The Energon Pub

News Credits: 2 · by **Sid Burn** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 10:28 pm

Alright, so I finally found a stock of Concept BBs in a local walmart here in toronto. There must have been eight of them, I looked very carefully at all eight. I am pretty picky about paint application, I want solid clean lines throughout.

I could not believe the lack of paint app QC on this amazing mold. Only two were buyable in my opinion, I picked up the better of those two, but even the one I bought isnt the quality I usually buy.

I know it is anal, I know it is OCD, but if such effort is going to be put into a great mold, the paint app should follow suit. Its like framing a piece of art with 2x4s.

I am thrilled to finally have this mold but the triumph was a little undermined by the apparent lack of paint app QC

by **Dj kevintron** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 10:48 pm

im so glad im not the only one.....

News Credits: 2 · by **Sid Burn** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 12:47 am

Even though I finally got one, once BB becomes a shelf warmer, I think I will continue to look for a pristine paint application.

News Credits: 1 · by **Agent 007** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 9:08 am

My paints good cept on the doors. I've got a tiny blue spec on the driverside mirror. I just gotta be careful wit my doors though. Overall, I'de say i got a good one just gotta be careful wit his paint and his floppy arm.

News Credits: 1 · by **twee** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 11:20 am

Yeah, I bought 2, and one of them has a scratch on the hood. Not a slightly noticeable tiny scratch, but a serious buff-mark.

I don't care, because I think complaining about such minor QC on relatively inexpensive children's toys is silly, but I can see how it can grate on serious collectors.

News Credits: 2 · by **Sid Burn** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 11:47 am

twee wrote:I don't care, because I think complaining about such minor QC on relatively inexpensive children's toys is silly, but I can see how it can grate on serious collectors.

It would be "silly" if this kinda of thing was common on all molds put out by Takaratomy and Hasbro, but this is different, the concept BBs seem especially prone to paint errors.

I will continue to look for a pristine one, because is does grate on this "serious collector"

by **Ploptimus Prime** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 11:55 am

It's true, the concept BB seems to have much sloppier paint than the average hasbro application, and I looked through close to 20 of them at various kohl's.

I found the same to be true of the unleashed BB and even the Ultimate BB to some extent. There is no excuse, IMHO, for having paint overspray on a $90 toy that is obviously geared toward colectors. 20th prime wasn't nearly as bad.

Could it be the fact that it's yellow paint and errors are more obvious?

by **Bumblebee-otch** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 12:16 pm

i had the same problem with all the 08 BB's at kohl's. one of them was even missing an entire stripe on the trunk!

by **prowlstreak** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 1:17 pm

be glad u guys have got one they dont even have deluxe figures in most stores i go to here in new york :sad:

i may have to use ebay....

by **DorkimusPrime** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 1:24 pm

Compared to Classics Grimlock, Concept BB is a frickin Monet.

News Credits: 668 · by **Autobot032** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 1:33 pm

I got lucky, really really lucky. Mine only has one tiny problem...his stripe on the driver's side, on the back window, juts out a little bit to left, but beyond that barely noticeable extra, he looks perfectly okay.

And on the first try. If that doesn't scream miracle, I don't know what does.

by **Sonray** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 7:30 pm

My BB is perfect. No paint problems at all, and i didnt even have a choice in which one to get, as i got mine in the two pack with voyager prime from Argos and it was the last one they had.

by 009* » Sun Aug 19, 2007 12:25 am

I finally found one at a Kohl's Saturday morning. The paint looks good, although some of the ball joints are loose.

by **Ploptimus Prime** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 12:52 pm

DorkimusPrime wrote:Compared to Classics Grimlock, Concept BB is a frickin Monet.

My classics Grim is really clean. No complaints there. I suppose the "dirt" they painted into his neck with blackwash could be a little cleaner, but all of his lines are straight... no overspray. That's my biggest problem with the new line, paint overspray.

News Credits: 32 · by **UltraPrimal** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 1:12 pm

Yeah, I had the same dilhema when I picked up mine. There was 2. 1 had nice clean lines and the other had a wierd imperfection in his rear window. So I pick up the 1st, but he turned out to be misassembled. So I had to return him and pick up the other 1. I look forward to the Cliffjumper repaint.

News Credits: 4 · by **SnapTrap** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 1:59 pm

yeah QC goes down when the factory has to rush in order to fill up stock in the stores. Hopefully it won't get any worse...

by **Smokescreen85** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 3:11 pm

Sid Burn wrote:I am pretty picky about paint application, I want solid clean lines throughout.

I know it is anal, I know it is OCD, but if such effort is going to be put into a great mold, the paint app should follow suit. Its like framing a piece of art with 2x4s.

I completely agree with you. I'm just as anal when it comes to paint apps. They have to be perfect or near perfect. I didn't have a problem when I picked up Concept BB, but I did have issues when getting Longarm. When I first found him at my local Walmart, he was the only one there and he had some serious paint problems on the hood. There were numerous scuffs and marks. I bought him anyway, but I kept him in his packaging. It was a good thing, because the next day I was at a different Walmart and I found two more Longarms. Both had paint issues on the hood, but neither were as serious as the first one I bought. So, I got the better of the two new ones and I took back the old one. The one I have now may not be perfect but it's close. I just had to accept that there will be imperfections in almost every toy. It's really hard to avoid.

News Credits: 3 · by **muswp1** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 3:47 pm

009* wrote:I finally found one at a Kohl's Saturday morning. The paint looks good, although some of the ball joints are loose.

I had all kinds of problems with really tight joints when transforming him for the first time, especially the shoulders when they pull out of the front of the car.

by **Sonray** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 5:50 pm

The only "problem" i have with my 08 bb are thiose shoulder pads. They come off really easily and are tiny so they are easy to lose. Thankfully i havnt done so yet but i can see alot of used 08 bb's going up on ebay in the coming years that have this part missing.

by **brimy311** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 9:11 pm

I picked up my 08bb back in early july, it had a big scrap across one of the stripes on the hood. It did not bother me, because it was so early and I was just really happy to have found one. I will probably pick up another one this late fall when more are available. Still a good toy for 9.99$, regardless of the paint app.