I was tired of looking for a non backwards one in the wild. And then figuring out what to do with my backwards one. So I did the Robo Samurai fix from the more recent video with the Amazon tool. Took me a while and led to some extremely sore thumbs, but worked like a charm in the end. No scratches, gashes, gouges, or stress marks and he’s all perfect now.

I will echo what he said and tell you, get the exact tool from Amazon he showed. I bought a similar set at Walmart and it was the right kind of tool but the wrong size. Twisted and cranked on that wrong tool for over an hour with nothing to show for it but sore fingers and lingering doubt that I could accomplish this fix. When the right tool came, it worked immediately.

 

Can it still transform as normal with the hands being a little big?

With regards to the shoulders, the more I look at it the more I think it looks better with the shoulders lower. The high shoulders looks like he's wearing shoulder pads or something. Unless that's the look they were going for being the 80's and all.

If you follow along the top of his chest out to the sides, the chest kind of slopes down to his shoulders and then levels off with the "incorrect" low shoulders assembly. With the "correct" high shoulder assembly, the silhouette of the top of his chest/shoulders dips down and then shoots up. It doesn't look right to me for a humanoid shape. I know he's a robot, but the aesthetics can still apply I think to make it look nice.

 

However you choose to display galvatron is your business.
And only yours
Period.
Enjoy!

 

Unfortunately he cannot transform with these hands…they’re a bit big. It seems like the hands @Dachande used do still allow for transformation, so you could try those. (I’m shit for painting, much less color matching, so I chose to just settle for these ones).

 

When asking someone (like at Target) to look up the DPCI, is there a specific person I should ask? Or should I just chase down any regular employee and hope they know what they're doing?

 

I got my most helpful answer from someone in toys/electronics. I got my least helpful answer from a front desk customer service rep. I mean it all depends on which individual you get but your best bet is toys.

 

My Kingdom Galvatron finally arrived from Amazon. It apparently had gotten lost and wasn't tracking anymore. On the Amazon tracking page it was suggested that request a refunds since it hadn't tracked for so long (about a solid week). I went ahead and processed the refund and ordered it again a few days ago.

Well, the first order showed up after all. Shipping box was beat to hell and back. It arrived with one side of the shipping box soggy, and wet and they ended up putting it in a plastic bag. Miraculously, the Galvatron box itself was in pretty decent shape with only some minor dings and scraps.

It had both shoulders installed incorrectly for those that are keeping score. Call me crazy, but I think it looks better that way.

 

I did the shoulder fix -- thanks everybody for the tool suggestion! Amazon screwed me on same-day delivery but I was able to fix the shoulders very easily.

What's the safest way to remove the splattered purple?

 

91% isopropyl alcohol.
Apply with q-tips for more accuracy.
You don't want to remove decepticon symbol by accident.

 

Just some thoughts:

The shoulder joint "fix" does cause major stress marks, but you can't see them due to the biceps panels covering up the bend marks.

Heat loosens joints. Prying apart the shoulder panels will further loosen the joints.

The shoulder plastic is likely nylon, which is why shoulder joints aren't being totally destroyed when doing this, although some people here have already have various mishaps.

I'm not sure if the clear plastic on the fusion cannon is resistant to IPA. Multiple people here have reported melt / crumbling damage to clear plastic starting with Siege line when exposed to IPA.

Even on non-clear plastic, IPA may cause smudging or swirling surface defects. Yes, q-tip is preferred to minimize surface involvement.

KFC hands are awful IMHO. The fingers fall apart with such little force, and they can't hold 5mm pegs. The 3d nylon printed 5mm adapters on ebay don't even fit the hands properly.

 

I actually represent the GDBCCCB (Galvatron Display Business and Cooperative Commerce Committee Bureau) and it is my job to inform you that any business regarding the display of Galvatron must be vetted through us first before being publically available. You can email for request forms or call us toll-free. (Please bear in mind we are closed on weekends)

 

Galvatron scoffs at the GDBCCCB's authority.
Galvatron shall pose as he sees fit.
Shoulders raised triumphantly in conquest.
Shoulders hanging low in disgust over the dirt on his chest.
Galvatron can't even enjoy the endless cruise he paid for.
Too many useless creatures want Galvatron to attend these "B&M" sales events.
Galvatron is too busy with shuffleboard, skeet shooting & movis screenings to be concerned about a "GDBCCCB"
Too busy.
Love watching starscream turning too ash.
Can't get enough.

 

I welcome the complaints. That's how things get fixed. I don't think people should just accept this kind of quality.

 

Especially since this isn't a QC error or something that only effects a few units, it is a widespread misassembly.

The fact that properly-assembled versions are starting to trickle out just goes to show it was a mistake that was caught and rectified, probably once those misassembled leaked copies started making the rounds online.

 

Not to mention the misassembly looks more animation accurate.

 

And this isn’t the first time Hasbro released a misassembled product and it won’t be the last. Some toys dont even get a fix; staying misassembled with each repaint or retool. I got my Galvatron a few days ago from Hasbro Pulse and it was still the misassembled one.

 

Mine just finally arrived, and did so with the "correct" shoulders. And I'm low key disappointed.   The lower shoulders look better to me. Proportionality be damned. (Yes I know I can flip them around.)