To play devil's advocate a bit here, I think the problem is that you're assuming everyone is a completionist...decidedly untrue in my case. If a slightly better looking version comes out, I'm fine with passing on it if I judge the cost/benefit ratio to be too low. I'm totally comfortable with having one version of each character and not all of them.

And TT's prices have been soaring lately while their QC dips into the gutter, so that "wallet relief" you mentioned via their release schedule doesn't really deliver asit might have a few years ago. Sunstreaker (among others) firmly put their prices at or above many 3rd party offerings for similar sized bots.

 

I don't buy into the Porsche commentary that runs through the fandom. Until I hear it from TT or Warden then it's on the table. Sunstreaker was impossible at one point so why not Jazz? That said let's get on with it! Bring me more 84 carbots!

 

This is a myth that gets repeated a lot around here. I've collected all the G1 molds from MP-08 Grimlock on up and every release has had issues, from very minor to pretty major. The wide releases I've gotten over the past two years, though, from the Fusos through Targetmaster Hot Rod have had the best qc of all my figures on the whole.

 

I was detailing my case specifically. And I know it holds true for many. Yes, there might be exceptions.

But for the most part, people buy a character because "it hasn't been made yet", and they end up getting a placeholder.

FWIW, none of my TT purchases have had any problems. Except MP 09, so maybe I'm lucky, who knows.


As far as the last part, you might have misunderstood what I was trying to say. If you are official only, $100 a carbot every other 6-9 months beats 17 3P releases priced $60 each in the same time period.

That's what I meant.

 

Completely agree

 

I actually do not buy it all and only have made three 3P purchases (none of which are MP-line based)

 

Sounds like a case of sour grapes. How does an increase in price correlate with a drop in QC exactly? In regards to paint chipping, that happens with all toys with paint.

The newer MPs have wider paint coverage (megatron), and parts that transform with paint may chip. Seems logical to me. Just be careful with your expensive toys?

Are you suggesting less paint coverage in transforming areas? I can understand that being a good compromise on both price and qc. The higher parts count may still affect the price point, though.

 

Yes, got what you meant  
I feel, however, that TT is really trying to see how far they can push the cost vs. demand which is going to start evening that out.

Also, I likely need to understand that my buying only characters that I give a crap about and not everything makes me more of an anamoly, lol

 

I've found Ironhide's red and Tracks' blue to be among the best paint jobs in the line. Beautiful, consistent, and highly durable. Should be like that on every figure.

I have to say, though, I haven't experienced any paint chipping on Ratchet or Grapple like I've seen on others. I don't know if I've gotten lucky or if it's the climate I'm in, but they're rock solid here.

 

Agreed - especially so with Ironhide. I don't know how they did it, but he has a fantastic, uniform, glossy paint job

 

it most likely is layered tinted gloss like XTB breakdown. I have the same rub in his elbow that Ratchet has. The only difference is Ratchet is painted so the chips are more noticable where you have to look really close to notice some of the redness and gloss has rubbed off in his elbow crease.

 

I love Tracks blue paint job! I have to say I also still find MP-11SW Skywarp colour combination amazing to look at! This is despite the fact that he does not 100% fit with his seeker brothers.

 

Late to the Party I was curious if there was any news on a release date for Hound?

 

Still nothing on this guy or V3 Prime. Each time we get close to a new Japanese toy magazine, hope rises that Hound pics and an official confirmation regarding a release date rise, and then fall again when we get nothing on that front again.

 

Does TT usually tweak stuff?

I mean, Hound came out of the blue. I seriously doubt any of us were expecting that at all! and what an amazing surprise it was!

But with Prime, I just have to assume TT is trying to make it be the best MP release ever. All this shusiness about it, so intriguing. I'm not concerned in any way, mind you, but do they normally change stuff from prototype to final release?

I'm sorry if this has been answered before.

Also, there hasn't been any signs of Prime having a communicator screen on his forearm, hasn't it? Believe it or not, it was one of my favorite features of the OG version. A "+" version of Bee would just be icing on the cake to go with it!

 

Curious about this as well. I really hope Hound won't get any revisions. As he's already perfect, I can only see changes being made for the worse.

 

No idea if Hound is being tweaked, I'm guessing "no" since his prototype was fully painted, but it's not impossible. There is some precedence for tweaks being made from prototype to release. MP-03 Starscream is the most drastic example with Kobayashi's initial prototype being very cartoon accurate but then was heavily modded by Kawamori, the Official Guidebook shows that MP-09's boots were re-engineered from his initial prototype, MP-10's trailer prototype had another interior layer that was omitted in the final product, Bumblebee's horns were softened, Ultra Magnus' inner boots were turned from red to blue, Ironhide got an added strip of dark grey paint on the top of his backpack, a few of Megatron's parts were hollowed out after being solid in the initial product shots, and Sunstreaker initially had a yellow spoiler. I'm sure there are others as I don't pay much attention to MPs outside of the G1 cartoon figures.

 

I keep wondering if that was indeed a mistake.  

 

I think MP-09 was a case of Kobayashi's design being too far ahead of what production/manufacturing was capable of, unfortunately. Looking back at the Official Guide, the one MP-09 prototype also had thighs constructed in more pieces and a different collar area. Also almost forgot that MP-10's gunship initially had little rockets!

I'd be very happy if the Hound shown at the show is exactly what we get. I think he's one of those all too common victims of being revealed in a not-so-flattering pose. As long as his head stays firmly in place, that armature isn't a bother to me.