Transforming

[GoktimusPrime]

As I said, Jumpstarters (and Battlechargers) are easy one-step transformation Transformers in theory. I'd put Gravity Bots in this same category. In reality these Transformers are often trickier because their gimmicks are prone to mucking up or just breaking down. Actually, the Battlechargers' transformation gimmick tends to still work well even after 23 years, but the problem is that their back supports become floppy in robot mode.

Easiest? Probably one of the Throttlebots

You know that the Throttlebots all follow the same transformation pattern, right? Having said that, Wideload would be the easiest to transform since his arms don't clip onto the main motor section; you can lift up the body without having to fold the arms out first. Doesn't really make much of a huge difference, just gives you a slight luxury of folding the arms out later if you want. But the Throttlebots aren't one-step Transformers, they're actually four-steps. I can't think of any Transformers that are easier to transform that one-steppers.

Agreed, he was a pain, I transformed him once, took me 1 1/2 hours, then back to robot mode. He will stay that way the rest of his life.

Same! I agree with what Lint said about his transformation being rather counter-intuitive, but I don't find the gun mode worth all that effort. I keep my MP Megatron in robot mode and my e-Hobby Megaplex in gun mode, which is closer to a 1:1 scale anyway.

MP Grim is hard as well, I haven't even tried. My bro-in-law did, but he will stay robot mode as well.

MP Grimlock's not that hard*. Half the toy pretty much transforms like 1985 G1 Grimlock but the other half transforms like a Masterpiece.

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*I'm not saying he's easy either! Like I said, half of the toy still transforms like an MP, so he's still no walk in the park, but he's relatively less complicated than other MPs.

[1AZRAEL1]

MP Grimlock's not that hard*. Half the toy pretty much transforms like 1985 G1 Grimlock but the other half transforms like a Masterpiece.

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*I'm not saying he's easy either! Like I said, half of the toy still transforms like an MP, so he's still no walk in the park, but he's relatively less complicated than other MPs.

True, but I am afraid of breaking him, just like Megs, the instructions were pretty difficult to follow, it did not explain that part of Megs (cant remember which) was "pegged in" and had to pull it in a certain way to release it. It may have in the writing but I can't read Japanese

[Lint]

True, but I am afraid of breaking him, just like Megs, the instructions were pretty difficult to follow, it did not explain that part of Megs (cant remember which) was "pegged in" and had to pull it in a certain way to release it. It may have in the writing but I can't read Japanese

He's actually not as fragile as he looks. Certain parts of the transformation WILL give you the heeby jeebies though. It requires applying a lot more force than you're probably accustomed to for a plastic toy. Try watching a youtube video of someone doing it. Watching someone do it gave me my 'brute-faith'

[1AZRAEL1]

Yeah, now that you mention it that I remember gamblor916 initially found his MP Grimlock a bit hard to transform. He'd brought it over to my place and I just started transforming it according to the instructions... it hadn't actually occured to me at the time that the instructions were in a language that most other people (in Australia) can't read. Sounds weird, but for me I just saw a toy, saw the instructions, read the instructions, and transformed it accordingly. It wasn't until gamblor pointed it out to me that I became consciously aware that these instructions aren't as easy to follow if you only have to rely on the illustrations alone. When I was collecting Binaltech I'd often be talking to dirge about the latest BT and he'd talk about how difficult a certain part of the transformation was, and sometimes I'd say, "I worked it out okay," and he'd point out to me, "That's because you can read Japanese!"

It's because when I read the instructions I'm not consciously thinking to myself, "I'm reading in Japanese!" I just think, "I'm reading instructions." Just as I'm sure you're not consciously thinking to yourself right now, "Wow, I'm reading a post in English!"; it's just something you do but you're not necessarily consciously aware of what language it is you're reading per se.

I find Hasbro's textless instructions for some Deluxe Class Transformers hard enough to understand! In fact, I had so much trouble with ROTF Leader Optimus Prime and Jetfire that I resorted to finding video reviews on YouTube to help me figure out how to transform them properly!

Yea you are just so used to reading it that you can do it without even thinking about it, like me reading English.

He's actually not as fragile as he looks. Certain parts of the transformation WILL give you the heeby jeebies though. It requires applying a lot more force than you're probably accustomed to for a plastic toy. Try watching a youtube video of someone doing it. Watching someone do it gave me my 'brute-faith'

Well for an expensive figure, I know he is sturdy, but like you said, I'm used to TFs that are easy to transform that do not require much force I'm not fussed about transforming them now anyway, they are on display and there to stay (just have to stop my little ankle biter from stealing one of my low-lying figures and using it as a chew toy )

[GoktimusPrime]

If you apply force and break a Legends Class toy, you just think, "Ah bugger," but if you apply force and break part of an imported Japanese Masterpiece (especially Megatron) you can feel your blood freeze! Happened to me; I broke one of those little plastic tabs... doesn't really effect the toy that much, but yeah, my heart stopped beating for what seemed like an eternity after that!

If I break an inexpensive toy, I can go buy another one. I'm not buying another MP Megatron!!

[mknell]

If you apply force and break a Legends Class toy, you just think, "Ah bugger," but if you apply force and break part of an imported Japanese Masterpiece (especially Megatron) you can feel your blood freeze! Happened to me; I broke one of those little plastic tabs... doesn't really effect the toy that much, but yeah, my heart stopped beating for what seemed like an eternity after that!

If I break an inexpensive toy, I can go buy another one. I'm not buying another MP Megatron!!

Buying another MP Megatron can get to be harder than transforming him lol

[Lord_Zed]

All toys have their time, If I buy an exspensive toy I'd rather Transform it a lot and enjoy it, even it leads to eventual breakage, than not transform it at all.

Although I don't actualy own MP Megatron, so I can't comment.

I often find some of my old G1's are in fact become my hardest TF's to transform, due to age making them old and stiff.