Missing paint apps - a new trend?

[fball13z]

I am hoping this is just an issue this year since they wanted to raise the prices but couldnt b/c we were locked into the sub, not that I will be happy about a price increase next year, i just hope it means more paint apps stay in.

but also paint can and will always change from the 4HM sculpt to a production figure

[Jinxieman]

Where's my pitchfork???

Honestly, as others have said, missing paint apps from a hand painted prototype to the mass produced figure is very common among all toy lines. Every new color and pass cost more money. With the raising costs associated with producing figures I think this is going to be more and more common, but really, this is nothing new. This figure has a lot of pieces with it. I think we are lucky we only lost the staff and some paint apps.

[shadowfall1976]

That's why they always add the "This is a prototype and may change" caveat. Every toy line does it and always has. It's just that these days the Internet gives us all manner of sneak previews of test shots & prototypes that, a few years ago, we would never be privvy to.

This is true actually, and I never thought about it, there have been so many Transformers that have changed from prototype to final figure over the last few years I was collecting, missing paint, and changed parts....it actually is normal. But it goes to my earlier comment about scaling back the accessories unveiled with a certain figure until they can be sure it's costed out, then if we get extras, no one will complain because they didn't know it had even been considered for the figure. But someone will complain that we didn't get X instead of Y even if it was not known until review time or a final figure unveil, point being less will complain that hey they cut that from them, and be surprised when a figure unveiled with 3 things actually comes with 5 in the end.

Don't forget that they changed the ab crunch piece. This is even worse than the missing paint!

I've never seen any Horde Prime except the prototype, which didn't come apart, and that test shot photo, and I have only seen the test shot ab section....so what is different?

[Xetheus]

@shadowfall1976 Look at my first post on page 1, please, otherwise the mods will probably sue me or give me points for double posting!

[Hosed Ovor]

Don't forget that they changed the ab crunch piece. This is even worse than the missing paint!

I absolutely loathe the smooth abs piece. I am thrilled they didn't use it. I wish Fisto and Hordak didn't have it either. In fact, I am strongly considering picking up an extra Horde Prime now.

I can definitely understand why the trend of reduced paint aps is a concern. It does tend to make a person wonder if it's a residual effect of the lower subscription sales. Of course the argument can be made that it also helps Mattel justify price increases next year too. If you were the boss at Mattel and you had the choice of silently lowering your profit margin on a few figures to include the more elaborate paint aps would you? What if you planned to raise prices next year and wanted as many fans as possible to be on-board with the increase?

[redsquadron]

Just be thankful MC aren't going the cost-cutting route being adopted by Hasbro for their GI JOE: Retaliation line... my god, have you seen those things?? Cheap, greasy plastic, reduced (& bad!) paint aps, reduced articulation (in the case of the vehicle drivers, reduced to virtually nothing!) and god-awful generic, kiddie packaging. Any of those problems crop up in the MOTUC line and we will be in trouble!

[fball13z]

dang never noticed the ab change, doesnt ruin the figure, but the only 2 reasons I could think of is, someone dropped the ball or the change was made consider a lot of people do not like the "armor" abs

[Prahvus]

Withe subs probably going down again for 2013, I guess we can all be afraid of what's coming next year.

2012 saw never seen before delays, QC issues, more blunders from DR, price increase, less paint apps. I'm REALLY scared about what might come next year, quality and production-wise...

[convoy]

I'm sure we all remember the first release He-Man....sometimes addition by subtraction is what's needed.

If a few rivets are missing some color, I won't lose any sleep over it.

[fball13z]

Withe subs probably going down again for 2013, I guess we can all be afraid of what's coming next year.

2012 saw never seen before delays, QC issues, more blunders from DR, price increase, less paint apps. I'm REALLY scared about what might come next year, quality and production-wise...

I kind of hope the resellers will come back to the subs in 2013 since the "fast" sellouts seem to be back for a lot of main figures

[shadowfall1976]

@shadowfall1976 Look at my first post on page 1, please, otherwise the mods will probably sue me or give me points for double posting!

I know, God forbid you make a deathly mistake like that....I see the original had the smooth one, to be honest I don't like the smooth section much, but I never would have noticed if not for your post.

Just be thankful MC aren't going the cost-cutting route being adopted by Hasbro for their GI JOE: Retaliation line... my god, have you seen those things?? Cheap, greasy plastic, reduced (& bad!) paint aps, reduced articulation (in the case of the vehicle drivers, reduced to virtually nothing!) and god-awful generic, kiddie packaging. Any of those problems crop up in the MOTUC line and we will be in trouble!

You mean like the GB Dana statue....excuse me action figure....with no moving parts, at least that I have seen?

[hlinhk128]

I didnt notice the ab issue on Prime, then again I'm not bothered by the smooth ab piece. I understand why they did it. I did notice the lack of circuitry detail on his arms.

