Transformers Power of the Primes Primal Prime Artwork Found in 'Transformers - A Visual History'

Aw man I would have loved to see Primal Prime but, then again, I'm a total sucker for Optimus Primal and repaint potential (and Beast-era Botcon). It would have been nice to see it retooled to have a full mouthplate on the super mode and a Transmetal 1 Optimus Primal retool for the smaller bot in Apelinq colors.

I have a different theory about this art, in that it may have been less of a proposed redeco and more Hasbro's original idea for the normal retail figure's deco to make Optimal Optimus look more like what a "real Prime" would look like (as in, being colored like Optimus Prime) instead of using the 1998 figure's primarily orange deco that the retail POTP toy ultimately went with.

Sabrblade wrote:I have a different theory about this art, in that it may have been less of a proposed redeco and more Hasbro's original idea for the normal retail figure's deco to make Optimal Optimus look more like what a "real Prime" would look like (as in, being colored like Optimus Prime) instead of using the 1998 figure's primarily orange deco that the retail POTP toy ultimately went with.

I disagree. While we love to mock Warden's team for their anti-BW stance generally toys in the Prime Wars trilogy always used something approximating the original deco for their mass release, meaning odds are POTP Optimal Optimus likely was always intended to be orange. It would make no sense to release a single figure in that entire trilogy with a non toy/show-based color scheme.

Skritz wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:I have a different theory about this art, in that it may have been less of a proposed redeco and more Hasbro's original idea for the normal retail figure's deco to make Optimal Optimus look more like what a "real Prime" would look like (as in, being colored like Optimus Prime) instead of using the 1998 figure's primarily orange deco that the retail POTP toy ultimately went with.

I disagree. While we love to mock Warden's team for their anti-BW stance generally toys in the Prime Wars trilogy always used something approximating the original deco for their mass release, meaning odds are POTP Optimal Optimus likely was always intended to be orange. It would make no sense to release a single figure in that entire trilogy with a non toy/show-based color scheme.

Unless it was a special unique figure voted into the line from the outside.

Sabrblade wrote:

Skritz wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:I have a different theory about this art, in that it may have been less of a proposed redeco and more Hasbro's original idea for the normal retail figure's deco to make Optimal Optimus look more like what a "real Prime" would look like (as in, being colored like Optimus Prime) instead of using the 1998 figure's primarily orange deco that the retail POTP toy ultimately went with.

I disagree. While we love to mock Warden's team for their anti-BW stance generally toys in the Prime Wars trilogy always used something approximating the original deco for their mass release, meaning odds are POTP Optimal Optimus likely was always intended to be orange. It would make no sense to release a single figure in that entire trilogy with a non toy/show-based color scheme.

Unless it was a special unique figure voted into the line from the outside.

We have no way to prove or disprove your theory so I'll stick with my gut feeling that there isn't really any sense for this to have been the original, intended color scheme. Too much attention to detail went into POTP Optimal Optimus that I simply have no reason to believe it. If the figure had been such a 'hackjob' due to Warden's dislike of BW it could have gone wrong in so many ways. Instead the team went by the vote and produced a shockingly BW-accurate sculpt which retained most of the key elements and the original color scheme.

Its more logical to assume this was a scrapped exclusive.

Shame we didn't get this guy. I don't know if I would have picked him up or not, but it would have been cool to see him, and I appreciate knowing that they even thought of him.

To me this art presents four possible options of what happened:
-Primal Prime was going to be the SDCC exclusive instead of a weird repaint of a Season 3 design in Season 1 colors, but they decided to make the exclusive still the same character so they could fully theme it after the vote instead.
-Primal Prime was intended to be in the main line had it not been shortened to 4 waves, along with the Prime Masters that were SDCC-exclusive and possibly Snaptrap (at least), the other two Orthia limbs (the heavy mentions of Solus Prime in the Orthia lore from Pulse to me screams that it was meant to be for PotP), and a Battleslash/Roadtrap-styled tooling of Flywheels that was then altered before release in Siege to remove the bot modes.
-This art is from the early phase of planning Selects, and the figure wasn't made because they thought it safer to test the line with Deluxe figures first rather than release a Leader repaint right out the gate (remember that we got a few Deluxes and a Voyager in Selects first before they went in on Shackwave).
-This art is nothing but a concept of a possible repaint that never made it further than that concept stage, and no figure was planned of this deco to begin with.

