They are trying to turn the line into Hot Toys for Transformers except that Hot Toys does a much better job at delivering quality toys with presentation and value and their figures generally hold their values much better than TT MP line. I think the whole toon thing plus increasing articulation made the figures so much more complex that things are bound to break much more easily.

 

And the holographic doctor from ST Voyager sheds a little holographic tear.  

 

Yes, that IS an amazing app.

But will it make the instructions coherent, full-color and 2-3 larger?

 

it's annoying but because of the locking side grooves it actually stays in place perfectly. I bought it when amazon.jp had a sale so I am considering just keeping it.

 

It's that dang shift to "anime aesthetics" aka the simplified look that really sucks at that it gives the impression that TT scrimped while charging us bigtime. It subliminally gives us the feel being given the short end of the stick when compared to the mainstream consumer friendly(?) Siege line which got all those details. 

Also, the language barrier is also an obstacle as indeed TT "attempted" to minimize the damage with the added insert on transforming Hound which...............

Does not excuse them of releasing a product using questionable weak endurance plastics.

Agree on them all big buddies! x INFINITY!

 

I definitely agree that the older figures did indeed "feel" more durable, and all around, I do feel the widespread build quality issues were significantly less. And in fact, getting Anime Smokescreen right after Hound is a very in your face reminder. I will say however, with the exception of 44 and 45, in my experience, the paint quality has gone significantly up from Ironhide on. Paint chipping was never really a problem then, but mismatched/poorly applied paint, hairs, dust, and crooked faction logo's were a lot more common for me on the original Lambo's, Datsun's and BB's.

Also, I'm not really sure it's fair to put 39, 43, and especially 46 in your list of "significant" QC problems. It might just be me, but I don't think I'd consider the hip ratchets a real QC issue, but regardless, how common is it really on 39, and is it really at the point that it hurts the toy, like 44's knees breaking? I've never heard of anything with the windshield...what is that?

For BW Megatron, the cracking crotch seemed to be so short lived afterall, and not nearly as common as I think some people think. And I think at this point, it's been more or less proven that if yours is fine when you open it, it stays that way. This seems more along the lines of how everyone thought MP-36's barrel was "for sure" gonna break off because a handful of people's did.

Lastly, I know I saw a few reports of 46's cracked hinges in the legs, and there is definitely inconsistency in the ball joints. But that seems pretty far from "significant" to me. Again, my opinion of course, but no way I'd put that anywhere near the same league as 44's, 45's, and 47's well documented, widespread issues

 

They're going to have to make a step up in durability if their next one up is a combiner.

 

Ouch! So the post itself gave out. Maybe it could be replaced with a more durable post. Would take some work, but it might be possible to salvage that part and make it stronger than the original. I'm sure some of the expert modders here like @Jarrod might have some ideas.

 

you are correct, some of the one's you mentioned would not qualify as significant...I did say that 39 was good and it certainly is...one of my faves in fact. Also 39 was the one with the windshield breakages, not 44...my bad if I mislead. 43 had some significant issues for a number of collectors with the broken crotches (why does that statement make me giggle?) and to a lesser degree..his helicopter waist spin. While the breakages may not be hound-level common, they occurred enough that is was distressing. After all, it was not a cheap toy. As for 46, I did say that is was "very good overall", but yes..alas it was lumped in with the rest...that too is my bad.

 

While this is true to an extent in terms of holding their value and resale potiential, like any articulated item, some of the Hot Toys aren’t designed to hold poses for very long and some costumes have expereinced seam separation. If a silicone body is used, tears at the elbow and knees joints from long-held poses will occur.

TT’s whole mission statement behind Transformers is to transform. Not only do these MPs have to convert from one form (robot) to another form (vehicle/animal/device), they have to have some level of fluid articulation. We’re witnessing, and not just with Transformers, but across the board, an update in toy technology. I know some wish for the simpler days of the MP line, but this is disruptive technology. We’re not going back.

 

False equivalency.

Airplane parts have a well defined lifespan and # of cycles established through science and testing. They must because the materials are pushed to extremes due to the environments and designs. Fighter jets in particular have extremely exaggerated maintenance cycles because of the extremes. You overspeed the aircraft, and lots of things have to be followed up on.

This is not some "all materials fail" argument... airplanes in particular are due to the extremes and the risk associated with them.

Here, we're talking about plastic toys. Not only that, but we talking about toys that have millions of proven peers around them that can survive being handled more than 30 times. Nevermind the very same company making products that have lasted decades..

The very idea that a TT transformer shouldn't be expected to last a few dozen transformations is absurd.

 

  24 hours to respond? I wonder why?  

 

24 hours or not, everything he said his right.

I've got original G1 figures that although you can tell they have aged, they still hold up well today.

Wonder if I'll be able to say the same about current masterpiece figures in 35 years time?

 

The thing with these masterpiece figures is they are not toys. They are high end collectable figures. Comparable to designer chairs or clothing.

I agree with you that considering the price you pay they should be more endurable.

But with a lot of designer stuff you also pay for exclusivity, craftmanship etc. And a lot of that stuff is very delicate.

Mps are no different. These werent created to play with, but to admire, to be impressed by the aesthetic and engineering; the cratmanship that went into the product..

I guess that's a pretentious way of looking at them, maybe even elitist. But with recent prices ranging from 120 euros up to 420 euros for mp44 these things stopped being just toys for collectors.

 

Agreed something went very wrong with the plastic. I Transformed him once and he's fine, but I'm nervous about ever transforming him back

 

Some people are not here 24/7 maybe?

I disagree,

While expensive, these are toys make no mistake. Not the ones you play pew pew with but toys nonetheless. Yes, they are marketed to adults, but they are supposed to be played with (as in, transform them, pose them, transform them again) I doubt the people who designed these thought: These are just display "pieces" (god I hate that term when referring to TOYS) and absolutely no one should play with them!

MP-47 is a very fine example of what a manufacturer disaster is. While the design can be stated as "complex", it has little to do when shit materials are used, period.

I have transformed MP-36 a bunch of times and other than very little to no paint scratches (the reissue) there are ZERO problems with my copy. And one can argue that MP-36's design is much more complicated than Hound's. Hell, MP-36 being released in 2020 would likely be $500.

Why the hell didn't they use the same materials? I'm truly perplexed.

Anyway, hoping for a fixed reissue and of course eagerly awaiting the next G1 MP reveal.

 

It most likely was discovered and caught both before and during production, as evidenced by some here that reported "rushed amateur fixes" of cracks and stuff out of the box.

Unfortunately, either the factory or TT themselves seems to have given the green-light to go ahead and ship out instead of halting production...

 

No, they are toys. Nothing about toys means low price, low collectibility.