The Energon Pub

[blackeyedprime]

What is with the size of Spike? Seems weird with Bumblebee being just released with one.

[Master Farr 1]

Maybe this one will actually be good for once

[william-james88]

Maybe this one will actually be good for once

[william-james88]

Fans are getting their Masterpiece Hounds from Amazon Japan and we already have not one but two video reviews, which you can see below. These include the transformation which is rather intricate, as fans would expect. As just a word of precaution, there have also been some breakage reports, some either already broken in the box or after the first transformation and it is all in regards to some tight hinges. A fan took to Twitter with a rather dramatic image that you can see here. These are just early reports of course and just as many have received flawless copies.

Please let us know how your copy turned out and if you are enjoying him!

[Lore Keeper]

This breakage thing in MP figures is quickly becoming a fact of life for the line. This newfound fragility coupled with the ever increasing price tags and the new artistic direction have completely driven me away from MP collecting.

[mesh]

after prices of mp products started to increase just around the time mp-wheeljack came out, i knew quality was dropping dramatically. after mp-dinobot was released i knew something was up and not just prices. then came mp-shockwave and mp-megatron v2. That's when **** hit the fan real fast. these figures went from less than $100 for Lambor, streak, wheeljack, bumblebee v1, etc......now starting over $150 and now pitching over $500. That is an insane mark up. for what? crap plastic, crap construction, and sub-par workmanship.

I purchased mp-44.......and though it's a great figure....still IT IS NOT worth the price tag! I am regretting the purchase. The only time i ever bought a transformer that expensive was to get my hands on the original g1 Fortress Maximus. ORIGINAL! A product with vintage value. Hell, Soul of Chogokin GX-88 Vehicle Voltron (with numerous parts) was worth less than MP-44.

This is not a good sign. I feel as if the original collectors of MP's have now, or, already have left Takara Tomy for more affordable 3rd party alternatives.

Collecting these figures have gotten a lot harder to obtain on the wallet. However there are multiple alternatives which, if not, are better than the Takara Tomy versions.

The CHUG line is CHUG, a cheaper alternatives at a smaller scale. Just not for me. The plastic is hallow, cheap, ball-joints are always lose after 10 transformations, and the paint apps are insulting and lazy. Again, not for me. For others on a budget it is absolutely perfect.

Seeing the reviews of this mp-hound is disappointing and just solidifies my take on dropping out of the transformers collecting hobby.

I don't know, is it wrong for me to say I've now lost interest in the figures? i'll always be a transformers fan, breather transformers, watch transformers every chance i get.....but I can't afford them anymore. And I refuse to start buying the chug line of figures.

sigh, sad time for older transformers fans that is for sure.

[Hellscream9999]

This - if true and widespread - is just sad, I guess this is just the downside to complex panel-forming, lots of pins to screw things up; but, this has become such a stark trend that I honestly don't see the line succeeding for much longer, the inflation, the breakages, the fact that TT has yet to acknowledge or attempt to rectify any of it, it's embarrassing to call these things high end collectibles

[SpaceKaseJase]

Posted on FB about using lubricant on panel hinges to prevent breakage. Most said just be careful when transforming it, but one guy suggested shock fluid as it doesn't degrade or ruin plastic/paint. What are your thoughts? My MP Hound is coming in a few weeks.

[william-james88]

This - if true and widespread - is just sad, I guess this is just the downside to complex panel-forming, lots of pins to screw things up; but, this has become such a stark trend that I honestly don't see the line succeeding for much longer

I dont know man, the line will succeed as long as people are paying for these things and so far there has been no limit to how much people will pay and keep paying.

[Seibertron]

Posted on FB about using lubricant on panel hinges to prevent breakage. Most said just be careful when transforming it, but one guy suggested shock fluid as it doesn't degrade or ruin plastic/paint. What are your thoughts? My MP Hound is coming in a few weeks.

Ace Hardware sells Lub-E, which is a plastic safe product similar to WD40. I've been using it for years, especially on gold plastic figures. Works like a charm to lube up these toys.

[SpaceKaseJase]

Thx bud.

[Ironhidensh]

This - if true and widespread - is just sad, I guess this is just the downside to complex panel-forming, lots of pins to screw things up; but, this has become such a stark trend that I honestly don't see the line succeeding for much longer

I dont know man, the line will succeed as long as people are paying for these things and so far there has been no limit to how much people will pay and keep paying.