Interesting, it would still have been a pass for me with the orig toy having all its alt modes and it could still turn up at some point.

Skritz wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:It would make no sense to release a single figure in that entire trilogy with a non toy/show-based color scheme.

Maybe that doesn't but retail FOC Bruticus apparently did

OK, very quick silly question here: what are those tabs on either side of Blackwing's cockpit for?

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:OK, very quick silly question here: what are those tabs on either side of Blackwing's cockpit for?

What tabs?

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:OK, very quick silly question here: what are those tabs on either side of Blackwing's cockpit for?

What tabs?

On the sides of the intakes.

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:OK, very quick silly question here: what are those tabs on either side of Blackwing's cockpit for?

What tabs?

On the sides of the intakes.

Hmm, he's in combined form, need to investigate

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:OK, very quick silly question here: what are those tabs on either side of Blackwing's cockpit for?

What tabs?

On the sides of the intakes.

Hmm, he's in combined form, need to investigate

Your talking about he ones that stick out horizontally from the sides of the intake?



I've never noticed them before. Pulled him down and transformed him into jet, arm, leg and combined mode and I'm pretty sure they do nothing. Couldn't clip the combiner hand to them, nor the weapons or any random robot parts. They do appear to have a purpose though.

Unused pretool?

EDIT: well this is a dumb option and I'm just as confused as Blackwing

carytheone wrote:

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:OK, very quick silly question here: what are those tabs on either side of Blackwing's cockpit for?

What tabs?

On the sides of the intakes.

Hmm, he's in combined form, need to investigate

Your talking about he ones that stick out horizontally from the sides of the intake?

I've never noticed them before. Pulled him down and transformed him into jet, arm, leg and combined mode and I'm pretty sure they do nothing. Couldn't clip the combiner hand to them, nor the weapons or any random robot parts. They do appear to have a purpose though.

Unused pretool?

EDIT: well this is a dumb option and I'm just as confused as Blackwing

Did the same think myself, got the same results. No clue what they could be for.

Someone needs to find the instructions, that might be the official transformation. The brothers were weird as limbs officially

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:Someone needs to find the instructions, that might be the official transformation. The brothers were weird as limbs officially

Fortunately all my instructions are organized in folders in my desk. Best I can tell they show the arms pegging into the wings in arm mode and just tucked straight down in leg mode, just like the pics in Ben's review.





I did try and fold them up and over in arm mode, but the pegs and slots don't line up or even reach.

You know what's funny? I think I finally realized why none of the POTP Combiners had any large weapons of their own like the CW Combiners did. I think Hasbro wanted us to use the Prime Masters' Decoy Armor in their weapon modes to serve as the POTP Combiners' weapons.

And now I've got myself thinking of which Combiners I'd want to give which Decoy Armor weapon. However, there are three Autobot Combiners and two Decepticon Combiners, while the Decoy Armors come in three Autobot and five Decepticon flavors. This makes it easier for the Autobots, while the Decepticons get more to pick from.

Right off the bat, I'd give Cloudburst to Inferno since they're both red. Volcanicus I could see wielding Metalhawk since I'd imagine Grimlock would want the leader of the Pretenders. And that would leave Orthia with Landmine, which works out since Landmine's armor came with Alpha Trion, whom Elita is closely associated with.

As for the Cons, I think it would be cool to see them dual-wielding Decoy Armor weapons, so I'd give both Bomb-Burst and Skullgrin to Abominus since they each turn into claw weapons, which leaves Starscream with Submarauder and Bludgeon. Octopunch, meanwhile, is the odd one out, but since his suit came with Solus Prime, and since there's only one female Decepticon Combiner in all of CW/UW/POTP/etc., I'd probably give that weapon over to Megatronia, who'd hold it in one hand and wield her sword in the other.

Interesting notion, they are pretty well sized for combiner hands.

