ROTF Mixmaster: Not faulty, just bad instructions [renamed thread]

[Paulbot]

It seems most people are finding faulty Mixmaster toys, misassembled in such a way that you can not transform it correctly to weapon mode.


Hey, can one of you guys with Mixmaster take a photo similar to the one i've done below? I tried transforming to 3rd mode and can't seem to do it (i hope i'm not just tired!) - Looking at the instructions, i think this long bar with hinges has been assembled wrong - thankfully it doesn't affect the other 2 modes. From what i could do, the 3rd mode really looks crap and nothing clips nicely like the other 2 modes do very well - so i'm not really fussed, just curious if it is indeed assembled wrong.

http://www.australian-postcodes.com/P1030651.jpg


Stompy suggests this as the way to spot it in the shop


...here's a few pictures of what to look for. This is located just underneath the front of the truck cab. It should be just visible int he box. Probably best to bring a small LED torch to the shop. :p

This first picture is what to AVOID as it's mis-assembled:

http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk269/StompBrother/Mixmaster-mis-assembly01.jpg

Note the "piston" like sculpted duo. This is misassembled and should be on the inside.

This second picture is what to look for and the one to GET:

http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk269/StompBrother/Mixmaster-mis-assembly02.jpg

Note the two recessed grooves and the blue part sticking outwards.

Remember that part is only about 3cm big.


And a fix has been suggested, which includes punching out the pin.


Not really. You have to assess which direction the pin was put in as you have to tap it out the reverse direction using a hammer and a nail. Ideally doing it on a piece of would wood (:D) which has a small hole you can work over so the pin can go into the hole as you tap it. LCZ128 sent me a link to a helpful page when I asked about this some time ago. It was quite help. I'll ask him again.

But has anyone actually found a good Mixmaster in store?

I don't want to have a toy I have to fix a toy in order to transform it correctly. Why would I spend $40-$50 on something that straight out of the box can't do what it says it can do on the box.

[jaydisc]

I didn't realize you could check in the box. I just hit a couple Kmarts and checked 5. All faulty I'm afraid. Perhaps it's worth notifying Hasbro? It's easy to prove while comparing the toy to the instructions.

Some TFW comments (http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-feedback/230767-rotf-mixmaster-pictorial-review-4.html#post3768625):


I'm going to have to disagree and say the instructions might be wrong here. I can get to weapons mode just fine, and my hinge is the same way as the supposed "misassembled" pics. If the hinge were facing the other way, that strut wouldn't collapse nearly as neatly as it already does for robot mode, possibly not even allowing the cab to connect at all if reversed.


Mixmaster is ok I guess. He works better If you pull the pin at the cab and reverse the cab. However it should not be necessary to preform surgery on the toys in order to transforme them correctly.


How exactly does it change the transformation? I have no problems with my "backwards" hinge Mixmaster getting everything together and locked down. Do you have a picture of the change?

Sounds like the jury's still out.

[Paulbot]

Yeah I did a bit of browsing too and there's no firm answer which is why I wanted it to be discussed more visibily on our forum.

It's very easy to spot in the box, but you raise a good point of "are there any in box that aren't backwards"?

[kurdt_the_goat]

Even though it's undeniable that the instructions indicate the piece should be connected the other way... i don't think it's affecting anything - the third mode is a pile of goop and changing the bar around won't save it! Get the toy for it's awesome other 2 modes!

That said, fiddling around with it a while ago i managed to get a semblance of a battle station where the back wheels actually plug perfectly into 2 holes on the inside of the cab - almost as if it was intentional. If the bar was the other way, the way i've got it now would be impossible. At the end of the day though, even with this alternate transformation, he still looks like ass :eek: I'll post a photo when i get home today.

[Stompy]

I wasn't too happy with the misassembled part as in robot mode the cab doesn't sit on his back properly. If it was assembled properly the truck cab would sit on the bot modes back flush and not hanging out like a giant nappy.

I never bothered with the 3rd mode, so I can't really comment on how the misassembled part affects it.

[iceburn]

i've gone to check those at Target chaddy too... the faults the same!

[dirge]

I've just had a go at this, I can't for the life of me get the pin out ):

I see what you're referring to, Stompy... you're right it does enhance the robot mode. Shame mine is stuck.

[Stompy]

Mine is stuck too. Tried to hammer out the pin. Just couldn't get it out. Any more force and I'm scared I will have a destroyed hinge.

[kurdt_the_goat]

Here's the version of a battle mode i got going where the back wheels peg into the underside of the cab. Like i said - looks like ass! But he does roll... and the connection points are definitely made for each other. Shame his claws are upside down - it might have made it look a bit better.

http://www.australian-postcodes.com/P1040191.jpg
http://www.australian-postcodes.com/P1040192.jpg
http://www.australian-postcodes.com/P1040194.jpg

[jaydisc]

Takara has just posted Flash instructions w/embedded video for a bunch of ROTF instructions:

http://www.takaratomy.co.jp/products/TF/products/movie2/03_manual.html

Can someone with a Mixmaster handy tell if the version used in the clip is misassembled or not?

[bruticus]

Takara has just posted Flash instructions w/embedded video for a bunch of ROTF instructions:

http://www.takaratomy.co.jp/products/TF/products/movie2/03_manual.html

Can someone with a Mixmaster handy tell if the version used in the clip is misassembled or not?

From looking at their video, they are using the version that you guys refer to as the "misassembled" one with the peg that looks like this in alternate mode:
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk269/StompBrother/Mixmaster-mis-assembly01.jpg

So Taktom are using the same ones that everybody else seems to be finding in their stores but they have modified some of the pictures in the japanese instructions such as "Changing to battle mode" Step 10.

