The Energon Pub

by **xtremeclimber** » Thu Sep 15, 2011 11:10 pm

I've read and watched a few reviews of the TRU Rodimus and all have been pretty positive. I really dont get it. I ended up finding 4 at the local toys r us. I picked up one and my friend picked up one. Out of the box pieces were already falling off. My friend had a plastic piece break the first time he transformed it. So we went and took ours back, I got a refund he picked up the last one. The lady had said that the fourth one was purchased and brought back earlier that day. Friend took his home manage to transform the thing only to have panels coming off on the legs. Needless to say he took his back again.

So in the end of the 4 that were originally on the shelves all were returned. So out of curiosity I called the other 2 TRU to see if they were having the same issue. Sadly both had said the same thing that they had noticed that over the week each place had received 3 to 4 returns because of pieces breaking.

My point is that this is a toy meant to be played with not a collectors item only meant to be displayed in a box on a shelf, and for 60.00 bucks I think they could've put a little more effort into making the figure practical and functional. As for people reviewing them maybe you should put being a fan aside and review these based on quality.

and for the record this isn't my first masterpiece figure. But it was by far the worst quality.

News Credits: 12 · by **robofreak** » Thu Sep 15, 2011 11:46 pm

Not sure what's up with yours. My Rodimus has been just fine.

He can be delicate, but he's way more stable than MP Starscream. At least I'm not afraid to transform Rodimus unlike Starscream.

by **dinogeist** » Fri Sep 16, 2011 12:32 am

I suspose with certain updated homage new molds based off generation one 1980's toys/characters. you really had to be grow up in that era & had the originals.

I always loved the 1986 movie/season 3 rodimus prime/hot rod character & toys as I grew up with them.

Personally from my stand point on the MP Rodimus toy. I don't see the toy being that fragile. it's got hard high quality thick plastic & joint technology similar to the AEC TF toys.

From my stand point these MP TF toys are meant for experienced adult or at the very least older teenager fans. I wouldn't reccomend putting these MP TF toys in the hands of kids under the age of 10.

buying returned TF toys at a store that were opened then re-sealed is not something i'd reccomend doing.

these days if a new TF toy i buy even slightly looks complicated to transformers. I watch a few u-tube videos of fellow fans transforming the toy.

by **xtremeclimber** » Fri Sep 16, 2011 12:48 am

I don't have a problem at all with the character Rodimus. Although I'll admit he's not one of my favorites or anywhere close, he's still kinda cool. I'm 27 so i can respect the cartoon and the characters.

I can also agree that the masterpieces are not designed for for small children, but still. If you look at the small clips that snap onto the legs on the rear of the car, they are sooooo thin that, at some point they are going to break. I have had some transformers in the past that were just junk with pieces falling off as soon as the package was opened, but those were cheaper and it was as simple as taking it back and grabbing another. Seriously though when there are 4 released and all 4 are returned not only at my local TRU but 2 others, that's a quality control issue. I've got masterpiece skywarp, which is basically a repaint of starscream, not a single piece comes off when transforming.

by **Motorthing** » Fri Sep 16, 2011 3:21 am

Gess I've been lucky with mine then. He's a pain to transform right but it's been done back and forth a few times without mishap - not my fave MP though and I will agree some of the holding tags on the legs don't look like they would take much to snap off.

News Credits: 2 · by **AdamPrime** » Fri Sep 16, 2011 3:57 am

I do not fear breaking my MP Rodimus. I've transformed him and posed him many, many times and he's not in danger of breaking.

There are parts that are delicate, or will break if mishandled. But that is true of many things; windows, computer equipment, spectacles, statues, cameras, mugs. Yet I own all these things, and have never broken any of them, nor do I live in constant calamity or fear. ^_^

Be gentle with Rodders, treat him like a toy you just spent £60 on: with care and attention.

News Credits: 9 · by **Mykltron** » Fri Sep 16, 2011 5:53 am

I've played with mine loads and he's fine. Maybe the Hasbro one has inferior plastic, mine is the original.

News Credits: 2 · by **AdamPrime** » Fri Sep 16, 2011 6:03 am

I don't think the plastic is inferior, Mykltron, although I've never compared the two. It feels as solid as anything I've bought from Takara. Much better than Hasbro MP Starscream, at least!

Certainly, the paint and deco is cheaper. The grey plastic seems to be quite soft- perhaps this is deliberate to avoid the 'weak ankle' problem.

by **tmk9883** » Fri Sep 16, 2011 7:35 am

Mine seems ok, but you definitely need to practice patience with it. I definitely wouldnt give it to a kid who is more used to more durable toys.

