Encore Fortress Maximus: Help?

LBD "Nytetrayn"

LBD "Nytetrayn"

Broke the Matrix
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This kind of takes the surprise out of it, I guess, but I'd rather be safe than sorry.

Finally took the plunge on that Fortress Maximus that @Sabrblade found for me a while back, and they messaged me to say that a few years ago, a customer told them some parts were missing, and they wanted to check and make sure everything was there. Considering the size, price, and that it's from Hong Kong, I encouraged it (especially in light of my recent experiences).

They got back to me with these pics, and everything looks like it's here to me, but I wanted to check and make sure with some people who might know: You guys!

Some of you, at least, right?

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Actually, looking at the TFWiki listing (which doesn't mention stuff like the instructions or card there), it says there's supposed to be a collector's coin, but I don't see that.

Am I just missing it? Is there anything else I might be missing?
 

Platypus Prime

Well-known member
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The collector's coin isn't in all of them, but are very inexpensive to get. Mine didn't have it. That one's box is in better shape than what I got from BBTS back when it was reissued! Comparing it to mine, I see the various parts, the sticker sheet, and card/papers, I think it's all there. I can't see behind the leg or inside the arm flaps but it's hard to see how those gun barrels would go anywhere.
 
ZacWilliam1

ZacWilliam1

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Things that you can't see in these pics that could conceivably come off and be gone: The Jail doors on his leg and the clear green cockpit on the top of the one tower. And the little guns under the panels on his forearms. And the ramp that folds up on his back.

Oh and the big gun barrels inside each tower pop off easy too.


-ZacWilliam, nothing else I know of...
 
LBD "Nytetrayn"

LBD "Nytetrayn"

Broke the Matrix
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Gizmoboy said:
I'd say go for it my friend.
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Already did!

...I didn't think anyone else was going to answer. ;_;

Now ZacWilliam has me worried. D=

Also, no coin... but I'm getting a Fort Max headphone Jack?

Speaking of the coin...


Platypus Prime said:
The collector's coin isn't in all of them, but are very inexpensive to get.
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Every place I've tried either doesn't have it listed (eBay) or is sold out when I click the link.

The Predaking said:
Hey! I remember that thread! I am glad that you are finally getting this!
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Thanks!

After a recent birthday (and new credit card), I decided that I'm probably not going to get another chance like this. Not at this price, anyway.

And after waiting most of my life for this, well... I don't want to die with that regret.

Now, maybe when I turn 82, I'll go after HasLab Unicron. XD
 
Sabrblade

Sabrblade

Continuity Nutcase
Citizen
The collectors coin was a Hasbro Asia inclusion not originally offered with the Japanese release. My Encore Fort Max from BBTS didn't come with a coin either, and the toys that came with the coins were usually priced higher than the original coinless releases.
 
Sabrblade

Sabrblade

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...Until you take a magnifying glass to the box and realize it says "Made in Belgium". 😛
 
LBD "Nytetrayn"

LBD "Nytetrayn"

Broke the Matrix
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Well, my dream finally coming true might be turning into a nightmare.

Did they have two people working on each Fort Max, one on each side? Seems like one side will be fine, and the other with something wrong -- either too tight, or too loose.

His right hip gun, for instance? Incredibly loose. Left? Just fine, snaps into place and everything.

Cerebros has a left leg I'm afraid to transform at the knee, and his right hand is really tough to get out, too. I tried to loosen the screws, but I don't think they budged are all. I got it to go to robot mode, but getting the leg back... I'm afraid I'm going to break it.

And after shipping and customs fees, I don't think I can afford to return it and try for another.

So much for going with Takara over Hasbro on big items.

help...?
 
Dake

Dake

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I thought it had been mentioned in your thread already, but the Encore Max had a ton of QC issues that people complained about when he was released. It was bad enough that as I recall, some stores like BBTS opened the packages to inspect them prior to shipping them out to customers (with customer permission).

The issue with Cerebros' knee is one of the more common ones. It involves not just loosening the screw, but shaving off some excess plastic.
 

Platypus Prime

Well-known member
Citizen
It's not any worse QC than normal. In my own, one leg gun snaps in and out fine while the other is rather loose. I can see some seam mis-match in the leg bay with the steps, now that I look. In my own case, Cerebros's knees were scary tight and the screw didn't help, I used a bit of plastic safe silicon lube (Rubiks Cube Lube in my case, though I've also used the pure silicon shock oil used in RC car gears, NEVER WD-40 or the like) to help things move better. Especially where the arms slid during transformation. I had done this a long time ago, I'd honestly forgotten. The fists on Cerebros were similar.

I actually posted a question a while back about Maximus's hips, as they were so hard to move and made "CLUNK!" sounds as they did, but apparently that is normal...they will smash your fingers if you're not careful.

Due to memories of my G1 Headmasters loosing their arms at the shoulders when those thin pegs snapped, I've never raised Spike's arms, and don't plan to.
 
Exatron

Exatron

Kaiser Dragon
Citizen
I'm always a bit saddened whenever I hear that the myth of Takara's superior quality still persists. For a long time, they would release their own versions of common figures after Hasbro, so they'd get to discover any issues that came up during mass production and have a chance to correct them before the next production run. That's absolutely normal for any mass production. But ultimately, they're fundamentally the same products being assembled by the same workers in the same plants.

Outside of that scenario of a later production run, Takara-original releases have always been prone to the same sorts of QC issues we've seen on any other Hasbro Transformers. If anything, the worst QC disasters have always seemed to be Takara releases to my recollection. See MP-9 and reissue God Fire Convoy, for example. Anecdotally, I feel like I've had a higher rate of issues on Takara releases than Hasbro, though I've never tried to quantify it.
 
LBD "Nytetrayn"

LBD "Nytetrayn"

Broke the Matrix
Staff member
Council of Elders
Citizen
Dake said:
I thought it had been mentioned in your thread already, but the Encore Max had a ton of QC issues that people complained about when he was released. It was bad enough that as I recall, some stores like BBTS opened the packages to inspect them prior to shipping them out to customers (with customer permission).

The issue with Cerebros' knee is one of the more common ones. It involves not just loosening the screw, but shaving off some excess plastic.
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Where does one shave the plastic, exactly?
Platypus Prime said:
I actually posted a question a while back about Maximus's hips, as they were so hard to move and made "CLUNK!" sounds as they did, but apparently that is normal...they will smash your fingers if you're not careful.
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I'll look into the lubes if the above doesn't work. Heck, I didn't think there would be room for the lube to reach. XP

is this the stuff? https://www.amazon.ca/Cuberspeed-Al...515311&sprefix=rubik's+cube+lu,aps,109&sr=8-3

As for the finger smashing, I already had that happen once, and I haven't even transformed him yet! I got caught between the arm and newly-attached ramp.

Exatron said:
Outside of that scenario of a later production run, Takara-original releases have always been prone to the same sorts of QC issues we've seen on any other Hasbro Transformers.
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11 years later, and I guess I still got an earlier one. XP

The jail was tough to open, too. Had to use the small Master Sword to pry it.
 
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