Seems to be in stock with TF Express so hopefully that will mean Kapow too soon.

 

And.........I have mine.

Thank you China!

 

Got mine too. Punched out everything and started filing off the spur marks. Need to decide if I want to paint the eyes blue or leave them the traditional red.

 

I'd love some opinions on how easy it is to build once people are farther along. Shockwave had a few parts that needed finesse or risk destroying the whole figure. I'd like to think considering it's just Grimlock that the build is better all around.

 

So how does this little fella scale with the Iron Factory Legends class figures?

And how's the build? Is it as easy as a High Grade Gundam model kit?

 

If you look back a few pages, there are pictures of him with various IF figures. If I remember correctly, he's right at the same height as not-Ultra Magnus.

 

Oh! They all look great together!

 

I bought two and have so far assembled only one- I LOVE IT!

The parts fit together well with the exception of the waste- It was really tight and the gap didnt quite close all the way. I may take it apart and work the area a bit with a file just to close the gap- Otherwise totally happy with the little guy.

 

Shame there's no yt vids, even though tfbseems easy enough wouldn't have minded to see him in a video.

 

Put together the one I received today.

Issues future builders should be aware of that I had and I have heard others have had:
1) The fists are tight, especially the right fist. Used a drill bit (I think I used 7/64) to shave off the inside of the fist holes to make sure they can even rotate. If you don't tweak this part and you might not be able to open the first without damaging the peg.
2) At least two of the small screws go in the tail where the red piece connects to the end of the tail. Use the other screws and they will "fit", but they will potentially go through the other side of the plastic. (Not sure if the other small screws are used anywhere, I had leftover big and small screws) Not sure if it was because I initially used the wrong screw but this spot is a crucial part of the transformation so the replaced small screw keeps working itself loose, probably going to use a dab of super glue now on it. So again make sure you use the right screw here as it is clearly important.
3) The waist piece is *very* tight, shaving off the inside of the holes to widen them again will help and in this instance you can always put a bit of super glue if you overdo it. If they can't close taking them apart is a pain and can cause damage.
4) The instructions flat out neglect to tell you how to put together the dino torso, but with the only 6 pieces left it isn't that hard to figure out, just disturbing that it is missing.

Overall it is a nice figure, but after shockwave I am really disappointed in the delivery. There were plenty of people that complained about shockwave's instructions, the lack of directions for screws and the piece that could turn it into $30 of trash it is disappointed that grimlock seems to fair no better. The poor instructions are acceptable for a random box from a ko factory from china where I get a masterpiece tree for $20 (where the lack of instructions are part of the fun!), not a deluxe 3rd party all done up as a finished product with art sold for $30.

At the end of the day I love Transformer kits and will keep buying them (I don't have either warbot combiners, just the kits) and I enjoy the figure just disappointed in the delivery. No doubt some other 3rd party company is going to start releasing kits of higher quality (which isn't hard lets be honest) and going to take the market from these guys.

- If you look at it as a kit, it is a pretty poor kit that could be much better, better instructions, slightly bigger toy, better QA before signing off on the mold etc.
- If you look at it as a toy, it is a above average CHUG Grimlock even if it is a smudge too small (perfectly fine given the range of sizes we already have), a decent deluxe toy that would be worth deluxe prices.
- If you look at it from FUN value it is higher than anything else I buy. I just spent the last 8+ hours playing with 1 Transformer. I know this little guy in and out and every little part that works well or doesn't. Some transformers go straight from the shipping box to the closet where I will occasionally look at the sealed box and smile, but nothing more sadly. This guy I will bring to work for a while and will have on a desk/shelf forever. I have had more fun time with him than I do with toys costing ten times as much so while on the one hand I am really disappointed with what Warbotron produced it isn't because I didn't have fun, but because I know that they could make it that much better. And this is the reason I keep buying kits and I really hope other 3rd party companies release their best old toys as kits because I will happily buy them up, build them and have so much fun with them. And if anyone from Hasbro is reading this please release a kit, just think there is no factory assembly required so your margins will be even bigger.

Edit: formatting and more thoughts.

 

Gallery



Probably spent an hour (half of the build time at least) on this one step after discovering the fist problem. Again make sure yours isn't to tight before pushing the fists all the way in and enlarge the holes or trim down the pegs if they are too tight.


Red screw should be the SMALL screw, not the big screw

Make sure to put the hips pointing the right way.

This step is not in the instructions

I really wish there was a ball joint here

Really feels like a toy in the end, my four year old ran around the house with it and it is doesn't feel like a fragile kit after having it for a few hours. A sticker sheet would have really brought this toy to the next level and I look forward to a repo-label set.

I need to get a tiny autobot symbol before putting on the front clear plate.

Size comparisons

Better than x-ray, but could have been better

A whole lot more stable than Movie Optimus Dual Model Kit


They don't all get to be bigger





Misc fun




After playing with him for a few hours I would have to say that he is my CHUG grimlock hands down.

 

Ew, movie prime?

 

Specifically the "Transformers Movie Optimus Dual Model Kit", comparing Takara's kit to this kit.

 

Cant believe they getting $30 for a toy you have to build youself. 3p is a racket  

 

If that figure was assembled and painted it would have probably sold for sixty and we would all be posting pics and praising it for being so incredible for legends size and how it just blows most other grimmys out of the water ... Then the camp who compares his price to the unicorn 60 dollar price tag tru mp grimlock held for one day

He looks like An awesome figure.. I can't wait to build a few

 

Oh no.. So they didn't learn their lesson. I'd rather pay $15.00 more and get it assembled already and have paint apps. I'd even pay an extra $20.00/25.00 maybe.

 

could always just pay someone to do that though

 

Is this Legends or deluxe? I see people saying both.

 

It's technically for Legends class but it's bulk means it's practically a small Deluxe as you can pretty plainly see from the excellent guide above.

 

Really looking forward to this. Looks like a load of fun and a pretty dead-on Grimmy. Top work from Iron Factory again.

Don't really get the complaints about charging more so it comes pre-assembled. Surely the point of a product like this is that you make the thing yourself and customise it how you want. Isn't that why its a model kit or am i missing something here...  
It's like looking at an airfix model kit and saying, "i wish it was pre-assembled." In that case go and buy a diecast model. In this case go buy a deluxe Grimlock.