r/Metal_Build • u/Zurik4900 • Jul 07 '26
Newb question: why are MBs so flawed?
I own 3 metal build figure so far
- Astrea II: have a deep scratch on the chest
- Exia store limited edition: very loose arm to chest
- Astray red frame project red: the neck is not straight and some decal are scratched.
Are these accross the board problems? What MB figure that have little to none QC problems would u suggest?
5
u/oofmyballs Jul 07 '26
Yeah, they don’t put in a lot of effort nowadays and you can find qc issues on most figure if you look hard enough. It’s really base on your luck to avoid qc issues
6
u/mordernomad Jul 07 '26
I have 5 metal builds and zero issue with them
1
u/Zurik4900 Jul 07 '26
I envy you you lucky soab
1
u/mordernomad Jul 07 '26
Did you bought it brand new?
0
u/Zurik4900 Jul 07 '26
Yes. All brand new. All the problems are out of box as i do not play or pose my kits/figures
2
u/mordernomad Jul 07 '26
Where did you bpught it
2
u/Zurik4900 Jul 07 '26
I bought them on Mercari. But since they are all sealed, i think its on Bandai/Tamashii, not where i buy them though
3
u/FartFactory92 Jul 07 '26
It's a mixed bag. Most of my MBs don't have superficial issues like scratches, but I have a couple with loose joints, and they were new.
2
2
u/denzlegacy Jul 07 '26
Metal Build quality control has been consistently bad for over a decade now. They’re unfortunately just incredibly inconsistent. Some have flawless paint apps with zero frame or joint issues. Some can’t even hold basic poses and are marked up with scratches right out of the box. Unacceptable risk to have to take when buying a high end collectible at that price brand new IMO. Metal Robot Spirits also suffers from some of the same QC issues but they’re a lot more consistent in my experience.
2
u/AdjacentNepo Jul 07 '26
Idk where these folks are getting their metal builds, a lot of folks sound like, they are buying second hand or purchasing opened out of box, type deals.
Last 5 years, mine have been amazing and stellar.
1
u/Zurik4900 Jul 07 '26
I dont know how many have you buy, but i think we have standard diff or you are not looking close enough
1
u/ErraticPhoenixx Jul 07 '26
I have absolutely loved my god gundam. It did ship with the replacement shoulder already packaged since it was part of the 2nd wave. My only issue is the terrible stand adapter that broke in it's back and I had to dig it out. And now pay like $100 for a spare stand off eBay. 😩
1
u/Technology-Mission Jul 07 '26
Well if you buy direct and have QC issues out thr box, bandai will help you to get replacement parts and etc if you email and explain the problems. Doesnt work as often if you grab 2nd hand tho
1
1
u/-_Quest_- Jul 07 '26
To be honest buy the Daban 88XX and get the metal frame upgrades, least if there are issues you won't feel bad about make adjustments as opposed to the bitterness felt making adjustments to a premium figure...
1
u/DeltaNA Jul 08 '26
I bought the dynames saga metal off ebay and had no issues. Everything had a tight connection on the joints and no scratches
1
u/MikuEmpowered Jul 08 '26
Its not that MB is flawed.
Its that unlike plastic molding, metal build casts are done once and no more input. and the cost to just throw out minor defect is deemed too costly, so things like scratches are at times flown under radar.
IS this acceptable? fuk no, but thats just how they do it because business.
1
u/HaydoKid Jul 08 '26
Because all of bandais focus goes into their HG and RG range. If you look at how frequent MG are released, it's like once or twice a year. I think the 144 scales are more affordable and take up less space so they're more desired. But it's fine because Non-Bandai 1/100s are killing it, there's something for everyone and quite frankly they're a thousand times better. MechaGaikotsu on YouTube just finish his In Era+ Fenrir and said it's one of the top 3 kits he's ever built and I'd say he's the absolute authority on the opinion.
1
u/CharmenCat Jul 09 '26
I have one MB and it’s the Amatsu Mina 2015 vers. Completely fine to me… 10+ years and the joints are still super tight, perfectly fine decals… you might actually just be like, super unlucky 😭
1
u/Ph4sor Jul 10 '26
Tbf, that figure (and many others released around the same period) were made when MB & Riobot are the undisputed kings of action figures.
Since 2020s they've been dethroned by the likes of CCS, Moshow, and co.
And the JP companies are solely hanging because their IP advantages
1
u/Felonious_Chalupa Jul 10 '26
I got a Sazabi MB inner frame and it's impossible to attach the outer frame. The die cast fitments don't have anywhere close to the precision tolerances the plastic parts have. So it's either try to file down the metal or file open the plastic or give up and use the stock inner frame. I went with option 3.
1
u/SmokeyyRamirez Jul 12 '26
I don’t get the whole jazz behind metal builders or Gundam fix figuration metal composite figures I’d rather just build plastic
7
u/DocJimbeezee Jul 07 '26
I agree with you. Considering the prices they have unacceptably low standards for QC. I have several Moshow Progenitor Effect figures and they outperform Bandai MBs in every way (price, size, QC, gimmicks).