I just got my son a couple Earthrise figures. I don’t collect any of the mainline figures myself so it was fun to pick up something in store. I got him Starcream and Grapple. Transformation is cool. Starscreams alt mode is nice from the top view (I see why the images never showed any other angles.) they’re very cheap looking and feeling and manufactured. I feel ripped off having to spend almost $50 Canadian on each of these. Grapples peg broke in his foot because the port hole was too tight and the soft plastic couldn’t stand a chance. They also put his crane arm on upside down and I can’t fix it since it’s riveted and not screwed.

I’d rather spend the same money for way better 3P legends figures for my son. I’ve been disappointed by Takara and their QC and prices as I’ve been seeing many others have been as well for some time now. I’d rathe support a company that actually gives a shit about quality and it’s reflected in well made figures. But that’s like, you know, just my opinion man.

 

Sadly, if you took the time to read the main toy threads, you would have known that these figures aren't mean for younger children, and that most have some sort of flaw or at least a particularity that may make the transformation a bit difficult. Heck if anything,this line is meant more to pull collectors into a mainline that the general child's gift/toy.

You should have gone with deluxes, and I would recommend the weaponizers as they are meant to be taken apart and played with in a different way than the basic characters.. If you still would see some of the Siege line figures, you might have been happier with those for your son.

You picked the very two figures that I've skipped, if that tells you anything.

Price wise.. absolutely.. us Canadians are getting the shaft in a major way.

 

Funny you say that because I did the transforming and I did use the instructions. (I always do the first time at least)
The port for the peg was too tight so even trying to ease it back out the peg broke. It wasn’t a snap even and just pulled apart (soft plastic)
I don’t see the appeal in them myself. But part of me wishes I did because I do miss the hunt and being able to pick up something in store.

I will say Siege Jetfire was a nice surprise. I do think they did a great job with that one.

 

Almost everyone's copy of Grapple has the peg issue.

 

That’s what I was curious to know. What about the upside down crane arm? Did I just get lucky or was that a common issue as well?

 

I passed on Grapple due to the potential for that peg to break...and I suspect a lot of people might have done the same given how many of him there tend to be warming shelves. I know it doesn’t take much to sand/file the peg down to improve the fit, but, it shouldn’t be necessary. Maybe I’ll pick him up sometime, but so far I’ve resisted. And I’m happy enough with my Siege Starscream that I didn’t go in for his Earthrise figure. Overall I have to say that I like Earthrise...but I’ve only picked up about half of the figures they’ve released.

 

Well.. As Scarlet Knight stated, that peg issue is a very well known and quite discussed thing. (I skipped that figure because it's just too small for the truck it's supposed to be, and I have no real pull towards that figure/character)

And overall, most of the figures are actually quite amazing... the biggest issue is that Hasbro seems to have decided to always stop short of making them "great" for whatever reason (mostly saving money/being cheap I would assume), and I've never seen 3rd parties kits flourish as much as they have in the last few years because of is.

 

That’s a good way to put it. Stopping short of great. The first Siege figure I got was Sideswipe and I thought was really surprised about how good the figure is. I got Hound right after and realized that they weren’t all going to be to the same standards. And mostly they fall short. They’re fun enough for my son which is great. But from a collectors opinion I’m careful about where my money goes as far as any takara/hasbro purchases goes.

 

it doesn't help that you mistransformed the figure... the ratcheted bit the crane is on is supposed to go around 180 degrees then rotate another 180 on the swivel that the crane is on, the hands also peg into some 5mm ports

it's a toy sold at general retail of course it's meant for children, it just so happens to be designed like G1 to appease older collectors because G1 is so obscure and nobody has ever heard of it before! Seriously though it's a fucking kids toy...

 

I've found that there are others that are Sideswipe quality.

 

Yeah the voyagers are pretty weak for ER wave 1. I personally am very fond of Snapdragon and Optimus.

 

Read again... I stated "younger children".. as in those that wouldn't be able to manage the transformation or handle it in a gentler manner than throwing it against the wall or not play without making parts come off.

So.. as you stated, it's just toys here.. no need to hyperventilate there.

My first impression was like that.. but in time, I lost a lot of the "love" for him. The underbelly of the jet mode is utter garbage with nothing covering the kibble, they could have done the micromaster incorporation thing a LOT better, and while it's great that he's huge in one way, it's actually a double-edge sword that he's hard to really mesh with the other figures due to it and he's big, very big to play with easily.

 

Just read the manual ?

You mistransformed the arms and the crane.

 

The underside i was surprised to see but it didn’t ruin it for me. He is big for sure! I think the transformation is super fun. I don’t collect with any mind to scale. Just what I think looks good. Officials. MPs and 3Ps. So I don’t mind that about him but I see what you’re talking about it.

I accept that I might have been too casual looking at the instructions. Makes me happy to know I just didn’t transform it properly. But the pegs prone to breaking is a bummer. Should be able to be handled by a kid it was made for. I broke it trying to carefully ease it out. Stood no chance with any real play from a kid.

 

Why are you quoting posts and not saying anything?

 

Sorry. This is the first time I’ve been in any discussion here. Still figuring out how to navigate it properly. I’m just using my phone as well so not sure if it’s easier from a computer?

 

Ah fair enough

 

Thanks!

 

Not to be too nitpicky, but TF figures these days rarely have rivets. The only WFC ones I'm aware of that uses them still are the humanoid cassette bots (hip joints).

Compared to Siege, ER figures are highly pinned, especially the flathead type. Unlike regular pins, you can't force them out without potentially breaking the joint. Needs heat for removal, which confers the risk of melting plastic.

Anyhow, are you sure the crane is upside down? Grapple's crane is highly articulated and may just be transformed wrong.

The warped ports issue (I actually measured these things) is currently known for Grapple and Ironworks (this is why his tower mode doesn't work with his left arm on top). 5mm drill bit by hand will fix both in seconds.

Edit: The Greasepit redeco of Ironworks, however, has the port fixed. Hastak also does stealth fixes from time to time in redecos or even new production runs.

Since there are plenty of Grapple figures on the shelves now, you do have justification for returning and getting a new one. Also order a metric drill bit while you're at it.