Autobots, transform...

... and roll out!

I spent, like, fifteen minutes trying to separate his crotch from his torso. The transformation manual was a bit crude as it only showed the transformation procedures in a side-view fashion. It would've been easier to understand if the illustrations were done perspectively.

My thumbs were already quite numb due to the crotch-torso ordeal and I probably spent another fifteen minutes to get Prime's hood flush with his fenders and radiator grill. My patience was already wearing thin (see my previous post) when I got everything in order.

Setting up a shoot for the alt mode wasn't a walk in the park either. Countless minutes passed by as I struggled to find the best way to light the profile and effect I wanted.

Here's the result of one Leader Class Optimus Prime for a subject, a laptop monitor for a light source and a bristol board --

Uh oh...

... somebody got "loose."

My weeks of training in Makati held off the inevitable -- opening my Optimus Prime. But after what seemed like countless days of being MISB, I did the deed and set him loose. ^_^

I just can't wait to transform him into alternate mode (which I think absolutely rocks!) and take a few pics... and I did! ^_^

Transforming OP from his robot mode was more challenging than I expected -- I spent around 10 minutes trying to separate his crotch from his torso! I remember mumbling to myself, "I don't care if you get scratches or if I break something... I'll transform you even if it's the last thing I do!"

Fifteen minutes later, I was able to finally view the alternate mode in its splendor.

Midnight struck and I had to put-off the photoshoot for another night... darn.

My name is Optimus Prime

I was an avid fan of the G1 cartoons as it was being shown on the tellie. I marveled at the animation of Transformers: The Movie. However, I was just a student back then... with no moolah to get myself one of those first generation TF toys, which incidentally, had a thermal sticker that would change colors if you rub it briskly. The sticker alone made me drool.

Fast-forward to twenty-plus years. I finally got myself a Transformers toy which could actually transform (I have Revoltech Megs and Starscream.) Yup, two years after the blockbuster 2007 flick, I finally collared the Autobot leader.

TFTM Leader Class Optimus Prime

Here's a fact: I wouldn't have gotten it if it wasn't on sale. ^_^

Now I know how it feels like to have one of these... and the bug is biting me quite hard... the way the Gundam bug bit me. So hard that I'm priming myself (excuse the pun) for a OP's Masterpiece version... the 20th anniversary will do. The price on the Takara one is just plain insane!