Initial thoughts on MP BW Megatron from HK...
 

Mine have not been shipped, but I have just gone through some initial reports on the new MP BW Megatron from fellow collectors in Hong Kong:

• Bot mode looks spot on. Articulations are very good.

• Transformation is a pita, esp. around the waist where the body/chest/whatever needs to be locked down. Some spots are extremely tight. The official instructions manual doesn’t help.

• The plastic TakaraTomy picked is subpar at best for the price. Very easy to leave stress marks.

Take it as a grain of salt if you wanted. From what I have gathered TakaraTomy has not delivered the goods w.r.t. the price point. I am seriously thinking about a last minute cancellation and wait for more conclusive and thorough reviews.

Re: Initial thoughts on MP BW Megatron from HK...
 

I bet the concerns regarding materials = someone confusing thin panels (by design) with cheap plastics.

Re: Initial thoughts on MP BW Megatron from HK...
 

Check this thread, Pascal.
http://tieba.baidu.com/p/6084269160
From the pic you can see maybe the plastic is kind of cheap, or too thin.

Re: Initial thoughts on MP BW Megatron from HK...
 

Or maybe it was thin and forced...

Re: Initial thoughts on MP BW Megatron from HK...
 

Takara seems to be faltering now as I feel as though the added complexity of designs and engineering could simply be a justification for the recent price increase. I mean, you need to convince the market that they're still getting their money's worth, no? I'm not saying this is entirely the case but at these higher prices there's zero reason for the typical QC or sub-par plastic issues.

Re: Initial thoughts on MP BW Megatron from HK...
 

Personally, I prefer to get my toy reviews from someone who has handled one in person.

Re: Initial thoughts on MP BW Megatron from HK...
 

What's surprising is that no one has reviewed it yet and it's so close to the release. Usually Bens Collectables is one of the first reviewers to review Transformers, but nothing yet. Probably Takara being cautious about KO company stealing the mold (which is probably going to happen anyways as we are currently seeing with Dinobot).

Re: Initial thoughts on MP BW Megatron from HK...
 

Well this can't be good

https://www.seibertron.com/transform...egatron/43157/

Re: Initial thoughts on MP BW Megatron from HK...
 

Well, I didn’t say I have first hand experience with it as says in my title and what not, just referenced others’ thoughts online. Like I said you can take it as a grain of salt. But...

... this is what I have been read online earlier today, hot off the press from Hong Kong. Just a heads up for peeps like me who has preordered.

Re: Initial thoughts on MP BW Megatron from HK...
 

Spot on

Re: Initial thoughts on MP BW Megatron from HK...
 

Saw this on another board, and I think it pretty much sums it up;

“The masterpieces are pretty, but I don't want to transform a Faberge egg.”

Re: Initial thoughts on MP BW Megatron from HK...
 

Man, I hope this isn't a QC issue across the board. I already have two MPs I'm reticent about transforming because of the possibilty of damaging them (Megatron V2 and Dinobot). And BW Megatron is the most expensive and fragile-looking one yet.

Re: Initial thoughts on MP BW Megatron from HK...
 

It's only one report, yet MM titles "Reports of Breakage and Easy Stressing for Masterpiece MP-43 Beast Wars Megatron". It's misleading.

Re: Initial thoughts on MP BW Megatron from HK...
 

Fair enough. Based on what I saw I thought it was more wide spread. Guess time will tell when ppl get him in hand. Hopefully it's a one off so to speak

Re: Initial thoughts on MP BW Megatron from HK...
 

I don’t care about that guy you mentioned but there are others. I don’t share them because they are in Chinese...

Like I said take these as grain of salt. It might be a non-issue, or it is a concern. I will be super careful with mine when I got it (too late to cancel for me).

Re: Initial thoughts on MP BW Megatron from HK...
 

Welp, mine is on its way from Amazon Japan. I guess I'll find out in a week and a half if it's a solid product or a Faberge egg, lol.

Re: Initial thoughts on MP BW Megatron from HK...
 

Yesterday on Baidu I read another post. This rich collector actually bought 2, as he was afraid of breakage. He said some parts are too strong, or too stiff. So during transformation, he just un-screw the figure in several places, basically took it apart then transform.

Kind of funny since this shouldn't be a parts-former. :D

Re: Initial thoughts on MP BW Megatron from HK...
 

So then it is a little more wide spread then. That is most unfortunate.

Re: Initial thoughts on MP BW Megatron from HK...
 

Most definitely werevenom. The price for Megs should be more than enough justification for people to expect a high level of quality control.

If this turns into a widespread complaint, it would further my opinion, biased though it may be, that Takara is not taking the MP line seriously enough anymore to prevent these kinds of problems.

There is no way these types of issues should ever make it out of the factory in this day and age, especially on "premium" priced items.

Re: Initial thoughts on MP BW Megatron from HK...
 

Dinobot had similar reports during this early stage and it turned out to be an issue with scary levels of tolerances. I don’t like the idea of having to worry about transforming my uber expensive transformer

Re: Initial thoughts on MP BW Megatron from HK...
 

It does suggest that we're reaching a breaking point (pun intended) in the quest to make a transformable figure as screen-accurate as possible in both modes, where the ability to achieve that result leads to more extensive and intricate panel-forming, smaller and thinner parts, tighter tolerances, and more areas that are prone to breakage.

Re: Initial thoughts on MP BW Megatron from HK...
 

I transformed Dinobot several times since I got him without issues. I am REALLY hoping Megatron turns out the same way.

Re: Initial thoughts on MP BW Megatron from HK...
 

