MP-03 Starscream: what am I doing wrong? (see pic)

Discussion in 'Transformers Toy Discussion' started by Hook, Oct 7, 2006.

  1. Hook

    Hook The real Constructicon leader Veteran

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2002
    Posts:
    11,634
    News Credits:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    352
    Location:
    Gatineau, Quebec
    Likes:
    +243
    Ever since I transformed him once in robot mode and then back to jet mode, there's this nasty gap near the front air intakes. I've transformed him a few times, worndering if perhaps I didn't push the arms back enough, but whatever I do, that nasty gap still remains. On both sides.

    What boggles the mind the most is that the gap wasn't there when I took him out of the packaaging for the first time.

    Anyone else experiencing this? Any solutions?

    [​IMG]
     
  2. Subotnik

    Subotnik Please Stand By.

    Joined:
    May 25, 2003
    Posts:
    1,845
    Trophy Points:
    287
    Likes:
    +2,505
    Are you sure it wasn't there? Mine was.
     
  3. Seth Buzzard

    Seth Buzzard R.I.P. Buzzbeak Content Contributor

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2002
    Posts:
    15,267
    News Credits:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    352
    Likes:
    +71
    Ebay:
    The best way to handle it is to just buy a new one, that one is clearly garbage. You know, just send it to me and I’ll dispose of it properly.
     
  4. Mr Grimm

    Mr Grimm Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 6, 2004
    Posts:
    758
    News Credits:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    232
    Likes:
    +140
    I got mine today, and mine was like that out of the package. In addition, the double-hinge thing that allows the right wing to flip up onto the robot modes back has cracked rather badly. It's like the pin was inserted too far in, so folding it over is causing stress on the pin, breaking the hinge. I'm hoping that it won't break off completely.
     
  5. Matrix Soul

    Matrix Soul Skull 4 reporting in!

    Joined:
    Mar 10, 2004
    Posts:
    12,799
    News Credits:
    9
    Trophy Points:
    236
    Likes:
    +18
    I have the same problem, and I could've swore that it didn't look like that out of the package, maybe in all the excitement we simply overlooked it?
     
  6. Megatronwp38

    Megatronwp38 Nobody defeats the DEVASTATOR!

    Joined:
    Jan 25, 2006
    Posts:
    10,587
    Trophy Points:
    362
    Location:
    Eastern Shore of VA
    Likes:
    +6,377
    great, it looks like my SS will not be transformed until I can afford a second one.
     
  7. godsenddeath

    godsenddeath . TFW2005 Supporter

    Joined:
    May 26, 2005
    Posts:
    4,895
    News Credits:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    216
    Likes:
    +6
    Looks like the whole arm is out of line - do you have the fists rotated so that the knuckles and fingers are concealed fully?
     
  8. Renidragon

    Renidragon Toys on my table!

    Joined:
    Jan 18, 2005
    Posts:
    4,913
    Trophy Points:
    312
    Location:
    New Jersey, US
    Likes:
    +251
    I have problems aligning Alt. Prime's entire arm sections (meaning, the doors, fenders, and entire front piece of the truck)... but repositioning the hands, as trivial as it seems, actually works. I don't know a thing about Scream's transformation, but maybe try rotating various rotatables in different ways?
     
  9. Hook

    Hook The real Constructicon leader Veteran

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2002
    Posts:
    11,634
    News Credits:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    352
    Location:
    Gatineau, Quebec
    Likes:
    +243
    You may be right - judging from the replies in this thread, it seems pretty common :( 
     
  10. Chaos Muffin

    Chaos Muffin Misadventure Veteran

    Joined:
    Mar 26, 2004
    Posts:
    31,185
    Trophy Points:
    422
    Likes:
    +8,191
    Mine does that too, and it was SEAMLESS when I took it out.
    I know becasue I drooled over the jet mode for about an hour from all angles before transforming.

    Can always get it back though by undoing a few panels and snapping them back.
    Usually by squeezing certain areas
    That same piece (with the swiveling tabs)likes to pop off on mine sometimes.
    Took me awhile to realize his red shoulder things can pull out a bit.
    Three's always a gap somewhere left open though


    It's already been mentioned a few times , but just in case, did you know you can detach his hip kibble and reattach it to his legs? Some good pics of it in IRL's page . RW just posted the link in the TA
     
  11. mx-01 archon

    mx-01 archon Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 26, 2003
    Posts:
    35,354
    News Credits:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    412
    Likes:
    +44,644
    I found the problem. The solution's rather hit or miss, though.

