UltraPrime Posted October 4, 2006 Posted October 4, 2006 I know reviews on this site tend to be for Lego sets, but every once in a while I come across something nice that should be shared. Here's my review for Takara's Masterpiece Starscream, the third in the line. First, pics of the jet mode: If you are a fan of Starscream, the first thing you may notice is he is not the same colour as the classic version. This is to give the jet mode more realism. As you can see, as a jet he does look very authentic. You can equip the jet with either Screamer's traditional Null Rays, or with more realistic missile pods. The weapons not in use can be stored on the display stand. Additional detailing includes engine flaps, a sensor array in nose, and retractable landing gear. You even get a little figure of Dr Arkeville to sit in cockpit. Not a particularly great figure, as painting is just limited to his lab coat. Oh well... Next, onto the robot mode: Again, a few differences from the classic look - the main one being the tail fin ection swings away from legs and hangs off hip. Unfortunately, he is rather top-heavy. The picture of him not on display stand was only possible by letting him lean against the box. I feel if the tail fins were part of his feet, he would be infinately more posable. The two faces of Starscream! Love the oh-so-in-character smirk! Weapon pods open! Overall, a very nice figure. I was disappointed about the lack of die cast on him - the only part I could find was the housing of the front landing gear. He is alot cheaper than the first two releases, but is significantly smaller too. You are still looking at about Quote
mutley777 Posted October 4, 2006 Posted October 4, 2006 X-O HOLY COW THATS AMAZING!! Now i have not been into transformers since i was a kid (many moons ago) but that is stunningly good and how they should have been first time round. i may even have to get one X-D Quote
JINZONINGEN73 Posted October 4, 2006 Posted October 4, 2006 As a final nice touch, you got a sticker sheet to decorate him how you like, though mine will remain unused. Indeed, indeed. How cool is it that they put Dr.Arkeville in the cockpit? X D I think I'll wait not just until I can comfortably buy him, but until an inevitable release of a more anime colored version. You know they'll do it lol. I have mixed feeling on the feet wings being turned into hip wings. Wait, no I don't. It's SO much better looking on the hips. I remember having the G1 Skywarp and thinking how lame the feet wings looked, much less the physical problems of walking like that. *crunch crunch crunch* Question... are his hands in a fixed position, or poseable? Quote
UltraPrime Posted October 4, 2006 Author Posted October 4, 2006 Question... are his hands in a fixed position, or poseable? Jointed at both knuckles. The index finger is independent, but the other three are molded together. Quote
optimus-convoy Posted October 5, 2006 Posted October 5, 2006 Thanks for the review. *y* Looks like a really great figure. Love the design dispite the hip-kibble and wierd colors. I'm just going to wait and see if Hasbro releases Starscream with more anime-esque colors. ;-) Quote
JINZONINGEN73 Posted October 5, 2006 Posted October 5, 2006 I'm just going to wait and see if Hasbro releases Starscream with more anime-esque colors. ;-) I was just thinking "Of COURSE they will"... but then the thought of another trans-clear "Starscream's ghost" figure came to mind. DAMN that'd be awesome. Quote
oo7 Posted October 5, 2006 Posted October 5, 2006 At first this looked like a really nice model of an f-22 Raptor. But then as I read further I saw that is transforms into a giant robot. :-/ I never liked those things, and I have the same issue with E-F, why toil over making a robot that knows karate when a plane or wheeled vehical with laser guided missiles is sooooo much more funtionional? However, whoever designs the transformation a genius, it looks spot on like a f-22! (wish Lego had some people like that |-/ ) Quote
UltraPrime Posted October 5, 2006 Author Posted October 5, 2006 it looks spot on like a f-22! It's an F-15E 'Strike Eagle' ;) Interestingly though, Starscream will be an F-22 in the new movie. Quote
