TFSource’s latest retailer update is a particularly dense one for Transformers collectors, with Takara Tomy’s Missing Link Soundwave finally joining the preorder conversation alongside new T-Spark projects, Masterpiece G releases, Legends-scale figures, third-party offerings, and several high-end non-Transformers collectibles.
The headline news is unquestionably the arrival of Missing Link D-01 Soundwave and D-02 Soundwave (Anime Type). Soundwave is one of the most important remaining G1 characters for Takara Tomy’s modernized vintage-toy initiative, and offering both toy-inspired and animation-inspired versions gives collectors two distinctly different reasons to pay attention.
Missing Link Soundwave Brings Two G1 Interpretations to the Shelf
The Missing Link concept has always been more ambitious than a simple reissue program. The line revisits classic Transformers designs as though the original toys had been engineered with articulation and transformation solutions closer to modern standards. That makes Soundwave a natural choice: his vintage cassette-player transformation is iconic, but the original figure’s posing range is extremely limited by contemporary expectations.
The two announced versions should appeal to different parts of the G1 collecting audience. The standard D-01 release follows the familiar toy-oriented direction, while D-02 uses an animation-style color treatment intended to evoke Soundwave’s on-screen appearance. For collectors who prefer a coherent vintage-toy shelf, D-01 is likely the more natural fit. D-02, meanwhile, should sit comfortably beside animation-focused Missing Link releases such as the Anime Color versions of other characters.
Soundwave’s popularity also gives the release significance beyond the figure itself. The cassette deck character is closely tied to his cassette partners, and collectors will naturally be watching to see how Takara Tomy approaches compatibility, storage, and future cassette releases. The existing MPG-19 Soundwave and Condor demonstrates that Takara Tomy understands the importance of the chest-compartment gimmick, but Missing Link is pursuing a very different design brief: preserving the personality of the original toy while adding the movement collectors expect from a modern action figure.
Collector verdict: Missing Link Soundwave is aimed squarely at G1 completists, nostalgia-driven collectors, and anyone who has wanted a vintage-style Soundwave with a more useful range of poses. The appeal of buying both versions will depend heavily on how clearly their decos and accessories separate them on the shelf.
Adamas Machina Expands Its High-End Transformers Identity
Takara Tomy’s Adamas Machina line continues to occupy an unusual position within the Transformers market. It is not a conventional Masterpiece release, nor is it simply a display statue. The series combines alloy construction, premium paint work, full transformation, and a heavily redesigned visual approach that treats familiar characters as elaborate mechanical reinterpretations.
The new AM-T02EX Magna Regulus is one of the more surprising announcements in the update. Based on the Adamas Machina Predaking platform, the character uses a black-and-white police-inspired color scheme and presents the combiner design in an original configuration. That makes it less of a straightforward character update and more of a premium alternate identity built around the existing engineering.
The original AM-T02 Predaking is described by Takara Tomy as a fully transforming and combining five-member combiner, with the Predacons converting between mechanical beast and robot modes before forming a roughly 300-millimeter-tall Predaking. The line’s use of metal parts and extensive paint applications gives it an imposing display presence, but it also places the figure firmly in the premium collector category.
Magna Regulus will likely attract collectors who enjoy alternate-universe designs, original fiction, and mechanical reimaginings more than those seeking a definitive cartoon-accurate Predaking. For the latter group, the release may feel like an expensive variation on a centerpiece they already consider complete. For Adamas Machina fans, however, the redeco offers another opportunity to display the platform’s distinctive armor, proportions, and combiner silhouette.
MPG-26 Rhinox and the Continuing Masterpiece G Push
The announcement of MPG-26 Decepticon Rhinox shows how broadly the Masterpiece G branding is being used to explore animation-driven Transformers characters. Rhinox is best known as a Maximal from Beast Wars, so the Decepticon designation immediately makes this release more than a routine update of the familiar heroic character.
That alternate identity is likely to be the main talking point for collectors. Beast Wars characters already occupy a complicated space in the Masterpiece market because their organic alt modes demand more sculpted surface detail and more involved engineering than standard vehicle-based characters. Recasting Rhinox as a Decepticon adds a new layer of collectability, especially for fans who enjoy obscure variations and color-based reinterpretations.
