Review #50: Legends Optimus Prime and Motormaster
Mold Mates
Well, here we are! The 50th review at Yotsuya's Reviews! So, what should I review?
My first thought was to review the newer version of Masterpiece Optimus Prime, as had been promised as far back as... my god, as far back as October 2012?! I guess that's what I get for accidentally taking so much time off. Anyway, I do plan to review that toy soon, but after the last review of all five of Fansproject's Stunticons, I needed something a bit easier for this time.
Still, the very first review here was an Optimus Prime. It would be nice to have another for this website's 50th! But maybe a smaller Optimus...
Wouldn't you know it? I do have a small Optimus I haven't reviewed. Actually, I have a few such smaller Optimi, but I have one in particular that also received a recolor as Motormaster, making a nice callback also to my immediately preceding Stunticon review. So, why not do a Mold Mates article featuring that pair of toys?
My first thought was to review the newer version of Masterpiece Optimus Prime, as had been promised as far back as... my god, as far back as October 2012?! I guess that's what I get for accidentally taking so much time off. Anyway, I do plan to review that toy soon, but after the last review of all five of Fansproject's Stunticons, I needed something a bit easier for this time.
Still, the very first review here was an Optimus Prime. It would be nice to have another for this website's 50th! But maybe a smaller Optimus...
Wouldn't you know it? I do have a small Optimus I haven't reviewed. Actually, I have a few such smaller Optimi, but I have one in particular that also received a recolor as Motormaster, making a nice callback also to my immediately preceding Stunticon review. So, why not do a Mold Mates article featuring that pair of toys?
Optimus Prime here was a Legends Class figure released as part of the "Reveal the Shield" toyline in 2011. Motormaster (sold as "Motorbreath," likely for trademark reasons) was released the following year in the Generations toyline, features a new accessory in the form of a sword, and a few mold changes to facilitate interaction with the sword.
As a point of interest, the mold was then later released again in the original Optimus coloration, but featuring the sword and mold changes and sold at discount retail chains. The version featured here is the original version, although augmented by Reprolabels. |
This mold features a very nice looking truck mode. I've discussed previously how I have three different grades for Optimus Prime truck modes, from "Truck" (the best), to "Box On Wheels," to "Obviously a Folded Up Robot Chest" (the worst). It pleases me to say that this one is firmly in the "Truck" range. The only immediately obvious bit of robot kibble on this truck mode is the feet on the back of the truck bed, but even those are not obnoxiously obvious. There's a bit of a gap in the back of the cab visible when you look at it from directly behind, but it is not nearly as obvious in person as it is in photographs.
Optimus features a bit of paint chipping around the top of his cab, on the corners of what will be his head. This is something else that is much more obvious in photos then it is in person. Still, while not the end of the world, it is unfortunate.
Reprolabels adds nice detail to Optimus especially in truck mode. Originally, as part of the Reveal the Shield line, he featured a rubsign on the lower rear corner of one side of his cab. (This has been relocated, and will be viable in robot mode.) Stickers gave him standard Autobot insignia, placed in a more traditional location. Also added by the Reprolabels are side windows, a rear window (not the most accurate G1 detail, but supported well by this particular mold), the silver stripe across his front and down the sides of his cab, and detail of rear lights and a license plate.
The toys roll nicely along their front and rear wheels. The center wheels are, alas, dummy wheels. It doesn't look too bad, however. I've certainly seen more obvious dummy wheels. If not for the lack of metal in the center of them, they might not have even been noticeable without a close inspection.
The only mold difference between the two figures that is visible in vehicle mode is a hole in the top of Motormaster's cab (on the back of what will be his head) which is for weapon storage, if you don't mind having a truck with a huge sword across the top.
Optimus features a bit of paint chipping around the top of his cab, on the corners of what will be his head. This is something else that is much more obvious in photos then it is in person. Still, while not the end of the world, it is unfortunate.
