Masterpiece MP-49 Black Convoy Optimus Prime

Discussion in 'Transformers News and Rumors' started by DukeFett, Nov 26, 2019.

  1. Purple Heart

    Purple Heart Some other time..

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    Turbo revin’ young punk..
     
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  2. AndyPurro

    AndyPurro Cancerous Pyro Main

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    Yikes, After reading the forums, turns our the official knee fix didn’t seem to fix anything and I’m also seeing reports of loose joints, On the plus side it seems that there’s no breakage reports so It seems that Takara is half listening when it comes to the quality of the new MP figures and it scares me the fuck out, I’m just lucky that the only real issues on my copies of MP-44 and MP-45 are just some small loose joints and mainly paint chipping.

    Now it looks like that I have to be extremely worried about how MP-51 and MP-50 turnout in terms of QC issues. This damn Pandemic is seriously taking it’s toll on the line harder than Tox-N did on Bulkhead on TFP.
     
  3. e prime

    e prime Chosen by the matrix

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    Just got my copy in today. After messing around with him for a bit I can honestly say that I like him better than my copy of 44. Every qc issue I had with 44 was fixed. I would say its 97% perfect. Mine didn't have any of the reported problems. Your mileage may vary but I'm impressed
     
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  4. Paco Grande

    Paco Grande Well-Known Member

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    Maybe the lower knee joints on my MP-49 are looser than average. I've transformed it a few times now and I'm finding the knees a pain. Both knee joints need to be in a certain position for truck mode to tab together well. It's two or three clicks for the upper knee joint and zero clicks on the bottom joint (or not bent at all). I find when I'm trying to transform the lower legs the lower knee joints keep bending on me which forces me to bend the upper joint to straighten the lower joint and re-position the upper joints so I can continue transforming. Giant pain in the ass and makes the transformation much more fiddly than 44.

    I'm convinced that they came up with that lower knee locking mechanism on 44 because they found the knees annoying in testing.

    And the improved head antennas look WAY better but they are sharp. They keep stabbing me, but no blood yet.:D 
     
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  5. Jarrod

    Jarrod Semi-retired Builder

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    Ok. Well this is frustrating. Seems TT did not half ass the knee fix, but...ah...over-assed it?

    I took my the knees apart on mine, assuming to find the same old ratchet, just missing the tab. But nope, TT actually did remold it! First they added a longer, locking tab to the ratchet part:

    20200808_112318.jpg

    With a corresponding whole in the other side. And not only that, but that whole part, circled in red, is also made from a much firmer, stiffer feeling plastic. Much like the new antenna versus the old ones.

    20200808_112359.jpg

    Both of those changes seem like they would have been enough to correctly fix the whole problem in the first place. And exactly like what all of us were suggesting! Seems to me there was no need to remove the cool locking tab gimmick in the fist place, but TT did anyway. Argh.

    Anyway, I also tightened the screws a little in the leg ratchet, which seems to have helped some, but they're still a little more wobbly than I'd like, but I'll fix that another day. However, I did address the wobbly hip ratchets. Similar to 44, to fix the back and forth wobble, I just added a very, very thin piece of styrene, .25mm thickness, above the ratchet joint, here:
    20190906_170324.jpg

    To fix the outward hip wobble, instead of the overly complicated shortening of the hip post I did for 44, I just added a little spacer between the ratchets, on the inside. This lessens their ability to rock back and forth. I used the same .25mm styrene I used above, and just cut out an appropriately sized disc. Could have probably gone with a little thicker, but I either had too thin, or too thick. Still, it has helped quite a bit.
    20200808_114535.jpg
     

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  6. Shin Densetsu

    Shin Densetsu I WILL DESTROY YOU Content Contributor Veteran

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    You’re the man! Takara should freaking hire you for materials testing before final production. You’ve done a better job at tracing and resolving their own mistakes!
     
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  7. chchchch

    chchchch Chunky Coherent

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    Guess I'm taking 44's waist section apart one more time... :lol 
     
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  8. jackisking

    jackisking Well-Known Member

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    Same materials for the ratchets Jarrod? I thought about taking mines about to lube them those up as they had a tendency to wear on MP-44, now I just might wait till I get some styrene for his hips.
     
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  9. Jarrod

    Jarrod Semi-retired Builder

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    I think they were a little tougher feeling too. Hard to tell since it's just a solid, dense little piece though.

