New image of MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus & comparisons to MP-28 Hot Rod

Wednesday, August 9th, 2017 3:20PM CDT

Category: Toy News
Posted by: Kurona Views: 32,377

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Courtesy of fellow board member Cyberpath, we've got another new image for you of the upcoming Takaratomy Masterpiece MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus from Dengeki Hobby Web! As listed earlier today, this release differs from the previous MP-28 Hot Rod release in that it has both a new deco based on his look in The Rebirth and comes packed with his Targetmaster partner Firebolt. And to illustrate just how different that deco is, we've also got a couple comparison shots between MP-40 and MP-28 from the same board member! Check 'em out below and tell us what you think in the forums!

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Re: New image of MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus & comparisons to MP-28 Hot Rod (1903188)
Posted by SW's SilverHammer on August 9th, 2017 @ 4:53pm CDT

Well damn. i actually really like this Hot Rod allot. The Colors, while being the weird ass AKOM colors, are really pretty on that figure. I genuinely love the dark lavender stripes on the shins, along with the dark maroon, burgundy, and magenta. Legit on pre-order.

Re: New image of MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus & comparisons to MP-28 Hot Rod (1903227)
Posted by chuckdawg1999 on August 9th, 2017 @ 7:56pm CDT

Depending on what other accessories it comes with I just might use this to replace the earlier Hot-Rod

Re: New image of MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus & comparisons to MP-28 Hot Rod (1903260)
Posted by Emerje on August 9th, 2017 @ 10:06pm CDT

Sabrblade wrote:So just so it's clear, this deco is accurate to how Hot Rod looked in The Rebirth, in which he was colored in Rodimus Prime's animation-erroneous deco that AKOM made frequent use of in Season 3. So hes accurate to an incorrect color scheme.

The shin stripes, however, are a case of Takara treating the lighting/shading on Hot Rod's shins as literally as possible.

Just rewatched rebirth and Hot Rod has his legs like that in every scene they're visible in no matter what the lighting. So it really isn't a matter of Takara Tomy getting it wrong, but AKOM misinterpreting the lack of shading as a purple stripe on a black leg and consistently coloring him that way. If you look at the rest of the characters the shading changes from place to place like it should, even on the rest of Hot Rod, but those legs are constant. Can't really blame Takara Tomy for this. If anything this figure is exceptionally screen accurate, purple stripe and all. I guess Someone at Takara Tomy knows how to do purple right.

Emerje

Re: New image of MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus & comparisons to MP-28 Hot Rod (1903269)
Posted by Sabrblade on August 9th, 2017 @ 10:45pm CDT

Emerje wrote:
Sabrblade wrote:So just so it's clear, this deco is accurate to how Hot Rod looked in The Rebirth, in which he was colored in Rodimus Prime's animation-erroneous deco that AKOM made frequent use of in Season 3. So hes accurate to an incorrect color scheme.

The shin stripes, however, are a case of Takara treating the lighting/shading on Hot Rod's shins as literally as possible.

Just rewatched rebirth and Hot Rod has his legs like that in every scene they're visible in no matter what the lighting. So it really isn't a matter of Takara Tomy getting it wrong, but AKOM misinterpreting the lack of shading as a purple stripe on a black leg and consistently coloring him that way. If you look at the rest of the characters the shading changes from place to place like it should, even on the rest of Hot Rod, but those legs are constant. Can't really blame Takara Tomy for this. If anything this figure is exceptionally screen accurate, purple stripe and all. I guess Someone at Takara Tomy knows how to do purple right.

