Siege refraktor for the handle

 

So the stacks are merely radio antennas that I cut and slid over the existing stacks. You can get an antenna off of ebay for under two bucks.

And the handle is from Refrakors shield, but I've yet to try it. Looks like it could work though.

 

Found one at Target.

 

Not the face-off we got, but the one we deserved:

 

I love the photo, but...
Perspective correction is the right of all sentient beings.

 

Thanks! I wish I had noticed at the time but crouching down on the pavement to take these shots in the hot sun and barely even being able to see the screen meant I had to guess.

 

So after closer inspection, this totally would work.

If the "no proper shield handle" is bothering you so much with the new Prime, you can simply unscrew a Reflector lense/shield, and secure the handle to Prime's shield. I didn't screw it in, (or glue it) but you can see here it would clearly work.

Neat.



EDIT:
(with it screwed in)

 

So this Prime is pretty awesome if you have no other version of the SS mold. There are some quirks (hollow jetpack, awkward shield, lack of silver on the trailer) but imo it's still enjoyable and worth the wait. I like the sacrifice of clear windows for stronger plastic on this guy and the pinned backpack. The orange gradient in truck mode is nice too.
To improve him a little, I gave the shield a handle extension (hopefully I can find a handle like gbm's idea), added the rest of the roof lights from a junker hftd optimus, and made slots in the arms for the sword to be used rotf style. I also cut the arm tabs as Matt Booker suggested here (Studio Series 32 - Voyager 2007 Optimus Prime) to get the truck nose to sit flush. Currently debating on painting the trailer and adding smokestacks but for now it'll be fine.
I also recommend putting the jetpack under the ring for a better look. It fits together nicely if you get it right.









Shield handle:

Sword slots:

Everything inside and new shield storage:

Roof lights:

 

This was a fantastic read, thank you!

 

Anyone swap the turbines around so the hollow side faces the other way? Would it still be able to store in the trailer if swapped around?

 

I was looking forward trying that but didnt realize until I had it in hand that doing so would put the other smaller set of wings on the incorrect side of the larger wing. They should be behind the larger wings. It looked odd.

 

This might be the first time that the trailer section of an Optimus is the coolest part. I love the trailer, the cab is decent.

 

Anyone here have any difficulty snapping Optimus' waist back into place when transforming him from truck to bot? I feel like I might break something if I try to force it to lock in.

 

It's exceedingly tight, yes. Just sweat bullets and push. He'll snap together. The more you do it, the easier it becomes. They really went overboard with it.

 

I was thinking that maybe the reason the jets on the jetwing are hollow, is because it is the cheapest way to make it weigh less so it dose not make it to back heavy.

 

Fixed it for you  

 

Heh, that's more the truth than anything, but to be honest... Having it be hollow does help with back heaviness. Even as hollow as it is, currently, mine has toppled over backward a couple of times with the Jetwing on. So, there's definitely some truth to both answers.

 

Can this version of Prime combine with SS Jetfire, or did the remolding remove that functionality? Cuz if it can, that would maybe be the absolute best thing ever.

 

That's why Jetfire comes with that spare ab piece, to make that possible. Without that, the girdle piece has nowhere to clip in. That's the only remold.

 

Ah, thank you very much. I had completely missed that Jetfire had that accessory.