The Energon Pub

Andrius wrote:There's a huge difference between the Wreck-Gar/Junkion mold and the rest of the things on this list -- if you transform it properly, it will NEVER break.

I was being careful with mine and it still broke. Granted, I bought it loose so it could be that the previous owner stressed it enough that normal use would do the job. I did find this on the wiki though:

Pulling up on the gas tank during transformation causes his rubber handlebars to be dislodged and moved to the side. Do NOT unhinge the handlebars manually: doing so creates stress points in the hinges that connect them to the gas tank, resulting in many reported instances of breakage. Unfortunately, many have found that the nubs that hold the handlebars in place in bike mode are too strong, and even using the automorph as intended causes damage. Cutting the nubs off has been the only consistent fix to prevent breakage. Wreck-Gar is also sadly prone to stress marks and potential fractures in his hands and helmet-horns.

Andrius wrote:There's a huge difference between the Wreck-Gar/Junkion mold and the rest of the things on this list -- if you transform it properly, it will NEVER break. The others all have weak plastic or design defects, but the Junkion mold is durable, as long as you're cautious and don't rush the subtle auto-transform effect.

I must have 25 of these, between the various incarnations, exclusives, and plenty of duplicates, and not a single one has broken.

Ditto. I've never understood this one. I know there are a lot that have broken, I acknowledge this, but I think this is one case that's overblown.

Autobot N wrote:You forgot EVERY CONSTRUCT-BOT EVER.

I've heard of this, especially with those that kids played with a lot. The joints on them just aren't meant for repeated assembly/dismantling, which is pretty bad since that's the entire point of the line.

Noideaforaname wrote:Immediately thought of this bot:
(RotF Scalpel)
Every single ball joint cracked out of package! How I wish they made a simple Legends figure for him...

Mine took awhile to have all his legs fall off due to the ball joints cracking, but this one's definitely fragile as heck.

Deathsanras wrote:

:sigh: Yep, I've had this happen. Not the hardest thing to fix, but it's always a bummer to have G1 guys break. Speaking of...

LOST Cybertronian wrote:I would think that mp Megatron should get an honorable mention. Definitely made me cry at least. Not sure it's fair to include a couple of figures that suffer from GPS when there are many more figures that suffer also.

Yeah that was weird to me. Feels like anything ever with GPS would be number 1. Something like Prowl/Bluestreak/Smokescreen/Jazz windows breaking is super duper common, as is, for some reason, Sinnertwin's head breaking off inside of Hun-Grr. I can't complain too much though, I know where to go to give input for these and didn't do so

I have an RTS Bumblebee that was my pride and joy ( It was the only one I had ever found in stores) and one day while trying to tighten his shoulder joint, the shoulder froze up completely and, whilst trying to get it to move again, had the entire arm break off Wasn't really the figure's fault though xD

I found that Transmetal Beast Wars Megatron in a charity shop last year. Was completely intact with no problems at all. Sold it on ebay sometime later cos I didn't really like it.


Every G1 Hot Rod I ever owned snapped the damn windshield/spoiler part off. Sometimes the hood/head part came off too.

Also the similar roof pieces on Jazz and Smokescreen. I had two of each of those and they both broke in the same places. Same as the Prowl pics you have above.

I know that a lot of G1 Metroplexs snap at the waist but I had mine for about 20 years with no problems.

Also the first Masterpiece Optimus Prime had a leg fall off. It sullied the entire brand for me and the few times I've dipped my wallet into Masterpiece line have always resulted in disappointment/anger/bad-luck. But that's fine cos it's rare that any of them appeal to me anyways but you'd think with the amount they cost they could at least build them to last...

I haven't had any breakages with any of my movie or Generations toys. Whether cos they're made a bit more smarter (with parts that pop off rather than completely break) or I'm just more careful these days I don't know but I'm thankful. Had that Wreck-Gar for a while and didn't have a problem with the handlebars.

Two out of the five happened to me. Wreck-gar and Transmetal Megatron.

g1 pretender sky hammer was the first toy i experienced GPS with. I was quite shocked when it happened as I wasn't aware of the issue at the time of breakage!

i suffered breakage on wreck gar and starscream mp3 (thumb and null ray)

had a generations hoist that is jammed (QA issue i reckon) and generations legend class hot rod was problematic too.

but my personal unholy triumvirate of breakage prone transformers is as follows -

g1 countdown - you'll be hard pressed to find one where peg connectors didn't snap off the detachable turrets.

g1 sky stalker - countdown's counterpart. His wings' hinges were very prone to stressing and ultimately breakage

g1 powermaster prime. I had 3 in all as a kid! The first 2 broke in the same place - the cab post connector.