I just fixed Fisto the other night. Gave his torso a silver paint job so it doesn't look bad with those back holes anymore.

While on the subject of Stinkors blue parts, does anyone have good pics of his back from Power Con? He had apps there but they were gone by TF. I know the gun did but not sure on the shield.

[Prahvus]

I kind of hope the resellers will come back to the subs in 2013

I hope so too... for the sake of the line.

[iron_pride]

I hope so too... for the sake of the line.

I agree for two reasons. One being more subscribers may (and I stress MAY) keep the price point set for 2014 if they make enough money, and two being then people who aren't subbers or cant always get to the site for DOS, they will have the chacne to get them.

[Count Marzo]

This happens in EVERY toyline EVER. I really hope no one gets too anti-Mattel over this.

We are spoiled. We get to see the Four Horsemen's amazing work each and every time BEFORE it is turned into a regular action figure that Mattel pushes out.

[fball13z]

TG replied to someone's question

"The Horsemen tend to "overdeco" figures. Every figure in 2012 is delivering $22.00 worth of paint apps. In 2013 we are dramatically raising prices so we can afford more paint and accessories. If we wanted to deliver all the figures exactly as the 4HM painted the protos we would need to charge more and we already sold in the sub for 2012, so that is not an option. Legally we can't raise prices on the sub after it is sold in. This is why we will start 2013 at higher prices."

[Prahvus]

In 2013 we are dramatically raising prices

I just hope this won't be the death warrant of MOTUC...

[Dark Sorceress]

This happens in EVERY toyline EVER. I really hope no one gets too anti-Mattel over this.

We are spoiled. We get to see the Four Horsemen's amazing work each and every time BEFORE it is turned into a regular action figure that Mattel pushes out.

not EVERY it's never happened to Glyos

[BadVermin]

Draego-man was missing dozens of small details on his armor.

Demo-man didn't have his belt sash painted, and the weapons were missing all of the fine details. The extra head was missing all of the details on the helmet.

[Count Marzo]

not EVERY it's never happened to Glyos

And how does the detailing/sculpting in Glyos compare to MOTUC?

[AnnnaMot]

I don't know about you guys but I'm going to solve this problem very Easley buy just stoping by my local hobby shop and picking up the right colors to do my own paint apps

[He-Boy]

I'm sorry, but it hasn't been getting more noticeable recently. Green Goddess had a totally different paint job (different plastic, actually) and Scare Glow lost a black wash on his face, and...well those are the ones off the top of my head. I'll bet you most of the prototypes have missing or changed apps on thier production figures. This isn't anything new; look at some back-of-the-package shots of toys back in the day and you'll see the same thing. This hasn't increased any lately. Same 'ol same 'ol.

While I agree with you that it’s likely that other figures have had paint apps removed, the examples you gave don’t fit this criteria IMO. The goddess was changed to translucent plastic and the black wash was removed from ScareGlow due to design choices. Well, that what we were told anyway - but I believe them in these cases.

This happens in EVERY toyline EVER. I really hope no one gets too anti-Mattel over this.

We are spoiled. We get to see the Four Horsemen's amazing work each and every time BEFORE it is turned into a regular action figure that Mattel pushes out.

Spoiled? I dunno about that. I agree that a lot of ‘regular’ action figures have little paint apps but that’s what makes them look terrible IMO. Good paint apps make so much difference.

[shadowfall1976]

TG replied to someone's question

"The Horsemen tend to "overdeco" figures. Every figure in 2012 is delivering $22.00 worth of paint apps. In 2013 we are dramatically raising prices so we can afford more paint and accessories. If we wanted to deliver all the figures exactly as the 4HM painted the protos we would need to charge more and we already sold in the sub for 2012, so that is not an option. Legally we can't raise prices on the sub after it is sold in. This is why we will start 2013 at higher prices."

Dramatically depending on the amount they are raised, I can say I am done, all I need is just 5 more vintage figures, and call it a day....I love MOTUC but honestly, more than $24 - $25, these toys just aren't worth it, they are just toys after all. I mean they already rasied it $2 and no one said oh that's a dramatic raise....so what's their idea, sorry but they are not worth close to $30, then almost another $10 for shipping, they're just not.

[Dragonblaster]

I don't know about you guys but I'm going to solve this problem very Easley buy just stoping by my local hobby shop and picking up the right colors to do my own paint apps

I've already got the paint to fix this, so I can't wait until the figure arrives here. It just looks wrong that his hands are the only silver parts now, while everything else is black or red. The silver rivets were little accents that "opened" the blackness of the armor and balanced the amount of silver on the figure. In the end it's a very easy fix, but it adds that much to the figure.

[Neutro]

I wanna reserve judgement until I see him outta the package, but from the packaged pic, boy does Horde Prime's proto look so much better with only the slightest amount of additional details! I mean, from the looks of it, he went from a mere 4 different paint colors to begin with (black, gray, silver and red) to ONE (red)?!?! Sheesh!!