The TFC Toys Hercules Megathread

Discussion in 'Transformers 3rd Party Discussion' started by Tekmen, Jul 1, 2011.

  1. mx-01 archon

    mx-01 archon Well-Known Member

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    BBTS won't help if it comes down to a design flaw, though. You can replace the figure all you want, and you'll keep getting defective ones.


    Got my Heavy Labor today, and while the hip ratchets were aligned properly, again, the pelvis ratchets self-destructed. The ratchet tab is simply far too rigid for this sort of application. It needs to be thin and flexible, in order to deflect when forced by the gear. It doesn't. It just stays firmly in place, and the pointier, more delicate gear teeth get destroyed in the fallout.

    I've resorted to just pulling the tabs out for the time being. Heavy Labor's hip joints are still tight enough to support just him, so at least I can play around with him without the feeling of mashing plastic every time I go to position his legs.

    Should be easy-ish to replace.

    TFC just needs to provide new grey pelvis joints, redesigned ratchet tabs, and preferably a new set of green plugs to replace the ones that you'll probably damage trying to take the pelvis apart. Unfortunately, it's not as easy a part to just swap out like Exgraver's shovel. But it's either that, or provide a whole new waist sub-assembly, which is nuts.
     
  2. General Tekno

    General Tekno Lugnut Supremor & Arkivist

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    At least something like that is probably easier to manufacture/distribute than the shovel. There's no paint required for instance, and not much plastic.

    If people make their voices heard, hopefully they'll give a response. If it comes down to being a design flaw, after all, they need to figure out what to do before commenting.
     
  3. Transformed

    Transformed 神戸 Member

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    Did TFC Toys just post these? As nice as it is to see a new picture of unreleased goods, I’m sure all here would have rather have word about Heavy Labor. The elephants already in the room, there's no point in trying to pend it's not here.

    Have they posted anything saying they're sorry for the inconvenience caused, and that they are looking into ways to correct the matter? If not, it would be nice if they did soon. Anger is going to build as more people start to get their Heavy Labors delivered.

    What's nuts about correcting a problem? It's just smart, but also the right thing to do.
     
  4. aniline

    aniline Well-Known Member

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    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
  5. mx-01 archon

    mx-01 archon Well-Known Member

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    It's nuts because there's be so many wasted parts involved. You'd still have to do a significant amount of disassembly anyways, so might as well go the most inexpensive route and supply just the joint parts.
     
  6. Transformed

    Transformed 神戸 Member

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    Even more pictures?[​IMG]

    Why are you surprised people are satisfied with damaged goods? It isn’t normal to look the other way. No one likes being burned…or do some people?

    It’s only natural that folks become more cautious and reluctant with TFC Toy purchases—this isn’t the first issue after all. TFC Toys replacing Exgraver’s defective part at no addition charge says a lot about the company. Hopefully, they’ll continue with this new problem.

    EDIT:
    What's nuts is how this happened. Figures should be replaced.

    I think Transbot was right; Maketoys' announcement of Giant may have caused this project to cut some corners in order to get their product out first, maximizing sales.

    Word of mouth is going to kill sales and this project if TFC Toys doesn’t address the issue soon. While the die-hard will be there no matter what with epoxy and screwdriver in hand, those not quite there will go elsewhere. I wonder if the die-hard will be enough to continue this project to the end if problems continue to the projects end. If Hasbro has taught us anything, it’s that the die-hard aren’t enough to support much of anything:/
     
  7. mx-01 archon

    mx-01 archon Well-Known Member

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    Missed this question.

    It's pretty easy, but requires a significant amount of disassembly. You need to disassemble the torso to get at the waist assembly.

    One screw holds together the black waist joint, that need to come out.

    On the front of Heavy Labour's pelvis, you can see the two screw holes that have been plugged. It's actually just a thin plastic disk covering the screw, not a big plug or anything, so some gentle prying with a hobby knife should be able to pop them off pretty easily (if they were thick plugs, you'd probably need to drill them out). Two big screws underneath, those'll need to come out. Then you can split the pelvis and get at the inner workings.
     
  8. Keith Prime

    Keith Prime Advanced Engineer

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    What's TFC doing releasing new pics when their customers are demanding at least the peace of mind of a response saying that they're at least "looking into HL's design flaw"?

    [​IMG]

    Anyway, the red one kinda looks like DotM Sentinel Prime, since it doesn't have a crane boom in this shot.
     
  9. Percy Harvin

    Percy Harvin Banned

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    I finally got a response from TFC in an e-mail about the hip ratchet issue.

