Conclusion: not much.

We checked 3 Starscreams from each manufacturer when they were inside their packages and thoroughly checked 1 from each manufacturer out of their plastic (cheap, cheap) packages.

So, what are the differences? (if not specified, left is Takara, right is Hasbro)

 The obvious, box stickers and additional Japanese insert with the manual (which is in English)

And certainly, the logo on the noise of the plane on Takara release!

The subtle parts, all pointed parts in Hasbro version rounded.

That's all!

What more can I write? O.k. let's give it a try.

Overall, the Takara release is cleaner. However, if we have very clean =10 and very dirty=1 ,then Takara is 6 while Hasbro is 5.5. The lines are finer and tidier on Takara but again it's only a bit better on the viewable parts.

When they are in their packages, all Takara ones look very nice from the front. Hasbro ones, you can spot a few defective paint and scratches already. Out of the box, and turn it around, my goodness, Takara is as bad as Hasbro. Honestly I sincerely believed that weathering effect is equivalent to lazy and dirty and lower QC standard on appearances.

The weathering effects on Takara one is lighter on the top side.

A lot of parts are really dirty! And Hasbro is bad....

Lower one is Takara

I can not tell whether it is necessary to make the edges of the inside that dirty, it reminds me of the alloy wheels of my car 1 month without cleaning..

O.k. now, the paint quality is the same, each with minor defects.

Both have the same issues:

1. Top panel does not fit completely to the back of the cockpit.

2. The feet is hard to flip back out after transformed into the fighter plane.

Shall you get it? Of course ( I am writing for the store! Remember?), the toy itself is great, fun to transform, very rigid. Although it is mostly plastic, my hands feel tired after a while holding it, transforming and checking.

Which version? I'll prefer Takara, but Hasbro is fine too. By the way, you can wash those weathering effects off but if the toy is as dirty as the one I show you here (the Hasbro) forget it (believe me, I have tried!). Will it be the other way round if I opened another Hasbro, I doubted it.