COUNTDOWN: Masterpiece Transformers that haven’t been repainted (yet)

Perhaps unsurprisingly for a toyline that is now nearly nineteen years old, Transformers Masterpiece has seen many great repaints in its time, with most major releases getting the treatment at least once along the way.

Yet, many designs remain one-and-done, which is made even more apparent because of some of the unusual repainted efforts we’ve seen elsewhere.

me new bird pic.twitter.com/Pv3ZNW8lhm

— Sixo (@SixoTF) March 18, 2022

With stuff like MP-55 Nightbird now a reality and the WFC line pumping out extremely niche deep-cut-level repainted releases like they’re going out of style, it’s bizarre to think the MP designs on today’s list haven’t been made more of in the time since they were first released. So, let’s look at how TakaraTomy could potentially re-use them, no matter how unlikely some of the suggestions might be!

 

#8: MP-46 Blackwidow

Blackarachnia (as Western fans more commonly know her) probably isn’t the first character you imagine when it comes to tons of repaint potential, which may explain why her MP-46 release remains a one-off. Yet as the recent Buzzworthy Bumblebee Worlds Collide set has proven with the Kingdom version of the character, there’s more opportunity here than you might think!

Picture credit: TFWiki

Yep, that release was inspired by the outlandishly good 1996 box art from the original Blackarachnia toy and would undoubtedly work well on a Masterpiece re-do. The vintage figure is arguably a little more muted than its accompanying artwork, but there was also a fairly overhauled paint job used on the Takara release, too, so there is plenty to work with here.

 

#7: MP-47 Hound

Masterpiece Hound caused a fair amount of comment when released in 2019, primarily because of the often shoddy quality control. If anything, it’s since become the go-to example for detractors seeking to critique the entire toyline, which is a shame as there’s quite a bit to like about the design itself, despite the spotty execution and plastic used. So perhaps a well-timed repaint might help to turn the design’s perception around a little, although there is the small matter of Hound not typically being well-known in terms of alternate colour schemes.

Perhaps the first opportunity to mind is Detritus, a character released as an e-HOBBY exclusive repaint of the G1 Hound toy in 2004. The backstory is that of a Junkion who had gone rogue and started working as a bounty hunter, so that’s pretty cool. Then there’s the bizarre colour scheme, complete with painted goatee and unusual decals, which could look fantastic on an MP-47 recolour.

In honor of MP-47 #Hound's release I've quickie updated my toy + edition #digibash to include the toy rifle we saw at the ACGHK show! Please release it @takaratomytoys @TF_pr @Hasbro?#Transformers #トランスフォーマー #TFTOYの面白さを伝え隊 #MoreMasterpiece pic.twitter.com/plYb1roDtK

— Chris CHCHCHCH (@chchchch1tf) December 29, 2019

Failing that, how about taking inspiration from some of the other toy-inspired G1 releases we’ve seen in recent years and putting out a 1984-themed re-release of Hound himself? Given we’ve all been hanging on for a similar treatment with both Tracks and Sunstreaker, it seems unlikely at this stage but never say never!

 

#6: MP-50 Tigatron

I know someone reading this will be keen to point out that Tigatron is a repaint of Cheetor, but they would be wrong! I’ve seen this point made far too many times online already, but anyone who owns both toys will quickly be able to tell you the two have not a jot of shared moulding, despite numerous parts of their finished appearance looking similar at first glance. Tigatron is also quite obviously bigger, and although the characters have typically been born of the same design, he qualifies as a unique Masterpiece release in its own right.

Picture credit: The Spacebridge

Again, though, the Generations line has only recently shown how TakaraTomy could do it by debuting the first-ever orange version of the character, in a nod to the 1996 toy’s original prototype colours before its eventual release in white (or cream, for the Kenner version). The Kingdom recolour even features a newly-moulded head sculpt, again modelled after the vintage design’s ‘mutant mask’ gimmick, which you can see above in Tigatron’s box art. It could be a genuinely epic re-do for MP-50!

 

#5: MP-35 Grapple

OK, if I thought people would pick me up on Tigatron being a repaint already, I’m confident someone will do regarding Grapple! Yes, it’s true; he is technically a recolour of MP-33 Inferno and not an entirely new mould himself by rights. However, the two only share 50% of parts in common and therefore, Grapple just about edges it onto the list, in my opinion! My article, my rules, after all.

