FansToys FT-44 Thomas (MP Astrotrain)

Discussion in 'Transformers 3rd Party Discussion' started by eVac Z, Mar 16, 2019.

  1. bradam

    bradam Well-Known Member

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    Its the merchants that have to pay for that extra sig required thing, or pass it along to the customer. Most don't to save a bit of money.
    Nothing i hate more then coming to that damn "sorry we missed you!" tag on my door. If a merchant slaps the "signature required" on a delivery I generally will never order from them again. Exception for high dollar stuff of course.
     
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  2. Bruticus88

    Bruticus88 Bruticus devastate Devastator!

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    No carrier right now in the US is obtaining signatures for deliveries, even if you pay more for that service. UPS, FedEx, USPS are all dropping boxes like a hot potatoes and running. No knocking, ringing bells, nothing. I’ve had USPS recently leave boxes at the front of my driveway on the ground, near the road... instead of leaving them at my door. It’s utter insanity right now.
     
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  3. Grimrem

    Grimrem Well-Known Member

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    I wouldn't even want to meet to sign. Have to go find my mask, which is probably in my car just to open my door.
     
  4. mikequillm

    mikequillm Well-Endowed Member

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    Sorry I'm old lol. They used to all require signatures for packages about 30 years ago
     
  5. Shanxs

    Shanxs Open your eyes. Can't you see?

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    Mine will be here end of this month.
    Showz shipped it at 8th, 2+ weeks shipping to EU.
    I thought that guy can fly.
     
  6. boomerdave

    boomerdave Owns three Ditka figures. O_o Veteran

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    Mine is (was) just like yours. I messed with it for a while and tried to come up with a good solution. I thought about Future but I don't think that would last for long, the arm is too heavy. The hole on the arm is too small to put a sleeve around the smooth part of the bolt to give it friction. In the end, the best I came up with was to put some crazy glue on the shaft of the screw, reinsert it and just work it constantly as it dried until it stiffened up. I was really reluctant to do it because I bet it would be a bitch to get that screw out later, BUT it did work amazingly well and firmed it up.

    I wonder if the other screw for the left arm is different (funny they're all the right that's loose) but I wasn't about to take it apart and risk the left getting floppy too.

    We could put a fix on the first page if we can come down with a surefire way or something, but right now it's just everyone trying to come up with a universal solution for both issues. :( 

    Same in my neighborhood. Once in a blue moon the mailman will ring the doorbell but he knows I'm usually not home so he just puts it on the porch. UPS, Fed Ex all do the same.

    The simplest thing I found is just to put tracking alerts on anything I know is expensive so you get a text that it was delivered. I work 15 minutes from home so I can usually just run there and pick it up so it doesn't sit out all day.
     
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  7. DrunkSkunk

    DrunkSkunk Well-Known Member

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  8. Born with TF

    Born with TF Well-Known Member

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    They look good, where does everything one putting the faction on him inner wing or the out wing
     

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  9. o1dpain1ess

    o1dpain1ess Well-Known Member

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    I'll definitely check out FT's Blitzwing, but I love how these three stack up together.


    upload_2020-10-13_16-56-55.png
     
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  10. joopsta

    joopsta Masterpiece, Encore and 3P collector

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    IMG_20201013_145531.jpg IMG_20201013_142759.jpg Got mine today. Only inspected it briefly. Looks great.
     
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  11. ChromeMagnus

    ChromeMagnus Well-Known Member

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    Baba shipped out my FT-44 Thomas today with the free "hard times" times shipping option.
    My previous order from Baba (Iron Trans IR-V01 Star Blade (Star Saber)) using this same free shipping option had a shipping time of about 9 or 10 days. This was in early July.
    My last order from ShowZ shipped using the same free shipping option had a shipping time of 60 days. It was finally delivered last Friday, October 9th, 2020.

    I'm willing to bet my FT-44 will arrive in 2 weeks or less.

