The Energon Pub

the "hardest TF's to TF" thread made me think of this. and also just during my times on TF forums in general, im surprised how many fans use them. to me its like a puzzle or a riddle, and using instructions is cheating

in my collection i have G1, BW/BW, AEC, movieverse, 3P, alt/BT, MP, ect. i have almost never used the instructions with my TF's, in fact i can probably count on one hand how many times. all that comes to mind is MP rodimus winnebago mode, and mania king. and another that cause me a lot of trouble was alt/BT skids, but i dont think i used instructions.

how about y'all?

Usually.

The transformations are often so tight or have some small degree of movement required that without instructions you run the risk of breaking something small or missing a finer point of the conversion.

I use them for figures like masterpieces so as to avoid breaking anything. Otherwise I try and not use them.

I always TRY not to use them. It just depends.

I find the instructions are getting harder to follow. Gen Jetfire's instructions were weird. Some images had whole junks of the toy missing. I realized it was just so you could see the parts you needed to focus on, but it threw me for a loop.
Ever since Classics morphed into Generations I have to use them more. Something changed in the pegging and tabbing of things that seems less intuitive to me.

Funny, I just had Broadblast (repaint of Alt/BT Skids) out the other night. After TFing a few other Alt guys, he punched me right in the brain! The instructions sucked too because they were in Japanese and I was going backwards. Otherwise I was proud of myself for remembering these guys. It had been at least 4 years.

Animated, although I dig 'em, were super counter intuitive for me. I always had to use instructions. Again changes in pegging and tabbing.

The one thing that always gets me is when a TF has a funky unrecognizable alt mode. If its a fire truck,airplane,animal, No problem, but if it's some funky made up space ship, f'get 'bout it.
The Fallen and Prime Megatron come to mind.

Usually I don't. I like to transform them first and later check on instruction to see if I miss anything (normally not happening). There are some exceptions though. When some parts are super tight but I think they are moveable, in case not to break them, I might want to check the instruction to be sure.

And many times they are so not helpful, even the 3rd party one.

For me the instructions are basically the safety net. The joy of getting a Transformer, whether NIB or used, is to play with it. I have NO MISB figures. I get the most out of a transformation if I try it on my own, doing it gently of course. If I run into a step that I can't figure out on the 3rd or 4th try, then I take out the instructions, for up to that step only. Then once I figure that out, back to doing it on my own, until I need the instructions again. It's a really good way to learn a transformation, even a difficult one. All the figures I have I transform without instructions because I can remember everything on account of learning the "hard way."

Always use them; I am way too ham fisted otherwise and things will disintegrate immediately upon contact.

I did at first, but once I got used to the general mechanics I started to try without for the whole challenge/discovery feeling. Always keep them handy, though.

Of course, I've been sticking with Cyberverse and Kreons so long now that the occasional larger figure is quite a doozy. And going back to RotF figures, well...

The old G1 were useful. The latest suck eggs! The MP and Japanese are too small and the monochrome pics aren't that helpful(not to mention my not being able to read Japanese)

30th Jetfire for example..........just pics no words, not explained how to flip and lock the 2 panels near the cockpit

When I first open up something like a mass retail deluxe/voyager, I try not to. This gives me some "puzzle-play" satisfaction.

If it's a Masterpiece, Third-party, or otherwise expensive and/or fragile looking toy, then abso-freakin-lutely I'm using the instructions. With MP especially, having that first walkthrough of sorts actually increases my enjoyment and appreciation of the engineering that much more.

ScottyP wrote:When I first open up something like a mass retail deluxe/voyager, I try not to. This gives me some "puzzle-play" satisfaction.

If it's a Masterpiece, Third-party, or otherwise expensive and/or fragile looking toy, then abso-freakin-lutely I'm using the instructions. With MP especially, having that first walkthrough of sorts actually increases my enjoyment and appreciation of the engineering that much more.

Same here. I rarely use instructions for mass retail. I tried to do the same with an MP and I broke it so from now on, MPs are done with instructions.
I did recieve an MP megatron with no instructions in the box so I followed on youtube what I should do (the instructions were later delivered to me).

And I second the fact that some alt modes do require I look at the instructions. The best example is the horrible Animated Voyager Megatron figure. I always need the instructions for that hunk of junk.

Never. If I can't figure out the transformation of a figure just by looking at it, it never gets transformed. I think the only one that actually happened to me with was that one helicopter from the DOTM line. I think his name was Skyhammer. The one AOE Voyager Drift is a retool of.

Counterpunch wrote:Usually.

The transformations are often so tight or have some small degree of movement required that without instructions you run the risk of breaking something small or missing a finer point of the conversion.

Agreed. I like to do it with the instructions once because I usually miss something or transform something out of order. There's nothing wrong with using the instructions (or asking for directions when driving!!!). I like to see where they recommend you start, and then continue along until I get stuck. I also like to make sure that I didn't miss something intricate or a little piece that's supposed to be positioned a certain way. Once I've transformed it with the help of the instructions, I usually do them without but if I can't figure out one I generally just need to see the picture of the bottom side of the figure transformed in alternate mode which is why I take this photo in almost every gallery ...



It usually tells me all I need to know to figure out how to transform it back into vehicle mode.

SlyTF1 wrote:Never. If I can't figure out the transformation of a figure just by looking at it, it never gets transformed. I think the only one that actually happened to me with was that one helicopter from the DOTM line. I think his name was Skyhammer. The one AOE Voyager Drift is a retool of.

