Size comparisons of SDCC 2013 Metroplex mini-figures to G1 Decoys

Seibertron wrote:Check out the following pictures of Megatron, Starscream, Orion Pax, Bumblebee, Hoist, and Trailcutter alongside their G1 Decoy counterparts.

I think that's very probably supposed to be Thundercracker instead of Starscream since the rest of the mini-figures are all based on the Thrilling 30 Wave 1 and 2 Deluxes, which Thundercracker (but not Starscream) was a part of.

Trikeboy wrote:Hey, Seibertron, if you can only get one version of this toy, which would you recommend?

I have to go with the retail version of these two. The chrome is nice, and I'm very happy to have it in my collection, but for a regular budget-minded collector I don't think it's worth at least an extra 50 bucks for chromed upper legs and a face and an extra big red gun with a missile, that I feel were really tacked on (I can't figure out where the extra weapon is supposed to attach in vehicle and city modes).

I also had a lot of problems with the stickers on the SDCC version, which kind of soured my experience with him a little bit. The stickers would "cling" to the toy as soon as you get them close, I'm assuming because of their chrome foil nature. I don't recall having that much difficulty with the retail version's regular stickers. Because the stickers kept clinging, I feel like I had a much more difficult time to apply the stickers. It took me about 1 hour 40 minutes to 2 hours to put all of the stickers on. I don't recall it taking that long on the regular retail version. That one might have taken me an hour or so, but the SDCC version definitely took longer because of all the problems I kept having with the stickers not lining up properly. I even managed to damage two of the stickers.

Sabrblade wrote:

Seibertron wrote:Check out the following pictures of Megatron, Starscream, Orion Pax, Bumblebee, Hoist, and Trailcutter alongside their G1 Decoy counterparts.

I think that's supposed to be Thundercracker instead of Starscream since the rest of the mini-figures are all based on the Thrilling 30 Wave 1 and 2 Deluxes, which Thundercracker (but not Starscream) was a part of.

He already knows, Sabrblade. But how would you be able to tell single-colored Seekers apart aside from looking at their number (Starcream is #35, Thundercracker is #34 and Skywarp is #33)? Besides, the design is the same so any Seeker would do for comparisons.

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:He already knows, Sabrblade.

Seibertron wrote:(I can't figure out where the extra weapon is supposed to attach in vehicle and city modes).

Hope this can help. Here are some photos from the Tokyo Toy show of how Takara managed to fit both guns on their version:

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

Seibertron wrote:Check out the following pictures of Megatron, Starscream, Orion Pax, Bumblebee, Hoist, and Trailcutter alongside their G1 Decoy counterparts.

I think that's supposed to be Thundercracker instead of Starscream since the rest of the mini-figures are all based on the Thrilling 30 Wave 1 and 2 Deluxes, which Thundercracker (but not Starscream) was a part of.

He already knows, Sabrblade. But how would you be able to tell single-colored Seekers apart aside from looking at their number (Starcream is #35, Thundercracker is #34 and Skywarp is #33)? Besides, the design is the same so any Seeker would do for comparisons.

Thanks for catching that. I had said yesterday that the mini-figure was supposed to theoretically represent Thundercracker, since the other 5 are part of the IDW Generations comic-packed wave. Slipped my mind today while I was pulling out these decoys. I updated the pics to show the "Thundercracker" decoy instead. Just force a refresh and you'll see the new pictures.

In the meantime, I'm trying to figure out how to get the gun to attach like it does in those pictures. I'm not having any luck yet.

That's Thundercracker.

Trust me. I'm a doctor.

Seibertron wrote:In the meantime, I'm trying to figure out how to get the gun to attach like it does in those pictures. I'm not having any luck yet.

A thought just occurred to me. What if Takara's remolded new ports for the guns to attach to? I'd hope not.

Sabrblade wrote:

Seibertron wrote:In the meantime, I'm trying to figure out how to get the gun to attach like it does in those pictures. I'm not having any luck yet.

