MP Lambor/Sideswipe

The Reverend · Post by **The Reverend** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 7:59 am

My wife wants to get me one, but having been burned enough by Takara I said hold off and lets see how badly they ****ed this one up.

Watching video reviews now. So far the design is lauded as "simpler", "clean", et al. The figure is notably small.

More damning, also seeing reports of misassembly and a bad, bubbling paint job.

Cliffjumper · Post by **Cliffjumper** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 8:48 am

I'm holding out for a Hasbro release. I realise paint ops and the like will possibly be simpler but for anything big ticket I do not trust Takara - I want the option of being able to take this thing back to the shop if the quality control's crap rather than having to post it across to Japan.

Post by **Denyer** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 1:38 pm

Haven't seen any issues on this one, although Takara's not known for consistency. There aren't many paint apps in the first place. The mould's Alternator-sized as a robot, which was the prospect going in (boxed smaller than Binaltech/Alternators, which makes me think it relatively unlikely Hasbro will add a huge box like they did with Rodimus to jack the price point.)

Using sellers who check their stock should be fine, although cost-wise people are better holding on for a Western release.

The Reverend · Post by **The Reverend** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 2:57 pm

I keep hearing about Lambors completely missing their codpieces.

Post by **Warcry** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 3:57 pm

Denyer wrote:The mould's Alternator-sized as a robot

He's way smaller than Alternators Sideswipe. As best as I can tell he's about half-way between the Alternator and Universe molds, and maybe even closer to the latter than the former. There's no way he's anywhere close to 1:24 scale, which is probably a good thing because such a simple design might look ridiculous if it was any bigger. I'm disappointed though, because I was hoping for a good Sideswipe and/or Red Alert that wouldn't look silly on the same shelf as my existing big cars.

Are his tires plastic instead of rubber? They look like it in the pics I've seen. If so, that's a real shame.

Post by **Denyer** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 5:43 pm

Smaller in alt-mode, but basically eye-level with the Smokescreen mould.

Tyres are plastic, as you say. No strong feeling either way on that one.

Paul053 · Post by **Paul053** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 5:50 pm

I just found some pictures of the comparison.

Robot mode with Classics.

Alt mode with Alternators and Classics.

Sideswipes roundup. Gee.............

Post by **Warcry** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 6:17 pm

Denyer wrote:Smaller in alt-mode, but basically eye-level with the Smokescreen mould.

Thanks for the pic.

That doesn't look too bad, actually. He's obviously got a lot less mass than Smokey, but you could probably fudge that with creative posing. Obviously it's been a long time since I've had Alt Sideswipe out, because I don't remember him being any taller than Smokescreen.

I still wouldn't pay Takara prices for it, or even what Hasbro sold MP Rodimus for, but he's small enough that the asking price might not be too obscene when he eventually gets a western release. Now, to hope for a Hasbro Red Alert with lovely toy-accurate colours instead of the inevitable fugly cartoon ones Takara will use...

Denyer wrote:Tyres are plastic, as you say. No strong feeling either way on that one.

I've always been a fan of rubber tires. I'm usually not hugely bothered if a figure doesn't have them, but on a premium item like this I think it's kinda shabby to use plastic. Especially since all the other Masterpieces and Alternators do have them.

Tetsuro · Post by **Tetsuro** » Mon Nov 12, 2012 2:58 am

There's an easy way to convince someone whether MP Lambor is any good or not - just compare it to the previous MPs. Is it more like MP Grimlock, MP Megatron or MP Rodimus?

Post by **Denyer** » Tue Nov 13, 2012 10:23 pm

Will give you a slightly more considered opinion when I've got my hands on Megs (found a used repaired one; it's almost like being a kid again -- the original Megs I got off a friend was also held together with glue) but the answer's going to be Grimlock...

Rodimus (in the packaging, at least) really didn't impress.

Post by **Warcry** » Tue Nov 13, 2012 10:36 pm

MP Rodimus is good as long as you never, ever attempt to transform or play with it. And even then you run the risk of his shoulders or knees randomly and irreparably exploding on you. Which is a shame, because it's as close to a spot-on perfect physical representation of Hot Rod's cartoon model as we're ever going to get. He's just really, really over-engineered.

Knightdramon · Post by **Knightdramon** » Tue Nov 13, 2012 10:44 pm

Well, Rodimus has the distinction of having three out of four releases with QC flaws.

V1: Lots of problems, screws instead of flat pins on leg panels causing them to eat off the plastic in the first transformation, very loose handling of the guns in the arms, problems with the backpack having clearance to snap on his back...I think that's that.

Hasbro: SOME of them have the pins on his shoulders inserted in so wrong that the arm snaps off without provocation, even MISB. Thankfully mine doesn't have it and I've transformed it over 20 times.

Black Takara: I think it's safe to say that due to a problem with extremely tight friction on the ratchet joints, both knees will just break off when moved. And I mean on ALL OF THEM.

I lucked out and found a random restock on HLJ for Sideswipe, so got one on my private warehouse with MP Convoy.

From pictures\reviews and whatnot, I'd place him closer to MP Grimlock for simplicity than Hot Rod\Megatron.

Post by **Denyer** » Fri Nov 16, 2012 10:35 pm

Ten minute verdict: Megs is okay as long as you bear in mind that it's a retread of the original (complete with stupidly ****ing big fusion cannon) and that Hasbro should have used the Browning mould if they wanted a gun and either ignored the size difference versus Prime or upscaled it...

Heinrad · Post by **Heinrad** » Sat Dec 15, 2012 9:44 pm

Definitely want to get the Hasbro version. Looks like a pretty good figure overall.

Knightdramon · Post by **Knightdramon** » Sat Dec 15, 2012 10:19 pm

Archer himself said that a US edition might not be valid for quite some time as there's too much negotiating involved for the licensing...

Got Red Alert on my Private Warehouse at hlj, along with some gundam markers. I think I'll wait until Soundwave comes out to ship him though.

Gouki · Post by **Gouki** » Sun Dec 16, 2012 10:05 pm

Anybody got a size comparison with Sideswipe and the other MPs (rather than Alternators)? Preferably Grimlock.

Post by **Denyer** » Sun Dec 16, 2012 10:10 pm

The top of SS's shoulders is level with the top of Grimmy's waist bar in robot mode.

And then everything's dwarfed by MP Prime / Megs.

Knightdramon · Post by **Knightdramon** » Sun Dec 16, 2012 11:25 pm

Best I can do with some MPs\MP-like releases.

Notabot · Post by **Notabot** » Mon Dec 17, 2012 6:16 pm

Criminy! I didn't realize how small the Masterpieces are getting! That's kind of nuts at that price.

Knightdramon · Post by **Knightdramon** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 1:57 pm

Once you have them all like that, they gain a charm of a more unified toyline versus standalone releases. While the stupid exchange rates ruin it for the rest of the world, MP Sideswipe is a third of MP Grimlock's price, and so on.