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Post by The Doctor on Jun 15, 2017 22:25:42 GMT
Wow. I have checked my Brawn with the comparison pics there (particularly the Autobot sticker and the detail on the blue bar on the robot tummy). It is a KO! I never would have known!
EDIT: Checked the car mode front grill. Yup. KO! I am not complaing though. It was a gift.
-Ralph
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Post by Llama God on Jun 15, 2017 23:32:32 GMT
Well that's a rabbit hole I didn't need to fall into. Nevertheless, I am now knee-deep in rabbit poo.
This is a bizarre situation though (the KOs, that is).
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Post by blueshift on Jun 16, 2017 5:45:23 GMT
Well that's a rabbit hole I didn't need to fall into. Nevertheless, I am now knee-deep in rabbit poo. This is a bizarre situation though (the KOs, that is). Looks like there's some debate in the thread as to what they exactly are. I mean sure, stolen CAD files but then they've still got to cast the molds (expensive!) and the batch numbers indicate they were made much earlier? My gut feeling is more that these were first run/test run figures or repackaged seconds. Or 'lunchtime specials' (remember those??) |
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Post by Philip Ayres on Jun 16, 2017 6:44:50 GMT
Oh my goodness, how odd!
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Post by The Doctor on Jun 16, 2017 9:24:15 GMT
I threw the packaging out. Did anyone retain theirs so we can have a look?
-Ralph
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Post by The Doctor on Jun 16, 2017 9:29:25 GMT
But I do have the instruction booklet for Brawn. Seems legit. The right paper stock, copyright info, etc.
-Ralph
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Post by Philip Ayres on Jun 16, 2017 10:19:23 GMT
I threw the packaging out. Did anyone retain theirs so we can have a look? -Ralph I've got a set for the Seaspray and will soon have a legit Seaspray. I've also got all my legit TR packaging. |
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Post by Philip Ayres on Jun 16, 2017 10:21:03 GMT
I'm reminded of the Chinese TFs in the 90s. They're subtly different too in places.
However these seem to have an above average rate of faults.
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Post by Llama God on Jun 16, 2017 11:57:57 GMT
Which might support the "lunchtime specials" idea. Because yes, I agree that whilst it's easy enough to steal CAD files, it must cost a lot to set up the machinery to cast them all; given they're also undercutting Hasbro, I have no idea how they could actually make money from this.
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Post by Pinwig on Jun 16, 2017 20:34:49 GMT
I've got mine. I'm with Blue, these feel like seconds. If they were nicked cad files how is the packaging correct? There's also a clue in the fact my Roadburn had a Chase instruction sheet. They're just early rejects surely.
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Post by Pinwig on Jun 17, 2017 9:03:26 GMT
So having read the TFW thread it does look like there is something fishy going on with those figures. Which made it bittersweet this morning when Seaspray's head arrived. He's now complete, but probably a knock off. Meh. However I am therefore able to say I've been sent a head in a box by the Chinese mafia.  |
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Post by blueshift on Jun 17, 2017 9:25:14 GMT
So having read the TFW thread it does look like there is something fishy going on with those figures. Which made it bittersweet this morning when Seaspray's head arrived. He's now complete, but probably a knock off. Meh. I still can't believe that there's a company who are not only stealing Hasbro CAD files, but making proper metal tools faster than Hasbro at the same quality, using the same paint apps and maps and also have hold of the same packaging. And selling it for a lower price plus free shipping from China. And doing it all quicker than Hasbro. Also only making legends. I mean what's the end game. Lose money? Unless we are being severely misled as to the cost of making these figures and it turns out each toy only costs Hasbro 10p or whatever. Personally I think it's far more likely that they're seconds or early run (the example with the Chase instructions on the Roadfire). I mean, if someone has a pile of those that explains how they can do them so early and afford to sell them cheaply as they're basically zero cost to the seller. And why there are so many with obvious QC issues like no heads and duplicate parts. |
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Post by legios on Jun 17, 2017 9:30:35 GMT
I'm inclined to agree, these are coming out of the same factories out in Korea or Vietnam or wherever it is that Tomy and Hasbro are using. Almost certainly stuff that were supposed to be destroyed - after all, they effectively represent pure profit to the factory owners to sell - seeing as Hasbro or Tomy have already paid the associated production costs for them.
Karl
(p.s sent a head in a box by a Triad... Pinwig, your life sounds like it is taking a distinctly "Black Lagoon" -esque turn to it.)
