MP-32: Optimus Primal (Beast Convoy)

Intro:

I'll be completely honest, at one time I never thought there would be Masterpiece Beast Wars figures. I certainly dreamt and desired them, but because they weren't G1 characters, I basically accepted the reality of the situation of the time. Then one night on Twitter I saw the news and that was the first time I actually cried over a Transformers reveal. I was so shocked at the moment.

 

This figure became the first ever day one preorder of an Masterpiece figure for me. When I got the figure in November 2016, it was just so surreal. For years I heard stuff like "There's nothing a Masterpiece figure could do that the 2006 reissue hasn't already done." You know what, those people are so wrong. This figure is what I saw as a kid on TV. This is what I wanted back when I was a kid. All my issues I had with the 1996 version isn't here now and I love that. It is just so nice to move an arm and the other one doesn't move the other way.

 

Beast Mode:

The beast mode is nearly perfect, if one looks towards the front. On the back though, there are hints of the robot mode. Though that is too be expected with a figure like this. Can't really hide it on the underside like the MP Autobots and Decepticons. Other than that, this beast mode is far better than the original 1996 and the retool 2006 reissue. 

 

Head can rotate around and comes with two optional faces. Just pull the face off and add either the angry face or the smile face. One has the option of standing the figure up on two legs or hunch over with the arms on the ground. The hands can open up along with the index finger being separate pieces. Nothing in the knee area due to the robot mode transformation, but the feet can tilt.

 

Transformation:

Before even doing anything, remove the entire beast mode head. That is needed to have access to the battery area. You'll need to unscrew the back of the ball socket and insert two LR-44/A-76 batteries. Once that's done, then reverse it and start the transformation

 

Robot mode:

For me, it is just so surreal to look at this robot mode. It brings back so many memories from when I was kid. To take it outside for pictures, I just really expect to hear Garry Chalk's voice coming from it. I can't get over how much it looks like it walked off the screen.

 

The figure comes with four total faces. The standard, faceplate, anguish, and smile. To swap the faces, just push back the antennas and remove the face from the side of the head. To access the light up feature, just press down on the head. The eyes will remain glowing for several seconds. Though I do personally wish they could remain on until pushing down on the head again. To make accessing the arm guns easier, look at  side of the arm facing the body. There's a button that you can push with a fingernail to lift the guns up a bit. That will also make the upper arm panel push up slightly and just grab that and raise up all the way. Then extend the guns. Like on the show and the old toy, the figure does have canons that can swing from the back.
 

Articulation is really great in this mode. Head can look up, down, and to the sides. Though what really has benefited the most are the legs. They have a lot of articulation now. Legs can rotate a bit to the side. Has an excellent range in the knees with two separate bends. As for the feet, they can tilt to the side and now can go up a bit and down.

 

Should one get this?:

Personally I don't care about this whole G1 vs BW mindset. If you are a Masterpiece collector that like great figures, this is a must have. This is the best figure from the line that I've messed with since Masterpiece Soundwave. If one never got into the Masterpiece line, this figure is a good sample of showing how great the Masterpiece can be. 

 

Fans Hobby MB-05 Flypro

Intro:

The second ever review sample that Fans Hobby kindly sent to me. Overall the figure quite solid and have a good amount of heft. Now as a kid during Beast Wars, I didn't know about Grotusque and the Monsterbots. It was only in 2000 that I got what turned out to be a member of the team, Doublecross. Though still don't have the other two G1 figures. So it is rather cool to have a figure of the character now, quite tall one in that. Towers over my G1 Doublecross and Titans Return Twinferno figures.

 

The figure has bonus parts, two optional faces, a load of flame parts, and new parts for the earlier MB-02 Megatooth and MB-03 Feilong. Which as I don't have them, I can't show off those parts on the figures. Just new face options for both figures and for MB-03 Feilong, a set of hands for the robot mode. The additional flame parts are meant to go with them. As I've found out, they can be used for props on other figures too if one is like me and doesn't have them.

 

Beast Mode:

To be honest, I'm getting a Beast Wars Fuzor vibe when I look at it. Just reminds me so much of a dragon crossed with a beaver, well a beaver with sharp fangs. As mentioned it earlier, this figure has some weight to it. So for flying displays, use something sturdy. The articulation is rather nice on the figure. Wings can bend in two places for flapping and they can rotate. The head can move around a bit and the mouth can open quite wide. Mainly for inserting a flame part into it for a nice looking fire breathe feature. The beast mode fingers are individual pieces, so one can make them appear however they want. The waist can still move in this mode. The legs have some tight ratchet joints around the feet. Though as this is a review sample, that might be different with the official release in the near future. No movement on the tail.

Transformation:

As I don't own Grotusque, I have no idea if this transformation shares anything in common with that figure. Just be aware for the first time transforming it into beast mode. Pull the robot mode body upwards as it is packaged with part of the body tabbed into the crotch section.

 

Robot mode:

Standing close to MB-04 Gunfighter II's height, Flypro has a nice brute vibe. One can arrange the wings to be however they like, but I mainly keep them compact as much as possible. The articulation is pretty good for a figure of this size. Flypro has ankle tilts, a waist rotation, hands that can swivel around and open up. Like Gunfighter II, the head is on a ball join. So it can look up and down slightly and do a full 360 spin if one wanted to do that. The figure does have metal parts, mostly in the beast mode legs and feet. 

To have access to the face swap gimmick, turn the head around and just unscrew the front half of the head will come off and then just remove the face section. Take the eye piece off and insert that into either the angry face or the happy face. Then put the new face on the front half of the head and screw everything back together.

  

Should one get this?

Honestly if one has MB-02 Megatooth and MB-03 Feilong in the collection, oh then I would easily suggest getting this to complete the team. If one's like me who didn't have those two, read and watch the reviews of this figure. If this looks tempting, go for it and this could lead to wanting to buy other figures than Fans Hobby have done in the past. This and Gunfighter II at least for have been quite solid figures.