Reprolabels adds nice detail to Optimus especially in truck mode. Originally, as part of the Reveal the Shield line, he featured a rubsign on the lower rear corner of one side of his cab. (This has been relocated, and will be viable in robot mode.) Stickers gave him standard Autobot insignia, placed in a more traditional location. Also added by the Reprolabels are side windows, a rear window (not the most accurate G1 detail, but supported well by this particular mold), the silver stripe across his front and down the sides of his cab, and detail of rear lights and a license plate.
The toys roll nicely along their front and rear wheels. The center wheels are, alas, dummy wheels. It doesn't look too bad, however. I've certainly seen more obvious dummy wheels. If not for the lack of metal in the center of them, they might not have even been noticeable without a close inspection.
The only mold difference between the two figures that is visible in vehicle mode is a hole in the top of Motormaster's cab (on the back of what will be his head) which is for weapon storage, if you don't mind having a truck with a huge sword across the top.
Moving onto robot mode, we find a decent looking little Optimus Prime! A little kibble on the arms, but aside from that a really good representation for this size class! And next to him we have... well... a black Optimus Prime. I wonder why they didn't just give him red windows instead of purple and call him Scourge? Maybe they just felt they hadn't used Motormaster for a while, and wanted to put out a figure of him? Of course, since they couldn't quite use the right name anyway, it seems a moot point. But, that aside, black Optimus Prime repaints are not uncommon, and for a black Optimus this is a good looking one.
In addition to what was discussed when looking at the vehicle mode, Optimus also gains Reprolabels on his forarms replicating sticker detail from his G1 toy. |
Motormaster's hands have been remolded to have a smaller opening to accommodate holding the sword.
Articulation is somewhat limited, although about average for Legends Class figures at the time. Not long afterwords, however, Hasbro started making their Legends Class (or Commander Class, depending on the toy line) figures slightly larger and with much better articulation, so in retrospect it can seem quite lacking. But as said, it was okay for the time. No articulation in the head. The shoulders can swivel 360 degrees, and the arms can fold back on a joint mainly intended for transformation. The elbows feature a ball joint. There is a swivel in the chest intended for transformation, but it can be swiveled slightly without looking bad to accentuate a pose. Another transformation joint could technically be used as an ab crunch, but not in a way I think would look good. Finally, the hips have ball joints, but without articulation in the knees or ankles, there isn't much point to this other then to allow for a spread leg pose.
Articulation is somewhat limited, although about average for Legends Class figures at the time. Not long afterwords, however, Hasbro started making their Legends Class (or Commander Class, depending on the toy line) figures slightly larger and with much better articulation, so in retrospect it can seem quite lacking. But as said, it was okay for the time. No articulation in the head. The shoulders can swivel 360 degrees, and the arms can fold back on a joint mainly intended for transformation. The elbows feature a ball joint. There is a swivel in the chest intended for transformation, but it can be swiveled slightly without looking bad to accentuate a pose. Another transformation joint could technically be used as an ab crunch, but not in a way I think would look good. Finally, the hips have ball joints, but without articulation in the knees or ankles, there isn't much point to this other then to allow for a spread leg pose.
The rubsign that originally was located on one side of Optimus's cab can now be seen on the back of one of his legs.
To the left is these two figures, presented with a standard size DVD case for scale reference.
So, time for some final thoughts. For when it was released, this was a decent little Optimus Prime. If you are a fan of the character, and if you can track one of these down for a decent price, I'd say he's worth picking up! Motormaster, on the other hand, doesn't really work as Motormaster, although he could almost work as a Scourge if you wanted to include him in your collection as that character. Overall, I'd say he's not really worth adding to your collection unless you really just love having your black Optimus repaints! (There are certainly enough of them out there that that is a thing. Any time there is a new mold of Optimus, it almost seems as if it is only a matter of time before a black version comes out.) So, Optimus... Yes! Recomended. Motormaster... meh. Not a bad figure, but especially if you already have the Optimus version, not an essential piece in a collection unless you really like black Optimus repaints. Review added 9 July 2014 by Yotsuya. Comments are welcomed! |