Premium Finish Wave 2 brings yet another Siege Megatron, now with more battle damage, alongside a well-received Studio Series 38 Optimus Prime. Production photos of Masterpiece MP-52 Starscream 2.0 show a painted clear canopy that turns Matt off.
A Big Bad Toy Store exclusive threezero Shattered Glass Soundwave tempts Brian, and a Shogo Hasui interview explains Commander Class Jetfire. In the haul, Brian finally lands a Nucleon Quest Super Convoy and a boxed Brainstorm.
News
TakaraTomy’s Premium Finish Wave 2 pairs another Siege Megatron, with more detailed Netflix battle damage, and Studio Series 38 Bumblebee movie Optimus Prime. One host calls the Megatron 95 percent pointless by volume, since Walmart already sold a Netflix-style version. The Optimus Prime adds paint detail and light weathering, and the crew thinks it looks good. Each costs about 5,800 yen, and one host plans to get both. Japan is also getting the four Walmart Beast Wars reissues. [Source: TFRadio]
TakaraTomy Tweets MP-52 Starscream 2.0 Production Sample Photos
TakaraTomy showed final production samples of Masterpiece MP-52 Starscream 2.0, due to ship at month’s end. Accessories include the Cosmic Rust meteorite and the drill hand from The Core. Matt is unimpressed by a canopy made of clear plastic painted over, and its gray does not match the plastic around it. He also worries about fragile gimbaled stabilizers. At nearly $300, the crew expected a multi-part canopy. Thundercracker and Skywarp are already solicited. [Source: TFRadio]
Shogo Hasui Interview Translation
A TFW2005 user translated part one of a Shogo Hasui interview from the Transformers Generations 2020 book. The interview says Commander Class Jetfire once had a different vehicle mode until Hasui pushed for a cartoon-accurate one. The Weaponizers grew from an older idea of build-a-figure parts in Generations assortments. [Source: TFW2005]
Cyberverse Roll N’ Change Figures
Kotaku showed large Cyberverse Roll N’ Change figures with automatic, talking transformations. Brian loves the Optimus Prime look despite rarely buying Cyberverse. The talk turns to how today’s line splits into adult collector toys and simpler kids’ toys, with little middle ground. Brian misses the Armada era, and one host names the Robots in Disguise 2015 Warrior Class as a favorite. [Source: Kotaku]
Big Bad Toy Store Exclusive threezero Shattered Glass Soundwave
A Big Bad Toy Store exclusive threezero Shattered Glass Soundwave with Ravage, on the Bumblebee movie design, is up for $249.99 preorder. The crew finds Shattered Glass colors odd on a live-action design. Brian is strongly tempted despite a $37 non-refundable deposit, and the store says it is half sold. [Source: Preternia on Twitter]
Funko Pop! Retro Toys Soundwave
Funko announced a large Pop! Retro Toys Soundwave with swappable, non-transforming tapes, a GameStop exclusive. Nobody on the crew needs it. [Source: Funko on Twitter]
DNA Design Studio Series Grimlock Upgrade Set
DNA Design’s upgrade kit for Studio Series Grimlock adds new dinosaur arms, tooth plates and a clear yellow neck plate. It also includes a fully transforming Wheelie and a sword in the wrong color. One host suggests a Titans Return Wheelie as a cheaper, better option. [Source: DNA Design on Facebook]
What We Got This Week
Diecast got the Transformers Monopoly set with Energon cube and bunker pieces, which he calls well worth $20.
Matt had nothing this week.
Chris had nothing this week.
Don was scammed on Fans Toys Thomas, its Astrotrain, by a high-rated eBay seller who sent stickers and keychains. He is awaiting a PayPal refund and has found another copy on the TFW2005 boards.
John installed the DNA Design upgrade kit for Studio Series Devastator. It bulks up the back, arms, shoulders and head and adds the rabbit ears. He recommends it, though it does nothing for the all-fours pose.
Brian found Authentics Barricade and Ratchet and got the Toyhax kit to turn the Netflix Nemesis Prime trailer into a G2 Optimus Prime trailer. A Takara Netflix Nemesis Prime from Amazon Japan arrived crushed in an envelope. He also got knockoff one-step changers, a 1989 Micromaster sticker sheet and a carded clear Spy Changer. Gripper completes his Motivators, and he added carded Rescue Force One and a Spanish carded First Aid. A promotional 1986 Transformers: The Movie soundtrack and a Generations 2014 book Shouki filled out the week. His favorites are a mint loose Nucleon Quest Super Convoy and a boxed G1 Brainstorm in great shape.