Finally got Prime assembled!

 I got him assembled a few days ago, but I haven't gotten a chance to take some pics until today...  It's a really neat model that has some flaws, but I think it's absolutely worth it as long as you're able to keep one simple thing in mind: this is NOT a toy

All thumbs are clickable, so please click away!




   

He's gloriously well detailed, well painted and decently poseable, at least in the upper body... I'll get to the legs a little later.  Of note, I didn't install the clear windows in his chest because they really just didn't fit worth a damn


His chest has layers upon layers of details piled on top of each other, it's really quite amazing!  His back is quite fascinating as well, those appear to be his fuel tanks strapped to his back, and his fifth-wheel hitch on his butt

 

His feet are bananas!  Each foot has 7 individual joints, not counting the ankle joints, those 7 joints are just in his toes/heels!


As you can see, he has the option to display the head with the faceplate extended or retracted, I kinda prefer it retracted as the faceplate looks kinda like a beak, I really don't dig it


At least his mouth gives him some character!  In the last picture here I included a shot of the 2009 Prime toy's head alongside the model to show the improved molding


His knees are double jointed, which caught me by surprise...  The upper knee has about 90degrees of bend to it, but the armor parts and the wheel on his thigh prevent the lower knee joint from offering any significant additional bend before parts start colliding


Once again, toy on the left, model on the right.  As I said in my last video, I have to commend Hasbro/TakaraTomy for really going above and beyond with the toy in 2009, it still looks pretty impressive next to the model!  Admittedly, some sacrifices had to be made to the design of the toy to accomodate the soundbox and batteries and transformation, but it really looks amazing!


From the front, anyway... the toy's back is pretty clunky, and this is my more streamlined, modified version of the original...  The model though, as I said looks pretty cool and sleek even from the back!


Finally, for comparison's sake, here's the model next to 2004's 20th Anniversary Masterpiece Optimus Prime.  The new Prime design is significantly different in almost every way, but you can see there is a strong influence in a lot of his design


His swords can attach in 2 different ways, they can mount either directly to the side of his forearm alongside his hands, or they can replace his hands entirely.  I prefer the replacement option, it's just more authentic to me

So there he is!  I'll be shooting a video about him tomorrow probably to show off his poseability and talk a bit about a few of the issues with him.

For pics of the assembly with detailed shots of the frame, visit http://www.escalemodels.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=9244