Transformers Masterpiece
MP-12T Tigertrack Review

NoisyDvL5

If you’re familiar with Transformers, then you know that the vintage toys were largely cobbled together from other transforming lines in Japan, a large portion of the coming from the Diaclone line. And Diaclone was all about the Lamborghini.

The very first Diaclone transforming car (and possibly the first transforming car-to-robot toy ever) was a Lamborghini. That’s not Tigertrack, it’s was red and it was Sunstreaker’s mold. Then there was a Police Car Countach. Then came the more traditional mold, vintage Sideswipe’s, which was also done in red (who doesn’t like red?), then, black, then yellow, and then a police car on the new mold again. Hold up, there was a yellow in there. Catch that? Well, that’s technically Tigertrack.

And if the story ended there, that would still make this figure really neat to me. One interesting difference between Sideswipe & Tigertrack was their faction symbol – Tigertrack doesn’t have one. There are stickers included – a honkin’ big Autobot symbol or a more modest-sized classic one, but they have to be applied if you want to make this guy part of your Autobots. I haven’t decided if I want to do that yet.

Takara wisely left that decision to the collectors because it allows for this figure to also be an update of that old “New Countach” Diaclone No. 15. And, in the myriad of collectors, I bet there’s more than a few out there who have eaten that up. I admit that I’m not some well-versed Diaclone fan, I just find all this interesting, including the custom option to leave this guy the way he was before Hasbro found him.

Speaking of Hasbro, there’s one more fun tidbit to Tigertrack’s story. Remember that when it came time to turn Diaclone into Transformers, there were two Lamborghinis. The tricked out version available in red and a police deco and then the standard version in red, yellow, black, and a police deco again. The rumor goes that the second, standard, mold, would be done in yellow and the original mold would keep its original red. To sum up, that’s a yellow Sidewsipe & a red Sunstreaker. – And, hey to make it even more confusing, Sunstreaker wouldn’t even be Sunstreaker, he would be Spin-Out. So, red Spin-Out, and yellow… Sideswipe. Just how close did we come to having “Tigertrack” thirty years ago? Would Takara be making red repaint of this classic MP now? Would all of our feelings be the same, just with a little bit of a switcheroo on the colors? I stay up at night asking myself these questions… *

* – Well, I stay up at night writing incoherent reviews. I ask myself the questions even later.

In the end, none of that may blow anyone else’s mind the way it does mine. Did I mention Spin-Out’s weapon would have been an “Electron Pulse Gun”, the very gun dear Tigertrack is said to carry? Okay, okay, I’ll stop…

Overall, yes, this guy is still an expensive repaint. I paid $90 to snag him from BBTS. I thought that was a pretty good deal considering he was a Tokyo Toy Show exclusive and only $10 or so over the regular price for Sideswipe. It was a lot of money, but I think he’s a fascinating toy to own and talk about. He’s also a great exclusive – if you’ve got the cash to spare you can snag him, and if not, he’s easily skippable.

I had to have him though. I love putting together this awesome Masterpiece shelf. Going back to my comment about the totems, I love Transformers and I’m thrilled to be getting amazing versions of Optimus, Soundwave, Sideswipe. I collect this line for the license, but that’s not the only reason. Heck, I also collect Transformers when they’re brave enough to get a little silly – I have F-15 Eagles in orange/yellow, blue, & neon green! And, yes, I’m happy to collect a few novelties in this line if they tell a great story. Tigertrack evokes a great back story, one we don’t even know all the details of, and, in a way, that helps him to transcend the very license he hail’s from? That’s awesome. I know some folks want MP to be serious business. I do too. They’re pricy and they come out slowly. And that’s not to mention that there are a ton of classic Transformers this scale could finally bring greatness too. But all that history and greatness, Sunstreaker, Tracks, Wheeljack – nearly anyone on my MP want list – spawned from Diaclone and it’s great to get a piece of that back, even in repaint form. And I find myself with a new character crawling his way up my MP want list. I hope Sunstreaker is a given for MP and I keep coming back to the idea that an MP Spin-Out would be an amazing companion piece to Tigertrack. That’s a full circle I can appreciate.

