The Energon Pub

Ok I received him from BBTS today..
The packaging is exceptional with a nice flap open front that is fastened in place with magnets, the presentation of the box art and how the fig is laid out inside is really nice. The instructions look a lot like Hasbros too. Really nice presentation. He even has an alternate head.

After I opened it and started to fool with it I started to wonder why I purchased this.

Let me explain

1) loose joints
2) Cheap thin feeling plastic
3) leg doors (to swing the feet up during transformation) popped off with absolutely no effort and looked like they had stress marks on them.
4) misaligned tabs when transforming
5) head kept popping off while transforming back to robot
6) tab on left arm that connects to body when transforming does not fit in the HUGE tab hole on the side, so that part does not lock into place and looks "sloppy".
7) some hinges really tight, have to use almost excessive force to move them
8 ) Legs really loose
9) Waist does not lock into place all the way and can unlock and flop around


I put him back in his box, put all the twist wrap back and will display him in the box for now..

I was hoping for fansproject Explorer and munitioner quality here and did not get it.

I'm surprised the large grey hinge hanging out of his back didn't bother you. I was tempted by this one at Botcon and I'm glad I waited for reviews. He looks okay for the most part but something seemed off to me. Apparently my gut was right.

Flux Convoy wrote:I'm surprised the large grey hinge hanging out of his back didn't bother you.

That was another thing...

I just opened mine earlier today. I agree, the box looks very nice.

1) loose joints
Yes, very loose. Even the speakers that stick out of his legs or on his shoulders.
2) Cheap thin feeling plastic
Yep.
3) leg doors (to swing the feet up during transformation) popped off with absolutely no effort and looked like they had stress marks on them.
Ditto. And even when I do get them to stay on, it looks like I can't actually move the feet in or out without pulling the leg apart.
4) misaligned tabs when transforming
So fragile, I stopped about mid-way
5) head kept popping off while transforming back to robot
Head didn't seem to fit well tucked in, afraid I would scratch something.
6) tab on left arm that connects to body when transforming does not fit in the HUGE tab hole on the side, so that part does not lock into place and looks "sloppy".
Did not even get there.
7) some hinges really tight, have to use almost excessive force to move them
The hinges on the arms to make way for the fists are a good example. Felt like I was about to rip the hinge off, but I did manage to maneuver fists in and out.
8 ) Legs really loose
Not the legs so much as it is the way the hips are connected to the waist.
9) Waist does not lock into place all the way and can unlock and flop around
Same issue.

I may be in the minority, but I really like his robot mode. I'm glad he comes with this style of arsenal, and this could've been a really cool figure overall.

Agree with other poster, that back hinge definitely needs to go.

I remember controversy about this figure beforehand, where people complained that the legs bent frontwards instead of backwards - the double-joint seems to have fixed this. Also, I was glad that the eject mechanism on my figure works flawlessly. However, I put in TFC's auto-scout drone into the tape deck, which met with some resistance and wasn't easy to remove afterwards. Tried Henkei Ravage, but no go. Fished out my old (and very used looking) G1 cassettes and they fit perfect, with no problems taking them out either.

This guy is going on my Classics shelf, but I don't believe he'll ever be transformed into his alt mode.

I remember hearing that a black repaint (Soundblaster) was in the works, but I could only recommend this to other fans if BTS significantly improved the quality of this product.

Guess I'll put Music Label SOundwave next on my list.

I think I may just display him in bot mode as well..

It's too bad this thing sucks because for $60, if he was actually good, he'd be reasonably priced...

I did get Exgraver today, though, and he is worth the dough! Can't wait for this project to be finished! (But in the meantime, I'll settle for the last two to be revealed...)

Kibble wrote:It's too bad this thing sucks because for $60, if he was actually good, he'd be reasonably priced...

I did get Exgraver today, though, and he is worth the dough! Can't wait for this project to be finished! (But in the meantime, I'll settle for the last two to be revealed...)

I agree, $60 is a lot for something that doesn't work as advertised, but I've already paid for it and I really do like bot mode.

I got my POL last week with Sonicron and Exgraver, and Ex was the first thing I opened. I've really enjoyed the aesthetics of that figure and posability. Can't wait for the rest to be released, or at least early next week when the last two figures are supposed to be revealed.

You pretty much summed up my feelings on it to the letter - I got mine a few days ago with some other stuff, and I'm gutted that it didn't live up to expectations.

The annoying thing is, if there were a few tweaks and fixes made before this was produced, this would have been in the running for top 5 3rd party product this year It's loose where it shouldn't be, and too tight where it shouldn't be too...

Is there any mods or fixes that anyone has tried yet? I would welcome any suggestions....

NaM3L3sS wrote:It's loose where it shouldn't be, and too tight where it shouldn't be too...

Exactly.
This fig could have been so good too..

