Transformers Platinum Edition Year of the Goat Optimus Prime

What a mouthful title...

This was probably my last haul back in 2015, a release that coincided with the Year of the Goat. Goat was the animal zodiac that Chinese New Year. This was basically a redeco of G2 Laser Prime and Scourge (i.e. same mold, different colors) Only setback, it wasn't red in color, something that is synonymous with Chinese New Year...

Front of the box

Back of the box

Box flap

... but rather, this piece came in translucent plastic, with chrome and brown parts...

  

... and OMG, pink missiles!

Truck mode

Alternate mode

Robot mode

Trailer

Zooming in...

Can you see the "Year of the Goat" Autobot symbol on trailer?

More symbol...

Side-by-side with Scourge for both robot and trailer...

We are brothers... from different mothers

Turning the trailer into base mode / battle station mode...

... with Prime manning the station

Guess what happened when I turned the trailer into base mode? The problem when you keep a piece MISB for such a long time...sigh... so, playability was kept to bare minimum.

Crap...brittle parts!

This Prime is also a retool as previously, you can find the G2 Autobot symbol on the disc-shaped missiles which is now conspicuously missing.

Yes, I am aware that this review is 5 years late but hey, better late than never right? Besides, I still have the original G2 Laser Primes of Justice, yet to be reviewed and happily sealed. On second thought, I think it's best I leave them in their current state, not sure what other parts are going to drop off...

The many redecoes...

Masterpiece Optimus Prime

Not sure how many Masterpiece variations of Optimus Prime are there, with MP-44 being the latest but to me, the numero uno has to be number one where it all began...

I reckon without the first Masterpiece (MP-1) and likely its success, this series will not be where it is today (i.e. a money making proposition... haha).

Unlike its Hasbro counterpart, even back then, it was called Cybertron Commander Convoy and not Optimus Prime.

For the benefit of new fans (those born after MP-10, at least...), a glimpse of how MP-1's box looked like :

(front and back of box)

Got mine from the secondary market. The box wasn't really in good shape, no major dents though, just the standard scuffles at the corners of the box. Prime had a broken smokestack and was missing its energy axe but other than those, all were good.

Really solid as most parts are die-cast

"Check out my Matrix of Leadership"

MP-10 is the other Masterpiece I have in my collection. Not the expensive TakaraTomy one, couldn't get my hands on it then. So, settled for the more affordable Hasbro one. The box may not be as nice as the standard black TakaraTomy one but at least, with this, I can see what's inside.

Hasbro version of MP-10

A review for another day, perhaps? 

In the meanwhile, enjoy these MP-10s... seriously didn't know there were so many redecoes. Hmmm...I think "Barney" and "Gold-digger" are missing.

(Source : anymoon.com)

Can someone caption this? 

"hey Bee, don't mind me squatting here"

This is what happens when you run out of space for Optimus Prime and he has to share with Bumblebee(s)...

Beasts are BACKKKK...

Most retired toys collectors remain retired but kept themselves up to date on the latest releases or launches, not me though. So, imagine what I missed over the years when I woke up from my hiatus 5 years later.

I thought certain series or molds would have ended back then but no… TakaraTomy decided to spin its money wheel all over again and… walah…more new Big Convoy redecoes. Same mold but just different colors. Crap, for a completist, it becomes a must-do battle to collect all.

Now, there are 3 new redecoes that I have yet to own but do I really need to own them? It is no longer a question of want but rather a need. Do I need them just to complete my collection?

1. Encore Big Convoy (Matrix Buster version) (pic credit : tfwiki)

Check out my massive "Matrix Buster" cannon!

2. Encore Big Convoy (pics credit : Shopee, BBTS)

3. LG-EX Blue Convoy (pics credit : TFW2005, BBTS)

As I said, same mold, same articulation, same play value, only difference in colors (Matrix Buster version had no deco changes, only with new parts and a NAVI figurine). So, should I or should I not? That's the question now...

... and also whether I have spare space for both of them or not. It's rather crowded now, with the RID brothers in there.

Big Convoys : "no, thank you"

Micron Legend Clear Convoy, 5 years later...

Should I come out of my retirement or should I stay retired?

I have not bought any Transformers since 2015, yes, 5 years ago seems like only yesterday but in truth, it is a long time ago. Told myself to "rest" after years of shopping sprees that drained me financially... I was more interested in buying rather than selling; and as money doesn't grow on trees, it would reach a point where I had to take stock of my situation and make the tough decision. Besides, I was also running out of display space, can't be renting a warehouse right? haha...

No regrets, though. Happy with what I had collected all those years, completed certain series and molds, played and displayed some of them, while others stayed sealed in boxes.

I am compelled to post this (yes, my first post since 2015) as one of my favorite molds is set to be relaunched. Not by Hasbro or Takara Tomy but by Fans Hobby, 3rd party company I try to stay away, to me, they are not legit. I am sure many would disagree with my statement but to each his own.

Fans Hobby MB-15 Naval Commander

Armada Optimus Prime aka "Fish Head" Prime is getting a massive upgrade and boy, this relaunch is AWESOME!! I am still staying away, okay? (behind the scenes, take my money plea$$eeeeee....)

What better way to honor this than to revisit my collection... so I decided to pull this out and let it loose. It has been in solitude over a decade and it is time for him to join his Band of Brothers.

Remember this Micron Legend/Armada Crystal Clear Convoy?

It gives me great pleasure to unbox it...

Everything is in translucent plastic, even its Mini-con Surge (aka Over-Run) 

YESSSS.... I am free!

Now, I'm armed and ready to go...

Armada "Bendy" (deluxe-sized) Optimus Prime is finally, complete. This collection has always been complete but now, it is completely displayed :)

You complete us but it's getting really crowded... 

This mold was redecoed 8 times (I hope no more, otherwise my fingers are going to get itchy, need to complete this mold... the setback of being a completist!)

So, should I get the Fans Hobby Naval Commander to complete my Armada "Fish Head" collection?

Armada Optimus Prime collection

Likely NOT... to me, it is already completed and I am done.