Face Your wish:

 

Man, huge bummer. I got that $60 Shattered Glass version from TF Safari linked a few pages back, and I think it arrived misassembled. Basically, the higher of the two elbow joints are mis-matched between the two arms. The one seen below circled in green is correct, while the one on the left circled in yellow is incorrect:

And there's no quick and easy way to rotate that piece. It sits on a square mushroom peg that seems to have additional plastic behind it such that pulling it out may break the arm. I suspect the error was really between the pins, which means I may not have a way to repair this. Of course, this error means I can't transform it into its car mode. I emailed them, of course, and TF Safari is great about replacement parts. Still, any thoughts or advice? Something I'm missing?

 

Try to unpin it, rotate, and then reattach.

 

Good idea, but definitely beyond anything I’ve tried yet. I’ve seen some tutorials with an automatic center punch. Even after I run to the hardware store, I’d still be nervous with that, just because I feel like it’s applying a lot of pressure to the middle of the (seemingly fragile) arm.

 

I haven't looked at my own figure to see how it's assembled... but instead of rotating the piece inside of the bicep, is it possible to take apart the forearm, using the screw joint at the elbow, assemble that the other way, and then just rotate the bicep 180 degrees?
Hopefully what I'm thinking makes sense. That may not be possible, but I thought it would be worth suggesting...

 

The front of the bicep is rounded to allow range of motion, but the back is not since it wasn't expected to be used so unfortunately rotating the bicep won't help even if it was possible.

 

a fiddly one to be sure, and the hands will never not be horrible, but i still love this guy. i need SXS's blurr and toyworld's kup still...

 

He goes with MMC's Getaway so freaking well, wibbly hands and all.

 

Aren’t the hands supposed to be retooled on this and the SG version? I was having trouble following the discussion, so please forgive my ignorance.

 

Oh they definitely are better on the LL version than the original release, but I just don't care for the hand design/shape in general. They make very pathetic fists. The thumbs are on a swivel as opposed to the fingers.

 

So I'm guessing this is entirely unavailable now

 

Such a better figure than the MMC one (minus the alt mode). Maybe peeps will see these bumps and possibly message you with one they want to sell.


Anyone in the thread speak Chinese and feel like hitting up SXS and seeing if they’re still alive and kicking? Still waiting for my Nautica ._.

 

I got mine a few years back. Should check Ali Express I got mine for maybe 60 bucks Canadian?

 

Its still out there if you really want it.
SXS R04 R-04 Hot Flame

98.3US $ |SXS Toys R 04 Hot Flame IDW Anime Modelling Hot Break Spot Boy Birthday Gift|Transformer/Robot| - AliExpress


86.53US $ 2% OFF|Sxs Transformation R-04 R04 Hot Rodimus Idw Anime Mode Action Figure Robot Toys - Action Figures - AliExpress

Its going to cost more now though.

 

I have one for sale, new in box: SXS Rodimus - IDW Lost Light version - Hot Flame R04B - NiB - Transformers | eBay

 

It’s gonna sound weird but I’m planning on customizing a Hot Flame into Flamewar. A favorite artist of mine drew Hot Rod and Flamewar as siblings and now I can’t stop picturing them in their chaotic family @kairito10 on Twitter

plus in IDW1 there’s a joke about Flamewar playing Rodimus in Thundercracker’s movie because they look alike. I already own MMC’s and prefer the head and car mode in general over Hot Flame, so he’s my Rodimus.

 

I don't find your plan weird at all, in fact I got one for almost the exact same reason, plus I love the art the artist made of them

 

You can definitely still find them on AliExpress or eBay, but they are nowhere near as cheap as they used to be. When I was looking for the lost light version, which I think was limited to 1000 pieces, you could find the original release for under $30 on some websites. I was able to snag the lost light version through a lucky auction on eBay for around $65, but I think that one is going to be $100 plus nowadays.

Personally, now owning the figure, it’s truly a beautiful release. However, as others have said, the transformation is garbage and the alt mode is wonky. You’re basically paying for a Rodimus action figure that looks like it stepped right off of the page, and is in scale with other MMC/PX stuff.

Another more readily available option that is just as if not more comic accurate is the FlameToys model kit. However, it’s a few inches shorter than MMC‘s Calidus or SXS’ Hot Flame, and looks a little bit out of scale when it comes to the rest of the IDW inspired figures out there. And I think the forthcoming Flame toys Kuro Kara Kiri Rodimus (or whatever it’s called) will be too tall (and also like $300)