Does the design become more and more complex as the set goes on? We'll see if it works in our favour, i guess

 

What do you mean specifically?

 

Is someone complaining because a transforming car has lines where panels meet?

Guess they won't be getting MP-44 then.  

To be fair, there are a few. It also transforms from a car to a robot and also an arm (sorta). If panel lines are the only issue then XTB has done an amazing job.

 

And keep in mind the whole car splits in half

 

Need video pronto!

 

MP-44 is an abomination for other reasons though (such as the price and Kobayashi's obsession with putting everything on the back of a figure because he can't be bothered to do something more creative).

 

F U Xtransbot!!!!!

WHEN??? I need this NEOW

 

This is an excellent example of why people who go crazy over a render can still be somewhat disappointed with the actual product. What we have here is a very Takara outcome, Takara being the most notorious for this. Back in the Combiner Wars and Titans Return age, they practically did a bait and switch when it came to how the products looked in the renders vs the reality of the physical products in hand. This isn't to that level but it does remind me of that.

As far as this figure goes, those gaps could be done better. Truthfully, given how much extra time this figure has taken to come out, I expected a little better.

The missing stripe is a very small disappointment only because it would increase the nostalgia factor. I don't add stickers to masterpiece figures. Stickers are for G1 toys back in the '80s. Modern masterpiece deserve nothing less than tampo paint apps from the factory. But it's not a big deal. Still looking forward to having one more Stunticon on the shelf!

Rude dude, relax.  

 

Kinda funny how people are wishing for the toy stripe on this guy and the OX head on Zeta's Superion, but suggest that TE's Optimus should have the store in his cab or silver instead of white on his thighs and pelvis and the cartoon crowd will practically chase you out with torches and pitchforks.

Personally I prefer no stripe, but if XTB had included it I would have been ok with it.

 

I think whichever company manufacturing whatever product can do anything they want with it, it's THEIR product, we should have no input on the design... but when it's finished we have the choice to buy it or to not buy it, THAT'S when our input comes in.
I've had no hand in the design of washing machines, vacuum cleaners, televisions, cars, and wouldn't expect to. But I will buy the finished product if I like it and if I think it's a big bag of wank then I won't buy it, but I also won't complain they didn't make it EXACTLY LIKE I WANTED  

Imagine if I'd contacted Hasbro in 1984 and said "I don't like the hollowness of Optimus in robot mode, I can see through him, can you sort that out before I get my mother to buy me it for my birthday"! We're bloody spoiled rotten that we get to see renders and prototypes these days!  

 

Well the natural conclusion is it probably isn't the exact same people taking opposite perspectives, is it?  

Those devices all had extensive testing with consumers before they went to market. When it comes to real companies (vs 3Ps which are mostly informal arrangements), having no input on a product during its creation would be a disaster. Companies normally seek out consumer feedback throughout the r&d and development process to help ensure the product will be successful in the market when it is released.

 

Fan feedback is often great and has resulted in some major improvements to figures. As examples, it caused FT to fix up their Snarl and the facesculpts of their Dinobots, encouraged them to release a 2nd dino-mode Grinder head, and caused KFC to release a second (IMO better) head for their Apeface, to name a few examples.

The problem is when fans become incredibly vocal and demanding. Ultimately it IS up to the manufacturer to take input and then do whatever they want with it. Unfortunately not everyone sees it that way.

 

Yep, that's why posts like this (which is not a call-out, it just happens to be a convenient example since it's on this very page. there is much worse out there) rub some of us the wrong way and exhibit the type of behavior that is going to reduce the likelihood that a 3P is going to want to interact with us here.
When we post stuff like that, or if we call relatively good products exaggerated things like "absolute trash" just because we don't like one aspect of their design, we need to remember it's being read by 3P company employees some of whose first language isn't English and are likely not going to get that it's not meant to communicate the literal meaning of those words, it's exaggeration for effect.
We know zfarsh isn't really telling them to go F themselves, he's expressing his impatience and desire for the product in an immature manner, not wishing to cause them harm. But given language barriers and a potential lack of understanding of the cultural or generational uses of the English language, there's a good chance it will be misinterpreted.
I guess all that to say, when we write things like that or other feedback on a product, try to think of the audience that's going to be receiving it, especially the most important audience, which is the 3P themselves if we want them to interact here.

