Original Diaclone Fairlady Z Concept Art

I'd buy a yellow repaint with a new head!

This is great to see how far the design travels from concept to physical form.
Would be an interesting Botcon/ TFCC exclusive repaint/ retool on a deluxe down the line.

The head reminds me of a samurai helmet.

I would love to see more concept art of this nature, and of course toys.

http://www.swordsdirect.com/samurai-helmets-by-hanwei.jpg

Come on eHobby, don't fail me now!!

No offence but that head is hideous. Prowl wouldn't be my favourite Autobot if he looked like that. It's like Prowl possessed by Unicron.

spiderbob007 wrote:The head reminds me of a samurai helmet.

I would love to see more concept art of this nature, and of course toys.

http://www.swordsdirect.com/samurai-helmets-by-hanwei.jpg

Very observant. Many of the Diaclone and G1 Tranformers heads were based on Samurai helmets. The crests, horns, and faceplates are the most notable features. (This was a common theme in Japanese robot cartoons in the 1980s.

I want one from the classics prowl mold. A custom might not be too hard to pull off since white plastic can be dyed and red parts can be swapped from Smokescreen/Bluestreak. But creating a new head would be out of my skill level...

I could be wrong, but that head looks an AWFUL lot like Wildrider's -- at least the head that they used for the animation in the original cartoons. Wonder if this concept sketch is where they got the design that they used in the cartoon...

http://tfwiki.net/wiki/File:BurdenHarde ... Matrix.jpg

stocky wrote:I could be wrong, but that head looks an AWFUL lot like Wildrider's -- at least the head that they used for the animation in the original cartoons. Wonder if this concept sketch is where they got the design that they used in the cartoon...

Funny that you bring up Wildrider's head, just last night I found this article about the Stunticons, suggesting that Floro Dery worked off early toy designs of the Stunticons when he created their cartoon models. (Save for Motormaster.)

It explains why their cartoon-heads are so different than the finalised toy-heads. And how Dragstrip got his horizontal two-wheels shoulders.

Not really related to Prowl, but an interesting piece of trivia.

Cyberpath wrote:

stocky wrote:I could be wrong, but that head looks an AWFUL lot like Wildrider's -- at least the head that they used for the animation in the original cartoons. Wonder if this concept sketch is where they got the design that they used in the cartoon...

Funny that you bring up Wildrider's head, just last night I found this article about the Stunticons, suggesting that Floro Dery worked off early toy designs of the Stunticons when he created their cartoon models. (Save for Motormaster.)

It explains why their cartoon-heads are so different than the finalised toy-heads. And how Dragstrip got his horizontal two-wheels shoulders.

Not really related to Prowl, but an interesting piece of trivia.

The reason the stunticons toy heads are so different is because of 1986 combiner port technology that required square heads. I dont know if the toys were created after the cartoon or vice-versa, But it was the release of Menasor and Superion that introduced the square head for all G1 combiner limb figures to come. That's why I hate when 3rd parties go with toy accurate heads and ignore cartoon accuracy. The heads were square for a reason and it wasnt to look cool.

Rated X wrote:The reason the stunticons toy heads are so different is because of 1986 combiner port technology that required square heads. I dont know if the toys were created after the cartoon or vice-versa, But it was the release of Menasor and Superion that introduced the square head for all G1 combiner limb figures to come. That's why I hate when 3rd parties go with toy accurate heads and ignore cartoon accuracy. The heads were square for a reason and it wasnt to look cool.

The Combaticons & Protectobots toys also had square-heads, yet their heads were fairly cartoon-accurate.

Compared to them, the Stunticons & Aerialbots had vastly different faces than the toys, and I kind of always wondered why. This article explains that the show designer must have worked from early concept sketches provided in the series "bible" when he designed the Stunticons & Aerialbots.
http://www.ntfa.net/forums/lofiversion/ ... t5792.html



I agree, I also prefer the cartoon models!

