COUNTDOWN: The remaining Masterpiece Diaclone homages!

Attention Masterpiece Diaclone collectors – we are so back!

Yes, after what seemed like a bit of a drought for a minute there, the pre-Transformers homages found in TakaraTomy’s Masterpiece line are now back in full swing, at least based on a couple of newly-leaked listings doing the rounds.

Assuming they are to be believed, we have a red version of Hoist (likely under the name Lift Ticket) and a black take on Ironhide (possibly under the Diakron-nodding name of DK-2 Guard) on the horizon. In truth, these will be dropped under the new MPG branding, but regardless, the point is they’re a welcome sight for fans of this long-running series of repaints.

What began with MP-12T Tigertrack back in 2013 has burgeoned to include just about every Diaclone Car Robot reference you could think of, with ‘black Ironhide’ being one of the most notable omissions till this point. Though it had felt like the whole endeavour was grinding to a slow halt somewhat, the reality is we’ve been blessed with a decent glut of the releases in recent times, especially with the Masterpiece Skids and Trailbreaker moulds both being realised in bold new era-relevant colour schemes of various hues.

Still, we’re not done yet, as there are (by our count) five potential Masterpiece Diaclone Carbots still to go! Let’s have a look at what those are.

#5: Deep Cover

Considering that MP-12 Lambor is the first Masterpiece Carbot mould and how many repaints it’s been through since its 2012 debut, it remains ever-baffling to consider there’s still no Deep Cover release on the horizon. It’s been one of the most commonly cited suggestions for the treatment ever since the days of Tigertrack first being unveiled, and with a Generations Selects figure having dropped in 2021, its absence is all the more apparent. The black Lamborghini originally saw life as a repaint of New Countach LP500S under Diaclone and was eventually brought to Transformers as an e-HOBBY exclusive Collector’s Edition release in 2003, where he was finally given the name of Deep Cover. Every other version of the original design has already been realised in MP form, so Deep Cover remains a notable omission. Will it ever happen? Honestly, it feels doubtful now, especially with the style of the line having moved on quite considerably and the current switch to MPG branding. Perhaps it might become a reality with a potential new Sideswipe mould!

#4: Red Honda City Turbo

Since Masterpiece Skids having been released in 2021, we’ve been treated to a quick and thorough succession of Diaclone repaints in the form of MP-54 Reboost, MP-53+ Senatorcrosscut and the bafflingly-designated MP-53+B Dia Burnout! You would be forgiven for believing we’re done with this core design, but one more potential homage remains on the table. Like the Masterpiece releases, the classic mould featured two separate versions: a Honda City Turbo (used for Skids & Burnout) and a Honda City R (Reboost & Crosscut). However, the vintage Turbo had a third repaint, which was also red with a head to match (setting it slightly apart from Reboost), which has thus far never been replicated in any format as part of Transformers. Honestly, it seems imporbable TakaraTomy will want to do two separate releases of the same prevalent mould in such similar colours, so, like Deep Cover, this one feels extremely unlikely to ever happen officially!

#3: Blue 4WD Hi-luxe

It’s incredible to think that Masterpiece Trailbreaker is already the better part of two years old, but fortunately we already have one Diaclone-themed repaint of it already! MP-56+ Riggorus brings the mould to life in superlative yellow splendour and turns the previously unnamed bot into a Decepticon, no less! Again, though, there’s more to be done, as the vintage figure was also available in a rich royal blue, which would be most welcome as an MPG figure before too long. In this case, it feels more likely, if only because such a thing has already cropped up in Generations Selects, there named ‘DK-3 Breaker’ as a nod to the classic toy also featuring in Takara’s 1983 Diakron in the US. Watch this space.

#2: Blue 4WD Wrecker Type

Hoist is another new mould in Masterpiece, and one which is seemingly due a Diaclone makeover soon. With a Lift Ticket release imminent, that leaves just one more possibility yet to be done under MPG, and, like the above, it’s another beautiful blue bot. So far, this is one potential homage which is entirely untouched in Transformers terms, allthough you have to wonder if TakaraTomy would do both Hoist *and* Trailbreaker in such similar shades, despite the very extensive retooling between the two Masterpiece moulds. If it does become a toss-up, our money would be on the latter, if only because of the Diakron links, but fingers crossed we get them both, eh?

#1: Red F-1 Ligier JS11

Photo credit: Ben Munn via TFSquareOne

And then we come to the Grand Poobah of Diaclone homages. Whilst even casual Transformers fans are likely to be familiar with the F1 stylings of the blue Mirage from the first year of the Transformers line, his red re-release under Diaclone is an altogether less well-known prospect. In fact, as this version of F-1 Ligier JS11 was only ever packaged as part of the ultra-desirable 1985 Powered Convoy DX set (alongside the pre-Transformers colouration of Ultra Magnus, which itself has become known as Delta Magnus in the Masterpiece line), it’s about as rare as hens’ teeth. No surprise, the original toy can fetch absolutely staggering prices on today’s market, so it would be a genuine thrill to see a newly-moulded Masterpiece version of this classic colour scheme made real. Surprisingly, this is one that not even the Generations line has touched at this point, so either effort would be most welcome (not least if it also meant a Masterpiece Mirage, of course!). Here’s hoping.

Red the full article on this classic toy by TFSquareOne here!

So that’s our list!

TTFN