The Energon Pub

by **Uniprimus** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 8:54 pm

The thing is, the plastic is NOT gold! Or is it not just for gold plastic? Is was the black-greyish plastic wraping around the metal pin. Help?

News Credits: 668 · by **Autobot032** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 8:57 pm

Eradicator wrote:The thing is, the plastic is NOT gold! Or is it not just for gold plastic? Is was the black-greyish plastic wraping around the metal pin. Help?

There's metallic flakes in the plastic. They're what's causing it.

No matter what the color of the plastic is, if there's an over abundance of those flakes, they'll weaken the bond in the plastic.

by **zemper** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 9:02 pm

uhhh...what's GPS? (saliva drools and looks droopy-eyed) :-?

by **Uniprimus** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 9:23 pm

Autobot032 wrote:
Eradicator wrote:The thing is, the plastic is NOT gold! Or is it not just for gold plastic? Is was the black-greyish plastic wraping around the metal pin. Help?

There's metallic flakes in the plastic. They're what's causing it.

No matter what the color of the plastic is, if there's an over abundance of those flakes, they'll weaken the bond in the plastic.

So gold plastic syndrome doesn't happen to JUST gold plastic?

News Credits: 2 · by **hyperconvoy69** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 11:41 pm

I accidentally broke my friend's TM Megatron at the waist. Had to buy him another. Mines is in storage, I'm afraid that the same thing may happen as well.

News Credits: 668 · by **Autobot032** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 11:44 am

Eradicator wrote:
Autobot032 wrote:
Eradicator wrote:The thing is, the plastic is NOT gold! Or is it not just for gold plastic? Is was the black-greyish plastic wraping around the metal pin. Help?

There's metallic flakes in the plastic. They're what's causing it.

No matter what the color of the plastic is, if there's an over abundance of those flakes, they'll weaken the bond in the plastic.

So gold plastic syndrome doesn't happen to JUST gold plastic?

Exactly. It's called GPS/Gold Plastic Syndrome because it was the most prevalent of problems. But pretty much any plastic that uses those flakes stands a chance of breakage.

However, they've since fixed the formula's problem and got the mix right. No one's had much of a breakage in recent years.

by **Uniprimus** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 2:32 pm

Damn. The case of GPS. It already destroyed my Torca and BW Grimlock. Is there anything I can do?

by **tentagil** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 5:51 pm

Eradicator wrote:Damn. The case of GPS. It already destroyed my Torca and BW Grimlock. Is there anything I can do?

Nope, the majority of the figures with the problem simply breakdown at the molecular level. The plastic itself can't hold together and begins to crumble. Nothing you can do to it. Its was a problem with the plastics original formula. Now not all figures in every batch had the problem. There are G2 Slingshots out there that will never have the issue, and BW Torcas and Grimlocks as well. However the majority of those figures do have the problem and there is nothing that can be done about it short of a reissue coming out to replace them.

As far as i know the last figures to show signs of the problem were all in BW. Nothing has shown the symptoms in any line since.

by **Icetron** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 9:08 pm

Okay guys...I might have a chance to get a MISB Hasbro one for a pretty good price, is it worth giving a shot?

I noticed there's 2 versions of TM Megatron though, one is more pink and the other is darker purple. Would both colours have the same chance of having the GPS problem? I'd hate to have to rebuy the toy if it does break so I'm not sure if it's worth it to try.

by **Cyber-Kun** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 9:15 pm

I've had mine since it first came out in Canada, and have treated him VERY rough over the years, and I've never had a single problem with him, the worst is some extremely slight paint chipping on the vac parts. Other then that, its a fantastic toy.

by **Uniprimus** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 9:30 pm

...so I just have bad luck then if most people's (like person above's) is fine?

I don't understand what I did wrong. I followd the intructions carefully with help from my parents and friends, and I still break it like my past 2.

by **Icetron** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 9:38 pm

Yeah I got have bad luck with things too...so that's why I'm not sure if I should try it. :/

by **Cyber-Kun** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 9:39 pm

I really don't either. When I had them when I was younger, and I REALLY treated them rough, and I pulled him out of an old box (2 days ago) to put him on my desk. He was more or less fine, and I've been playing with him while working, and there's never been an issue, not even weak joints...
I always found the BW toys to be very sturdy, I had a lot of them way back, and none of them have ever broken like that, or really have broken. [/list]