Any solutions to cracked ankle posts? I just found one and a couple of stress marks on mine   I'm a little afraid to use super glue... how would I go about applying it in a controlled fashion?

 

Use one with high viscosity and very carefully apply just a tiny bit while using a toothpick. Move the joint frequently before the glue dries/cures to prevent it from getting suck. Be very careful and it may be best to read the previous pages for other tips as well.

 

much appreciated! Also, have you experienced this personally on your copy? And any success?

 

Haven’t tried it yet on my copy

 

So related question but do these types of issues tend to resurface in repaints? I’m really wanting the Thundercracker version of MP52 but I don’t want to pay $250 to have more cracks than thunder on my figure

 

They shouldn’t but no way to tell until Thundercracker is released. Takara knows about the issues but whether the factory will act on it for future uses of the mold is anyone’s guess(and there have been times when some factories for toy manufacturers have been told to adjust certain things but just didn’t). FWIW it’s not the design of MP-52 that lends itself to the breakages. Most of the breakages are from how it was assembled. With regards to the breaks on blue plastic like the forearms and thumbs, those to me could be caused by rough or misassembly but I don’t know for sure what causes breakages on those parts specifically.

 

Yeah I was going to say, about the only thing they could correct at this point would be assembly process and procedures. Any flaws that could be attributed to design or materials would most likely be un-addressable anymore

 

They did correct some of the issues of MP-44 on MP-49.

 

Skywarp, I'm not really concerned about as he probably hasnt went into production yet. They'll have time to make adjustments they need to make. Thundercracker I'm less sure about since most of these assembly errors wouldn't necessarily show up during packing, I doubt most of the damaged one were fully cracked when they were boxed up. If they didn't catch it in time they could possibly repeat the same mistakes. Then again no one knows exactly where did the run of "bad" ones happen during the "good" ones.

 

Both mine have cracks on the vertical stabilizer fin rotation bits (?). First one didn't initially but cracks have now appeared.

 

The copies with ankles cracked were likely already cracked when boxed up. They are boxed in fighter mode and you can’t see the cracks unless you pivot the feet out. Furthermore, moving the ankles feet doesn’t tend to crack them further if they’re already cracked. Those were probably cracked during assembly, then boxed up without anyone taking a 2nd look.

That’s how it was on the right vertical stabilizer on my copy.

 

Was wondering something. I had replaced the springs in the knees on my copy because the ratchets were weak. They're super strong now, to the point that I can actually hold the figure by the lower legs horizontally and they hold. Didn't know if having them too tight could damage the ratchet gears and maybe I should loosen a tiny bit

 

You may be right, I'm assuming they don't come fully transformed before packaging. Allowing them to do a visual checks before placing them in the sleeve. Thats also assuming the plastic slips are applied before boxing but they could probably happen anywhere in the process.

 

If they’re forcing the plastic halves of the leg apart and if the movement of the knees is very squeaky, I’d loosen up the springs a tad.

 

If no one did a visual check right after firing the ankle pins/rivets into the lower legs, that’s likely why the ankle cracks weren’t caught before release as the firing of the pin/rivet is likely what’s cracking them. The plastic itself doesn’t feel weak so whatever cracked them had to have exerted a lot of force; moving the feet/ankles doesn’t do that.

 

Maybe this is a better place to ask, does anyone have a paint match for the grey? Slightly scuffed up the nose cone. I mixed my Citadel paints up and made something reasonably passable but I imagine there is an actual match somewhere.

Additionally any tips for making paint touch ups stick? Citadel just basically seems to rub off.

 

I don't think they're being forced apart. I had to squeeze pretty tight to get them back together, though. No squeaks

 

Might be good for now then. Just to be safe, if you can find springs that provide just as tight of a movement but without needing to squeeze as tight to put back together, that might help.

 

Yeah, I just went with what I could find at a hardware store. Then again, I never mess with my stuff much and just pose once or twice

 

I was dreading transforming mine after reading about the ankle assembly cracks, so much that I put it off for almost two and a half weeks. Today, I finally did it and am relieved to know that nothing is damaged or misassembled. The only issue I had was a black scuff mark on the outside of the left leg, but I managed to remove it with a low grit Emory board.