Basically whenever a post plugged in snuggly and the play pattern lead kids to pivot it (like the cab in prime's case or the turret in countdown's case), it would cause them to snap

Andrius wrote:There's a huge difference between the Wreck-Gar/Junkion mold and the rest of the things on this list -- if you transform it properly, it will NEVER break. The others all have weak plastic or design defects, but the Junkion mold is durable, as long as you're cautious and don't rush the subtle auto-transform effect.

That is very interesting. Do the handlebars on yours go back to sticking straight out on their own during the change to bike mode?
Honestly, the only way I know to get them back in place without forcing the nubs past hard plastic is to manually turn them both while simultaneously sliding the headlight fairing forward. Which is why I think of it as a 3-4 handed job, or at least one that calls for way more manual dexterity than an ages 5+ toy should.

My RotF Scalpel is perfectly fine and I haven't been that gentle either. One of my biggest disappointments was when my Animated Swindle's hip broke. That clear plastic looks great but is not functional at all.

frogbat wrote:g1 pretender sky hammer was the first toy i experienced GPS with. I was quite shocked when it happened as I wasn't aware of the issue at the time of breakage!

i suffered breakage on wreck gar and starscream mp3 (thumb and null ray)

had a generations hoist that is jammed (QA issue i reckon) and generations legend class hot rod was problematic too.

but my personal unholy triumvirate of breakage prone transformers is as follows -

g1 countdown - you'll be hard pressed to find one where peg connectors didn't snap off the detachable turrets.

g1 sky stalker - countdown's counterpart. His wings' hinges were very prone to stressing and ultimately breakage

g1 powermaster prime. I had 3 in all as a kid! The first 2 broke in the same place - the cab post connector.

Basically whenever a post plugged in snuggly and the play pattern lead kids to pivot it (like the cab in prime's case or the turret in countdown's case), it would cause them to snap

I'm sad because I've had nearly all these figures plus the ones on the list, plus a Metroplex, except the MPs. Thankfully, not a Black Zarak or SKY Stalker.

This list makes me sad.

kurthy wrote:
This list makes me sad.

At least we can cry together, your sadness is shared by all of us

kurthy wrote:
I'm sad because I've had nearly all these figures plus the ones on the list, plus a Metroplex, except the MPs. Thankfully, not a Black Zarak or SKY Stalker.

This list makes me sad.

add mirage and the original constructicons to my list Guess I was quite rough with my toys, though mirage wasn't my doing.. some other kid had done the deed

frogbat wrote:g1 countdown - you'll be hard pressed to find one where peg connectors didn't snap off the detachable turrets.


g1 powermaster prime. I had 3 in all as a kid! The first 2 broke in the same place - the cab post connector.

I had Countdown. Sold some years ago but was in almost mint condition with absolutely no breakages and barely even yellowing of the white plastic. I kinda miss it now.


I still have my Powermaster Optimus Prime. No breakages there either. Just sometimes Hi-Q can be a bit resistant staying in Prime's chest without popping right out and hitting me in the face.

How could you leave out animated black arachnias grappling hook? Should've put the 2 gold guys together like the MPs and included the hook.

But anyway ill never forget the day my MP Hot Rod broke: i was playing deus ex human revolution and out of nowhere there was a loud pop then the sound of clashing plastic, said to my self "what the hell was that?" looked around saw nothing knocked over was a bit confused so i started inspecting each of my shelves trying to figure out who fell over. I finally noticed Hot Rod had no arm, it was lying next to wheeljack on the other side of the shelf. Was a very sad day for me, not only did one of my favorite figures break for no reason but it was the first of two instances that has made me stave off MPs forever.

TM Megatron breaking is another sad moment, i played the hell out of that figure as a kid and never had any issues, his transmetal parts are still in perfect condition and had no wear at all. About 6 years ago i decided to put it on display and it shattered in my hands as i was transforming it. Friend gave me an extra one he got in a lot off ebay and it to broke as i was transforming it, attempted to take parts from each and make a whole one but yet again more breakage, i gave up after that.

Nice list guys!

Here's mine:
1. Black Zarak: just too expensive and too rare. I can't imagine shelling out a fortune only to open up the box and fine disintegrated plastic.

2. MP Rodimus Prime: another one I'm thankful I've never owned but the horror stories are too numerous

3. G1 Headmasters: From the arms of the Headmasters breaking off (the ball joint itself would break off) to the guns being to tight in the fists and other places.

4. G1 Metroplex: the waist on early models would easily snap, but it's required to get into city mode. And again, this was one of the most expensive regular retail releases.

