I got this MISB of ebay last week, and I was excited. Got it in the mail today and was disappointed with the condition it came MISB in. I looked like it was heat damaged or some other storage environment problem. The rubber parts on Shockwave are covered in a film that looks like dust, but is dried on to the rubber and the rubber parts 'seem' stiffer, but I cant tell for sure. For reference I have owned this figure in the past, so I could tell that something was not quite right. Also If the discoloration and rubber issues were just present on the red add-on bits, it wouldn't be a problem, but he does have rubber on a few places on his main fig too >_<

Here is what I am wondering....
1. Is this discolorations/film/condition of the rubber due to age of the figure (Prime was not 'that' old?) or due to poor storage conditions
2. Are there any known methods to fix this rubber film or remove it/clean it off w/o damaging rest of figure
3. Wondering how I should handle this ebay purchase/feedback/resolution... which will be partly based on the answer to 1 and 2. I do understand that the seller may not have even known there was an damage too, so I am reluctant to slam em with a bad feedback.

I guess I'm kind of at a loss. Any thoughts? Any feedback or knowledge about these kind of issues would help immensely.

Thanks!

 

I'm guessing it's just something that is going to happen with this figure due the way it was manufactured.

I was just going through my Robot Heros collection abd have found a couple of them have discoloured in a similar way to this. And I live in a moderate climate and never store stuff near radiators.

 

Yeah, that's just something that happens. Mine did the same thing.

 

I just looked at my rubbery parts that I stored away (since I never used them for my figure) and they look just like yours. Even my figure has issues with the tracks (which is upsetting since my cabinet is 99.9% air tight). I also checked my rubbery parts for Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters Deluxe Smokescreen and they are suffering from the same type of "disease" that is plaguing the Shockwave parts.

I even tried to wash them clean, and they look okay for a while...but 10 minutes later they look like crap again.

So I wouldn't blame the Ebay seller, since mine (and others) are experiencing the same unfortunate thing. I would suggest going after Hasbro and asking them just WTF type of plastic did they go with for these figures. -_-

 

This is common with this figure. My Takara Classic Dinobot turns that ashey white on his hands and tail. It washe's off but it always returns. It's the rubber they used.

 

Thanks for the replies. I really appreciate the feedback. I did a little research and "tire cleaner" (petroleum based?) helped mine so far. At least now I know that the Blame lies with Hasbro and 'time' and not the seller.

 

Non alcholic baby wipes cleans that up for a few months non stop battle with robot heros

 

Be careful putting his tread in his arm, it will cause it to rip. Mine is about half torn off from that...

 

If it was in a sealed box, the seller can't be blamed. Any toy with rubber is going to have some chance of this happening.

 

My question is "who the hell uses the beast armour for Prime Shockwave?"

I lost one of my bits and I find myself not giving a shit.

 

Dude you do not wana use those awful looking beast parts on shockwave. Just be happy they didnt mold it on like they did with most of the other figures.....so shockie can look like his badass gewunesque self

 

I wonder if you used some sort of specific rubber cleaner or tire cleaner if it would take care of the issue permanently or for longer periods of time?

 

Maybe Armor All might work? Not sure.

MIKE
engledogg

 

Throw those crappy parts in the trash...problem solved!  

 

I had this version of shockwave and actually sold it to someone on TFW. I guess it was an impulse buy for me at the time.