They basically took the MP hands and de-crippled them.

 

I think the plan was to wrap up production before CNY and all the workers go home for the break. Don't know that Star Toys actually got them all done or not at this point.

With much of China running half-staffed due to COVID there is likely zero chance of any completed toys getting sent on to retailers before CNY. ShowZ mentioned earlier this week that their warehouses are short-staffed and have fill-in helpers due to COVID sidelining so many workers. It also doesn't seem like the shipping companies are moving product or making regular pick-ups. Bombusbee is likely picturing everyone going home on break and February starting off with even more workers calling in sick with COVID. If the retailers cannot even get the product until mid/end of February, then BBB/ShowZ won't be shipping until end of February. That assumes the production actually finishes before the factory needs to close for the holiday.

Yeah, I like this figure but don't think I'll have him in-hand before March. Suppose this means that Chinese reviewers could start getting copies and we may have a month of in-hand reviews before you need to decide.

 

Very helpful answer and insight, thank you. I'm in absolutely no hurry for this thing, and I'd rather the human cost be as non-existent as possible, all things considered. But yeah I could use the extra time. Hell, I've been trying to put together my XTB Menasor for over a week and things keep popping up to prevent me from doing it, then I lose my place and with that thing it just makes it take longer. All that to say...yeah no hurry.

 

Oof, not sure my one piece would take to any stampings, QC or not!  

Not if you pin across all 3. But the middle flap might be odd.  

 

then you'd have an exposed pin in the gap created by the cut

 

Just few pieces of information from the designer through his weibo.

1) The color will try to match what is shown in the cartoon.

2) The transformation is not 100% complete in the pics shown. Probably missing a couple of small steps, not sure what mode he is talking about though.

3) The tank gun can be further pulled out.

4) The tail fin can be flipped facing forward in robot mode to match the pic below.

 

Prolly gonna be a pass for me. The hyper accurate cartoony look may very well be what a lot of fans around here want, and it's even what I used to think that I wanted as well. But overtime I look at Takara's masterpieces and I've started to detect just a hint of stylized modernization that makes the bots look better than the show. This figure ejects that sentiment for show accuracy to a fault. Or to its credit? I'm sure it'll be a great figure. It just isn't a figure for me.

 

People have done it with SS86 Ironhide, take out the pin, cut the flap and reinstall. Although that was helped that their was clearly molding for a 3 part piece rather than for 1.

 

It is though...

 

Wow. Totally compelling argument you have there 

 

Let's see if FT is ever coming out with a real product, untill then... yeah its a definite FT killer

 

So it killed a product that(in your opinion) wasnt ever coming out to begin with? Keep reaching.

 

I also heard that Star Toys brought down Maketoys, Wei Jiang, Lehman Brothers and possibly the Roman Empire. They also framed Roger Rabbit!

 

This looks really good. Best looking Blitzwing to date IMO. I don't collect 3p MPs but I hope this paves the way for NA to start making triple changers.

 

Now if only ShowZ would put out its final price on this so that I can secure the funds for it.

 

A Blitzwing in hand beats two in the bush.

 

That's the more interesting part of the whole design

 

We already covered this

 

I don't know, I kind of like it. It's not accurate, but it looks cool.

 

This, and the insistence of horizontal tailfins, show that some people still look at things trying to be show accurate and say that it should be less accurate. SMH.