Masterpiece Rodimus Prime

[Jaymz]

Sept 21, 2010 10:00:47 GMT Bogatan said:

RRP for Skywarp and Grimlock seems to have been around 10,000Yen (Same for the original Prime I think) which is about £70 so 16,000Yen Rodimus is likey to be much closer to £100 if not over.

MP Grimlock was 13,000Yen.

Rodimus is an extra 3,800Yen, but I think the exchange rate has got worse for us with Japanese currency than when Grimlock came out.

Surprisingly, MP Prime and Megatron were under 10,000Yen on release.

[Bogatan]

I feel less bad about what I paid for Grimlock now. The extra 3800 yen is still about £25 more thought so a UK rodimus could still be £85.

Andy

[The Doctor]

I have a question: why are Masterpiece toys sold at a much higher price than other Transformers toys? I'm genuinely curious. Do they have more moving parts? Different materials? More expensive 'name' designers working on them? Lower production runs?

And would people pay £130 for a new Rodimus toy that did not have the 'Masterpiece' label?

-Ralph

[primenova]

They should do something with the feet - so the grey legs are for Rodimus & they slid on making him taller than hotrod. Then the toys would look more different than just looking the same like now in robot mode.

[blueshift]

I've got to say, I was expecting a bit more to change between modes than just the hip position, spoiler and face.

[Bogatan]

Sept 21, 2010 11:06:07 GMT The Doctor said:

I have a question: why are Masterpiece toys sold at a much higher price than other Transformers toys? I'm genuinely curious. Do they have more moving parts? Different materials? More expensive 'name' designers working on them? Lower production runs?

And would people pay £130 for a new Rodimus toy that did not have the 'Masterpiece' label?

-Ralph

Yes. Maybe. Their seemed to be some fuss about MP Starscreams designer. Probably, but only to the same scale as the number of leaders class figures compared to deluxes probably.

I'd pay £130 for an imported toy of MP complexity, I wouldn't pay £130 from TRU. Which is odd but true.

The toy isn't worth that much but I understand the shipping and customs increase the price so I will pay more for the import, plus the not knowing if it will be released by Hasbro factor and if it is how will it be altered. I've never regretted MP Prime, because of the stupid battle damage deco it recieved and there was something about the 2nd rlease that I didn't like either. I do regret buying MP Grimlock because the UK version has the crown and the only alteration is less sharp teeth.

The difference between a MP and say leader class figure is complexity and detail for me. ROTF might have sculpted detail of hydralics, MPs has real moving parts. Better articulation and more of it. Electronics that don't interfere with the toy and the little details like Starscreams 2 faces. Grimlock having red and blue eyes. Generally that they are designed for fans rather than kids I suppose so they remain closer to the G1 toy and or cartoon model than you'd expect to see in Classics.

Andy

[blueshift]

The amount of engineering that goes into a Masterpiece figure, even compared to leader-class, is absolutely mind-boggling. That engineering then makes casting and assembling the figure more expensive, not to mention the deco.

Heck, even the Takara Skywarp has a far far nicer deco than the Hasbro one, though it is a difference more clear when you have them side by side. The plastic is often painted rather than just left plain, there are extra tampos, and the hydraulics were left unchromed on the Hasbro version.

The less said about UK MP Prime's bright blue gun, the better. That said, I'll probably bite on the Hasbro MP Grimlock over the Takara one. The only version that tempted me was the bizarrely expensive 'comic style' one with blue legs, but that is over 200 quid, so no....

[legios]

With the Masterpiece figures you are paying in some cases for the development time and expenses. They tend to have relatively complicated engineering, making them both time consuming to translate into an actual physical toy (and time is money) as well as complicated and time consuming to design in the first place.

In Starscream's case I am uncertain whether the fact that Kawamori-sama was involved had that vast an impact on the costs. On the one hand you don't expect the designer of the original Aibo to cost peanuts, and thanks to the fact that he works prolifically (Eureka 7, Aquarion, the Macross franchise) has enough clout to be able to turn down work if he isn't interested. But on the other he is basically a jobbing mechanical designer who is smart enough not to price himself out of the market, and he likely had some lingering affection for the property given that he started out on Diaclone.

Masterpiece line items will almost certainly require more manual input in terms of factory assembly, which affects the actual costs of production.

The expected price for the market niche that these things are aimed at may have something to do with it as well. The high-end collector grade Gundam stuff, the SOC line, and a lot of the Macross stuff that are aimed at the collector market have tended to fall within the 14,000 yen and up bracket - making that the expected price for something that is aimed at that adult collector market. Given that this is the kind of market that Tomy-Tak are aiming these things at it may be that they've pegged the price so that it is comparable to the competition so as not to look like a lower-quality "budget" thing. Sort of like the way that high end sportscar pricing is partially determined by the need to seem suitably expensive because this is part of the whole purchasing experience.

