This should've been designed as a single solid piece. Not sure why its separated

 

You know I hate bootlegs. I'm outspoken in my disdain for "fake" Transformers.

So it's a sad day indeed that I have to admit that the bootleg just blows the official out of the water in so many ways. That profile and backpack actually look like the cartoon that Takara seems so impressed with. MP 44 looks like a kibbly, overly complicated mess, and man oh man, that backpack is inexcusable.

If you got it, I hope you love it and are happy with your purchase. But I'm just in disbelief at what a convoluted mess of panels and jutting kibble the thing turned out to me.

Not trying to piss in anyone's cheerios....I really do hope you guys are happy. I'm still more than satisfied with MP 10. But still, can't believe some nobody Chinese bootleg company managed to make a Prime that achieves what Takara claimed they set out to do, but at a fraction of the price. What a shame.

 

TE-01 isnt a bootleg. Its 3rd party and was designed by Transform Element. Bootleg would be 4th party which take TT figs and just copies them, but usually fixing design errors or adding extras. Like my THF Ultra Magnus. It is the same TT UM except they fixed the butt flap, some hinges, and added some extra accessories.

 

@lord ginrai , how did you contact amazon japan about your MP-44 issue, and how do you get a replacement? Thanks.

 

Imo , the spring is too strong for the lower ratchet mechanism which in turn if not used correctly will wear out the supporting piece that you screw in .

I’ve tried 2 methods , one where I just replaced it with a spring with roughly half the coil . I can still hear clicking and it has not worn down the support but it’s not as tight . And second I just removed the spring altogether . Both results left it in roughly the same tightness .. with no difficulty in posing any ridiculous poses I put it through.

Though it now feels more like a joint and half . Whether this will cause any issues in the future I can’t tell , but since nothing has happened . I have my fingers crossed ..but I’ve opened it up to check and so far so good .

 

Just like it would be ok for me to make an account named OmegoTaco Supreme. I wouldn’t be bootleg. I’d just be 3rd party

 

If you guys are anti third party that's cool. Have fun waiting like 200 years for TT to make any attempt to complete a MP G1 cast with 900 versions of OP and Bee mixed in between. But there is a difference from 3P and KO (4th party)

 

You know, I love the powers of addition and subtraction. My two Primes will get delivered today instead of tomorrow. Way to knock off a day DHL.

 

Trying to light my own darkest hour:

Remember to take your shoes off when you walk inside!

Ok.




Also noticed my S1 headcrest is paint scratched out of box.

 

-.-ouch ..... I’ll lend you my cap the next time you open anything

 

Wrong...you could use his avatar and sig and looks just like him, but you'd have to change your name or there'd be legal issues.

 

The scratching might be a customs problem. If they cut your box open, they probably handled a couple of the components too. Doesn’t much help the busted knee, but it’s worth noting that may not be the factory’s fault.

Good luck on the knee rebuilds man, we’re all pulling for your success!

God, my autocorrect is killing me lately.

 

100% agreed! Not sure why it's a separate piece.

I got mine, only had enough time to test the knees. That little locking part is definitely the offender. That part right there MUST slide into upper knee for the lower joint to properly ratchet.

If that part does not slide into the channel, and you try and bend the lower joint, it will still move! But instead, you'll be damaging the joint instead of engaging the ratchet.

I'll have more time to examine tonight, but I'm thinking a little sanding/trimming of that part will solve things.

 

Please be sure to let us know how that goes.

 

I really hope you guys manage to fix the knee issue with my shots. My good MP-44 right leg paint stuffed like mad in the process of disassembling it to take pictures.
Paint scuffing:

Both joints together (the one on the left is not broken)


Angle 1: Damage
Broken:


Not Broken:

Angle 2: Straight ontop
Broken:

Not Broken:


Let me know what angles you would like me to take pictures in, as I will keep it disassembled for the next few hours

 

Actually sanding or trimming won't help, the spring of the ratchet is too strong for anything to move. Cutting the spring in half won't work as it'll just mean its gonna be a weak joint instead, which you could do without

 

Thanks for posting that video, was a good watch.
You have a very different perspective that I can not even imagine.
Watching that video showed me the TE Prime looks like its carved out of wood like a toy from the 1930's
MP44 has so many beautiful design nuances, the 90degree tapering cuts on his shoulders and panels adding dimension and depth, the crotch piece... The chest windows having the little chamfered edges adding the illusion of thickness.

MP44 is like a Leonardo Davinci diagram... overly complicated yes... beautiful, undoubtedly.
TE is like a college student giving it a go... It would have been super impressive about 10 years ago but now.... nah.

Design-wise I'm only unimpressed with the flimsy antenna & will be picking up a metal 3P fix for them when I eventually get this guy, by which time they should have sorted out this silly knee issue which is not cool at all.

 

Jeez... I know I'm probably gonna get criticized to hell for this, but I really am having second thoughts. My order hasnt shipped yet so do I cancel, or wait it out and hope for the best?

I know early release have problems, but this is the most I've ever spent (and probably shouldn't have) on a single figure. And when it's been hyped up as the an anniversary figure, Award winning, most Cartoon Accurate Prime etc etc my excitement was through the roof.

Seriously we can live in denial all we want. Ratchet breakage and paint chips on a £300 + figure, at whatever stage of release, SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING!

We wouldn't be happy putting money down for a Ferrari, then finding there was a risk the clutch was going to fail after a couple hundred miles now, would we.

 

AJ shipped yesterday and delivered this morning. Even with a hurricane 100 miles from me. Sweet!

 

My MP44 should be delivered tomorrow, so here's hoping that I can avoid the same issues that seem to be cropping up. At the end of the day, mechanical failures and breakage bother me way more than blemishes and paint scuff (just my own opinion for my figures) so I'm willing to forgive minor paint issues due to the nature of the compression and multitude of shifting parts.

All that having been said: For those that have him in hand- how are the Spike/SP/Carly figures holding up? I've seen a handful of reports regarding weak plastic but nothing as widespread (at this point). How about the rest of the accessories? I've seen the heads have some minor bend in the antennae due to packaging.