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One of the things I saw being discussed in the Takara Tomy Transformers Masterpiece MP-22 Ultra Magnus thread was the fors and againsts of parts-forming.

For those unsure of what parts-forming is, it requires one or more parts to be removed from a Transformers mode and reattached to create the other mode. G1 figures are the main example, from having to attach fists (Seekers, Optimus Prime), a complete disassemble and reassemble (Omega Supreme) or feet, fists and chest pieces (gestalts).

Modern engineering aims to do away with parts-forming with all the necessary bits and pieces incorporated into the final toy with weapons often being the only loose parts. Some people like that, parents especially would like it as it means fewer parts to lose.

But if I were to pick a camp, I'd be pro-part-former. Why? Maybe nostalgic reasons, though I do not like modern gestalts where they try to incorporate everything. A few add-on bits wouldn't go astray. Which is the main reason I like them. Sometimes, not having things incorporated can make the figure better.


To illustrate my point, I present to you a semi-modern figure that is part-former, but in my opinion, one of the best figures of all time.

Robots in Disguise Optimus Prime

Here we have his alt mode, ignoring the chest part hiding there on the back, we have a good looking fire engine



And then comes the fun part. Taking him apart!



Not a very practical mode of transport that's for sure! But look what it becomes.



A very basic Optimus Prime robot mode. But what about the rest of his parts?





And this is where it gets fun.

Remove the ladder/upper chest/head from the trailer. Slide the chest of the smaller robot up to cover up its head, the fold the large robot chest over the top of it with the ladder hanging down behind. The forward part of trailer comes apart and unfolds to form larger forearms which fit over the smaller robots forearms. The middle part of the trailer comes apart and clips over the shoulder of the smaller robot. The rear part of the trailer also comes apart with panels on top opening up to clip over the smaller robots feet.

And all of that, results in this.



Sure there's a lot of cheating involved, but what makes a good figure?

Good looking alt mode - Check!
Good looking robot mode - Check!

And let's not forget, if you have RiD Ultra Magnus, you can do this!



So in this particular case, is parts-forming such a bad thing? For me, no, it's not. What do the rest of you think?
(And feel free to use the Seibertron.com Toy Galleries for example images!)

I'm all for parts forming Transformers when necessary. Omega Supreme, Gestalts, Powermaster Optimus Prime, G1 Ultra Magnus, and many others come to mind. Does Energon Omega Supreme count? If it's over-used, then I'm not a fan. But from time to time, shell formers and parts formers are AOK in my book.

Burn making a legitimately serious thread? Unheard of!

But yeah, I see where all the angst comes from when it comes to partsforming. I don't mind partsforming, but in my opinion, I think it works best for combiners. The biggest reason that comes to mind is Fall of Cybertron Bruticus. The Combaticons' main gimmick was them combining, but the final robot looks really messy. However, Echtransformer/X-Transbots and Microchange's Bruticus upgrades seem to be major improvements to Bruticus, and they all partsform.

So for me, if the figure looks good, the vehicle mode looks good, and it's difficult to have it to where everything is a single piece, then partsforming isn't so bad, in my opinion.

To be honest, I don't mind it. It's another form of transformation, another variation of the puzzle. Hell, look at his spiritual successor, Cybertron Optimus Prime.



Start with this, like with RiD Prime.

Break apart to form his cab.



Then you've got a good robot mode.



Then you take the back, combine it with the front and...



Not to mention Leo Breaker...

I don't mind it but wouldn't want to see it overused or become the norm. The examples in this thread are good ones for the pro-partsforming argument. What I do dislike is when there are loads of parts left over from one mode that aren't used for anything when the bot is in another mode. Mainly a selfish thing because it means I don't have to remember where I put stuff and risk losing the parts. I prefer being able to keep all parts and accessories on a bot in either mode, even if it does look stupid half the time.

I don't know how the hell I forgot about Cybertron Optimus Prime!

As RK said, "spiritual successor" and then some!

It depends, of course, but a general rule is no parts-forming for the core robot (this includes gestalts, like Bruticus, but not necessarily "super modes"). Power up boxing gloves popping on/off between modes? Fine. The actual hands? No.

Burn wrote:I don't know how the hell I forgot about Cybertron Optimus Prime!

As RK said, "spiritual successor" and then some!

Thank you. I'd post pics of him combined with Wing Saber, but I can't find any at the moment.

As others have said, there's good parts-forming, and bad parts-forming. It's the same with any form of transformation. Burn and I posted some great examples, but there's bad ones out there, too.

Same stand like on die-cast. If necessary go for it!

Omega Supreme, GodGinrai, the gestalt teams, Starsaber, Omega Prime,Jet Convoy, Grand Convoy and GF. (With the exception of Grand who desperately needed the parts to make him look decent)Duocons, Overlord even the Headmasters (part forming to some extent)

These parts formers are among the best examples of doing it right.