As to whether I would pay that kind of money for a Transformers item.... That would depend. If I felt it was well-engineered and designed enough that it merited the price point then yes. Prime and Megatron didn't really strike me as meeting those criteria (Prime especially - Transformation that was complicated but inelegant and a truly hideous mess of a vehicle mode) but Starscream I felt on balance was worth the Japanese rrp so I shelled out for him. Skywarp by contrast I bought in the UK when he was cheap. Not really decided on Rodimus or Grimlock to be honest, I am still somewhat on the fence there.

[Bogatan]

Problem solved. TFCC new magazine confirms Hasbro will be releasing MP Hot Rod, missing the trailer. So I'll grab the Masterpiece and maybe grab a Hot Rod later if the price isn't to unreasonable.

Andy

[The Doctor]

That boggles my mind. Why release a toy with half of the vehicle mode missing? What's the point? And would this not also negate the whole 'vehicle mode of Hot Rod turns into vehicle mode of Rodimus Prime' feature? It would be like if the Western release of Grimlock had his tail chopped off or had one less leg.

Madness.

Looks like the Japanese release is the way to go for folk who want the toy.

-Ralph

[blueshift]

While it would negate that aspect, we still get 'Hot Rod, Hot Rod vehicle, Rodimus Prime robot mode'. Think of the US release as Masterpiece Hot Rod with an additional bonus Rodimus Prime mode.

From what I'm hearing, he doesn't so much transform into Rodimus Prime's vehicle mode as have 95% of the vehicle mode come from the trailer piece anyway, more like a pretender shell for the vehicle!

[The Doctor]

I just don't get it. Leaving out half the toy. I just...don't get it.

-Ralph

[Philip Ayres]

I don't get either, but don't think I can afford £130 for the japanese edition

[Bogatan]

You get one alt mode and still 2 robot modes for probably £60. Instead of paying £80-90 for 2 alt modes and 2 robots and a big gun thing.

The price difference is probably the difference between it being released and not. The only comparible releases are Devastator and the large BB and they had movies promoting them I just dont think Rodimus would sell at £70+.

Andy

[Stomski]

I didn't think the West were particularly enamoured by Rodmus Prime's performance as leader, due to him basically complaining about not being up to the task all the time.

I guess the characterisation may have been a little better in the Japanese dub where they culturally see him being humbled by the responsibility rather than complaining.

So yeah, Japan go nuts, US kick him in the nuts. And we get whatever US gets.

[Grand Moff Muffin]

The Marvel UK character's record (I wrote this a decade ago so pardon the argumentative tone):

10 Reasons why Rodimus Prime is useless as leader:
He was in the right place at the right time when the
Creation Matrix was ready to open, but even then
Optimus Prime had to give him moral support.

Despite Optimus naming Ultra Magnus leader, and having
no knowledge whatsoever of whether or not he had any
strategic or leadership skills, the Autobots followed
the choice of a ball of light and made Rodimus Prime
their new commander.

Rodimus spent many months and all the Autobots'
resources searching for Galvatron, enabling Shockwave
to rebuild his forces, re-start the war and conquer
half of Cybertron.

Rodimus put a bounty on Galvatron's head, and, as a
result, Death's Head (who, while the Autobots searched
in vain, got Galvatron's location on his first
attempt) travelled back in time and destroyed
Bumblebee.

Rodimus then followed Death's Head back, but rather
than join forces with him and pay him his money so as
to ensure Galvatron's downfall, he worked against the
bounty-hunter and forcibly returned him to the future,
without Galvatron. He then made no immediate attempt
to return to the past in force and finish the job, but
left it to Ultra Magnus and Goldbug to clean up his
mess.

Having failed to learn any lessons, Rodimus Prime then
made up with Death's Head and paid him to go after
Cyclonus and Scourge.

When Unicron commandeered Junk, Rodimus travelled
there, set the Dinobots on the enslaved Junkions and
failed completely to do any good on the Astral Plane.
When Wreck-Gar finally destroyed Unicron's head,
Rodimus cleverly let him take refuge in the Creation
Matrix, something that led later on to his being
possessed and massacring fellow Autobots on Earth and
Cybertron. Contrast this with the way the clone
(Powermaster) Optimus Prime was able to purge the evil
from the Creation Matrix in 1991 and use it without
any help to destroy the Chaos-Bringer.

When the Quintessons invaded Autobot City: Earth,
Rodimus Prime walked right into their simple trap and
let them have the Creation Matrix. When Hot Rod
reclaimed it, Rodimus then executed a helpless
prisoner (Ghyrik), just as he did in Wanted: Galvatron
Dead or Alive with the Decepticon Squadron Leader.
Space Pirates showed Hot Rod as a competent,
clear-thinking warrior in sharp contrast with Rodimus'
poor sense of judgement.

