I don’t really collect Masterpiece Transformers, not on any sort of large scale. I have a few, the original MP-01 and MP-05 Optimus and Megatron. Though both of those are in the old larger scale of Transformers. I use MP-08 Grimlock as my “Classics Grimlock”, because it’s a nice looking toy and his bulk makes him nice and imposing next to mainline sized toys. Sunstreaker is more of a personal indulgence. When he was announced, he looked really nice, and when a reissue of his brother Sideswipe was announced to go with him, I definitely wanted the pair.
So, I just want to cut to the chase a bit on this guy, this is a really damn nice Transformer. He looked fantastic in the promotional photos and he lives up to that in every way. The robot mode is very slick, very poseable, and very solid. The whole transformation does an excellent job of collapsing everything together and removing any dangling vehicle kibble. The result is a very nice representation of Sunstreaker as he appears on the show.
The Transformation may actually be the downside of this figure, if you aren’t really into complex transformations, it’s definitely a plus if you are, There are a ridiculous number of little flippy and sliding parts that all come apart and come together to make this robot. Everything about his backpack has to collapse together just right to make it all conform into the proper shape. The front windshield of the car is supposed to fold up into the backpack but it pops off easily and honestly, I prefer to just pull it off and put it aside because I worry that its going to break while putting the backpack together.
There is so much more about this figure that makes it exceptional though, even by Masterpiece Transformer levels. There are extra joints in his shoulders, that allow him to hold his gun with two hands. The vehicle itself has some nice surprises as well. Despite already being a complex puzzle of joints and panels to build the robot, the vehicle goes even farther and is able to convert between a standard stock Lamborghini Countach, and the tricked out super car that Sideswipe was on the show. This is more than just a panel flip on the back, it’s a panel flip, and some roll over parts and even a second set of taillights that flip up over the stock tail lights.
He’s also loaded with fun accessories. Aside from a pair of guns, he also includes a small Chip Chase figure in his wheelchair, several alternative face plates, and an alien mask from Hoist Goes to Hollywood. I don’t know if it’s a widespread issue, but I did have a problem with his smaller gun. The clip holding it together pretty much broke immediately. It still holds itself together as a gun, but it doesn’t transform anymore.
Overall, Masterpiece Sunstreaker is just a really fantastic transformer. He’s not even a particularly big name character in G1, so it’s not real clear why he deserved such a great treatment.