A thought just occurred to me. What if Takara's remolded new ports for the guns to attach to? I'd hope not.

Then the retooling should have been carried over into the SDCC one, since it would be considered an "update" of the mold. But Hasbro has messed up in the past...

Sabrblade wrote:

Seibertron wrote:In the meantime, I'm trying to figure out how to get the gun to attach like it does in those pictures. I'm not having any luck yet.

A thought just occurred to me. What if Takara's remolded new ports for the guns to attach to? I'd hope not.

Alright, I figured out where the red gun attaches in city mode. One of the gray guns attaches to the red gun. How it attaches is really weak. If you bump into it, it falls off. Works for pics though!

On to battle station vehicle mode ...

Ok, I finally figured out how its supposed to attach in battle station mode. Again, this is really weak. It attaches weakly via two tabs on the bottom of the gun and attaches over a spot that appears to be made for this. However, as I stated above, it's a really weak connection spot that again appears to be an after thought. In addition, I now have a small paint chip on Metroplex thanks to connecting one of the guns in battle station mode.

I'll stand by my original statement that Metroplex appears to have been designed with one gun in mind and not two.

The instructions in the SDCC version do not show how to attach the guns in city or battle station vehicle mode. I'll update the gallery in the next 30 minutes.

Seibertron wrote:I now have a small paint chip on Metroplex thanks to connecting one of the guns in battle station mode.

And a stress marks on the base of the same pegs from where the gray handle of the black gun "attaches", which are the same pegs that attach to the upper leg in battle station mode. Not sure which spot caused the stress marks.

I wonder if Takara's might have reinforced connection points for the guns.

Are we certain that the SDCC one would have any and all remoldings that the Takara version would theoretically have? I mean, couldn't have Hasbro made the SDCC version before Takara made theirs?

Seibertron wrote:

Seibertron wrote:I now have a small paint chip on Metroplex thanks to connecting one of the guns in battle station mode.

And a stress marks on the base of the same pegs from where the gray handle of the black gun "attaches", which are the same pegs that attach to the upper leg in battle station mode. Not sure which spot caused the stress marks.

Hm ... I was about to say the battle station mode because the other red gun has small stress marks as well but never used those pegs in city mode. I double checked my retail version and it has a small stress mark at the base of one of those pegs as well but those pegs had never been used at all on retail Metroplex. Could have been there before and I just didn't notice.

There are no remoldings. Takara won't have remoldings either. Not this early in the game. The second gun and how those guns attach are just poorly added on. It's a sales gimmick to get people to buy into getting the version that has 2 guns instead of 1. I'm assuming most of you will have Metroplex in robot mode, which is probably what Hasbro and Takara Tomy are assuming as well, so in that case both guns can be used and used properly and will kick ass.

Seibertron wrote:There are no remoldings. Takara won't have remoldings either. Not this early in the game. The second gun and how those guns attach are just poorly added on. It's a sales gimmick to get people to buy into getting the version that has 2 guns instead of 1. I'm assuming most of you will have Metroplex in robot mode, which is probably what Hasbro and Takara Tomy are assuming as well, so in that case both guns can be used and used properly and will kick ass.

I wonder where the idea of having two guns actually came from. Are people that obsessed with symmetry?

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

Seibertron wrote:There are no remoldings. Takara won't have remoldings either. Not this early in the game. The second gun and how those guns attach are just poorly added on. It's a sales gimmick to get people to buy into getting the version that has 2 guns instead of 1. I'm assuming most of you will have Metroplex in robot mode, which is probably what Hasbro and Takara Tomy are assuming as well, so in that case both guns can be used and used properly and will kick ass.

I wonder where the idea of having two guns actually came from. Are people that obsessed with symmetry?

which is weird due to the fact that not many of the tfs now get two guns. or maybe its closer to 50/50

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:I wonder where the idea of having two guns actually came from. Are people that obsessed with symmetry?