Emerje

I don't know whether to call AKOM doing it that way in the first place, and Takara just following in suit, either better or worse. 8-}

Re: New image of MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus & comparisons to MP-28 Hot Rod (1903325)
Posted by Cyberpath on August 10th, 2017 @ 12:32am CDT

More --

Source: http://tf.takaratomy.co.jp/products-lineup/tf_mp/mp-40

ホットロディマスのターゲットマスター版がマスターピースとなって登場！
アニメ「トランスフォーマー　ザ・リバース」で活躍したターゲットマスター・ホットロディマスを再現
映像の中で活躍するホットロディマスのカラーをより再現しており、カスタムカーからロボットに完全変形します。
海外版アニメ「TRANSFORMERS THE REBIRTH」で活躍したターゲットマスターにパワーアップしたホットロディマス（海外名：HOT ROD/ホットロッド）の完全変形フィギュア。　
映像の中で活躍するホットロディマスの魅力を余すところなく再現されています。

Re: New image of MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus & comparisons to MP-28 Hot Rod (1903344)
Posted by Emerje on August 10th, 2017 @ 1:34am CDT

Cyberpath wrote:
ホットロディマスのターゲットマスター版がマスターピースとなって登場！
アニメ「トランスフォーマー　ザ・リバース」で活躍したターゲットマスター・ホットロディマスを再現
映像の中で活躍するホットロディマスのカラーをより再現しており、カスタムカーからロボットに完全変形します。
海外版アニメ「TRANSFORMERS THE REBIRTH」で活躍したターゲットマスターにパワーアップしたホットロディマス（海外名：HOT ROD/ホットロッド）の完全変形フィギュア。　
映像の中で活躍するホットロディマスの魅力を余すところなく再現されています。

The target master version of Hot Rodimus comes out as a master piece!
Reproducing the target master · hot Rodimas who played an active part in the animation "Transformer The Reverse" reproduces
the color of hot Rodimas who is active in the image, and it completely transforms from the custom car to the robot.
Full transformed figure of Hot Rodimas (overseas name: HOT ROD / Hot Rod) which power up to the target master active in oversea version animation "TRANSFORMERS THE REBIRTH".　
The charm of Hot Rodimas who is active in the image is reproduced without any limitation.

That last line certainly is true.

Pre-orders are up in Japan, ordered one off AmiAmi.

Emerje

Re: New image of MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus & comparisons to MP-28 Hot Rod (1903514)
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on August 10th, 2017 @ 2:47pm CDT

Gosh, he is so beautiful. No regrets with the pre-order. Those colors look amazing on that mold

Re: New image of MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus & comparisons to MP-28 Hot Rod (1903523)
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on August 10th, 2017 @ 3:00pm CDT

Seibertronian Cyberpath has shared with us that MP-40 Hot Rodimus has even more images posted, courtesy of Takara Tomy Mall. These new images show us Hot Rodimus from several different angles in both robot and alt mode, and it shows us some new images of Targetmaster Firebolt! You can check out these images below, and let us know if you are going to order this new Targetmaster Masterpiece!

Re: New image of MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus & comparisons to MP-28 Hot Rod (1903527)
Posted by galvatron00 on August 10th, 2017 @ 3:19pm CDT

I think what most interests me is seeing how the gun handle has been modified. So I can also do that.

:lol:

Re: New image of MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus & comparisons to MP-28 Hot Rod (1903534)
Posted by Ravage XK on August 10th, 2017 @ 3:35pm CDT

I have both previous version of MP Hot Rod so no I won't be ordering this.

Re: New image of MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus & comparisons to MP-28 Hot Rod (1903559)
Posted by Kurona on August 10th, 2017 @ 5:18pm CDT

The car mode looks a lot better than I originally thought - maybe even moreso than MP-28 - but that robot mode is still absolutely dire. One of the worst decos I've seen a while.

Re: New image of MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus & comparisons to MP-28 Hot Rod (1903762)
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on August 11th, 2017 @ 3:53pm CDT

Kurona wrote:The car mode looks a lot better than I originally thought - maybe even moreso than MP-28 - but that robot mode is still absolutely dire. One of the worst decos I've seen a while.

How can you say that? He is owning that deco! Artfire had the best deco of the MP-30's, and this Hot Rod is right there with him. It is gorgeous and loud and I am in love with it

Re: New image of MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus & comparisons to MP-28 Hot Rod (1903767)
Posted by Kurona on August 11th, 2017 @ 4:12pm CDT

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:
Kurona wrote:The car mode looks a lot better than I originally thought - maybe even moreso than MP-28 - but that robot mode is still absolutely dire. One of the worst decos I've seen a while.

