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Defective Masterpiece(s)?

PostPosted: Fri Apr 15, 2016 2:04 am
by SpikeyTigertron
I didn't see a specific thread to it when I did a quick search short of specific ones for figures... and after posting in the Ramjet thread... it got me thinking.

Has anyone had any widespread defects with the Masterpiece line. I know paint can be hit and miss with the cars. But as far as structural defects, or missing parts?

My Ramjet was straight up missing his thrusters, out of the box my Rodium's canopy tab snapped off in the arm socket (and I'm generally very careful with these guys).

Just wonder if my luck has finally run out, or if others have run into issues as well?

Re: Defective Masterpiece(s)?

PostPosted: Fri Apr 15, 2016 4:15 am
by fenrir72
MP-10 had rotten rubber tires and those plastic patterns on his toes were all facing left..

MP-05 had cosmic rust

MP-09 ver.1 allegedly the worst case.

Re: Defective Masterpiece(s)?

PostPosted: Fri Apr 15, 2016 7:16 am
by SpikeyTigertron


Has it felt like the QC has increased as their production speed increases. Rubber on the tires from MP-01/10 I can understand, though I think mine were fine. I was surprised how fast Megatron rusted out though.

But from the MP-10+ age, have there been any major QC issues besides paint?



Re: Defective Masterpiece(s)?

PostPosted: Fri Apr 15, 2016 7:35 am
by shajaki
I think (for reasons I don't know) that QC issues are more rampant in the figures that have lower production runs. Didn't MP11 TC and SW both have a handful of minor flaws?

Re: Defective Masterpiece(s)?

PostPosted: Fri Apr 15, 2016 10:35 pm
by fenrir72
My MP TT SW first run didn't have the silver triangle on his crest.

Re: Defective Masterpiece(s)?

PostPosted: Sat Apr 16, 2016 2:46 am
by SpikeyTigertron


I do know that there was a post by Seibertron himself mentioning the "bump" on Skywarp's helmet/crest (probably for clipping off the sled/ski whatchamacallit).


Re: Defective Masterpiece(s)?

PostPosted: Sat Apr 16, 2016 7:22 am
by fenrir72
Maybe when trying to beat the deadlines for delivery or having dopey supervisors in China or Vietnam, QC drops.

Btw, this isn't just a Hb/TT problem. The now defunct Yamato aka the company that makes the kick@zz Valkyries from the original Macross series (and subsequent iterations) also had a misdirected shoulder pin which caused them to explode ( well actually, split the shoulder housing) due to the the teeth part of the pin being forced in a much narrower compartment than it was intended to be shoved in.

Re: Defective Masterpiece(s)?

PostPosted: Sat Apr 16, 2016 4:48 pm
by Optimum Supreme
There's a widespread issue with part of MP1's mini Megatron breaking (I think on the stock). Mine seems to be fine, but it's such a notorious thing I think I've just been lucky. I have the Takara version, I don't know if that makes a difference or not.

Re: Defective Masterpiece(s)?

PostPosted: Sat Apr 16, 2016 9:46 pm
by fenrir72
Optimum Supreme wrote:There's a widespread issue with part of MP1's mini Megatron breaking (I think on the stock). Mine seems to be fine, but it's such a notorious thing I think I've just been lucky. I have the Takara version, I don't know if that makes a difference or not.



Go check it OS! Mine was the first release 2004. Around the time reports filtered in mine automatically broke in package. :shock:

Re: Defective Masterpiece(s)?

PostPosted: Sun Apr 17, 2016 5:12 pm
by Optimum Supreme
fenrir72 wrote:
Optimum Supreme wrote:There's a widespread issue with part of MP1's mini Megatron breaking (I think on the stock). Mine seems to be fine, but it's such a notorious thing I think I've just been lucky. I have the Takara version, I don't know if that makes a difference or not.



Go check it OS! Mine was the first release 2004. Around the time reports filtered in mine automatically broke in package. :shock:


Mine's in a drawer, and I checked around that time as well and it was perfectly fine. I'll probably check again now that you've made me think about checking again, lol

Re: Defective Masterpiece(s)?

PostPosted: Sun Apr 17, 2016 8:10 pm
by SpikeyTigertron
fenrir72 wrote:Maybe when trying to beat the deadlines for delivery or having dopey supervisors in China or Vietnam, QC drops.