I personally just like leaving them as armors themselves, though all the shells are empty. all my Primes went to the Throne/Scepter. The 12 vanilla Primes are in the wheel, while 13 and the 3 clear ones are in the scepter

Not to mention you can also shove the PMs in the enigma slots as well. Seems like a logical play pattern. Good call

So I recently broke out my PoTP combiners, they've been stored away. Looking back, I wish Combiner Wars had used the feet that come with the PoTP torsos instead of just the HFGs. Anyway I got Starscream here in front of me, and I can't decide who his limbs should be. I'm trying for a representation of the IDW comic he is in, so 2 of the limbs will most likely be Wheeljack and Ironhide. Who should be the other 2? Suggestions?

If you don't mind breaking up Abominus, you could use 2 out of the 3 Terrocons (Cutthroat, Sinnertwin & Rippersnapper) that Starscream was using to harvest the regenisis ore form Metroplex.

Rodimus Prime wrote:So I recently broke out my PoTP combiners, they've been stored away. Looking back, I wish Combiner Wars had used the feet that come with the PoTP torsos instead of just the HFGs. Anyway I got Starscream here in front of me, and I can't decide who his limbs should be. I'm trying for a representation of the IDW comic he is in, so 2 of the limbs will most likely be Wheeljack and Ironhide. Who should be the other 2? Suggestions?

Mine uses the PotP Dreadwind and Blackwing, a spare CW Dragstrip, and the PotP Blastoff, and it works out pretty dang well. I'll need to take a picture later

Rodimus Prime wrote:So I recently broke out my PoTP combiners, they've been stored away. Looking back, I wish Combiner Wars had used the feet that come with the PoTP torsos instead of just the HFGs. Anyway I got Starscream here in front of me, and I can't decide who his limbs should be. I'm trying for a representation of the IDW comic he is in, so 2 of the limbs will most likely be Wheeljack and Ironhide. Who should be the other 2? Suggestions?

Dreadwind and Darkwing are good choices. Their jet alt modes mesh well with Starscream. For the other two, because I have the Unite Warriors sets for both Menasor and Bruticus, I used their Hasbro retail "extra" team members, Off Road and Jet Blast Off, for Megascream. I wish I had one more jet not used elsewhere so as to make Megascream completely made of flying alt-modes, but it is what it is.

Wolfman Jake wrote:

Rodimus Prime wrote:So I recently broke out my PoTP combiners, they've been stored away. Looking back, I wish Combiner Wars had used the feet that come with the PoTP torsos instead of just the HFGs. Anyway I got Starscream here in front of me, and I can't decide who his limbs should be. I'm trying for a representation of the IDW comic he is in, so 2 of the limbs will most likely be Wheeljack and Ironhide. Who should be the other 2? Suggestions?

Dreadwind and Darkwing are good choices. Their jet alt modes mesh well with Starscream. For the other two, because I have the Unite Warriors sets for both Menasor and Bruticus, I used their Hasbro retail "extra" team members, Off Road and Jet Blast Off, for Megascream. I wish I had one more jet not used elsewhere so as to make Megascream completely made of flying alt-modes, but it is what it is.

Golden Lagoon Starscream works as a repurposed Sunstorm.

IMO he really doesn't, because he's all-over metallic gold, not yellow-orange with red and white accents. He only works as Sunstorm in the sense that he could be most non-Conehead Seekers

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:IMO he really doesn't, because he's all-over metallic gold, not yellow-orange with red and white accents. He only works as Sunstorm in the sense that he could be most non-Conehead Seekers

Super Saiyan Sunstorm, then.

Sabrblade wrote:

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:IMO he really doesn't, because he's all-over metallic gold, not yellow-orange with red and white accents. He only works as Sunstorm in the sense that he could be most non-Conehead Seekers

Super Saiyan Sunstorm, then.

... what is that sudden screaming?

No, I'm afraid Abominus is staying together. Besides, for me he's the most solid and best-looking combiner. He has a center spot on the shelf.

As for Blackwing and Dreadwind, great choices, but were they on Cybertron with Starscream in the RID comic? I'm trying to use the combiner as a representative of the alliance between the Bots and Cons in that story.