How can you say that? He is owning that deco! Artfire had the best deco of the MP-30's, and this Hot Rod is right there with him. It is gorgeous and loud and I am in love with it

Artfire looked incredible, and I was hoping MP-40 would follow in his footsteps instead of being based on an animation error and having dumb red strips down his legs. All the power to you if you like it, but this just looks awful to me.

Re: New image of MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus & comparisons to MP-28 Hot Rod (1903775)
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on August 11th, 2017 @ 4:53pm CDT

Kurona wrote:
D-Maximus_Prime wrote:
Kurona wrote:The car mode looks a lot better than I originally thought - maybe even moreso than MP-28 - but that robot mode is still absolutely dire. One of the worst decos I've seen a while.

How can you say that? He is owning that deco! Artfire had the best deco of the MP-30's, and this Hot Rod is right there with him. It is gorgeous and loud and I am in love with it

Artfire looked incredible, and I was hoping MP-40 would follow in his footsteps instead of being based on an animation error and having dumb red strips down his legs. All the power to you if you like it, but this just looks awful to me.

Booooooooooooo

Artfire is incredible, and while I was hoping for a new targetmaster mold, it looks great to me, and it works. Sorry it can't really hit home for you too

Re: New image of MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus & comparisons to MP-28 Hot Rod (1903785)
Posted by Sabrblade on August 11th, 2017 @ 6:10pm CDT

Am I missing something? What does Artfire's deco have to do with the quality of this figure's deco?

Re: New image of MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus & comparisons to MP-28 Hot Rod (1903975)
Posted by chuckdawg1999 on August 12th, 2017 @ 4:54pm CDT

Any idea if Firebolt will be able to attach at the wrist like Artfire?

Re: New image of MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus & comparisons to MP-28 Hot Rod (1903976)
Posted by Jelze Bunnycat on August 12th, 2017 @ 4:57pm CDT

chuckdawg1999 wrote:Any idea if Firebolt will be able to attach at the wrist like Artfire?

Not without any alterations to either Firebolt or Hot Rodimus. Which is just as well, as they never did that in the US cartoon, and Hot Rodimus never became a Targetmaster in Japan.

Re: New image of MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus & comparisons to MP-28 Hot Rod (1903983)
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on August 12th, 2017 @ 5:37pm CDT

Sabrblade wrote:Am I missing something? What does Artfire's deco have to do with the quality of this figure's deco?

I was comparing them because I have no real attachment to Artfire as a character, but his deco was super sweet and made the figure look much better than his original 2 versions. To me, the same applies here: This deco on Hot Rod makes him so much better to me, hence why I want him so badly. It may be an animation error deco, but it is a deco that is better to me than the original version, and thus is enough to make me buy it

Re: New image of MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus & comparisons to MP-28 Hot Rod (1904033)
Posted by Sabrblade on August 12th, 2017 @ 10:22pm CDT

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:
chuckdawg1999 wrote:Any idea if Firebolt will be able to attach at the wrist like Artfire?

Not without any alterations to either Firebolt or Hot Rodimus. Which is just as well, as they never did that in the US cartoon, and Hot Rodimus never became a Targetmaster in Japan.

I even expect this figure's bio to reflect the events of "The Rebirth", even if it's just an alternate timeline in Japan.

Re: New image of MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus & comparisons to MP-28 Hot Rod (1924913)
Posted by Qwan on December 4th, 2017 @ 2:18am CST

From his appearance at Tokyo Comic Con (which took place from December 1st to 3rd) and via Twitter users @7777_diver and @MASABON2011, we have a couple more images to share of Takara Tomy's upcoming Masterpiece MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus! The figure, shown off next to other Masterpiece figures including the recently-released and upcoming MP-12+ Sideswipe and MP-39 Sunstreaker respectively, sports the same deco seen in previously-released images.

