New Image of Takara Tomy Transformers Masterpiece MP-13B Soundblaster with Ratbat

Can't wait for Ratbat and his Soundwave repaint accessory!!

They both look really good. Like, really really good.

That Soundblaster is beautiful. Can't wait for Ratbat!

So unlike G1 Soundblaster, who was more than a recolor of G1 Soundwave, MP Soundblaster is just a recolor of MP Soundwave, right?

Joetx wrote:So unlike G1 Soundblaster, who was more than a recolor of G1 Soundwave, MP Soundblaster is just a recolor of MP Soundwave, right?

No, his chest door has been altered to jut out more, like the G1 toy.

Sabrblade wrote:

Joetx wrote:So unlike G1 Soundblaster, who was more than a recolor of G1 Soundwave, MP Soundblaster is just a recolor of MP Soundwave, right?

No, his chest door has been altered to jut out more, like the G1 toy.

I didn't realize that - well played, Takara. That's a really nice touch.

Sabrblade wrote:

Joetx wrote:So unlike G1 Soundblaster, who was more than a recolor of G1 Soundwave, MP Soundblaster is just a recolor of MP Soundwave, right?

No, his chest door has been altered to jut out more, like the G1 toy.

Does that mean he's able to carry 1 more cassette than MP Soundwave?

Joetx wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

Joetx wrote:So unlike G1 Soundblaster, who was more than a recolor of G1 Soundwave, MP Soundblaster is just a recolor of MP Soundwave, right?

No, his chest door has been altered to jut out more, like the G1 toy.

Does that mean he's able to carry 1 more cassette than MP Soundwave?

Probably not. The door's just probably thicker.

Though, between Soundwave and Soundblaster, both them together would be able to fully store all six cassettes at once, with each of them containing three.

Shouldn't the title say MP-13B Soundblaster?

On the extended cassette door: It seems pretty stupid to replicate a corny G1 toy gimmick on a figure thats supposed to be shooting for cartoon accuracy. Im still torn on buying this just to get a classics ratbat. I hope the KO guys do their magic.

Rated X wrote:On the extended cassette door: It seems pretty stupid to replicate a corny G1 toy gimmick on a figure thats supposed to be shooting for cartoon accuracy.

The extended door is cartoon-accurate. It's just difficult to see in The Headmasters cartoon since his torso is mostly black and the change is really subtle.

Here's Soundwave's character model.



And here is Soundblaster's.

I was never a strong fan of the SoundBlaster because the color variance is not that strong compared to Soundwave. Ratbat is the only toy I want.

Freakin sick. If I collected this sorta scale, I would be all over this. Looks so deliciously evil, especially paired with Ratbat.

Eventually there will be a way to get MP Ratbat on his own or part of a later set. I eagerly await that time.

Sabrblade wrote:

Joetx wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

Joetx wrote:So unlike G1 Soundblaster, who was more than a recolor of G1 Soundwave, MP Soundblaster is just a recolor of MP Soundwave, right?

No, his chest door has been altered to jut out more, like the G1 toy.

Does that mean he's able to carry 1 more cassette than MP Soundwave?

Probably not. The door's just probably thicker.

Though, between Soundwave and Soundblaster, both them together would be able to fully store all six cassettes at once, with each of them containing three.

I'm not trying to be a demanding fan, I swear!

What I am doing is trying to see whether I can justify spending the money when I already have the TRU release of MP Soundwave & Co., & all I really want is Ratbat.

They both look super rad!!

They both look super rad!!

Hasui: "The chest expansion panel of MP-13B Sound Blaster is removable. The the inner chest panel is toy-accurate clear red."

Takara Tomy Masterpiece designer Shogo Hasui has tweeted an image demonstrating MP-14B Soundblaster's optional snap on purple chest piece. The figure comes with a base red chest window for toy accuracy, plus the aforementioned purple chest expansion piece for animation accuracy. The set also includes the brand new Masterpiece Ratbat figure. The figure should be out later this month.