Rodimus Prime wrote:No, I'm afraid Abominus is staying together. Besides, for me he's the most solid and best-looking combiner. He has a center spot on the shelf.

As for Blackwing and Dreadwind, great choices, but were they on Cybertron with Starscream in the RID comic? I'm trying to use the combiner as a representative of the alliance between the Bots and Cons in that story.

I believe Dreadwind was dead by that time unfortunately.

If you want the bot/con alliance, I would say you need a Prowl, Ironhide, Wheeljack, and Wreck Gar for the junkions in Optimus Prime, if you want

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:

Rodimus Prime wrote:No, I'm afraid Abominus is staying together. Besides, for me he's the most solid and best-looking combiner. He has a center spot on the shelf.

As for Blackwing and Dreadwind, great choices, but were they on Cybertron with Starscream in the RID comic? I'm trying to use the combiner as a representative of the alliance between the Bots and Cons in that story.

I believe Dreadwind was dead by that time unfortunately.

If you want the bot/con alliance, I would say you need a Prowl, Ironhide, Wheeljack, and Wreck Gar for the junkions in Optimus Prime, if you want

Yeah, I was thinking Prowl as well, but the last limb should be a Con, to balance things out. Besides, I only own the orange legends Wreck-Gar, and he's Firestormer's chest armor.

Rodimus Prime wrote:

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:

Rodimus Prime wrote:No, I'm afraid Abominus is staying together. Besides, for me he's the most solid and best-looking combiner. He has a center spot on the shelf.

As for Blackwing and Dreadwind, great choices, but were they on Cybertron with Starscream in the RID comic? I'm trying to use the combiner as a representative of the alliance between the Bots and Cons in that story.

I believe Dreadwind was dead by that time unfortunately.

If you want the bot/con alliance, I would say you need a Prowl, Ironhide, Wheeljack, and Wreck Gar for the junkions in Optimus Prime, if you want

Yeah, I was thinking Prowl as well, but the last limb should be a Con, to balance things out. Besides, I only own the orange legends Wreck-Gar, and he's Firestormer's chest armor.

I honestly don't think there's really a con limb you can use, nothing really stands out that wouldn't be separated, unless you want jet Blastoff, that was an important character to Starscream in the comic.

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:

Rodimus Prime wrote:

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:

Rodimus Prime wrote:No, I'm afraid Abominus is staying together. Besides, for me he's the most solid and best-looking combiner. He has a center spot on the shelf.

As for Blackwing and Dreadwind, great choices, but were they on Cybertron with Starscream in the RID comic? I'm trying to use the combiner as a representative of the alliance between the Bots and Cons in that story.

I believe Dreadwind was dead by that time unfortunately.

If you want the bot/con alliance, I would say you need a Prowl, Ironhide, Wheeljack, and Wreck Gar for the junkions in Optimus Prime, if you want

Yeah, I was thinking Prowl as well, but the last limb should be a Con, to balance things out. Besides, I only own the orange legends Wreck-Gar, and he's Firestormer's chest armor.

I honestly don't think there's really a con limb you can use, nothing really stands out that wouldn't be separated, unless you want jet Blastoff, that was an important character to Starscream in the comic.

Yeah he was, but he's a part of my IDW Bruticus (consisting of Onslaught, Jet Blast Off, G2 Swindle ('dead Swindle'), G2 Brawl and G1 Vortex.) So I'll just find someone once I go through my entire collection of combiners. I mean, Dreadwind is dead, but Blackwing is still around. I'll figure something out.

Rodimus Prime wrote:No, I'm afraid Abominus is staying together. Besides, for me he's the most solid and best-looking combiner. He has a center spot on the shelf.

I decided to put together Abominus while I'm stuck working from home. I got Hun-Gurrr and Rippersnapper, just waiting on the other three to ship. I noticed the ratchets in Hun-Gurrr are much nicer than Elita-1 and Starscream. I'm actually thinking of buying another Elita so Orthia can stand a little better.

