Faith Leader--2nd edition review--PIC HEAVY

[Echotransformer]

Well my Faith Leader arrived yesterday so I thought I would post a quick review along with a bunch of pics.

PROS

-Everything is there--all the trim, all the paint apps, the hydraulics, the leg vents, the rear suspension, the face scuplt--basically a perfect rendition of MP Prime (minus the LED behind the Matrix, the Autobot Insignia and the front suspension)
-Making MP Prime smaller while maintaining all the detail makes him even more interesting and exciting
-Rich, deep colors
-Very good mold quality--no sprue marks, tight parting lines, even surface finish
-Joints are good (8/10, IMHO)
-Very nice packaging and out of box experience
-Great accessories (with one exception, kinda)

CONS

-Wish it was an official product, lower price
-Just a bit loose feeling...nothing major, and probably less likely to put stress on joints when Transforming
-Megatron head? Why? (okay, customizers rejoice!)

Conclusion:

An absolute joy! I can't keep my eyes off it. Love the size, love the proportions, love it, love it, love it.

A bit pricey, so I think only very-Prime-dedicated collectors will buy it, but those that do will feel very rewarded.

As per the little communicator arms in the screens, is a Grimlock and/or Skylynx in the works? :raisetheroof:

Pictures follow:

http://img560.imageshack.us/img560/9539/dsc0636.jpg

Is this a full scale MP Prime or a Faith Leader? :doh:


http://img821.imageshack.us/img821/6396/dsc0645wn.jpg

Not shown: Energy Axe, Box, Mini-Megatron


http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/430/dsc0639i.jpg

Size comparison. The colors are not perfect, but they are very pleasing to the eye (and appear closer to genuine Prime colors in person)

http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/5050/dsc0642ka.jpg

Original G1 Prime, Faith Leader, and Henkei Prime size comparo


http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/1511/dsc0641o.jpg

Who's the guilty one of being Unlicensed?


http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/7130/dsc0647iu.jpg

Hey, the colors could be worse...


http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/7568/dsc0635o.jpg

Hmm, let's try this on for size...


http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/3060/dsc0634c.jpg

MP-04, Faith Leader with G3 Trailer, THS-02 Convoy


http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/4338/dsc0646g.jpg

Orion Pax head on Faith Leader next to E-Hobby Orion Pax


http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/7717/dsc0649d.jpg

A Megatron head? WTF?


http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/1304/dsc0644i.jpg

A Mini Skylynx in the future? That would be cool...


http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/2250/dsc0643i.jpg

If Mini MP Prime is called "Faith Leader", will Mini Grimmy be "Demon Swamp drinker?"

That's all folks. Enjoy.

[Dragon Knight]

This seems like a really cool product, and I'd love to get a masterpiece prime without breaking the bank but...

If all they did is downsized pre-existing engineering...I dunno a part of me doesn't really wanna support that...

[jackwacko]

Didn't know he works with G3 Trailer.. so perfectly O_O... Dang for an unlicensed product who works with another unlicensed product.. this guy's amazing.. Now if only the price is lower.

[Echotransformer]

Didn't know he works with G3 Trailer.. so perfectly O_O... Dang for an unlicensed product who works with another unlicensed product.. this guy's amazing.. Now if only the price is lower.

Oops, I should mention--the G3 trailer only kinda fits...Faith Leader has the peg hole like MP Prime, but the G3 trailer fits over a peg...so although the G3 'catches' on the outer ring of the Faith Leader, an adapter peg would be needed for a stong connection.

[jackwacko]

Oops, I should mention--the G3 trailer only kinda fits...Faith Leader has the peg hole like MP Prime, but the G3 trailer fits over a peg...so although the G3 'catches' on the outer ring of the Faith Leader, an adapter peg would be needed for a stong connection.

I see.. I would see Igear making a Faith Leader MP-04 ... if they intend on continuing with this whole Shrinked MP line.

[Pascal]

Can u still transform the figure with the Orion Pax head installed?

[zuffyprime]

Echo, why buy the faith leader, when you can get a masterpiece prime for around the same price?

that orion head does look all kinds of kick ass though

[Crobot91]

I really wish his height was the same as the upcoming MP Rodimus. This iGear figure looks great but will be too short to display with Rodimus.

Echo, why buy the faith leader, when you can get a masterpiece prime for around the same price?

that orion head does look all kinds of kick ass though

I have to agree with CJ; for the same price you can find a hasbro Masterpiece O.Prime which is larger and the quality is most likely more superior.

[Pascal]

I have to agree with CJ; for the same price you can find a hasbro Masterpiece O.Prime which is larger and the quality is most likely more superior.

Or you can have BOTH?

[Uberman]

For scale-slaves? Which, admit it or not, most of us are, at least to some degree.

