Your TF design pet peeves?

Discussion in 'Transformers Toy Discussion' started by HunGrrr, Jan 25, 2016.

  1. SaberPrime

    SaberPrime Banned

    Joined:
    Apr 17, 2010
    Posts:
    11,053
    Trophy Points:
    312
    Location:
    The State of insanity.
    Likes:
    +4,151
    What about when they do have swivels but the way the figure is molded prevents the swivels from actually being able to move?

    It's pretty rare, most of the time it's just a straight cut threw so the swivels are free to do whatever but I've seen a few figures molded to have a layered look which can look good if it's done right but more often when this happens that layered look ends up hindering the articulation that it's built onto almost to the point of that swivel practically not even existing. I can see the mushroom peg as the only evidence that the joint is there but it's not going to move.
     
  2. EbeneezerScourge

    EbeneezerScourge Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 4, 2017
    Posts:
    145
    Trophy Points:
    122
    Likes:
    +372
    When a figure has interesting transformation for half of it, and then the rest just kind of sits there. For example, Siege Hound, with his arms and head just chillin' in vehicle mode.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  3. RKillian

    RKillian http://www.rktoyandhobby.com

    Joined:
    Dec 9, 2004
    Posts:
    14,880
    News Credits:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    362
    Location:
    Soviet Pennsylvania
    Likes:
    +13,536
    They originally did it with MP-1 to give him a cartoon waist instead of just the truck bumper. I agree they should've ironed out the side effects by now though.
     
  4. mx-01 archon

    mx-01 archon Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 26, 2003
    Posts:
    35,349
    News Credits:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    412
    Likes:
    +44,643
    Runabout must be your favourite then :p . He has four in vehicle mode, and six overall.
     
    • Like Like x 4
  5. Beastwarsfan95

    Beastwarsfan95 Putting the ‘Bi’ in Bionicle.

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2014
    Posts:
    17,772
    News Credits:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    337
    Likes:
    +44,439
    Exposed-Hand Syndrome (maybe someday we will find a cure)

    Wide torsos and swivel shoulders. A losing combination.

    Minicon sockets (looking at you CW Megatron!)
     
    • Like Like x 3
  6. Bezuul

    Bezuul Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2018
    Posts:
    1,243
    Trophy Points:
    197
    Likes:
    +2,113
    Generations Nightbeat and the fact he didn’t get a headmaster figure.
     
  7. Geminii

    Geminii Toyetic multiformophile

    Joined:
    Nov 2, 2003
    Posts:
    1,217
    Trophy Points:
    287
    Likes:
    +403
    Have we done click-type hip joints which only allow the 'splits' and 'akimbo' leg positions? Bonus if the feet either have no ankle tilts and thus can't sit flat, or are specifically shaped with tilted soles so the toy couldn't stand straight even if the hips allowed?
     
  8. Dinobot Snarl

    Dinobot Snarl Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 10, 2008
    Posts:
    18,306
    News Credits:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    387
    Likes:
    +45,139
    - Preposed feet
    - wrist locked in arm curl position
     
  9. TheGrognard

    TheGrognard Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2013
    Posts:
    2,875
    Trophy Points:
    262
    Likes:
    +863
    Having to flex plastic during transformation

    Tabs that aren't strong enough to handle routine use.
     
    • Like Like x 6
  10. smf2045

    smf2045 Aficionado of Combiners

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2004
    Posts:
    7,686
    News Credits:
    5
    Trophy Points:
    337
    Location:
    Sac o' Tomatoes, Calif.
    Likes:
    +54,896
    I hate it when there is only one hinged plastic arm holding the whole toy together. It makes me nervous every time that I try to convert the figure. Examples include T30th Jetfire, PotP Jazz, and CW Brawl. There may be others, but I can't think of them right now.
     
    • Like Like x 2
  11. Capirus

    Capirus The Gray

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2011
    Posts:
    9,437
    News Credits:
    5
    Trophy Points:
    287
    Location:
    SoCal
    Likes:
    +16,005
    When weak plastic is used on tight joints (or whatever they're called, I'm tired). Only two come to mind: Wolfwire's canopy and Bruticus' chest fin.
     
  12. Shmoptimus Prime

    Shmoptimus Prime Za Warudo!