Ah ha! So that's how it pulls off the two different colored chests.

And the attachment is reminiscent of both the MP Soundwave version that came with that attachable grid window, as well as being accurate to both the original toy and cartoon model that each had an extended chest window.

Can't believe it never occurred to me before that this is how they'd pull it off. A little disappointed that there's no Decepticon insignia if you go with the red chest... unless there's a sticker

This is one time I'll hope for a KO production. I want Ratbat but I'm not going to spend another $130.00 for one.

I really want Ratbat so I'm just going to slap a symbol on the red door and call it my G2 Soundwave. Sideswipe needs someone to gnash his teeth at!

Mkall wrote:Eventually there will be a way to get MP Ratbat on his own or part of a later set. I eagerly await that time.

Yes, I am waiting for the purge, too.

Hasui posted this comparison photo of MP13B and G1 Ratbat, and added that the former is more cartoon accurate and transforms without extra parts (like MP Laserbeak.)

Takara designer Shogo Hasui keeps trickling visual information about the upcoming Masterpiece repaint figure MP-13B Soundblaster - and it's time to take a proper look at the cassette Ratbat! Check out the image below, a comparison of the original G1 cassette and the one included in the release.

Want that Ratbat soooo baaaad.

Ill never get the logic behind the MP scale. Soundwave doubles in size, but the cassettes stay the same and retain G1 toy scale ? Dumb as hell but it works for me since the cassettes scale perfect with classics. I really want that ratbat without having to buy another useless coffee table figure. KO guys please make it happen...

I 2nd the KO idea please ...not going to buy a repaint mold just for Ratbat . I already have 4 Masterpiece Soundwave (1 open and keeping the other three in box) .


~reluctantyouth~

Rated X wrote:Ill never get the logic behind the MP scale. Soundwave doubles in size, but the cassettes stay the same and retain G1 toy scale ? Dumb as hell but it works for me since the cassettes scale perfect with classics. I really want that ratbat without having to buy another useless coffee table figure. KO guys please make it happen...

really?.. you don't understand the logic behind the MP scale.. what is it that you don't understand?.. is it that they didn't want to make MP soundwaves chest gigantic, but rather keep it relatively in scale to itself?.. or that they wanted MP soundwave to obtain the ability to house the cassettes in his chest.. which, leads me back to my first point..

so.. again, which don't you understand?

not sure how it's "dumb as hell".. but hey, you can continue to believe it.

Rated X wrote:Ill never get the logic behind the MP scale. Soundwave doubles in size, but the cassettes stay the same and retain G1 toy scale ? Dumb as hell but it works for me since the cassettes scale perfect with classics. I really want that ratbat without having to buy another useless coffee table figure. KO guys please make it happen...

Isn't it obvious? It's for backtrack compatibility with the G1 Soundwave and Blaster toys. It's to give them an extra level of playability across both lines to let them each use each other's cassettes.

It's the same reason that the Ravage that came with Universe Hound was likewise scaled to fit inside G1 Soundwave's chest (though, specifically the remolded chest version, which Hasbro did release at TRU during Classics).

Not to mention that the G1 Soundwave chest was proportionately huge compared to the rest of his body. Guy looked liked billboard with limbs and a head. But keeping that chest door size scaled as it was and upscaling the rest of his body brings out a more reasonably proportioned bot, with proportions that not only look more natural but also match up with his cartoon model proportions. Otherwise, had G1 Soundwave been proportionally-correct from the beginning, either his G1 toy would have already been MP-sized (like G1 Blaster's toy was) or his chest door and cassettes would have been teeny-tiny.

I don't know how but there has to be a way to release rat bat without Soundblaster. Then again there might be more cassettes on the way so this might get a summertime us release.

chuckdawg1999 wrote:I don't know how but there has to be a way to release rat bat without Soundblaster. Then again there might be more cassettes on the way so this might get a summertime us release.

