Official Takara Tomy Images of TG-30 Waspinator, TG-31 Rhinox, MP-12G Lambor G2 Version, and MP-13B Soundblaster with Ratbat

It's official. I'm going for the Takara versions of Waspinator and Rhinox.

Though, the placements of the metallic paint on these two is inverse to what I was hoping for: Metallic green for both instead of the non-metallic green and the organic parts being metallic. Maybe I could get the Hasbro Waspinator and Frankenstein it with the Takara one to give the Takara one the Hasbro's yellow parts instead of gold, as well as the dark bug legs of the Hasbro version. But there's no fixing Rhinox since, even though it's not metallic, Takara Rhinox's green is more show-accurate than Hasbro Rhinox's green.

G2 Sideswipe: a good guy straped for war. Them nicely painted chrome guns and his mean looking face make G2 Sideswipe a great repaint. I'm so glad thay went with the red highlights. Takara saved me from dry plain looking mp-Bluestreak.

Va'al wrote:

Sideswipe's face remold/snarl is magnificent!

Speaking of this, and his other remolded parts, shouldn't he technically be his own MP number?

Red Alert got the lightbar and a new face plate, and gets a new MP number. G2 Sideswipe has brand new guns, what appears to be a new face, and spiked shoulder tires. As a figure with distinct features (i.e. he's not a straight repaint), MP-12G seems a tad disrespectful.

And you never want to be disrespectful to a bot with big guns

Even though these are more show accurate, i think ill go with hasbro since i have no real connection to beast wars. What i really want to see is the inevitable venom retool of the waspinator mold. We got the other 3 deluxe insecticons so now we need a venom. That mold would work.

Rated X wrote:Even though these are more show accurate, i think ill go with hasbro since i have no real connection to beast wars. What i really want to see is the inevitable venom retool of the waspinator mold. We got the other 3 deluxe insecticons so now we need a venom. That mold would work.

As 3rd party, officially we only got Chop Shop Venom's name is a misnomer btw as he's a Cicada, and they don't sting, let alone be venomous.

Ratbat is beautiful.

But why does he have to come with Soundblaster? I really don't want to have to buy the same unchanged mold again (yeah, I see the tape door protrudes a little bit on this one, but Soundwave can already hold three cassettes so this really doesn't change much).

Hasbro, gave us a Ratbat two pack. Or pack him with a Masterpiece Starscream from the MP-11 mold. I'd buy that (they were briefly together during the Undercase Saga).

The reverse metallic color layout on waspinator makes my wallet confused ._.

I'll defenitely try to get these! They look allright to me, but I still kind of wish for Waspinator to be more metallic.

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

Rated X wrote:Even though these are more show accurate, i think ill go with hasbro since i have no real connection to beast wars. What i really want to see is the inevitable venom retool of the waspinator mold. We got the other 3 deluxe insecticons so now we need a venom. That mold would work.

As 3rd party, officially we only got Chop Shop Venom's name is a misnomer btw as he's a Cicada, and they don't sting, let alone be venomous.

Wasn't there supposed to be an official Barrage ? The same small size as Chopshop as a legends gun ?

Ok, I like Takara's Wapinator a whole lot better than Hasbro's, but Hasbro did the better Rhinox. Dead Metal pretty much pointed out the problem with Takara's Rhinox.

Takara, if you want a metallic beast mode, wait for a figure that turns into a beetle.

Manterax Prime wrote:Ok, I like Takara's Wapinator a whole lot better than Hasbro's, but Hasbro did the better Rhinox.

Have we seen in-hand images of both, or is this based purely on the "official" (photoshopped) images?

So Masterpiece Ratbat is basically the same as the G1 version except the head and feet will be revealed when you open up the cassette like a flip wallet?

I just had a thought. Replace the gold with silver, and Hasbro's Rhinox can be Predacon Rhinox, while Takara's can be the Maximal one:

Rated X wrote:

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

Rated X wrote:Even though these are more show accurate, i think ill go with hasbro since i have no real connection to beast wars. What i really want to see is the inevitable venom retool of the waspinator mold. We got the other 3 deluxe insecticons so now we need a venom. That mold would work.

As 3rd party, officially we only got Chop Shop Venom's name is a misnomer btw as he's a Cicada, and they don't sting, let alone be venomous.

Wasn't there supposed to be an official Barrage ? The same small size as Chopshop as a legends gun ?

