Yes. The ratchet teeth are almost completely frozen together. Rounding them off still allows for ratchets that are reasonable. I don’t feel any more stress on the ankle pieces.

But as always, YMMV. You do have to be careful doing this.

Team Beard and Cape!

 

The heel is a bit different. It’s the same problem, but I fixed it by cutting the spring in half, rather than sanding the teeth. Those teeth are too tiny, IMO

 

I suppose if you really wanted the screw covers, you could ask X-transbots for replacements. Honestly, they are really only for the boat mode underneath look. Now if I could get a paint match for the thighs, I would be super happy.

 

Not fun getting these covers off. Still working on #1.

 

Yeah, removing these takes magic....

Edit: not performing this again. So far all I have managed to do is scuff the leg up.

 

Sorry man.

 

Eh, it's okay. This is not the first time I have struggled with 3rd party figures.

On the bright side, the second cover was a lot easier after the first

Edit: After all my moaning, I have to say this makes the figure so much more enjoyable. Sure, I'm not happy with the scuffs around his legs, but I can live with them. I don't have to ask my wife now to transform this guy

 

Weird discovery: different screw colors on my sweeps. Black on one and typical no color on the other. Even weirder, the screw cover for one was molded in blue plastic while the other was molded in red.

 

Preach

 

Yep, I'm happy now with my three Swarm/Sweeps team. The one that had the most paint chipping was the first experimental. That said, a suggested paint would be appreciated....although, I do wonder if I went to Sherwin Williams if they could paint match for me. Kind of expensive, but would be nice for touchups.

 

I just have to say that this figure is solid and fun!! I always avoided it because Scourge’s alt mode and cause I tend to avoid xtransbots. Eligos was a bit of a let down but this figure as well as Ditka, Kingzilla, and Kingorilla have all been stellar. I’m a firm believer in giving multiple chances and am glad that X-Transbot/KFC have stepped the game up.

 

Just got mine... Nose ruined out of the box. Pretty miffed. Haven't even barely unwrapped it and the head was dislodged in alt mode in the packaging. I checked the nose and this is what I see:


Sigh.

Does anyone know the right paint to touch this up his face? I haven't ventured into painting Transformers yet but this more than warrants it...  

 

Games Workshop will fix that.

 

Great idea, thanks! Might take him in to my nearest store tomorrow.

 

Worst case you can email xtransbots for a replacement face.

 

Yes they will- but you will have to ask them 5-10 times, give them your address 3 times. Maybe the paint fix is just less frustration all around.

 

Any acrylic will do. Use some Testors white and just the ever so small dab of any blue, some thinner maybe necessary if you are using some cheaper acrylic paint. Mix well until you think you have the shade. If the white is not gloss, then add some clear acrylic or arcrylic floor polish It will be hard for a perfect perfect match, but it will be pretty hard to see the edit.

Best part is, once you've done this yourself, you won't live in fear of damaging the paint on your masterpieces. Might even be fun.

Since this is new, I'd ask your vendor for a new face anyway though

 

Great advice, and very kind of you to post this, but when it comes down to it, no one should have to resort doing this to begin with. For $160, this thing should essentially be flawless. This is unforgivable, not just for XTB, but for any company putting out a product. Not everyone is handy with some paint and a brush, either. And it makes me worry about the other painted areas, too. Would some or many need to basically paint the whole figure all over again? I'm having some buyer's remorse and I haven't even gotten mine yet...

 

Glad I waited for a flash sale and picked this guy up recently for $115 shipped