I highly doubt there will be a release of Ratbat by himself or in a 2-pack. Wingthing, on the other hand...

TimothyR wrote:

Rated X wrote:Ill never get the logic behind the MP scale. Soundwave doubles in size, but the cassettes stay the same and retain G1 toy scale ? Dumb as hell but it works for me since the cassettes scale perfect with classics. I really want that ratbat without having to buy another useless coffee table figure. KO guys please make it happen...

really?.. you don't understand the logic behind the MP scale.. what is it that you don't understand?.. is it that they didn't want to make MP soundwaves chest gigantic, but rather keep it relatively in scale to itself?.. or that they wanted MP soundwave to obtain the ability to house the cassettes in his chest.. which, leads me back to my first point..

so.. again, which don't you understand?

not sure how it's "dumb as hell".. but hey, you can continue to believe it.

I didn't think it took a rocket scientist to realize that by not enlarging the cassettes, cartoon scale was sacrificed for "playability". in my honest opinion, playability was for kids toys (hence G1 toy scale) If Takara chose the toy scale over the cartoon scale, they dropped the ball. The MP line was supposed to be cartoon accurate. Am I the only adult on here who just displays $150 figures rather than "playing" with them ? Either way it works for me because now the casettes are really classics scale which is what I collect. MP Soundwave hangs out in the vintage cabinet next to his G1 counterpart still waiting to be transformed for the first time. One of these days...

I don't know why people are against owning a Soundblaster. He displays nicely with Rodimus.
I'm going to display Rodimus fighting against Soundblaster and Sixshot(MMC's Hexatron) in a detolf.

Rated X wrote:I didn't think it took a rocket scientist to realize that by not enlarging the cassettes, cartoon scale was sacrificed for "playability". in my honest opinion, playability was for kids toys (hence G1 toy scale) If Takara chose the toy scale over the cartoon scale, they dropped the ball. The MP line was supposed to be cartoon accurate. Am I the only adult on here who just displays $150 figures rather than "playing" with them ? Either way it works for me because now the casettes are really classics scale which is what I collect. MP Soundwave hangs out in the vintage cabinet next to his G1 counterpart still waiting to be transformed for the first time. One of these days...

Okay, in the cartoon Rumble (yes, the blue one) was about the same size as Spike, maybe a little taller. Scaling him to Spike would have made Rumble about an inch and a half tall. But at the same time, they show him as nearly as tall as Hound. And Bumblebee is a full sized car that ends up maybe 7' tall in robot mode.

Then there's this:


And this:


And this:


But aside from all of the sliding scales and mass-shifting, there is a very practical reason for the cassettes to be that size:



Laserbeak has to be the right size to interact with Soundwave (and eventually Megatron). Like 80% of Laserbeak's purpose in the series is to show who is in command of the Decepticons. He's been on my Soundwave's arm pretty much since I got them and he's probably going to stay there until MP-30 Megatron comes out.

zodconvoy wrote:...and he's probably going to stay there until MP-30 Megatron comes out.

MP-30? Your realistic expectations makes me sad.

megatronus wrote:

zodconvoy wrote:...and he's probably going to stay there until MP-30 Megatron comes out.

MP-30? Your realistic expectations makes me sad.

It was originally MP-50 but that made me too sad to post it!

zodconvoy wrote:A whole buncha truth about the cartoon's "scale"

Agreed, man... the scale of the cassettes never bothered me, as in the show there was never a consistent size to them in the first place, except Laserbeak's shoulder/arm perching. the MP Laserbeak fits that scale perfectly, and the other cassettes scale with him so they all have the same sized cassette mode. Makes completely logical sense to me.

