Let's start by talking about Encore 23 Fortress Maximus again. We talked about him a bit last week, but some new images and a little more info has come along. The new images show that he will include of the bells and whistles of the original release as well as the massive Japan-only Master Sword! Fortress Maximus is two feet tall and the Master Sword isn't much shorter making for a pretty huge accessory. Hasbro has stated many times that Fort Max can't pass US safety standards so your only two options in getting one today is importing this one or ponying up for a vintage one. Another bit of good news is that BBTS has reduced their price by $20 stating a lower than expected Japanese price!

[ Pre-order Fortress Maximus (air mail) at TF Source | Big Bad Toy Store ]

[ Pre-order Fortress Maximus (standard) at TF Source | Big Bad Toy Store ]

Let's keep talking about Encore a little more. Not long ago some stores started taking pre-orders on what was thought to be a G2 yellow version of Encore 20 Constructicons. Turns out that wasn't the case, but it will actually be Encore 20A animation colored version! This version has a few color changes over the original such as black fore arms and a purple barrel on Mix Master, as well as a new head for Devastator. Additional details aren't clear yet, but there might be a few more surprises in store.

[ Pre-order Constructicons at TF Source | Big Bad Toy Store ]

Moving on to the Masterpiece side of things Takara has revealed their first repaint for MP-10 Convoy/Optimus Prime: MP-10B Black Convoy/Optimus Prime. Black repaints of Optimus Prime have something of an identity crisis. Sometimes it's just Optimus Prime in black; sometimes it's another Autobot disguised as Optimus Prime in black; sometimes it's RID Decepticon leader Scourge; Sometimes it's Stunticon leader Motormaster; sometimes it's Decepticon clone Nemesis Prime; and sometimes it's someone entirely different. This one is sporting a Decepticon symbol so it's probably along the same lines as Scourge or Nemesis Prime. Eh, I'm sure it'll come with a comic to make sense of it all. What's also interesting here is that he'll be released without the trailer which has cut the price almost in half. Hopefully we'll see MP-10 released again without trailer as well.

[ Pre-order Black Convoy at TF Source | Big Bad Toy Store ]

And wrapping things up we've got our first release information and colored looks at the Masterpiece cassettes to go with MP-13 Soundwave! MP-15 will be Ravage and Rumble while MP-16 will be Buzzsaw and Frenzy. Takara is going with RIRFIB on this release just like back in the 80s so Rumbe is red and Frenzy is blue unlike what you saw on the cartoon. Frenzy and Rumble also include their pile drivers for some extra ground pounding action. My only complaint is that Buzzsaw looks rather orange rather than gold so hopefully that'll change.

[ Pre-order Rumble and Ravage at TF Source | Big Bad Toy Store ]

[ Pre-order Frenzy and Buzzsaw at TF Source | Big Bad Toy Store ]

That's all for today, expect another update as soon as the Japanese pre-orders begin!

[via Seibertron.com, all images via TFsource.com]