Im more of the leave on a shelf type of collector so all my figures have zero wear on them.

News Credits: 10 · by **Lapse Of Reason** » Fri Sep 16, 2011 10:58 am

I have both the Takara and Hasbro, and while I prefer the color of the Takara the Hasbro is a better made figure. I have had no problems with breakage and it fits together better than the Takara one. I can get the back to clip on nice and sturdy.

News Credits: 3 · by **Kibble** » Fri Sep 16, 2011 11:25 am

xtremeclimber wrote:and for the record this isn't my first masterpiece figure. But it was by far the worst quality.

Do you have Megatron or any of the seekers? MP Rod is on the same level as those. He's fragile, but that 'should' be known going in. Doesn't really help when Hasbro calls these things toys for 5+, though... MPs are for the veteran/experienced collector. Most will surely fall apart if left to the devices of the meat-handed. They should have a meat-hands warning on the boxes of MPs! Hell, I consider myself not to be meat-handed and my Starscream wing hinge started cracking after a few too many transforms. They're fragile figures...not meant for excessive handling.

by **dinogeist** » Fri Sep 16, 2011 11:34 am

Kibble wrote:
xtremeclimber wrote:and for the record this isn't my first masterpiece figure. But it was by far the worst quality.

Do you have Megatron or any of the seekers? MP Rod is on the same level as those. He's fragile, but that 'should' be known going in. Doesn't really help when Hasbro calls these things toys for 5+, though... MPs are for the veteran/experienced collector. Most will surely fall apart if left to the devices of the meat-handed. They should have a meat-hands warning on the boxes of MPs! Hell, I consider myself not to be meat-handed and my Starscream wing hinge started cracking after a few too many transforms. They're fragile figures...not meant for excessive handling.

megatron is the worse MP TF figure. due to his diecast metal thin hip joints/waist section & his floppy diecast metal feet. I suspose thecdiecast backbone doesn't help matters at it makes the robot top part top heavy & puts too much pressure on the legs.

MP Rodimus is superior to mp megatron

by **NTESHFT** » Fri Sep 16, 2011 3:17 pm

No problems with my Rodimus either.

Like Starwave Prime on Facebook · by **Starwave Prime** » Fri Sep 16, 2011 3:56 pm

So like 8 or 20,000 or ALL MP Rodimus are defective according to you? Mines perfect. So really what is this? Buyers remorse? Did you get the Takara version and now feel cheated so you need to belittle the TRU version? Or do you just have no sense of how these toys are constructed and you just break them on a regular basis? What parts fell off out of the box? Next time put up some pics because as is you have 0 credibility and sound like a whiny child.

News Credits: 11 · by **Overcracker** » Fri Sep 16, 2011 5:21 pm

My point is that this is a toy meant to be played with not a collectors item only meant to be displayed in a box on a shelf, and for 60.00 bucks I think they could've put a little more effort into making the figure practical and functional. As for people reviewing them maybe you should put being a fan aside and review these based on quality.

I'm sorry no, MP Rodimus is NOT a chld's toy, its is in fact a collectors item. Despite Hasbro's feeble attempts at marketing it at a price tag that says toy, and making it a Toy's R' Us exclusive this Rodimus is not a toy.

Takara engieered this like the other Masterpieces for collectors, not children.

With that said, I have heard of breakges in the leg panels, but have not suffered from it at myself.

They are very very thin, and fragile, but a grown up should now how to handle this.

There's also certain ways the panels cannot rotate and if forced can cause breakage.

by **dinogeist** » Fri Sep 16, 2011 5:28 pm

Starwave Prime wrote:So like 8 or 20,000 or ALL MP Rodimus are defective according to you? Mines perfect. So really what is this? Buyers remorse? Did you get the Takara version and now feel cheated so you need to belittle the TRU version? Or do you just have no sense of how these toys are constructed and you just break them on a regular basis? What parts fell off out of the box? Next time put up some pics because as is you have 0 credibility and sound like a whiny child.

I just think some don't or can't appreciate TF designs toys catered towards the adult TF themed market. not everything has to be catered towards the toddlers.

Regarding some complaining about the Hasbro price tag for TRU MP Rodimus. the toy is leader sized & leader sized TF toys cost around $43.99 these days. so paying $16 more for all the extra detail,more poseability,higher sculpt & the most accurate G-1 Updated homages new molds around is a pretty sweet deal.

blame TRU for raising up the price to $59.99. Hasbro had a TRU price tag at botcon 2011 for $49.99. stuff at TRU is always more exspensive.