oo7 Posted October 5, 2006 Posted October 5, 2006 It's an F-15E 'Strike Eagle' ;)Interestingly though, Starscream will be an F-22 in the new movie. Oh, sorry I got confused, I meant f-15 :-$ , the delta wing dosen't extend far back enough and the vertical stabilizers are too triangular to be an f-22. Although they are very similar planes so I'm not surprised if they will switch them in the movie, as the f-22 is newer. Quote
Lord Thrawn Posted October 8, 2006 Posted October 8, 2006 UltraPrime, I'm wondering. Do you have Masterpiece/20th Anniversary Optimus Prime? If so, how much did you pay for it (in GBP please) and do you know of any differences between the Masterpiece and 20th Anniversary editions? (excluding the smoke stacks) Thanks. Quote
JINZONINGEN73 Posted October 8, 2006 Posted October 8, 2006 At first this looked like a really nice model of an f-22 Raptor. But then as I read further I saw that is transforms into a giant robot. :-/ I never liked those things, and I have the same issue with E-F, why toil over making a robot that knows karate when a plane or wheeled vehical with laser guided missiles is sooooo much more funtionional? So parents will buy it. Will they buy their kid a toy robot, a toy vehicle... or the toy that's a robot AND a vehicle? ;-) Of course they won't realize until it's too late that the kid'll want all the robot's friends too. Quote
UltraPrime Posted October 8, 2006 Author Posted October 8, 2006 UltraPrime, I'm wondering. Do you have Masterpiece/20th Anniversary Optimus Prime? If so, how much did you pay for it (in GBP please) and do you know of any differences between the Masterpiece and 20th Anniversary editions? (excluding the smoke stacks)Thanks. I do. I paid Quote
JINZONINGEN73 Posted October 8, 2006 Posted October 8, 2006 Which Optimus is the one that came with the BLACK gun? I recall alot of different versions came with this lame, never-used-in-the-show gray gun. Quote
optimus-convoy Posted October 9, 2006 Posted October 9, 2006 Which Optimus is the one that came with the BLACK gun? I recall alot of different versions came with this lame, never-used-in-the-show gray gun. Most 20th anniversery Optimus Primes (Including mine) came with the black blaster, while MP1 & MP4 Convoys had the gray one. ;-) And while we're on the subject of MP Starscream, check out this photo gallery. It's pretty great. Quote
Lord Thrawn Posted October 9, 2006 Posted October 9, 2006 So what you mean to say is, if I see a chance like this I should take it... Maybe for Christmas. Quote
UltraPrime Posted October 9, 2006 Author Posted October 9, 2006 Forgot about black gun. I gave my MP1 MP2's gun :) Quote
JINZONINGEN73 Posted October 9, 2006 Posted October 9, 2006 Forgot about black gun. I gave my MP1 MP2's gun :) For real. Short smokestacks and gray gun? BLEH. Long smokestacks and black gun? Optimus. Hmm... wonder which is more show accurate... Optimus Prime Gun http://www.tfu.info/2004/Autobot/20thPrime/optimusprime.htm or repainted Ultra Magnus gun? http://www.tfu.info/2005/Cybertron/UltraMa...ultramagnus.htm Quote
mutley777 Posted October 10, 2006 Posted October 10, 2006 So what you mean to say is, if I see a chance like this I should take it...Maybe for Christmas. or if you can wait a bit, even cheaper Quote
JINZONINGEN73 Posted October 10, 2006 Posted October 10, 2006 Then again, trailer... http://www.forbiddenplanet.co.uk/index.php...8c45291ab0ce138 Quote
mutley777 Posted October 10, 2006 Posted October 10, 2006 Then again, trailer...http://www.forbiddenplanet.co.uk/index.php...8c45291ab0ce138 aah. but thats not the 20th anniversary prime. Quote
Lord Thrawn Posted October 11, 2006 Posted October 11, 2006 That's, like, convoy hybrid Convoy isn't it? I dunno. What I'm worried about is getting the one with the yellow marking on the head, which I don't want. But I can see the one you pointed out, Mutley, is the same as the current version I want. Quote
UltraPrime Posted October 11, 2006 Author Posted October 11, 2006 The Hybrid Convoy is a tad over-rated. It does look nice, if you plan on just displaying it, but it is very fragile - it falls apart very easily during transformation. The Hybrid Galaxy Convoy is far superior. Quote
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