And on the subject of Nissan police cars, I always appreciated how Streetwise's toy had a proper head. :)

And this design was meant to be for a human-piloted mech.

spiderbob007 wrote:The head reminds me of a samurai helmet.

I would love to see more concept art of this nature, and of course toys.

http://www.swordsdirect.com/samurai-helmets-by-hanwei.jpg

Good thing we got the Go! toyline giving us just that.

Rated X wrote:The reason the stunticons toy heads are so different is because of 1986 combiner port technology that required square heads. I dont know if the toys were created after the cartoon or vice-versa, But it was the release of Menasor and Superion that introduced the square head for all G1 combiner limb figures to come.

Yeah, the toy molds for the four 1986 combiners were made before they appeared in the cartoon and comics, since they (and Metroplex's toy mold) were originally created for an aborted spinoff line of Diaclone called Jizai Gattai (but its toy molds were completed far enough in the design process to be rebranded into Transformers toys).

Oddly, that head actually makes me think of the Junkions.

Firstly, the toy would have come before the cartoon design did as the diaclone line was well in production still in 1984 and concepts for the 85 line at the very least would have been well and truly in the prototype stage.

To bring this full circle though, I found a review online already for MP Prowl:

Bowspearer wrote:Firstly, the toy would have come before the cartoon design did as the diaclone line was well in production still in 1984 and concepts for the 85 line at the very least would have been well and truly in the prototype stage.

Exactly. They were planned for Jizai Gattai before Transformers.

I know, my point was that it was anything but a "the chicken or the egg" situation.

Bowspearer wrote:I know, my point was that it was anything but a "the chicken or the egg" situation.

Right on.

Just got my shipping notification this morning. I've been waiting for Prowl since I started collecting this line way back with MP-03 and MP-04.

My wait is almost over.

Thanks to TransformersKorea we have some new official images of Takara Tomy's upcoming Transformers Masterpiece figures MP-18 Bluestreak and MP-19 Smokescreen. Bluestreak is due to release this month, with Smokescreen scheduled for December.

Smokescreen looks absolutely brilliant. Looks like Jazz has his upper arms and shoulders sorted out when he comes along too.

I didn't realize that the forehead crest was remolded differently for Prowl, Smokescreen and Bluestreak. Kudos to Takara Tomy for paying attention to that small detail. That's awesome!

Seibertron wrote:I didn't realize that the forehead crest was remolded differently for Prowl, Smokescreen and Bluestreak. Kudos to Takara Tomy for paying attention to that small detail. That's awesome!

Not just the forehead, the whole headsculpt is new for each of them.

Valandar wrote:Oddly, that head actually makes me think of the Junkions.

Not just the head, but the colouring too, at first glaqnce it looks like a Junkion that turns into a car. Pretty cool in that retro sort of way.

And yes a remold/ repaint of Prowl into this would be pretty cool.

It's not just the heads though- even the hips on each of them are different if you look closely.

I will buy a Blue repaint of Smokescreen if they call it Bluestreak!

KorbinJones wrote:I will buy a Blue repaint of Smokescreen if they call it Bluestreak!

Colored like that urban legend from G1?

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

KorbinJones wrote:I will buy a Blue repaint of Smokescreen if they call it Bluestreak!

Colored like that urban legend from G1?

Technically it's not an urban legend but the Diaclone version and I suspect someone will do it as an exclusive after Tigertrack was released.

Sexy has a new name, and that name is Smokescreen !

*Tears her eyes away from the images of MP Smokescreen* Excuse me while I do a fan girl scream - Eeeeeee! I've got to add him to the collection! I've waited close to thirty years for this guy, ever since I had the original G1 Smokescreen as my first Transformer almost thirty years ago.
This is how I've always pictured him in my imagination and how I've always wished him to be made as!

He's gorgeous! He is a must buy, well for me he is, not sure about anyone else. Okay, fan girl moment done.

But he really does look amazing, the colours, the build, it all looks as close to perfect as you can ever get for a Transformer.