The only other insect one is Waspinator. *EDIT* We're also getting Shrapnel, with Reflector as the gun.

Any one else notice that SoundBlaster's chest is protruding out in some of the photos?

I might just cry because of how great that ratbat looks and how certain it is that I won't be able to afford getting soundblaster-heck, when I finally get soundwave that'll be a push on budget D:

Lambor is spectacular. Love that head sculpt. Wish I was an MP collector.

Not digging the two Beast Wars characters. The colours are too dark.

Well it's official I will remain broke at this rate! I now have to get Soundblaster and Sidewipe! Those just look great. Ratbat is killer!

megatronus wrote:

Va'al wrote:

Sideswipe's face remold/snarl is magnificent!

Speaking of this, and his other remolded parts, shouldn't he technically be his own MP number?

Red Alert got the lightbar and a new face plate, and gets a new MP number. G2 Sideswipe has brand new guns, what appears to be a new face, and spiked shoulder tires. As a figure with distinct features (i.e. he's not a straight repaint), MP-12G seems a tad disrespectful.

And you never want to be disrespectful to a bot with big guns

Honestly, I don't care if he's got his own number, I'm just happy we're getting him. I'm quite pleased I didn't pick up any of the earlier Lambo molds, it makes getting this guy a total no-brainer. XD

You think Tak will make a G2 Prime as well, with ugly beat up head, neck muscles and black trailer?

Surprised they haven't done G2 MP Starscream yet for that matter.

I want Soundblaster and Sideswipe, but the two Beast Wars figures look pretty awful with all the metallic paint. Who asked for Waspinator in his Transmetal colors!? Hasbro all the way on those two.

Emerje

Rotoraptor wrote:

megatronus wrote:

Va'al wrote:

Sideswipe's face remold/snarl is magnificent!

Speaking of this, and his other remolded parts, shouldn't he technically be his own MP number?

Red Alert got the lightbar and a new face plate, and gets a new MP number. G2 Sideswipe has brand new guns, what appears to be a new face, and spiked shoulder tires. As a figure with distinct features (i.e. he's not a straight repaint), MP-12G seems a tad disrespectful.

And you never want to be disrespectful to a bot with big guns

Honestly, I don't care if he's got his own number, I'm just happy we're getting him. I'm quite pleased I didn't pick up any of the earlier Lambo molds, it makes getting this guy a total no-brainer. XD

I'm super psyched about Sideswipe as well (not to mention Soundblaster), but I would like to know what logic there is to the numbering.

I guess since the should spike tires are removable, and he doesn't have the lightbar/shoulder remolds Red Alert has?

Whatever. Can't wait for him to get here.

megatronus wrote:

Va'al wrote:

Sideswipe's face remold/snarl is magnificent!

Speaking of this, and his other remolded parts, shouldn't he technically be his own MP number?

Red Alert got the lightbar and a new face plate, and gets a new MP number. G2 Sideswipe has brand new guns, what appears to be a new face, and spiked shoulder tires. As a figure with distinct features (i.e. he's not a straight repaint), MP-12G seems a tad disrespectful.

And you never want to be disrespectful to a bot with big guns

Mp-g2 Sideswipe getting his own mp number doesn't even sound rite. Amongst all of this great toy news going around and you are focused on a repaint getting their own mp number. And how is he going to get his own mp number when mp20 and mp 21 have already been announced.

EagleTron wrote:

megatronus wrote:

Va'al wrote:

Sideswipe's face remold/snarl is magnificent!

Speaking of this, and his other remolded parts, shouldn't he technically be his own MP number?

Red Alert got the lightbar and a new face plate, and gets a new MP number. G2 Sideswipe has brand new guns, what appears to be a new face, and spiked shoulder tires. As a figure with distinct features (i.e. he's not a straight repaint), MP-12G seems a tad disrespectful.

And you never want to be disrespectful to a bot with big guns

Mp-g2 Sideswipe getting his own mp number doesn't even sound rite. Amongst all of this great toy news going around and you are focused on a repaint getting their own mp number. And how is he going to get his own mp number when mp20 and mp 21 have already been announced.

Honestly, it's just a question. I'm curious.

Also, I fail to see how Wheeljack and 'Bee getting MP numbers would have any bearing on G2 Sideswipe.

What I'm wondering is if Soundblaster really won't have a translucent red chest/door so you can read the "weak spot sticker"(tech spec style) on the few G1 cassettes that have it.

