Translucent plastic syndrome

Discussion in 'Transformers Toy Discussion' started by Tfcollector97, Dec 1, 2020.

  1. Tfcollector97

    Tfcollector97 tfsomegaguy

    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2020
    Posts:
    918
    News Credits:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    172
    Likes:
    +2,871
    Ebay:
    Facebook:
    Twitter:
    Instagram:
    Flickr:
    YouTube (Legacy):
    Tumblr:
    Pinterest:
    A running problem i’ve with recent translucent tf figures is that they eventually break what are some of your experience with translucent plastic syndrome (I remembered somebody coming up with it)

    • Soundbarrier: leg broke off after a few weeks of transformation.
    • Cyberverse prime Abominus giftset: was stable at first but then blights beast mode head broke off, twinstrikes hand jaws broke off after placing weapons in, hun gurrs thumbs broke off, windrazors leg broke off and so did his bottom beak, rippersnapper survived this madness but I eventually lost his head
    • Studio series barricade: the car hood ball joint broke.
    • Tr scourge and hardhead: both of their wind shield translucent pieces broke off .
     
  2. Maximus Danz

    Maximus Danz Trying to achieve something

    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2018
    Posts:
    14,940
    News Credits:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    277
    Location:
    The Danz Cave, Swearth
    Likes:
    +34,224
    Siege Prowl's Leg shattered into a 1,000 little pieces.
     
  3. JJJ

    JJJ Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2018
    Posts:
    3,775
    News Credits:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    222
    Location:
    Australia's dead heart
    Likes:
    +6,300
    Never had an issue. Don't know of any particular reason for clear plastic to be more fragile than coloured plastic. But you'll hear it endlessly damned around here.
     
    • Like Like x 5
  4. The13Primes

    The13Primes hot shot fanatic

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2014
    Posts:
    5,026
    News Credits:
    16
    Trophy Points:
    247
    Likes:
    +4,823
    I’ve had no issues over the past 15 years

    you are all obviously to rough
     
    • Like Like x 8
  5. halo4361

    halo4361 Float like a butterfly, sting like a manta ray

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2014
    Posts:
    759
    Trophy Points:
    172
    Location:
    Big Money Salvia City
    Likes:
    +1,146
    My RID01 Prowl's hip wing snapped off years ago. I've never got around to replacing him. There's also my POTP Swoop and Grimlock. Swoop's dino foot snapped off and the locking mechanism on Grimlock's shoulders for torso mode broke too. God that idea was stupid. I'm aware the originals had clear plastic but that doesn't mean it's a good idea or worth repeating. Luckily for me I think the whole combiner's lacking nowadays anyway so I don't really care anymore.
     
  6. Junkmech

    Junkmech Mouthplate Enthusiast

    Joined:
    May 15, 2019
    Posts:
    2,208
    News Credits:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    222
    Likes:
    +6,914
    Ebay:
    Twitter:
    While I've never had issues myself, translucent plastic tends to be more brittle and less flexible than nontranslucent plastics. Also, I think people perceive them as weaker because they show stress marks much more clearly than solid plastics.
     
    • Like Like x 2
  7. Purple Heart

    Purple Heart Some other time..

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2011
    Posts:
    36,689
    News Credits:
    22
    Trophy Points:
    392
    Likes:
    +60,056
    Very careful with my figures. Both versions of the AOE Optimus mold had their grills snap in half. TR Weirdwolf’s cockpit, like many. And most recently one of my Soundbarriers balljoints.
     
  8. atomD21

    atomD21 Not made of sterner stuff...

    Joined:
    Mar 23, 2014
    Posts:
    4,975
    Trophy Points:
    262
    Location:
    The Buckeye State
    Likes:
    +13,756
    I had the hood ball joint for SS Barricade break too, YOTG Soundwave had a peg shear right off with normal transformation, and my Siege Mirage has cracks all over his legs. I really don't trust clear plastic.
     
  9. Pravus Prime

    Pravus Prime Wields Mjolnir!

    Joined:
    Jul 3, 2002
    Posts:
    18,847
    News Credits:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    387
    Likes:
    +8,061
    I've been lucky so far with modern translucent Transformers (and I'll admit to being concerned with Amazon Siege Mirage), but I've an abundance of horror stories about other figures over time; perhaps the pinnacle of which is Mattel's MOTUC Green Goddess who shattered into half a dozen pieces just opening the box, so I'm quite cautious around translucent figures.
     
  10. Dachande

    Dachande MULTI-QUOTE- USE IT. Super Mod

    Joined:
    Sep 17, 2008
    Posts:
    52,181
    News Credits:
    21
    Trophy Points:
    467
    Location:
    South Central PA
    Likes:
    +144,024
    Oh gads, please, no more "syndromes".

    The only clear plastic I have had issue with are Wolfwire's canopy and SS Barricade's hood/roof.
    The rest have been fine.
    I usually take more care when I see clear plastic used for joints, but otherwise I haven't had issues.
     