    So, for what that's worth. Not sure of what the quality of the replacement pieces will be, but at least they are not entirely ignoring the issue anymore
     
  10. Stangatron

    Stangatron Well-Known Member

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    I'm sure Monday morning TFC will have a reponse to the problem for those having the problem. Like I said be for they stand by their products and will make sure they help their customers. Stop acting like children, I almost don't even want to read this thread anymore I swear there's new drama every week for the smalles paint app to this hip problem were every bashes the shit out of TFC, is it a small problem yes will TFac fix it yes. For now I'm done with this thread
     
  11. Percy Harvin

    Percy Harvin Banned

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    Haha. The pathetic irony oozes. Please do take your ball and go home. I'd love you to provide any proof of TFC being "bashed" over this "small" hip issue. But you won't and more importantly, you can't.
     
  12. Transformed

    Transformed 神戸 Member

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    This should be on their Face Book page, if it isn’t already.

    However, why do they respond with a message that looks like a copy and paste job? From what I’ve read here, this isn’t an easy fix—not all of us can be pro/semi-pro modelers. I don’t have the tools mentioned to do what needs to be done, and I don’t think I should have to go out and buy them to fix this problem either. If a Philips/flat head screwdriver will do the trick, well, okay then, but drills, a steady hand epoxy and a knife will require skills and patience I do not have.
    It isn’t childish to expect a properly functioning toy you paid a premium price for. Getting anything less than expectations is going to cause discussion.

    There’s no need for name calling—folks have been pretty civil about it actually. Just because you don’t feel the need to say anything about the problems and concerns people have with the Heavy Labor doesn’t mean others shouldn’t/don’t. Why not respect your fellow brethren’s opinions and let them be? If not, well, you know how to find other threads.
     
  13. quegon

    quegon Well-Known Member

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    TFC has already committed to sending you replacement parts so what's with the hostility? You should be grateful that they're responding the way they are to your pleas.
     
  14. Percy Harvin

    Percy Harvin Banned

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    Haha!
     
  15. Scully

    Scully Ham Sandwich

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    Hi. Has anyone found a solution to this hip problem. Can they post a guide? And is it happening to everyone's HL? Thank you.
     
  16. Ryan F

    Ryan F Transform and Roll Out!

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    On the plus side, Structor's shovel now looks as though it's actually moulded in green plastic, rather than being black plastic that's been painted over with green!

    I'm still to get my HL (ordered from Kapow in the UK), so I'm quite lucky - knowing about the issues in advance may help me avoid them. I shall probably take the waist apart as soon as I get the toy out of the box!

    Question:

    Rather than monkey around with the grey tabs that are shearing the cogs, would it be an easier fix just to sand down the gears slightly (like the Exgraver shovel fix)?
     
  17. Quantum

    Quantum Oh good

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    I got the same email this morning. Huzzah TFC! Now to await the parts.
     
  18. ElekTriC

    ElekTriC Well-Known Member

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    i hope it does because i was planning on doing the same thing when i get him
     
  19. Transbot90210

    Transbot90210 Banned

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    In what world should a consumer be greatful that a company is owning up to THEIR (the company's) mistake? Your comment is just another reflection of the current state of North America. We the people are the power and the Coporations should be thankful that we use their products and services. Unfortunately the current state of events is quite the opposite. :( 

    TFC has put out 2 figures at a premium price. I won't nail them on the $100 they did try and succeeded with under $80 but the rest is a completely different issue. Anyway, even at $80, it is a lot of money for a chunk of plastic and even more so when said plastic has issues with it. At the price they are asking, the consumer should expect top notch goods. Heck even it is was sold at $30 they should expect no design or MAJOR QC issues.

    I am glad TFC is doing what they can to fix it, but greatful? Seriously? If TFC does not fix their mistakes people will stop buying and the project and the company will go belly up. TFC is not doing us any favors, they are doing themself a favor seeing as they want to stay in business.

    The only people doing any favors to anyone is us towards TFC. Even after 2 shotty figures we are still on board, giving them waaaay too much room to flex and we continue buying up these broken figures hoping that by the 3rd the issues will be gone. TFC should be greatful towards us not the other way around.
     
  20. Transbot90210

    Transbot90210 Banned

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    Those new Structor picture are mouth watering sexy. The swivel used for the foot adds so much dynamics to his bot mode posability.

    These figures are so beautiful and Hercules as a whole is going to be so epic. I truly do hope that TFC gets past these QC and design issues from here on out.