This is part-forming I can live with, because the pieces all incorporate into the alt mode. I do not care for G1 combiners because of the leftover pieces. Give me Railracer and Magnaboss any day.

i love parts formers.. i think it's fun.. i see it as add on armor and it makes it even more of a puzzle.. i don't think there's a single parts former that i have a problem with.

same goes for the G1 combiners.. the add on parts REALLY help complete the look.. and i mean, hasbro has decided to shy away from doing things like the for the more recent combiners and we've all seen how that turned out.. but when a 3rd party creates add on parts (well, and a proper sized body robot) we've seen how much better combiners can be with add on parts.

if the extra parts are incorporated in some way with the alt mode(s) that's cool too, but it's not necessary and doesn't really sway my opinion one way or the other.. i get annoyed when people score a figure lower because it has parts that could get lost.. it's easy DON'T LOSE THE PART lol.. humans invented these neat little things called ziplock bags!

as far as MP-22 goes.. i couldn't care less if it was a parts former or a normal transformer, just as long as both modes are accurate.. which they are.

I'm not a big fan of parts forming to be honest, just like shell-formers its lazy engineering. Although I don't really consider the examples you've given to be true parts formers. It's perfectly acceptable for a bot combine with his trailer to form robot 'armour' or an enlarged robot mode or to have removable weapons which can be reattached.

Look I love G1, but that's where parts forming should stay, toy engineering has moved on significantly since the seventies. Would a G1 Omega Supreme really be acceptable if it was presented as a brand new TF today? I'm not sure.

To give you an example, I recently gave my son my original G1 Constructicon's, not 100% complete but all the parts were there to at least combine them to Devastator. In the time that he has had them the hip pegs have broken and he's lost the arms, so no more Devi.

Some parts formers are great, some are OK but others are hopeless, however all will be considerably effected once key components become lost, broken or stolen.

MightyMagnus78 wrote:Would an Omega supreme really be acceptable if it was presented as a brand new TF today? I'm not sure.

One of the most popular releases in recent years.

Burn wrote:

MightyMagnus78 wrote:Would an Omega supreme really be acceptable if it was presented as a brand new TF today? I'm not sure.

One of the most popular releases in recent years.

I meant G1 OS. Have now fixed.

Oh I know what you meant, but concept wise, there's not much difference between Original and Modern Omega Supremes.

I will agree with you about the Constructicons, relying on those little pieces of plastic to keep them together wasn't a good idea, but it was early technology. Even the Scramble City combiners could still have problems with their neck pieces.

I'm all about parts-forming if-and-only-if it'a incorporated into each mode. Something like the "Rage Of Hercules" where you can pretend to incorporate parts into all modes, but not really... That bugs me. But something like RiD Prime is pure genius.

RID Prime iirc was also designed by the guy who did Starsaber. And it's awesomeness shows.

Burn wrote:Oh I know what you meant, but concept wise, there's not much difference between Original and Modern Omega Supremes.

I will agree with you about the Constructicons, relying on those little pieces of plastic to keep them together wasn't a good idea, but it was early technology. Even the Scramble City combiners could still have problems with their neck pieces.

OK, I get it now. I'll be honest and say I don't own that Energon(?) OS mould, so can't really comment. However I bet he doesn't have stupid yellow clips to hold him together?

So I guess the conclusion here is then: Parts formers are OK so long as they are executed properly?

MightyMagnus78 wrote:OK, I get it now. I'll be honest and say I don't own that Energon(?) OS mould, so can't really comment. However I bet he doesn't have stupid yellow clips to hold him together?

No yellow clips, but he does have his flaws, primarily trying to get him to stand.

If you were to do a direct comparison between them, they probably would have roughly the same amount of pros and cons. Might be an idea for a future article, comparing old with new.

Burn wrote:

MightyMagnus78 wrote:OK, I get it now. I'll be honest and say I don't own that Energon(?) OS mould, so can't really comment. However I bet he doesn't have stupid yellow clips to hold him together?

No yellow clips, but he does have his flaws, primarily trying to get him to stand.

If you were to do a direct comparison between them, they probably would have roughly the same amount of pros and cons. Might be an idea for a future article, comparing old with new.

That's a fantastic idea, and with the 30th anniversary coming up it's probably the right time to do it.

Why stop there. You should do your own thrilling thirty but with a 'then' and 'now' comparison?

I'm fine with partsforming, as long as all the parts get used in both modes. As it's been said, the gestalts are sometimes annoying, because in the individual robot or vehicle modes of the components there's gestalt parts left over. I haven't seen it with Generations or the movie lines, but some 3rd party companies are guilty of this as well.

MightyMagnus78 wrote:That's a fantastic idea, and with the 30th anniversary coming up it's probably the right time to do it.

Why stop there. You should do your own thrilling thirty but with a 'then' and 'now' comparison?

Sounds like too much work.

I'll get Va'al to do it.

Burn wrote:

MightyMagnus78 wrote:That's a fantastic idea, and with the 30th anniversary coming up it's probably the right time to do it.

Why stop there. You should do your own thrilling thirty but with a 'then' and 'now' comparison?

Sounds like too much work.

I'll get Va'al to do it.

I'M a YAY on this: part forming is great and in a lot of cases, can improve the posability of the figure

I'll get that parforming masterpiece magnus and enjoy the heck out of him!

im fine with parts-forming as long as the parts do something for the alt mode and robot mode. if they help one mode but not the other that just irks me.