COUNTDOWN: 4 more Masterpiece Transformers that were total lemons

Despite recently being rebranded as MPG, the Masterpiece brand remains the longest-running line in Transformers history.

As the name suggests, it is also designed to be amongst the most premium parts of the brand, delivering high-end renditions of characters with a degree of complexity and accuracy that is mainly unmatched by most mainline retail offerings. Except with almost two-and-a-half decades of output, there’s bound to be a few bum notes along the way.

And so, after our initial list, we’re again talking about the Masterpiece toys that perhaps didn’t quite live up to the title in one way or another – whether because of one singular but unfortunate flaw or just down to them being outright stinkers: here are 4 more Masterpiece lemons.

#4: MP-9B Black Rodimus

If I felt bad for putting the original MP-9 Rodimus on our initial list of lemons, then you can bet I’m equally aggrieved at having to place this super sleek black repaint on the follow-up. Yet fair’s fair, for just like its red and orange predecessor, MP-9B remains an excellent design, but one with a highly notable and entirely unavoidable flaw that will undoubtedly impact your experience of this otherwise exceptional release. However, where the original felt like a more general ticking time bomb of overall QC blunders, Black Rodimus’ problem is entirely limited to the knees, as otherwise, everything else about the toy feels pretty solid! So, how bad can it be? Well, here’s the thing – the teal joints will explode at some point upon handling the toy. It’s not a question of if; it’s when. Certainly, the transformation will set it off, but light handling or posing might be enough, and I’ve even heard reports of copies having cracked while still in the box. At some point, though, those knees will give way, and let me tell you, it’s not a pretty sight! Fortunately, there used to be unofficial replacement sets of metal knees freely available online for many years after the figure’s 2011 release, including one that matched the toy’s teal colour exceptionally well (which you can see in the photo here). Sadly, those have become less prolific as time has worn on, meaning if you are searching for an MP-9B on today’s aftermarket, you may be better off finding one which has already had the necessary surgery. It’s a shame because otherwise, this is just about the most beautiful figure you can imagine!

#3: MP-48 Lio Convoy

Some may be surprised to see MP-48 on such a list, and it’s only fair to acknowledge that the issues present on this release are not as prevalent nor as publicised as some of the other examples. Yet still, despite its good looks and many features, Masterpiece Lio Convoy is cursed by a very apparent problem that is once again quite unavoidable should you actually handle it. In this case, it’s all to do with the paint, specifically the red-coated sections on the arms and main body, which are highly susceptible to wear and chipping during any movement or transformation. Paint problems aren’t unheard of on MP toys, mind, but it’s particularly notable here because of how quickly and effortlessly the finish will sheer off even when trying to be careful to avoid it; in my case, simply moving some of the joints for transformation has left a fairly nasty battle scar where the paint has been torn into, whilst red remnants remain on the white parts. It’s especially frustrating when you consider the red paint covers up red plastic, meaning the whole thing could have been avoided from the start with a different design decision. It wouldn’t look as premium, sure, but then there’s nothing sightly about damaged paint, either. All in all, it makes handling the bare plastic black repaint that much more enjoyable!

#2: MP-11NR Ramjet

Now we come to an example where it’s not just a few QC snafus on an otherwise solid figure but the design itself being inherently problematic from conception. Yes, the Coneheads were doubtless a bit of a Masterpiece nadir in many regards, showcasing some of the line’s most haphazard build quality and half-baked retooling in its two-decade history. It’s a shame, too, as anticipation for these characters was high prior to Ramjet’s 2016 reveal, especially as very few collectors believed it may ever actually happen. Unfortunately, the problems all started with basing the toys around the MP-11 mould instead of producing a more extensive new design for the trio, as the compromises of this decision were all too evident in the final product. Most notable is the backpack plate not tabbing into anything, several redundant panels now causing clearance issues during transformation and obvious paint wear in joints that require manipulation between modes. Yet the lacklustre makeover could almost be forgiven were it not for the many production errors rife on these toys, and especially Ramjet, including loose joints, poor paint finish, stress marks, bits popping off and just generally a lack of solidity throughout the whole figure. Thrust was much the same, debuting as arguably the least stable Masterpiece release since the likes of MP-5, although fortunately, the powers that be made a concerted effort to at least ensure Dirge fared better. Still, this was overall a very disappointing outing for such beloved characters, and for many collectors, it ensured that Seeker fatigue was well and truly guaranteed, especially with six versions of the same mould, all commanding high-end prices.

#1: MP-45 Bumblebee

Oooh boy, you knew it had to feature on here eventually, right? Well, where to begin. Let’s just say that if the initial reaction to the MP-45 Bumblebee reveal was mixed to negative overall, then in-hand reports did little to turn the tide. For many collectors, this was the ultimate indictment that the Masterpiece line’s controversial swing towards ever-greater levels of slavish cartoon accuracy had gone way too far, resulting in a visually unappealing design from various angles and a rather laboured and fiddly transformation to boot. Even objectively, there’s little denying the backpack and heel kibble have the distinct air of compromise at best, and at worst they’re just outright unsightly elements that take away from the overall aesthetic being attempted here. Unfortunately, even if you are on board for the design itself, MP-45 is a bit of a crapshoot regarding quality, with numerous reports of problems right out of the box and potential breakages galore thanks to the heavy use of clear plastic throughout, including on joints and other areas needing to be manipulated for transformation. My copy alone suffered from loose limbs, scuffs and scratches aplenty, a face that wouldn’t stay tabbed in, a lopsided Autobot logo, bent plastic in the backpack, and, perhaps most egregious of all, a highly noticeable fingerprint in the paint on the chest. To say it was a disappointment in a line called Masterpiece is an understatement (as outlined in the initial review), and it means that for many of us, the MP-21 version of the character remains distinctly superior.

So that’s our list! Are there any other Masterpiece lemons?

TTFN