I think they do that on purpose to keep the markets separate. IIRC there's some type of agreement with NA retailers.

 

RK offers registered air mail as a cheaper option. i've used it once before, roughly $15-20 for 2-3 smaller IF bots. it's slow and tracking seems to stop once it lands across the pond but i got my package. i've just placed another order for some harder to find items, so let's see how this 2nd round goes.

 

First time combing, you gotta try it at least once, but wow am I NEVER doing this again. Some of those tolerances are scary right and have slim clearance.

But wow does this look amazing though. I’m half tempted to leave this in combined mode in hopes I can also get the MMC set.

 

Bcuz of the tolerances I haven't decombined them, plus they're working as the combiner leader on my 13 Evil Prime shelf

 

Ah that’s a smart stand in!
My main concern are those feet. Incredibly smart engineering to use hips and legs of Helex to make ankle pivot joints for the combiner. That’s big brain right there, but getting that connection is terrifying, scrapes paint, and I’m terrified to detach them.
It required way too much for to click that tab in and I don’t want to know how much it’ll take to separate them...

 

Wierd, mine's been fine, and I've transformed/combined them a LOT. In fact these are the figures that made me start down the Iron Factory wallet killing rabbit hole.

 

I broke a limb on both Tesaurus and Helex. I bought a new one of each of them, fished broken pegs out and now have enough spare parts to keep him combined.

 

Ive also transformed/combined my set multiple times. No serious tolerance issues on mine. I just take my time and assess where force is being applied.

 

That’s how the whole set feels minus the combined mode feet. Those square pegs on Helex’ hips going into the combined feet just felt way too tight at least on my copy.

 

Helen's square pegs in general spook me. Already had two shear off

 

sucks to hear about pegs shearing off and stuff. im glad i have no desire to ever combine my set.

 

"Ha ha ha, bow lower my unworthy descendants. Prostrate yourselves before me!"

 

I'll need to take some pictures of my set but I had quite a few QC issues that didn't pop up until I had had the set for a good while.

Both combiner hands have a broken finger. Index on both I think. The ball joint port cracked so now the ball joint falls out. Both of Vos's thighs have cracks in them. And one of Vos's shoulder pylons sheared off.

I currently have my team separated and that's how they're staying from now on.

And I do find it slightly ironic that I was one of the lucky few that got a first-run Tarn without the shoulder issues.

 

Yikes that’s awful to hear, sorry about that!
I’d definitely like to see pictures of everything just to see if I need to keep an eye out for anything.
I managed to disassemble my set as well and so far nothing is stressed or broken.
Not doing that again lol.

 

Broken pylon

Thigh cracks

Broken finger joint

Another piece fell out when I took the combiner hand out but I cant tell where it came from.

 

o u c h.
Wow that’s crazy to see all of the issues on Vos. Really sorry about that.
Have you tried getting a replacement from your retailer?

 

oof...that is super rough man and so out of the norm for an IF bot. i feel for you most definitely.

 

I haven't bothered. It's been so long since I bought them I figured it would be unlikely to get replacements. I prefer to keep them separate anyway so as long as they don't get any worse I'll be fine with them.

 

For those having trouble with or scared of some of the connections, I have a little guide here:

 

My initial issue was with the peg on the torso that leg into his shoulder, then I had issues with the bicep peg from using it for the in and out swinging