Btw, this isn't just a Hb/TT problem. The now defunct Yamato aka the company that makes the kick@zz Valkyries from the original Macross series (and subsequent iterations) also had a misdirected shoulder pin which caused them to explode ( well actually, split the shoulder housing) due to the the teeth part of the pin being forced in a much narrower compartment than it was intended to be shoved in.




I was always curious what happened to them... The only companies left doing Valks want twice as much for the 1/44 (?) scale... or there's the model kits which I've never tried.....

I did get one of their 1/24 kits... GOD DARN that's a big valk.... I should post some pics some time comparing them to the MP-Seekers.


Re: Defective Masterpiece(s)?

PostPosted: Sun Apr 17, 2016 8:33 pm
by fenrir72
SpikeyTigertron wrote:
fenrir72 wrote:Maybe when trying to beat the deadlines for delivery or having dopey supervisors in China or Vietnam, QC drops.

Btw, this isn't just a Hb/TT problem. The now defunct Yamato aka the company that makes the kick@zz Valkyries from the original Macross series (and subsequent iterations) also had a misdirected shoulder pin which caused them to explode ( well actually, split the shoulder housing) due to the the teeth part of the pin being forced in a much narrower compartment than it was intended to be shoved in.




I was always curious what happened to them... The only companies left doing Valks want twice as much for the 1/44 (?) scale... or there's the model kits which I've never tried.....

I did get one of their 1/24 kits... GOD DARN that's a big valk.... I should post some pics some time comparing them to the MP-Seekers.



Previously known as Yamato, the company now goes by the name Arcadia..........and are frickin' expensive even more!

A guy(sorry forgot his name but he was an upstanding fella who sent them to me for FREE (including shipping! :x ) from Macrossworld sent me replacement shoulder parts for free a few years back.

Btw, you can check the non Transformer thread about Macross stuff. I also post their occasionally.

Re: Defective Masterpiece(s)?

PostPosted: Sun Apr 17, 2016 9:50 pm
by SpikeyTigertron
fenrir72 wrote:
SpikeyTigertron wrote:
fenrir72 wrote:Maybe when trying to beat the deadlines for delivery or having dopey supervisors in China or Vietnam, QC drops.

Btw, this isn't just a Hb/TT problem. The now defunct Yamato aka the company that makes the kick@zz Valkyries from the original Macross series (and subsequent iterations) also had a misdirected shoulder pin which caused them to explode ( well actually, split the shoulder housing) due to the the teeth part of the pin being forced in a much narrower compartment than it was intended to be shoved in.




I was always curious what happened to them... The only companies left doing Valks want twice as much for the 1/44 (?) scale... or there's the model kits which I've never tried.....

I did get one of their 1/24 kits... GOD DARN that's a big valk.... I should post some pics some time comparing them to the MP-Seekers.



Previously known as Yamato, the company now goes by the name Arcadia..........and are frickin' expensive even more!

A guy(sorry forgot his name but he was an upstanding fella who sent them to me for FREE (including shipping! :x ) from Macrossworld sent me replacement shoulder parts for free a few years back.

Btw, you can check the non Transformer thread about Macross stuff. I also post their occasionally.




Good to know about Arcadia! So it's the *new* Yamato. Admittedly as much as I wanted to get one of the Frontier designs... they still look super iffy.



But to get back on track. I didn't know there was an issue with the Megatron pistol. Going to make me go check lol.


Re: Defective Masterpiece(s)?

PostPosted: Sun Apr 17, 2016 11:24 pm
by fenrir72
SpikeyTigertron wrote:
fenrir72 wrote:
SpikeyTigertron wrote:
fenrir72 wrote:Maybe when trying to beat the deadlines for delivery or having dopey supervisors in China or Vietnam, QC drops.

Btw, this isn't just a Hb/TT problem. The now defunct Yamato aka the company that makes the kick@zz Valkyries from the original Macross series (and subsequent iterations) also had a misdirected shoulder pin which caused them to explode ( well actually, split the shoulder housing) due to the the teeth part of the pin being forced in a much narrower compartment than it was intended to be shoved in.




I was always curious what happened to them... The only companies left doing Valks want twice as much for the 1/44 (?) scale... or there's the model kits which I've never tried.....

I did get one of their 1/24 kits... GOD DARN that's a big valk.... I should post some pics some time comparing them to the MP-Seekers.



Previously known as Yamato, the company now goes by the name Arcadia..........and are frickin' expensive even more!

