That’s it then? This figure ain’t gonna happen? A shame, i’m sure there would have been a good demand for it. Considering how fragile the official one is.
A straight KO does indeed exist and appears to be better quality than the official. So while it would be a shame if the 'improved' version was cancelled. There are still options.
Yea, well a straight KO isn’t improved version and tbh some collectors are asking especially some improvements to this mould.
I contacted TFSafari and they're not even sure when the next shipment of the straight KO will arrive.
I have the straight KO and have transformed it more than ten times and nothing has broke or crack thus far. I don't even have to treat it with kid gloves.
Why is the straight KO so hard to come by, did they only make a small batch? It seems like not many retailers ever had it.
IKR? I've been trying to find a copy for a while now. Seems sold out almost everywhere and the residents here that have it, speak highly of it.
Many retailers didn't seem to have faith in the straight KO. It actually took some convincing on ShowZ's part to get them to stock the straight KO, and that was after the first wave had already been released and began to dry up. Now we're basically at the mercy of the factor getting their production back up and running after the break from CNY and a mandatory cease of production due to an inspection of their factory shortly before CNY. Shifting focus to the "improved" KO. What I find interesting is the company that was suppose to be doing the "improved" KO was supposedly the same company that's been releasing the KO MP-44's. Which they -just- released the silver legged version. So it's not like the company went under. Perhaps they feel the straight KO beat them to the punch, and have decided to shift focus solely to the production of the MP-44 KO variants? That is of course wild speculation. So take that with a huge grain of salt.
Got a reply: Hi Not really, we are still waiting for news from the manufacturer, any updates we will promptly update on the website. Kelsi Which basically says nothing. I find this totally valid:
Even though the current figure is a "straight" KO, it is still infinitely better than the Takara version, since the plastic used is much sturdier than the official one, which seems to crumble no matter how gently you treat it. I think that the straight KO is simply how the Takara version would have worked if it had been made with a correct plastic mix instead of whatever they made it out of. There still seems to be some of this KO on ebay I see, but they are getting pricier (I think this is the only time in MP history where you have to actively avoid buying the official version if you want a working toy instead of a glued staue...)
Sorry to be that guy, but what was the improved KO claiming to achieve above and beyond the straight KO? If the straight KO doesn't have cracking plastics then it's job done, no? And does the straight KO have a wonky face sculpt like some of the other KO MP carbots?
I think the straight KO is what could've been if the original TT version had better composition in their plastic mix. Nope no wonky or weird face sculpt for the straight KO. It's spot on.
Are we sure it's the same company as MP-44 KOs? These guys were calling themselves Shepherd (or Herdsman or Wrangler depending how you want to translate the Chinese characters) Model Play. Same company? I know these guys change their name every release, or the same outfit has five company names, so maybe it is! Shame it's gone quiet. The straight KO dont quite do it for me. Was looking forwards to what improvements they might have made. Front wheels rolling properly would be a start - my original is crap at that!
