Third party discussion thread.

Well, it's taken 6 weeks but Citizen Stack finally arrived from Uncle Billy in China.
Final cost inc. delivery was €150 and there was no import duty, so I got lucky there.

I've only taken a few rough pictures at the moment...

First impressions - He is HUGE. The transformation is very nice and the piece feels solid but a bit light. (Actually, he's not light at all but he looks like he should weigh more)
The truck mode is really nice and scales great with MP-10 and the MP cars.


As a robot, he feels solid and is very poseable but is a little loose around the hips, unfortunately. This is the first run and apparently there were fixes made for version 2 and that the first run customers will be able to get the joint fixes. Don't get me wrong, he stands just fine - my main gripe is that I've seen a V2 doing the Optimus prime high kick and there's no way that this guy can do that.

The head is way to thin which has been a standard complaint and I might get the SXS replacement which have a bit more character.
Size-wise, he completely overshadows MP-10 but he scales really well with MP-1 and MP-5. And I have MP Ultra Magnus pre-ordered to go with MP-10 (although, he looks like a boxy, blocky mess at the moment).


Overall, I am very happy with Stack. I know there is murder online regarding the differences between V1 and V2 and some people who were delighted with him now feel like he's useless because a slightly updated version came out. I can understand some of it - but this is the guy I saw reviewed and decided to buy. He's still that same figure even if a newer version is out and he is still really, really good.

Interesting. Does he transform?

Here's a couple of shots. I'll probably get rid of the cockpit panel lines, didn't work out like I hoped.

Hey,
Just following up on Citizen Stack.
There was an online kerfuffle about Ver 2 having more solid joints and so KFC released a new set of joints to all Ver 1 buyers. I received them a little while ago and put them in.
They are pointless.
Maybe over the extended life of the toy they would make a difference but for the initial impact, they are not worth the hassle of installation. His knees now Click instead of Clunk. No extra strength or support - with his waist and shoulders still being a slight issue, although, I have figured out his karate kick positioning.
[URL="[url=http://postimg.org/image/rgo802qpn/][img]http://s25.postimg.org/rgo802qpn/2014_10_12_16_25_56.jpg[/img][/url]"][/url]

However I also got the SXS head and that is great. It has made a huge improvement to the one thing I was unhappy with - his stupid skinny head.

The new head comes with a selection of faces, beautiful light-piping and the optional use of his shades/visor.
It also comes with a red version for the diaclone version that KFC have announced/released.


[URL="[url=http://postimg.org/image/x8f5fqlrv/][img]http://s25.postimg.org/x8f5fqlrv/2014_10_12_16_49_06.jpg[/img][/url]"][/url]
SXS, KFC, SXS Diaclone
[URL="[url=http://postimg.org/image/h579to9mj/][img]http://s25.postimg.org/h579to9mj/2014_10_12_16_48_33.jpg[/img][/url]"][/url][URL="[url=http://postimg.org/image/dt8z0dhvf/][img]http://s25.postimg.org/dt8z0dhvf/2014_10_12_16_46_21.jpg[/img][/url]"][/url]
Skinny original head
[URL="[url=http://postimg.org/image/8bgdckmnv/][img]http://s25.postimg.org/8bgdckmnv/2014_10_12_16_47_24.jpg[/img][/url]"][/url]
Light piping
[URL="[url=http://postimg.org/image/3lqfnyvnf/][img]http://s25.postimg.org/3lqfnyvnf/2014_10_12_16_52_53.jpg[/img][/url]"][/url]
Size comparison with MP Grimlock
[URL="[url=http://postimg.org/image/dt8z0dhvf/][img]http://s25.postimg.org/dt8z0dhvf/2014_10_12_16_46_21.jpg[/img][/url]"][/url]
Prime Face w/shades on

MarkHall wrote: »

Very nice Paint Job!

Hah,
Thanks but you obviously didn't read the slamming I got on TFW for "ruining" the figure. In fairness, it's very messy when compared to the professionals over there but I was happy enough. And it's a learning process.

MarkHall wrote: »

I think it works.
Whirl isn't suppose to be tidy.

Also if you're happy with it. Then who gives too tosses!
It's how I paint my wargaming stuff.

You know what... Cheers.
I appreciate that.
That's was exactly what I was thinking when i painted him.
I can do tidy (relatively) - [URL="[url=http://postimg.org/image/6d0w1cjej/][img]http://s25.postimg.org/6d0w1cjej/5458123617_c0d820a118_z.jpg[/img][/url]"][/url] This was an MP Skywarp - way before Hasbro decided to do Sunstorm.

But yeah, I thought Whirl should be really rough and the 3D material is already rough.
Also, I wanted to just recreate his opening scene in MTMTE with him torturing the Sweeps to remain sane and these colours match that scene.

MarkHall wrote: »

Have you ever tried an Airbrush.

I find it's very effective on bigger figures.
And a lot of fun to use.

How many sweeps do you have?

Never airbrushed - I thought it'd be too expensive and tempting for my kids to play with. I don't paint enough to justify it. I know full well that it would be great to use though.

I have 1 Henkai Scourge, 3 Sweeps and photoshop :P
Love that mould.
I have Generations Ratbat and am trying to get a Devcon to further the set.

I saw those Perfect Effect hands and feet before. A vast improvement to the stock accessories.

I'm kind of on the fence with the Combiner Wars stuff. Part of the reason was the hands and feet of the combiner. Just awful. Made the whole thing look cheap. These though really help with the overall vibe of the Combiner. Great stuff. The transforming gun option is a bit over kill, but they still look better than the stock weapons.

But I'm still on the fence with the Combiner Wars stuff. I can't get past the malnourished thighs and elongated arms of the combiner :pac:

Here's KFCs Not Blaster.
He is stunning - pure and simple.

I love the metallic red, it matches the metallic navy on Soundwave perfectly.

The transformation is tricky - probably overly so - but clicks and holds very well.
He comes with 2 heads, I've used the comic book head for 2 reasons. 1 it has more character IMO and 2 I've had this print on my wall for years and Blaster was the last piece I needed.

Posing is great, he feels solid and secure.
He also came with Eject which is a good little tape. He is entirely made of screws though, with about 20 visible on his back - however his robot mode is incredibly poseable.



The bad points.
The white, cartoon face. It's wobbly and it's SO white it's like a Japanese Kabuki face. It looks a little dead-eyed to me.
The metallic paint. Most people seem to dislike it and want G1 flat red. To me it was a major factor in deciding but it's not for everyone.
The paint quality - yup, it chips. there are 2 or 3 points that chip for lots of people, including me. They're not very obvious but they are there when you look. Eject's white parts feel like they've just been dunked into a tin of Dulux emulsion and haven't quite cured yet.
The transformation - I'm the only person I know that this has happened to but some have said that they avoided it by seeing my pictures - at the feet there are delicate tabs, one of which snapped on me during the first transformation. This has rendered the boombox incomplete as the handle does not combine properly.
Omegalock have been in touch with KFC and a replacement part is on the way - so that's all working itself out and I've no complaints about the overall QC or the customer service from either company.

Overall, despite breaking and chipping, I still really, really like this guy. That's saying something.