    Takara messed up with his shoulder joints. Either they used a different type of screw than the prototype, or just plain forgot to provide clearance for them. Either way, check out his shoulders with his arms lowered straight at his sides, specifically at the ratchets. See how the ratcheted teeth don't make contact at all? Yeah, when you lower the arms, the insides of the shoulder make contact with the inner screw. When you lower the arms all the way, they push against the screw and pull the shoulder outwards a few millimeters. And unfortunately, this is the position that's needed of the shoulders for vehicle mode, accounting for the misalignment.

    You can get to the screw inside the shoulder to try to fix this up a bit, there's a bit of play in it. Unfortunately, it's impossible to give the screw full clearance just by tightening it. Once you've tightened it enough to clear the shoulder completely, you've now totally locked the ratchet in position.

    So now, the conclusion would be to open up the shoulder, and carve out a cavity to accept the screw head. Easier said than done. For that realistic look in jet mode, most of the visible screw heads have been plugged with a cover, including the ones on the backs of the shoulders. I managed to pry the cover loose on the left shoulder with almost no difficulty, and operate on that arm, but the glue on the right shoulder is proving much more stubborn. You can give it a whirl. The strength of the glue seems to be rather hit or miss.
     
  12. Wreckgar

    Wreckgar Anthony Stark Veteran

    Joined:
    Dec 9, 2003
    Posts:
    9,190
    News Credits:
    12
    Trophy Points:
    347
    Likes:
    +808
    I haven't even attempted to transform mine yet.
     
  13. Matrix Soul

    Matrix Soul Skull 4 reporting in!

    Joined:
    Mar 10, 2004
    Posts:
    12,799
    News Credits:
    9
    Trophy Points:
    236
    Likes:
    +18
    That still doesn't truly explain how it came without the gap but suddenly there is a gap, as for me, after checking out IRL's pictures, not only I realized that I failed to push the nose cone/landing gear area all the way into the cockpic, I also realized that I put the fist back wrong when I put it in jet mode, which would account for the extra spaces needed for the pieces to sit flush, once I get a break from work I shall attempt to transform SS again with the right fist placements, and see if that makes a difference.
     
  14. MasterOfPuppets

    MasterOfPuppets Banned

    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2003
    Posts:
    2,149
    Trophy Points:
    186
    Likes:
    +2
    Has anyone fixed this yet without making modifications to Starscream?
     
  15. KA

    KA Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 23, 2003
    Posts:
    23,436
    News Credits:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    412
    Likes:
    +359
    mx's explanation: bwa?!

    screw that, i'm keeping him in bot mode.

    .....

    "screw that", geddit? geddit?
     
  16. LigerPrime

    LigerPrime Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2002
    Posts:
    26,895
    News Credits:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    412
    Likes:
    +6,953
    Guys, I have to warn you some fans in my country have already complained about stress marks sighted on the toy after a few transformations...so be careful! Its somewhere along the wings if I remebered correctly.
     
  17. Acteon

    Acteon Overworked

    Joined:
    Nov 3, 2004
    Posts:
    2,967
    News Credits:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    312
    Location:
    UK, in The Garden Room
    Likes:
    +3,868
    Ebay:
    Damn, I was seriously considering picking this up (found a good price from a UK dealer) but by the sounds of it I'm best of steering clear :( 

    For those that have one - is it worth the potential heartache?
     
  18. godsenddeath

    godsenddeath . TFW2005 Supporter

    Joined:
    May 26, 2005
    Posts:
    4,895
    News Credits:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    216
    Likes:
    +6

    Makes sense. Deatatching the wings from the clips on the side before swilveling them up is not easily done.
     
  19. LigerPrime

    LigerPrime Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2002
    Posts:
    26,895
    News Credits:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    412
    Likes:
    +6,953
    IMO those who haven't got theirs should hold out for awhile...its the norm that such flaws are fixed in the next production run...if there is one of course...
     
  20. Hook

    Hook The real Constructicon leader Veteran

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2002
    Posts:
    11,634
    News Credits:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    352
    Location:
    Gatineau, Quebec
    Likes:
    +243
    I'm positive that the stress marks are done the very first time you transform it. Those wings are pretty snug and the seams are a tight fit. Prying the wings loose for the first time requires somewhat a fair deal of pressure and judging from the instruction booklet, I tried to flip the wings outward and noticed a lot of resistance because I wasn't doing it right. I believe that this false manoeuver is what causes the stress maarks (and sometimes breaking) on those wings hinges.

    But I digress... He is worth it, IMO.