The Energon Pub

So, the dark gray cylinders on RiD Optimus Prime's super mode each have a notch in them (and I don't mean the mold hollow).


The cylinders are supposed to be mirrors of one another, with the notches lining up (as seen here). Which is important, because the notches are supposed to give clearance for the super mode codpiece in vehicle mode (unlike what's shown in Seibertron's gallery, the super mode chest and codpiece are supposed to tuck inside the gauntlets and paldrons)


However, my Optimus is a frankenformer, with a Takara right paldron and a Hasbro left paldron. And the cylinders are the same "handedness", so the notches don't align.

What I'm curious about is, is this assembly difference a Hasbro vs. Takara thing? Or is it something that varies from figure to figure no matter which market it was for?

You simply have two of the same side. I have three Hasbro RID versions, a yellow Universe version and the Encore, all shoulders are assembled the right away. If one of your shoulder pads wasn't the Takara version it would be easier to tell since they have Autobot symbols that should both face upright in alt mode. If they're actually labeled L and R then I'd say you ended up with a fluke that got the wrong barrel.

Emerje

Emerje wrote:You simply have two of the same side. I have three Hasbro RID versions, a yellow Universe version and the Encore, all shoulders are assembled the right away. If one of your shoulder pads wasn't the Takara version it would be easier to tell since they have Autobot symbols that should both face upright in alt mode. If they're actually labeled L and R then I'd say you ended up with a fluke that got the wrong barrel.

Emerje

You're absolutely sure the barrels are paired the same way on all figures (and not notch-high on some and notch-low on others), then? Just wanting to double check.

If so, I guess I have a fluke with the Hasbro paldron's barrel then.
They're definitely opposite-side paldrons. It's easy enough to tell even without the Autobot symbols, because 1. the backs of the paldrons don't have the silver pipes and 5mm ports (so if they were both of the same side, one would be facing the wrong way in super mode and I wouldn't be able to make the base mode) and 2. if they were both of the same side, one of them wouldn't be able to connect to the back of the vehicle mode.



Visual proof, if required.

If, as it seems, I have a fluke... what to do? Would it be alright to modify the barrel to match?

I don't have mine handy, I just stuck them in a box a few weeks ago while I build new shelves, but this image on eBay proves they were properly made on the Hasbro release.



I feel like a lot of people would have noticed and reported if the side of their firetrucks were bowing out a little.

Emerje

Emerje wrote:I don't have mine handy, I just stuck them in a box a few weeks ago while I build new shelves, but this image on eBay proves they were properly made on the Hasbro release.

s-l1600.jpg

I feel like a lot of people would have noticed and reported if the side of their firetrucks were bowing out a little.

Emerje

Okay, we seem to have had a biiiiit of a communications failure here. Let me see if I can clarify things.

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:However, my Optimus is a frankenformer, with a Takara right paldron and a Hasbro left paldron. And the cylinders are the same "handedness", so the notches don't align.

This isn't a matter of correct or incorrect assembly.
This is a problem caused by my Optimus' paldrons originally coming from different figures - one came from a figure where the barrels were attached with the notches towards the front of the paldrons, one came from a figure where the barrels were attached with the notches away from the front of the paldrons.
Neither way of assembly is incorrect, because thanks to the way the codpiece is hinged the only thing that matters is that the notches are at the same height. The problem with my copy is purely due to it being a frankenformer.

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:What I'm curious about is, is this assembly difference a Hasbro vs. Takara thing? Or is it something that varies from figure to figure no matter which market it was for?

That is to say, is the barrels being attached with the notch away from the paldron front a Hasbro thing while them being attached with it towards the paldron front is a Takara thing? Or does it vary on a per-figure basis?

Emerje wrote:this image on eBay proves they were properly made on the Hasbro release.

So, yeah, about that. 1. See point about neither way of attaching the cylinders being incorrect so long as they're both of opposite-handedness. 2. Looking closely, that pic shows the barrels attached with their notch away from the front of the paldron (just like on my own Hasbro paldron).

Contrast that with Seibertron's Fire Convoy (picture used in first post of this thread), whose paldrons have the barrels attached with the notch towards the front (just like on my own Takara paldron).

So in actuality, that eBay pic seems to support the idea that this is a Hasbro vs. Takara difference.

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:So in actuality, that eBay pic seems to support the idea that this is a Hasbro vs. Takara difference.

So then I don't see the problem, In the end I got you a picture showing you where the notches are on the Hasbro version. When you think about it it's impossible for them to be misassembled since the barrel only goes in a specific way, there's even a notch that prevents them from being put in backwards. It wouldn't be the first change Hasbro made to the mold.

Emerje

I own the Hasbro version, and yes the cylinders are attached with the notch towards the back of thew pauldron

I'm going to agree, the issue is a difference between the Habsro and Takara releases of the figure and not a difference for the Habsro version in different runs.

See the most recent Encore Fire Convoy, with the notches towards the front of the pauldron:


The difference requires actually different molds for the cylinders since they have a tab that goes into a notch on the pauldron that prevents them from being misassembled.

This has to be one of the most weird and random mold changes Hasbro has made. I get ditching the volley launch gimmick, I get filling in the ladder railings for durability, but why this? Why even? In any case, it's something worth noting on the TFwiki article.

Would anyone lose any sleep if I modified the cylinder on my Hasbro paldron to properly mirror the Takara one?

And thanks for your help, both of you.

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:This has to be one of the most weird and random mold changes Hasbro has made. I get ditching the volley launch gimmick, I get filling in the ladder railings for durability, but why this? Why even? In any case, it's something worth noting on the TFwiki article.

Would anyone lose any sleep if I modified the cylinder on my Hasbro paldron to properly mirror the Takara one?

And thanks for your help, both of you.

Its really weird yes. Can’t even say it could be for child safety since there does not seem to be any gain by changing the orientation.

Who knows why this was done.

A disassembly photo, to show the difference in the cylinders.

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:Would anyone lose any sleep if I modified the cylinder on my Hasbro paldron to properly mirror the Takara one?

Sorely tempted to do this, but I would like for at least one person to weigh in before I decide.

How would you modify it? Hack at the connecting spot so you can turn it around or hack at the barrel and make the notch bigger. I think widening it would give the better looking result.

Personally I'd just find a new one.

Emerje

Emerje wrote:How would you modify it? Hack at the connecting spot so you can turn it around or hack at the barrel and make the notch bigger. I think widening it would give the better looking result.

Personally I'd just find a new one.

Emerje

I agree. Finding a new pauldron will likely be easier than trying to hack at the plastic.

And you can sell the unused pauldron as is for someone in a similar situation.