Takara Alternity A-01 Optimus Prime Transformation Sequence

Figure Note:
Stop-Motion Transformation of Takara Alternity A-01 Optimus Prime. Tricky but pretty cool. They tried to have a number of “automorph” features in the design. So when you pull the seats sideways, it collapses some filler panels. When you flip the shoulders out, the hood compresses and the head pops up. I didn’t explicitly show the head popping up because I had to choose a side to show and the panels collapsing the chest are more interesting to see. When you fold down the upper body, the silver abdominal area pops out. This can get stuck, especially going back to car mode. There is a little ladder looking thing inside the front end that slides towards (and away from) the grill. If you find going to car mode that the abs don’t fold up, it’s because the little ladder isn’t moving. You can poke at it with a stick - essentially slide it towards the grill - as you are unfolding the front end. There is also a little catch on one of the two swing arms that attach the front of the car to the rest of the car and it goes into a little hole. I had quite the adventure because somewhere along the way on mine the catch had become mangled. So instead of going into the hole, it served as an obstacle to the chest compressing all the way down. So I had to push out the pin on that front swing arm and then Dremel the mangled catch out of existence. Finally, there is a similar dual swing-arm mechanism that folds the spine of the car forward to meet the abdominal area.

Support Note:
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Car to Robot: 0:09
Robot to Car: 0:41
Speed run to Robot: 1:12
Speed run to Car: 1:25
2x Run: 1:37
End credits: 1:49

Production Note: So you may wonder why I didn’t finish up the Alternators line with Alternators Rumble. I had planned to do so. But somehow, somewhere I lost the damned engine bit that turns into one of his backpack guns. I still have the one that hides in the trunk, but the engine one is GONE, baby, gone. Anyway If you have an Alternators Rumble and would be willing to loan me your engine gun, you can email me at gmail to get my mailing address. I would send it back and you would get a mention on the video title screens. It’s a longshot, but just throwing it out there. Otherwise I’ll have to get around to it when I either: A) Miraculously find that damned part, or B) Spend $60 on eBay to essentially just buy the damned engine gun. So in the meantime you will be getting Alternity. Also the DX9 Sideswipe figure is on its way. And also Cang Toys Triceratops, whenever that gets around to shipping.

Viewing Note:
If you want to follow along, I recommend skipping to the speed run and using your , and . keyboard keys to advance by single frames. Every step of the transformation is documented in the frames of the video, in what I consider to be the best sequence. With minimal rubbing and minimal parts-parking.

Music: The music is by Ethan Meixsell - www.ethanmeixsell.com
Songs: “Demise” and “Run”