The Energon Pub

[fenrir72]

Does anyone have pictures of the paint chipping issues on MP-36? I've been curious as to how bad it can actually get. Mine's on it's way in the mail, and I'm planning to keep him in robot mode and pose him. Will I run a decreased risk of chipped paint if I'm careful with my posing?

Eventually. Especially if you use the telescopic laser canon option with his stock and scope parts.

[EmirateXaaron]

Does anyone have pictures of the paint chipping issues on MP-36? I've been curious as to how bad it can actually get. Mine's on it's way in the mail, and I'm planning to keep him in robot mode and pose him. Will I run a decreased risk of chipped paint if I'm careful with my posing?

Eventually. Especially if you use the telescopic laser canon option with his stock and scope parts.

Ahhhh, I gotcha. Well, i don't really plan to use those for much else other than a stand, so hopefully I can spare myself as much chipping as I can.

[Emerje]

A big deal was made with how Amiami were "deflating" their prices with the local tax or something not really being included at all when overseas buyers get their "early bird" purchases.

Then why is it that now, after his official release, Amiami is now selling Megs at full 24840Y? Is there something here we don't know? I got mine at around 17000Y ++. What's the logic here?

What they do is make the deals look better than they really are by showing the taxed price that wouldn't be charged on exports anyway and basing their "% off" on that amount rather than showing the actual retail price and showing the less impressive percentage. Still a great deal on the final price, it's just a little deceptive in how great the deal is.

As far as the price fluctuation goes it really isn't that uncommon. Best prices go to the ones that get in earliest and when stock gets low the prices go back up. If prices are back to normal it probably means they don't have many left.

Emerje

[Sabrblade]

Does anyone know what the inside detail of MP-36's robot mode chest looks like? Like, if it has any detail resembling a spark chamber or something?

[Cyberpath]

Does anyone know what the inside detail of MP-36's robot mode chest looks like? Like, if it has any detail resembling a spark chamber or something?

@Alfes2010

Heh, just finished watching this one.

@new0rder2k












@sixo

[Jelze Bunnycat]

Does anyone know what the inside detail of MP-36's robot mode chest looks like? Like, if it has any detail resembling a spark chamber or something?

@Alfes2010

Same source as the face:

[fenrir72]

A big deal was made with how Amiami were "deflating" their prices with the local tax or something not really being included at all when overseas buyers get their "early bird" purchases.

Then why is it that now, after his official release, Amiami is now selling Megs at full 24840Y? Is there something here we don't know? I got mine at around 17000Y ++. What's the logic here?

What they do is make the deals look better than they really are by showing the taxed price that wouldn't be charged on exports anyway and basing their "% off" on that amount rather than showing the actual retail price and showing the less impressive percentage. Still a great deal on the final price, it's just a little deceptive in how great the deal is.

As far as the price fluctuation goes it really isn't that uncommon. Best prices go to the ones that get in earliest and when stock gets low the prices go back up. If prices are back to normal it probably means they don't have many left.

Emerje

There is no fluctuation. It's the same retail price that includes the tax being mentioned. Why is it not included in the charges when on PO and included post mass release?

Logically, if they have few stocks left, why not get rid of the excess inventory? But do you do that by by increasing the offered price?

[fenrir72]

Does anyone know what the inside detail of MP-36's robot mode chest looks like? Like, if it has any detail resembling a spark chamber or something?

@Alfes2010

Same source as the face:

I made a mistake calling this the tv show version. This IS the TF:The Movie 1986 version! Down to the last detail!

[Cyberpath]

@ben parfitt

@sixo

[Kurona]

I like that due to lack of extra face expressions Hot Rod is essentially looking into the camera going "get a load of THIS guy!"

[Sabrblade]

Does anyone know what the inside detail of MP-36's robot mode chest looks like? Like, if it has any detail resembling a spark chamber or something?

Is there anything further underneath that part?

[fenrir72]

@ben parfitt

@sixo

"Fall........fall......fall before the merciless mechanical might of Megatron!"

"I would have waited an eternity for this........."2 more weeks....I hope!

[Emerje]

There is no fluctuation. It's the same retail price that includes the tax being mentioned. Why is it not included in the charges when on PO and included post mass release?

The retail price is the same, but the AmiAmi price is what has been fluctuating. AmiAmi choosing to charge the full taxed price just means they're keeping that extra 8% rather than handing it over to the Tokyo government. Again, they're being deceptive, but it's their store, they can price these at 30,000 JPY if they want. Just because we got him at 17,000~ JPY doesn't mean everyone is entitled to that price.

Logically, if they have few stocks left, why not get rid of the excess inventory? But do you do that by by increasing the offered price?

Supply and demand. They know demand is high and stock is dwindling so why keep selling it at a discount? There's no rush to sell out on something that was just released a week ago. Give it a month or so and they'll sell out at full price. Mandarake just sold an unopened second hand one with a damaged box for 21,000 JPY. TFSource and BBTS are asking US$230 and they'll most likely sell out at these prices over time.

Emerje

[Ironhidensh]

Well, I have him in hand. No time to play with at the moment. I'll try and give a detailed report later, if I can, Monday at the lates .

[nycPrime]

My MP-36 sans orange plug arrived safely today from A-E. I'll post pics later.

[EmirateXaaron]

I just got my new MP-36 in the mail, and right out of the box, he has a loose ratchet on his left ankle. I can't seem to stand him up without fear of him toppling over, and I certainly can't pose him. Has anyone else had this problem, and does anyone know any potential fixes?

