SOC line isn't perfect afterall.

[GDomino]

I got into the SOC series because of all the nice things I heard about them. I'm still a noobie in collecting this series but in a short period of time, I've become a fan (11 different figs in 7 mos) because time after time, they have proven that they are of good design and perfect quality. For me, 'the best there could be'....

That is until my GX-14 Eva 01. I received it (along with my MMM S&L Gundam) two days ago but I really didn't pay any attention to it because I believed it would be flawless like the others; also it was so late when I finally got a chance to get it out of its cage, so I simply put the base together and forgot about it until today...

I have to say that I'm (still) pretty impressed with the overall design and sculpt of the toy but after some careful handling, putting it in various poses, I finally realized that the Left-leg (on mine) doesn't have as much mobility at the hip when compared to the Right-leg. The ball joint area may have been assembled wrong. Movement is still decent but I can't do the crossed-legged 'yoga pose' nor do a 'high kick' with this leg. This was only the beginning because I then noticed two other imperfections; metallic purple paint smudge on the black area of one of the waist joints, and the biggest and most obvious imperfection for me, a gaping vertical seam on the Right shin/ankle which isn't present on the other (but not perfect) leg.

These QC issues aren't really too noticeable if you don't look for them but still I'm pretty depressed and disappointed. Not of the the actual toy but more of the realization to the fact that even my beloved SOC line can also be plagued with multiple QC issues...AND no longer has that aura of perfection. I'm also worried that the SOC line may have decreasing quality controls because after going back to observe my collection, only this latest one has any problems.

EDITED for spelling

[wilson]

yes. i also notice that the right leg has more mobility but the left leg but the gaping vertical seam is on both of the ankles so its not that bad. but overall i am pretty happy with it because is only a $50 figure. i think i may try to open this guy up and see what is wrong with the hip joint and also fix the gap on the ankles.

[kojikabuto]

My EVA 01 hasn't a good joint on the mouth,It remains a bit open .I have heard similar problems from other collectors...

[RMC]

Yeah, my Eva is slightly slack-jawed too. Fortunately I quite like him in an open-mouthed pose.

Overall I'm pretty happy with the figure, if there was anything that disappointed it was the overall lack of mobility in the shoulders. I'd really like to have seen far more flexibility there.

No QA issues to speak of with mine, any flaws seem to have been in design and not implementation.

[mechapunk]

I would see some very very minute spots on some of my SOCs but the ones you described really can catch someone's attention.


I hope those will be corrected on the next line of EVAs, as well as the back to the Super Robots line.

[GDomino]

As far as the jaw goes, I've been hearing about many others having very loose jaws so I would actually consider this to be a QC issue. Mine doesn't have this problem, it actually stays closed when I want it closed.

I think I just had bad luck with this one. I have the others on preorder so I'm hoping this is the case. I might just have to get another SOC Eva 01 though, just because I've been dreaming about displaying all of them according to a pic I've used as my desktop-wallpaper for years ;D (hasn't been possible with other Eva toys or kits I've had in the past).


note 01's kneeling pose in this pic isn't possible for my current SOC 01 because of the bum Left-leg..

[jwm]

Odd, I never noticed the gap at the ankle until it was mentioned here. Ditto's with mine on the uneven tightness in the hip. I found there is more mobility in the shoulder armor than I originally thought. The curved purple plate above the silver breast piece moves, but it is very tight. As this is my first SOC piece, I don't have anything to compare it to except the old stuff. I've been so impressed with the pose ability of Unit One that I hadn't noticed the flaws until they were brought to my attention. Still, I'd give the piece an A- for quality. Wilson- if you do surgery on the hips on yours keep us posted on how it goes.
JWM

[Omni Existence]

...not to be a buttknocker, but this only proves that Bandai's QC aint infallible like some people claim it to be.

Anywhoo, I don't have the 01 coz I am waiting for the 02 and the blue 00. I just hope these two don't have the issues mentioned above.

[www-greattoys-net]

mine has the worst flaw ever!! the inner ball joint in the leg is so stiff i couldn't let Eva-01 sit!!

Omni said:

...not to be a buttknocker, but this only proves that Bandai's QC aint infallible like some people claim it to be.

Anywhoo, I don't have the 01 coz I am waiting for the 02 and the blue 00. I just hope these two don't have the issues mentioned above.

[southpawdragon]

;D
of course its not perfect they havent made SOC DAIMOS or SOC VOLTES V yet.

[GDomino]

www-greattoys-net said:

mine has the worst flaw ever!! the inner ball joint in the leg is so stiff i couldn't let Eva-01 sit!!

I had that same problem with my 01 but I was able to fix it by using some baby oil and carefully forcing the joint to loosen up... Now it is as posable as my 02 and I'm also just a 00 KAI away from making my fave desktop a 3D Reality:

[Omni Existence]

;D

Whoa! only the 00 Kai is missing from that pose!

Nice pic GD!

You know what, you may have just made me change my mind about getting the 01.

[GDomino]

Thanks Omni...just trying out my bro's new and expensive digicam. Don't have one just yet because most of my clams have been going to toys and going back to school this week really sucks balls...freaking books and tuition. No new toys for me in the next few months but I've already set aside some cash (and also plan on going on a ramen noodles diet) for the 00s and definitely the 20th anniv Prime.

[Omni Existence]

;D

Ah...the old "ramen diet just to buy all the toys I want" bit.

Victims, aren't we all?


I'm still waiting on some checks to clear up so I can pick up my 1/48 Low Vis and Eva-02 from Greattoys already. I can't wait for both of them!

And yes, that Alternator Optimus Prime is simply TO DIE FOR. It will be my very FIRST Optimus Prime that I will actually be playing with.

[mechapunk]

Omni said:

And yes, that Alternator Optimus Prime is simply TO DIE FOR. It will be my very FIRST Optimus Prime that I will actually be playing with.

Any news when it will be released.

Hoping I can buy toys by then.