Ratbat needs an individual release. Like, really, he does.

Liking the bling on Waspinator. However, Hasbro's release is more up in my alley, since I'm in it for show accuracy, and while they got Waspinator's green down, his yellow wasn't quite like that. Plus, gotta keep funds into consideration.

Call me Captain Obvious, but Rhinox's deco seems to be inspired by the original toy. So once again, Hasbro's got me on their hook.

megatronus wrote:

EagleTron wrote:

megatronus wrote:

Va'al wrote:

Sideswipe's face remold/snarl is magnificent!

Speaking of this, and his other remolded parts, shouldn't he technically be his own MP number?

Red Alert got the lightbar and a new face plate, and gets a new MP number. G2 Sideswipe has brand new guns, what appears to be a new face, and spiked shoulder tires. As a figure with distinct features (i.e. he's not a straight repaint), MP-12G seems a tad disrespectful.

And you never want to be disrespectful to a bot with big guns

Mp-g2 Sideswipe getting his own mp number doesn't even sound rite. Amongst all of this great toy news going around and you are focused on a repaint getting their own mp number. And how is he going to get his own mp number when mp20 and mp 21 have already been announced.

Honestly, it's just a question. I'm curious.

Also, I fail to see how Wheeljack and 'Bee getting MP numbers would have any bearing on G2 Sideswipe.

The numbers seem to be determined by character instead of mold/remold.

Super Megatron wrote:So Masterpiece Ratbat is basically the same as the G1 version except the head and feet will be revealed when you open up the cassette like a flip wallet?

Other than the wings, I think Ratbat is using a different transformation. Notice the gold on the cassette, which looks to be the jetpack incorporated in the cassette mode.

Sodan-1 wrote:Not digging the two Beast Wars characters. The colours are too dark.

Takara Rhinox's brown is lighter than Hasbro's:

megatronus wrote:I'm super psyched about Sideswipe as well (not to mention Soundblaster), but I would like to know what logic there is to the numbering.

If it's a new character who was in the original mainstream toyline, they get a new number.

If it's just a different version of the same character, or an e-HOBBY exclusive toy (new character or not), they keep their number but gain a letter.

Convoy wrote:What I'm wondering is if Soundblaster really won't have a translucent red chest/door so you can read the "weak spot sticker"(tech spec style) on the few G1 cassettes that have it.

Looks like it'll be a show-accurate purple chest door.




Which I just now realized was also raised in the cartoon like on the toy.

Mindmaster wrote:Liking the bling on Waspinator. However, Hasbro's release is more up in my alley, since I'm in it for show accuracy, and while they got Waspinator's green down, his yellow wasn't quite like that. Plus, gotta keep funds into consideration.

I'm thinking of getting both versions and Frankensteining them together to give the Takara one Hasbro's non-metallic yellow. But only if I can afford to do so, and only if it's actually possible.

Mindmaster wrote:Call me Captain Obvious, but Rhinox's deco seems to be inspired by the original toy. So once again, Hasbro's got me on their hook.

I dunno, the brown on Takara's Rhinox definitely looks closer to the cartoon model than the original toy to me.

i'll definitely be getting the takara rhinox.. takara's guns look sooo much better when there is some actual effort put into them.

Right, right, right... Thanks for the reminder Sabrblade. Mental lapse on my part. Takara does the show accurate while Hasbro does the toy accurate. (why my Soundwave reissue has yellow eyes) It's kind of a shame Soundblaster will probably not see a US release with the toy accurate deco.

The Beast Wars figures follow the same pattern as your comparisons show. On that note I can only say that I really wish some colored chrome was splashed on these figures in the appropriate places. Chrome isn't completely out of the question is it? I mean, I don't recall chromed plastic used much in any recent releases despite reissues and MPs. Not much chrome that I remember on the newest MPs for that matter. Did chrome spike in price recently or what?

Convoy wrote:The Beast Wars figures follow the same pattern as your comparisons show. On that note I can only say that I really wish some colored chrome was splashed on these figures in the appropriate places. Chrome isn't completely out of the question is it? I mean, I don't recall chromed plastic used much in any recent releases despite reissues and MPs. Not much chrome that I remember on the newest MPs for that matter. Did chrome spike in price recently or what?

Regarding Waspy and Rhinox, chrome was more of an attribute for the Henkei! Henkei! toys, whereas United and Japanese Generations make use of metallic paint instead.

