My Insecticons dilemma

Discussion in 'Transformers 3rd Party Discussion' started by JPrime, Jul 24, 2016.

?

Which Insecticons should I buy?

  1. Fanstoys

    128 vote(s)
    65.6%
  2. Badcube

    45 vote(s)
    23.1%
  3. MMC (If they're still even being release)

    12 vote(s)
    6.2%
  4. Other: Mix and match? Wait for Takara? Etc.

    10 vote(s)
    5.1%
  1. JPrime

    JPrime Michael Bay Assassin

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    My MP G1 Decepticon display has a huge hole with no Insecticons and I want a set badly. Trouble is that as much as I was so close to buying Badcube/FTs bugs, certain aesthetic and quality concerns have me very torn.

    I really wanted to see what MMC is going to offer but, although someone on here stated they were looking to aim for a release date of later this year, no mention of them at TFCon makes me think MMC has scrapped them.

    So far, I'm seeing things as this:

    Fanstoys: More G1 accurate to a point; bad back kibble; more breakage issues for more expensive figures; great quality paint and heft.

    Badcube: Cheaper option; better option for transformation due to plastic instead of diecast parts; Hypno seems too pudgy and his shoulder-ball sockets stick out to the sides too much; I like silver over chrome when it comes to these guys.

    So not only is this a thread asking which options I should choose, but if I choose either Badcube or FTs versions, what QC preparations, fixes and concerns should I have for each figure? I've read through a bit of the other threads, but I got dizzy after reading so many contrasting views.
     
  2. Insane Galvatron

    Insane Galvatron is not insane. Really!

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    There are breakage issues on the Fanstoys versions?
     
  3. JPrime

    JPrime Michael Bay Assassin

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    In their Kickback thread on here, I saw a bunch of broken arm pics and issues with the chrome-wing swivel.
     
  4. Honesty

    Honesty honestly, Honesty!

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    FansToys.

    Back kibble isn't much of an issue if you switch to the G1 accurate bug legs.

    Just don't ham hand them and you should be fine. If worse comes to worse and something DOES break, just contact your retailer. Preferably a shop with a quick turnaround like BBTS.
     
  5. kollekxon

    kollekxon Well-Known Member

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    I really like Fanstoys . On FT Forager I took it apart and sanded down the chrome rings. Loosened that screw on the arm. Looks great Its been good overall. No i havent been transforming them. Im still very carefull. Is MMC gonna do them?
     
  6. Honesty

    Honesty honestly, Honesty!

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    MMC's will also be more Studio-Ox styled, not sure if that matters or not to you.
     
  7. rubadubspawn

    rubadubspawn Rubadubspawn deals @ [email protected]

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    I voted for bc.

    I have 2 bc sets and 1 ft set myself.

    Bc is pretty sweet. Solid little bits with zero to minimal kibble. Cheap in the 3 pack. Look great with my mp.

    Then I picked up ft bombshell just for fun. Was definitely impressed with the heft and diecast. But then I turned it around and it kind looked like ass, like they just left all the legs just bunched up hanging on the back. Unimpressed. Then I got the mercenary since I thought, what the hell, he'll probably be better. Nope. Held an advance copy of ft forager and again loved the heft. He is cool, but again, legs arent well taken care of.

    All that and I have ended up with 3 sets and I do love them all. The ft ones just feel super solid and heavy but back kibble is pretty ugly and I guess just doesn't match up with the unofficial ft tagline "kicking ass, 1 g1er at a time". Bc in the other hand are pretty light feeling but all plastic quality is awesome. Great bot mode at all angles. And are almost a 3rd cheaper.

    I wouldn't sell any, but if I could only buy 1, it'd probably be bc.

    BTW I have applied no fixes to any of the figures, although I did get a replacement bot leg for mercenary due to some crappy faded paint on the leg. Ft helped me out.
     
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  8. Treadshot 2.0

    Treadshot 2.0 Action Master

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    I have a similar story. I own both, but I think bad cubes are superior because they are just better Transformers. The actual transformation is handled more elegantly. Their Bombshells switches colors when it transforms like the cartoon. All the kibble is integrated properly into the robot modes. Their proportions look kind of weird but cool too, like evil dwarves. And I also don't like the way that fans toys version breaks up the Contours of the limbs. FTs are heftier, no doubt about it, and they feel very solid, but there are just too many things about them that displease me visually for me to actually say that I prefer their look. There are things about their proportions that I might like better, but not so much that I'm willing to overlook all the kibble and in many cases rampant QC issues. BCs are also significantly less expensive for the set.
     
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  9. mikeszekely

    mikeszekely Not Pessimus Prime

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    I voted Badcube, but take my recommendation with the following disclaimer:

    - I own neither set.
    - The way people talk about Fans Toys with a devotion bordering on religious makes me instinctively look for non-FT options.

    That said, I've seen reviews for both sets. They're both going after G1 pretty hard- it's not like we're dealing with FansProject's Insecticons here. Fans Toys does probably come out on top based only on looks, but if you play with them the Badcube ones look like they're more "fun" to handle. Then there's the price difference. The whole set of Badcube Insecticons is around the price of two FT ones, and I'm sorry, I'm just not seeing anything about the FT ones that makes me think the extra cash is warranted.
     
