Actually it's CNE Express, and that's what ShowZ uses. Or has used in the past. I believe that's their recommended service that costs around $10, rather than their free shipping that uses USPS.

You might reach out to them here and ask when/if they use CNE Express. It may be random, I'm not sure.

 

Got my second one in, and it's in pretty good shape. I swapped a leg with my first version due to some other paint issues, but now I have a solid display copy and one that I was comfortable transforming fully. I might end up selling it 'as-is' though to recoup some of the cost.

 

@Curium sorry for mix-up, by the way. It seems like I almost always have a package coming from ShowZ and a package coming from Terry at the same time. Just mixed up which uses what service. And its ppossible they both use both services. But best I can tell, like I said, is CNE Express goes to FedEx.

 

Thank you for taking the time to figure that out.

 

@transformer_78 -got a bunch of colored thrusters and a few gundam stand adapters (for hobby action base). Got multiple colors for the eventual full seeker so they better not disappoint me!

 

I got my parts from @transformer_78 and couldn't be happier! Fit and finish is excellent, I love the way everything looks. The blast effects have the perfect friction fit that almost feels like they dont grab but they do not move once on, I'm really amazed at that! The thrust effects slip in with ease and the perfect amount of friction too, no worries of scratching/chipping paint or dealing with loose parts, they are just perfect. Even though I made intake screw hole covers I liked how he made them with an overhanging edge in front and back so it covers more area and they are thin so they dont bulk up the look inside the intake. I was looking for paint to coat them with but then it grew on me seeing the contrast of color and now I like that the inside of the intake is different in color.
Thanks @transformer_78 !

 

Starscream and his giant boyfriend reunited again

 

Wow, that Jetfire looks pretty close to masterpiece scale.

 

Check it out, ShowZ has the back upgrade kit available, $49.99 though
{No Brand Upgrade Kit for Deformation Space DS-01 Starscream}

 

Careful though, this isn't the official DS one.

 

Right, I saw in the description that its fragile and easy to break! For $50! An add on kit! I never knew it was DS who was putting this out or did they buy the design and now doing it themselves? I've still wanted to see an exact side view of the wing to know how much it thickens things.

 

I got him transformed yesterday and it wasn't as awful as I was expecting. I do have the droopy landing gear bay as has been seen in most reviews, so good thing I bought some floor polish. Overall I like him a lot, and he's going to take the position of honor currently occupied by my Meteor.

 

First I've heard of DS doing one. That's interesting. Wonder how much theirs will cost. And if they'll slim down that giant middle grey section.

 

Quick video demo here:
https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1v44y1b7as/?spm_id_from=333.788.recommend_more_video.15

More extended, close-up and explanation video here:
https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1M44y147Z5/?spm_id_from=333.788.recommend_more_video.-1

 

The design looks good, and looks like it cleans up the back nicely, but I'm not about to pay $50 for a 3D-printed piece to put on an MP-style figure. If DS were to do an injection molded (and painted) version themselves, I'd be all over it, but as for this? Hard pass.

 

Regardless of how you feel about that kit, $50 isn't a terrible price. If I were to make that kit, I would be charging almost that, I think. And that's without any reseller markup. ShowZ is probably paying half that, or less. Leaving $25 for a set that is printed and painted by hand. There's likely about $3-4 of resin in those pieces. Then with paint and labor... I don't think people realize how much time it takes to 3D print, clean, cure, prep and hand paint something.

A set like that, injection molded and made thousands at a time in a factory may cost pennies to make. But how many people who bought this figure will actually want an upgrade set for it? Is a brand new company going to be willing to take that risk?

 

I agree but there's a difference between a thing's cost and its value. I once 3d printed a little dragon in pla, sanded it to the point it had no layer lines at all (not too difficult but time consuming for a small semi-detailed piece), then painted it up in a nice glossy finish. Looked pretty close to a ceramic figurine by the time I was done. Gave it to my boss cuz she was pretty much the coolest boss I'd ever had. One of my coworkers saw it and offered to pay me to make him one. I told him there was no amount that he'd be willing to pay that would make it worth my time and effort. I would've had to charge something like $40-50 to make it worth my time but the actual figure I wouldn't consider to be worth more than $5. Maybe $10 given how good the paint job came out.

My point is that yes, if someone is printing these and doing all the cleanup and paint work by hand, $50 is a perfectly reasonable price to ask but ultimately its value in-hand to me would be more like $15 (that's if I wanted one of these kits at all - I'm not big on partsforming and DS already has the cleanest back of any Starscream figure ever). It's why I normally give away my digital files rather than offering actual printed pieces and, on the rate occasion I do offer prints, they're unprocessed and unpainted. I have been planning on starting an Etsy for finished pieces but it would be things that don't need a lot of finishing work (I've actually got what I think will be a good candidate for my first release on the print bed right now - hoping it goes well).

 

Huh, ShowZ is already shipping a replacement part, despite them not sounding very confident about it when requested. Seems like I may qctuallt end up with a second decent enough copy to sell used.

 

"Dat ass"...

 

Their web guy is pretty funny actually.