Takara Tomy Masterpiece MP-44 Convoy/Optimus Prime Ver. 3

Discussion in 'Transformers News and Rumors' started by Retroheavy, Feb 21, 2018.

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  1. Canbot

    Canbot Well-Known Member

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  2. Brooklynwolf

    Brooklynwolf Well-Known Member

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    Thanks dean! Love that pose! Looks sick!
     
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  3. tonewheelz

    tonewheelz Well-Known Member

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    That’s really good to hear. I hope TT is making some changes to correct the knee issue. Maybe the replacements people are getting won’t have it.
     
  4. comboi

    comboi Active Member

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    The head is made of hard plastic while the antenna pieces are made from soft plastic. Considering how thin the antennas are, hard plastic antennas would snap easily. These soft, flexible ones tolerate bumping and bending to prevent breaking them. Even though they're not perfectly straight, I think it was the right choice. MP-10's antennas weren't this thin and long, so they could use hard plastic. I wouldn't be surprised if they broke some hard plastic molded ones during development.
     
  5. Monari

    Monari Well-Known Member

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    So I've finally gotten my MP-44 in and I'm trying to catch up on the last 200 pages - long story short:

    1) Will the knees explode if I look at them funny?

    2) Is it guaranteed the knees will fail? Does anyone have a Convoy that works?

    I'll admit, straight out of the box, the panels in truck mode don't stay together, which is kind of shocking for a figure that costs this much....
     
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  6. BrutiKing

    BrutiKing M O I S T

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    Colour matching thus far:
    Red: Mr. Hobby Red (3) x1
    FAAA8682-64A7-4756-A3EC-111789421812.jpeg
    Yellow: Mr. Hobby Orange Yellow (58) x1, Mr. Hobby Red (3) x1/32(really little bit)
    3EFF9D52-5774-4F30-9EFA-D71428F4EFD2.jpeg
     
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  7. Xaxis

    Xaxis Multi-dimensional Traveler

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    Make sure you allow the chrome paint to cure fully before handling, otherwise touching it will dull the chrome effect.

    It takes at least two weeks to fully cure, allowing longer is better.
     
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  8. MnemonicSyntax

    MnemonicSyntax Macrodata Refinement - SVR'D Access

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    I appreciate this image. It's nice when we can exist as Transformer fans and not just specific-hate-on-other-facets fans.
     
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  9. kshaps

    kshaps Busting Deceptichops

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    Well unfortunately after messing around with my Prime more I think one of the knees might be on its way to being broken. It has a lot more give before the clicks in the ratchet engage. What are some brands of hobby lube that I can look for that people have used/recommend? Going to go out and get the gorilla glue gel and hobby lube today
     
  10. WinstoBot

    WinstoBot Well-Known Member

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    I just spent all Friday night opening, transforming and experiencing my MP44 and it was truly glorious. As others have said, this definitively captures the G1 cartoon Optimus Prime we grew up with. I used Wootafa’s video whenever the instructions weren’t clear. That dude’s transformation is like a textbook. Three things to lookout for when transforming: the very last small panel to snap into place on the back of the leg is a bit scary, make sure everything is aligned correct first. The other thing that got me sweating was separating the side abdominal parts connected to the black matrix chamber, you have to lift up before swinging outward, that peg is in deep. Lastly, when you swing Prime’s chest windows open or close, try to lift the window slightly when crossing the chromed grill, scraping can happen. I can tell Wootafa was trying to warn us about these parts in the video but I can’t understand Japanese so I was extra cautious. Luckily I got done without a scratch. A last bit of caution for those planning on using a hair dryer to straighten the curved antennas , different hairdryers have a huge range of hot settings and some can past the melting point of most plastics in seconds. An earlier poster said he held it for 30 seconds, if I had done that, my antenna would be a shriveled up stump. My hairdryer took 3 seconds to get hot and I held it to the antenna for another 3 seconds. Then bend it straight and blow on it with your breath to cool it off and set. I’ve been modifying plastic figures for years and the hair dryer method is my least favorite. The temperature climbs too fast and it’s too late by the time you notice. For those having trouble finding Peter Cullen’s audio in the voice chip, just hold the button down. It’ll cycle pass several phrases and eventually it’ll get to English. It took me a long while but when his voice came on, I was gushing with joy. Pumping my fists in the air, so much fun.

    I woke up this morning with a huge grin as I look over to the shelf at my new favorite MP. When I stare at it, it radiates happiness back at me.
     
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  11. Wh33l JcK

    Wh33l JcK Well-Known Member

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    Geez I can’t believe all these issues... I’m ready to drop my preorder.

    Update: Cancelled. TT needs to figure things out when they reissue it.
     
    Last edited: Sep 7, 2019
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  12. MSWF377

    MSWF377 Michael Scarn

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    I don’t have this Prime, but I’ve had a few MPs that aren’t perfectly aligned out of the box. I’m sure he’ll look better when you go through the steps
     
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  13. RoboW4rrior298

    RoboW4rrior298 Maximum blast!

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    Thanks for the tip, although it’s not my first time using one. Just haven’t used one on a figure of this scale before :) 

    He’s going to be in robot mode for a good while after I’ve messed about with him, I won’t attempt it until then.
     
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  14. FireSkyJet

    FireSkyJet Deculture!

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    So, finally transformed and only found one paint scuff in a inconspicuous place and one knee that doesn’t fit right. Guess it could be worse.

    Thanks for all the tips and tricks from the master modelers on here!
     
  15. Soundwave3k

    Soundwave3k TFW2005 Supporter

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    Mine was just like that. I'll see if I can do better when I transform him back to truck mode. Did anyone with this level of misalignment out of the box still have the issue when transforming back?

    Also, many thanks @Jarrod for your preventative fix to the knee ratchets! My left ratchet worked perfectly out of the box but the right was catching a bit, so I just did the preventative sanding and lubing you suggested in your post and now he functions perfectly without me even having to worry about which joint to bend first - the top joint, then the bottom joint bend in order on their own now.
     
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  16. Matt Random

    Matt Random Well-Known Member

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    I don't blame you. The amount of issues on this release is simply crazy! I consider myself lucky that the only problem I have is less than perfect chrome on the abs.
     
  17. FireSkyJet

    FireSkyJet Deculture!

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    Same here. Going to have to use Jarrod’s notes
     
  18. God Orion

    God Orion Well-Known Member

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    So amazing!

    C7C9A20C-426D-47A9-8ACE-4CA9F436DBD0.jpeg
     
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  19. Jhund

    Jhund Screws>Pins

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  20. Xaxis

    Xaxis Multi-dimensional Traveler

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    Okay, friends, I need some advice.

    This is how my Season 2 head came out of the box:

    1E6522C0-4268-43A4-815E-A984C0B0B750.jpeg

    That bent antenna really bothers me, as I see it I have the following options:
    1. Go through the return process with Amazon JP and take my chances on a replacement.
    2. See if someone doesn’t want their S2 head and will sell it to me.
    3. Use the hairdryer method to attempt a fix.
    4. Wait to see if someone makes a set of fully straight antennae.

    My copy of MP-44 has no other issues. I’d rather not return the whole thing and take a gamble on what I might get with a replacement.

    I’ve attempted the hairdryer method and stopped because I’d rather not risk creating an even worse situation.

    So I guess I’m wondering if anyone out there has any other suggestions or would be interested in selling their S2 head to me.

    Thanks for your input!
     
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