01.07.09
The Great Masterpiece Conspiracy
Quest for Truth: Toynami said 15K, I have my doubts
Alright, here’s the deal, I’ve never seen any Toynami Masterpiece Alpha above the number 10,000. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever seen one above the number 7500. So, I ask you, everyone visiting my site that own an MPC Alpha, to check the numbers of production you have and let me know if you have any with a high serial number. Go ahead and post a comment here. No need to be too specific but the more detail the better. I suspect that we’re going to see a second release of these toys with the higher production numbers some day like we did with the Roy VF-1S Masterpiece toy.
micronian said,
January 7, 2009 at 3:12 am
I’ve owned about 13 MPC Alphas, looking through all my pictures it appears that the highest number I had was 1 Scott MPC Alpha in the 5000s. I also had a Shadow Fighter in the 4000s, My Lancers and Rooks have all been 3000s or less.
Carl said,
January 7, 2009 at 4:16 am
Blue: 02811
Red: 02755
Green: 03406
Shadow: 03143
AcroRay said,
January 7, 2009 at 5:43 am
Rook Bartley: 02168
Shadow, Sue Graham: 02985
Both are the original Toynami release runs – purchased at a Morgantown, WV comic shop that got them from Diamond. The shop also received them over the course of their original release periods, rather than in one single assortment.
Personally, I wouldn’t mind seeing a release of withheld stocks. Production quality would be more easily assessed. The demand might not be as high as Toynami may have hoped, though.
Is it possible quanities of higher production numbers went elsewhere in the world – like via the secondary market to Japan, or Europe?
micronian said,
January 7, 2009 at 5:49 am
I know a few of the people who occasionally post comments here hail from Singapore, South America, Ireland, and England so I’m hoping if the higher numbered figures were released outside the states we’ll still have a chance of finding them. Any MPCs in Japan were brought there (imported) from somewhere outside of Japan as that’s Aoshima (by way of Tatsunoko) territory. If I’m not mistaken, my MPC Scott that was in the 5000s was purchased at a local Gamestop (half price no less!).
Dennis said,
January 7, 2009 at 8:38 am
I are very right micronian, I have checked mine too and none of them is more than 5000s. All of a sudden I come to realised that!
Hiriyu said,
January 7, 2009 at 8:44 am
Blue: 02894
Red: 00971
Green: 02435
Shadow: 01457
Mark said,
January 7, 2009 at 11:50 am
I doubt Toynami made 15,000 of these. I owned a Mirya VF-1J (below 5,000) and Masterpiece Voltron (04,376). I hope Toynami re-tool these and re-release them, as I used to own an Aoshima re-issue and it was very poorly made, one of the worst high price toy/ collectables I have owned (should have listened to the reviews and commenrs here) even worse than the Toynami VF-1J I used to own.
evan2313 said,
January 7, 2009 at 2:44 pm
This is from Robotech.com online store.. not sure if this might contribute to the number mystery, but it might add a little to the amount actually produced. I’ve ordered a Lancer Alpha from them and will update with the production number on mine
QUOTE:
SPECIAL ROBOTECH.COM EDITION:
3000 special units of this volume will only be available on Robotech.com with a limited cel of Lancer (aka. Yellow Dancer) … at no additional charge! When you collect the cels of all 4 pilots and the background, you’ll be able to enjoy the complete “New Generation Pilots” illustration!
Mike said,
January 7, 2009 at 3:18 pm
I work in the toy/collectibles industry. I’ve never worked at Toynami but this kind of thing happens all the time with statues. The company will set the edition size but their production run will be much lower. This is to protect themselves from overproducing but leaevs room in case the item is a hit.
woll622 said,
January 7, 2009 at 3:57 pm
Vol 1 – 5496
Vol 2 – 2652 (Leg broke, had to buy another one)
Vol 2 – 3646
Vol 3 – 876
Vol 4 – 3519
RD said,
January 7, 2009 at 6:44 pm
That’s a pretty astute observation. Hope you’re right.
Blue: 06523
Lee said,
January 7, 2009 at 7:41 pm
Blue: 3162
Red: 1982
Green: 1836
Shadow: 1832
Slammer said,
January 8, 2009 at 12:38 am
my shadow is number 04832
mar_ku said,
January 8, 2009 at 1:01 am
Blue: 6835
Another blue is waiting for me in customs, so I’ll update you on that.
H W Pfabe said,
January 8, 2009 at 2:46 am
I just ordered a Sue Graham Shadow Alpha from Robotech.com at the end of this past December (2008), so, at this point, it’s been out for what, a year? 2 years?
It is number 03737.
Vermillion21 said,
January 8, 2009 at 7:46 am
My Masterpiece Alpha #’s
Blue: 4225
Red: 1925
Green: 1556
Shadow: 1640
I believe your conspiracy theory is correct mate!!
evan2313 said,
January 9, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Green Vol 3: 03107
purchased from Robotech.com
micronian said,
January 9, 2009 at 9:23 pm
Thank you everyone for your responses! It looks like we can put this “conspiracy” as I called it to rest. My theory was reportedly confirmed when George Sohn spoke with MWer Roger (who some of you may know from other Robotech-related circles) and told him that there were more Alphas that could be made but that there were currently no plans to produce more of them. Toynami is supposedly watching demand to dictate whether or not they should put more into production. This means, if you want to buy a blue MPC Alpha you should email Toynami and ask them to make more. It will probably be a long wait though so it’s up to you in the meantime if you want to pay those huge secondary market prices for them. Thanks again everyone who participated.
Bluto said,
January 9, 2009 at 9:35 pm
Scott: 03262
Rook: 03181
03184
03985
Lancer: 03019
Sue: 03142
Rand: 02419
I love the design of the ALpha’s, but there is nothing like questionable quality control (Toynami!!!!)
spires75 said,
January 12, 2009 at 8:42 pm
Rook: 1305
Just ordered it from Robotech.com.
JediTray said,
January 15, 2009 at 2:20 am
Sue Graham Shadow: 03260
Lancer: 00143
Lancer: 02796
That’s why I was forced to wait for the green Beta. I’m on a very limited income and no longer have the luxury of buying such things, so I will barely be able to get just one Beta.
It is a known fact of the Universe that the blue Alpha has the highest demand. It’s just the way it is. Toynami are fools to not accomodate us.
-JT
Tubes said,
August 13, 2009 at 7:16 pm
Scott:4454
Rook:3050
Lancer: 2583
Sorry guys, nothing over 5000
SDFcommander said,
August 14, 2009 at 4:17 pm
Hey guys,
Here are my numbers:
Scott: 03574
Rook: 00792
Lancer: 00359
Sue: 02867
I did see that RT.com still had some Alphas on their sight are a reduced price. Could be that they did not sell them all? I would have thought that at least Scott would have some higher numbers.
At this rate I’m glad the other Alphas even came out.
Slammer said,
August 23, 2009 at 4:04 pm
addendum for me, I finally found my MPC Rook and she`s number 03601.
Thomas said,
September 13, 2009 at 10:35 pm
MPC Rook-04978
bluemax151 said,
October 30, 2009 at 8:17 pm
Finally broke my Scott/Stick out of storage…
01137
VTK said,
June 4, 2010 at 7:16 am
blue : 2068
red :952
green:979
over 10000???? its a immposible….
VTK said,
June 4, 2010 at 7:33 am
the blue of my brother is 5117…… over 7500???? niet!!!!!