Transformers Masterpiece Gattai MPG-6 Kaen Revealed

It looks good but I've lost interest after missing out on MPG-03. This reminds me I have to sell of 01 and 02.

I find myself overall please with how Raiden came out. Is he overengineered? Yeah. But, he's got a nice solid build to him, and I love that he ends up scaling well with CHUG figures (Especially since we don't know if/when a CHUG Raiden will ever happen).

chuckdawg1999 wrote:It looks good but I've lost interest after missing out on MPG-03. This reminds me I have to sell of 01 and 02.

MPG-03 is still available to buy online: https://hasbropulse.com/products/transf ... t-yukikaze

Even cheaper on Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/Transformers-Mas ... 134&sr=8-1?tag=seibertron07-20&

I decided against finishing the Trainbot team ($$$) but this one looks the best of all of them, to me.

This was the member of the team was looking forward to the most and he looks pretty good. Now I just have to wait for the next time Transformeres makes some train characters.

There are two questions in my mind:
1 - Will they ever reuse these molds for the alternative Diaclone color scheme? Apart from transparent and chromium ones, they were pretty neat.
2 - Will they release more MP Combiners and give us the Devastator we deserve?

He's a pretty chunky figure. I can't help but think that they really hamstrung themselves here and for no good reason. There's plenty of figure in Kaen that he could have formed those thighs rather than interfere with the leg bots by making them have to form the entire leg and work in fake Kaen parts. And now we have an ever growing abundance of kibble on the back of Raiden, completely unnecessary. He went from being an integral part forming half the torso and the thighs to being Raiden's belt. The end result is a combiner that looks too bulky, busy, and overloaded with extraneous parts. It doesn't look like he'll be fun to pose at all. I feel like at some point they lost focus on what they were trying to make because in the end Raiden is neither cartoon accurate nor toy accurate, it's just its own thing that sort of looks like Raiden. They should have left him at MP scale and really stretched him out and put all that extra bulk to work instead of trying to make him fit in with Combiner Wars scale for no real practical reason.

That said, I do plan on still buying the remaining three, but I have my doubts about displaying them as Raiden.

Emerje

In the end, I am still loving this set, but this is really the first combiner of any kind that I wont display in combined mode. I think the individual trainbots are fantastic imho, and I feel like all of the effort went into them as opposed to making the focus Raiden and building around that. I do feel like they shot themselves in the foot on this one, seemingly making it up as they went along. I know they can do better, but I am still happy enough with the end result

angtre wrote:There are two questions in my mind:
1 - Will they ever reuse these molds for the alternative Diaclone color scheme? Apart from transparent and chromium ones, they were pretty neat.

I'm no expert, but I dont think it is likely. While MP do have repaints, this would be a very niche requested item, and very expensive to issue repaints for all 6. Somehow I doubt it.

angtre wrote:2 - Will they release more MP Combiners and give us the Devastator we deserve?

I'm still fully satisfied with UW Devastator (more articulation than CW, and individual weapons, more animation acccurate deco).

This is my first foray into MP. As expensive as they are, having them spaced out makes it a little easier to acquire them. Still, if a solid Generations version were to be released, I'd sell the MP's with no hesitation. They are cool, but just not really my thing. I only have them because I think The Trainbots/Raiden are such great characters, and I seriously doubt we will get another version of them any time soon.

If anything I would think/hope any future MPG's *might* be combiners that haven't been revisited in modern times (see my wish list in m signature). I mean I know an MPG Devastator would probably be something many fans would want, but it would definitely be a pass for me. I feel the same however when I hear people talk about a SS86 Devastator.

While Raiden's combined mode may not be *perfect*, the focus was obviously on the trains, which are. For UW Devastator, while the individual construct icons dont look the greatest in bot mode, Devastator himself is pretty solid, and accurate to animation. a SS86 version would really REALLY have to do something amazing for me to warrant the upgrade, and of course, no matter how pretty an MPG version would be, I wouldn't want it.

The pre-order hasn't been set up yet for MPG-06 Kaen, but I sincerely hope they are able to keep the expected release date of the end of December (12/30/23).

I have trouble believing they created the MPG sub line with the intention of doing just one combiner. Whether or not these have sold well enough to keep the line going is a different story.

As for Diaclone, I could see it happening, but not as aggressively as this set, maybe over the course of four or five years. A box set sounds like a huge ask.

Emerje

Emerje wrote:I have trouble believing they created the MPG sub line with the intention of doing just one combiner. Whether or not these have sold well enough to keep the line going is a different story.

Don't forget, the Trainbots were a collaboration with TOMIX, the model train department of subsidiary Tomytec, which accounts for their realistic train modes and H0 scale. I don't see any more coming without another company being pulled into the mix.