A guy(sorry forgot his name but he was an upstanding fella who sent them to me for FREE (including shipping! :x ) from Macrossworld sent me replacement shoulder parts for free a few years back.

Btw, you can check the non Transformer thread about Macross stuff. I also post their occasionally.




Good to know about Arcadia! So it's the *new* Yamato. Admittedly as much as I wanted to get one of the Frontier designs... they still look super iffy.



But to get back on track. I didn't know there was an issue with the Megatron pistol. Going to make me go check lol.



The Frontier die-cast Valkyries are from Bandai.

And the Megatron pistol issue is more concentrated at the MP-01 first releases (even back then, a year or two from 2004) the stock connectors started breaking at the stock connectors.

I haven't heard if it was an issue for the UM/MP02 or MP Soundwave though

Re: Defective Masterpiece(s)?

PostPosted: Mon Apr 18, 2016 3:16 am
by SpikeyTigertron


Interesting. Has anyone ever posted pics of MP-01 (was it 04 with the trailer) and MP-10 together with the trailers and everything?

Also, was anyone's megatron safe from the rust?



Re: Defective Masterpiece(s)?

PostPosted: Mon Apr 18, 2016 6:21 am
by fenrir72
SpikeyTigertron wrote:

Interesting. Has anyone ever posted pics of MP-01 (was it 04 with the trailer) and MP-10 together with the trailers and everything?

Also, was anyone's megatron safe from the rust?




Megs version 2 supposedly was fixed (cosmic rust). Ryan has oodles of images of MP01 etc

Re: Defective Masterpiece(s)?

PostPosted: Mon Apr 18, 2016 6:28 am
by SpikeyTigertron
fenrir72 wrote:
SpikeyTigertron wrote:

Interesting. Has anyone ever posted pics of MP-01 (was it 04 with the trailer) and MP-10 together with the trailers and everything?

Also, was anyone's megatron safe from the rust?




Megs version 2 supposedly was fixed (cosmic rust). Ryan has oodles of images of MP01 etc




Ver. 2 being that gaudy gold one? :SICK:


Re: Defective Masterpiece(s)?

PostPosted: Mon Apr 18, 2016 7:09 pm
by fenrir72
SpikeyTigertron wrote:
fenrir72 wrote:
SpikeyTigertron wrote:

Interesting. Has anyone ever posted pics of MP-01 (was it 04 with the trailer) and MP-10 together with the trailers and everything?

Also, was anyone's megatron safe from the rust?




Megs version 2 supposedly was fixed (cosmic rust). Ryan has oodles of images of MP01 etc




Ver. 2 being that gaudy gold one? :SICK:



No. Ver 2 still looked like version 1. The default non electrum appearance.The metals on his feet were said to have been changed. I'm stuck with version 1 which I occasionally apply Glo oxider to get rid of the rust.

Re: Defective Masterpiece(s)?

PostPosted: Tue Apr 19, 2016 2:12 pm
by SpikeyTigertron


I'd have to take him out of storage, but I should look into some... de-oxiders?



Re: Defective Masterpiece(s)?

PostPosted: Tue Apr 19, 2016 6:29 pm
by fenrir72
SpikeyTigertron wrote:

I'd have to take him out of storage, but I should look into some... de-oxiders?




I used the one by Johnson and Johnson. The cream used to make ROTC belt buckles and silverware shiny. de-oxider or something. It eats up the rust that forms on the surface.

Re: Defective Masterpiece(s)?

PostPosted: Fri Apr 29, 2016 7:46 pm
by Optimum Supreme
Optimum Supreme wrote:
fenrir72 wrote:
Optimum Supreme wrote:There's a widespread issue with part of MP1's mini Megatron breaking (I think on the stock). Mine seems to be fine, but it's such a notorious thing I think I've just been lucky. I have the Takara version, I don't know if that makes a difference or not.



Go check it OS! Mine was the first release 2004. Around the time reports filtered in mine automatically broke in package. :shock:


Mine's in a drawer, and I checked around that time as well and it was perfectly fine. I'll probably check again now that you've made me think about checking again, lol


Checking it, mine still seems fine, other than being oddly dusty for having been sitting in a closed drawer (but everything in that drawer was dusty, I really don't know why, my other drawers seem to keep the dust out).

This is the original MP1 Convoy from late 2003.

Re: Defective Masterpiece(s)?