    • Like Like x 12
  11. ziltama

    ziltama Mods, molds, and casts. Also full of hot gas.

    Joined:
    Jul 3, 2019
    Posts:
    11,541
    News Credits:
    25
    Trophy Points:
    277
    Location:
    Planet Unicron
    Likes:
    +55,880
    Soundbarrier’s issue is not from the plastic but from the design. Someone high thought it was a good idea to put square corner hips next to a flat surface.
     
    • Like Like x 7
  12. KFGatri

    KFGatri Madman with a Blue Box

    Joined:
    Aug 9, 2012
    Posts:
    8,091
    Trophy Points:
    287
    Location:
    Folcroft PA
    Likes:
    +21,073
    Ebay:
    [​IMG]

    ANd on topic, I've never experienced it first-hand, but I do worry about it. I really wish Hasbro would just do painted windows or at least not use the clear plastic for joints and connectors.
     
    • Like Like x 17
  13. ophyjgjhnfn

    ophyjgjhnfn Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2018
    Posts:
    784
    News Credits:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    182
    Likes:
    +792
    I've got the Legends Micron Unicron so... matter of time?
     
  14. AximusPrime

    AximusPrime Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2004
    Posts:
    794
    Trophy Points:
    262
    Likes:
    +1,426
    YouTube (Legacy):
    Any issues that seem to be happening seems more like an issue with engineering or perhaps with that specific formulation of plastic. I have two small children who have toys with clear plastic parts that are still intact and they are by no means gentle when they play.
     
  15. Fenrys

    Fenrys Formerly Tigatron2002

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2002
    Posts:
    60,349
    News Credits:
    9
    Trophy Points:
    492
    Location:
    Virginia, United States
    Likes:
    +124,517
    Not everything needs to be a syndrome. There is no such thing as Translucent Plastic Syndrome, there is no such thing as Cheap Hollow Plastic Syndrome and Gold Plastic Syndrome is a wildly incorrect name. In my 30ish years of collecting I have never had the Translucent or Transparent plastic break on a figure and have only ever seen 1 example of GPS in person (TM Megatron's leg just snapped on mine one day).
     
    • Like Like x 5
  16. cagey

    cagey Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 29, 2010
    Posts:
    319
    Trophy Points:
    127
    Location:
    Japan
    Likes:
    +23
    I bit the bullet on a commemorative Hoist G1 I’d been watching from bbts and am wondering about his shoulders (which are L/R windows to the cab).

    Wondering if I should reinforce with clear model paint or clear nail polish, or even a line of super glue.

    Anyone try this to preemptively strengthen those potential trouble spots??
     
    • Like Like x 1
  17. SPLIT LIP

    SPLIT LIP Be strong enough to be gentle

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2005
    Posts:
    97,679
    News Credits:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    462
    Location:
    agile house
    Likes:
    +98,699
    Instagram:
    Is this really a "syndrome?" Clear plastic is naturally more brittle, I thought this was common knowledge. (or rather, clear plastic lacks the flexibility of opaque plastics, meaning it can't endure the same stresses if used for friction joints like ball sockets. It won't just randomly crack if used as an in-set piece)

    I wouldn't. Clear plastic can actually be weakened if something like the solvents in glue come into contact with it. I don't know if the kind used in Hoist would, but honestly since he's not historically known for breaking, I'd leave it be.

    I tried, and failed, to glue my Energon Starscream's right elbow hinge back after it cracked, and ended up causing the whole thing to disintegrate.
     
    • Like Like x 2
  18. Fafnir72

    Fafnir72 XYxInfinity

    Joined:
    May 16, 2009
    Posts:
    7,402
    News Credits:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    287
    Location:
    Heart of a neutron star
    Likes:
    +11,414
    Nope. OG Beastwars BigConvoy left shoulder socket part broke off from being displayed. The arm was carrying nothing of weight.

    Prowl2 blue color shoulder joint just broke. Veeeery careful handling.
     
  19. Fenrys

    Fenrys Formerly Tigatron2002

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2002
    Posts:
    60,349
    News Credits:
    9
    Trophy Points:
    492
    Location:
    Virginia, United States
    Likes:
    +124,517
    Weird, my Sonokong Big Convoy is still all in one piece
     
  20. Fafnir72

    Fafnir72 XYxInfinity

    Joined:
    May 16, 2009
    Posts:
    7,402
    News Credits:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    287
    Location:
    Heart of a neutron star
    Likes:
    +11,414
    I used that as a replacement part. Mine is the JP version. Since they are flipped (R) shoulder, I now use the "solid" arm part to the busted left. Btw, the Sonokong I got was the dozens of loose no box from ebay.

    Take a look. Got the bruiser waaaaaaaaay back in 2004

    20201211_225717.jpg

    I now have a spare transparent shoulder in storage.
     
    Last edited: Dec 11, 2020
    • Like Like x 2