The Energon Pub

The only figure that I have that is reportedly prone to GPS is Transmetal Megatron. So far he is showing no sign of breakage. I was wondering if other UK collectors have any issue with GPS or maybe our god-awful climate prevents it from happening. Comments guys?

I have one even though I live in the Netherlands (close enough, right?): RiD Megabolt. You know, the gold and teal repaint? The damage is limited to a hole where the arms peg into in Emissary mode (dubbed "Tick" by my lovely wife), but I'm so scared of transforming him I'm avoiding any GPS-ailing figure like the plague. I do plan on replacing him with the original Megatron Megabolt.

I've never experienced problems with GPS, stress-fractures yeah, Gold Plastic Syndrome no, not since I've been collecting.

I had a quick look on Wiki, and the GPS phenomenon doesn't appear to be climate related. So far as they can tell, it seems to be dependent on the level of metallic fleck used and the breakdown of the polymers in the plastic itself.

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:I have one even though I live in the Netherlands (close enough, right?)

Nope. Not close enough. Damn foreigners, stay out of our affairs I don't know. Same latitude and both close to the same stretch of water but I don't know.

MightyMagnus78 wrote:I've never experienced problems with GPS, stress-fractures yeah, Gold Plastic Syndrome no, not since I've been collecting.

I had a quick look on Wiki, and the GPS phenomenon doesn't appear to be climate related. So far as they can tell, it seems to be dependent on the level of metallic fleck used and the breakdown of the polymers in the plastic itself.

All of them are made in the same place (China) so if one TM Megatron has the problem they all should. Unless it's a different batch and they didn't get the mixtures the same. Am I just lucky and got one from a good batch then?

Mykltron wrote:

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:I have one even though I live in the Netherlands (close enough, right?)

Nope. Not close enough. Damn foreigners, stay out of our affairs I don't know. Same latitude and both close to the same stretch of water but I don't know.

MightyMagnus78 wrote:I've never experienced problems with GPS, stress-fractures yeah, Gold Plastic Syndrome no, not since I've been collecting.

I had a quick look on Wiki, and the GPS phenomenon doesn't appear to be climate related. So far as they can tell, it seems to be dependent on the level of metallic fleck used and the breakdown of the polymers in the plastic itself.

All of them are made in the same place (China) so if one TM Megatron has the problem they all should. Unless it's a different batch and they didn't get the mixtures the same. Am I just lucky and got one from a good batch then?

Wiki explains this a lot better than I ever could, so I've posted the link. Hope this helps.

http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Gold_Plastic_Syndrome

Well, my Ironfist is pretty 'armless these days (arf!), and Bristleback now has individual legs.

I don't think any of my later ones are suffering. Certainly, my Transmetal Megs seems to be alright. I've noticed a far worse problem with my BW/BM: Chrome flaking. They were all OK for years, then seemingly overnight - BAM - Chrome peeled off, across the board.
AAAAND, my RiDs are losing their rubber tires. Magnus and Prime are the worst affected.

It's not like I keep them in the sun or anything (or what passes for the sun around here). They all stay in a cool, dark, dry place. Along with my Coco Pops.

The wiki article says that the breakage occurs 'when the bonding between the polymer and the dye/particles breaks down'. It also says 'There seems to be some evidence that different plastic batches were less affected, that some releases of the toys were less affected'. I didn't see anything about atmospheric conditions so I still have my theory (please take note that this is a theory, or hypothesis and has no proof) that atmospheric conditions might slow down the process.

I should also have included in the title something about rubber as my G1 and RiD tyres are all intact. AdamPrime has now put paid to that theory though!

We should all collaborate and come up with some scientific reason for these things. The tyre problem has got me stumped, man. Perhaps variations in internal house climate? My house doesn't have AC or central heating... but I'd say it maintains a constant 20 degrees. It's never damp. Not particularly dry, either...

Perhaps I did not pray hard enough to the RiD gods. I thought I did everything right, damn it! I even sacrificed Ramulus and a couple other heretics.

♪GPS in the Uk, is coming sometime, maybe♪

AdamPrime wrote:We should all collaborate and come up with some scientific reason for these things. The tyre problem has got me stumped, man. Perhaps variations in internal house climate? My house doesn't have AC or central heating... but I'd say it maintains a constant 20 degrees. It's never damp. Not particularly dry, either...

I've had bicycle tyres split out in the shed but my G1 and RiD tyres are fine. My G1 collection live in an attic for nearly 20 years and the temperature extremes in there are horrendous. It doesn't make sense.