New images of Takara Masterpiece MP15 / 16-E Cassette set -- Nightstalker, Wingthing, Stripes & Enemy

Did you guys know that MP Enemy was almost a part of the BotCon 2015 boxed set?

Sabrblade wrote:Did you guys know that MP Enemy was almost a part of the BotCon 2015 boxed set?

Wasn't that 2017, as a redeco of TR Rumble?

Random thoughts:

* Wow, that Steeljaw mold winds up being tiny in lion mode
* Is Wingthing transforming into a tape instead of a cannon the thing now? That seems pretty backwards and dull.
* It's pretty weird to me that Stripes is apparently higher in the Ravage repaint hierarchy than Howlback and/or Glit

Kurona wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:Did you guys know that MP Enemy was almost a part of the BotCon 2015 boxed set?

Wasn't that 2017, as a redeco of TR Rumble?

Not what I was referring to.

https://www.seibertron.com/energonpub/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=108762&start=125#p1896072

Diem wrote:Random thoughts:

* Wow, that Steeljaw mold winds up being tiny in lion mode
* Is Wingthing transforming into a tape instead of a cannon the thing now? That seems pretty backwards and dull.
* It's pretty weird to me that Stripes is apparently higher in the Ravage repaint hierarchy than Howlback and/or Glit

These four are MP versions of the four Encore-exclusive cassettes who came with Encore Twincast and Encore Soundblaster.

Sabrblade wrote:

Diem wrote:Random thoughts:

* Wow, that Steeljaw mold winds up being tiny in lion mode
* Is Wingthing transforming into a tape instead of a cannon the thing now? That seems pretty backwards and dull.
* It's pretty weird to me that Stripes is apparently higher in the Ravage repaint hierarchy than Howlback and/or Glit

These four are MP versions of the four Encore-exclusive cassettes who came with Encore Twincast and Encore Soundblaster.

Right, but that set was very much a well-we-pretty-much-ran-out-of-characters-for-the-G1-molds-to-be session, which feels more like desperation when backed into a corner than anything to aspire to (with Enemy getting a sullen pass). With regards to the relatively unspoiled MP molds there are surely some D-listers (Cobalt Sentries, Kiss Players Position) that rank ahead of these incredible Z-listers.

Diem wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

Diem wrote:Random thoughts:

* Wow, that Steeljaw mold winds up being tiny in lion mode
* Is Wingthing transforming into a tape instead of a cannon the thing now? That seems pretty backwards and dull.
* It's pretty weird to me that Stripes is apparently higher in the Ravage repaint hierarchy than Howlback and/or Glit

These four are MP versions of the four Encore-exclusive cassettes who came with Encore Twincast and Encore Soundblaster.

Right, but that set was very much a well-we-pretty-much-ran-out-of-characters-for-the-G1-molds-to-be session, which feels more like desperation when backed into a corner than anything to aspire to (with Enemy getting a sullen pass). With regards to the relatively unspoiled MP molds there are surely some D-listers (Cobalt Sentries, Kiss Players Position) that rank ahead of these incredible Z-listers.

Much as I would dearly love to get a Howlback, I think they more or less decided to do this specific group right now because they saw they had a new Steeljaw mold coming up to accompany Blaster. And... gotta say, credit where its due; previewing a partner mold like this without actually announcing its intended use or partner yet is not a terrible marketing strategy. Gets people excited.

Diem wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

Diem wrote:Random thoughts:
* Wow, that Steeljaw mold winds up being tiny in lion mode
* Is Wingthing transforming into a tape instead of a cannon the thing now? That seems pretty backwards and dull.
* It's pretty weird to me that Stripes is apparently higher in the Ravage repaint hierarchy than Howlback and/or Glit

These four are MP versions of the four Encore-exclusive cassettes who came with Encore Twincast and Encore Soundblaster.

Right, but that set was very much a well-we-pretty-much-ran-out-of-characters-for-the-G1-molds-to-be session, which feels more like desperation when backed into a corner than anything to aspire to (with Enemy getting a sullen pass). With regards to the relatively unspoiled MP molds there are surely some D-listers (Cobalt Sentries, Kiss Players Position) that rank ahead of these incredible Z-listers.