I didn't realize the MP Cassettes were the same size as the G1 Cassettes. This changes things for me, at least. I actually like Soundblaster's colors better than Soundwave, so I was gonna buy him for Ratbat, and just use him as my Soundwave. But now that I know the cassettes are the same size, I might pass or just wait a while until he is cheaper. I'm contemplating picking up a complete G1 Ratbat instead, it would still be a lot cheaper than the MP, even if it doesn't look as good or it isn't as accurate.

gona get it!

zodconvoy wrote:

megatronus wrote:

zodconvoy wrote:...and he's probably going to stay there until MP-30 Megatron comes out.

MP-30? Your realistic expectations makes me sad.

It was originally MP-50 but that made me too sad to post it!

Guys, guys, guys, we're getting a little hopeful, here.

It's totally MP-100.

Mindmaster wrote:

zodconvoy wrote:

megatronus wrote:

zodconvoy wrote:...and he's probably going to stay there until MP-30 Megatron comes out.

MP-30? Your realistic expectations makes me sad.

It was originally MP-50 but that made me too sad to post it!

Guys, guys, guys, we're getting a little hopeful, here.

It's totally MP-100.

I'll be really happy if this line makes it to MP-100. think about that's 100 MPs!!!

Mindmaster wrote:

zodconvoy wrote:

megatronus wrote:

zodconvoy wrote:...and he's probably going to stay there until MP-30 Megatron comes out.

MP-30? Your realistic expectations makes me sad.

It was originally MP-50 but that made me too sad to post it!

Guys, guys, guys, we're getting a little hopeful, here.

It's totally MP-100.

And Unicron will be MP-666

Sabrblade wrote:

Mindmaster wrote:

zodconvoy wrote:

megatronus wrote:

zodconvoy wrote:...and he's probably going to stay there until MP-30 Megatron comes out.

MP-30? Your realistic expectations makes me sad.

It was originally MP-50 but that made me too sad to post it!

Guys, guys, guys, we're getting a little hopeful, here.

It's totally MP-100.

And Unicron will be MP-666

That was pretty clever. Ten internetz to you!

megatronus wrote:

chuckdawg1999 wrote:I don't know how but there has to be a way to release rat bat without Soundblaster. Then again there might be more cassettes on the way so this might get a summertime us release.

I highly doubt there will be a release of Ratbat by himself or in a 2-pack. Wingthing, on the other hand...

i think if theres another (takara) two pack MP cassette set released, itll be overkill and slugfest.

i dont see what the gripe over this set is. they are clearly trying to get as much as they can out of every MP mold they design. and soundwave only has two uses. and it makes sense that they would add some incentive to rebuy the mold (ratbat). id say the purple window is just too similar to soundwave, but with the red window he look awesome!

so:
-sweet looking repaint
-awesome mold to begin with
-new tape

that equals a buy to me!

I got the MP-13B now!!

http://www.hk-tf.com/discuz/upload/view ... a=page%3D1

New Seibertron.com member and user of the HK-TF boards hinesika was able to purchase a Takara Transformers Masterpiece MP-13B Soundblaster with Ratbat, and took some photos for everyone to see! Check out the in-hand images of the black repaint of MP-13 Soundwave below with its purple cassetticon bat, view more here, and leave your thoughts in the Energon Pub.

SoundBlaster is going to be a pass unless the price comes down. Just too much money for me to justify.

shajaki wrote:i dont see what the gripe over this set is. they are clearly trying to get as much as they can out of every MP mold they design. and soundwave only has two uses. and it makes sense that they would add some incentive to rebuy the mold (ratbat). id say the purple window is just too similar to soundwave, but with the red window he look awesome!

making most of the ratbat mold would mean catering to 3 categories of clients. Those that don't got soundwave, they can buy sb and ratbat and get the cassettes seperately. Those that got soundwave and won't be spending on sb, but most importantly once these 2 categories have been covered, ratbat mold has a much greater potential than SB. Namely that while SB is a niche toy at a very high price, ratbat can be sold with another cassette for $25. There are few MP's at that price and that makes them more appealing to a wider demographics. I don't think anycompany would miss out on that.