Up until today i have been scared off of buying Generation Brainstorm by the reports of issues with the headmaster's head breaking off when removing it for transformation into vehicle mode. Does anyone have an easy method that helps to avoid this issue?
By most accounts, the Headmaster head being jammed in the socket in-package was really only an issue for the first run of the toy. If you get him now, you shouldn't have that problem, but if the connection is too tight you can always do some light plastic shaving to make it fit better.
Yea on mine the head is fine. Get that figure cause its friggin awesome. Can anyone say titan fort max with cerebros?? Transfoooorm Head On!!!
I find that the safest way to unpeg Arcana is to tilt the head forward when pulling it off, since the socket is open at the back.
When holding the grey chest piece down to release the headmaster, tilt the head forward to release it, that's the easiest way I've found.
Look for the second run which has clear bands holding the head on in the packaging. I got one and had zero problems with the head sticking. Such an amazing bot mode!!! So pretty.
Apparently there were reports of a revised connector socket to help. But part of the cause is the pilots head being painted. And that extra layer of thickness unaccounted for is what causes the tension. I just press down the grey collar switch and rock the head joint forward and up to get it out. Has not been an issue for me.
Mine came "fixed" but I elected to gently sand the sides of the headmaster socket anyway. I wish I hadn't, as it's too loose now. The fix really did fix it, you shouldn't have to worry.
The head on my Brainstorm has been fine and I think i bought an early run version. It's a great toy, I love both the robot and jet mode. It's a lot of fun, and you can generally find him available for a good price.
See if you can buy the second run of the figure. The head, from what I've heard, is not as loose as the first figure.
alright thanks all. I won't know if it is second run until it arrives as I ordered from an Amazon seller. and i shall tilt it forward when i remove Arcana to transform it. I will look at the head holding bands before i open it.
I have the unmodified version but in a later part of that run, the head comes off ok on mine but it's clear that the paint in the socket was scraped away slightly when taking him out the first time. I would suggest clearing away that paint on either side in that channel, just a few picometers should do it. Also, when I'm feeling paranoid about it, I recognize that the reason it breaks is because it's stressing against a very thin plate around the back, so I rotate the head before removing to force the stress against the strong portion of the plate.
Another thing you might do is make sure not to shove Arcana all the way down. He looks fine if he's even just partially docked and he's much easier to pull back out.
The head to my figure was stuck in the body from the packaging and had a bit of trouble getting it out. I can't remember what I used but I had to help it out a little and ended up chewing the back of the Headmaster's head a little. Still works fine though.
First run, second run. Doesn't matter. It's an awesome figure that you should get. Be careful first time out of the box and always follow the advice of tilting forward when removing the head. And sand the excess paint in the neck as necessary and you'll be good. Worst part of the figure is not the gimmick but the crap paint on the head.
On a side note, there's alot of talk about carefully shoving and pulling head into and out of a body in this thread.
I got Brainstorm today and other than the plastic of the packaging being cut open , i presume when the case was opened he is fine and was the later release with the clear head straps. The head goes on and off with no issues. wish i had gotten him sooner. Head on!
