As a collector that owns every masterpiece to date I can quite easily say that i am sadly never going to add this new release to said collection. MP-04 cost me less than half of what this will cost to buy brand new and I got MP-04 about 2 years after its' initial run so the price is just far, far too much to stomach in this current financial climate and I am someone that manages to get by whilst still being able to afford to save as well as support my hobby.

I have never been one for examining my figures for QC errors, nor do i get bent out of shape when I discover a slightly sloppy paint job or a loose joint. I do however expect the quality of plastics/ materials of a $250 'masterpiece' to be of a FAR better quality and strength than that of a $12-$20 figure. I say that because all of the stress marks that appeared on Rodimus and the stress marks appearing on MP-10 has me very concerned that the only difference between this MP-10 and the $12 deluxe is the price and sadly not the quality of materials used to produce it.

 

What bothers me more than the stressmarks is how the fandom magnifies something borderline obscure. Or how some small paint chips are QC issues.

I don't have an MP-10 yet, but it's nowhere near as bad as MP-09 first release was.

MP-01 and by extension MP-04 Complete held their pricepoint because the base cost and release and whatnot was back in 2003. Costs have gone up. It's why Alternity Cliffjumper costs as much as Binaltech Smokescreen, who has more than twice the die-cast and size.

 

They actually seem like engineering mistakes than QC mistakes. Eg the tires, it seems the mold was too small. Gas cans not tabbing in when feet or tabbed in, again it's like the cad drawings and the mold are not 1:1

 

THIS. I agree 10000%.

I am still surprised that some will blow these out of proportion. Yes I know it is money, but there are always risk involved in purchasing stuffs and there is never going to be a perfect figure or a perfect merchandise for that matter.

Yes, it has come to the point that is has become borderline obscure. And if someone do not like what he or she sees, then just exchange the figure.

I have a person here in my country who bought MP10 and after 10 minutes playing with it, slammed the figure on the floor and start stepping on it and cursing that it is not as good as MP04.

What sort of effing mentality is this? I am still perplexed that many are still chanting - "No DIECAST, BOO." But have they thought about the current economic situation? We are not stuck in 2003 anymore, for crying out loud.

If collecting has become a stressful hobby to any (especially to that guy who slammed the MP10 on the floor), then do yourself a favor and take a break. Come back when you are back in your senses.

Yes, that is also another valid point, but to many, they are going to say it is QC problem anyways and the cycle continues. Sigh....

 

What is worse, bad QC or a failure to notice a mold defect from preliminary runs? As someone with experience in manufacturing, to me it is the latter.

As for the nit-picking and microscoping of this figure, isn't that to be expected considering that this figure has hit a new upper level price point? What did TT think was going to happen when they decided to test a new upper end?

And as for any comparison to MP-9, that is just silly as MP-9 isn't even comparable to past MP releases and was a basket case. Can't really say "well at least MP-10 isn't the wreck that MP-9 was." We need to compare MP-10 quality to MP-8 and other previous MP figures.

Anyway, all these issues I would probably be able to handle if I came across a couple here or there on a $60 Hasbro-released Prime. But on a $250 TT release, I completely understand the bitching.

 

Here is another good and valid point raise. I clearly see your perspective. Presenting points like this makes discussion worthwhile. You sir, hv my utmost respect.

 

Wah! I am surprised people did it! It is a lot of MYR there!

Even how much I hate my MP03 which is full of stressmark (everyone has it). I still think that I should love and take care of it until I pass to the next owner (my kid or next buyer).

It is a fate to be together.

 

Just for the record, it is not uncommon for Takara product to come "re-taped". It happened numerous times with the TFC reissues, for example, and appears to indicate that a batch got sealed up before someone realized something wasn't in the box. It's highly unlikely that HLJ tampered with the toy.

 

That was my thinking as well, i.e. a factory correction, and almost guaranteed that it's not an issue, unless....you're a MISB collector and then I wouldn't accept it.

How else can you guarantee to a second buyer that you aren't the one who did this?

Edit: Just wanted to add, that unless you really do mean to keep it sealed away in a box, I wouldn't return it over this. The added expense of exchange would just be wasted by the companies selling you this in good faith.

 

Only problem with mine is on roller. The small hinge on the back door that reveals the opening to place his rifle in almost pops off. Just moved it a few times back and forth and now it works perfect.

 

Anybody got any suggestions on how to resolve stress marks around the chest window hinges?

Hairdryer trick doesn't seem to be making any difference.

 

Ive just had to fish the index finger out if the hoover. Whoevers design idea that finger was needs bitchslapped from a hundred yards, with a dirty trowel. All i did was pose him with his gun and it must have fallen out despite me hardly touching it. So im now scared to pose his hands. Still love him though!

 

I paid perfect money to Takara to get a sub-perfect figure! Is this Takara's new business model?! It's akin to fraud.

 

IIRC, aside from Grimlock, every Takara MP has at least one well documented QC issue.

Actually, come to think of it the screws scratching the chrome on the tail is a fairly glaring fault too.

No, i don't like it either, but people will buy anyway which is why Takara let these things slip.

 

Too true, too true.

 

i have the losse right shoulder issue... any suggestion how to fix it?

 

Yep, same here on one leg! Thought I was going to break it while transforming it back and forth... And i'm the type that is super-careful with my TFs. Minor QC issue, I think.

 

Do you mean the sliding grey piece or the shoulder swivel?

 

the sliding grey one

 

Several thin layers of glue on the raised circular section at the back of the joint is this best thing i could think if, it created enough friction for them to not need to be pulled all the way out.

Unfortunately, it seems that the pins in windows make it impossible to disassemble the Torso.