Transformer Masterpiece - MP-5 Destron Leader Megatron

Series	Transformer Masterpiece
Title	MP-5 Destron Leader Megatron
Release Date	March 2007
Manufacturer	Takara
Suggested Price (JPY)	9,800
Scale	Non-Scale
Height (cm)	Gun: 18.2 x 4 x 17.5 cm (w/o scope) Robot: 30 cm head height, 33.6 cm full height
No. of Parts	1 Megatron figure + 4 parts + 1 color manual + 1 ID Card
My Rating	Good

Related Items:

Comment
Takara's Masterpiece is a commemorative series to celebrate 20th Anniversary of the ever-popular Transformers series. It is first release in year 2003, as MP-1 Convoy featuring an anime accurate design and most probably the most impressive G1 Convoy ever seen to date in the Transformers toy line.

Ever since the impressive debut of MP-1 Convoy, the masterpiece series keep re-releasing the Autobot leader but where is the missing Decepticon Leader?

Finally, in this MP-5 release, the megalomaniacal leader of the Decepticons, Megatron, finally gets the Masterpiece treatment that he deserves.

Packaging
MP-5 Megatron comes packaged in the standard master piece style black carton box. The contents are place in a single plastic tray and the parts are as listed below.

1 Megatron in Robot Form
1 fusion cannon w/ lights (come ith 2 LR44 watch batteries)
1 laser dagger
1 energy mace
1 Kremzeek figure
1 Instruction Manual
1 ID Card

This item comes with a color instruction manual detailing the complex transformation steps required for transforming Megatron from his robot mode to its Walter P38 hand pistol. An ID card is supplied detailing the statistics of Megatron.


Box front cover.	Box rear cover.

Accessories
Megatron comes with a few accessories.

The most eye-catching accessories will be his pistol scope / fusion cannon measuring 23cm in length. This oversized large scope contains a battery compartment for its red LED light. The scopes come with 2 LR44 watch batteries installed. The light switch is located at the side of the scope in a button shape where it activated the LED light by holding it down. The scope is attached to the robot by sliding it to its right arm.

The next two items will be his miscellaneous arsenal, the laser dagger and energy mace. Both items are can be attached to either arm after hiding his hands in the secret compartment.

The last accessory is the small flame-like figure molded in transparent yellow called Kremzeek.

The original G1 toy comes with a pistol stock and extension. If you are looking for that then be prepared to be disappointed. This release comes without any of those.

Maybe Takara leave it out intentionally and expect you to buy another MP-XX Megatron with those add-ons in the future?

Robot
As a masterpiece item, Megatron is rendered to be as close as possible to the animated TV series. The reproduction is quite close but not really 100 percent or as precise as in Convoy. What I think that gave it away is the pelvic area and the overly large side skirt. I believe the design as appeared in G1 animated series is totally unrealistic and impossible to implement.

Aside from the faithfulness in reproduction of the robot mode, Megatron is one great looking Decepticon Leader. The paint job is good enough for a master piece.

If you are looking for metal, you still do not get as much as in MP-1. The good news is you do not need a metal detector to hunt for it as in MP-3 Starscream. Parts made of metal are obvious at the feet, thigh and chest.

The figure's articulation is good enough and it employs click-joints on its arms and legs while the head, hand and feet is ball-jointed. Each finger is individually movable.

Walter P38 Hand Pistol
The alternate mode is not really as impressive as the robot mode. Takara wanted to keep the robot to be the same height with other Masterpiece in robot mode thus the hand pistol is not in-scale but larger than real. It feels quite odd to place the overly large hand pistol in your hand.

The transformation of Megatron is excruciatingly painful and took me quite a long time to get it somewhat right. I believe there is some problem in precision during transformation. I kept trying and trying and I still see gaps and in some area the parts are not fitting correctly.

The pistol also comes with a working trigger and safety lever but aside from that, there is nothing really interesting to do in the Pistol mode.

Conclusion
Megatron is excellent in Robot mode but the fun factor greatly depleted in his alternate mode. The overly size hand pistol is not something that I feel proud to put on the display shelf. I owned both MP-1 and MP-4 Convoy. What other choice do I have but to get this MP-5 Megatron?

This item is purchase at Berjaya Time Square.