The first photo appears to depict his colors as skewing closer to the last release of the mold rather than the darker maroon that MP-40 has been previously shown to be, but it's almost certainly just the lighting or contrast in that one image, as the second photo seems to show the more commonly advertised colors from this release. If you were wondering how MP-40's deco is expected to stack up against the previous version, MP-28, check out the comparison images from August this year!

Check out the images of the figure below, and take in all its glory in two surprisingly different sets of lighting! Seeing these images, do you have any more thoughts on how MP-40 stacks up against MP-28, or just how it stands as a toy on its own? Let us know in the Energon Pub!

Re: New image of MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus & comparisons to MP-28 Hot Rod (1924936)
Posted by Hydrargyrus on December 4th, 2017 @ 8:26am CST

So... this guy is like the ‘Animation Error’ edition? (+Targetmaster)

Re: New image of MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus & comparisons to MP-28 Hot Rod (1924941)
Posted by Randomhero on December 4th, 2017 @ 9:17am CST

MagicDeath wrote:So... this guy is like the ‘Animation Error’ edition? (+Targetmaster)

Yes. He’s based completely off the AKOM animation from Rebirth...something that was never released in Japan. Even down to the windshield crotch.

It’s honeatly kind of amazing.

Re: New image of MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus & comparisons to MP-28 Hot Rod (1924945)
Posted by Sabrblade on December 4th, 2017 @ 9:34am CST

Randomhero wrote:
MagicDeath wrote:So... this guy is like the ‘Animation Error’ edition? (+Targetmaster)

Yes. He’s based completely off the AKOM animation from Rebirth...something that was never released in Japan.

Yeah it was. On Laserdisc, DVD, and soon on Blu-Ray.

Re: New image of MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus & comparisons to MP-28 Hot Rod (1924989)
Posted by Jelze Bunnycat on December 4th, 2017 @ 2:20pm CST

Sabrblade wrote:
Randomhero wrote:
MagicDeath wrote:So... this guy is like the ‘Animation Error’ edition? (+Targetmaster)

Yes. He’s based completely off the AKOM animation from Rebirth...something that was never released in Japan.
Yeah it was. On Laserdisc, DVD, and soon on Blu-Ray.

It's worth mentioning that the Japanese dub of The Rebirth uses the US names for most characters, not the pre-established Japanese ones. In this case, Hot Rodimus was simply called Hot Rod (ホットロッド Hotto Roddo), something not reflected in the MP if I may add.

Re: New image of MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus & comparisons to MP-28 Hot Rod (1925207)
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on December 5th, 2017 @ 10:03am CST

Still can't wait for this dude. Targetmaster MP's for the win!

Re: New image of MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus & comparisons to MP-28 Hot Rod (1938176)
Posted by Va'al on February 13th, 2018 @ 4:15am CST

We have, after a long stint of radio silence, a new image of the latest offering from the Takara Tomy Transformers Masterpiece line: the Targetmaster version of Hot Rodimus, relabelled as MP-40! The image, mirrored below from the Singaporean fan group on Facebook Planet Iacon, only really shows the box for the figure, with the Long Life Design Award label and very minor shots of the Targetmaster itself, only in weapon mode on the stock photography. You can take a closer look in one of our previous articles covering the set, here, and join the conversation in the Energon Pub!

Re: New image of MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus & comparisons to MP-28 Hot Rod (1938244)
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on February 13th, 2018 @ 10:35am CST

Can't wait Can't wait Can't wait!

He should be coming in a few weeks, I'm hyped.

Re: New image of MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus & comparisons to MP-28 Hot Rod (1938380)
Posted by Acesmcgee on February 13th, 2018 @ 4:44pm CST

I loved this Hot Rod mold, but I may pick this up only if I find it on sale at some point. The rebirth color scheme is interesting for a talking point. Actually, you know what, I may pick this up as a gift for a friend who always threatens to steal my Hot Rod.

