The Energon Pub

I bought myself an Alt Wheeljack today, thinking it looked pretty funky in the box, but now I'm thinking it may not have been such a great buy.

I think I've managed to transform him once without bits popping off - the arms remove themselves pretty easily, both at the shoulder and the elbow.

I also can't seem to get things properly lined up when going back to car mode - either the top panel and back don't connect properly (the roof sags a little), or the doors and floor don't line up properly.


Are these known issues with this model, do I have a badly assembled one, or do I just need more practice with the transformation?


I think this guy is even more fiddly than movie leader Megatron's leg assembly

Autoclot wrote:I bought myself an Alt Wheeljack today, thinking it looked pretty funky in the box, but now I'm thinking it may not have been such a great buy.

I think I've managed to transform him once without bits popping off - the arms remove themselves pretty easily, both at the shoulder and the elbow.

I also can't seem to get things properly lined up when going back to car mode - either the top panel and back don't connect properly (the roof sags a little), or the doors and floor don't line up properly.


Are these known issues with this model, do I have a badly assembled one, or do I just need more practice with the transformation?


I think this guy is even more fiddly than movie leader Megatron's leg assembly

I believe that it's just very difficult to transform. But if you're unhappy with it, I would be happy to take it off your hands. I have the knockoff and would much rather have the deal deal...

By the sounds of it you just need practise mate.
You do know his roof clips into place if you pull it up when tfing to alt mode?


A bit of practise and you'll be fine.

You just need some practice with it..there is a Youtube video on how to transform Alt. WJ back into car if that helps you.

Thanks, guys - had a feeling it was a lack of practice; wouldn't have thought they'd let it off the drawing board it everyone had the same difficulty with it as me


And thanks for the advice on the video - looks like I've got some studying to do

actually, i find myself in the same situation as you, though on a much lesser scale. i dunno, i find that the roof tends to sag a little if you really don't force it upwards, unlike Grimlock whose panels do fit excellently. also, i find the car doors pop off rather easily during transformation compared to Grimlock.

it's ironic though, that i have yet to pop off Alt Wheeljack's head off during transformation while i simply manage to do it most times with Alt Grimlock. pretty puzzling because Wheeljack has a wider head (thus theoretically making it more difficult for it to get out of the engine bay) compared to 'ol Grim himself.

the main gripe i have with the Mustang molds though, is that the forearms have hard time staying together under the hood during Alt mode - they don't have proper locking mechanisms compared to other Alts.

Autoclot wrote:And thanks for the advice on the video - looks like I've got some studying to do

No problem...that is how I learned to transform him back into a car. I can get him into robot mode easily...my problem is with the arms.

Cascadia wrote:

Autoclot wrote:And thanks for the advice on the video - looks like I've got some studying to do

No problem...that is how I learned to transform him back into a car. I can get him into robot mode easily...my problem is with the arms.

Indeed - that arm assembly is clearly the result of making it clever rather than making it usable.

Were these things actually designed as toys or are they purely collectors' things? I'd hate to be the parent of a kid whose toy keeps falling apart during normal uage

Autoclot wrote:Were these things actually designed as toys or are they purely collectors' things? I'd hate to be the parent of a kid whose toy keeps falling apart during normal uage

They're still toys, just not in the age 3 - 5 group.

They're kinda the boy's toys for 12+

I find that the roof stays in place in car mode if you raise the seats so the headrests hold it in place. The doors fit reasonably well if you make sure the pegs between the dashboard and engine (under the lower windscreen corners) are pushed very firmly into place. He still doesn't fit together as well as the others though. Sideswipe often has something dragging underneath and I haven't figured out what I do differently when it IS clear of the floor.

As for bits popping off here and there - he is INFURIATINGLY hard. If you can do it without knocking off a door you're doing well. If you read some reviews you'll find many complaints about hard he is to Tform.

I normally remove the doors to avoid damaging them. I'm very careful with my Wheeljack since stress lines started appearing on his shin guards.

Dealer wrote:I normally remove the doors to avoid damaging them. I'm very careful with my Wheeljack since stress lines started appearing on his shin guards.

what part of the shin guard is this? can you take pics if possible? i'm not seeing any on Wheeljack and Grimlock yet, but i might be missing something because both of them are staying in alt mode as of now. thanks in advance.

as for the car doors, i dunno but i haven't had Grimlock's pop off ever yet, only Wheeljack's. and it doesn't take a lot of pressure too - incredibly frustrating since i want to keep the integrity of the Alternator.

No camera, but I can try and describe it.

http://seibertron.com/toys/fullsize.php ... 1&image=66

See where the tail lights fold out? Look inside where they fold out from, and you should see hook-things attached to pins.

One of the hooks on the right leg broke from stress; probably from being to rigorous when tfing him.


Answer- don't pull the tail light sections out quickly.

Dealer wrote:No camera, but I can try and describe it.

http://seibertron.com/toys/fullsize.php ... 1&image=66

See where the tail lights fold out? Look inside where they fold out from, and you should see hook-things attached to pins.

One of the hooks on the right leg broke from stress; probably from being to rigorous when tfing him.


Answer- don't pull the tail light sections out quickly.

ah yes, i can see where you're pointing at, thanks man. though i still have to check mine, it's a hassle transforming them into Bot mode again (or maybe i'm just too lazy to). thanks for that heads-up; next time i'll be extra careful in pulling out those taillight parts.

One of those things broke on mine I'd like to glue it but I can't figure out how to get in there!

I considered removing the doors for transformation but thought repeated removal/reconnecting might make them even looser - so I just disconnect the fone, make sure I have nothing important planned for a few hours and take my time

The Alternator Ford Mustang is one of the most difficult trasformations ever.

I change my Grimlock anout as often as I do MP Megatron. Both look cool in bot mode, both I fear are easily damaged.

Still, practice will bring mastery, and if you realy don't like him, I'll take him off your hands

How odd, my last post vanished so I reposted it but now it's back... That's why this msg is here - I don't know how to delete it! Sorry.

Thanks for all the advice, guys. I've now managed to transform him several times without popping his arms or base-plate off (don't try twisting the midsection round by using the base-plate ), and once or twice without popping the doors off.

I still think that front section transformation is a bit of a screw-up, design-wise, but at least he looks good when he's transformed.