Takara Missing Link G1 Series

[CrockAlley]

That's actually why I haven't gotten any ML Transformers yet...Optimus had some issues with the die-cast and plastic that occurred often enough to wind up in a warning on the wiki, and Bumblebee and Cliffjumper's ankles are known breakages waiting to happen. I'm very iffy on the cost-to-fragility ratio.

I find that the wiki is sometimes overly cautious. The wiki states OP's thigh swivels are "extraordinarily tight." This is not true. I didn't even know the toy had thigh swivels until I read that, so I tried them out, and they're totally fine. Needed to "crack" the joint, but after that, it's good. As for plastic-on-metal, time will tell, but no problems so far. The hip joints are totally fine.

It's good to take care with toys, especially these expensive collector imports. But I haven't had any trouble with ML Optimus, Cliffjumper, or Bumblebee.

 

[Princess Viola]

(like one person has their figure break)

the wiki: BE CAREFUL SOME PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED BREAKAGE WITH THIS FIGURE!!!!!!!

edit: honestly i'd also say part of this issue is how a lot of people - fully reasonably - base their expectation of a figure off of the earliest in-hand reports and if a few people have issues early on, people extrapolate it to think that this is now a universal issue with a toy and not just like...the luck of the draw with a mass produced figure.

 

[Exatron]

It's always been like that. I've lost track of how many figures I've had for years, or decades even, that I've been told will inevitably destroy themselves in no time. Random mass production flaws get magnified into critical design errors, while legitimate systemic issues get magnified into every-copy-is-DOOMED mega failures.

These days, whenever I hear about some issue on a figure I have, I just take a quick look at it and decide whether it's something I should take some sort of corrective action on, take note of to keep in mind when handling, or just disregard as doom mongering. I find the latter category to be the most common.

 

[lastmaximal]

To be fair, I would like to be informed of the possibility so I can remember to try and take some care. Some detail would be appreciated, of course, rather than some vague mention of it. Because I'm a moron who also can't afford to replace things, I'd rather avoid creating a need to do so.

I don't think it's really a case of the wiki inflating the severity of things in most cases (not even to try and be funny; the toy descriptions tend to be more sober). It's almost as likely that the otherwise-just-accurate "some owners have stated __" (as opposed to "many", even) sounds concerning all on its own.

 

[CoffeeHorse]

On the other hand, when it was found that there was a truly widespread issue with ROTF era rubber melting plastic, TFWiki was strangely slow to mention it on any affected toy's page.

 

[MrBlud]

I’ve been using Neo Randy to prop up the leg of a 1,200 pound coffee table for decades. Still going strong with nary a crack*

*none of this is true.

 

[CoffeeHorse]

Poor Randy. I've seen one in a comic shop still on the card but completely destroyed. Springs and GPS do not mix.

 

[lastmaximal]

And then on top of that every third Transformer he gets has two left hands. And an incomplete var mode.

 

[PrimalxConvoy]

The wiki states OP's thigh swivels are "extraordinarily tight." This is not true. I didn't even know the toy had thigh swivels until I read that, so I tried them out, and they're totally fine...

However, just because it hasn't happened to you, didn't mean that it's not a (widespread) issue.

 

[Princess Viola]

IDK I've seen multiple videos reviewing Missing Link Convoy and the only universal 'be careful' thing I see them mention was the ab crunch being hella difficult to engage lol.

Surely if the thigh swivels were 'extraordinarily tight' was a universal issue at least one of these reviews would have mentioned it?

 

[LordGigaIce]

IDK I've seen multiple videos reviewing Missing Link Convoy and the only universal 'be careful' thing I see them mention was the ab crunch being hella difficult to engage lol.

Surely if the thigh swivels were 'extraordinarily tight' was a universal issue at least one of these reviews would have mentioned it?

I know this is anecdotal but I have two versions of the mould and the thighs aren't an issue on either. And no one I know who has it has said they have a thigh swivel issue.

None of this is scientific but I do chat with TF fans almost daily and more then a few have at least one version of the ML Prime mould... and these last couple of posts have been the first time I've heard anything about an issue with thigh swivels.

I don't mind the Wiki going "this has been an issue on some copies so JSYK be mindful."

But it does get annoying when a figure with very little in the way of widespread QC issues is met by people dominating the conversation with claims of bad QC that, if you look into it, have affected like one or two people.
Which hey... it sucks... but all too often this fandom takes limited issues and blows them out of proportion because we're all addicted to the angry juice in our brains.

 

[lastmaximal]

I think that's less the wiki and more people being people, a bad game of telephone.

 

[CrockAlley]

However, just because it hasn't happened to you, didn't mean that it's not a (widespread) issue.

Absolutely agreed. I will say, however, that the wiki's absolute claim that "the thighs are tight," is still false, because it is not universally true. If it said "some copies have tight thighs," or whatever, that would be okay. Even better is to cite a source. Where did that claim come from, how many reports, etc. As it is, there isn't any corroborating evidence for such a claim on the wiki.

 

[Sabrblade]

I just went and edited the entry to change "the thigh swivels in particular are extraordinarily tight" to instead say "the thigh swivels in particular can be extraordinarily tight on some copies".

 

[PrimalxConvoy]

Absolutely agreed. I will say, however, that the wiki's absolute claim that "the thighs are tight," is still false, because it is not universally true. If it said "some copies have tight thighs," or whatever, that would be okay. Even better is to cite a source. Where did that claim come from, how many reports, etc. As it is, there isn't any corroborating evidence for such a claim on the wiki.

How do you know it's not universally true? Where's your source?

 

[LordGigaIce]

How do you know it's not universally true? Where's your source?

Thighs are fine on mine. Therefore the problem is not universal.

 

[CrockAlley]

How do you know it's not universally true? Where's your source?

Thighs are fine on mine. Therefore the problem is not universal.

Exactly. The thighs on mine are also fine. It has been documented here on this message board. Therefore, it is not universal. Incidentally, where has it been said that the thighs are actually tight at all, outside of the wiki? I'm happy to believe it, but I haven't exposed myself to any reviews, so I don't know.

 

[CoffeeHorse]

I think the only "widespread issue" I've personally encountered is TM Megatron breaking in half.

 

[PrimalxConvoy]

Incidentally, where has it been said that the thighs are actually tight at all, outside of the wiki?

Missing Link C-01 and C-02 G1 Convoy (Optimus Prime) Revealed

Not sure if ABP, but just saw this rather recent unboxing and initial review by an american in Tokyo while we all wait for our copies... [MEDIA]...

www.tfw2005.com

Missing Link C-01 and C-02 G1 Convoy (Optimus Prime) Revealed

Not sure if ABP, but just saw this rather recent unboxing and initial review by an american in Tokyo while we all wait for our copies... [MEDIA]...

www.tfw2005.com

 

[Princess Viola]

Missing Link C-01 and C-02 G1 Convoy (Optimus Prime) Revealed

Not sure if ABP, but just saw this rather recent unboxing and initial review by an american in Tokyo while we all wait for our copies... [MEDIA]...

www.tfw2005.com

Missing Link C-01 and C-02 G1 Convoy (Optimus Prime) Revealed

Not sure if ABP, but just saw this rather recent unboxing and initial review by an american in Tokyo while we all wait for our copies... [MEDIA]...

www.tfw2005.com

Literally nowhere in those two posts does it say anything about the thigh swivels themselves being tight.