Really? That's a hell of a coincidence because that's the one figure (along with Rodimus Minor from Animated) that I absolutely adored figuring out as I transformed it without the instructions. Those two figures have so much going on for their class categorie, it was a real joy to discover them through unaided transforming.

Seibertron wrote: Once I've transformed it with the help of the instructions, I usually do them without but if I can't figure out one I generally just need to see the picture of the bottom side of the figure transformed in alternate mode which is why I take this photo in almost every gallery ...



It usually tells me all I need to know to figure out how to transform it back into vehicle mode.

You have no clue how helpful those have been to me. Most notable examples were the Alternators line (Smokescreen and Grimlock) and DOTM Leader Sentinel Prime.

william-james88 wrote:

SlyTF1 wrote:Never. If I can't figure out the transformation of a figure just by looking at it, it never gets transformed. I think the only one that actually happened to me with was that one helicopter from the DOTM line. I think his name was Skyhammer. The one AOE Voyager Drift is a retool of.

Really? That's a hell of a coincidence because that's the one figure (along with Rodimus Minor from Animated) that I absolutely adored figuring out as I transformed it without the instructions. Those two figures have so much going on for their class categorie, it was a real joy to discover them through unaided transforming.

I literally have him right here. He's been sitting in this exact spot since I first got him over 2 years ago. I hadn't touched him since. Until now. I still can't figure him out.

I got out my stash of PCC's last night.
Robot to vehicle mode and back again, no problem.
Torso modes, had to dig out the instructions, and some were very unhelpful.

SlyTF1 wrote:

william-james88 wrote:

SlyTF1 wrote:Never. If I can't figure out the transformation of a figure just by looking at it, it never gets transformed. I think the only one that actually happened to me with was that one helicopter from the DOTM line. I think his name was Skyhammer. The one AOE Voyager Drift is a retool of.

Really? That's a hell of a coincidence because that's the one figure (along with Rodimus Minor from Animated) that I absolutely adored figuring out as I transformed it without the instructions. Those two figures have so much going on for their class categorie, it was a real joy to discover them through unaided transforming.

I literally have him right here. He's been sitting in this exact spot since I first got him over 2 years ago. I hadn't touched him since. Until now. I still can't figure him out.

Dont give up, you can do this!

Is there an online resource that has scans of the instructions?
Always thought that would be cool. Please don't say their here on Seibertron. I would feel like a real Billy Bologna.
It would be a neat feature for this already great site, but a serious undertaking.

Cobotron wrote:Is there an online resource that has scans of the instructions?
Always thought that would be cool. Please don't say their here on Seibertron. I would feel like a real Billy Bologna.
It would be a neat feature for this already great site, but a serious undertaking.

There is such a site: Unicron!

http://www.unicron.com/tfitem/itemimage_db.php?mode=instructions

Here is an example

http://www.unicron.com/tfitem/itemimage_view.php?mode=instructions&itemID=1190&imageID=801

william-james88 wrote:

Cobotron wrote:Is there an online resource that has scans of the instructions?
Always thought that would be cool. Please don't say their here on Seibertron. I would feel like a real Billy Bologna.
It would be a neat feature for this already great site, but a serious undertaking.

There is such a site: Unicron!

http://www.unicron.com/tfitem/itemimage_db.php?mode=instructions

Here is an example

http://www.unicron.com/tfitem/itemimage_view.php?mode=instructions&itemID=1190&imageID=801

Willy-J, I had a feeling you would know the answer to this question.
That's great! I've been to this site but never noticed this section.
(that rhymes)

I have a file cabinet in the basement that is solely dedicated to cardbacks/bios, instructions, etc. It probably weighs 80 to 100 lbs. The only Instructions missing are my OG G1 sheets from childhood.

If Seibertron ever wanted to add this feature. I would volunteer to help.

Cobotron wrote:Is there an online resource that has scans of the instructions?
Always thought that would be cool. Please don't say their here on Seibertron. I would feel like a real Billy Bologna.
It would be a neat feature for this already great site, but a serious undertaking.

Would any of you be interested in helping to archive instructions on Seibertron.com so that we can have this content here?

Seibertron wrote:

Cobotron wrote:Is there an online resource that has scans of the instructions?
Always thought that would be cool. Please don't say their here on Seibertron. I would feel like a real Billy Bologna.
It would be a neat feature for this already great site, but a serious undertaking.

Would any of you be interested in helping to archive instructions on Seibertron.com so that we can have this content here?

Yes. PM me anytime.

Seibertron wrote:

Cobotron wrote:Is there an online resource that has scans of the instructions?
Always thought that would be cool. Please don't say their here on Seibertron. I would feel like a real Billy Bologna.
It would be a neat feature for this already great site, but a serious undertaking.

Would any of you be interested in helping to archive instructions on Seibertron.com so that we can have this content here?

I'm not sure how I could help, but I'd be interested.

RK_Striker_JK_5 wrote:

Seibertron wrote:

Cobotron wrote:Is there an online resource that has scans of the instructions?
Always thought that would be cool. Please don't say their here on Seibertron. I would feel like a real Billy Bologna.
It would be a neat feature for this already great site, but a serious undertaking.

Would any of you be interested in helping to archive instructions on Seibertron.com so that we can have this content here?

I'm not sure how I could help, but I'd be interested.

If you guys have access to a scanner, it'd be great to see how much of a dent a large group of us could make to archive the instructions.

It'd also be great to work with a few of you to archive the accessories and weapons that come with each Transformers toy to compete with TFU.info.