For the MPs, maybe they just didn't feel the need to use chrome on these this time.

And, not a lot of folks like chrome due it having a bad habit of flaking off years and years later.

Good goly, that G2 Sideswipe is somehow getting better ane better rite before my eyes on this screen. It made it to my top five of all time transformers and I don't even have it it my hands yet, I think I'm a actually by two of them. What? Is that a sword storage placed nicely on his back with sword storage like real battle style in addition to the rest of the figures Awesomeness. G2 Sideswipe

Thanks to Amazon Japan we have some great high quality non-watermarked official images of Takara Tomy's upcoming Transformers Masterpiece MP-12G G2 Sideswipe and MP-13B Soundblaster with Ratbat. These images give us a good look at the Sideswipe's remolded Yaniger style face. Check out the awesome images mirrored below:

Woah.

Translucent red Megatron gun?

Nice!

The touches they've put on these guys make them pretty appealing. G2 Sideswipe has gone from an easy pass to a no brainer, while Soundlbaster has some nice touches to him. Ratbat of course is brilliant, but the fact that there's the ruby crystals of Burma version energon cube included with him is a really nice touch.

Overall I'm not as excited as I was when I was expecting Sideswipe and Soundwave, but there's enough there for me to look forward to both releases.

Any word on whether the fluro green deco on Sideswipe in car mode is an Amazon exclusive?

Bowspearer wrote:The touches they've put on these guys make them pretty appealing. G2 Sideswipe has gone from an easy pass to a no brainer, while Soundlbaster has some nice touches to him. Ratbat of course is brilliant, but the fact that there's the ruby crystals of Burma version energon cube included with him is a really nice touch.

Overall I'm not as excited as I was when I was expecting Sideswipe and Soundwave, but there's enough there for me to look forward to both releases.

Any word on whether the fluro green deco on Sideswipe in car mode is an Amazon exclusive?

Those details appear to be stickers, so hopefully they're included.

Bowspearer wrote:Any word on whether the fluro green deco on Sideswipe in car mode is an Amazon exclusive?

They look like optional stickers to me.

Seems they were just testing the waters by adding the optional Autobot Sticker to MP Tigertrack.

I don't know if someone already asked this, but where does the spikes on the tires in robot form go when he transforms in vehicle mode

Either way it looks like worst case scenario it's a reprolabels job.

One thing I really would like to see on G2 Sideswipe is just how the sword mounts on his back in robot mode.

Torneira wrote:I don't know if someone already asked this, but where does the spikes on the tires in robot form go when he transforms in vehicle mode

Those are probably just removable accessories one can attach to him in robot mode.

Sabrblade wrote:

Sodan-1 wrote:Not digging the two Beast Wars characters. The colours are too dark.

Takara Rhinox's brown is lighter than Hasbro's:

megatronus wrote:I'm super psyched about Sideswipe as well (not to mention Soundblaster), but I would like to know what logic there is to the numbering.

If it's a new character who was in the original mainstream toyline, they get a new number.

If it's just a different version of the same character, or an e-HOBBY exclusive toy (new character or not), they keep their number but gain a letter.

Convoy wrote:What I'm wondering is if Soundblaster really won't have a translucent red chest/door so you can read the "weak spot sticker"(tech spec style) on the few G1 cassettes that have it.

Looks like it'll be a show-accurate purple chest door.




Which I just now realized was also raised in the cartoon like on the toy.

Mindmaster wrote:Liking the bling on Waspinator. However, Hasbro's release is more up in my alley, since I'm in it for show accuracy, and while they got Waspinator's green down, his yellow wasn't quite like that. Plus, gotta keep funds into consideration.

I'm thinking of getting both versions and Frankensteining them together to give the Takara one Hasbro's non-metallic yellow. But only if I can afford to do so, and only if it's actually possible.

Mindmaster wrote:Call me Captain Obvious, but Rhinox's deco seems to be inspired by the original toy. So once again, Hasbro's got me on their hook.

I dunno, the brown on Takara's Rhinox definitely looks closer to the cartoon model than the original toy to me.

