# Where did Optimus Prime's hands go when he transformed? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 7, 2000, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-optimus-primes-hands-go-when-he-transformed/40168 "2000-11-07T19:47:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2000, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-optimus-primes-hands-go-when-he-transformed/40168/41 "2000-11-11T00:19:38Z")
The official Megatron changed into a Walther PPK. The cartoon version was different in appearance, & involves an inside joke. Some of the artists on the series were big “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.” fans. Soooo… Megatron’s TV persona became a “U.N.C.L.E. Special” handgun, as issued to Napoleon Solo & Illya Kuriyakin in the series; including the optional snap-on stock & sight. _Megatron had a simple philosophy, but it had the advantage of being easily remembered._ > [@](#): > > - On seeing the Dinobots for the first time.\* > > **Starscream** : "What are those?!?! > > **Megatron** : Scrap-metal, once we’re through with them! I **loved** that show. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2000, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-optimus-primes-hands-go-when-he-transformed/40168/42 "2000-11-11T01:02:48Z")
The U.N.C.L.E. version of the PPK that became Megatron wasn’t a Transformers Cartoon invention. It was a special version of the Microman Microchange Walther PPK (Called, of course the Walther PPK U.N.C.L.E.), released as part of the Microman Microchange Gunbots line. The Megatron toy was based on the silver, rather overly accessorised U.N.C.L.E. version. Another Gunbot (Browning) was released as a special Transformer. [Cheesy Announcer Voice]For all this information and more, there’s [Pre-Transformers Page](http://www.crosswinds.net/~frx/).[/Cheesy Announcer Voice] ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2000, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-optimus-primes-hands-go-when-he-transformed/40168/43 "2000-11-11T01:11:29Z")
Sorry, Megatron was a P-38, not a PPK. Obvious mistake (too much James Bond), but one which I felt had to be clarified. ---
**Author:** ![Eo\_Echo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ebca7d/32.png) [@Eo\_Echo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eo_Echo)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2000, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-optimus-primes-hands-go-when-he-transformed/40168/44 "2000-11-11T05:54:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tengu \* > **Ironhide and Ratchet were powered-armour, not robots in Diaclone - which is why they have no heads** I was going to say something about how radically different the toy version of Ironhide differed from the animated version. I mean, they don’t even look remotely alike, and I walways wondered why; most of the rest of the Transformers at least _somewhat_ resembled their real life models. Another mystery solved. ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2000, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-optimus-primes-hands-go-when-he-transformed/40168/45 "2000-11-12T11:27:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Max Torque \* > \*\*There were five cassettes altogether: Ravage, the black panther; Rumble and Frenzy, humanoid robots (one blue, one red); and Laserbeak and Buzzsaw, birds. Buzzsaw was mostly gold, and I think Laserbeak was somewhat reddish. > > A site I found also lists one called Ratbat, but I don’t remember that one. \*\* Ravage was a panther? Oh hell, why did I think he was a dog all this time? _wishes she hadn’t given all her Transformers and Voltron and Robotech stuff to Goodwill_ ---
**Author:** ![ladybug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/46a35a/32.png) [@ladybug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladybug)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2000, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-optimus-primes-hands-go-when-he-transformed/40168/46 "2000-11-12T20:20:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by sk8rixtx \* > \*\*Anyone enjoy Beast Wars? \*\* Are you kidding? I love it! My screen name comes from the Beast Machines series. I thought it was so cute how Nightscream used to call Blackarachnia “Ladybug.” Unfortunately I got into the show kind of late so I haven’t seen most of the Beast Wars episodes, but I liked the ones I saw. ---
**Author:** ![Gozu\_Tashoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7993a0/32.png) [@Gozu\_Tashoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu_Tashoya)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2000, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-optimus-primes-hands-go-when-he-transformed/40168/47 "2000-11-13T01:25:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AudreyK \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Max Torque \* > > \*\*There were five cassettes altogether: Ravage, the black panther; Rumble and Frenzy, humanoid robots (one blue, one red); and Laserbeak and Buzzsaw, birds. Buzzsaw was mostly gold, and I think Laserbeak was somewhat reddish. > > > > A site I found also lists one called Ratbat, but I don’t remember that one. \*\* > > Ravage was a panther? Oh hell, why did I think he was a dog all this time? > _wishes she hadn’t given all her Transformers and Voltron and Robotech stuff to Goodwill_ \*\* Bwahahahaha!! Assuming my parents never got around to tossing it, I still have my big ol’ die cast metal Voltron in the drawers under my bed at home somewhere. I used to love that thing as a kid. I wonder if I have any transformers left… ---
**Author:** ![Pollo\_Boyo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a4c791/32.png) [@Pollo\_Boyo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pollo_Boyo)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2000, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-optimus-primes-hands-go-when-he-transformed/40168/48 "2000-11-13T07:18:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Inky- \* > \*\*Yeah, yeah, I know. A _really_ dumb question. But as I recall, unlike the other Autobots, Prime’s hands were separate (non-connected) little choking hazard type items that had to be plugged into his wrists. Did they just ignore that in the cartoon? Did they revise the toy in later production runs? > > Incidentally, this used to peeve me no end as a kid. Imagining Prime wheeling into battle, transforming so he could dole out some atomic powered whup-ass on Megatron only to have to stop midway and get that pussy BumbleBee to help him put his hands on (I suspect after the first one was attached he could put the second one in himself, but still, it would ruin anybody’s flow). And what about those days when you misplace your hands? > > How’z about the whole Insecticon size thing? And did they ever bother to explain why the Ironhide character looked _nothing_ like the toy? Whats was the name of that Autobot jet they found frozen in the antarctic that was obviously a Veritech fighter from Robotech with an Autobot logo stuck on him? Was Starscream gay? Who would win in a fight: Grimlock or Rodimus Prime? > \*\* The hands were supposed to be placed in the cab, which is also where is head flipped down into. And Grimlock would win. ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2000, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-optimus-primes-hands-go-when-he-transformed/40168/49 "2000-11-13T09:42:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KKBattousai \* > \*\*Bwahahahaha!! Assuming my parents never got around to tossing it, I still have my big ol’ die cast metal Voltron in the drawers under my bed at home somewhere. I used to love that thing as a kid. I wonder if I have any transformers left… \*\* I’m gonna visit your parents tomorrow. I’ll tell them I have your permission to play with your old toys. 🙂 [sub]Ever notice how easily one can mistype “permission” as “persimmons”?[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Inky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7feea3/32.png) [@Inky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inky_1)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2000, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-optimus-primes-hands-go-when-he-transformed/40168/50 "2000-11-13T12:25:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Arnold Winkelried \* > \*\*Funny story about my Soundwave: my nephew was playing with it once, snapped the head off and asked Grandpa to glue the head back on. Unfortunately he glued the head on backwards and when my nephew saw the results he started to cry. Now every time he comes over to the house his first question is always “where’s the robot?” with the hope that the head has turned back by itself. So far he’s been disappointed every time. ☹ \*\* Yes, it’s sad when a kid pushing thirty breaks down over the loss of a toy. I know, because it’s frequently **ME** (makes Thanksgiving awkward). So, nobody has _any_ faith in Rodimus Prime huh? Doesn’t surprise me in the least. Personally I blame him for the fall of the toy line (not that Galvatron and the Sweeps were of any help). Anyway, anybody remember a weird shark-toothed robotic Pac-Man type transformer released around that time? It might not even be an official Transformer now that I think about it. They were purple and black with (I think) silver aspects and had purple club tails. My friend had one and I just thought they were the coolest. ---
**Author:** ![Modian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Modian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Modian)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2000, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-optimus-primes-hands-go-when-he-transformed/40168/51 "2000-11-13T15:20:29Z")
> [@](#): > > Anyway, anybody remember a weird shark-toothed robotic Pac-Man type transformer released around that time? It might not even be an official Transformer now that I think about it. They were purple and black with (I think) silver aspects and had purple club tails. My friend had one and I just thought they were the coolest. Sharkticons sounds like. Just watched the movie on DVD and it had them in it. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2000, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-optimus-primes-hands-go-when-he-transformed/40168/52 "2000-11-15T03:04:22Z")
I still have all my old Transformers, GI JOEs and most of my old Thundercats… I do not have many Thundercats, but you would be shocked to see my collection of Transformers and GI JOEs. Too bad I had to open them all and play with them so much. I bet they would be worth something NIB right now. Oh well, I had fun. I have them all roughly packed into boxes somewhere at my Mother’s house. [sub]I think I am going to my Mother’s tomorrow to play…[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![TheUnforgiven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@TheUnforgiven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheUnforgiven)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2000, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-optimus-primes-hands-go-when-he-transformed/40168/53 "2000-11-15T04:36:17Z")
What was the name of that group of robots (Decepticons, I think) that were all construction vehicles? Constructobots? They turned into the mega-kick-ass Devastator. I think. And did all of the Dinobots come together to make a singular mega-robot too? If so, what was its name? Damn, I should remember these things! ---
**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2000, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-optimus-primes-hands-go-when-he-transformed/40168/54 "2000-11-15T07:04:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TheUnforgiven \* > \*\*What was the name of that group of robots (Decepticons, I think) that were all construction vehicles? Constructobots? They turned into the mega-kick-ass Devastator. I think. And did all of the Dinobots come together to make a singular mega-robot too? If so, what was its name? > > Damn, I should remember these things! \*\* It was the Constructicons. And no, the Dinobots did not link up into a mega-bot. Though I can’t blame you for thinking that, as nearly every Transformer product line after the Constructicons appeared were derivatives of them. “But MOM! You gotta buy me ALL the [XXX][bot/con]s! You have to! They’re a set!” Combaticons -\> Bruticus Stunticons -\> Menasor (who were the ad geniuses who came up with this one?) Predacons -\> Predaking Terrorcons -\> Abominus Protectobots -\> Defensor Technobots -\> Computron Hmmm…looks like the Decepticons had superior robot combining abilities…damn that evil Megatron! ---
**Author:** ![Ura-Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/51bf81/32.png) [@Ura-Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ura-Maru)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2000, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-optimus-primes-hands-go-when-he-transformed/40168/55 "2000-11-15T07:08:58Z")
What about the Arealbots? Who did they combine into? And was there any transformer on either side that was as lame as Astrotrain? I can just imagine pitching that one . . . Did anyone catch Ravage’s apperance on Beast Wars? 🙂 – “Decepticons Forever!!” ---
**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2000, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-optimus-primes-hands-go-when-he-transformed/40168/56 "2000-11-15T07:45:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ura-Maru \* > \*\*What about the Arealbots? Who did they combine into? > \*\* Ah, yes, forgot about those guys…the Aerialbots combined to form Superion. I believe that the Aerialbots were the first set to follow the Constructicons. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-optimus-primes-hands-go-when-he-transformed/40168.md?page=2)