PostPosted: Sat Apr 30, 2016 3:37 am
by fenrir72
Optimum Supreme wrote:
Optimum Supreme wrote:
fenrir72 wrote:
Optimum Supreme wrote:There's a widespread issue with part of MP1's mini Megatron breaking (I think on the stock). Mine seems to be fine, but it's such a notorious thing I think I've just been lucky. I have the Takara version, I don't know if that makes a difference or not.



Go check it OS! Mine was the first release 2004. Around the time reports filtered in mine automatically broke in package. :shock:


Mine's in a drawer, and I checked around that time as well and it was perfectly fine. I'll probably check again now that you've made me think about checking again, lol


Checking it, mine still seems fine, other than being oddly dusty for having been sitting in a closed drawer (but everything in that drawer was dusty, I really don't know why, my other drawers seem to keep the dust out).

This is the original MP1 Convoy from late 2003.


It's oxidizing kimosabe! Also, check his energon ax. It sticky gooey?

Re: Defective Masterpiece(s)?

PostPosted: Mon May 02, 2016 3:35 pm
by Optimum Supreme
fenrir72 wrote:
Optimum Supreme wrote:
Optimum Supreme wrote:
fenrir72 wrote:
Optimum Supreme wrote:There's a widespread issue with part of MP1's mini Megatron breaking (I think on the stock). Mine seems to be fine, but it's such a notorious thing I think I've just been lucky. I have the Takara version, I don't know if that makes a difference or not.



Go check it OS! Mine was the first release 2004. Around the time reports filtered in mine automatically broke in package. :shock:


Mine's in a drawer, and I checked around that time as well and it was perfectly fine. I'll probably check again now that you've made me think about checking again, lol


Checking it, mine still seems fine, other than being oddly dusty for having been sitting in a closed drawer (but everything in that drawer was dusty, I really don't know why, my other drawers seem to keep the dust out).

This is the original MP1 Convoy from late 2003.


It's oxidizing kimosabe! Also, check his energon ax. It sticky gooey?


Nah, it's just regular dust from my stupid dusty house, just somehow that drawer doesn't keep it out like I thought it would.

Re: Defective Masterpiece(s)?

PostPosted: Mon May 02, 2016 8:52 pm
by Wolfman Jake
We've discussed some of the horrors of Transformers collecting from "Gold Plastic Syndrome" to the yellowing of white plastic over time, but have we talked much about what makes or breaks "chrome" (vacuum metallized paint applications) on toys? The latest Masterpiece Hot Rod is bringing this issue of chrome wearing/flaking to the forefront. These are brand new pieces, and already collectors are finding that the silver chrome is chipping, revealing the orange color plastic beneath. I just found some on MP-28 Hot Rod, and I haven't touched it since first transforming it a few weeks ago! I've got a BUNCH of Transformers Henkei releases, which are several years older now, and NONE of them have this problem yet. What makes chrome so hit and miss with its longevity?

Re: Defective Masterpiece(s)?

PostPosted: Mon May 02, 2016 10:37 pm
by fenrir72
Wolfman Jake wrote:We've discussed some of the horrors of Transformers collecting from "Gold Plastic Syndrome" to the yellowing of white plastic over time, but have we talked much about what makes or breaks "chrome" (vacuum metallized paint applications) on toys? The latest Masterpiece Hot Rod is bringing this issue of chrome wearing/flaking to the forefront. These are brand new pieces, and already collectors are finding that the silver chrome is chipping, revealing the orange color plastic beneath. I just found some on MP-28 Hot Rod, and I haven't touched it since first transforming it a few weeks ago! I've got a BUNCH of Transformers Henkei releases, which are several years older now, and NONE of them have this problem yet. What makes chrome so hit and miss with its longevity?


Was your's with a coin or none? It seems the ones with the coins are the first to arrive batches in Asia. Iirc, the ones for Japan market (no coins) arrived 2 weeks later.

Relevance? Maybe the chroming process was rushed? Not enough time to bake/set in? That and global warming/climate change whatchamacalit (nope, I'm not being sarcastic or politicking)

My Hotrodimus still has intact chrome (no coin version).

That's probably the reason Doc Ratchet has a lot of paint chipping. The paint wasn't given enough time to bake/ set or dry (just an inference) and rushed to be released.

IH got a release delay by a month or two.

Another "defect" I noticed. Maybe because of the thickness of paint as 1st edition MP-01 has this tiny goosebumps showing in his chest chamber/wind shield. Same with my iPod Optimus Prime. There are those tiny blisters showing up...............darn!

Not MP but similar symptoms to MP-01.