ReinaHW wrote:*Tears her eyes away from the images of MP Smokescreen* Excuse me while I do a fan girl scream - Eeeeeee! I've got to add him to the collection! I've waited close to thirty years for this guy, ever since I had the original G1 Smokescreen as my first Transformer almost thirty years ago.
This is how I've always pictured him in my imagination and how I've always wished him to be made as!

He's gorgeous! He is a must buy, well for me he is, not sure about anyone else. Okay, fan girl moment done.

But he really does look amazing, the colours, the build, it all looks as close to perfect as you can ever get for a Transformer.

Yeah, that pretty much sums it up for me perfectly .

I never had him as a kid unfortunately (I gots him now though of course ) but he was always my favorite Autobot car.

These two are barely 6 inches tall. Why are they starting to downsize the Masterpiece figures? They look cool and all but for the price they are going for I think I'll pass.

Judas_Warlord wrote:These two are barely 6 inches tall. Why are they starting to downsize the Masterpiece figures?

Cuz Prowl isn't the same height as Optimus in the cartoon. He's shorter, so he get's a shorter toy.

The new MPs are scaled to the official cartoon scale guide, so as to create a better sense of uniformity among the figures. It also lets Prowl fit inside Prime's trailer.

Full Size

New pic from the designer:

Judas_Warlord wrote:These two are barely 6 inches tall. Why are they starting to downsize the Masterpiece figures? They look cool and all but for the price they are going for I think I'll pass.

I felt that way initially, too, when my MP Sideswipe arrived. Now that I've had him for several months, it doesn't bother me anymore. He's still better than any previous version of him. I'm also really enjoying Prowl. I cannot wait for Bluestreak and Smokey to finally arrive!

If downsizing them means more MP Cars and Mini-Cars, that's a trade-off I can live with.

Bluestreak was my very first Transformer, back in the day. I've got G1, Classics, Alternators and soon Masterpiece!

My first Bluestreak was a Christmas present back in '84 or '85. He was always one of my favorites. I just love how each of the Datsuns has a different head sculpt and other smaller details that distinguishes them.

Transformersasia has updated with the image for the Asian exclusive coin that is packaged with MP-18 Bluestreak. Bluestreak is set for release soon on October 26. In the mean time, check out the coin design below.

The designer posted another photo:



And there's a mention of "MP-20".

ストリークの参戦により、MPになったアーク搭乗員は全部で四人となりました。アニメ序盤から登場する彼等が僕は大好きです。今後さらに搭乗員が増えるといいですね！MP-20以降のキャラクターにもぜひ注目ください#TT_TF

If I got that right, the last line says "Please pay attention to a character after MP-20."

The latest Transformers Masterpiece figure, MP-18 Bluestreak, has apparently seen release and blogger Alfes2010 has provided some pics via his Twitter feed. The figure is scheduled to be shipping from US e-tailers such as BBTS and TFSource by the beginning of November, if not sooner. 'Til then, this will have to tide you over.

The small gallery has been mirrored below.















Keep your optics tuned to Seibertron.com for the latest in news and updates, plus the best galleries around!

That's not Smokescreen, that's Streak.

So... beautiful...

Alfes just Tweeted one more new pic - https://twitter.com/Alfes2010/status/393353477373440000

Where does his gun go in alt mode? hm...

mooncake623 wrote:Where does his gun go in alt mode? hm...

Looks like there might be a little clip on the roof that it could possible be inserted into.

Streaker is looking great especially with that clear sun roof effect, a nice way to differetiate (word of the day!) him from his car brothers!

Does Prowl and Bluestreak have different face sculpts like Sideswipe/Red Alert have?

AutoBorst wrote:Does Prowl and Bluestreak have different face sculpts like Sideswipe/Red Alert have?

Yes they do (please forgive the use of a TFW pic but it was the clearest head shot I could find, I will do my penance later)

Not just the faces, but their entire heads are different sculpts, too.

got payment request from HLJ for Streak! =D

mooncake623 wrote:got payment request from HLJ for Streak! =D

That means my RK order should ship out soon...