Transforming

[GoktimusPrime]

there's also try before you buy. Check out a friend's Big Convoy (or Universe Nemesis Prime). I'm sure someone would bring their Big Convoy along to the next Sydney fan meet if you ask nicely.


I dunno... I guess for me the effort of transforming Big Convoy wasn't worth the result. As for comparing it with Car Robot (RiD) or Binaltech... um... it was 1999. What's Car Robot and Binaltech? I don't find God Fire Convoy terribly difficult to transform but the combined mode is unstable. BT Grimlock and Wheeljack would be comparable to Big Convoy, but I guess that by 2004 I was already exposed to very complex transformations like Masterpiece and previous BTs. But when I got Big Convoy in 1999 I don't think I'd had the experience of ever trying to transform anything that frustrating. It was the first time I'd come across a Transformer where you have to transform every single step correctly in a certain order. You might get to step 10 and realised that you didn't quite do step 3 properly, so you actually need to go back 7 steps and then redo the whole thing all over again!

Having said that, I was totally thrilled with getting Big Convoy at the time. In 1998 I was already quite excited with Lio Convoy because he had a Matrix sculpted in his chest, but I was just ecstatic with Big Convoy as he was the first Transformer to have a proper Matrix accessory that could be stored and removed from his chest cavity and held in his hands! This wouldn't be outdone for another half decade (with Masterpiece Convoy). But for the 90s this was a phenomenonally cool feature!

Magmatron is a lot like God Fire Convoy; I don't find him inherently difficult to transform, but the combined robot mode isn't very stable (although it's a lot more stable than GFC!). But it's only minor things that keep popping off, like Seasaur's head or Skysaur's legs. The actual main body of the toy does hold together reasonably well.

[kup]

The toy that I found very hard on the weekend was ROTF Bludgeon (The 'classics' looking one, Tank mode). His legs were really hard to Transform.

About Magmatron - There must be something wrong there as mine is very solid in combined mode, too solid actually as he is very stiff.

[GoktimusPrime]

The overall toy is solid in combined mode but with mine the peg where Seasaur's head connects onto Magmatron's shoulder is prone to easily popping off. Ditto where Skysaur's feet clip onto Magmatron's chest. It doesn't effect the way that the toy is combined at all, more of a cosmetic thing.

Is yours the Hasbro, Takara or Sonokong version? I'm just curious to know if there's any difference in terms of structural integrity between the versions. I have the Takara version and I've handled the Hasbro version, and I didn't notice any structural difference between those two.

[kup]

I have the Takara version and its the only version I have experienced.

[Prime_217]

i would have to say the hardest i have would be leader prime(ROTF) although i dont find it that hard to transform him now. but when i first got him it took me 2 hours to because i couldnt untab the chest pieces for half an hour without fear of breaking them. the easiest would probs be legends jetfire or grindor/blackout

[Lord_Zed]

While ROTF can be a hard TF to Transform. I find his transformation quite enjoyable as it feels (to me) like he is folding or unfolding just like he does in the movie. The Transformers, I find hardest are those which are not only difficult, but also counter intuitive, or just plain annoying to transform.

[Maxiewolf]

Hardest? For Me? for some reason.... Any frikking **!@()!@ &#)!( @#&$)(!!!!** .. Shellformer. Esp. Big Convoy who has stayed In his robot mode always... for this reason.

.. Hmm I didnt find MP megs to be that hard at all? Thoug I Inly transformed him once and put him back... ugh.. he just feel so so fragile compared to prime, and is of course not easily replaced.


Easiest? Tapes such as Ravage, Steeljaw & Ramhorn would be on my really easy list without being.. well.. those little R.E.V.S toys

[5FDP]

(This statement in no way implies ownership) This has been said already, but MP Megs is the hardest for me. Transforms similar to '84 Megs (read first disclaimer) but has a lot of extra 'fiddly' bits.

Easiest for me would have to be the Throttlebots (Goki's favourites), cassette-formers, most of the '84 minibots, and Targetmaster gun partners.

Like some of you, I find it difficult to read some of the instructions - especially the Takara encore releases because mainly I can't read it, so I resort to youtube on occasion. To be honest, I prefer not reading the instructions anyway as for me, working out the transformation is my way of 'getting to know' the toy. Sometimes you actually find an 'alternate mode' which isn't detailed in the instructions

[SuspectimusPrime]

I think I'll grab one of the Big Convoys on eBay.

The Korean version on eBay seems to float around the $AUD50 mark which is incl. postage. From everybody's much appreciated input and from YouTube vids, I think he'll make another masterful statue standing alongside Magmatron (got the Takara version) and Omega Prime (got the RID version). An unsatisfactory transformation is a bummer, but then its quality plastic, which is like quality wine, so the former is forgivable.

Also looking out for BW2 Lio Convoy(Twilight-sparkly one): there's a few going for $AUD75ish at the moment and appears to be a comparatively good price? I've seen some reviews on it with the prime negatives being that the sparkly-plastic is a drop in quality from the original. Anyone verify?

Speaking of BW, just received my MISB BW Cybershark (original mold, not the transmetal rubbish), and looking for a good Japanese BWN Sharpedge I know they're just Delux-ified BW flipbeasts, but they're SHARKS!! If only the BW line produced a few more Deluxe/Mega/Ultra-sized oceananic predators then I could stand them all together and imagined that they would combine to form an articulated BW Piranacon/King Poseidon/God Neptune

Re: ROTF Voyager Bludgeon - won't be an option for me, no matter how hard, its a MUST 0_o GaHgahGAh*drools*.. [sorry].. YouTube's Peaugh's review had me at the title, and sealed my fate as the sword came out of the cannon barrel.

NB: Goktimus, I've never really considered evaluating my buys based on their chronological release years (and hence available technologies). I've felt strongly for poseable transformers and so I don't buy G1, although I do have a complete G1 Quickswitch (beautifully ugly) from ye 'olde days.

Final note: What is a 'Sydney fan meet' and when is it?

[SuspectimusPrime]

Like some of you, I find it difficult to read some of the instructions - especially the Takara encore releases because mainly I can't read it, so I resort to youtube on occasion. To be honest, I prefer not reading the instructions anyway as for me, working out the transformation is my way of 'getting to know' the toy. Sometimes you actually find an 'alternate mode' which isn't detailed in the instructions

Kudos to you, Sir!!

Totally in agreement; if you're willing to sit there for a while longer and slowly pick at tabs/ports/posts/hinges you'll learn how to do it the right way and the wrong way (in many cases, its equally important).