Via Mechanic Toy Weibo we have our first look at the gray prototype of their MS-36 Sand Leopard (Legends Scale Sandstorm).
We have a very impressive G1 Sandstorm figure which looks based closer to his G1 toy rather than his cartoon design. According to the information shared this figure will stand only 10 cm tall and it will include a G1 cartoon-inspired face as bonus. It may be available by the end of this year. It’s good to remark that while Mechanic Toy designed this figure, it will be produced by third party company Dr. Wu (it was originally planned to be released by Mech Fans Toys).
See all the images after the break and then share your impressions on the 2005 Boards!
malcontentman
Seeing this really makes me want Hasbro to give us a new Legacy Sandstorm that is somewhere between a deluxe scaled dune buggy, but also a mass shifting voyager scaled helicopter that looks this good.
nhyone
I thought of that too, but then I thought Dr Wu was going for bigger size since it was under MFT label. His Arcee is also 10cm, iirc? That's way too big for Legends, but will fit in Legends+ nicely.
chuckcjc
Thanks for the info. This is very interesting
Pun-3X
Ultimately it gets back to my original point. These legends figures under Dr. Wu are a different size more universally compatible with standard legends sized figures. I hope the rest of the triple changers are made similarly sized.
Still, good info all around. Maybe because I don't collect L+ I never really bothered to figure out the differences. And with the "Micromaster" line, I just saw them as Dr. Wu and was happy after that. Thanks for the breakdown.
lake88
They alternate between -Studio and -Toys but their Chinese name, logo and weibo account have been consistent since they were producing the lambo molds under MFT.
MFT responded to the Weijiang drama back then by cleanly splitting their KOs to the MFT brand, their original TF designs to Mechanic Studios/Toys and wholly original IPs to some other brand. Under all this smoke and mirrors they are still sharing a lot of facilities and resources. There are telltale signs like their packaging, boxart and blue background stock pictures from the same angles.
Dr Wu joined up with Mechanic Toys some time last year to produce their Micromaster line. Mechanic Toys has since started releasing under Dr Wu's brand as well, which I suppose is for further distancing themselves from the MFT brand. It seems they've swapped to a new photographer too.
The mess here isn't new to this lineage of companies, they've previously done similar KO/3P/grey/white splits as Machine Boy/FCT/MechPlanet/Hot Soldiers/MFT/IronTrans and that's not including their supermarket retail brands. If you're still confused, just give up trying to make sense of it since that's the point of all this.
Tanafor
Mechanic Studios is a free lance designer. He partners with different producers to publish his toys. All the MechFansToys bots which start with 'MS' (triple changers, Hot Rod, Wreck Gar, etc) are his designs. Recently, he continued his 'MS' line with Dr. Wu instead, first Arcee now Sandstorm.
So MFT and Dr. Wu are not related. They have just produced different Mechanic Studios toys.
LoserBroadside
I WANT to like this more (as it's an update of my favorite G1 toy), but man it's hard. Those buggy wheels are WAY too small, for one thing.
Pun-3X
Yeah, just hit me–Mechanic Studios, Mechanic Toys? Not the same groups (Dr. Wu's "X Mechanic Toys"), but maybe that's it.
Or people are so into their MFT/MST triple changers, they assume all of them to be that size. I dunno…
Alwayz bREALz
I’m still confused about the whole MFT (MechFansToys) and Mechanic Studios thing. Are they the same or different??? I feel like these days I’ve been making this face a lot
Pun-3X
I'm trying to figure out where everyone is crossing up Dr. Wu with MFT. MFT makes Legends Plus. Dr. Wu is clearly doing his own thing, even if he's being "universal" about it. But even then, it's more universal in Legends. If you have fit MFT's triple changers in with your Newage or MS stuff, that's because you're cool with it. They are actually too big (because, again, Legends Plus). All of those triple changer examples, MFT or otherwise, are too big for legends. Except maybe–MAYBE–Octane. Obligatory 'collect as you like.'
So Dr. Wu's Sandstorm at 10cm is in a much better place for legends. And if that's what he's doing, I certainly hope to see the rest of the triple changers at this size (or nearer to it).
j.a.f.o.
I think Sandstorm's nickname should be "Tent Head."
Get it?
Mad Prime
Maybe he's the Octane of the Autobots. Will Broadside be the Autobot Astrotrain?
maxlovesamber
My guess would be that the 10cm is to the top of the head and the extra framework of the body is higher? I dunno, he seems a hair small if the 10cm is to the top of the extra junk. Eitherway, I really need to catch up cause that photo of yours with the current multichangers is gorgeous. I'm only 2 bots in so I better start placing orders!
Alwayz bREALz
View attachment 29532182
I wonder if 10cm is correct… Because that would make him HotRod’s height.
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Downwash
I must have missed that colored shot because I had only seen the older render they'd shared, whoops
MegaMoonMan
Looks good, 10cm is bigger than what I want but I'll take what I can get.
Alwayz bREALz
Looks the same to me. Just missing the guns and doesn’t look as busy because it’s all one color. Lol
View attachment 29532161 View attachment 29532162
Edit: Actually the back section looks a bit cleaner and compact. The tail fin is also changed in direction.
Downwash
This new prototype looks way better than the earlier renders, the buggy mode looks especially inproved.
KibblerGrrrl
This looks good, especially for a legends scale. Just wish we had an update on their Sword Dancer (G1 Slamdance).
Enfin
This looks so, so good. G1-toy accurate with better articulation, and small and handy. Bring it on!