This pic shows all of the parts MP Inferno & Grapple have in common. 50% of parts are different! AMAZING.

C/o https://t.co/QsqW2Yp2dL pic.twitter.com/2Jwm1bxCpw

— Sixo (@SixoTF) September 25, 2016

In any case, this isn’t just an excuse to trot out that particular fact (although it is one of my personal favourite dinner party conversation-starters) but rather a prelude to highlighting what could potentially be one of the finest repaints in the Masterpiece line.

Just imagine the already-stunning Grapple design decked out in G1 Hauler colours, right? That vibrant Constructicon-esque green would look terrific adorning the mould and make an exceptional accompaniment to the line-up alongside Inferno and his repaint, Artfire. If only, eh?

 

#4: MP-41 Dinobot

Just laying this out there, but MP-41 Dinobot is one of the best Masterpiece toys. Now we’ve cleared that up, let’s talk about how insane it is that there’s only ever been the one version of it released, especially when the repaint potential is surprisingly plentiful! There’s the Fox Kids makeover with its bizarre red stripes, the 10th-anniversary version (which attempted cartoon accuracy but inexplicably had green shins), or the retooled releases such as Beast Wars Neo’s purple Hardhead and Beast Machines’ subsequent repaint, Dinotron. Then you could go mad and even do 1998’s Beast Wars II Thrustor if you wanted, complete with all the cyborg enhancements and everything. Now that would be something to see!

Yet, in my mind, there’s one recolour which stands above the rest and would be the first to catch most collectors’ eyes – Grimlock. Released in 1997 as part of the Kenner line, the accompanying bio even gave hints at this being the same character we all know and live from Generation 1. Unfortunately, the toy itself is a well-known GPS victim, although he’s very recently found new life as part of WFC Kingdom, so who’s to say a Masterpiece version couldn’t be on the cards too?

 

#3: MP-24 Star Saber

Star Saber was the character selected in a fan poll in 2013 as to which Autobot leader should receive the Masterpiece treatment next, although since the toy arrived two years later, it’s sadly never seen a repaint. As the oldest design on this list and most definitely the largest, the chances of that happening seem oddly slim now, which is a shame as there’s a particularly stunning paint job just waiting in the wings here.

Picture credit: TFWiki

Yep, the Robotmasters toy of the character showcased this frankly stunning black and purple makeover back in 2005, and it’s remained a bizarrely untapped source of repaint potential ever since! One can only speculate how gorgeous MP-24 could look if decked out in these colours at this stage, or indeed the upcoming Haslab Generations figure, for that matter! Sadly, I would guess it’s just as unlikely to happen, given the crowdfunded nature of the original release, but it’s still fun to imagine.

 

#2: MP-43 Megatron (Beast Wars)

I think MP-43 Megatron may well be one of the most underrated Masterpiece releases, if only because of how acutely breathtaking it is in hand. It brings to life the CGI character from the cartoon in stunning detail and ably draws your attention whenever you’re nearby, looking equally striking in both modes. One would imagine it could be ripe for repainting, mainly as the WFC line has again paved the way with its own Beast Wars Megatron design, yet it’s been a non-starter.

No surprises, but T-Wrecks is the most obvious choice here, although I would hope that a potential MP-43 repaint might nail the blazing red and garish green better than its mainline counterpart, speaking honestly. Somehow I don’t see it happening soon, but that won’t stop me hoping!

 

#1: MP-48 Lio Convoy

Our final entry is the one-and-only Lio Convoy, first released in Masterpiece form two years ago (which seems like both an eternity ago and just yesterday, somehow). The toy is beyond beautiful, although sadly proved to be particularly prone to paint chipping. Still, that doesn’t mean a second turn for the mould wouldn’t be welcome, especially with two fantastic colour schemes just waiting in the wings!

It wasn’t all that long ago I was making a bit of a fuss of the original Black Lio Convoy figure, but it seems like an absolute shoo-in for the MP treatment at some point – I’m pretty amazed it hasn’t happened already! Then there’s the clear plastic Flash Lio Convoy figure, referencing the same Beast Wars II animated movie that inspired Masterpiece Burning Convoy, so it would be a royal shame to think such a release might never happen. My red monkey needs his gold lion to ride on, please! 

 
 
So, that’s our list! Which repaints would you be most excited for?

TTFN