Review- The Unofficial Transformers Masterpiece 10 Gold Optimus Prime

When I first saw the preorder listing for this figure, I had my reservations. I have already owned not one, but two Transformers Masterpiece 10 Optimus Prime. One is the original mold and colour from Takara Tomy's release. The other was from Hasbro's Year of the Horse series. I was not too keen to go all completist and get the Bathing Ape and Evangelion variants as they cost a bomb.  

The hesitation also came from my understanding of unofficial products after my personal encounter with a few of them. The quality control is lacking and you don't always get what you have paid for. Granted, you don't always pay a lot for these toys but that cannot be said about your expectations that balloon from the moment you have made a preorder. I knew I was most probaly going to get a figure that has scratches on the chome and chrome bits that flake off with the slightest contact.  

 

The MP-10s flanked my MP-01. Takara's release on the left and YOTH's release on the right.

  

I waited on the toy and I did not bother to make a preorder. I knew that I was going to regret my decision. When the toy has finally arrived with the preorder store that I frequent, I sent an enquiry on the quality of the product. You see, the store owner is also a collector and he was gracious enough to give his personal thoughts of the toy. I took his comments for it and gave it a go! I did not regret the decision at all. The box was an unassuming brown box and a sticker warning you not to transform the toy. Erm. Noted with thanks. They also stated that it was a limited run with 1000 pieces produced. I am not too sure about that part though.

No photo on a brown box. It's just a brown box without box art. Use your imagination!

My first thoughts: This figure is really well-chromed. I scrutinsed the toy to find very minimal scratches and some parts with tiny bits flaked off. For an unofficial factory-chromed toy, you will find that it is above expectations. Don't get me wrong, it is not perfect. I know of collectors who condemn this toy for its tiny flaws.

 

His Chromy Glory and Matrix of Leadership

 

Other than the knees and feet, almost every other bit of this figure is chromed in gold! The eyes, insignia and headlights are in translucent plastic. Let's get to the point, this toy will flake even when you don't transform him! Going in to this pose has already flaked some parts. It is blinding to handle this toy under your LED lightings and you can't really find the bits that have flaked unless you scrutinise it under various angles. He is also a fingerprint magnet but don't expect me to put on gloves when handling him. He is unofficial and he is a toy. Period.

 

He is #171 of #1000. Really?        

The toy comes with a solid piece of glittery plastic card and the MP-10 toy art on it. The serial number is evident but I am quite sure more were produced. Or maybe not. One reason for not producing more could be a small release to test the quality of the production and the market's response. From my understanding of the previous unofficial MP10 production, people usually flock to order one for themselves after toy reviewers on Youtube compare the quality with the original toy. I am really too lazy to pull out my MPs from the shelf you see earlier.

 

 

On display with his ion blaster. PEW PEW PEW!        

The unofficial MP-10 Gold comes with the ion blaster, energon axe and Matrix of Leadership. I have put the Matrix into the chest cavity and adjusted the fingers to hold the ion blaster on his left hand. I am left-handed and so are my toys! Muahahaha! Moving on, I did away with the energon axe as it was too sharp and I can't afford for it to drop on my little tot at home. Not that she can reach this toy at all. The chrome parts of the fist will also come off if I stuff it into the energon axe. Simply not worth it at all. 

  

Displayed with other Optimus Prime goodness!

He is no fool to lose what he cannot keep. There is no way I can keep him in optimal condition even if he is kept mint in box. I have no exact idea on the quality of the chrome and I am quite sure the gold parts will still flake off when kept untouched in box. Why store something and lose out on its aesthetic value? Fingerprint magnet or not, it looks fantastic on display! I know you think I am silly to display it in the open instead of having him in the covered glass cabinet. He is unofficial and he can't replace my official toys! Never! The chrome parts will dull over time so I just have to enjoy him as long as he lasts.  

As I mentioned in my Instagram post earlier, please do not get this figure if it is the first or only Masterpiece Optimus Prime that you are getting. The official releases are still of better quality for handling. The joints are extremely stiff because of the chrome and you need to be able to handle this toy with a lot of care when getting him to get into the poses you enjoy. As the warning label mentioned, you simply cannot transform this toy both because of the tight joints and chromed parts. Lots of patience is needed when handling this toy but I am sure it is rewarding when displayed, especially for most of us who have not won official chromed toys from contests.