I would love if they make a box set

 

Tell ya what nice as IF Tesarus is he's the new king of limited clicks in detented hips. He basically has two angles his legs can sit at outside of straight.

Those treads above the hips also severely impact the combiners waist rotation. So I guess if anywhere had to suffer on this figures design its Tes' lower body. Granted its cause they bump in to the enormous butt piece that they do, so it as well if left off will allow the waist to rotate. Shame IF couldn't find a solution to this. Similarly its not like the arms are doing anything spectacular, in a general sense Iron Factory's Bruticus was a good bit more posable.

Generally my final thoughts on the set are positive but I could absolutely criticize a great deal about it. None of the alt modes quite feel "finished" upon being transformed, a lot of exposed fists and robots just folding up n doing little else. I can't say this set has been on the more elegant end of Iron Factory's work but it sure has been a tonne of fun anyway. With how ambitious and absurd the entire idea of combining DJD is its kinda nuts how well this project of theirs turned out. If nothing else its at least extremely well made and holds together like a brick. A bit unsightly with all the colors and parts but ah what can ya expect in that regard really.

Better stand alone mini figures they are than a merged toy I'd say. Though it is a uniquely striking visual piece.

In the end it leaves me very very hungry for MMC's final two figures as well as any mps or other versions of these characters we may see in the coming years but as far as tiny DJD's go I can't see them ever being improved upon so IronFactory can surely hold that trophy to themselves.

I think between mmc and if's efforts a great deal has been done to broaden the appeal of the DJD as characters and designs period and they've since become well solidified as familiars on the broader franchise roster I think, at least on the portion of the fanbase that appreciates things outside of G1. Which is just fucking rad. God I love these scary assholes.

 

Iron factory does not disappoint me again. I was a little worried when Dubhe's shoulders started giving out on me, but not only did they rectify this, but all the other figures are problem-free from the start.

I'm a guy who knows NOTHING about the DJD other than randomly watching a history of the team video on Youtube. I've never even so much as picked up a Transformers comic. I just thought he designs looked good, and the combiner aspect appealed to me (I'm a gestalt-whore, what can I say). Having completed the team, I have to admit that they look great together. But damn if the combined mode isn't where this set shines! Now, I have to admit that I think IF cheated with this, because there is a TON of partsforming. But ya know what? 100% worth it. This is easily one of my favorite figures in my entire collection. I just can't stop looking at it. It's so detailed!

And some people have mentioned waist impairment due to the treads? Absolutely true. However, in true Transformers fashion, there are ways to alleviate this with alternate transformations. Merak's treads can indeed be moved out of the way if you don't attach his extra "arms" where Iron Factory suggests. Instead, put them on the holes in Tarn's arms. They fit there perfectly...almost like they're supposed to go there. Once you do that, he has very good hip rotation. Oh, and he even has an ab crunch!

 

Hot tip of the day!

as an aside I also noticed that, for those inclined, connecting the claws this way also gives you a far superior angle to bring the claws forward as a set of sub-arms:


So, I was a little disappointed by the uncoloured parts of Tesarus’ chest, and found the Games Workshop’s Leadbelcher paint matches the tone of silver on his chest exactly:


So for all those interested, hope this is helpful  

 

Such a sweet looking figure!

 

I’m impressed.

 

I'm selling my Alkaid new in box for $55 shipped if anyone still needs him.

 

I have Tarn, just ordered the Voss Kaon pack. Maybe after the holiday season I’ll finish the team.

 

Who will win?

 

Yep! Push the treads up diagonally against the robot and it fills the chest out from the side and back too.

 

Finally complete!

 

I still really think the combination gimmick is neat and like it a lot, but after combining the team once and displaying it for two weeks I've broken it back down and put them back in Ginyu Squad Formation (despite Merak being godawful at it).

 

I think that's been the conflict with this set from the beginning. The combined mode was considered icing on the cake initially - cool, but not necessary. If it doesn't hold up in the end, we still have the 5 separate figures which is what I think most people signed up for.

At this point in time, it sounds like the combined mode turned out to be a resounding success and one of the highlights of the set. But even so, the combined mode doesn't reflect any continuity/canon. For those of us who bought just one copy of the set, we have to choose how to display the set. IMO, it's hard to display it in a fashion that doesn't represent any continuity/canon, regardless of how great it is. We want to display what we primarily paid for, which is the 5 separate figures.

3rd party combiners at this scale do seem to be more affordable to double dip, so maybe that's the solution.

 

I have no intention on ever combining mine although I do think the combiner looks great. What would be really funny is if somewhere down the line IDW reintroduces the DJD, with them combining. I think that would be a first for 3rd party effecting official cannon.

 

I mean, if you have the whole set, why not combine them for fun, just to check it out? That's the cool thing about Transformers... You can go back and forth between modes. It's not a one-way transformation.

 

Just got Merak. The only thing i don't like about him is the spacing of the hip ratchets.

 

Besides the limited sideways movement of his arms, he really should have had twice as many clicks on his hip ratchets than he's got and that's damn a shame. That stupidly wide A-stance is one of the main things that really took the piss out of the combined mode.

 

I would be surprised if Iron Factory sends out a change for Merak in a future character release like Primal Commander.

 

i would be surprised as well since that character is done and finshed.

they wont even think twice about it now that the set is released. IF is about to start the journey on this coming years releases.