Rodimus Prime wrote:

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:

Rodimus Prime wrote:

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:

Rodimus Prime wrote:No, I'm afraid Abominus is staying together. Besides, for me he's the most solid and best-looking combiner. He has a center spot on the shelf.

As for Blackwing and Dreadwind, great choices, but were they on Cybertron with Starscream in the RID comic? I'm trying to use the combiner as a representative of the alliance between the Bots and Cons in that story.

I believe Dreadwind was dead by that time unfortunately.

If you want the bot/con alliance, I would say you need a Prowl, Ironhide, Wheeljack, and Wreck Gar for the junkions in Optimus Prime, if you want

Yeah, I was thinking Prowl as well, but the last limb should be a Con, to balance things out. Besides, I only own the orange legends Wreck-Gar, and he's Firestormer's chest armor.

I honestly don't think there's really a con limb you can use, nothing really stands out that wouldn't be separated, unless you want jet Blastoff, that was an important character to Starscream in the comic.

Yeah he was, but he's a part of my IDW Bruticus (consisting of Onslaught, Jet Blast Off, G2 Swindle ('dead Swindle'), G2 Brawl and G1 Vortex.) So I'll just find someone once I go through my entire collection of combiners. I mean, Dreadwind is dead, but Blackwing is still around. I'll figure something out.

You could also get shuttle Blastoff and use him, I'm using him on my starscream

aronjlove wrote:

Rodimus Prime wrote:No, I'm afraid Abominus is staying together. Besides, for me he's the most solid and best-looking combiner. He has a center spot on the shelf.

I decided to put together Abominus while I'm stuck working from home. I got Hun-Gurrr and Rippersnapper, just waiting on the other three to ship. I noticed the ratchets in Hun-Gurrr are much nicer than Elita-1 and Starscream. I'm actually thinking of buying another Elita so Orthia can stand a little better.

You could look into replacing the springs with stronger ones.

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:

aronjlove wrote:

Rodimus Prime wrote:No, I'm afraid Abominus is staying together. Besides, for me he's the most solid and best-looking combiner. He has a center spot on the shelf.

I decided to put together Abominus while I'm stuck working from home. I got Hun-Gurrr and Rippersnapper, just waiting on the other three to ship. I noticed the ratchets in Hun-Gurrr are much nicer than Elita-1 and Starscream. I'm actually thinking of buying another Elita so Orthia can stand a little better.

You could look into replacing the springs with stronger ones.

I've thought of either that or there's a shop on Shapeways that sells replacement spacers for ratchets. But I figure the chances of me breaking something as I do it are at least 50/50. There's a reason the don't let me around the power tools at work.

Has anyone done a Buster and Hydra custom using existing Combiner Wars limb parts of PotP Dreadwind and Darkwing?

Seibertron wrote:Has anyone done a Buster and Hydra custom using existing Combiner Wars limb parts of PotP Dreadwind and Darkwing?

A quick Google Image search shows that people have at least done digibashes (in which the teal is replaced with red) rather than full-on physical customs.

Seibertron wrote:Has anyone done a Buster and Hydra custom using existing Combiner Wars limb parts of PotP Dreadwind and Darkwing?

I know Scotty was going to do one once upon a time, but the construction of those 2 made disassembly a real pain

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:

Seibertron wrote:Has anyone done a Buster and Hydra custom using existing Combiner Wars limb parts of PotP Dreadwind and Darkwing?

I know Scotty was going to do one once upon a time, but the construction of those 2 made disassembly a real pain

As to be expected from what are originally Combiner Wars molds. I swear, the designer of CW must have a psychotic hatred of customizers.

Years after getting the whole team, I finally assembled and combined my Abominus. It's a bit of an unstable mess due to different joint tolerance and clearance but man, the visual spectacle alone is impressive in his bizarre and monstrous neon technicolor glory.

Skritz wrote:Years after getting the whole team, I finally assembled and combined my Abominus. It's a bit of an unstable mess due to different joint tolerance and clearance but man, the visual spectacle alone is impressive in his bizarre and monstrous neon technicolor glory.

I've had mine combined ever since finally getting my hands on Hun-Gurrr. He does look awesome.

