I found the Takara version long time ago, incredible piece, from a time in which there were differences between Hasbro and Takara. Unfortunately, never was able to buy a second unit.

 

I can attest to that that the Takara version is as sturdy as granite! (OT) . I went through two Hb Armada that broke on me(the shoulder of the mini Optimus. Good thing I scored a JP version. Still whole!

 

The really annoying thing is that I was planning on selling him eventually, but with the cost of getting a replacement arm, I'm not sure I'm gonna even break even   Anybody here got a spare?

And I can't even remember which arm was the one that broke the last time!

 

You're stuck with a lemon big buddy.

 

Well I managed to get a spare, and this time I had the tools to (at least mostly) alleviate the issue by dremeling out a whole bunch of plastic at contact points.

However, I suspect the cause of the issue isn't even the crappy notch joint of the upper elbow (since that's not the one breaking), but this part right here:



If you try to bend the upper elbow 90 degrees with the forearm straight, there will be a point of friction which I've marked here as green and red, putting pressure on the part, which I suspect is the cause of breakage; what you're actually supposed to do is bend the elbow 90 degrees the opposite way so the green lines in the photo are facing each other instead.

 

Gonna crack this thread back open as well,

Armada Galvatron, he has the gold elbows, launch ramp on the tank tread, and the missiles. does anyone know if they suffer from GPS? most galvs ive seen look fine, those golden elbows might even just be painted over black plastic. i got a sweet offer to get one potentially, but i love a figure i can handle, and theres nothing more chunky toy vibe than the armada stuff.

if its got gps ill hold off until i find an armada megatron for the right price. but this galv is too sweet to pass up if its something i can handle without destroying it....

 

Haven't heard anything since the articulation on Galvy is A LOT different then on Prime, so even if it is the same kind of plastic it doesn't suffer from the same issue. Although on both Megs and Galvy you do have to be aware the turret rotation gimmick is prone to breakage. It's a small gear put under a lot of pressure and it just breaks.

 

gotcha, honestly im not too bothered if the silly little turret crank doesnt work anymore, id just be devastated to get a galv in the mail and both his arms are missing. ive found a single review that addresses his gold elbows (Runestone on youtube) and he said "the elbows bend 90 degrees, and are gold. they're not cast in the same gold that susceptible to GPS as far as im aware, but the fact they're especially stiff on my copy is unnerving" it doesnt seem to be a common break point from what im seeing, but man, gold plastic is just scary as shit.

 

As someones who's owned G2 Electro since he was released, I know exactly the fear your going through. He's still whole but I'll be damned if I'm going to risk a transformation to vehicle mode. At least with Megs/Galvy I think you can loosen the screw a smidge if it turns out too tight, but other then that there doesn't seem to be any sort of extreme pressures.

 

Since the thread has already been resurrected has someone tried a shapewats replica of the joint?

 

I should check mine (I have the Takara version but should be the same) but I don't think Armada Galvy has swirly plastic so he should be fine. The last suspected figure to suffer from GPS IIRC was UW Menasor who was I think some brownish grey color.

 

Found my Armada Galvatron in my parents garage, survived flooding, cold etc and even after all that beyond a little rust on the screws he was functional, even the electronics. Theres parts you often see them broken, but I’ve not heard any significant issues over that toys quality beyond the usual impacts of play and time