Our thanks go out to Phantomfish for bringing us the great news that Masterpiece Grimlock is now available from the Toys r U­s website here.  He'll cost you £­59.99 but has also been physically sighted on shelves.  Let the race begin.­

Tformers have an image of what appears to be a re-release of Masterpiece Grimlock but as MP-08X.  The differences between the new version of the figure and the old one include.

1. The new one comes with a crown (based on the Marvel comics)
2. The new release has a new box with a Marvel comic artwork cover
3. The sword and gun are recoloured
4. The figure itself has been recoloured to look more like the comic, ie the black has been changed to a dark blue.
5. The other accessories from the normal release have been dropped

You can view the image here.

The latest issue of Hyper Hobby (and other Japanese magazines) are now out on sale as as you could have guessed, have been scanned by various Japanese and Chinese collectors forums.  Below you will find a scan from the current issue of Hyper Hobby showing several of this months releases include the highly anticipated Masterpiece Grimlock figure.

Thanks to Hobbystock Japan who have posted a report (in-language) and details from the Tokyo International TOY Forum 2009 event held January 14th and 15th in Tokyo, Japan. In attendance was Tomy Takara with a wide variety of Transformers products for preview.

• The Chrono Label watches were shown - appearing to be fully diacast.
• Transformers Masterpiece Grimlock was on display
• Disney Label Micky Mouse Convoy was on display also
• Bruticus (Transformers Encore Combaticons) were on display.  We're already edging our bets on an eHobby Battle Gaia set later this year.
• Ramhorn, Steeljaw and Ratbat were shown
• Various Transformers Henkei were on dislpay
• C-14 Ratchet - March - 2310 yen
  C-15 Inferno - March - 3675 yen
  C-16 Dinobot - March - 2310 yen
  C-17 Hot Rod - March - 2310 yen
  C-18 Mini-robot Attack - March - 2310
  C-19 Mini-robot Spy teams - March - 2310 yen
  C-20 Red Alert - March 2310 yen
  C-21 Smokescreen - March - 2310 yen 
  

Yesterday Part One Limited updated eHobby Shop with the first colour images of the highly anticipated Transformers Masterpiece Grimlock figure.

The images show both robot and dinosaur mode, as well as showing off some of the articulation from the toy.

Snakas has published some details of the content of the latest issue of Hyper Hobby Magazine. Here is an English summary:

Prototype images were published of the Transformers Disney Label Mickey Mouse including three images of the figure in robot mode and three in vehicle mode.  No images were published in Hyper Hoby of the transformation process, but this was including in other publications.

New images were published of both the red and silver versions of Transformers Alternity Convoy. The photographs of the silver version are the same as all of the other hobby magazines.

Two design images were shown of the upcoming Transformers Masterpiece Grimlock figure.  The images were the same as those used in Dengeki Hobby Magazine.

Transformers Henkei Hound and Cheetas were shown as were Transformers Encore Trailbreaker and Transformers Encore Hoist.

Finally, new images were published of Music Label Excile Convoy, e-Hobby Exclusive Sunstorm and e-Hobby exclusive Black Megatron.

Members of the Japanese image board at 2chan.net have posted some scans from the latest japanese hobby magazines which include a design sketch for the upcoming Masterpiece Grimlock figure as well as the Transformers Disney Label Mickey Mouse toy.  You can view the mirrored images below.

Thanks to board member Jaymz for posting a thread on our message board containing images of some of the upcoming Japanese Transformers figures including Masterpiece Grimlock, Transformers Disney Label (The official name of the line it would seem) Mickey Mouse (two versions) and Henkei Hound with Ravage which he received from one of his suppliers.  You can view the images below.

SGCollect member Sparkplug has posted over on their message board that he received confirmation the Masterpiece Grimlock will be released in March 2009 in Japan at a cost of 130,000 Yen.  He then later posted that Alternity Megatron will be released in two colours (blue and silver) with the car based on the Nissan Fairlady Z.

Treat both as rumours at this stage, but no doubt more will follow in the coming weeks.

AcToys member 无翼天使 has posted a magazine scan of an image of a blacked out G1 Grimlock boxart with Masterpiece Series in Katakana (マスターピース　シリーズ - Masuta-pi-su Shiri-zu)

The Allspark state that the text next to the toy is about Gundam, probably from an article next to the advert. Japanese Transformers expert Buster Hydra also states the following in The Allspark's discussion thread.

I'm almost certain this is true, I heard it months back from a Japanese dealer whose information I trust a lot.

We can always wait and see though.

-Hydra