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  10. 2003 Megatron

    2003 Megatron Banned

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    Ft are the best for me. I had the bc and they were good. But the Ft ones I like more. No breakages on any of mine. Ft only problem is the bug leg kibble like you mentioned. But in hand and they way I have fixed them they don't really bother me. I will tell you for sure that in hand ft feel and look better over the bc one's. I'm very happy with them and have no regrets selling the bc versions. I think the aesthetic on ft and proportions are better also. Bc were kinda off and something about them doesn't look and feel right.
     
  11. peddlerofwine

    peddlerofwine Starscream's Robot Gun

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    Fanstoys for me. I waited for MMC since Dec, but no cigar. Just be careful with Kickback.
     
  12. CVprowl

    CVprowl Done

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    If I had it all to do over again, I would not buy the Fanstoys insecticons. I bet MMC's will look good and probably not have the issues that FT's did.

    If FT had done something to help us out with the wings on Kickback I could have overlooked it, but they have given no response except to provide replacement parts IF you break it. I don't want to break it just to get replacement parts. By the time I DO break it, the parts will probably no longer be available. That is not a cool solution to me. That part was a horrible weak design and should be fixed or at least provide spare parts to all owners.
     
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  13. mrprime222000

    mrprime222000 Well-Known Member

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    Personally I'd recommend Fanstoys. But if you can afford you could always get all of them and use the ones that aren't your favorites as troop builders.
     
  14. mx-01 archon

    mx-01 archon Well-Known Member

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    I needed Insecticon clones for the army, so I bought one each of the FT Insecticons, and two sets of the BadCube value packs...
     
  15. usernamedustin

    usernamedustin Banned

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    Badcube. I thought they were a little off looking until I got them in hand. They look excellent with my MP collection. The plastic is solid and it is good engineering. I am not worried at all when I transform them.
     
  16. Starganderfish

    Starganderfish Well-Known Member

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    Fans toys for me but I don't own/have never touched Badcubes. I thought FT fit better in my collection & didn't like the way BC's looked.

    FT Back/leg kibble isn't that bad. If you watch some video reviews you see the figures all have a fairly specific way you can fold up the legs to accordion them in and at that point the kibble is minimal and better than many official MP's.

    A couple of caveats with this recommendation:

    Grenadier had some initial reports of his bot mode antennae breaking if mishandled. One of the later figures (Forager I think?) came with a replacement diecast antennae.
    Forager had the well-publicized fragile wing/arm clip (FT even included a printed warning in the box about it) Fixes range from as complex as disassembling the figure and sanding and lubing the joint to as simple as just being really careful. For me, I just very carefully checked the clips were okay and then, holding the wing very carefully at the base close to the joint, rotated it back and forth 8 or 10 times. Apparently the problem arises from excessive flashing in the joint which catches and causes breakage. The careful rotation scrapes away the flashing. Other thing to do is always be very careful, hold the wing by the base and always be conscious of whether or not the clips are locked. The clips can slip closed halfway through the process if you're not watching and then...snap.
    With respect to those who suggest "it's not an issue, just contact your retailer" - this is potentially an "anytime" problem and I have the distinct feeling that if you forget or get distracted during the transformation, breakage is possible - whether now or 6 months down the track. Good luck hitting up your retailer in 2018 for a broken wing on a figure you purchased in 2016.

    But I don't transform mine much and am always careful when doing so. FansToys was an obvious yes for me.
     
  17. DogFriedRice

    DogFriedRice Well-Known Member

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    FT Bombshell
    Badcube Shrapnel
    MMC Kickback
     
  18. discoamazing

    discoamazing Well-Known Member

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    Do what I did: get FansToys Bombshell, and get the other two from Badcube.

    BC's Bombshell has an awful face sculpt, and is just generally worse looking than FT's offering, but somehow they managed to do just fine with Kickback and Shrapnel. I'm in the process of moving right now so I can't take a picture of my "team," but they look great together. The slight scale difference works fine with Bombshell as the leader.
     
  19. TCracker

    TCracker R.I.P., 5/2019 Veteran

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    Having owned both FT and Badcude all I can say is:

    Badcube - fun to play and transform. The 3pack might be void of die cast but they are easier to handle and very sturdy by their own right.

    Fanstoys - looks great and nailed the look. But absolutely no fun to play with. All mine came with stupidly right joints and fitting issues. Broke my Forager first time transforming it and that was even after I reviewed the videos and read all about the issues it had.

    Bottom line- like to play and have fun transforming? Go for Badcude. Like to pose and just leave them there? - go for FT. Upside is, it is built like a tank. I have mercenary surviving a 3 foot drop and all I can say is I pity the floor.

    I know FT fans will pan me for saying what I said above. But in the end, vote with your wallet
     
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  20. GR1ML0CK

    GR1ML0CK Dinobot Commander

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    Heft.......nuff said