I really don't understand this complaint. Aren't they ALL z-listers? I don't see them as being any more or less interesting than the other sets you listed.

I don't really get these complaints. Sure, I'd love those other cassettes, but these are fine too. They're Masterpiece versions of those Encore cassettes, and that is cool! I never thought we'd see them again. Once Blaster is released, I'm expecting a ton more cassette packs, new and old molds alike, including those other ones you guys want. Just gotta be patient.

Yeah, these guys are technically extraordinarily minor characters. However, they, by now, have a nostalgic air about them, whether or not their first release made sense. I think that's the case; correct me if I'm wrong.

I guess in the sense that anything can be nostalgic, but... I dunno.

I think we as a collective on this website can get into a bubble sometimes since we're all pretty hardcore fans -- maybe we haven't memorised every obscure Manga off by heart or even watched every mainstream cartoon, but in general we know a hell of a lot more about Transformers than the average person off the street. If we get news about a new Titan Master release based on Shuffler, the Japan-exclusive Autobot Master Warrior that was never in any fiction ever; we immediately know who that guy is. We're much more knowledgable on the franchise than your average fan -- I'm not meaning this as an insult or judgement or jab or whatever at either side of the fandom; simply as an empirical fact.

So when something like this comes around, we sort it into a category of slightly more well-known or slightly more nostalgic or slightly more obscure than another set of E-hobby exclusive cassette repaints, when really... we're in a very small fandom minority that actually knows who any of these are. Maybe these guys are J-listers while Howlback and Garboil are H-listers; but what does that matter when most of the fandom and hence the larger consumer base expected to buy this only really know their As, Bs and on occasion Cs? All of them are obscure, no matter which way you put it. No-one knows any of them.

I noticed Stripes is actually modified from the Ravage mould to give him the different hip weapons, meaning that if we get Steeljaw, they would likely remould Nightstalker to give him little wings like the G1 toy. Quite an effort really, since it affects transformation.

You are all focusing too much on the "why". I say, "why not?" It's nothing more than a specialty set, as such naturally an exclusive to TakaraTomy Mall. Once Broadcast and Twincast are released, we can expect the "proper" Cassettes to be released, as general Japanese retail.

Allow me to clarify: I absolutely love that they are doing this, whether I buy them or not.
I also meant that when we see Frenzy and Rumble, we want another one to be 'Enemy'- for reasons that must boil down to some form of ...nostalgia? Poor wording on my part.
I mean, when you think about it, there really is not much difference between an obscure character and a popular one.

More cassettecons makes for an excited Grim. Especially since I don't have MP Ratbat!

I think Wingthing is probably the most exciting thing in the set aside from Nightstalker since he's the only Cassette mold not previously sold without a much larger MP partner. Aside from like, in that one TFCC set.

As much as I'm enjoying the semantics discussion, I'm pretty much stoked for the eventual Blaster/Broadcast release.

I really want a Leader-sized Twincast.

It's very difficult to explain why and I don't think I fully understand why myself. I just... really want one. If it doesn't happen as a result of a TR boxset, then by god will I love seeing the sales on the not-MP Twincasts and Blasters from KFC and whatnot once the official figure drops. What do we call that effect? The Inferno effect or the Laserwave effect?

Kurona wrote:I really want a Leader-sized Twincast.

It's very difficult to explain why and I don't think I fully understand why myself. I just... really want one. If it doesn't happen as a result of a TR boxset, then by god will I love seeing the sales on the not-MP Twincasts and Blasters from KFC and whatnot once the official figure drops. What do we call that effect? The Inferno effect or the Laserwave effect?

Whichever came first? Then again, even though G1 Thunderwing came first, the effect of the price of an older figure sky-rocketing due to major fictional appearance was named after the later G1 Bludgeon.

Wow. These MP tapes look great. I would love MP Enemy and MP Wingthing to go with my MP Soundblaster, but that price tag is insane. I know this may not be a popular opinion among purists, but I'll wait for the KO versions.

We haven't heard or seen much since July, but it looks like the Takara Tomy Transformers Masterpiece exclusive Cassettebots and Cassettetrons - containing Nightstalker, Wingthing, Stripes and Enemy, which are repaints of the yet-to-be-released-new-mold Steeljaw, plus Ratbat, Ravage and Rumble/Frenzy Masterpiece molds respectively - is finally making its way into collectors' hands.