5. BW Transmetal Megatron: I wish I had known about GPS when I bought both him and G2 Slingshot when I was a teenager. So many stress points with thin plastic.

Honorable Mentions: G1 Sky Stalker (using the gimmick breaks him), BW Optimal Optimus (the back pack), G1 Powermaster Optimus Prime (the trailer hitch, the too tight guns). Sadly, I can't think of any problems with Unicron trilogy or Animated. Not to mention, so many of those have been major retail releases that have flooded the market. I've experienced a lot of factory issues with the Classic Seekers, but nothing that broke while I was playing with it.

you forgot G1 megatron always had issue breaking at the pivot waist
most G1 autobot cars with the windshield head section
always forget the most obvious

Ultra Markus wrote:you forgot G1 megatron always had issue breaking at the pivot waist
most G1 autobot cars with the windshield head section
always forget the most obvious

But if I did, I wouldnt get your comments. Plus my G1 Megatron is fine. And the autobot cars are in the article at the end

Energon Shockblast. Poor, poor Shockblast and his appallingly designed waist. With a massive electronics-stuffed lump of gun for an arm and a waist that literally consists of a single, tiny hinge, attached to two extremely tight ratchets. He won't stand up in anything other than a stock still pose because he'll just slump over at the hinge, and the torque placed on the hinge from transforming him or rotating his waist will stress it until eventually the poor guy just breaks clean in half. Had his waist had a locking mechanism it would have at least eased the problem (though really that joint should have been made of die-cast).

I remember when my RTS Wreck-Gar broke. Man did that suck. Thankfully, it broke before the other repaints were available so I knew not to buy them when they came out. Saved some money and some heartache.

I had a G2 Electro still on card and i had to open it and transform him, I just HAD to. It was a real edge of my seat high tension sweat fest transforming him and praying to anybody who would listen to not let this figure crumble in my hands while i take such a stupid risk with this gold plastic gem.
Some divine entity was listening to me that day and Electro still is in one piece. I even put him back into alt mode.

The most delicate i've every handled and they both broke on me was BeastWars Soundwave. He's all sorts of GPS scariness.

BW Neo Randy... That epic combination of GPS and tensed spring in the packaged beast-mode... I don't even want to disturb his box, I have a horrible feeling the plastic tray is the only thing stopping him exploding.

william-james88 wrote:

Ultra Markus wrote:you forgot G1 megatron always had issue breaking at the pivot waist
most G1 autobot cars with the windshield head section
always forget the most obvious

But if I did, I wouldnt get your comments. Plus my G1 Megatron is fine. And the autobot cars are in the article at the end

ive had two megatrons break at that point the one i got when i was 8 and one that i bought years later

william-james88 wrote:

Ultra Markus wrote:you forgot G1 megatron always had issue breaking at the pivot waist
most G1 autobot cars with the windshield head section
always forget the most obvious

But if I did, I wouldnt get your comments. Plus my G1 Megatron is fine. And the autobot cars are in the article at the end

ive had two megatrons break at that point the one i got when i was 8 and one that i bought years later
oops double post

Can definitely vouch for G1 Metroplex. When we were kids my brother, a friend and 2 cousins had 4 Metroplexes between them and they all broke at the waist.

I've had Device Label Tigatron, Cheetus and Ravage all have their lower jaw break. It's a pity because it's my favourite Ravage mold ever. I ended up buying a 2nd Tigatron as I loved it so much.
Cheetus broke within minutes of opening.

Is it just the Transmetal Megatron that has that problem? I have its repaint Predacon and 12 years later he's fine.

Headmaster Nebulans. My Lord Zarak and Krunk both lost arms.

william-james88 wrote:5. Transformers Reveal The Shield Wreck-Gar

This is one of the best robot modes around and a really smart cool motorcycle transformer. Except there is one slight issue: he will break if you play with him too much! And it sucks too, it's one of the motorbike's handlebars, which then makes the sweet bike mold look totally uneven. And the added play value of having another Junkion ride the motorcycle kind of becomes moot since his bike is now inoperable. The sad fact about this breakage is that it will happen regardless of if you use it properly, just normal wear and tear will do the trick (though not transforming properly will make it happen sooner). You can't glue it back on because it is part of an automorph gimmick which also gets crushed when the handlebar breaks. So while he can still transform, your handlebar will never get back there and cant be fixed.

Mine never did that.

The entire lower leg cracked off instead.

MGrotusque wrote:The most delicate i've every handled and they both broke on me was BeastWars Soundwave. He's all sorts of GPS scariness.

That one hurts every time.