Do you read instructions first or not?

[gamblor916]

I always check the instructions first, less chance of breakage.

[Paulbot]

The $@$&ing Automorph feature in the movie toys made me cautious, broken 74 Bumblebee anyone?

Animated toys are much better but theres still things like Lugnut where you can break the weapon if you transform it the way you'd expect to.

Often a starting point is good though. My Animated Bumblebee for instance was so tightly put together in car mode that nothing seemed to want to move first and I needed to check.

Legends, Realgear, Scouts and, funnily enough most Ultras are easily transformed without instructions.

I find it more fun pre-buying a toy working out in my head how the transformation works based on the pictures, which I've been doing since I was a kid studying the catalogues.

[Metroplex]

I only read the instructions if its really necessary. Ill have a go at transforming the figure myself 1st then if I get stuck ill find a picture on the box or on the net of what it should look like & have another go at transforming it.

[liegeprime]

This is why I appreciate very much my Activators Bumblebee, no need for long instructions, just push the button viola!! instant bot hehehe. Vote in - read it when Im stuck while figuring it out mostly at first. BUT if its like MPs and Alts I dont skip on the instructions, as these guys are a bit more complex, not that the instructions for Alts are making it any clearer at times it makes it more confusing since there's no words describing what to pull where in the pics. LEGO instructions are FAR MORE useful actually.

[iceburn]

since i'm opening up toys now...i've always ignored instructions first to have a go at the actual transformation process first and evaluate if i like the figure or not.

if i encounter problems...then i'll refer to the instructions.
moreover, if figures are expensive...yes, i'll definitely refer to instructions first. this applies to the CC Kit that will be coming soon

[i_amtrunks]

I try and figure out the transformation with the help of the packaging first, then go to the instructions once I am done/stumped to clarify and make corrections.

I found early on in this hobby that the instructions always have you transforming the figure is a muddled and rather round about way, it's often easier to figure out, and remember your own transformation sequence.

[griffin]

One of the downsides of only referring to instructions with fragile toys or complex ones (which is what I do), is that I often find out later that I missed a feature, gimmick or transformation step, at least on the more complex toys.
I feel that it's like watching a movie - it's only a surprise once, so don't spoil it by reading the script first - I see TFs as puzzles, that give you a sense of acheivement when you figure it out on your own. Every time after that is no challange, so I like to at least once see if I can figure out the 'puzzle'.
If I have any trouble, I do refer to photos on the packaging, and then the instructions as a last resort, or if it is a known fragile toy (MP Starscream).
But like I mentioned above, since I rarely have the time to go back through the instructions, I often find stuff later that would have been revealed in the instructions.
Although rarely, the instructions have been knonw to leave out stuff, making figuring it out one way of finding the 'natural flow of its engineering'. If that makes sense.

[Golden Phoenix]

I'll use them the first time, just so I don't break it, but that would be the only time. Unless I am having major problems then they wont see the light of day again

[Kyle]

Machine Men are a lot more popular than Barbie.

[k.wong23]

I try to figure it out myself but generally I am hopeless and it will look like a P.O.S lol, hence I like to follow the instructions generally so I don't miss anything