Basic Transformer Disassembly

[Captain Cosmic]

when a figure is complicated, i draw out a basic diagram showing what holes line up with one another, what size screws where etc.
then you have something to lay the pieces on for reference, and you can take down the screws to it so you know where they all go strait up!

[stevescustoms]

I never thought to attach a magnet to the screwdriver. Damn I could have saved s many screws that way. Thanks for posting this Mike.

[jbarb78]

Nice, I had just started to put one of these together when I saw this, saved me the trouble. The magnet is a very good trick, those screws can go flying if you don't use one. A couple things to remember when putting it back together:
- Every part has a specific configuration that it has to be put back in, there is a definite left, right, up, or down. If it looks like it could go either way, double check pictures or another figure if you have one. Be prepared to take some figures back apart because of this.
- 9 times out of 10, the screws will face the back or the inner part of the figure, so if you put a leg together and the screws are on the outter thigh instead of the inner thigh, odds are you did it wrong.
- If your eyes are good and you look hard enough, 90% of the parts you pull off are marked with "L" and "R". Helps take some of the guess work out, and that's the figure's left and right.
- If you forgot to mask a pivot post before you painted, make sure you scrape the paint off of it before you try to slide it back into the hole it goes in. I kept snapping these off on the first few customs I made before I realized what the problem was, they arent really meant to be that tight.

[frenzyrumble]

nice work and tutorial. did you know, if you take that magnet there, and rub the end of your screw driver into it for about 20 seconds, it will create a magnetic tip. gonna actually post up a video about it now...

[Hotwire]

- If you forgot to mask a pivot post before you painted, make sure you scrape the paint off of it before you try to slide it back into the hole it goes in. I kept snapping these off on the first few customs I made before I realized what the problem was, they arent really meant to be that tight.

This is one of those mistakes that cost me $12 to replace my ROTF Soundwave!!

nice work and tutorial. did you know, if you take that magnet there, and rub the end of your screw driver into it for about 20 seconds, it will create a magnetic tip. gonna actually post up a video about it now...

True, however, I like the magnet on there because of it's strength and it serves as a storage spot for the screws until I run them back in the hole they came from.

[Eyes-of-a-Snake]

- If your eyes are good and you look hard enough, 90% of the parts you pull off are marked with "L" and "R". Helps take some of the guess work out, and that's the figure's left and right.

Just keep in mind that the L and R refer to the "Bot Mode" left and right. Had this issue on a leader Starscream... Felt like an idiot, as what is on his left in jet mode is on his right in bot mode...

[UPLSharingan]

Great tips here! Will be trying to impliment them on a figure this upcoming week. Funny that the first transformer I tried to take apart was my ROTF Mudflap. One of the screws got me though, and I asked my roommate for help getting it out because I thought he had experience with delicate stuff like that. Well, the $^@$%! tore the crap out of the screw and the window it was in on the figure, and I ended up having to buy another Mudflap for my collection... "If you want something done right" I guess...

[Mr. Black]

Just keep in mind that the L and R refer to the "Bot Mode" left and right. Had this issue on a leader Starscream... Felt like an idiot, as what is on his left in jet mode is on his right in bot mode...

Yeah, but also keep in mind it depends on your point of view. Is he facing towards you or away from you, huh? Makes you think, no?

[nOizYbOi]

What do you guys usually do with figures like DOTM Ironhide or any figure that has electronics or other auto-transforming gimmicks? I know that I have to disassemble as far as they would go and then clean them by immersing the parts in warm water and mild detergent, but what do I do about the parts housing the electronics? Do I use IPA and just rub those parts down and call it good or will I have to bite the bullet and try to separate them before cleaning? Sorry if it's a dumb question, but I was wondering what's usually done!

[Hotwire]

What do you guys usually do with figures like DOTM Ironhide or any figure that has electronics or other auto-transforming gimmicks? I know that I have to disassemble as far as they would go and then clean them by immersing the parts in warm water and mild detergent, but what do I do about the parts housing the electronics? Do I use IPA and just rub those parts down and call it good or will I have to bite the bullet and try to separate them before cleaning? Sorry if it's a dumb question, but I was wondering what's usually done!

While I haven't messed with anything electronic, I can give some tips on those auto-morph parts. Go very, VERY slowly with them. Some are spring loaded and will fly apart. Others, you just wave to careful and takes note of how it all fit together so you can put it back. Also, if any of the moving parts are hidden, don't paint them. If they are visible, make sure to sand them down to make room for the paint.