Supposedly the upcoming black version fixes most or all the problems of the first which sucks but happens sometimes (Mastermind Creations).

I've managed to fix most of the problems you guys have mentioned and ended up with a decent figure. Of course I shouldn't have to spend hours working on a $60.00 figure to begin with.

Ryans Vid review sent up major red flags for me.. The potential for this figure to be badass was sooooooooo high but in the end it looks like they sold a prototype..

LOST Cybertronian wrote:Supposedly the upcoming black version fixes most or all the problems of the first which sucks but happens sometimes (Mastermind Creations).

Which would be great if they've pushed this version back to make the changes. Then we may get the inevitable reissue blue Sonicron with fixes, but don't think I'll buy it.

iGear is another company that went back and made revisions to their product (Faith Leader) when feedback was given. I really don't think any 3rd party is safe from QC issues, but as one of the early adopters for Sonicron, it leaves a bad taste.

El Duque wrote:I've managed to fix most of the problems you guys have mentioned and ended up with a decent figure. Of course I shouldn't have to spend hours working on a $60.00 figure to begin with.

What did you do to fix it?

necr0blivion wrote:

LOST Cybertronian wrote:Supposedly the upcoming black version fixes most or all the problems of the first which sucks but happens sometimes (Mastermind Creations).

Which would be great if they've pushed this version back to make the changes. Then we may get the inevitable reissue blue Sonicron with fixes, but don't think I'll buy it.

iGear is another company that went back and made revisions to their product (Faith Leader) when feedback was given. I really don't think any 3rd party is safe from QC issues, but as one of the early adopters for Sonicron, it leaves a bad taste.

Gotta love when they offer the fixes on a re-issue after you've already dished out big bucks for the first release! When they pull that kind of ****, it would be nice if they came up with a way to make it up to the guinea pigs that supported them the first time around. Maybe a trade in deal or something. Charge more for the fixed version and give a huge discount if you want to trade in your version I. Or a reasonably priced upgrade kit...I dunno. All I know is I'm tickled that I paid $200 for a half-assed MP Rodimus and for less than $10 more I could get what it shoulda been from the start.

Cyber Bishop wrote:

El Duque wrote:I've managed to fix most of the problems you guys have mentioned and ended up with a decent figure. Of course I shouldn't have to spend hours working on a $60.00 figure to begin with.

What did you do to fix it?

Yeah, +1 on that, do tell El Duque, I have ok tooling skills once I know what I should be doing...

Kibble wrote:When they pull that kind of ****, it would be nice if they came up with a way to make it up to the guinea pigs that supported them the first time around. Maybe a trade in deal or something. Charge more for the fixed version and give a huge discount if you want to trade in your version I. Or a reasonably priced upgrade kit...I dunno. All I know is I'm tickled that I paid $200 for a half-assed MP Rodimus and for less than $10 more I could get what it shoulda been from the start.

Same here man. I wouldn't mind if I hadn't treated my Rodimus with kid gloves from the start, on the third transformation one of the clips that settle in over the rear wheel arch sheared off with no stress marks, no warning. I'll be damned if I'm buying another one.

Sonicron is a posing machine!

Someone purchased me, yay!

It ain't a party like a 3rd Party, but who let Ravage in?

Great scale with Device Label Blaster, so will go well in my Classics display.

I was worried about connecting both legs together since it wasn't an easy task. $60 is a lot for a guy who won't transform, but at least he's not a broken and can't be displayed.

They go to the trouble of engineering it and yet use some cheap knock-off brand quality plastic.. I dont get it. This thing would have been awesome if it were FansProject quality plastic. (and yes the snap together tabs and the butt hinge are terrible)

since some in this thread own a sonicron toy.

I was wondering how many inches tall the robot mode is? please if possible don't guess. please can someone get a measuring tape & measure the robot mode from head to toe.

i'm guessing that sonicron in robot mode is around 5.5 inches tall.
i'm guessing it's not a big 6.4 to 7.2 voyager sized transformers toy.

does sonicron at least have some bulkyness to him or is it a very skinny looking toy?

BTW,Those quality control issues i read in this thread regrading sonicron. reminds me of the classics 2.0 deluxe sized transformers toys.

He's ~6 3/4 inches head to toe according to my tape measure.

Midnight_Fox wrote:He's ~6 3/4 inches head to toe according to my tape measure.

Thanks,I didn't realize it was such a tall toy in robot mode. it seems like it fits in the voyager sized TF toy size class.

I just saw the Sonicron verses computer blaster & they look aweswome next to each other. both look like they belong in the classics universe & next to classics toys on a classics display shelf.

maybe with all the negative reviews this sonicron is getting. perhaps i'll luck out. go to ebay & buy a opened used sonicron at a reduced 30% off price. hopefully it's not sold so cheap because it's damaged & broken by the seller.