    Joined:
    Dec 2, 2006
    Posts:
    19,659
    News Credits:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    417
    Likes:
    +79,130
    Ebay:
    Instagram:
    Partsforming is the only thing that's made me both sell figures and made me skip over figures that looked great in both modes. To me if you have to take it apart to transform it then it's not really a transformer. They're supposed to be alive, right? It breaks the fantasy for me. Even as a kid I thought omega supreme's "alt mode" was idiotic. He basically fell apart to transform. I also hate bots with two alt modes like Overlord and Flywheels. I'm totally cool with duocons who use two bots to make one alt mode though. That's actually a cool idea!

    Of course if it's a weapon then it's totally OK, although figures get super bonus points for having either integrated weapons or good weapon storage in alt mode. With combiners it really is a grey area since some integrate the hands and feet and stuff well and some don't.
     
    • Like Like x 2
  13. pluto

    pluto Banned

    Joined:
    Jun 10, 2011
    Posts:
    1,165
    Trophy Points:
    232
    Likes:
    +2,268
    friggin' shoddy jet modes with a torso just hangin out underneath.
     
    • Like Like x 2
  14. Fenrir Zero

    Fenrir Zero Permanently Retired (1984-2020)

    Joined:
    May 1, 2016
    Posts:
    1,254
    Trophy Points:
    197
    Location:
    California
    Likes:
    +527
    The means of trying to transform both "Thrilling 30/Legends" Rattrap and Jetfire. Even following each step just to transform these did not help save it from the fun-killing attempts required to do just that. In the end of it all, I would have preferred putting on stickers on an Omega Supreme and master his transformation sequences than try again with those two toys.
     
  15. artiepants

    artiepants Transformers '84!!!

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2002
    Posts:
    22,186
    News Credits:
    14
    Trophy Points:
    412
    Location:
    Seattle
    Likes:
    +11,792
    Fiddly friction tabs, especially with modern shoddy QC where you end up with a tab too big (or too small) for it's receiving gap. Miss the old days when you could count on everything to peg together solidly. it's been awhile since i had them out, but i remember the new-mold Car Robot figures, which had very fiddly transformations, but everything locked together well.
    I was just looking at TR Slugslinger and he made me realize even more what a joke Siege Starscream looks like.
    There's just no excuse for a $30 voyager with that much alt mode volume and that is not suffering the engineering
    necessity of being a combiner to have the entire robot mode awkwardly hanging off the underside and back.
     
  16. Fallout

    Fallout Banned

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2011
    Posts:
    18,578
    News Credits:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    337
    Likes:
    +23,663
    big agreement. only time i can accept shit like that is if the weapon can be conceivably hidden in alt mode. ss dropkick, gen springer, mp10, mp soundwave...

    i also don't like the split alt mode thing except for with overlord. he's supposed to he a super soldier in every continuity, so it seems believable that he'd have the self control to somehow remotely operate his legs separately.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  17. Nope

    Nope yscohb

    Joined:
    May 29, 2011
    Posts:
    5,196
    News Credits:
    17
    Trophy Points:
    287
    Likes:
    +3,915
    Articulated fingers are a dealbreaker for me
     
    • Like Like x 1
  18. Shmoptimus Prime

    Shmoptimus Prime Za Warudo!

    Joined:
    Dec 2, 2006
    Posts:
    19,659
    News Credits:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    417
    Likes:
    +79,130
    Ebay:
    Instagram:
    So is his consciousness in both halves, or just in the jet part? Or just in the tank part? How does he think when he's split in half? I love the character, but the alt modes just don't do it for me. Glad you like it though cause there are some pretty dope-ass Overlord figures out there that I'd probably get if he had a better alt mode.
    Do you mean fully articulated fingers with several joints, or anything that's not a static fist?
     
  19. RollerBladeZ

    RollerBladeZ Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2018
    Posts:
    169
    Trophy Points:
    117
    Likes:
    +640
    Was transforming some of my figures today and came to the conclusion that I'm not a fan of clear "glass" windows & windshields in alt mode, especially if there's clearly visible robot parts inside (like both SS Bumblebees). I'd prefer at least slightly tinted (like SS Ironhide) even if it's not 100% screen accurate
     
    • Like Like x 1
  20. Blazedriver

    Blazedriver Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2015
    Posts:
    358
    Trophy Points:
    132
    Likes:
    +195
    POTP jazz is so true, this may be rare with hasbro transformers but if they put a piece of metal or diecast as that arm that is holding their torso together i thought it would be more safe