Re: New image of MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus & comparisons to MP-28 Hot Rod (1938836)
Posted by Va'al on February 15th, 2018 @ 4:19am CST

https://www.facebook.com/Planetiacon.st ... =3&theater

Re: New image of MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus & comparisons to MP-28 Hot Rod (1941483)
Posted by Va'al on February 22nd, 2018 @ 11:38am CST

Courtesy of site sponsor RobotKingdom, we have some new images of the Takara Tomy Transformers Masterpiece release of MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus, and specifically of the collector coin that will accompany the Hasbro Asia (outside of Japan) releases of the new offering in the line.

You can find the image of the coin in its carded sleeve below, with the latter sporting the iconic Hot Rod chest / car hood flames, and the coin itself showing the Targetmaster name under Rodimus' face. Check it out, alongside some tiny robot Firebolt images too, which was first seen with the MP-9 version of the character!

Re: New image of MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus & comparisons to MP-28 Hot Rod (1941724)
Posted by Cyberpath on February 23rd, 2018 @ 4:52am CST

In-hand pix..

- - - From げんもん Photo Vault - - -

- - - From @Alfes2010 - - -

Re: New image of MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus & comparisons to MP-28 Hot Rod (1941834)
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on February 23rd, 2018 @ 12:04pm CST

Thanks to a heads up from our resident Takara expert Cyberpath, we now have some new in-hand images of the new Masterpiece MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus with Firebolt! The new masterpiece figure is a redeco of the original MP-28 mold, with fewer accessories and the added inclusion of his Targetmaster Firebolt, which itself is a redeco of the Hasbro exclusive masterpiece that came with Hasbro's Rodimus Prime. The new paint work is also based on the Generation 1 3-part episode "The Rebirth."

Check out all the new in hand images, courtesy of げんもん Photo Vault and アルフェス2010：ひげひげ休止. Let us know what you think of this Msaterpiece in the comments section below!

Re: New image of MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus & comparisons to MP-28 Hot Rod (1942042)
Posted by chuckdawg1999 on February 24th, 2018 @ 2:09am CST

I'll have mine Monday. Can't wait to fiddle with the Targetmaster

Re: New image of MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus & comparisons to MP-28 Hot Rod (1942044)
Posted by Cyberpath on February 24th, 2018 @ 2:37am CST

Comparison pic --

Source: @Kazumasa_yskn

Re: New image of MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus & comparisons to MP-28 Hot Rod (1942054)
Posted by Va'al on February 24th, 2018 @ 4:22am CST

Thanks to a tip from fellow Seibertronian Cyberpath, we have a couple more in-hand images of Takara Tomy's latest figure in the Transformers Masterpiece line compared to a previous iteration of the same character (and mold, really): MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus with Targetmaster Firebolt, joined my MP-28 Hot Rodimus.

This set below, via Japanese toy bloggers Alfes2010 and Kazumasa_yskn, is to be enjoyed accompanied by the previous batch of images reported on here! You can see there are a couple of differences, especially the darker hue of the latest version of the character - but are they enough to make you double dip, or were you waiting for this version anyway? Let us know in the Energon Pub discussion boards!

Re: New image of MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus & comparisons to MP-28 Hot Rod (1942056)
Posted by DMSL on February 24th, 2018 @ 4:40am CST

Looks nice, but i already have the first one so i will pass on this. I hope they fixed the clearance issue in carmode. Having a carmode that can't roll is a little silly.

Re: New image of MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus & comparisons to MP-28 Hot Rod (1942139)
Posted by chuckdawg1999 on February 24th, 2018 @ 1:54pm CST

It looks like from these pics Roddy can hold Firebolt fine. Unless they changed the mold from the US MP09 release

Re: New image of MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus & comparisons to MP-28 Hot Rod (1942149)
Posted by dragons on February 24th, 2018 @ 2:55pm CST

Something always wanted to know since Takara made hotrod master piece figure solo will they release new rodimus figure solo ?

Re: New image of MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus & comparisons to MP-28 Hot Rod (1942171)
Posted by Rodimus Prime on February 24th, 2018 @ 4:42pm CST

My only complaint about the TM version is the white on the crotch piece. If it was orange or burgundy like the rest of it, it would be fine. Otherwise, MP-40 looks better than MP-28 color scheme wise.

