Universe 2.0 Sidswipe In-Package

[kup]

Dishwashing detergent won't damage the under plastic.

I mean about removing the chrome clean off. Does it just wipe away or does it leave imperfections or stains. Will it be glossy like the rest of the Red plastic?

[MV75]

Ah, that will depend on how quality the plastic was (it was to be chromed), and if the chroming damages it, but, you can get plastic polish. Just use a dvd/CD disc scratch remover kit. Otherwise you can get a container of it, I just can't remember what it's called. It should be a light brown paste. But I think auto stores have plastic polishes for cars now as well. Don't use regular car polish though, it stuffs plastic.

There we go:

http://www.meguiarsdirect.com/produc...T1=MEG+G12310&.

An example to try. I've never tried it on toys though, so you might want to test it first, as with all polishes.

The above can be done if you need to mechanically remove any chrome.

[STL]

People should speak out if Hasbro wants to continue this agenda of diminishing overall quality instead of blind praise or silence from people. I may be ridiculed and laughed at for my statements on this but at least I have my eyes open.

I don't like it but don't think for a moment Hasbro give a crap about my "blind praise" or "silence". They care about whether the toys move off the shelves and they sure as hell aren't going to care about a bunch of collectors moping and whinging on their boards.

I think everyone has their eyes opened. It's just some of us realise that saying how much we hate Hasbro and trying to rally an army of collectors at their doors with pitchforks ain't gonna happen. Parents aren't going to care and kids aren't sure as hell going to either. Quite frankly most of them don't notice. At the end of the day, we are a minority and I don't like it either but I've come to accept the reality is Hasbro plays a numbers game. It's brand is more important for it to build sales volumes to the mass market, not to a bunch of collectors raving madly in front of their computer screens.

When you use the word "agenda" it makes it seem like some systematic ploy that Hasbro has of alienating us. That they set out with the intent to maliciously deprive of us of the perfect toys we deserve. They don't. They're negligent and that's spun out of the fact that they honestly just don't give a stuff. They want high volumes moving and high sales. They don't care what you, me, or joe blow want. And that's their business model. Like it or not, it works for them on the back of the strength of the brand at the moment. But let's not kid ourselves for a moment and think that Hasbro are setting out with this vendetta against us. They aren't. They're just a lazy bunch of cost cutting profit seekers who see little value in high quality paint applications.

Do I like it? Hell no. But I don't have much of a choice. Hence why I turn to Takara.

If you really want to complain about someone, go complain at Takara. They're supposed to be collector focused so if they screw up majorly like they did with Sideswipe or Henkei Wildrider, then there's cause for uproar. Those are major stuff ups for a company supposedly trying to build itself on being more collector and quality orientated.

[gamblor916]

From what I've found the vacuum chrome plating actually protects the plastic underneath. Bleach will take off the chrome in seconds leaving the clear conductive coating intact. If you want to get rid of that layer soaking in something like Simple Green (a concentrated detergent) will get rid of that. After that it's just plain plastic.
Also Meguiars Scratch X is great for polishing.

[roller]

I'd buy it only if it was in G2 colours

[GoktimusPrime]

I don't like it but don't think for a moment Hasbro give a crap about my "blind praise" or "silence". They care about whether the toys move off the shelves and they sure as hell aren't going to care about a bunch of collectors moping and whinging on their boards.

I think everyone has their eyes opened. It's just some of us realise that saying how much we hate Hasbro and trying to rally an army of collectors at their doors with pitchforks ain't gonna happen. Parents aren't going to care and kids aren't sure as hell going to either. Quite frankly most of them don't notice. At the end of the day, we are a minority and I don't like it either but I've come to accept the reality is Hasbro plays a numbers game. It's brand is more important for it to build sales volumes to the mass market, not to a bunch of collectors raving madly in front of their computer screens.

When you use the word "agenda" it makes it seem like some systematic ploy that Hasbro has of alienating us. That they set out with the intent to maliciously deprive of us of the perfect toys we deserve. They don't. They're negligent and that's spun out of the fact that they honestly just don't give a stuff. They want high volumes moving and high sales. They don't care what you, me, or joe blow want. And that's their business model. Like it or not, it works for them on the back of the strength of the brand at the moment. But let's not kid ourselves for a moment and think that Hasbro are setting out with this vendetta against us. They aren't. They're just a lazy bunch of cost cutting profit seekers who see little value in high quality paint applications.

Do I like it? Hell no. But I don't have much of a choice. Hence why I turn to Takara.

