Takara Masterpiece MP-17: Prowl (pictorial) review

So as I mentioned yesterday that I got MP-17: Prowl and that I will transform him during breakfast today.

Well, I did. In fact, I felt like I was 10 years old again, because I got out of bed earlier than usual and could not get back to sleep, too excited at the prospect of playing with Prowl.

Japanese box 09 - Prowl MIB; USA boxed pre-rub Prowl MIB, unused; and MP-17: Prowl MIB

What else is there to say other than that its another wonderful figure to the already stella MP line. There is very little not to like about the figure - it's a work of art.

The car mode, is spot on in terms of its styling and scale, continuing from the strong precedent set by the Lamborghini molds (MP-Sideswipe, Red Alert, Tigertrack).

After transforming MP-Prowl, I proceeded to take a number of gratuitous photos... haha. Here they are...

In the photos are various Prowl incarnations: (1) rub-sign Prowl MIB (no insert); (2) Japanese box 09 - Prowl MIB; (3) USA boxed pre-rub Prowl MIB, unused; and (4) MP-17: Prowl MIB

Today's acquisition - MP-17: Prowl (Autobot Military Strategist)

Hot off the presses, MP-17: Prowl.

Went to pick it up after work today.

Tomorrow is a public holiday. Guess what photography I'll be doing?

Cracked it open, but not transformed it yet. Will transform it as I am having my breakfast tomorrow.

Gratuitous photo of (top row) G1 rub-sign Prowl box, Takara 09 - Prowl MIB; (middle row) G1 pre-rub Prowl MIB, MP-17: Prowl MIB; and (bottom row) G1 rub-sign Prowl loose, MP-17: Prowl loose.

Stay tuned at HeroicDecepticon.com for more updates!

Why I (continue) to collect (Transformers)

I'm literally taking a page out of Colbey's blog, Random Toy Reviews, and putting up on my blog reasons why I collect.

Like Colbey, I was also invited by Maz to contributeto TF Source's articles by writing some thoughts about why I continue to collect; but unlike him, I did not submit my contributions on time. Therefore, my thoughts did not make 'publication' here on TF Source.

So, I thought I might as well put my thoughts on my own blog, which I have to say I have not updated in some time (don't worry, updates are coming). Therefore, in 'print' for the first time, my thoughts on why I continue to collect Transformers more than 30 years after their initial release...

It’s crazy right? I was there as a (very) young pup in 1984 when Transformers were first released by Hasbro into the world. Now, nearly 30 years on, I am still collecting Transformers. It’s crazy, right? Perhaps not if we dig a little deeper…

Some say that collectors are people who look back, but hardly look forward. It’s difficult to argue with the veracity of that statement – collectors do look back at ‘what they used to have’ and ‘what they used to want’ in order to formulate their intent for what they want to buy. It’s not very different for me – I am a collector and I look back all the time. I never got pieces like G1 Bluestreak, G1 Ravage, G1 Pointblank and G1 Snapdragon when I was young. So now, these are my high priority pieces to acquire and acquire again and again, because, hey, what’s worth doing to worth overdoing.

Still, saying that I continue to collect, 30 years after the event, because I like to look back at the past is hardly a robust explanation. What’s perhaps more essential is why I continue to look into the past. Quoting Randal Graves from Clerks II “they [ie: Transformers] remind me of a better time in my life… like when we were young and the world was still in front of us”.

More acquisitions - Quakewave (aka Shockwave), Terminus Hexatron (aka Sixshot) and Generations Trailcutter (aka Trailbreaker)

The story here is - still very busy. And weekend was good, spent time with E, who didn't have to work this weekend. So in short, not a lot of opportunity to update, but here it is - another update!

As part of my consolidated acquisitions post on 23 July, I updated that I bought FT-03: Quakewave, aka Shockwave. Here are some more pics of this absolutely amazing figure.

CA-12 Downforce and 02 x FT-03: Quakewave, 1 for me and 1 on behalf of a friend.