It probably has more to do with the G1 toy having had two guns. With this toy being pretty much a straight up modern day update of that toy, it having two guns like its G1 counterpart was just a logical assumption.

Sabrblade wrote:

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:I wonder where the idea of having two guns actually came from. Are people that obsessed with symmetry?

It probably has more to do with the G1 toy having had two guns. With this toy being pretty much a straight up modern day update of that toy, it having two guns like its G1 counterpart was just a logical assumption.

Which part of Six-Gun? His back or his legs?

Over 40 new images have been added to the SDCC 2013 Metroplex gallery. This time around, the new photos demonstrate how the 2nd red gun attaches to Metroplex in battle station vehicle mode and city mode. To be blunt, this really seems like an after thought. The second gun does end up with a port to attach the red gun in city mode, but how the black gun attaches to the red gun in city mode is pretty weak. The same goes with how the red guns attach to the upper legs in battle station mode. It's not a firm connection like it is behind the shoulder, and the guns will easily detach if you bump into them, as will the black gun attached the red gun in city mode. Check out the pictures below for further details.

Thanks to Sabrblade for showing some pictures of the Takara Tomy version which show where to attach the guns.

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:I wonder where the idea of having two guns actually came from. Are people that obsessed with symmetry?

It probably has more to do with the G1 toy having had two guns. With this toy being pretty much a straight up modern day update of that toy, it having two guns like its G1 counterpart was just a logical assumption.

Which part of Six-Gun? His back or his legs?

Huh?

He already comes with three guns, the two black ones and the big red one. The two black ones look just fine as hand guns, and the big red one looks very impressive as a shoulder mounted weapons. That's how I display mine.

This picture shows where the red gun attaches in city mode.




This picture shows how the black gun attaches to the red gun in city mode, as well as the stress mark on the base of the tabs of the red gun.




These pictures show where the red gun attaches to the tabs of the upper leg in battle station vehicle mode.






And the paint scuff mark from doing this ...

Sabrblade wrote:

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:I wonder where the idea of having two guns actually came from. Are people that obsessed with symmetry?

It probably has more to do with the G1 toy having had two guns. With this toy being pretty much a straight up modern day update of that toy, it having two guns like its G1 counterpart was just a logical assumption.

Which part of Six-Gun? His back or his legs?

Huh?

The double-barreled gun, or the two big red ones?

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:I wonder where the idea of having two guns actually came from. Are people that obsessed with symmetry?

It probably has more to do with the G1 toy having had two guns. With this toy being pretty much a straight up modern day update of that toy, it having two guns like its G1 counterpart was just a logical assumption.

Which part of Six-Gun? His back or his legs?

Huh?

The double-barreled gun, or the two big red ones?

The two big red guns.

I am so happy someone is hooking me up and getting me an SDCC Metroplex when they go

What is it like a $125 difference between this and the retail version?

Pfft, keep the extra cardboard and the gun then!

YoungPrime wrote:What is it like a $125 difference between this and the retail version?

Pfft, keep the extra cardboard and the gun then!

Its actually not bad at all the retail version is 110$ and the Comic Con version is only 150$ so it is not bad at all if someone wants a more detailed G1 accurate version .

I'm just hoping that Trypticon gets this same treatment.

I like it, but for $250 you can buy two USA retail Metroplex's (for the 2nd gun)and have a few dollars left to buy a few Commanders to man it.

Did someone say $150 for the SDCC? That would be sweet if you can get it for that price, but I am guessing aftermarket will skyrocket that to the Japan release cost.

I have to be honest, I prefer the US version. I do like the paint apps of the Japanese version, and I like the symmetry of the Japanese version, but the way the cannon works in vehicle mode and the fact that the artwork on the SDCC box shows ONE cannon, I'm more than fine with the US version.

The mounting points are silly. They really do feel like an afterthought.