Courtesy of Twitter user sig_yan, we have a couple of shots of the full set for MP-15/16-E, in box, and of Nightstalker specifically as the new mold in the lot. You can check them out below, and head here for more information directly on the TakaraTomyMall listing!

EFFING

FINALLY

Every time I look at my TFSource stack I wonder why we haven't gotten an update on this. I guess when when the orders end there's really no point in promoting it anymore. Apparently today is the release date.

Remember when everyone thought we'd be getting a Blaster announcement soon after this was announced? Yeah, maybe next year.

Emerje

Emerje wrote:Every time I look at my TFSource stack I wonder why we haven't gotten an update on this. I guess when when the orders end there's really no point in promoting it anymore. Apparently today is the release date.

Remember when everyone thought we'd be getting a Blaster announcement soon after this was announced? Yeah, maybe next year.

Emerje

At the earliest, since he'll have to come after Dinobot (July). Not exactly a busy MP schedule for next year so far, with just 2 releases in 7 months, 1 of which is an original mold.

They look nice but the Ravage and Steeljaw molds aren't what I call Masterpieces when you can't open or close their mouths.

You may remember a story we mentioned on Saturday, December 23rd about the Transformers Masterpiece MP-15 / 16-E Cassettebot vs Cassettetron TakaraTomyMall Exclusive sets making their way into collector's hands. They are figures of Nightstalker, Wingthing, Stripes and Enemy which are repaints and new molds of Steeljaw, Ratbat, Ravage and Rumble/Frenzy. We finally have more images of that taking place from various fans across Twitter who have gotten their items! Some folks are warning of fragility problems with some of them, so it might be best to handle your own sets carefully as well when you receive them.

Akahukutoormion:




KamenRiderSCK:




N_to_O:




X_hara:


WjvzXItK6Y7dacj


pcwr_Etchy


Alfes2010

The Soundwave family just keeps getting bigger and bigger.

I Really need an MP ratbat..

They should do the KISS player cassettes and the blue ravage and laserbeak.

Rated X wrote:They should do the KISS player cassettes and the blue ravage and laserbeak.

They probably will eventually.

Rated X wrote:They should do the KISS player cassettes and the blue ravage and laserbeak.

When I first read "KISS," the imagine that popped into my mind immediately was of cassette bots and cons decoed to look like the members of KISS. Then, I remembered, to my horror, that "Kiss Players" was a thing Takara did.

frogbat wrote:I Really need an MP ratbat..

Add this to the "want list" section at the site and they might be able to find it for you:

- http://sirtoys.com/toys.php?c=21&p=1543 ... MP13b.html

Or get MP Soundblaster, WITH Ratbat:

- Masterpiece_Soundblaster_MP13B.html

Are these available anywhere for American consumption? :/

megatronus wrote:Are these available anywhere for American consumption? :/

Oh no, I wouldn't eat them, if I were you...

megatronus wrote:Are these available anywhere for American consumption? :/

Still on preorder here - http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/Product/VariationDetails/55569

Sabrblade wrote:

megatronus wrote:Are these available anywhere for American consumption? :/

Still on preorder here - http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/Product/VariationDetails/55569

Thanks for indulging my laziness

This is one of the Masterpiece sets I put in a pre-order for. I just don't remember who I ordered them through.

You might want to change your banner/signature there, mate. Photobucket is DEAD.

We have another update to our collection of images featuring Transformers Masterpiece MP-15 / 16-E Cassettebot vs Cassettetron TakaraTomyMall Exclusive sets which are now making their way into collector's hands, as we reported back here, courtesy of the Masterpiece Transformers Facebook page.

As the established tradition goes, Hasbro Asia (which services distribution and release in all Asian markets but Japan, which is under Takara Tomy) will be including a collector coin for the set including Nightstalker, Wingthing, Stripes and Enemy, featuring the latter's face on one side, and the name of all the group on the reverse. Check it out below!

Takara MP-15/16E Cassettbot Vs Cassettron by triKlops, on Flickr