I can't find a link to the relevant news article right now, but apparently TakaraTomy tweeted recently that a) they're still doing the coronation kit for Masterpiece Starscream 2.0, but that b) you only get one if you live in Japan.

Evidently they're still requiring you to send in the little box flaps from the Starscream and Thundercracker and Skywarp packaging, and you need to do so before February 28th.

I'm honestly a little miffed about this, since I was rather looking forward to the coronation kit. I mean, I was already planning on buying the three characters anyway, so this felt like a cool freebie. I've got half a mind to write to them and ask them to please send it to me anyway. I mean, geographic boundaries aren't even a thing any longer. It's not like it was in the 1980's where you either had to live in Japan or know somebody who did. I buy Takara products all the damn time nowadays.

Of course, I have no idea if Skywarp is even going to ship before February 28, at the rate things are going. My Hasbro Pulse pre-order receipt still shows December 25, 2021 as his estimated ship date, but obviously that's not happening. (BBTS still says January; Entertainment Earth says February.) Hasbro Pulse has suspiciously taken down their online listing for Masterpiece Skywarp, though. There's a page for Starscream and Thundercracker, but no Skywarp page. Not sure if shady, or just coincidence. <makes Phillip J. Fry face>

I went ahead and pre-ordered Skywarp a second time from BBTS, reasoning that one of them will show up before the other, and maybe one of them will show up before February 28. I guess it's a moot point if neither of them does..

Zob (stresses out about calorie-dense foods and plastic robot toys, in no particular order)

On Thursday, January 6, 2022 at 4:43:41 PM UTC-7, Zobovor wrote:

> I've got half a mind to write to them and ask them to please send it to me anyway.

So I actually got a postcard back from them. I wrote my letter in Japanese, and they wrote back in English, which was kind of cool.

It reads, "Thank you for your letter, and I'm very sorry for the delayed response. We are afraid to announce to you that the SS76 Starscream Sin Hakai Taitei is currently available only in Japan. However, we received your passionate letter about the Transformer and as your request, we will promise to convey your feeling to the person in charge. Thank you for your big support. Sincerely yours, TakaraTOMY Group."

I wasn't really expecting a response of any kind, so it's cool that they took the time to write back. And, hey, it was worth a shot.

Zob (insert irreverant shrug here)

I saw the contents of it previewed at

https://tformers.com/masterpiece-mp-52-starscream-jetron-campaign-exclusive-parts-set-official-images/46376/news.html

It's neat looking and all but I can't imagine it's the last word ultimate greatest iteration of the concept. There are probably other options out there. It may sound like sour grapes but I kinda don't like plastic capes.

Maybe you'll start getting odd junk mail from Japan now.