Micronautsdeep wrote:
Did someone say $150 for the SDCC?

Yes the Official price for the SDCC Metroplex is 150$. but you don't just get the second gun, I am getting it because I really like the chrome face compared to the Hasbro version which has a white face you also get 12 little decoys that are awesome to put in his city and vehicle mode.

Good God, that's a big box!

those little guys remind me of the transformers train set from the 80s. it came with similar one color/rubber-ish characters like these. that was a cool and fun set as well, i played with it a lot considering i was never a train set kid. lol

i even found pics...

http://www.tycoforums.com/tyco/forum/to ... IC_ID=6652

scroll down a bit to see pics.

yeah officially they say 150 but i saw ebay listings for 250
better hope that HTS has them at the 150 and i have the means to get it
i really hate those ebay sellers with their price gouging its not fair

I'll chime in since I own a retail version Metroplex. After reviewing Ryan's galleries I no longer plan on getting the SDCC version and I'm going to cancel my pre-order for the Takara Tomy version. When I initially saw the SDCC version at BotCon I had a little buyers remorse regarding the retail version that I had purchased earlier from BBTS in the dealer room. Seeing the chrome spoke to my G1 luvin self and gave me what a friend of mine refers to as a "toy boner". You know, that feeling you get when you see something new and just have to get it while all common sense is flying out the window.

I agree with Ryan the configurations using two large red guns feels really tacked on at best. I tried attaching my single red gun like this and the connections are really weak. Luckily I didn't get any paint rubs on the legs, but I have feeling they would eventually show up if you placed them there very many times. Personally I think he looks best wielding the two smaller black guns as pistols (they are designed to be held this way) and using the large red gun as a shoulder mounted weapon. To me this is the best of all worlds. My only real complaint with the retail version is the all white face, but that will be easily remedied with a few cents worth of silver model paint. I know Reprolabels is planning a supplemental sticker set, so I'm going to hold off on further custom detailing until I see what they come out with.

I'm not sure why, but in the end the chrome went from being something I really wanted to a bit of a detractor. That, the fact that I have no interest in the decoys, and pointlessness of the second large gun have me no longer interested in the SDCC version. Not to mention the maddening experience that comes with trying to buy these things off HTS after the event. My advice, save yourself some money and grief by sticking with the retail version.

Seibertron wrote:Just double checked for you ... the voice clips are identical in both.

Excellent, much appreciated bud.

El Duque wrote:I'll chime in since I own a retail version Metroplex. After reviewing Ryan's galleries I no longer plan on getting the SDCC version and I'm going to cancel my pre-order for the Takara Tomy version. When I initially saw the SDCC version at BotCon I had a little buyers remorse regarding the retail version that I had purchased earlier from BBTS in the dealer room. Seeing the chrome spoke to my G1 luvin self and gave me what a friend of mine refers to as a "toy boner". You know, that feeling you get when you see something new and just have to get it while all common sense is flying out the window.

I agree with Ryan the configurations using two large red guns feels really tacked on at best. I tried attaching my single red gun like this and the connections are really weak. Luckily I didn't get any paint rubs on the legs, but I have feeling they would eventually show up if you placed them there very many times. Personally I think he looks best wielding the two smaller black guns as pistols (they are designed to be held this way) and using the large red gun as a shoulder mounted weapon. To me this is the best of all worlds. My only real complaint with the retail version is the all white face, but that will be easily remedied with a few cents worth of silver model paint. I know Reprolabels is planning a supplemental sticker set, so I'm going to hold off on further custom detailing until I see what they come out with.

I'm not sure why, but in the end the chrome went from being something I really wanted to a bit of a detractor. That, the fact that I have no interest in the decoys, and pointlessness of the second large gun have me no longer interested in the SDCC version. Not to mention the maddening experience that comes with trying to buy these things off HTS after the event. My advice, save yourself some money and grief by sticking with the retail version.

Great advice!!!!