Echo, why buy the faith leader, when you can get a masterpiece prime for around the same price?

that orion head does look all kinds of kick ass though

[Nullray]

That Faith leader looks really cool. I am reluctant to get one cause I have a each of the existing Prime molds. On the other hand a complete set of the PP-03x seekers works for me. The jets look to be the same height as him. I wouldn't mind a set of the clone jets. aka Elegy, Jet, Attack. They look to scale as the MP seeker series. Thanks for the comparison scale photos.

[Echotransformer]

Can u still transform the figure with the Orion Pax head installed?

I tried it for you...surprisingly, no. The fins on the top of his head are too wide. Kinda dumb, methinks.


Echo, why buy the faith leader, when you can get a masterpiece prime for around the same price?

that orion head does look all kinds of kick ass though


Agreed, most people will just buy a genuine MP Prime.

I can tell you why I bought this one:
-I love different scales
-I liked the idea of trying him with my Classicsverse collection
-He's simply more portable and because he's lighter he's in some ways easier to handle/play with/pose

If they do make a mini-Grimmy, I think it will become even more desirable.

--Echo

[Pascal]

I tried it for you...surprisingly, no. The fins on the top of his head are too wide. Kinda dumb, methinks.

Thanks! That's my deal breaker. I still want the cape for MP-01 though.

[CobraCommander]

Nice review and pics, can you take a pic of him next to MP grimmy in bot mode?

[Echotransformer]

UPDATE Sunday November 7th--Adding MP Grimmy pics...

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/3471/grimprime.jpg

Bot mode...

http://img607.imageshack.us/img607/8562/grimprime4.jpg

http://img580.imageshack.us/img580/815/grimprime3.jpg

Whoa, grimmy, whoa!

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/7629/grimprime2.jpg

And G1 Grimlock, for comparison...

[Buhawi]

^

too tall for the classics line.

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:jv5sTVhkK4CQVM:http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/4163/wwj2tg.jpg&t=1

still cool nonetheless...

as for the trailer: price wise, its kinda like an MP04

[Buhawi]

http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:Ly9xDUSH-JfjMM:http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/ab115/OptimusVader/FaithWmpGrimSS.jpg&t=1



can someone post one with Faith grimmy and any alternator (except alt prime)?
http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/attach/4/0/5/9/7/king6_1276027776.jpg

[SleeplessKnight]

Just got mine today. Thanks Richter! The robot mode fits in better scale wise with the Alternators than the MP Prime does. I don't have a camera to show it off but he stands slightly taller than Alt Wheeljack. Obviously, the vehicle mode is a bit too small compared to all the Alts, but that's what the original MP Prime would be for.

Because of the size, I find that he's slightly easier to play with then the larger and heavier MP Prime. However he feels more delicate and I'm really afraid of breaking him. The head has popped off the moment I tried transforming it. One of his feet fell off while posing, and when I tried to put the energon axe on, the square piece at his wrist came loose. Looks like it was just being held on by friction.

I also notice that the stickers on his communicator are different on mine. I've got Kup on one side and Cliffjumper on the other.

I don't understand why everyone wants the cape. I don't recall Prime ever having a cape. Why does this cape exist? Also, I could care less about the extra heads. The Orion Pax head I could understand, but the Megatron head??? I don't understand why that exists either.

[Buhawi]

Just got mine today. Thanks Richter! The robot mode fits in better scale wise with the Alternators than the MP Prime does. I don't have a camera to show it off but he stands slightly taller than Alt Wheeljack. Obviously, the vehicle mode is a bit too small compared to all the Alts, but that's what the original MP Prime would be for.



that's exactly what i thought.

[Echotransformer]

Just got mine today. Thanks Richter! The robot mode fits in better scale wise with the Alternators than the MP Prime does. I don't have a camera to show it off but he stands slightly taller than Alt Wheeljack. Obviously, the vehicle mode is a bit too small compared to all the Alts, but that's what the original MP Prime would be for.

Because of the size, I find that he's slightly easier to play with then the larger and heavier MP Prime. However he feels more delicate and I'm really afraid of breaking him. The head has popped off the moment I tried transforming it. One of his feet fell off while posing, and when I tried to put the energon axe on, the square piece at his wrist came loose. Looks like it was just being held on by friction.

I also notice that the stickers on his communicator are different on mine. I've got Kup on one side and Cliffjumper on the other.

I don't understand why everyone wants the cape. I don't recall Prime ever having a cape. Why does this cape exist? Also, I could care less about the extra heads. The Orion Pax head I could understand, but the Megatron head??? I don't understand why that exists either.


Good point, definitely found it easier to play with; however, I did not have the issues with parts popping off...hmm...I wonder if there's a bit of QC variability here?

Interesting about the communicators...definitely kills my theory about next releases. :doh:

I wonder if the cape is in relation to this image:

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/2574/opwcape.jpg


I think customizers will love the head (the original release had different hands, for example)

--Echo

[SleeplessKnight]

Okay, I think I sorta see the cape connection now... but where's that from? Is it cannon?