The cab part does fit properly in robot mode provided you flip up that dark grey peg as per "Changing to robot" Step 13.

Just ignore some of the details in the printed english instructions.

However, i still cant get the mode 3 to resemble anything like the instructions nor Kurt's pics (btw, they are really well taken photos Kurt!!).
I might have another go at it later when my cold/flu clears up....

[jaydisc]

To me, it looks like the Takara instructions match the toy shipping in Australia:

http://itfdb.com/temporary/tf/mixmaster1.png
http://itfdb.com/temporary/tf/mixmaster2.png
http://itfdb.com/temporary/tf/mixmaster3.png
http://itfdb.com/temporary/tf/mixmaster4.png

[Stompy]

After observing the Hasbro instructions and the linked Takara instructions, I've come to a conclusion that the figure is NOT misassembled. Sorry if I lead people otherwise with my earlier pics. Here's why I think it isn't based on what has been discussed so far and from:

Official Hasbro instructions:
To Robot: http://www.postimage.org/Pq2bOSii-8e9900c9b58b7c6cc0cf11918e620663.jpg
Robot to Battle Mode: http://www.postimage.org/aV2b_NeJ-8e9900c9b58b7c6cc0cf11918e620663.jpg

Official Takara Instructions:
http://www.takaratomy.co.jp/products/TF/products/movie2/03_manual.html

After playing with the toy and converting it into its robot and battle mode using both instructions. I've realized that the Hasbro one is wrong (surprise surprise). If you look carefully at the instructions, the so called" misassembled part is actually an error int he manual. The blue part (with the triangle and knob) hinged to the grey part is the other way around in Hasbro's instructions while Takara's is exactly as the toy is assembled. In Hasbro's instruction into robot mode. Step 13 shows the hinge in question folding towards the back, while it cannot. Looking at Takara's instructions with the video (Step 13) on the link above shows that this is the proper way to align the cab on his back:

http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk269/StompBrother/Transformers/Mixmasterbotside.jpg

http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk269/StompBrother/Transformers/Mixmasterbotsideback.jpg

Now, I was thinking, surely it's gotta sit on his back better, more flushed, which it might if it was indeed assembled according to Hasbro's instructions but the thing that convinced me is the Battle mode conversion. It was simply designed to have it assembled as we have it already to get into Battle mode. Any other way and it won't be able to convert into battle mode. Do not follow Hasbro's mistransformed instructions. Following Takara's instructions I successfully made the proper Battle mode:

http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk269/StompBrother/Transformers/MixmasterBattlefront.jpg http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk269/StompBrother/Transformers/MixmasterBattleback.jpg

http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk269/StompBrother/Transformers/MixmasterBattleside.jpg

http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk269/StompBrother/Transformers/MixmasterBattlefront02.jpg

http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk269/StompBrother/Transformers/MixmasterBattlehead.jpg

Notice how compact it is. It's quite tricky to position it but follow Takara's instructions and you will get there. The last picture above shows the head ont he underside. Also notice the gas canisters acting as stands? basically the grille of the cab, the gas tanks and his fingers acts as a stand for this mode. See below for a sideview shot with the canister just visible under the wheels:

http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk269/StompBrother/Transformers/MixmasterBattlestand.jpg

The cab folds into place perfectly as what we have as is from our version. What I noticed too is that everything clips into place nicely. The main thing to know is on Takara's Step 15, you actually peg the tan portion in a hole under the wheel panel/guards. The smoke stacks actually slot into a groove on the inside of said tan part to keep it in place (see pics below).

http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk269/StompBrother/Transformers/MixmasterBattlepegging03.jpg

http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk269/StompBrother/Transformers/MixmasterBattlepegging02.jpg

http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk269/StompBrother/Transformers/MixmasterBattlepegging.jpg

Below is just how the smokestack slots in. Take note of the top part of the stack resting on the inside of the wheel panel/guard:

http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk269/StompBrother/Transformers/MixmasterBattlepeggingandaligning.jpg

Also you will see below that the peg on the inside of the cab clips on securely in place on that mysterious peg hole on the same strut it's on. This is where the proof that it isn't misassembled. If it was the other way around you cannot make this Battle mode and will be left with the mistransformed monster that is in the Hasbro instructions.

http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk269/StompBrother/Transformers/MixmasterBattleback.jpg

Sorry it was a bit long winded but at least I've cleared this up for myself and hope for you Mixmaster owners too. Sorry for the wrong advice Paulbot and to everyone else. I apologize.

But this propels Mixmaster to greater status on my set of movie figures. I'm digging the Battle mode a lot.

EDIT: Just to note that I slightly altered Battle Mode conversion by making the arms a little higher to get the flower/panel look for the cannon. It's easy to swing the arms down and arrange the panels around to get it to the "official Takara Battle mode."

[Sky Shadow]

http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk269/StompBrother/Transformers/MixmasterBattlefront02.jpg

That's so cute - he has a Beast Wars Neo-style flower mode. :)

Well puzzled-out, Stompy!

[kurdt_the_goat]

Can't wait to get back to my Mixmaster and try that conversion now! It actually doesn't look too bad in the end. I was certain those pegs on the back wheels that clip into the underside of the cab had to be usable in the correct transformation.

[Geminii]

That's so cute - he has a Beast Wars Neo-style flower mode. :)


BURN for the Royalty!

[Sky Shadow]

BURN for the Royalty!

Blenderbutt! :)