Hm. Thanks for doing the legwork, there, I hadn't noticed how much more cartoon accurate the Takara Rhinox was. Especially with those guns painted, and the more brown paint than the slate grey Hasbro showed off. I know the photos are from Ehobby, but are these definitely the final Takara* deco? The promo photos on most retailers still show a version quite similar to the Hasbro colors without the guns painted. Still won't be getting the Takara waspinator, no clue why they decided to go with metallic gold instead of yellow..... Perhaps it's because the organic nature of beast modes was toned WAY down in Japanese beast continuity, i.e., Beast Wars II & Neo characters having weaponized beast modes.

Rotoraptor wrote:I know the photos are from Ehobby, but are these definitely the final Takara* deco? The promo photos on most retailers still show a version quite similar to the Hasbro colors without the guns painted.

The other retailers haven't yet received the official TakaraTomy stock photos like e-HOBBY has. I suspect Amazon Japan will have high quality versions of these pics soon enough (what with them already having gotten larger pics of MP Soundblaster and Lambor G2 Version).

It bothers me a bit that the upper half of Ratbat's wings are so obviously the front of his cassette mode. It'd have been nice if they had found a way to swivel those around. Still, I'd love to get my hands on one! Pity I have absolutely no interest in SoundBlaster. (Wish there was a way to get him separately, but I shan't hold my breath on that...)

Yotsuyasan wrote:It bothers me a bit that the upper half of Ratbat's wings are so obviously the front of his cassette mode. It'd have been nice if they had found a way to swivel those around. Still, I'd love to get my hands on one! Pity I have absolutely no interest in SoundBlaster. (Wish there was a way to get him separately, but I shan't hold my breath on that...)

Why? They kinda shadily indicated that they want to make Slugfest and Overkill, they could easily make a new two or three pack down the road including Ratbat. I doubt they made the mold with intend to ONLY sell it with Soundblaster, that would be a total waste of development funds. No, I would bet money we'll see an individual or multi-pack release of Ratbat in the future.

Yotsuyasan wrote:It bothers me a bit that the upper half of Ratbat's wings are so obviously the front of his cassette mode. It'd have been nice if they had found a way to swivel those around. Still, I'd love to get my hands on one! Pity I have absolutely no interest in SoundBlaster. (Wish there was a way to get him separately, but I shan't hold my breath on that...)

Why? They kinda shadily indicated that they want to make Slugfest and Overkill, they could easily make a new two or three pack down the road including Ratbat. I doubt they made the mold with intend to ONLY sell it with Soundblaster, that would be a total waste of development funds. No, I would bet money we'll see an individual or multi-pack release of Ratbat in the future.

Rotoraptor wrote:

Yotsuyasan wrote:It bothers me a bit that the upper half of Ratbat's wings are so obviously the front of his cassette mode. It'd have been nice if they had found a way to swivel those around. Still, I'd love to get my hands on one! Pity I have absolutely no interest in SoundBlaster. (Wish there was a way to get him separately, but I shan't hold my breath on that...)

Why? They kinda shadily indicated that they want to make Slugfest and Overkill, they could easily make a new two or three pack down the road including Ratbat. I doubt they made the mold with intend to ONLY sell it with Soundblaster, that would be a total waste of development funds. No, I would bet money we'll see an individual or multi-pack release of Ratbat in the future.

You can make the opposite argument: they included Ratbat with Soundblaster in order to move units of Soundblaster, which has 0 development cost. That revenue should more than counterbalance the cost of developing a wee little thing like Ratbat.

Also, possible future 2-pack would probably be:

Slugfest & Overkill
Beast Box & Squawk Talk

Where would Ratbat fit into this scheme?

How the heck does Ratbat transform? It looks like his torso and head flap over to the cassette side but I can't quite figure it out.

megatronus wrote:Also, possible future 2-pack would probably be:

Slugfest & Overkill
Beast Box & Squawk Talk

Where would Ratbat fit into this scheme?

Well, still not holding my breath, but two-packs are the Takara tape release strategy. I'd rather hold out for a Hasbro release, and perhaps if Hasbro's less worried about Soundblaster, they could give us a three-pack of Slugfest, Overkill, and Ratbat and I'd be a happy guy.

(I'll admit I went third-party on Beast Box & Squawk Talk... I figured, as characters who never appeared in the cartoon, there'd be less of a chance of seeing them. But if they got a proper Masterpiece release that was made available by Hasbro, I suppose I could transfer the third-party ones to my Classics collection.)

I think seller's in the secondary market can hear everyone's cry for Ratbat and not having to buy Soundblaster to get him. I'm sure we will see people selling Ratbat solo at wonderful jacked-up prices.