Re: New image of MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus & comparisons to MP-28 Hot Rod (1942210)
Posted by Ultra Markus on February 24th, 2018 @ 6:48pm CST

its a bit funny that takara that has this target master Hotrod when Hotrod was never a targetmaster in the japanese only Headmasters show only ended up being Rodimus Prime again
but still a nice rendition though ;)^

Re: New image of MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus & comparisons to MP-28 Hot Rod (1942225)
Posted by bvzxa on February 24th, 2018 @ 7:43pm CST

chuckdawg1999 wrote:It looks like from these pics Roddy can hold Firebolt fine. Unless they changed the mold from the US MP09 release

MP-9 is the old style of the mold. He is waay larger than MP-28/MP-40

Re: New image of MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus & comparisons to MP-28 Hot Rod (1942231)
Posted by Rodimus Prime on February 24th, 2018 @ 8:53pm CST

bvzxa wrote:
chuckdawg1999 wrote:It looks like from these pics Roddy can hold Firebolt fine. Unless they changed the mold from the US MP09 release

MP-9 is the old style of the mold. He is waay larger than MP-28/MP-40

I think chuck was talking about the Targetmaster. Looks like he's just a repaint of Offshoot from the TRU MP Rodimus Prime release.

Re: New image of MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus & comparisons to MP-28 Hot Rod (1942232)
Posted by Jelze Bunnycat on February 24th, 2018 @ 9:00pm CST

bvzxa wrote:
chuckdawg1999 wrote:It looks like from these pics Roddy can hold Firebolt fine. Unless they changed the mold from the US MP09 release

MP-9 is the old style of the mold. He is waay larger than MP-28/MP-40

He meant Firebolt, which was originally a Hasbro add-on for their release of MP-9, sans trailer:

Transformers Masterpiece Offshoot Gallery

And from the looks of it, his grip has been retooled:

That's the original, don't want to hot link anything from Alfes.

Re: New image of MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus & comparisons to MP-28 Hot Rod (1942253)
Posted by Sabrblade on February 24th, 2018 @ 10:29pm CST

Rodimus Prime wrote:My only complaint about the TM version is the white on the crotch piece. If it was orange or burgundy like the rest of it, it would be fine. Otherwise, MP-40 looks better than MP-28 color scheme wise.

We have AKOM to thank for that, with their tendency to misinterpret Hot Rod's crotch piece as being his car mode's windshield:

Re: New image of MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus & comparisons to MP-28 Hot Rod (1942305)
Posted by Carnivius_Prime on February 25th, 2018 @ 2:15am CST

Still looks pretty poor. Not keen on the burgundy colour (that should be solely for Rodimus Prime, not his Hot Rod persona) and that highlight attempt on the legs just doesn't work.

If only we could buy the Targetmasters seperately. They're so much better at looking like decent guns that the crummy mis-use of the Pretenders in PotP.

Re: New image of MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus & comparisons to MP-28 Hot Rod (1942327)
Posted by Cyberpath on February 25th, 2018 @ 6:15am CST

Sabrblade wrote:
Rodimus Prime wrote:My only complaint about the TM version is the white on the crotch piece. If it was orange or burgundy like the rest of it, it would be fine. Otherwise, MP-40 looks better than MP-28 color scheme wise.
We have AKOM to thank for that, with their tendency to misinterpret Hot Rod's crotch piece as being his car mode's windshield:

I don't think that AKOM misinterpreted Hot Rod's pelvis though, they were just working off the colour guides that Sunbow had supplied them (usually outdated ones compared to TOEI, and to the other studio in season 2.) I don't think that AKOM came up with their own decos. Perhaps this implies that at some point in the design-process Hot Rod's windshield area transformed into his pelvis.

Preliminary Rodimus Prime model cel.

The "unknown studio" received even older models for some of the characters in season 3 (Starscream's Ghost; Only Human.)