    However, the ratchets, too me, feel like they move a little easier, so maybe the spring is weaker.
     
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  10. banjoted

    banjoted Timelord

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    What are folks saying are the problems? I've moaned about the fiddliness of the knees on my MP-49, but I wouldn't say anything is broken or not functional. Are people unhappy because he's a little loose?
     
  11. jackisking

    jackisking Well-Known Member

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    Did you notice any differences putting the knee back. I took mines apart and greased the ratchets. I don't know if I mixed the screws up but the knee isnt disextending like it was, I went on ahead and did the other one. The larger screw is the primary screw with the thinner going into the kneepad? Put it back together and the kneepad screws tightens but it doesnt stop like it did before.
     
  12. Shin Densetsu

    Shin Densetsu I WILL DESTROY YOU Content Contributor Veteran

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    Jarrod’s post a few posts before yours pretty much covers the issues.
     
  13. Jarrod

    Jarrod Semi-retired Builder

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    More than a "little" loose for me, but yes, that's part of it. Mostly, it's that I expected a better "fix" from TT, and they've actually made the knees worse. And you're correct, nothing is broken. But it's frustrating knowing that TT could have used this opportunity to actually fix the knees, and tighten up the hips and waist, and instead my 49 is (well, was) far more wobbly than my 44 ever was.

    Yeah, those are the correct screw order. The only really difference I noticed was the big spring seemed weaker/softer, so it felt easier to hold the knee halves together while I was putting the screw in.
     
  14. banjoted

    banjoted Timelord

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    Hmmm, well if that's the case it feels not so much like "whoops, Takara done dun it again!" and more like "ah, so fans can never be pleased!". Having experienced a fair few borked figures over the years, none of this really sounds like a huge issue? Save your anger for the MP Hounds of this world!
     
  15. Jarrod

    Jarrod Semi-retired Builder

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    Nope, not at all, and not what I said. This is definitely a case of TT dropping the ball again. If you're happy as he is, that's great. I expected more, based on how they normally fix reissues and recolors.

    I'm also not seeing any anger here, but definitely lots of disappointment. This is TT's second go at this mold, and it still has the same issues which could, and should, have been addressed. And, us being disappointed in this release is just as valid as you being fine with it.
     
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  16. oku

    oku Chill.

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    I just hope ppl over Japan are as critical so there will be a 40% discount.
     
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  17. Xaxis

    Xaxis Multi-dimensional Traveler

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    Hmmm... interesting! So they actually did change the mechanism. Good to know about that and the different material.

    If that happens I may decide to order one.
     
  18. AndyPurro

    AndyPurro Cancerous Pyro Main

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    The wobbly legs doesn't bug me too much, but I might look into this fix in case it bugs me too much
     
  19. Trunkkey

    Trunkkey There are no bad toys, just bad people.

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    I don’t think they are...The Japanese culturally focus on how to make do or fix rather than dwell on what could have been or whodunnit.
    You’re also raised to believe that you’re not necessarily entitled to anything. At least that’s how I was raised. When you don’t think you “deserve” something you aren’t disappointed.
    The idea that toys are a right and not a privilege is a weird, western sentiment. This sentiment morphs into some nonexistent obligation that Hastak needs to uphold their “promise” to their fans.
    I honestly believe tfw has a disproportionately high concentration of vocal, super high standard people.
    I recently joined TFW In 2019. I’ve been collecting before joining TFW, and quite frankly I don’t think I’ve ever seen or have been aware of such outraged fans until I joined. Sure I’ve had a few “well that sucks” moments here and there but never disappointment in the company. No crusades against corporate giants. Things weren’t awesome or shit. Sometimes they were just...ok
    Being exposed to so many hyper critical people has MADE me a more critical person. Reading and participating in the same tired arguments is honestly eroding away at my joy for toys. Lol.
    .__.

    Sigh. Sorry guys. I’ll see y’all around.
     
    Last edited: Aug 10, 2020
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  20. Paco Grande

    Paco Grande Well-Known Member

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    Have you received your MP-49 yet? Curious if it's an "OK" release for you or "awesome". For me it's a solid "OK". I still prefer the paint and knees on 44 but I'm not afraid of scratching the paint on 49 which causes me to transform it more often and he looks good pulling Prime's trailer which is why I bought it.