I mostly agree with that. Money talks and you-know-what walks. And kids aren't stupid... they'll also boycott toys or toy lines if it's below their standards. Look at how Transfandom took a sharp nosedive after the introduction of Action Masters and Generation 2.

If you really want to complain about someone, go complain at Takara. They're supposed to be collector focused so if they screw up majorly like they did with Sideswipe or Henkei Wildrider, then there's cause for uproar. Those are major stuff ups for a company supposedly trying to build itself on being more collector and quality orientated.

Overall while I agree that TakaraTOMY's actions appear to be more collector orientated, I don't think it's accurate to say that the company is intentionally established to be that way. They're a toy company just like Hasbro and their primary target market is also kids. It's just that TakaraTOMY seem to be more attentive and take greater care in their work, so as a result they seem to produce quality that is more appeasing to discerning collectors. And yes, there are some lines which are exclusively aimed at collectors such as G1 reissues, Binaltech, Masterpiece etc. So it really depends on which line you're talking about.

Henkei is a line that is primarily being marketed at kids. This is very obvious when you look at the comics that are packaged with these figures - it's a very kiddie level comic, unlike say the text stories in Binaltech which are very much written for adult collectors.

Having said that, I have found in my experience that TakaraTOMY are far more receptive to feedback and criticisms than Hasbro. Some of you may remember the incident we had with the Encore Ironhide and Ratchet online surveys and how TakaraTOMY updated their database after I reported the problem within less than a day. When my MP Convoy was missing a piece Takara FedExed me replacement parts within less than a week.

[MV75]

I mostly agree with that. Money talks and you-know-what walks. And kids aren't stupid... they'll also boycott toys or toy lines if it's below their standards. Look at how Transfandom took a sharp nosedive after the introduction of Action Masters and Generation 2.

I'd say that would be more of a "I already have that toy" type of situation there.

Yep, and if toys keep falling to bits, kids arn't going to keep asking their parents for them either. Our original toys may be bricks, but they're built like bricks too with pins and screws and diecast aplenty.

And look at the new speed racer toys, they all appear to be plastic to me, if I were still buying toy cars, I'd stick with hotwheels.

And look at the tech line, I've never seen it move ever. The same ones are still at my local bigw.

[JuzMel]

Hehe, which is why my itchy fingers hasn't clicked the "Add to Basket" button for the Universe figures cause I'd rather wait for Takara ones..

[MV75]

Price and underwealming has stopped me so far. But mind you, I've only seen the few repainted legends and the ultras, which I've recently decided that I won't get any version of.

I'm going to just get a select few deluxes and the new legends moulds.

[STL]

I mostly agree with that. Money talks and you-know-what walks. And kids aren't stupid... they'll also boycott toys or toy lines if it's below their standards. Look at how Transfandom took a sharp nosedive after the introduction of Action Masters and Generation 2.

I personally wouldn't mind Hasbro gettin' a wake up call. But with a very big movie on the way and a strong brand, I don't think they'll be getting that anytime soon. Quality issues, paint apps issues, whatever.

Overall while I agree that TakaraTOMY's actions appear to be more collector orientated, I don't think it's accurate to say that the company is intentionally established to be that way. They're a toy company just like Hasbro and their primary target market is also kids. It's just that TakaraTOMY seem to be more attentive and take greater care in their work, so as a result they seem to produce quality that is more appeasing to discerning collectors. And yes, there are some lines which are exclusively aimed at collectors such as G1 reissues, Binaltech, Masterpiece etc. So it really depends on which line you're talking about.

I'm talking about the relative disparity of criticism when it comes to Takara. Takara to be honest deserve a lot criticism for the two aforementioned releases. They're very lazy and yet no one's cooking up a storm. I think that if you're going to be angry you should be angry at the company who's supposed to be more quality orientated, the company who cares. But I hardly ever see that. All I see is the same jumping up and down and screaming at Hasbro cursing them for some sort of "systematic" plot against customers/collectors.

Hasbro cares about delivering a product but I think most of us are aware and agree that quality isn't one of their highly prioritised factors. And I don't like that. But if I were being fair and complaining, I'd have a fair crack at the avenue to the same toys, Takara, who's supposed to be more "quality-orientated" and "care a lot" too.

Having said that, I have found in my experience that TakaraTOMY are far more receptive to feedback and criticisms than Hasbro. Some of you may remember the incident we had with the Encore Ironhide and Ratchet online surveys and how TakaraTOMY updated their database after I reported the problem within less than a day. When my MP Convoy was missing a piece Takara FedExed me replacement parts within less than a week.

Ah, the perks of being able to communicate in Japanese. I knew I should've studied that in year 12.