One guy unscrewing parts as a safety measure without really knowing if NOT doing so would damage the figure is hardly what I would call a QC issue report... Tons of buyers already have the figure by now. People with a positive experience often don't bother posting.

Re: Initial thoughts on MP BW Megatron from HK...
 

I've already watched a review from Japan, seems fine to me.
https://youtu.be/WhNukGOgtgI

Here's another positive one:
https://youtu.be/OuseLxppLOA

Re: Initial thoughts on MP BW Megatron from HK...
 

Generally yes but anyone, you included, should be grateful of the fact of potential warnings of breakage. Even if this serves as a warning to say "Hey, watch out for this part of the transformation" wouldn't everyone appreciate the heads up? Especially given the price tag?

Re: Initial thoughts on MP BW Megatron from HK...
 

I will say that even though I bought a TR Trypticon from one of the "good batches", I did the hip/tail fixes anyways (didn't clip the springs, just got them out and worked the hell out of them so they weren't so ball-bustingly strong on the candy-*ss plastic they used)

I also am super careful when adjusting the hip ratchets, and treat the tail joint tenderly

I wouldn't have done these things if people hadn't issued the widespread warnings of the QA issues that plagued Trypticon's release, and so far I've had no issues

So yes, I can appreciate fair notice of potential issues, better to have more warning than none

Re: Initial thoughts on MP BW Megatron from HK...
 

I compeletely agree!

For me, it doesnt matter if an issue is on a mass scale per say. Just a friendly reminder from another collector to be careful or mindful or a certain aspect of a figure I find to be immensely helpful :)

Its the help from these forums I enjoy most.

Re: Initial thoughts on MP BW Megatron from HK...
 

I just passed on the info as a warning, nothing more. I have nothing against MP BW Megatron or TakaraTomy - I preordered two (was going to cancel one to see how it goes but was too late for that) anyway. May be there are issues or may be there isn’t. If some perceived this as a smear campaign or something may be I will just keep quiet next time... I supposed it is not my business.

Re: Initial thoughts on MP BW Megatron from HK...
 

Nah man, dont be quiet :) ... Passing along this info was helpful for me and I appreciate it.

Re: Initial thoughts on MP BW Megatron from HK...
 

I wouldn't take it that way. I'm sure ppl appreciate the fact that you pointed it out and in this community especially here on this board help is and should always be appreciated. Don't let the perceived negativity ever stop you or anyone else from helping. Now I'm done preaching :D

Re: Initial thoughts on MP BW Megatron from HK...
 

Well, my MP-43 was just delivered from Amazon Japan... fastest shipping I've ever gotten for a Japanese preorder! I'm looking forward to shattering poor Megs to pieces tonight. :)

Re: Initial thoughts on MP BW Megatron from HK...
 

Now 2 are good
Seems this thread is pointless other than some people having issues.
Be careful is all.

Re: Initial thoughts on MP BW Megatron from HK...
 

Nothing wrong with sharing info.
I definitely would like to know if I need to pay more attention to a sensitive part and/or transformation step

Re: Initial thoughts on MP BW Megatron from HK...
 

Mine came this evening (amazon japan). I have transformed him and everything seems OK. The outer shell does feel cheap/thin, but the main parts like the legs feel pretty solid. This gives a duality to the figure - some parts you don't want to pull too hard where as some parts (near the waist) required a lot of force to get moving. I took things slow and it was OK.

Anyway, I'm happy with the figure overall. The credit card charge was $350 CDN pre-ordered on amazon.jp with shipping & import fees. It's still a lot, but it's a lot less than it would have been buying off an importer.

Anyway, I'm a Beast Wars fan and a fan of BW Megatron in particular so this was a must have figure.

Re: Initial thoughts on MP BW Megatron from HK...
 

2nd and 3rd guy reported issue of breakage in the crotch area in this post: http://tieba.baidu.com/p/6087231570



(if you check this post, the 1st guy also have breakage in the same area. http://tieba.baidu.com/p/6084269160 )

I wonder why it's all in crotch area, some design issue?

Re: Initial thoughts on MP BW Megatron from HK...
 

Oh boy, that doesn't look good. That's a fairly important area to have breakage too (the legs could loosen up as a result). My figure just got delivered to a DHL pickup location, so I'll go get it tomorrow. I guess we'll just have to see. Amazon has a really good return policy if something like this happens.

Re: Initial thoughts on MP BW Megatron from HK...
 

The crotch has a bit of a swirl pattern to it. I wonder if this is a new form of gps (gold plastic syndrome) where the plastic will eventually randomly break because of how they mixed the plastic and colour together.

I was messing around with mine a bit more and I've found the default face slides on and off easily, but the two additional faces are very hard to get on all the way. I wonder if anyone else has this problem.

Re: Initial thoughts on MP BW Megatron from HK...
 

There is more than one report. Here is another from Goldimus Prime over at TFW:

https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/attac...-jpg.28243286/

Plus, the stress marks are a confirmed common issue on some joints. I have no clue why anyone would rather not share warnings of a 300$ figure.

Re: Initial thoughts on MP BW Megatron from HK...
 

3 reports out of how many units sold? :)

You guys are awesome at blowing things out of proportions. Maybe I should have reported that my MP-10 originally came with a rear light missing and made a news of out it. "WARNING!!!! REPORTS OF MISSING PIECES ON MP-10!!"

;)

Re: Initial thoughts on MP BW Megatron from HK...
 

I really don't think it's been blown out of proportion. If we're careful when handling our copy of the figure, we can hopefully prevent a similar issue from happening. The figure has only really been released for about 2 days now, so if it's a widespread issue, we'll know in the next couple weeks.