Jelze Bunnycat wrote:

Emerje wrote:I have trouble believing they created the MPG sub line with the intention of doing just one combiner. Whether or not these have sold well enough to keep the line going is a different story.

Don't forget, the Trainbots were a collaboration with TOMIX, the model train department of subsidiary Tomytec, which accounts for their realistic train modes and H0 scale. I don't see any more coming without another company being pulled into the mix.

Nothing about the name MPG implies anything to do with TOMIX so I don't see why that would matter. Heck, I don't think TOMIX is mentioned anywhere on the box so I doubt it's a very strong collaboration, more like a conscious effort at compatibility.

Emerje

Emerje wrote:

Jelze Bunnycat wrote:

Emerje wrote:I have trouble believing they created the MPG sub line with the intention of doing just one combiner. Whether or not these have sold well enough to keep the line going is a different story.

Don't forget, the Trainbots were a collaboration with TOMIX, the model train department of subsidiary Tomytec, which accounts for their realistic train modes and H0 scale. I don't see any more coming without another company being pulled into the mix.

Nothing about the name MPG implies anything to do with TOMIX so I don't see why that would matter. Heck, I don't think TOMIX is mentioned anywhere on the box so I doubt it's a very strong collaboration, more like a conscious effort at compatibility.

Emerje

More like a helping hand to get the project actually approved by management.

AJP Link for MPG-06

https://amzn.asia/d/hHiDfsZ

triKlops wrote:AJP Link for MPG-06

https://amzn.asia/d/hHiDfsZ

Thank you, preordered.

Special MPG-06S (This is just the 6th Trainbot, NOT a box set of all 6) ...with box plus a plated version of the Light Sword and bases/stand arms for all 6 MPG’s and Raiden’s character card. The box features a very nice Raiden art with the other Trainbots around him. This special pack has a pre-order window from June 5 to July 10 in Japan.

I certainly hope Pulse or BBTS offers it, not just TT Mall, as there's no way for residents in North America to order it directly.

https://takaratomymall.jp/shop/g/g4904810914846/

That is a cool option for the bots.

I adore Kaen. I am almost thinking that I may want to get 2, so 1 can be by himself

I am hoping Pulse or AJP gets some of those boxes. Being TTMall, it will be a tough get otherwise, sans a proxy.

He's available from Anime-Export (https://anime-export.com/index.php?product=69113), but costs almost double than the standard version (27.800 JPY vs. 14.800JPY).
Not sure I can justify the price difference

xMXUx wrote:He's available from Anime-Export (https://anime-export.com/index.php?product=69113), but costs almost double than the standard version (27.800 JPY vs. 14.800JPY).
Not sure I can justify the price difference

That's ridiculous, the MSRP is 20,350 JPY and after tax is removed for exports and the usual Japanese discounted prices it should be closer to that other price at most retailers. AmiAmi has it listed at 16,280 JPY and will likely be less through Amazon Japan.

Emerje

Emerje wrote:

xMXUx wrote:He's available from Anime-Export (https://anime-export.com/index.php?product=69113), but costs almost double than the standard version (27.800 JPY vs. 14.800JPY).
Not sure I can justify the price difference

That's ridiculous, the MSRP is 20,350 JPY and after tax is removed for exports and the usual Japanese discounted prices it should be closer to that other price at most retailers. AmiAmi has it listed at 16,280 JPY and will likely be less through Amazon Japan.

Emerje

The one listed on AmiAmi looks to be the standard version tho. I was comparing the prices of the standard version vs. the TTMall exclusive version. AmiAmi doesn't seem to offer the exclusive version (yet).

Does Amazon Japan sell TT Mall Exlcusives?

o.supreme wrote:Does Amazon Japan sell TT Mall Exlcusives?

Sadly no, then again that might be a good thing, I'm less poor that way.

xMXUx wrote:

Emerje wrote:

xMXUx wrote:He's available from Anime-Export (https://anime-export.com/index.php?product=69113), but costs almost double than the standard version (27.800 JPY vs. 14.800JPY).
Not sure I can justify the price difference

That's ridiculous, the MSRP is 20,350 JPY and after tax is removed for exports and the usual Japanese discounted prices it should be closer to that other price at most retailers. AmiAmi has it listed at 16,280 JPY and will likely be less through Amazon Japan.

Emerje

The one listed on AmiAmi looks to be the standard version tho. I was comparing the prices of the standard version vs. the TTMall exclusive version. AmiAmi doesn't seem to offer the exclusive version (yet).

Ah, sorry, I misunderstood. It's too bad it's a TTM exclusive, the price is only 5,000 JPY more than the regular one, but won't get discounted like that one is.

o.supreme wrote:Does Amazon Japan sell TT Mall Exlcusives?

No but Pulse does so we'll have to wait and see if they sell it. Would certainly be the best price option.

