Just thought it'd be interesting to start a short list of common major QC or engineering problems that people can reference before making a buying decision. I'll start the list off but you guys help me add! Rule : Don't list an item just because you didn't like it. I want issues that could and should be fixed if there was going to be a re-release. Things like joints easily popping off shouldn't be mentioned unless it's major and prevalent. Blue = occurs on all figures MP-05 Megatron - "Cosmic Rust" MP-09 Rodimus Prime (v1) - can't remember the problem but I know there was one. MP-12 - numerous paint jobs issues reported AMW-13/14 - reports of repeat and missing microns mix AM20 Ironhide & AMW-13 - I.ro minicon split-joint easy to break when twisting off tree. FE Bulkhead (US TRU) - stress marks right out of the package on the swivel joint that connects the lower arm to the shoulder. FE Optimus Prime (US TRU) - paint application changed, missing around chest FE Cliffjumper, Terrocon Cliffjumper - front bumper prone to breaking. You're better off not trying to transform that part. Kre-o Kreons - most have stress marks around the hand. Don't know if they are prone to cracking.
Older items. TFCC Punch/Counterpunch - error resulted in head being too small TFCC SG Drift - incorrect pistol FPJ WB001 Defender - heelless, may fall due to weight Henkei Thundercracker - arm holes for weapon too small Alternity Megatron Black - chest lock, he has a piece of plastic that should lock his chest into place but it can be warped. Don't know if this problem occurs in the other colors or was fixed afterwards. Alternity Bumblebee/Cliffjumper - a design flaw can have the transformation lock up if certain conditions occur. Fixing it required taking the figure apart to get out of the lock-up. PCC Bombshock - has his legs switched, which causes problems in altmode. The leg connectors for combined mode are ALSO on the wrong sides. Both are pretty easy to fix. Animated Electrostatic Soundwave - the upper leg pieces (between the crotch and the knee joints) are swapped due to a production error, so the figure ends up bowlegged when standing up. This can be fixed with five minutes and a screwdriver by just swapping them around. BW Drill Bit - His insect leg kibble has pegs in the wrong spot and is unable to correctly work in beast mode. Common Problems Chrome Flaking - this seems to be a common problem for Beast Wars and earlier figures. Still waiting to see if HasTak has correct the problem with Henkei and beyond. Rubber Tire Degradation - the G1/G2 toys have this problem, be aware when buying old figures. contributors: Autobot Burnout, Fallout, Gilgamesh, NemiMonkey, Nope, Transmetal, yesidoknow
Rule : Don't list an item just because you didn't like it. Yeah, the plastic piece is the chest locking mechanism but it locks into a moving metal piece. If you don't do it in the right order you warp the plastic piece and now it's a fuggly-bent-plastic-tab that no longer fits into the rectangular metal hole. Cutting it is the best option but it's not easy to reach.
Animated Electrostatic Soundwave - the upper leg pieces (between the crotch and the knee joints) are swapped due to a production error, so the figure ends up bowlegged when standing up. This can be fixed with five minutes and a screwdriver by just swapping them around.
MP Sideswipe numerous paint issues, although mine was nice. BW Transmetal Megatron paint flaking off.
Bombshock (PCC) has his legs switched, which causes problems in altmode. The leg connectors for combined mode are ALSO on the wrong sides. Both are pretty easy to fix.
punch/counterpunch's head isn't a QC issue so much as a design flaw that couldn't really be avoided on a TFCC toy.
BW Drill Bit - His insect leg kibble has pegs in the wrong spot and is unable to correctly work in beast mode.
FE Blukhead reissue- stress marks right out of the package on the swivel joint that connects the lower arm to the shoulder.
I never had one. Was this a problem on every single one? Any idea on how common the paint issues for Sideswipe were? Is Megatron just the common gold/chrome-flake syndome? How common was this problem? According to the TFCC, the head size was suppose to be larger and somehow got shrunk after they got tacit approval from Hasbro but before they were produced. Since there's enough clearance space and there's not other information so I'm going to give TFCC the benefit of the doubt here. This sounds like a problem on all of them?