I need a little help- Masterpiece Optimus

[Unregistered]

Guys-

I recently purchased the Masterpiece Optimus Prime. I was impressed with it and even though I am not a toy collector I knew I wanted it.

As I am not a toy collector... I believe that a transformer that hasn't been transformed is one that has never reached its potential.

Now, one of the first steps for transforming Optimus is pushing in the fuel tanks and sliding up the legs... one will not move.

I don't want to break him... I have tried adding a bit of force, it doesn't budge.

Any suggestions? Any tips?

Remember, I haven't purchased a TF toy in about 15 years.

[Paulbot]

That particular part of the transformation is often very tight and I remember having issues with that myself.

Try differing the angle in which you push the fuel tank in, that is try pushing it in from the top or the bottom of the tank. That shouldn't hurt the toy and might work.

[Hereticpoo]

...and give the blue heavy part of the leg a little 'wiggle' for want of a better word when you are pressing the tank, and try slide the leg closed while giving it a little wiggle. Sometimes the spring loaded clamps dont line up properly.

[blackie]

i had the same problem
pretty much what paulbot said, but when pushing in the bottom, use another finger to pull out the top at the same time, and you should hear a click

[liegeprime]

The clip (tank) should be pressed at its lower part - the part nearer to the wheels. If you notice the upper part is slightly sunken thats because the clip is underneath it so it would lock onto the thigh part of Prime. NO need for excessive force on this, as soon as the clip is up - keep it pressed,then try to pull down on the leg. Some have made the mistake of just pushing it then pulling - it wont slide the leg down that way. You need to keep it pressed then pull on it. Also when you need to transform him back you need to keep pressing on the tank before you can slide the legs back up, coz its the tank that keeps the leg from sliding freely and lock it into its place in bot bot and truck mode. Hope this helps.

[kup]

Mine one had the same problem. The gas tank needed to be pushed way too much for it to release its leg and contract. I had to pull the leg apart and 'file' a little bit of extra plastic that had occured during the molding process in the mechanism tab which was preventing the gas tank from releasing the leg.

[jaydisc]

Yeah, it's just finding that right spot.... not necessarily all the way in. Just give it lots of jiggy jiggy.

[GoktimusPrime]

as you've probably deduced, pushing in those tanks triggers an unlocking mechanism that allows the legs to slide. So as Paulbot's saying, you need to ensure that you're pushing the tanks in properly so that the mechanism is unlocked before trying to slide the legs.

"Good luck!" - Kamajii (Spirited Away)

[d*r*j*]

I remember when I first got this toy the same thing happened to me. One leg was fine but the other just wouldn't give. I tried over and over... losing my temper and sanity, whilst also trying not to destroy my $200 toy. I'm a big guy and gave it big force... then out of the blue it just worked, with no force, like it should. I should take very little force, just the right 'sweet' spot.

[Unregistered]

The key piece of advice you guys gave was to focus on the gas tank.

I wiggled the tank and pushed it in at a slightly different angle, worked like a charm.

I did consider Kup's suggestion.

Thanks

(ps the title was suposed to be "I need a little help")