Because it's not a bad design. It's a plastic issue. while not GPS because it's not gold, it's similar in every other way. The way it crumbles and breaks without any stress marks is the sign of that. If it was a design issue, it would stress before breaking. as-is, all it takes on most is for a joint to be touched, and it shatters. The japanese version uses a different color plastic, so it's fine.
Dinobot does, so is Terradive's trident, since I have two of him I'll coat one of them in something to see it it helps, maybe it's oxidisation of the plastic over time.
Well, on the upside, you can probably still find one at Wal*mart or one of the discount stores. If you need help, just ask RotF Mudflap and his Tuner sidekick. You can probably find the RotF Scorpy too
Gold plastic syndrome. Where a specific type of gold plastic will crumble away with age. http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Gold_Plastic_Syndrome
I always worry for my Beast Wars Magnaboss, specifically, silverbolt. I always pick up Magnaboss junkers when I see them, just so I have spares should the worst happen!
GPS=Gold Plastic Syndrome One of the worst thing to happen to a transformer toy. Many have died cause of GPS... to all those who have died because from this painful cause death.
It's the "go to" cause every time a figure breaks without warning, for no other reason than "it broke and the plastic was gold." The color, nor metal flake are indicative of GPS. Many plastics that are gold and have metal flake are fine, some plastics that have neither are brittle and weak. I think it's ludicrous to think any figures made after the early 2000's have GPS, as that is a known choking hazard at this point. However, that does not mean figures do not have other types of plastic that exhibit similar properties over time for one reason or another. For example, plasticized PVC drying out and cracking.
Micromaster Superion (2007) suffers from it BADLY. and yeah, it's 100% pure GPS. Same with some Protoform Starscreams. Not too ludicrous.
Both of which were released years ago, with one being a Universe release of an old mold, and from the sound of it, the other one getting fixed with a running change when the mistake was discovered. And besides that, we have seen other plastics that are not GPS get brittle and break over time. For example, MP Greenscream who is notoriously fragile, unlike later releases of the same mold. Some KOs exhibit these same flaws without being GPS. Polystyrene is also known for weakening and getting extremely brittle with age.
Well, you said it was ludicrous to think any figures made after the early 2000's had GPS, and I named two that did. 2007 isn't early 2000's, and Universe superion being a release of an old mold doesn't really matter, as no versions of sixwing have gold plastic to be effected. But yeah, I think the gold plastic-specific issue is gone now.
What about human alliance figures? or Revenge of the Fallen figures? I seen online Leader Starscream is suffering from breakage.
I don't think they have any gold plastic on them do they? Also I'm actually glad this thread got revived. I recently orded an Autobot 3 pack from R.I.D(2001) that came with Mirage GT, Scavenger, and Nichtcruz.(all BM vehicon repaints) and noticed in the listing image that Scavenger has gold plastic. I wasn't sure if he was a prime canidite for GPS or not.