Emerje

Thanks to Seibertronian o.supreme for making us aware of a special edition release of MPG-06 Kaen that includes additional accessories only available through Takara Tomy Mall currently. MPG-06S features bronze stands that can be attached to the train tracks, a MP stand for Raiden, and a a metallic sword for Raiden along with all of Kaen's other accessories. He comes in much larger box, but should be stressed that this isn't a multi-figure box set of any kind. The set is priced at 25,300 JPY compared the standard edition priced at 20,350 JPY.

o.supreme wrote:Special MPG-06S (This is just the 6th Trainbot, NOT a box set of all 6) ...with box plus a plated version of the Light Sword and bases/stand arms for all 6 MPG’s and Raiden’s character card. The box features a very nice Raiden art with the other Trainbots around him. This special pack has a pre-order window from June 5 to July 10 in Japan.

I certainly hope Pulse or BBTS offers it, not just TT Mall, as there's no way for residents in North America to order it directly.

https://takaratomymall.jp/shop/g/g4904810914846/

Well looks like Pulse made good on the offering. In an odd twist however they have ONLY the MPG-06S box with extras, no listing yet for the stand-alone MPG-06 Kaen.

https://hasbropulse.com/collections/new ... inbot-kaen

Price is pretty reasonable all things considered. I'm glad I was able to cancel my Amazon Japan order for the standard Kaen.

The only downside is now, I'll have MPG-05 by October, it will be a long 8 months waiting after that to finally finish Raiden in May of 2024.

o.supreme wrote:Well looks like Pulse made good on the offering. In an odd twist however they have ONLY the MPG-06S box with extras, no listing yet for the stand-alone MPG-06 Kaen.

https://hasbropulse.com/collections/new ... inbot-kaen

Price is pretty reasonable all things considered. I'm glad I was able to cancel my Amazon Japan order for the standard Kaen.

The only downside is now, I'll have MPG-05 by October, it will be a long 8 months waiting after that to finally finish Raiden in May of 2024.

Yeah, they definitely hit the right price on that set, definitely the way to go over the standard Kaen.

Emerje

o.supreme wrote:
The only downside is now, I'll have MPG-05 by October, it will be a long 8 months waiting after that to finally finish Raiden in May of 2024.

Yeah, the rollout schedule for these things is killing me. Over two years for the full set and you can't connect any of them together until the fourth one arrives.

Jerks.

angtre wrote:There are two questions in my mind:
1 - Will they ever reuse these molds for the alternative Diaclone color scheme? Apart from transparent and chromium ones, they were pretty neat.
2 - Will they release more MP Combiners and give us the Devastator we deserve?

For question 1, yeah that's happening as MPG 7 through 12 apparently.

For question 2, have you met us? We don't deserve anything

Brokebot wrote:

o.supreme wrote:
The only downside is now, I'll have MPG-05 by October, it will be a long 8 months waiting after that to finally finish Raiden in May of 2024.

Yeah, the rollout schedule for these things is killing me. Over two years for the full set and you can't connect any of them together until the fourth one arrives.

Jerks.

Anyone who collected SS Devastator knows this struggle, I've survived it once, I'm ok this time around.

Funny enough, my 2 favorite SS Devastator bots were one of the first and one of the last, one limb and the crotch, and for Raiden, my 2 favorite appear to be a limb and the crotch, the crotch again released last.

As for the boxset, I don't want all those extra stands and box, so I am good with my Amazon JP order of vanilla Kaen

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:As for the boxset, I don't want all those extra stands and box, so I am good with my Amazon JP order of vanilla Kaen

Same. Raiden will be standing on the shelf, not the individual trains. I have no use for all that other stuff. No use for the tracks, but I have 'em for . . . . reasons.

I had 06 all set on AJP but now with Pulse having 06S, i will have to cancel.

Also, DMax, Vanilla Kaen is a great descriptor phrase. Excellent work!

Now that 06 is on Pulse I can't imagine why anyone would choose that over 06S at such a small markup.

Emerje

Emerje wrote:Now that 06 is on Pulse I can't imagine why anyone would choose that over 06S at such a small markup.

Emerje

Well, we just said why. Some of us just don't need or want the extra stuff. The only thing of significance in it for me is the extra sword, and I'm fine without it. The rest of it would be going in a box taking up space. And personally, I'm just ready to wrap this up. I'm not waiting the extra two or three extra months for stuff that I don't need.

Brokebot wrote:

Emerje wrote:Now that 06 is on Pulse I can't imagine why anyone would choose that over 06S at such a small markup.

Emerje

Well, we just said why. Some of us just don't need or want the extra stuff. The only thing of significance in it for me is the extra sword, and I'm fine without it. The rest of it would be going in a box taking up space. And personally, I'm just ready to wrap this up. I'm not waiting the extra two or three extra months for stuff that I don't need.

