MakeToys’ Maestro set a new bar for TFCon Convention Exclusives. Find out why in the article!
Producer: MakeToys
Price: Approx. $140 CAD (Approx. $110 USD)
Release Date: July 14th 2018 (At the TFCon Toronto 2018 Convention)
Item Height: Approx. 6.5″
Item Weight: N/A
Batteries: N/A
WHERE TO BUY: Stay tuned to Ages Three and Up for further information.
TFCon Toronto 2018 got treated to one hell of an exclusive sold by The Chosen Prime in Maketoys’ MTRM-09GII Maestro. This “G2” homage to the Transformers character Jazz is a redeco of the previously released Downbeat (their “G1” version of Jazz) and it really hits the throwback feels on every level besides of course modern design/engineering. Check out the videos above as well as my written breakdown and gallery below and definitely let me know what you think in the comments.
Presentation: The plastic clamshell packaging with cardstock insert is some of the most cool packaging I’ve seen on any modern Transformers toy from any company, period. It’s so beautiful that I’ve personally started hunting for a second one just to hang on my wall, sealed. It’s such a 90s nostalgia trip that it gives me goosebumps to look at and the “upcoming figures” piece on the backside is just the icing on the cake. The piece itself comes in alt. mode to see in all of it’s glory through the clear packaging and the deco just pops even inside of the clamshell. Once you take it out and feel how smooth the tampoes (NO STICKERS!!!!) are there’s no describing it. They even managed to “hide” the portion specified for an autobot logo that really stood out on the Downbeat version of the mold. It’s good. Everything about this presentation is just plain good.
Build: Like Downbeat, Maestro is a mostly plastic piece with diecast in the legs which give it a nice, weighty and “high end” feeling. Overall it feels great and it does take on improvements from the BounceBack recolor like the fixed tabbing of the chest into the abdominal area.
Accessories: Now this is one area where Maestro unfortunately loses pretty badly to the original Downbeat release. Coming with simply a blaster and shoulder canon, he’s missing a plethora of Downbeat accessories from additional faces to even a grappling hook and speakers which attach to both modes. The plus side though is that his face is the same color as Downbeat’s so if you own both you can easily just use the additional faces from it.
Articulation: Exactly the same as Downbeat which is what I’d call right below advanced.
Overall Score: 8.0/10 as a toy and 11/10 as an exclusive – I’m giving Maestro a higher rating as a toy than Downbeat because of 1.) the insanely good deco and 2.) it employs “fixes” that were done with the Bounceback variant like better tabbing into the chest. The reason that I rated it separately as an exclusive is because it set a new bar for TFCon exclusives on multiple levels in terms of look, demand, and even secondhand pricing. It’s pretty much the first one to garner the perceived interest of larger convention exclusive items like those sold at San Diego Comic Con and the like. It’s a real win for both The Chosen Prime and the TFCon Convention itself because things like this will surely garner more interest and attendees. Great job to all involved on what turned out to be something really special.
Check out the gallery and even and if you’re interested in purchasing one of your own, order from The Chosen Prime!