FWIW,Their are several codes & coupons on-line that allow you to save 20% off on TRU Hasbro MP Rodimus. TRU's facebook page has a 20% print out coupon for anything in the store. in addition to that their a TRU $5 off coupon floating around on the internet That saves you more money if you spend $25 or less.

I paid around $42 for my MP rodimus before taxes & around $45 with taxes. So I basically paid the price that most leader sized TF toys are selling for.

by **Grahf** » Fri Sep 16, 2011 7:34 pm

I've never had any problems with either of my TRU MP Rodimus, even bought from two different states. IIRC the Takara version had a few QC issues that are currently being fixed. I could care less for the trailer accessory/battle station so I wated for the Hasbro release.

I've had no problems with transforming either of them. As a matter of fact, one is sitting right next to my computer monitor and he gets fiddled with quite often.

Not sure if you and your buddy just have extremely bad luck, but this is the first problem that I've heard about other than the very few cases where someone has bought one, taken out the Target Master and then returned it for a full refund. Dirty Bastards

I hope you find one that's up to your standards, because this is one awesome MP.

Good luck!

News Credits: 1 · by **Atomatron** » Fri Sep 16, 2011 8:00 pm

rodimus/hot rod is a car with flames. i'm not from arkansas so doesnt appeal to me

by **dinogeist** » Fri Sep 16, 2011 10:29 pm

Atomatron wrote:rodimus/hot rod is a car with flames. i'm not from arkansas so doesnt appeal to me

you don't have to live in Arkansas to like cars with flames. I'm from new york & love cars with flames like hot rod/rodimus prime.

Like Starwave Prime on Facebook · by **Starwave Prime** » Sun Sep 18, 2011 5:34 pm

Atomatron wrote:rodimus/hot rod is a car with flames. i'm not from arkansas so doesnt appeal to me

Apparently you're not from somewhere that teaches proper grammar or writing skills either, but I guess that doesn't appeal to you either. Why even post here? To troll?

News Credits: 1 · by **chrisc4** » Sun Sep 18, 2011 6:45 pm

i love TRU Roddy. I've transformed multiple times and no problems here

by **SJ21** » Mon Sep 19, 2011 10:49 am

I usually transform my MP's once back and forth and then put them on the shelf. Grimlock is the only one that I take down and transform at all. The reason for this is that their transformations are so finicky and complex. They always seem like they are going to break. I would be ok with Hasbro using more durable parts. If they have to sacrifice overly-complex transformations, I am ok with that too.

News Credits: 1 · by **Gauntlet101010** » Mon Sep 19, 2011 11:55 am

I transformed my figure back and forth a lot of times with no problems. The tabs on the car roof have stress marks, though, because I wasn't careful one of the times. But that was my own fault.

I've heard that many, many people have had trouble with the figure, but I don't get it. If you take it with the proper pace and don't rush, it goes just fine.

by **Screamfleet** » Mon Sep 19, 2011 2:50 pm

My rodimus's arm broke right out of the packaging. I bought him a month ago, and I've been busy with things, camping and such and only opened him recently. I looked and took apart and was really trying to find a way to fix it. Being that it's a teeth joint with a spring, I couldn't find a way to heal him correctly. So, I glued it back together, without the spring in the joint. It seems to be holding together ok now. I figured, I didn't want to go to all this effort with clamps and glue and such, if it were to only break again, so the spring had to be left out. Made it for an easier fix, and if it breaks again, it will be easy to fix again.
I'm surprised at everyone in here acting like it's the buyers fault. Are you going to blame me for breaking my rodimus? I didn't put any extra force on it or mishandling it in anyway.
I wish I could take mine back and get a replacement, but the rarity of it really prevents this. If money was no object, I'd buy a new, but, I cant do that either.

by **WheelTracks** » Mon Sep 19, 2011 3:24 pm

I've transformed TRU Roddy multiple times. No problems here either. I'm not saying he's easy, I just kept practicing his transformation until I got it right. If I was stuck on something I'd turn to the instructions. I know, the instructions isn't always right but neither am I. >:oP

I rather use the instructions than to not use them and break something. Breaking one of my RTS Lugnut's tail completley off was a result of not using the instructions. After breaking it I looked at the instructions and sure enough there was a step I had missed. I couldn't blame anyone but myself. :BANG_HEAD:

That was the first and only time it happend. Never again! Stress marks can be caused by anything. There's nothing I can do about a faulty figure right out of the box, but to eliminate some of my chances of getting stress marks and breakage, I follow the instructions and handle my figure with care.