I'm with Brokebot, I have no desire nor reason to get the extras

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:

Brokebot wrote:

Emerje wrote:Now that 06 is on Pulse I can't imagine why anyone would choose that over 06S at such a small markup.

Emerje

Well, we just said why. Some of us just don't need or want the extra stuff. The only thing of significance in it for me is the extra sword, and I'm fine without it. The rest of it would be going in a box taking up space. And personally, I'm just ready to wrap this up. I'm not waiting the extra two or three extra months for stuff that I don't need.

I'm with Brokebot, I have no desire nor reason to get the extras

For me it's not so much about what I need but what I can get for just $30 more. I've mentioned before that I doubt I'll display these as Raiden since, frankly, it looks terrible and those extra stand parts could be useful in that.

Emerje

I understand the pros and cons of fans who just want the individual Kaen release, as well as those who want the special box.

For me it isn't even about the additional accessories, as much as it is the Box itself. I absolutely adore Giftsets. The art and the idea that you get them all at once was always so cool to me as a kid.

I have all 11 UW Boxes, as well as all the giftsets that came out for CW, and even the 2 TR sets (even though they weren't combiners, they were the same style and packaging). I also have all the TT Selects sets as well, although they have no art really.

The Raiden Box just looks amazing to me. I've said this before, and I'll say it again, when it comes to customizations, if some 3P company actually produced high quality packaging for Combiners that never had a proper box set, I'd definitely purchase them.

I like a boxset primarily for it's practicality. Get 'em all at once so you didn't have to chase all of the individual members down. As for the artwork, I do love it but Predaking and Computron came with a mini-poster that takes up a hell of a lot less space on the wall than the box does on a shelf. Add to that, a basement flood had ruined all the packaging I had stored up from my Beast Wars collection as well as all my wife's Star Wars stuff. I don't bother with it anymore.

My MPG4 Suiken just shipped from Amazon Japan. Price went down too, so he was $124 shipped. Looking forward to this one, I think he is the 2nd best looking of the crew.

Yes mine would have shipped yesterday also, but like a dummy, I had the wrong payment info for my MPG-04 purchase (and MPG-05 apparently), so I went in and fixed them both. Looks like it will ship within the next 24 hours.

The price reduction is probably due to the exchange doing slightly better in the last month or so. It's still not as good as it was last year when MPG-01 and 02 came out, but it is better than when 03 came out in March, and still slightly better than any other retail price.

My yen price went down 2000 yen, it wasn't just the exchange rate.

I am super excited for Suiken. He looks so good, and I really hope he is good.

Got my copy yesterday. I just opened the shipping box, but haven't had time to open the toy itself.

o.supreme wrote:Got my copy yesterday. I just opened the shipping box, but haven't had time to open the toy itself.

Mine's still a week away. Not sure why it's coming so slow this time

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:

o.supreme wrote:Got my copy yesterday. I just opened the shipping box, but haven't had time to open the toy itself.

Mine's still a week away. Not sure why it's coming so slow this time

For whatever reason they used ECMS instead of DHL this time. They all arrived in California, which makes sens why o.supreme has his already. Mine is due Monday.

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:

o.supreme wrote:Got my copy yesterday. I just opened the shipping box, but haven't had time to open the toy itself.

Mine's still a week away. Not sure why it's coming so slow this time

Yeah, still waiting on mine as well.

Thats ok, in this case 1st definitely isn't best. Ya'll will probably have yours out and on display before I finally get to enjoy mine (still unopened 5 days later)

o.supreme wrote:Thats ok, in this case 1st definitely isn't best. Ya'll will probably have yours out and on display before I finally get to enjoy mine (still unopened 5 days later)

Hell, man, if you're not gonna open the damn thing, send it to me and I'll send mine to you whenever it comes.

Brokebot wrote:

o.supreme wrote:Thats ok, in this case 1st definitely isn't best. Ya'll will probably have yours out and on display before I finally get to enjoy mine (still unopened 5 days later)

Hell, man, if you're not gonna open the damn thing, send it to me and I'll send mine to you whenever it comes.

I would if I had time. . Seriously though, with the holiday tomorrow I should have time to open and enjoy it

Mine should arrive tomorrow, so I hopefully can open him up tomorrow night

My Suiken arrived finally.

This was the Trainbot I was 2nd most excited for, after Kaen. And he is pretty good.

The one complaint I have is that his backback sticks out a bit farther than I anticipated and would like.

But other than that, he is pretty good. the colors are as nice in person as I was hoping, and I enjoy how different his silhouette is from the other trains. I also appreciate that he is much more proportionate compared to the legs.

The built-in hand is also nice. I like how it functions.

I will share more pictures later, but I am liking him so far.