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24 thoughts on “Transformers Masterpiece
MP-12T Tigertrack Review”

  1. obligatory: https://sphotos-a-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash2/285053_10150286006646509_5572794_n.jpg
    😉
    I also took a pic of the rear before I got out of my car, but I don’t seem to have uploaded it?

    Also, didn’t the G1 Sunstreaker have a slightly different robot mode? different head, chest was rotated 180, and the engine kibble (intake?) was more prominent on his back?

    …or actually, an entirely different transform:
    http://www.seibertron.com/images/toys/files/01/sideswipe104.jpg

    then Prowl and Silverstreak were some type of sedan, not Lamborghinis like the twins.

    1. Sunstreaker is an entirely different figure (& will hopefully get an MP soon), they’re just roughly the same model car (along with Clamp Down, Deep Cover, & Red Alert)

      Prowl, Bluestreak, & Smokescreen were all based on the Datsun Fairlady Z (which will be the next rash of Masterpiece figures).

      1. Thanks for clarifying — I wasn’t sure if this was “supposed” to be Sunstreaker — but it’s not! I should have known, SS has a completely different head!

  3. I wonder how many collectors who aren’t up to snuff on their Diaclone history will confuse Tigertrack with Sunstreaker? It’s kinda easy to do if you don’t keep a sharp eye out.

    Having the sticker application be optional was a classy move on Takara’s part. Tigertrack’s non-alignment would make him a great fit for the current storyline in IDW’s Robots In Disguise series.

    1. I think some folks might have gone so far as to pick up TT in lieu of Sunstreaker. The body is wrong, but a few 3P parts and he’s an easy substitute if Takara never gets there.

    2. Yeah, there were a ton of people that were very adamant. “You mean Sunstreaker.” “This repaint is Sunstreaker.” “Who is Tigertrack? It’s Sunstreaker, guys.” My favorite was, “What a stupid repaint. Sunstreaker doesn’t even transform in the same way as Sideswipe. I can’t believe they did that to him just so they could reuse the mold!” I mean, I get it. The alt-modes are pretty similar. I just think it’s funny that so many people were so quick to hate on Takara when they were using the wrong information.

  4. Excellent review, pics, and comics. TT looks pretty damn good, but I’ve got to save my money for October’s MOTUC inundation. Even had to cancel my MP Bluestreak pre-order (the only Fairlady variant I wanted) because of October. I’d like a Bluestreak, but I want a bunch of Horde Troopers a whole lot more.

  5. I just want to say great reviews as always, and I love the side by side head shot of the two, and it’s cool how the IAT logo seems to be in the perfect place on Tigertrack’s chest in that picture. 🙂

    1. I was really mad about him back when I was collecting Alternators. I saw one for $25 or so a few weeks ago and I’m almost bought it even though I sold all but one alternators since then.

  7. Just as an example of cost differences. Tigertrack was the version of this mold I paid the least to get. Also great review, uh story, uh I don’t know what you call this.

    1. As you can imagine, I’m dying for that one. And I’ll totally get it in European Black, Road Rage Red, and yellow just for fun. 🙂

  9. Since I missed the first run of the two Lambor modes (I was late to the party, I got back into MP when MP Soundwave came out and by then they were too pricey) I consider this one my own “baby’s first Lambor!”

    Of course now they are doing a second run of Sideswipe, so me being me put in the preorder, same with the G2 Black one. I have a problem. I also really like this mold. Can’t wait to see what they do with the new cars.

    1. It wasn’t cheap going back and grabbing Grimlock & Rodimus (though I kinda regret Rodimus (which is sad because he’s my fave). Starscream just needs to get reissued.

      I have a pre-order on the black one too. I have issues. 🙂

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