 

I can see that happening, focus groups and the like, but they don't rely on the opinions of random people on the interwebs demanding it should be done exactly how they like it or else there'll be hell to pay  

And again, consumer feedback can be very helpful, it's the demanding that things be done to one person's specifications that can be irksome... if they do something with these buggers that I don't like then I won't buy them, but so far I like what I see  

 

Woo hoo looks nice! Could always see he’s quite broken up from the renders and you gotta remember the renders are ‘perfect’ to the micron so when you actually make the thing it’ll never look as clean and fit together as well. Doesn’t look vastly worse than MP Sideswipe’s side to be honest. Paint looks nice too, as do the headlights some feared would be flat white when we saw the test shot.

 

I only had trouble with one screw on Ironhide. I eventually got it on the recent reissue of the figure, but there was no way on my OG copy. Ratchet gave me zero problems, and it seemed like I was in the minority of people who had problems installing the kit. I'm sure you'll be fine. As was stated, just be sure to be careful. And use a good JIS screwdriver. Lastly, an extremely helpful piece of advice recommended to me was using an appropriately sized flathead to loosen problem screws (or even remove them in my case) rather than a phillips.

 

I second that, it gives a better grip and involves less swearing  

 

Also, I strongly recommend only using JIS (Japan Industry Standard) screwdrivers on your figures. They work better on screws found on Asian/Chinese/Japanese items including toys and figures. They are far less likely to strip the screw heads unlike standard non-JIS screwdrivers.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002R8HG8W/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00A7WAHTU/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I have both sets but either one will do. I'd say I use the top one the most.

 

You can always tell when something significant happens... the thread will jump about five pages in about as many days.





So it looks like Deathwish might be next. I agree with some, that there are visible lines for where the figure unfolds in order to change from alt-mode to bot-mode... but you know what?! In the phones currently posted... it doesn't look that bad.

On the positive, it might mean that I can actually transform the figure without use of a precision pry-tool.

Speaking of transforming... I finally got a chance to transform Flipout and Crackup.

I found Flipout to be more problematic to transform than Crackup. Joints and tabs were so tight on Flipout, I wasn't sure if the action I was taking would result in breakage or not... and after seeing Bobby "Skullface's" video of Flipout... I was a bit concerned.

But forewarned as they say, is forearmed. And thankfully, I experienced no breakage.





Crackup and Flipout make for very charismatic looking Stunticons... Albeit, charismatically evil. I'd say a roll +12 charisma on looks alone.

The dials for functionality and poseability are also is turned up to eleven.




Other than a frightening transformation due to extremely tight tabs and joints, there is nothing alarming or disturbing about these figures. They are FANTASTIC!!

And they play well with others...




"Hey Uproar, Racket!! Listen... Crackup and I were thinking... Maybe since we are all waiting for the rest of our teams... maybe we could get together sometime and combine. I mean, the rest of Armageddon and Monolith would NEVER find out... Whaddayousay?!"


See... they all get along swimmingly!!

Well... I guess they don't always get along with others...






Overall, I think these guys each get five star ratings... of course if something snaps or breaks... those ratings falls significantly for me... and not being made of money, I am extremely careful with my figures.. so thus far, I haven't had a casualty [knocking on wood].

In closing I would say these guys get two raised fists!!



Cheers!!

 

Despite owning Flipout for awhile tonight was the 1st time I managed to get him in altmode with enough ground clearance to free roll!

Edit: picture doesn't seem to show it that good :S