*raises hand*

Yeah, I'm living proof of that foolishness

[MCutter]

... there have also been some breakage reports, some either already broken in the box or after the first transformation and it is all in regards to some tight hinges...
...These are just early reports of course and just as many have received flawless copies.

People who are still buying these: is there any other product you would buy at full MSRP that has a roughly 50% failure rate and no manufacturer warranty?
This poor quality control iteration of the MP line needs to die financially. If we're being asked to pay premium prices, we deserve premium goods.

[Ironhidensh]

... there have also been some breakage reports, some either already broken in the box or after the first transformation and it is all in regards to some tight hinges...
...These are just early reports of course and just as many have received flawless copies.

People who are still buying these: is there any other product you would buy at full MSRP that has a roughly 50% failure rate and no manufacturer warranty?
This poor quality control iteration of the MP line needs to die financially. If we're being asked to pay premium prices, we deserve premium goods.

There is no "50%" failure rate. Its just a few cases being highlighted by the wonders of social media. I have bought every single official MP released in the last ten years, and not a one of them have broken on me.

[william-james88]

... there have also been some breakage reports, some either already broken in the box or after the first transformation and it is all in regards to some tight hinges...
...These are just early reports of course and just as many have received flawless copies.

People who are still buying these: is there any other product you would buy at full MSRP that has a roughly 50% failure rate and no manufacturer warranty?
This poor quality control iteration of the MP line needs to die financially. If we're being asked to pay premium prices, we deserve premium goods.

There is no "50%" failure rate. Its just a few cases being highlighted by the wonders of social media. I have bought every single official MP released in the last ten years, and not a one of them have broken on me.

To counter that, my mp hot rodimus' visor broke off and my mp Dinobot lost his head. But yes, we are indeed more likely to see qc failures highligted as is the nature with complaints in general.

[Cyberpath]

I don't know, I'm not so sure they are exaggerating this time.

Look how many breaks and cracks --
https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/ ... t-17536242

And that's not all of it, I've also seen some from people that I follow.

Kind of tired of doing "research" every time a new MP comes out -- Takara should improve its QC or make the figures a little less complex.

Anyhow, mine should be here today. Edit: it's here.

[blackeyedprime]

Vietnamese plastic syndrome?

[Cyberpath]

Appreciated the the Jeep mode and checked for cracks, then transformed him thanks to Wotafa --



I always have the instructions in-front of me, too. But I don't really bother with them anymore, the figures have grown too complex. Mostly I use them to double check things.

Transformation was not fun. It rarely is the first time; though I suspect I will never like it in this case. So many moving parts, even the wheels and neck transform. You can also transform him without removing the Jeep's gun, spare wheel and jerrycan, but I'm not sure it's worth the effort.

Could have done without the air-mask gimmick, they could have included it as another expression plate instead (same with Hot Rod's goggles. How is it that the star of TFTM had only one expression?) And I wish Hound's faces connected like Inferno and Grapple's.

Weird that Hound's thighs can't bend backwards much. And I find it amusing that he has index finger articulation so he can hold the key like in the pilot mini-series.

I love how almost everything can be stored under his roof. Takara is starting to think about this probably because we've amassed so many MP accessories.

I like the inclusion of a larger-scale Spike Witwicky, shame he doesn't have magnets in his boots like the one from MP-44.

There's no denying that Hound looks good in both modes but I don't know.. it's just so much work.

But this is only my initial impression.

[Ironhidensh]

Mine is on the DHL truck on its way here now. I'll have thoughts to share tonight.

[-Kanrabat-]

Just pointing out that as it apply to almost everything, only the ones who complain speak out and loud. Making the problems seem 1000 times more bad that it's actually is.

That's why so many things get either "fixed" or greenlighted despite the majority who either never had any problems and/or did not care in the first place.

[Cyberpath]

Time for a little silliness...

[chuckdawg1999]

I got mine today, the usual top notch Amazon Japan packaging but the glue on the side of the box popped. Everything is fine thus far.

[Cyberpath]

Just realised that I didn't pull out the fin from Hound's cannon. I knew something was bugging me. It's weird how much difference it makes.

[chuckdawg1999]

Just realised that I didn't pull out the fin from Hound's cannon. I knew something was bugging me. It's weird how much difference it makes.

Don't feel bad, I didn't notice until you said something.

[D-Maximal_Primal]

He is looking pretty good.

Ham hands break toys. Remember that folks