Whelp... These photos convinced me. I had to have one! I just won me an e-bay auction for... my own Gari Robo-kun! I've got on the way the "cola" one instead of the regular one... Not my flavor of choice, but I'll just tell myself it is a fudgesicle and it will be awesome!

It really is the must-have add-on accessory for Metroplex! (And if I don't manage to get the SDCC version, then I'll definitely have something to put in his other hand, now.)

The colors on the stickers are way more brighter and vivid than the colors on the other exclusives labels. And the retail box is better. And that chrome looks kind of out of place.

The colors on the stickers are way more brighter and vivid than the colors on the other exclusives. And the retail box is better. And that chrome looks kind of out of place.

It's just as well I'd pretty much resigned myself to getting one of the mass retail versions. If there's only 30 of these SDCC figures being made then the chances of getting one seem pretty slim. It does look good, as does the box, but I think the chrome is a little too much.

The second gun may not attach in a substantial way, but it does look good. That Takara version is looking more and more appealing.

Sodan-1 wrote:It's just as well I'd pretty much resigned myself to getting one of the mass retail versions. If there's only 30 of these SDCC figures being made then the chances of getting one seem pretty slim. It does look good, as does the box, but I think the chrome is a little too much.

The second gun may not attach in a substantial way, but it does look good. That Takara version is looking more and more appealing.

I think you misunderstood the "1 of 30" thing. They aren't making only 30 SDCC Metroplexes. The SDCC Metroplex is figure #1 in a series of 30 different special (and, I think, exclusive to various things) figures being released to celebrate the 30th anniversary.

Mind you, he will still be a limited quantity, but surely a much higher number then only 30! (Hopefully enough that I can score one on HasbroToyShop.com!)

Yotsuyasan wrote:

Sodan-1 wrote:It's just as well I'd pretty much resigned myself to getting one of the mass retail versions. If there's only 30 of these SDCC figures being made then the chances of getting one seem pretty slim. It does look good, as does the box, but I think the chrome is a little too much.

I think you misunderstood the "1 of 30" thing. They aren't making only 30 SDCC Metroplexes. The SDCC Metroplex is figure #1 in a series of 30 different special (and, I think, exclusive to various things) figures being released to celebrate the 30th anniversary.

Ah, right. Thanks for clearing that up. That's actually worse news from my perspective. Instead of one figure I don't want, I'll be in trouble when it's revealed that I want the other twenty-nine.

Sodan-1 wrote:Ah, right. Thanks for clearing that up. That's actually worse news from my perspective. Instead of one figure I don't want, I'll be in trouble when it's revealed that I want the other twenty-nine.

I'm just glad that in this case I definitely don't feel a need to collect an entire series. I've fallen prey to that in the case where things are numbered, before. (Such as how one of the limited edition volumes of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya on DVD came with Volume 1 of the Character Song CDs, so even though I probably wouldn't have cared otherwise, I ended up getting the other eight of them!)

But in this case, I will just be very happy to get Metroplex. (And, if worse comes to worst, I'll also manage to be content with the retail version. But I do hope I can snag the SDCC one!)

Retail version of Metroplex is currently on sale at Amazon for $113.37. Go to Amazon's site, type "metroplex titan" and click on the first result. He's marked down from $124.99 and has free shipping. I'm very interested in SDCC version, but you'll never beat this price for the retail version. I submitted my preorder today.

SDCC Metroplex finally has a page at Hasbro Toy Shop website. He's going for $150, but is currently out of stock. Not sure if you'd have to pay for shipping. Not sure if weblink will come through on my post. If not, just go to hasbrotoyshopDOTcom and search for metroplex; you can't miss him; you'll only get one result.

http://www.hasbrotoyshop.com/transforme ... 6&ID=32175

He was up for sale earlier in the day and sold out in a matter of minutes. However, in past years figs from SDCC have sold out quickly and then been put back up for sale after that. I remember Titanium Skywarp was that way, among others.