I stopped doing that step, the fins dont really lock into those slots and merely picking the figure up causes them to fall out.
Not sure if this helps at all, but having the tail rotor like this helps massively. This was posted a few pages back and it helps a lot. You do have to get that back bit at an angle to line everything up a bit is fidgety, but it works
Notice how the top rotor blades are tucked into the body from the back at an angle and partially embedded/hidden. Also notice how the red part on top of the vertical stabilizer fits into a cutout on the right side of the body. If everything is aligned properly, it’ll enable the fuel tank taps to spot into the backpack and the main rotors to fit more flush against the back. The tabs that hold Scorponok keep the rotors from flopping/swaying out of place sideways:
Not sure this is an intended thing man. In retrospect I was doing exactly that , but your post made it sound like they snapped in place somewhere. The blades still swing outwardly at will.
I couldn’t get the backpack to stay up with the fuel tank fins nor get the main rotors to stay apart with the Scorponok attachment tabs without doing what I did. The hub at the top of the figure is pushed as far as it can go along with the spine too. If it’s not intentional, the backpack doesn’t stay up if I don’t use this method so I don’t see why it wouldn’t be intentional. When I don’t use the method I described, there’s too much clearance between the back and the main rotors so that the tabs to attach Scorponok cannot keep the main rotor blades apart, the main rotor blades will merely sway/hover over those tabs. The main outer rotor blades can swing out of place but they don’t flop outwards on mine. When I described the rotors staying in place after compressing everything and having the Scorponok tabs keep the blades apart, it keeps the blades from swinging inwards. Before I did all this the main rotor blades were swaying inwards all the time over the Scorponok tabs.
It's a very weak connection, but I did find the magic angle to get the two side bits tabbed in and it is holding the backpack up. If I so much as try to pose one of his limbs it'll surely pop out but it's enough to get him posed and left alone on the shelf. Disappointing that it's so poorly fitting but it's not the worst MPM I've gotten. Still cool overall and his chopper mode works great. The tip about angling the rotors inwards was also helpful because they absolutely don't fit any other way on mine. Stuff is too loose and it they end up bending from external pressure.
Hm... Including the one I borrowed from my friend, I've handled 3 so far and all the backpack connections are really solid. Maybe you haven't pressed hard enough?
The two tabs should not come undone if you have everything tabbed together correctly. As for the fins on the fuel tanks that slot into the fuselage pieces, yes they will come out if you pose the arms, but that’s not a flaw. Those are meant to move in case you wanna rotate the shoulders up or whatever else. The slots are just intended to give clearance for the fins in a neutral position; the actual securing of the tanks is done by the hooks underneath the exhausts
Thank you for the comments everyone. I think I'm starting to get to the bottom of this. I'm not certain if I was missing that click before, but I checked again now to be sure and I am getting that click. That part of the backpack is okay. Here's an image of what I'm dealing with now: This is with the two tabs on the side pressed in firmly. Once released the joint relaxes and you can see they naturally pull away from the slots. Those particular pieces seem to be naturally angled outwards which is what creates that super weak connection. Luckily I now notice that the bottom of those pieces are actually pinned by the dark plastic hinge at the base of the long piece that tabs into the shoulder fins. So I think that connection can be considered sturdy enough. This is also the first time I've gotten it entirely lined up such that the shoulder fins can tab in. I think my actual problem is that I haven't been able to get the rotor to fit anywhere, and it was catching on the shoulder which was adding extra downward pressure to this entire backpack piece, which is what was stopping me from easily reaching the two side tabs or the shoulder fin tabs. You may notice the only reason I was able to get it put together like this is because I have the whole tail spun out of the way. So my only challenge now is getting the trail properly folded and the rotors positioned such that they don't press the backpack apart. I've tried getting it in here straight up and down, and also at an angle, but both ways put extra pressure on the shoulder and stop the fin from tabbing in. Consequently this also further pulls the inner tab apart on the right side.
I've followed an earlier tip about angling the rotors so the top of them points toward the head and I think I finally got it
It’s awesome to have two to be able to display in both forms! When you see them side by side like that it really makes you appreciate the engineering artistry even more. What the “JP one”? Could you share a link to what you’re referring to?
Oh, I mean the Japanese release. Should be the same figure with no differences. But sometimes they change stuff. https://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/B0B5SRY2JD/
Eh we have almost a year long wait till it’s revealed, bit early to be getting antsy for it. It’ll be brawl or bonecrusher.