[iLegends73]

Ok guys its finally happen. I have gotten burnt by the all spark and bitch slapped by megatron while soundwave plays "eye of the tiger "in his chest. In other words...I need some transformers!

Ok Im really stuck with the masterpiece collection but I found the numbers are like mp -01 thru maybe 05. I only want megatron and optimus cause those are the representation of the characters I know from the 80's cartoon. The only thing is on eBay they cost alot. Think I saw one go for $500 maybe. Anyone know which ones to get like those but hopefully a lil (or a lot) cheaper?

[bmorr]

masterpieces are always expensive.

[iLegends73]

Damn well so far my outcome not looking to good lol

[bmorr]

japanese masterpieces are like the expensive champagne of transformers. Classics are just a step below that, hence their ridiculous value.

[iLegends73]

I just thought the prices was do to the shear size of them. I heard of bad shit with that megatron tho. Maybe I'm just after optimus at this point

[bmorr]

yeah, like any toy its a combination of actual product price, demand, and availability.

[hrothgars]

Yeah, Hasbro's U.S. releases tend to be cheaper. 20th Anniversary Prime can be had loose for approx. $60.

Megs has a big price swing since you can't sell firearms toys at most U.S. retailers without an orange muzzle plug which wasn't included on the early Takara release.

If you stick to the available U.S. releases, you'll save a lot, but all MPs are expensive.

Also, to date there are:

Japanese Takara / Takara Tomy Releases

• MP-01 Convoy
• MP-01B Black Convoy
• MP-01L Final Edition Convoy
• MP-02 Ultra Magnus
• MP-03 Starscream
• MP-03G Ghost Starscream
• MP-04 Perfect Edition Convoy
• MP-05 Megatron
• MP-06 Skywarp
• MP-07 Thundercracker
• MP-08 Grimlock
• MP-08X King Grimlock (Marvel Comics version)
• MP-09 Rodimus Convoy
• MP-09B Black Rodimus Convoy
• MP-10 New Convoy
• MP-11 New Starscream
• MP-11S Sunstorm

U.S. Hasbro Releases

• 20th Anniversary Optimus Prime
• Masterpiece Starscream (Walmart exclusive)
• Masterpiece Skywarp (Walmart exclusive)
• Masterpiece Grimlock (TRU exclusive)
• Masterpiece Rodimus Prime (TRU exclusive)

[iLegends73]

Thanx for the info hrothga. ! I'm off to eBay to check on that prime

[iLegends73]

Still kinda pricy but its more within my range.

[KingLouie731]

Quote:

Originally Posted by iLegends73

Thanx for the info hrothga. ! I'm off to eBay to check on that prime

yeah I got that prime last year for $55 and did local pick up so no shipping and I LOVE HIM. that representation of prime was a grail for me and I wouldn't part with him. happy hunting and watch out for snipers the bid on mine was at 21 for like days and I finally had a little bid war at the end but won

[ToyAddict]

Then, if interested, you can also consider the third-party masterpieces. A company called iGear has made several in their "PP" series:

PP01 Faith Leader (Optimus Prime)
PP01B Nemesis (Nemesis Prime)
PP01C clear version of Faith Leader
PP01U Ultra (Ultra Magnus)
PP01E Evil (Scourge?)
PP02 Horror (Megatron) -- not sure if they ever actually released this. . .
PP03J Jet (Ramjet)
PP03A Attack (Thrust)
PP03E Elegy (Dirge)
PP03S Storm (Sunstorm)
PP03D Destroyer (Skywarp)
PP03L Lightning (Thundercracker)
PP03T Traitor (Starscream)
(PP04 hasn't happened yet -- supposed to be Bumblebee/Cliffjumper)
PP05W Weapon Specialist (Ironhide)
PP05M Medical Specialist (Ratchet)

Another group called FansToys is making:
FT-02 Acoustic Wave (Soundwave)
FT-03 (Blaster)

There might be more, that's what I can think of right off, in Masterpiece scale. . .

[MegaPrime33]

There are deals out there on them, you just have hunt them down. I got MP Megs complete with everything except box for $60. The new starscream looks really good, and should have been released first instead of that green looking one. I would check out our sister site in the Junkion Exchange. Maybe even put out a post in the wanted section as well.

[iLegends73]

Thanz for all this info. When it come to TF's I'm somewhat lost with the classes and different characters. I'm been tempted to start getting the prime line but just never done it yet. All I know is I really want a MP optimus in my collection somewhere

[iLegends73]

just checked the igear site and the are going to release a pp01 prime this month! got a preorder goin on now. no trailor tho, but thats not a real problem i just want the figure

[trebleshot]

I really love my 20th Anniversary Prime and almost picked up the DVD Prime version just for the cartoon-accurate colors. About the only downside to getting the Hasbro versions over the Takara/Tomy ones is the US versions have shorter smokestacks due to toy safety laws. But there is/was a company that sold replacement stacks that you could swap out. I opted to keep mine original.

As for Megs, it's a great figure overall but there are a few issues with him. First, he's easily the most fragile of the MPs and that's due to a lot of his parts are thin plastic connecting to die-cast. So handle him with kid gloves if you get him. Also, some of the Megs had rust spots develop on the die-cast, so check for that too.

Of course, all the other MPs have little issues here and there. Prime and Grimlock are by far the most solid ones I own. But the thing to keep in mind about MPs is that they are not typical Hasbro mass-marketed toys. MPs aren't designed to go twenty rounds with Sid from Toy Story.

Also, you might want to keep an eye out for the new MP Prime (MP-10) as it's a smaller version of him that better fits with the other MPs (the first Prime is over-sized compared to the others) and also with the Classics, I'm told. There's a good possibility we might get him stateside, which is what I'm hoping for since importing is too cost-prohibitive for me right now.

[iLegends73]

I checked out reviews for the igear version. This guy was talking about ultra magnus and goin thru his transformation to truck mode and BAM his leg snaps off

[Optimus Vader]

I would not suggest getting any of the giant MP Primes or Megatron. Either go iGear (I own a few myself--including PP01), or get the updated MP Prime that's a normal size. And if history repeats itself, that Prime, without it's trailer, will be a TRU or Walmart Exclusive late Summer (that's been the case the past few years).

..and since they just updated Prime to a normal size last year, I'd expect Megs to get a similar treatment eventually. That and iGear has been teasing us with their own MP Megs prototype for some time now, so that giant MP Megs is most liking getting replaced by two better versions.