{"id":31997,"date":"2015-10-16T00:53:13","date_gmt":"2015-10-16T05:53:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.itsalltrue.net\/?p=31997"},"modified":"2015-10-16T00:53:13","modified_gmt":"2015-10-16T05:53:13","slug":"transformers-masterpiece-starscream-review-toys-r-us-exclusive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.itsalltrue.net\/?p=31997","title":{"rendered":"Transformers Masterpiece
Starscream Review
(Toys R Us Exclusive)"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a> “I will rule the universe, even if I am the only one left in the universe.”<\/em> – Starscream, Transformers, “The Revenge of Bruticus”<\/strong><\/p>\n

I feel like I\u2019m writing my very first review all over again. Geez. This will be my first review with the new \u201cfancy\u201d camera that I still don\u2019t know how to use, so my apologies on a few focus & lighting issue. I\u2019ll get better eventually.<\/p>\n

It took a while for the Masterpiece line and I to get together. I bought 20th Anniversary Prime, but didn\u2019t have a lot of cash to spare when Starscream & Skywarp were at Walmart. And if I wasn\u2019t buying the heavily discounted Skywarp at retail, I definitely wasn\u2019t importing anything. The Masterpiece line really just gave me a 12\u201d Optimus Prime and that it. At least until it got me to buy another Optimus Prime.<\/p>\n

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MP-10 is a marvelous toy. And it convinced me to not only try to keep up with these new re-scaled Masterpiece figures, but to pony up & import the figures from Takara instead of waiting to see if they get released at retail here. And it\u2019s been awesome! I\u2019ve loaded up on all sorts of Autobot Cars, Soundwave & the Cassettes, and all these crazy Seeker repaints. <\/p>\n

Well, in my case, they turned out to be pre-paints. See, in between the time that Takara & Hasbro released MP-10 Prime respectively, Takara churned out MP-11. A tune-up, improved version of MP-3 Starscream. I just flat out missed it and\u2026 I wasn\u2019t the only one. The price on eBay was more than I ever wanted to pay, but I watched it like a hawk and get really close to blowing a chunk of change on it several times. I never did. <\/p>\n

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And for once, that paid off! Hasbro, finally, after Thundercracker, Sunstorm, Acidstorm, a second Prime, 2 versions of Soundwave, Prowl, another Grimlock, & Bluestreak; they finally put Starscream back out at retail. And so instead of $200+, I got it for $50 (thanks to $10 of TRU Rewards Bucks!). <\/p>\n

And better still? This is better (to me) than any previous version. Yes, the Domestic Hasbro versions seem a little cheaper than importing the Takara versions \u2013 my Takara Sunstorm might feels a little nicer or sturdier, but my Hasbro Seekers \u2013 Thundercracker, Acidstorm, & now Starscream are still quality toys deserving of the Masterpiece name. Hasbro also has the benefit of producing it as a $60 toy instead of whatever exorbitant amount I paid for Sunstorm (which was worth it because I prefer that amazing deco). <\/p>\n

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The most appreciated change from MP-3 to MP-11 was the removal of the samurai sheath thingies hanging off the hips, gone in favor of just tucking that part down on the lower legs. That part right there is why I still don\u2019t have a Skywarp (and there is an importable Skywarp MP11 version, but again $200+, c\u2019mon Hasbro!). But that\u2019s on all the MP-11 molds. What makes this version special? This is the most G1 Toy Deco yet! Seriously, you know you\u2019re a nerd when you get excited over a blue nosecone. <\/p>\n

In jet mode, this mold is a pretty sweet looking F-15 Eagle. When I was a kid, I loved fighter jets. I had posters, knew all the stats, obsessed over models and die-cast. It passed as a phase I guess, but my all-time favorite was the Eagle. I have a little bit of satisfaction picking these guys up. My Transformers tend to get displayed in Bot Mode, but it\u2019s tempting to just set these guys out as jets \u2013 even if they\u2019re yellow, green, & blue so far. The accuracy is still thanks to the misguided designer who made MP-3 less Starscream and more Eagle, but the mods to MP-11 and now the right colors have finally given the toy the a great visual in both modes. Continue to Page 2…<\/a><\/p>\n

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In bot mode, as I mentioned earlier, Hasbro relies less on paint ($$) to get the job done and it does give Starscream a slightly translucent look thanks to the grey plastic and how much light is showing through. I don\u2019t mind it too much, but one thing that does bug me is the metallic painted forearms and non-painted hands. The hands can\u2019t really be painted, but it\u2019s the one visual nitpick I have. The same thing happens at the crotch where the unpainted red \u201ccodpiece\u201d doesn\u2019t really match the painted red \u201cundies\u201d. Keep in mind that I have to get down to the subtle color differences in key areas to get critical though. <\/p>\n

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As a figure, Starscream is also a great toy. His articulation includes either full ball-jointed or essentially ball-jointed points at the neck, shoulders, wrists, hips; swivels at the biceps & thighs, double-hinge elbows, single-hinge knees, individually articulated fingers, and then some ankle articulation with various movements on the component pieces. This is really the only place I had trouble with the figure. Some of the joints were a little harder to move around than normal, including the transformation bits and were either really stuck or a little loose. The fingers also popped off a time or two and that\u2019s the first time on four versions of this mold that I had that happen (though my MP Rodimus has always been without a thumb). It\u2019s annoying to be looking for fingers on the ground. <\/p>\n

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Starscream included a few accessories that are pretty standard with this mold. His cannons are attached, but can be removed and swapped out for included missile racks. A small pilot is included for his jet mode along with a clip that plugs under the nosecone to hold Megatron. There is also a specific stand, labeled Starscream. It\u2019s a cool design and can be configured to hold Starscream as a jet or hovering in bot mode. It\u2019s pretty cool. The coronation gear is not included with this release (but I have spares from Sunstorm if I want, so it\u2019s not a big deal for me). <\/p>\n

Overall, I\u2019m just happy to finally have Starscream. I\u2019ve wanted this figure for years and to finally get it for just $60 in the most G1 colors yet? It\u2019s awesome. This is a great mold, though the reuse might be starting to show with those figures, and it looks great in Starscream\u2019s iconic colors. My shelf would finally be more caught up\u2026 if I could just fit all these guys on the same shelf. Damn wings! <\/p>\n\n\n\n \t

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