First Look: MP-20 Wheeljack

I got my MP-20 Masterpiece Wheeljack! Here's a first photo of the box, exclusive coin and anti-hypnosis device as seen in the G1 episode "The Ultimate Doom Part 3"



More photos will come later!
  

Transformers Jetfire (Leader-class)

When I was young, one of my favourite Transformers is Autobot Jetfire. Not because of the cartoon or comics, but because the G1 toy was a Macross VF-1S Valkyrie fighter/mecha. Yes, I was a fan of Macross even before Transformers. ;)

Of course, Hasbro was never able to reissue Jetfire based on that design due to licence issue. But this Generations Leader-class Jetfire comes pretty darn close, down to the rocket boosters!

Review: MP-17 Masterpiece Prowl

The Masterpiece series continues with the next Autobot car - MP-17 Prowl   G1 Prowl transforms into a Nissan Fairlady 280Z-T police car, and MP-17's alt mode is an excellent replica.

First Look: MP-17 Prowl

I got my Masterpiece MP-17 Prowl today! Here's a first photo of the box contents, except the coin which is Asia exclusive.



I'll post more photos and my review later. Watch for it!
  

Review: Toyworld TW-H02 Brainwave (part 1)

TW-H02 Brainwave is the second Headmaster released by Toyworld after TW-H01 Hardbone.  It is obviously homage to G1 Headmaster Brainstorm.
 

Brave Gohkin Mugen Calibur

Back in th 80's when Transformers was fast gaining popularity and Hasbro was running out of Takara molds to use, they obtained licences to use the molds of other companies' robot toys.

From the anime Special Armored Battalion Dorvack (特装機兵ドルバック) two of their mechas were used for G1 Deluxe Autobots - VH-64 MR Oberon Gazzette for G1 Whirl, and VV-54 AR Mugen Calibur for G1 Roadbuster.

VH-64 MR Oberon Gazzette

Everytime I'm on business trip in Tokyo, I try to find time to do a little toy hunting. :) During my last trip in March 2013, I manage to find this vintage VH-64 MR Oberon Gazzette from the old anime Special Armored Battalion Dorvack (特装機兵ドルバック)

Masterpiece MP-12T Tigertrack

When Masterpiece Lambor / Sideswipe was announced, every TF fan was certain the same mold would be used as all the various G1 recolours. Sure enough, MP-14 Alert was announced soon after.

The next recolour after that is yellow. Thankfully, it is not Sunstreaker, but Tigertrack instead.

Review: Toyworld Hardbone

Photo review of TW-H01 Hardbone from 3rd-party company Toyworld. This is obviously homage to G1 Headmaster Hardhead.

Review: MP-13 Masterpiece Soundwave

When Takara Tomy announced MP-13 in their Masterpiece line is gonna be Soundwave, there was excitement among the Transformers fandom. Finally, everyone's favourite Communications Commander is getting the Masterpiece treatment. After a long wait (well, those few months felt long) he is finally released!

The box contents, except the coin and 2 extra energon cubes which are separate. The coin is Asia exclusive, and the extra energon cubes are Amazon.jp exclusive.

FansProject Warbot Assaulter: Carrier Mode

After reviewing Warbot Assaulter's bot and plane modes, I was supposed to touch on Assaulter's carrier mode but completely forgot! D'OH!

G1 Broadside is a triple-changer. Besides the bot and plane modes, his other mode is an aircraft carrier. Likewise, FP Assaulter also has a carrier mode.

Vintage Takara G1 Blitzwing

Happy New Year folks! To kickstart 2013 here is a photo review of the vintage Takara G1 Blitzwing I picked up during my last holiday in Tokyo.

I found this vintage Takara G1 Blitzwing in a display at Nakano Broadway. Wife knows how much I like G1 Blitzwing, so she bought it for me as Christmas present!

Red Alert! Got my MP-14

I didn't intend to get MP-14 actually. Although I really like the Lamborghini Countach LP500S car, Red Alert is just a secondary character in the Transformers universe.

It so happens I'm in Tokyo for holiday now, went into an Akihabara shop and saw MP-14 being sold at a good price. Oh what the heck, I will never get that price locally or online, so I bought it! (together with a Takara Tomy AM-29 Fall of Cybertron Shockwave).



I'm still on holiday now, so will only review it when I return. I did open up to check, and from this visual inspection the paint application is not flawless but much better than my MP-12 Lambor/Sideswipe. The white paint is applied evenly and I don't see any paint pooling that some folks reported with their MP-12.



By now most online shops would've shipped out their orders, so you folks should be receiving your MP-14s soon!

Review: FansProject Warbot Assaulter

FansProject has to be credited with pioneering the whole Transformers third-party market and spawned a bunch of other such companies. Their latest release is yet another masterpiece - WB-003 Warbot Assaulter

More Sideswipes!

Posting more photos of my (all red!) Sideswipe collection. :)

Comparing my latest Sideswipe - Masterpiece MP-12 - with the two closest in size, Alternators and Classics. My first impression was What?! Masterpiece is smaller than an Alternator/Binaltech??

Review: MP-12 Lambor / Sideswipe

The latest Transformer to receive the Masterpiece treatment is Sideswipe (known as Lambor in Japan). It was released just last week and I got mine already!

First Look: MP-12 Lambor / Sideswipe

I got my Masterpiece MP-12 today! In Japan he is known as Lambor, but we know him better as Sideswipe.

Here's a first photo of the box contents, except the coin and silver pile drivers which are separate. The coin is Asia exclusive, and the pile drivers are Amazon.jp exclusive.



I'll post more photos and my review later. Watch for it!
  

Review: iGear PP05 (part 3)

Continued at Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

Sorry it took so long to post this last part for iGear's PP05. Here are their bot modes. I don't care if these are not official Transformers product. This is THE best G1 version of these two characters to date.

Review: iGear PP05 (part 2)

 Continued at Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

It's been awhile since I was this excited over a Transformer toy. Even with my high expectations, I'm glad to say I'm not disappointed with the actual product. 

iGear PP05M & PP05W van alt modes. I'll probably remove the crash bar for PP05M (Ratchet) and add some silver to the windscreen linings and wipers.

Review: iGear PP05 (part 1)

It was in May/June 2011 that iGear - one of the many companies producing third-party Transformers products - announced they will be releasing own their version of G1 Ironhide and Ratchet. Check out their teaser poster below:



They then release prototype pics showing the bot and alt modes, and the assortment of weapons and accessories. Unlike iGear's previous products like the PP01 Leaders and PP03 Seeker jets, PP05 is a new, original design. I was impressed and very excited to get them both!