From what I can tell online, mine is the third wave of Quakewaves - therefore, it comes with lots of extra goodies. The matte coloured fist and laser gun comes free.

Here is Quakewave laid out with all the parts it comes with - the purple parts form another left arm, where the 'hose' is on the underside of the arm. Great that FanToys is giving fans a choice of how and where the want the hose to be.

Yes, it lights up too!

consolidated acquisitions - G1 Jetfire, Senator Ratbat, MP-12T, Quakewave, CA-12: Last Chance, Martian Manhunter

I have been very busy over the past week and really did not have too much time to post here and update  things. I actually have about 5-6 posts, with photos already prepared and uploaded, but no opportunity to do final edits and to post.

Those will have to wait till after I do this quick "bulk" update of the things I have been picking up.

From left to right:

• G1 Jetfire, complete and unused (Matsushiro variant) - no doubt, i will write more about this at some point in the future.
• FansToys FT-03: Quakewave, aka Shockwave
• Transformers Generations (Japan): Senator Ratbat
• (top) Tokyo Toy Show exclusive, MP-12T: Tigertrack
• (bottom) FansProject CA-12: Last Chance, aka Dead End
• Justice League, New 52: Martian Manhunter - this will join my Justice League figures here.

Except for Jetfire which I bought from eBay (from eBay seller 'The Mint 1980s Toy Store and Museum'), all the above were bought from retail in Hong Kong, even MP-12T.

I have one further thing to add about MP-12T - do yourself a favour and read what Maz has written on the lineage and significance of this piece. It is more than a hollow repaint. After reading what Maz has wrote, I am sure am glad I did not pass this up and potentially have to pay high secondhand market prices.

Maz's brilliantly researched and written article is here - Who is Tigertrack? - Part 1. Be sure to check back for Part 2!

I end with a gratuitous close up shot of Jetfire.

***

For more Quakewave photos and review, see my 28 July post here.

Takara, Transformers: Fight! Super Robot Life, D-56: Ramjet MIB (#2 of 36)

So I was saying that I recently bought a huge lot of G1 Japanese Transformers and that Sixbuilder MIB, was the first piece I unveiled.

In no particular order, here is #2 - Fight! Super Robot Life (1985) D-56: Ramjet!

Since young, Ramjet has been one of my favourite jets, alongside Skywarp and Thundercracker. For some reason, Starscream did not appeal to me much (ouch, I think I'm getting stoned by 'screamer fans....).

This Jap version of Ramjet is a stunning specimen.

Here (below) is a shot with the back of box art. It's odd. Ramjet is a 'series 2', aka 1985 figure. However, instead of having the Japanese exclusive 'series 2' back of box art (which features Dinobots and Devastator), this is actually series 3 back of box art - ie: this is what is behind the Transformers: 2010 series boxes (ie: 1986 art).

Donuts Daily - Part 6 - Fight back to Cybertron!

After a gap of a few days, where the donut bakery became a little quiet, the Donuts Daily is back, with a super fantastic sixth chapter!

Here is where Part 6 continues from...

Most of the contributions are from Hyperoptic, starting with this one, from the season 2 episode Child's Play.

Then, UndertakerPrime said this "Millions of years ago, on the planet Donutron, life existed. But not life that we know today. Intelligent donuts that could think and feel inhabited the cities. They were called Audonuts and Donuticons. But the glazed Donuticons were driven by a single goal: Total domination. They set out to destroy the chocolate-loving Audonuts. And a war between chocolate and glazed raged across Donutron. Devastating all in its path, draining the planet's once rich sources of sprinkles. The Audonuts, on the verge of spoiling, battled valiantly to survive."

Now, we fight back to Donutron... erm, Cybertron I mean.

All the below are from Hyperoptic, such an extraordinary graphics person!

Donutron itself, the home of the Transformers...

"Operation: Deliciousness"

"I am the Donut of Cybertron. Before Cybertron was, I was!"