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Post by reilly2040 on Jun 17, 2017 10:21:47 GMT
Wow. Likewise I've thrown out the packaging, just keeping the collectors cards and instructions but its obviously much more involved than I'd thought. Certainly from the quality of the Roadburn I received I could believe it was some sort of knock off when compared to my Asda-bought Bumblebee. It's hard to quantify but in hand it just feels...off. Everything's there and looks correct it just feels lower quality.
The Seaspray head in a box is a classic though 😃
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Post by blueshift on Jun 17, 2017 10:36:34 GMT
Everything's there and looks correct it just feels lower quality. Yeah but frankly so has a lot of Hasbro's product in recent years |
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Post by Pinwig on Jun 17, 2017 10:42:47 GMT
I've just noticed that these 'hooky' ones still have batch number stamps on them like the proper ones do. My Brawn and Roadburn came from different sellers but they're both stamped 62711 on the cardback. Anyone got a proper one with a different batch number?
That thread also said that the dodgy ones don't have the Hasbro authenticity sticker on them. Well, none of my TFs do. I've changed my mind again. These do feel like first run 'test the mould' jobs - the first few hundred off the production line to check everything's working. After which point clearly some moulds were amended to fix thing like the off-centre grill on Brawn.
I've now united Seaspray with his head - I note the yellow paint for the head is very slightly different to the body, but, what a cracking figure! this one does have an issue with his right leg - it pops off the mushroom peg on the thigh very easily because the plastic isn't quite flush, but this is a really nice representation of that character. If he makes it out over here I might buy another just to see the difference.
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Post by blueshift on Jun 17, 2017 10:46:27 GMT
The sticker is just for chinese releases
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Post by The Doctor on Jun 17, 2017 16:13:48 GMT
Ralph must now get a real Brawn so he can put real Brawn inside real Brawn.
-Ralph
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Post by Pinwig on Jun 17, 2017 20:44:42 GMT
I am loving Seaspray. He is so chunky for a legend and I like the way if you leave the detachable part attached in robot mode it gives him his portly cartoon appearance. I also understand the inscription on the inside of his wrist says Alanna in Jim Sorenson's Cybertronian font. Lovely touch!
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Post by blueshift on Jun 17, 2017 22:07:22 GMT
if you leave the detachable part attached in robot mode His head?  |
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Post by Philip Ayres on Jun 17, 2017 22:08:00 GMT
The propeller assembly also detached to form another weapon
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Post by Pinwig on Jun 17, 2017 22:13:21 GMT
Oh yes! so it does! I wondered what that seam was for. That would have made getting his head on easier.
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Post by Philip Ayres on Jun 18, 2017 0:47:05 GMT
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Post by reilly2040 on Jun 28, 2017 10:18:21 GMT
Just as a brief epilogue to my Brawn saga, after some gentle prodding, the seller did dispatch a replacement wheel, which arrived yesterday. Its nice to finally have the figure completed, and at least the seller is ok for sorting out the missing parts issue. Not as funny as the Seaspray head-in-a-box though   |
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Post by Philip Ayres on Jul 19, 2017 8:44:31 GMT
I've now got a Hasbro Seaspray from a UK importer as well as a potentially dodgy Chinese eBay one: The Chinese one has the Gnaw stats on he back of the card but the Hasbro one is fine.
The quality on the figures is subtly different, it's hard to put a finger on what's wrong though. The rotors come off easier on the Chinese one and it's harder to transform, the chest does not want TF on my Chinese one, so going from opened up in hovercraft to closed in robot and vice versa.
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Post by Philip Ayres on Jul 20, 2018 9:27:00 GMT
Following May's Rumours and SDCC 2018 reveals it does look like the Legends size is no more so I thought we should reopen it's thread, closed when they they were more integrated into the main toylines during Prime Wars, to pay tribute. I'll miss Legends. Some of my favourite toys in the last few years have been done it: Swerve, Gnaw and Brawn to name but three. Yes there's been a few changes of direction: Larger characters done at a smaller scale with Minicons became Smaller characters with Minicons became Smaller characters that turn into weapons/armour plus repaints of the older toys and finally small characters that can hold a Titan/Prime Master driver. There's been a few missteps on the way - some of the larger characers repainted as smaller ones didn't work (Huffer, Pipes & Warpath). Chopshop needed more remoulding. The weapon/armour idea didn't work and the tapes could have been better. I'll miss it. I'm sure it'll be back post Micromasters though and already it's doing what any good Transformers does and living on as Movie exclusives. So Legends size memories please. Best/Worst etc..... |
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Post by The Doctor on Jul 22, 2018 9:08:24 GMT
My last TRU purchase was the legends size Seaspray. Fab toy.
-Ralph
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