    I like the fact that signatures aren't required anymore. Just leave the package on my porch/front door and update the tracking notes to reflect it.
    In 2018 when signatures were required on certain packages (like EMS shipments) I had a rash of USPS drivers/carriers who had my package on their truck but saw the signature require as an opportunity to be too lazy to get out of their truck, carry the package to the front door, ring the doorbell and attempt to collect the signature for delivery. They would lie on the tracking notes and say "delivery was attempted but no recipient was available" and leave the "sorry we missed you" note in my mailbox. It was frustrating as hell and when I would go to the post office it was my word against theirs. It was for this very reason, and not criminal activity, I got a video doorbell installed. Once I got the video doorbell the foolishness stopped. Plus those lazy carriers were eventually either fired or reassigned. A bunch of lazy hoodrats. The USPS carriers that service my neighborhood now are much more professional.
     
    Last edited: Oct 13, 2020
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  12. mikequillm

    mikequillm Well-Endowed Member

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    What shipping method/shipper does baba use? I'll suggest it to the owner of showz

     
  13. Rich33

    Rich33 Well-Known Member

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    Fixed the loose lower arm issue on his right side on my copy.

    First I took out the long metal screw through the metal purple piece which forms the lower arm joint.

    Before opening I did consider making the screw thicker / adding friction. But once it was open i realised all the fiction on this joint is due to the sides of the grey elbow piece rubbing against the insides of the metal purple piece. The grey piece was actually quite wobbly on the screw alone. This might explain the variance between arms if one side is molded a bit tighter than the other.

    Yesterday i added a thin layer of superglue (loctite) to the grey elbow piece as per my photos - applied via normal sewing needle - then I allowed it 24hrs to dry until today. Photos taken once dry today. NB no glue placed into channel.

    20201013_200527.jpg
    20201013_200455.jpg

    I added glue on both sides of the grey piece as shown, but when it came to reassembly today it was too tight to reinsert into the purple piece (and took a little of the purple paint off the inside where it butts up against the grey - not visible once reassembled).

    So I sanded the glue on 1 side down a touch.

    I stopped sanding and assembled when it was only just able to be pushed inside the purple metal piece with a bit of force and screwed it back together tight.

    The arm is now at approx the same tightness as his un-modded left.

    Originally - on my copy his arm was loose, barely holding his gun up, but not completely floppy, before i started modding.

    Edit - @boomerdave & @KevinSig - is this of any help?
     
    Last edited: Oct 13, 2020
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  14. Thundercracker Blue

    Thundercracker Blue Well-Known Member

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    Ordered mine from a well-rated eBay seller (cunf8-92) who I’d never used before (gulp)...

    •Ordered on 9/21
    •Shipped 9/28
    •Just arrived at my door (Virginia, USA)

    Looks to be in perfect condition. I’ll put it through it’s paces later tonight, but I feel pretty fortunate so far.
     
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  15. Vector Oracle

    Vector Oracle Constructicon fanatic

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    Considering the name that Fanstoys chose for this guy, does anyone else want him to be redecoed in light blue?
     
  16. Hoffman

    Hoffman Well-Known Member

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    Yeah, no signature on deliveries is a great thing for me. I can understand why it would be an issue for people who live in high theft areas though.
     
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  17. ChromeMagnus

    ChromeMagnus Well-Known Member

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    I don't know what shipping company Baba uses exactly but when I selected the free "hard times" shipping option it arrived well under 2 weeks once it shipped. I was pleasantly surprised as I thought it would take at least 30 days as the shipping option description stated. Baba decided to ship it via EMS. It was Iron Trans IR-V01 Star Blade (Star Saber).
     
  18. ChromeMagnus

    ChromeMagnus Well-Known Member

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    Added to the Good Sellers List here: China Ebay Seller Check - New-comers READ FIRST POST!!
     
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  19. tekering

    tekering The Ref

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    Oh yes, let's double-down on the copyright infringement. :rolleyes: 

    double down.jpg
     
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  20. Ichibaru

    Ichibaru Supreme Commander of Pork

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    Most things aren't as by-the-rule as they are in Japan and person-to-person interactions have been limited due to COVID. For example, Canada Post seems to have changed their policy that all packages are left at the door even if instructions are to route it to the post office for pick-up if no one answers.