Hasbro Transformers Masterpiece Hot Rod/Rodimus Prime Review

*POST IS VERY PICTURE HEAVY* My toy also did not come with instructions which is why the vehicle mode is very awkward. 

Masterpiece Hot Rod/Rodimus Prime is a toy I've been wanting since I was a child.  Since The Transformers movie came out the same year I was born I didn't get to see the movie til about seven years later and by then I didn't see any Hot Rod toys in stores.  2006 was when I got my first Hot Rod/Rodimus toy and it was the Classics version.  That toy sparked my toy collecting interest again and I haven't stopped buying toys since. 


When Masterpiece Rodimus Prime was announced I was excited to finally see a toy I've wanted for years.  However the asking price of $200+ really put me off.  I waited to see reviews and I was glad I did not spend so much money on the Japanese version because of the bad quality control.  Despite the QC issues I was always tempted to save up and buy the figure until the announcement of the Hasbro release and the price point of around $50-$70 dollars. 

When this toy first hit ToysRUs.com  it sold out in one day and I was mad because I didn't have  the lousy last 72 cents in my account to pay for shipping.   Needless to say fast forward several months and now I have him and he is pretty awesome. 

I'm beginning to think mine was opened and had the instructions were stolen out of them.  All the packaging was fresh and the toy hadn't been removed.  However I'm not sure if there was a packaging error or if the helmet of Rodimus wasn't put on correctly. 

The iconic shot of Hot Rod becoming Rodimus Prime doesn't look good at all.  Looks much better out of box. 

My lighting does this figure no justice.  I do wish I had the Japanese version to compare paint applications and height difference between Hot Rod and Rodimus Prime. 

This figure has:
-Ball jointed head
-Shoulders can go in and out and rotate 360... when parts like the spoiler and shoulder do not get in the way.
-Same with hip joints
-Legs rotate right below hip joints
-Double jointed knees
-Rotating ankle joints

-Comes with Targetmaster Offshoot.
-Two pistols for Hot Rod that can combine into a cannon for Rodimus Prime.
-Two Matrix-es.  One for storage and one for holding.
-Saw blade from when Hot Rod cut the robot squid's tentacle off. 
-Welding/soldering attachment from when Hot Rod fixed Kup.

The bigger Matrix and Offshoot were in lieu of a trailer release for Rodimus Prime.  They almost make it worth it. 

Hot Rod face.

Rodimus Prime face.  Looks older and longer.  Has more worried eyes in my opinion.

Head swapping technique shown in a picture.  Hot Rod's face is attached to the helmet when Rodimus' face is attached to the neck. 
It never made sense to me whey Rodimus would revert to Hot Rod when the Matrix was taken from him.  I always though the physical changes would remain permanent even though he didn't have the Matrix inside of him.  To me it was like Hot Rod was going from 20 years old to 40 years and back again when this happened. 

Visual difference having the shoulder lower as Hot Rod.

And higher as Rodimus.

Same thing with the hip joints.  Be very careful with this though.  It looks like this piece is only held on by a small piece of plastic.  Since the joint is really tight too I'm always very careful when shifting this hip joint up and down. 

Rodimus Prime holding cannon.

Smaller Matrix being stored.  It has two sides.  One side boasts a bigger gem.   This is supposed to represent it glowing. 

Bigger Matrix for him to hold.  I believe this is the Matrix which came with Master Piece Optimus Prime. 

One cannon.

Equals two pistols.

Hands can rotate like this to hold the attachments. 

Offshoot is an awesome little figure. 

-Head rotates
-Shoulders can go in and out and rotate
-Double jointed elbows, mainly due to transformation
-Ball jointed hips
-Double jointed elbows, due to transformation again

Size comparison.  This is almost how tall a human would be near a Transformer.  

 

I couldn't transform him correctly but this is pretty much how it looks.  

Size comparison to Human Alliance Megan Fox. 

My only gripe with the figure is how I am not able to play with him like a toy.  Hot Rod is my favorite Transformer and this would have satisfied a childhood dream to have a show accurate toy to play with.   However because of "backpack" being held with only one tab on his back. I think he was well worth the $59.99 price. 

COLLECTORS:  Buy him!  He makes a great display piece.  You can have this one displayed as Hot Rod while the Japanese version can be displayed as Rodimus Prime

PARENTS:  This is not a child's toy.  For $59.99 you can buy your child something more sturdy or a bunch of smaller figures they can mess around and play rough with.