The Energon Pub

/shakes fist
"I'll get you El Duque!"

Anywho, I was looking for input from the community about the QC of Takara's Transformers United line...

I have picked up a few of their C- and D- line figures (mostly when I prefer the mold/paint scheme over the Hasbro version), and have never had reason to regret getting the Henkei versions...does the same quality hold true of the UN- series of thier figures? Sometimes it seems that the UN- version of a given figure is more readily available than the Hasbro version, and vice-versa...also the cost seems to be the same way (for instance, UN Blurr is more expensive than his Hasbro counterpart, but UN Megs is actualy cheaper), so I can't get a good feel for when, and if, it is actually more productive to get the UN version of figures I am really jonesing for, or if I should hold out for the Hasbro "original"...

Thanks for any insights.

I have no idea what you're talking about

As for the quality of Takara's United figures, it's the same their Hasbro counterparts. Many claim Takara's quality control is greater than Hasbro's, but I disagree. The Takara figures often have more desirable decos but the quality is the same.

I'm one who more or less gets a majority of the Japan releases over the Hasbro.

I say its more on the presentation and on some minute occasions the quality which make Tomy's releases differ from Hasbro.

Ehemplo:

1. United Wreck-gar: my bad experience is that I purchased a headless MISB version

2. United Wheeljack aside from the paint apps had more tighter ratchet joints on his chest( kept it from sliding back over the Hasbro version which was very loose in my version)

3. United Drift had much brighter plastic and comic accurate paint apps

4. Straxus too had more Issue#18 accurate colors over the Hasbro version which had Issue#17 colors

5.United Scourge more pleasing to the eyes paint apps + extra over the apps in Hasbro

I could go on and on.............same thing with the MP releases, quality has become somewhat iffy

If you're a Drift fan at all, spring for the United version. I've seen the 2 of them next to each other and United Drift makes Hasbro Drift look more like "Smoke Damage Drift," the white is just that much nicer.

Valid point by fenrir22, presentation is definitely key and IMO United Megs, Drift, Wreck-Gar, and Jazz blow the Hasbro releases away. Even though United Scourge had slight variances vs. Hasbro's again presentation made my decision. I did get both versions of Perceptor to do a swapping of limbs, I just had to! I can't comment any more on UN Jazz any more he's just . UN Drift was meant to look that way...hint hint Hasbro, and the same goes for UN Megs. Far bolder and much more sinister looking and finally UN Wreck-Gar is my WG.

Some may think his glossy shiny look just doesn't suit the lord of junk. I think he loved the way Ultra Magnus looked all polished so much, up that after a battle he goes for some detailed polish work. Anyway dude there is my rant, pick the others you wish but do get the 4 United TFs I mentioned for quality (forget to mention) and representation...'nuff said!

Delicon wrote:If you're a Drift fan at all, spring for the United version. I've seen the 2 of them next to each other and United Drift makes Hasbro Drift look more like "Smoke Damage Drift," the white is just that much nicer.

Same with United Jazz, I'll say that the white plastic used "pops" better than what Hasbro used. Not to forget about the better paint apps on the United version, and silver hubcaps which are sadly missing from the Hasbro release.

However, the ultimate decision is whether one wants to pay roughly 3 - 4x the price of US domestic release to get an import. I've only ordered a few of Takara's figures in the past 5 years when Hasbro offered the same figure just because it was difficult to justify (for a US resident) to pay such an increase.

Oddly enough, Hasbro's Red Alert used a good white plastic that doesn't seem aged (haha, "Smoke Damaged"), so we know someone's been brushing with Crest!

I live in the US but I buy a LOT of Takara figures. The quality is on par with Hasbro's and I agree with the others who say the only difference is the paint apps. That's generally accurate, the only exception being when a figure uses a different color of plastic, in which case the quality *may* be better if it's a higher quality plastic, but that's seldom the case, usually the quality is just the same.

I haven't had any QC problems with United.

I usually spring for the shiny for characters I really like or who were new in the animated movie. So far that's: the two eHobby box sets, Scourge (who may or may not be a Sweep), Wreck-Gar (after having him in-hand I have to admit to liking him better than the Hasbro version), Jazz, and soon Bomblebee (to turn into Goldbug ... gotta admit this is due mainly to Dr. Smoov's video).

I'm just not a huge enough fan of any of the other guys to go for the expensive foreign release, even when colors are superior. Not when there's so many other things out that I want more.

Yes. They are the same.

I rarely go with Takara version only if I have no choice or found a good deal. My most recent Takara purchase is United Frenzy/Rumble. I'm totally disappointed. When I opened the box, I found one side of Frenzy's neck is extra thick that his head is always leaning to the other side. So I had to give him some neck surgery to make his head straight. Paint app is also so so that there were couple "oops" sections and some missing paints that I have to apply by my self.

Another reference here as well.