[nycPrime]

I just got my new MP-36 in the mail, and right out of the box, he has a loose ratchet on his left ankle. I can't seem to stand him up without fear of him toppling over, and I certainly can't pose him. Has anyone else had this problem, and does anyone know any potential fixes?

Sorry to hear. I also received mine and don't have any loose ratchets by the ankle.

[Ironhidensh]

Just an fyi, not that yours truly would ever recommend violating U.S. law, but the BBTS orange saftey plug pops right on out.



I havent fiddled much with him yet. Only took the figure out of the box, and haven't attempted the transformation yet.

Initial thoughts: robogina aside, the robot mode really looks good, from the front. No paint chips out of box, and all his joints feel nice and firm. No floppy appendages. More to come soon.

[MrBlack]

Got mine today from a US retailer, sans orange plug.

He's a good'un.

[fenrir72]

There is no fluctuation. It's the same retail price that includes the tax being mentioned. Why is it not included in the charges when on PO and included post mass release?

The retail price is the same, but the AmiAmi price is what has been fluctuating. AmiAmi choosing to charge the full taxed price just means they're keeping that extra 8% rather than handing it over to the Tokyo government. Again, they're being deceptive, but it's their store, they can price these at 30,000 JPY if they want. Just because we got him at 17,000~ JPY doesn't mean everyone is entitled to that price.

Logically, if they have few stocks left, why not get rid of the excess inventory? But do you do that by by increasing the offered price?

Supply and demand. They know demand is high and stock is dwindling so why keep selling it at a discount? There's no rush to sell out on something that was just released a week ago. Give it a month or so and they'll sell out at full price. Mandarake just sold an unopened second hand one with a damaged box for 21,000 JPY. TFSource and BBTS are asking US$230 and they'll most likely sell out at these prices over time.

Emerje

Laserwave was sold at their 17% to 20% off for months post general release, its all sold out now.

Guess Megs is more in demand by your logic that he is being sold full price + the taxes. Also, again, why sell the item at no tax prices PO then full price + taxes post general release? Would their bottom line still be achieved?

Though this might be a typo but their sold out Inferno, it is still marked as 21% off while Megs who is twice and a 1/4 the cost is now full price. If I were a businessman and already earned a profit, my priority would be to get rid of inventory and fast (their Megs stocks at present is limited to 3 per household limit at full price price tax) again this is so

[fenrir72]

Got mine today from a US retailer, sans orange plug.

He's a good'un.

Good for you brother . Good thing we are one of those not experiencing withdrawal symptoms from excessive oral ingestion of the podi

[fenrir72]

I just got my new MP-36 in the mail, and right out of the box, he has a loose ratchet on his left ankle. I can't seem to stand him up without fear of him toppling over, and I certainly can't pose him. Has anyone else had this problem, and does anyone know any potential fixes?

Is there anything broken? Is a screw loose? Do you need Floor and shine?

[EmirateXaaron]

Is there anything broken? Is a screw loose? Do you need Floor and shine?

Nothing looks broken, and the ankle looks like it's on a pin. The ratchet just moves from one position to the next with too little force, so he cant support his weight properly unless I pose him very specifically.

[fenrir72]

Is there anything broken? Is a screw loose? Do you need Floor and shine?

Nothing looks broken, and the ankle looks like it's on a pin. The ratchet just moves from one position to the next with too little force, so he cant support his weight properly unless I pose him very specifically.

So more like tolerance issue then. Try Floor and Shine in a pipette on that loose ratchet.

[Va'al]

Fellow Seibertronian Logan has taken the time to go through all the known issues and pitfalls of the latest offering in the Takara Tomy Transformers Masterpiece line: MP-36 Megatron. They have shared thoughts on all of the previously reported problems for the figure, from double faces, to paint chipping, to actual breakage, in order to help out fellow collectors - and yours truly has translated those thoughts into English. Read all about them below, and let us know if you've found anything else, or if none of these apply to you!

Some have reported double faces in the selection, but nothing like that in my box.

Paint at the base of the arm for the fusion cannon: you need to insert the weapon without sliding against the base, but directly applying pressure on the tabs. No paint chipping occurs after a number of attempts.



Overall: no paint defects, solid articulation.

The real issue is the silencer: even clipping it on with extreme caution, it chipped away some paint. Looking at it more closely, you can see the tracks in the silencer: they're not smooth, they're slightly raised and have 'cutting' edges, the real culprits for the paint chipping.



I restored the colouring with a sharpie, and took care of the cause: removed 4 screws and took out the attachment inside. The attachment is what clips to the gun's nozzle (making it harder to remove it later, which can cause the breakage) and pushes its outer side against the non-smooth parts of the silencer. So I removed the culprit (below), with the result of a silencer which is slightly less stable but with no paint chipping issues whatsoever.



The riskiest part of the transformation (which I imagine is what has lead to the legs breaking in some photos circulating online) is the bringing together of the hips to form the gun's handle: behind the hip joint, there is a screw that needs loosening a little, to ease the swinging of the parts.

There is indeed a neck, you just need to rotate the head upwards.

There are some delicate passage in the transformation from gun to robot, too, where a handy tool (screwdriver or small lever) can come in useful, as you take the same steps backwards. Transformed carefully a number of times, and no issues here.

Despite these necessary cautions, I can only welcome Megs in my home; the engineering, aesthetics, and figure overall are extremely pleasing. ^^