Masterpiece Soundwave

[BWprowl]

Okay, really all we know is that it exists and that BBTS has a pre-order up for it. Only pic right now (that I know of) is in sillhouette. Still, I kinda felt like making a topic about it (last time I lollygagged on something like this, with the Asian-Exclusive Generations, I regretted it), so...yeah.

I've never been the most vocal supporter of Masterpiece, most of them seem overtly fiddly and overdone. I did really like Grimlock though, and MP-10 and -11 appeal more (I'm looking forward to Hasbro's realease of MP-10, and I'm kind of jonesing for the upcoming MP Sunstorm). Anyway, with the latest MPs out seeming pretty good, and Soundwave's design seeming like it would be easy to fine-tune to something like this, I'm interested. Plus, hey, it's fun to speculate on what MP-ified tapes he'll come with (spoilers: Ravage, Laserbeak, maybe Rumble).

Also, we'll probably get MP Soundblaster out of the deal eventually.

[Onslaught Six]

I'm both excited and strangely worried for this. There's a lot of factors I'll need to consider before I buy into it--price (right now, $150--Hasbro's will obviously be cut in half at the loss of some stuff that I may or may not care about) and the toy's height (I like my Soundwaves Big, but not Enormous, which Masterpieces usually are) being the biggest factors, as well as, like you said, what-all he comes with, and how well they balance things like original toy accuracy and adherence to the cartoon model. (Ideally, they would make a toy with two faces; one resembling the original toy, and one resembling the cartoon's. They could even replace one with a face that has a mouth, for Marvel Comics accuracy!)

I want Soundwave to be Huge And Chunky; his chest needs to be roughly half of his entire body mass, just like the original toy. He can't be too detailed; Soundwave needs lots of good, flat panels. And he needs to have stuff like his knee and shoulder details intact. (For what it's worth, I am perfectly happy with my G1 Soundwave reissue hanging out with my Classics Decepticons. In my opinion, no toy has come closer to the essence of What Soundwave Is. Even the upcoming FOC Voyager falls short, since his chest has that ugly and doofy three-tooth design carried over from WFC.)

[BWprowl]

and the toy's height (I like my Soundwaves Big, but not Enormous, which Masterpieces usually are)

Well, they've started getting smaller with MP-10, so Soundwave may come closer to what you'd want. We'll have to see.

(Ideally, they would make a toy with two faces; one resembling the original toy, and one resembling the cartoon's. They could even replace one with a face that has a mouth, for Marvel Comics accuracy!)

There's precedent: The Seekers all had swappable faces, and Grimlock had swappable eyes in both modes to go between cartoon and toy style. Of course, if there was a Soundwave with a comic-styled face, I'd want him all done up in purples, that would be awesome (I'm a firm believer that Comic Soundwave is best Soundwave).

(For what it's worth, I am perfectly happy with my G1 Soundwave reissue hanging out with my Classics Decepticons. In my opinion, no toy has come closer to the essence of What Soundwave Is. Even the upcoming FOC Voyager falls short, since his chest has that ugly and doofy three-tooth design carried over from WFC.)

Agreed that G1 Soundwave still works great with the Classics guys these days (and hey, by virtue of the TRU release, G1 Soundwave *is* Classics Soundwave). A couple more joints in his legs (really just knees) and there would never even be a need for an update, he'd be flippin' perfect. So seeing what a Masterpiece version does with the design will be interesting.

I'm actually kind of excited for the FoC version, despite already owning and loving the WfC Deluxe, purely because of the neat-looking tape/data disc/whatever-deploying gimmick, and the promise of finally being able to build up a new army of tape dudes. I badly hope the subset lasts long enough for them to get to guys like Beastbox, and Squawktalk, and...okay, really just Beastbox and Squawktalk.

[Sparky Prime]

It's about time they made a Masterpiece version of Soundwave. The Masterpieces have been Autobot mold heavy with Optimus Prime (again), Rodimus/Hot Rod, and now Sideswipe. It'd be nice to get more Decepticons. Really, I would have preferred to see Soundwave after Grimlock's release.

Hope they make several of his cassettes as well. Laserbeak, Ravage, Buzzsaw, Rumble and Frenzy in-particular.

[Shockwave]

That certainly would fill out the Decepticon ranks quite a bit. I definitely think he should come with at least one cassetticon.

[Onslaught Six]

aaand pics.
http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-new ... ed-175252/

Waiting on Hasbro, here. Not because it looks bad, but because of price concerns. $200 is just a lot to drop.

[BWprowl]

Lookin' pretty cool, though part of me's apprehensive that he looks *too* much like the G1 version, just with some new articulation stuck in; doesn't really break any new ground. Still, can't really complain about a G1-ish Soundwave with some decent legs, and that Laserbeak looks pretty swish (just Laserbeak though, seriously?). Only other complaint I have is that the head is too cartoon-esque, but otherwise, fine. Like Six, I'll probably await news of a Hasbro version, two hundred bucks is nuts.

[Onslaught Six]

The others are apparently coming later. 2013. Pics of 'em in the back of this display, with colour Sounds.
http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-new ... es-175258/

[BWprowl]

Sorry, double post. Anyway, just saw a pic of Soundwave in color, and it looks really good like that. Also looks like he's coming with Ravage and Frenzy/Rumble too, and can purportedly hold all of them at the same time, so I was wrong on the whole 'just Laserbeak' thing. Yeah, he's looking pretty cool so far...

EDIT: Heh, you beat me to it, Six.

[Onslaught Six]

Nah, word is they'll come out separately in 2013. Maybe? Dunno.