In the Time Wars Rodimus Prime was worse than useless,
displacing Optimus Prime - a far superior leader, who
was actually skillful enough to battle Galvatron and
keep him off-balance - to Limbo, and contributing
nothing by his own presence on the battlefield.

In Peace, Rodimus Prime presided over the start of a
new war between the Autobots and had a nervous
breakdown. He was `tired' after being leader for five
hundred years, despite Optimus Prime fighting Megatron
for a thousand years before the Ark launched, and
Emirate Xaaron keeping the flame burning for four
million. Rodimus is a brave, loyal Autobot, but does
not have what it takes to make the big decisions. He
should never have been placed in a role for which he
possesses no relevant skills.

In the Marvel US comic continuity, he just appeared in 'Rhythms of Darkness', already dead.

Martin

[The Doctor]

And the inventory adaptation of 'Big Broadcaset of 2006'.

-Ralph

[Grand Moff Muffin]

Sept 23, 2010 18:17:49 GMT The Doctor said:

And the inventory adaptation of 'Big Broadcaset of 2006'.

Yes, if that's counted as part of Marvel US continuity.

Truly, his finest hour.

Martin

[The Doctor]

'DEADLY DUEL IN THE PROMISED LAND!' promised the cover. Lies!

-Ralph

[primenova]

www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/takara-transformers-website-update-mp09-rodimus-convoy/19886/

that's a good image - from that it looks like the torso turns over - so one side being the long Hotrod car front & the other side being the shorter Rodimus

- but looking at Rodimus transformed

where does the different shade of red come from, unless his torso is not the car front - seeing we can see a bit behind him. Looks like Hotrod car roof.

[primenova]

I see what you mean about Hotrod drives into the camper van.

Just been looking at photos on ebay
cgi.ebay.com/Transformers-Masterpiece-MP-09-Rodimus-Prime-Hot-Rod-9_W0QQitemZ140452513227QQcategoryZ4694QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp4340.m8QQ_trkparmsZalgo%3DMW%26its%3DC%26itu%3DUCC%26otn%3D5%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D5298247002820283812

The whole front end of Rodimus is under the whole back of car of Hotrod. I found that out by looking at Hotrod's rear wheels & that they are Rodimus front wheels.
the exhaust on the arms must be removable - as the lower arms are upto Hotrod doors [spot the yellow of the arms on them.

[grahamthomson]

My regular chap-to-get-Japanese-TFs-from, FRANKIE, has emailed offering MP Rodimus for £129 all in.

But I don't know how tempted I am. That price is cheaper than most of what's on eBay.

I'm probably one of the few people that like the character (based on my Marvel UK depiction)... but £129... ?

[blueshift]

Jan 19, 2011 9:52:22 GMT @grahamthomson said:

My regular chap-to-get-Japanese-TFs-from, FRANKIE, has emailed offering MP Rodimus for �129 all in.

But I don't know how tempted I am. That price is cheaper than most of what's on eBay.

I'm probably one of the few people that like the character (based on my Marvel UK depiction)... but �129... ?

Wow, at that price, do it! Even if you bitterly regret it you can still sell it on, since the trailer won't be released over here so you know people will still want one.

[grahamthomson]

Jan 19, 2011 9:54:16 GMT blueshift said:

Jan 19, 2011 9:52:22 GMT @grahamthomson said:

My regular chap-to-get-Japanese-TFs-from, FRANKIE, has emailed offering MP Rodimus for �129 all in.

But I don't know how tempted I am. That price is cheaper than most of what's on eBay.

I'm probably one of the few people that like the character (based on my Marvel UK depiction)... but �129... ?

Wow, at that price, do it! Even if you bitterly regret it you can still sell it on, since the trailer won't be released over here so you know people will still want one.

I will do what you say. I will do what you say. I will do what you say.

[Stomski]

Ordered!

Frankie's the nuts, despite his dodgy looking, non-specific email address

[grahamthomson]

It is done. Now... I wait. Excitedly.

[blueshift]

Jan 19, 2011 10:17:34 GMT @grahamthomson said:

It is done. Now... I wait. Excitedly.

I wonder who he will be inevitably repainted as?

I vote for an evil black repaint called Rodimus CRIME

[grahamthomson]

*groans*

We could get an all-gold Primus, or a black and purple Wildrider/Menasor?

[Bogatan]

I'd love it if there was a heavily modified version of it as Arcee. That would at least explain the slightly odd curvyness of the car mode.

Andy

[grahamthomson]

According to a news article on TFW2005, the toy comes with a Matrix and a coin! I hope it's chocolate!

www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/japanese-transformers-40/masterpiece-rodimus-newer-images-171300/