It also fits the broader direction of Takara Tomy’s T-Spark ecosystem, which has increasingly allowed established Transformers designs to move between traditional character categories, timelines, and visual styles. Collectors who prioritize strict animation accuracy may approach MPG-26 cautiously, while Beast Wars fans and redeco collectors could find the unusual faction treatment especially appealing.
Alongside Rhinox, TFSource lists the already available MPG-19 Soundwave and Condor. That set is built around the classic cassette-player transformation and includes Condor, chest storage, display components, Energon cubes, a scanner, and additional anime-oriented presentation options. Its presence in the in-stock portion of the update gives Masterpiece collectors a chance to pair a premium Soundwave release with the newly announced Missing Link versions, even though the two lines serve very different purposes.
Legends, Third-Party Releases, and a Busy Preorder Queue
For collectors working at smaller scales, TFSource is also taking orders for New Legends NL-06 Autobot Cosmos and NL-07 Soundwave. These releases continue the appeal of compact Transformers that can deliver recognizable character silhouettes without consuming the shelf space required by Masterpiece or premium combiner figures. Soundwave’s inclusion is particularly useful for collectors building a small-scale Decepticon communications lineup.
Newage also appears with S02 Ronin from The Legendary Heroes series. While the retailer update does not provide a full specification breakdown, the release is positioned within Newage’s highly collector-oriented Legends-scale range, where compact dimensions are typically paired with detailed sculpts, articulated robot modes, and transformation engineering intended for display rather than playroom durability.
The broader preorder list is remarkably varied. FansHobby’s MB-20B Blue X-Load, Machine Cat Toys’ MCT-C02 Ferocy B-Robo Dual Charger and Combiner, X-Transbots’ MX-68J Conechrome and Firehole Japanese Version, and 01Studio’s 01S06 Boardcon all target different corners of the third-party market. This is the kind of retailer update that rewards collectors who follow more than one scale or manufacturer, since the lineup ranges from compact reinterpretations to oversized, display-first projects.
Also included are the Leader Class Megatron MTMTE Collection from Hasbro’s Studio Series line and the Ages of the Primes Combaticon Onslaught. These releases provide a more mainstream counterpoint to the expensive import and third-party offerings, giving collectors options at different price tiers and with more conventional retail positioning.
High-End Non-Transformers Highlights
The update is not limited to Transformers. HeatBoys’ HB0105 Michelangelo HEFIG Series Deluxe Edition brings the premium articulated-figure treatment to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, while TigaToys lists the YH01 Tian Shu Yu Hai Series. These releases reinforce how TFSource’s preorder catalog has expanded beyond a single franchise into high-end anime, comic, and mecha collectibles.
Threezero’s Optimus Prime MDLX Scale Collectible Figure from the 1986 movie is another major attraction. The MDLX line is known for treating familiar characters as compact premium figures rather than traditional transforming toys, making this Optimus a strong option for collectors who want a screen-inspired centerpiece without committing to the complexity of a Masterpiece transformer.
The in-stock and restocked section adds further variety, including Robosen’s Optimus Prime Trailer Kit accessory, Studio Series Matrix of Leadership, Studio Series Age of Extinction Grimlock in Titan Class, threezero’s Bumblebee Starscream DLX figure, and 01Studio’s transparent Bacteria version. These restocks may be less dramatic than the new preorders, but they are potentially more relevant for collectors trying to complete existing display themes.
Overall, this TFSource update is notable because it reflects the current collector market in miniature: vintage-inspired engineering, premium alloy designs, animation-focused Masterpiece releases, compact Legends figures, third-party experimentation, and non-transforming display pieces all competing for attention at once. The clear standouts are the two Missing Link Soundwaves and Magna Regulus, but the deeper story is the sheer range of collecting styles represented in one retailer announcement.
Collectors who want the most historically significant release should start with Missing Link Soundwave. Those chasing elaborate engineering and shelf dominance will likely be more interested in Adamas Machina, while Legends fans and third-party regulars have several smaller-scale alternatives to consider. With no pricing or release timing included in the supplied update, buyers should verify final retailer listings before committing to multiple preorders.
Sources
- toyark.com
- tf.takaratomy.co.jp
- takaratomymall.jp
- tfsource.com
- news.tfw2005.com
