Would you pay more for Modern Diecast/Rubber Tires?

I was going over my Classics collection recently and even though i love them, I cant ever see them replacing the original G1 toys simply because of quality. I couldnt help but think they are still just modern cheap plastic. I would like them so much more if they had diecast parts like the old stuff.

So i got thinking, would you pat more for modern figures if they had diecast metal parts like G1 figures? Personally, I would. I would pick my purchases better since they would cost more, and I would feel better about those purchases knowing the figures are of better quality and will last longer, i mean look how long most G1 figures have lasted. I cant see most Classics lasting that long. '

Anyway, thinking outloud. Discuss!

 

No. I'm not a huge fan of Die-Cast in my toys. I don't think the few pieces of metal would make the toy that much more durable. In fact, I would worry about un-needed stress to joints.

 

Heck no. I've mentioned this before, there is very little benefit to diecast beyond its implied sense of quality through weight. Die cast is made from cheap zinc-based metals that are prone to breakage and paint chipping.

Modern plastics are incredibly robust, and are much more likely to surivie wear and tear because they are able to bend and flex. Because plastics can be cast in color, you don't have to worry about paint finishes as much.

 

good thoughts, I hadnt thought about the paint issue. I was mainly thinking for larger outside shell pieces, not smal intricate parts, but I see the point. I guess the old toys just feel of better quality than most newer ones, and the diecast seems to be part of that. Maybe it wouldnt help newer ones...

 

I don't think so, it just doesn't work for posable figures. I wish Alternity Prime didn't have diecast, I would of kept him.

 

I should add that die cast toys do seem to have much nicer paintjobs, even on the old G1 toys, which can make them pretty great for display but not play. I don't know if that's conditional to the kind of paint manufacturers have to use on metal, or if it's simply not worth it to apply it to plastics.

 

24 years ago I would have said yes since the 86 figures were starting to feel cheap and look silly...but today, no. All you get with diecast is paint chipping and floppiness. See the 6" Titanium line...

 

As long as they weren't like the Titanium line, sure.

However, I'd rather the new deluxe cars have rubber wheels.

 

^My thoughts exactly

 

Rubber wheels is a good one, those kinds of additions to modern toys I would pay extra for!

 

I think MP Prime is a good example of modern diecast, it feels nice and heavy, quality wise it feels better, and the combination of metal, chrome and rubber tires give it that G1 quality feel,

 

Compare Alternators with Binaltech's. I've been told the Binaltech's paint chips a lot more on the die-cast where as the plastic ones last longer.

 

the toys now are actually made of stronger plastics. and designed to be more durable. you manage to pry an arm off a G1 figure, it's done. broken. but with most modern figures? pop it back on.

and even if they could get it right to where the metal wasnt causing weight issues, durability issues, and it didnt have paint flaking off like mad during the complex modern transformations, and they could actually mold it and paint it with the sharp detail to get it to look as good as the same part done in colored plastic, not to mention getting around the "need to engineer more complex mechanical joints to do the same thing a ball joint can do because heavy metal parts don't play well with ball joints"...

you said exactly why they wouldnt bother with it in your first post:

G1 figures give a false impression of superior quality due to their weight and lack of posability. that's all it is.

with those heavy legs being held up by plastic ball joints that can't keep him standing straight, and his overall heft making it dangerous to leave him in any pose that isnt standing straight up. not to mention those delicious paint chips, and die-cast molding problems making it rare for his chest windows to actually sit straight.

I think the ONLY good example of modern diecast use is the MP seeker mold. it's used exclusively for structural support, and in a way that it doesnt interfere with anything.

 

and the paint chips like crazy. Mine was chipped before I even removed it from the box .

 

Rubber wheels is an interesting one. While I'd definitely be in favor of those in concept, I'm not sure how successful they're be in reality. All of the toys I have and have had with rubber wheels are die cast and fairly heavy. My unscientific impression is that the rubber would not benefit lightweight plastic vehicles much because they lack the inertia to take advantage of the grip and smooth rolling you get with heavier toys on rubber. Shrugs.

I would be concerned about rubber tires cracking.

 

Diecast sucks. Some of the Titanium figures might have been decent if it wasn't for the shitty diecast. And modern Transformers are not "cheap plastic." They're definitely built to better quality than G1.

 

i think the Titanium line is not at all what im suggesting, I think that was an OVERuse of diecast..

 

Big NO to die-cast.

 

I wouldn't mind seeing a little diecast here and there on some modern TFs, but not enough to pay more for it. I would pay an little extra for rubber tires though.