it in over the tab under the engine and tab the back fuel pod stabilizer into the slot on the back
View attachment 30276131 View attachment 30276132 View attachment 30276133 View attachment 30276134 View attachment 30276135
Khelthorn
I think what they are referring to is under the jet intake pylon things are kind of hooks, the shoulder pieces can be angled up to slide over those. That also allows the back fins of the shoulders to slide in to the little slots on the back. I can't do more in depth pics at the moment but quick reference included.
View attachment 30275757
Movie Convoy
The helicopter parts on the shoulders swing up on double hinges to plug into tabs on the underside of the intake parts.View attachment 30275753
Lorenzo
Teach me
Dexatronic
Im sure you realize this but every one of your pics you haven't transformed the shoulder's correctly.
Khelthorn
During the movie it's pretty hard to make out. But looks more like hydraulics than anything but I see what you guys are getting at.
Lorenzo
Just 2 lines but everything tab pretty well
Purple Heart
View attachment 30268544
mx-01 archon
The cables are to approximate how the character actually looks on-screen. The toy's skinny biceps are essentially only the endoskeleton, and the CG model has this bulky "sleeve" of wires that conceal them.
There was a small, but vocal bit of bellyaching when the toy was revealed, at how skinny his upper arms were, where the CG showed them as being pretty bulky. The missing sleeves is why there's the difference.
To be fully accurate, there needs to be like, ten times the wires, forming almost a net, but that would impede the transformation. There's not enough space under the pontoons for that all to tuck away.
Khelthorn
I meant the sections you cut that go on the back, when it's in helicopter mode, what does it look like? There will be lines I imagine.
Lorenzo
Everything is hidden
Khelthorn
Why the cables? What does it look like (the modified panels) in alt mode?
tonysandlin
That’s sick. I’ve been thinking of doing that. Is it hard to get things aligned?
Lorenzo
I've added some cables in the arms, still can transformView attachment 30268070 View attachment 30268071 View attachment 30268072 View attachment 30268073 View attachment 30268074
Lorenzo
Well, here is a little mod, for in my opinion improve the backpackView attachment 30265233
Cut that long piece, just 2 cmView attachment 30265236
Glue the piece into the other panel (that one goes into the chestView attachment 30265235
This is how I place the pieces into the chest
View attachment 30265234
And here is the result
Now it's 5% better lol
I'm looking for a way to move some kibble to the feets to make them bigger
Khelthorn
Awesome, thanks for the link. I had looked on ebay months ago and got nothing, I hadn't checked in some time though.
Hoptimus
I've seen them on eBay, about $10.
For MPM Blackout Upgrade Kit Propeller Adapter 3D Printing Accessories | eBay
I'd like one that extends, either on a slider or unfolding, a couple inches longer.
I started a mod thread:
Minor/Repaint: – MPM-13 Blackout
But I haven't done more than make his rotor weapon foldable so it stores more compactly on his back. It's pretty rough, haven't had time to clean it up. HTH.
Movie Convoy
The front hip skirts have a small panel that you're supposed to fold up out of sight for robot mode. That's a transformation step.
Khelthorn
The only mod I know of, sadly, has been out of stock since I bought my Blackout many months ago. There is a Tim Heada TH037, it's a piece that goes between the rotor weapon and his hand to let you position it differently. I very much wanted to get that but I don't think it's ever getting made again. I haven't heard of any other upgrades being done for him but would be very curious to see any that are. I guess if no others come out it's a testament to how well designed this figure is.