Re: New image of MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus & comparisons to MP-28 Hot Rod (1942443)
Posted by Solrac333 on February 25th, 2018 @ 6:49pm CST

I like the colors on the new one a LOT more than the original. Since I already have the first one, I will not double dip anymore. I had to do that with Quakewave and Transistor.

Re: New image of MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus & comparisons to MP-28 Hot Rod (1942656)
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on February 26th, 2018 @ 4:40pm CST

Love Love Loving this!

Re: New image of MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus & comparisons to MP-28 Hot Rod (1942996)
Posted by Va'al on February 28th, 2018 @ 1:06am CST

Fellow Seibertronian chuckdawg1999, speedy as ever, has shared with us a new video review, this time focusing on the latest release in the Takara Tomy Transformers Masterpiece line - that is to say, MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus with Firebolt!

The figure is shown next to the previous version of the mold, MP-28 Hot Rodimus, to get a better idea of the new deco, other differences, and in both robot and vehicle mode, along with the different accessories, Targetmaster included. You can check out the video embedded below, and join the discussion in the Energon Pub!

Targetmaster Hot Rodimus is a strange figure, based on its appearance in The Rebirth mini-series that ended the G1 cartoon in the US. Most fans consider the color pallet used a mistake but I quite like it as it differentiates pre and post Rodimus Prime Hot Rod. While I can't say it's a definite purchase, the inclusion of Firebolt from the Hasbro US release MP-09, makes this figure worth a look.

Re: New image of MP-40 Targetmaster Hot Rodimus & comparisons to MP-28 Hot Rod (1943320)
Posted by ScottyP on March 2nd, 2018 @ 5:56am CST

So with this out I was reminded of something about the mold when I needed to use the instructions to reference a small point. Namely, if you follow the included instructions verbatim, you're going to have a tougher time than you should transforming the backpack. Instead of having no fun at all, I've prepared a tutorial on an alternate transformation sequence that is much easier and importantly, more fun. I put this up on Twitter last night and figured I should mirror the content here for the enjoyment of those not on one of the machines leading to society's downfall.

Let's do this!

Text of what to do is right below the corresponding image. This one's just saying hey, here's the robot guy! He says to follow your instructions for the part where you start with the car until the point a bit after you've folded out the hands.

You're going to get to a step that looks like this. This is where you should throw your instructions in the trash! Ok don't do that, you'll need them later.

The first thing you should do here is reverse that decision it had you make to fold down the collar pieces. Trust me here, do this (unless you have tiny hands, and I mean teeny tiny. Because I have tiny hands.)

Now undo the two halves of the car roof on that pivot joint. Note the small hole on the front half towards the rear of the windshield. We're about to use that hole.

Leave the shoulders alone! Remember, we're ignoring Takara's instructions. Go ahead and plug in the back of the neck to the windshield. You may have to wiggle some stuff near the waist to get it aligned right. Also, this is where you'll find out if you transformed his head correctly. Hope you did, I'm not covering that.

Now for the reason this is actually better! This is where you plug the shoulders in to the side of the windshield. Note the backpack out of the way. You'll have clearance to get your fingers in there to secure a tight fit. I know what I said. You took it there, not me. ;)^

Once both shoulder panels are clipped into the sides of the window, you can put the collar pieces back down.

If you stare really hard you'll notice this photo skips ahead a touch. That's because I originally didn't push the collar pieces down far enough and took a picture later on which I cropped instead of undoing things. Regardless, push them down as far as they need to. They'll go, but be careful. You shouldn't have to push too hard.

Now start assembling the backpack. I think you see what to do here, but refer to the instructions for the details of this if needed.

Now fold the pivot joint down through the vertical clearance. If you're keeping score, the instructions have you do this well before now. Bad instructions, bad!

Almost done here. Aim for these two posts in his tramp stamp region. It's a technical term. Yep.

Kapowee! You just sold a car.

Not really but now you can go back to your official instruction manual for the legs. Hope that helps you have more fun with Transformers