What took me far too long to do was take this picture:

PotP Rodimus Prime throwing G1 Galvatron. PotP Roddy may be oversize for a normal Rodimus Prime in most contexts... but he is in scale with the equally oversize G1 Galvy.

After having completed Orthia, I have come to the conclusion that I need to upgrade Elita's shoulder springs. My Orthia has an unfortunate tendency to suddenly bow forward.

Has anyone done this before who can recommend a source for stronger springs that will fit?

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:After having completed Orthia, I have come to the conclusion that I need to upgrade Elita's shoulder springs. My Orthia has an unfortunate tendency to suddenly bow forward.

Has anyone done this before who can recommend a source for stronger springs that will fit?

All the combiner torsos were like that, I call it the combiner lean.

chuckdawg1999 wrote:

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:After having completed Orthia, I have come to the conclusion that I need to upgrade Elita's shoulder springs. My Orthia has an unfortunate tendency to suddenly bow forward.

Has anyone done this before who can recommend a source for stronger springs that will fit?

All the combiner torsos were like that, I call it the combiner lean.

In my experience, they mainly stand like that when standing stright up with their arms at their sides. If you pose them and use some weight distribution, they usually stand up well, except for Menasor. He just sux.

Rodimus Prime wrote:

chuckdawg1999 wrote:

ZeldaTheSwordsman wrote:After having completed Orthia, I have come to the conclusion that I need to upgrade Elita's shoulder springs. My Orthia has an unfortunate tendency to suddenly bow forward.

Has anyone done this before who can recommend a source for stronger springs that will fit?

All the combiner torsos were like that, I call it the combiner lean.

In my experience, they mainly stand like that when standing stright up with their arms at their sides. If you pose them and use some weight distribution, they usually stand up well, except for Menasor. He just sux.

Oh, he'll stand if posed, at least in my experience.
The trick is posing him in the first place because of that awful torso design.

The thing is, I do have Orthia posed a bit (although her legs are straight, maybe I'll change that). Odd thing is, I don't have this problem with Volcanicus or near as bad with Abominus. They lean a little, but don't abruptly bend down 90+ degrees the way I've had Orthia do.

Does anyone happen to know where I might be able to get another gun for Dreadwind? I feel like he should have two, especially in jet mode. Is there a site that sells transformers weapons and such? I've had mixed results searching Google.

So, uh, I'm kinda late to the party on this but I got the Throne of the Primes set back when it was first released in 2018... and only just now got around to actually opening it up.

I got the figure and accessories out, but I'm having some trouble figuring out the throne. Namely, how much of the packaging am I supposed to remove from the throne? Some images only show only the black plastic piece left on the seat, while other pics show both the black plastic piece and the cardboard jungle backdrop.

I'v already separated the throne from the backdrop, but am keeping the backdrop since it's too nice to get rid of (same with the full box itself). But I cannot figure out how to remove the clear plastic piece above the black plastic piece. How do I remove that clear piece without destroying the back of the throne itself?

Or, is that clear plastic piece attached to the plastic Halo of Primus behind the throne and not meant to be removed?

Same with the black plastic piece. Is that piece supposed to stay or is it meant to be removed? And if the latter, how?

Truth be told, I'd also like to do as little destruction to these pieces as possible.

For a visual aid, this old photo from this old Seibertron news article basically matches what my throne currently looks like (but with some of the paper and plastic ties still trapped in the plastic pieces):

Sabrblade wrote:So, uh, I'm kinda late to the party on this but I got the Throne of the Primes set back when it was first released in 2018... and only just now got around to actually opening it up.

I got the figure and accessories out, but I'm having some trouble figuring out the throne. Namely, how much of the packaging am I supposed to remove from the throne? Some images only show only the black plastic piece left on the seat, while other pics show both the black plastic piece and the cardboard jungle backdrop.

I'v already separated the throne from the backdrop, but am keeping the backdrop since it's too nice to get rid of (same with the full box itself). But I cannot figure out how to remove the clear plastic piece above the black plastic piece. How do I remove that clear piece without destroying the back of the throne itself?

Or, is that clear plastic piece attached to the plastic Halo of Primus behind the throne and not meant to be removed?

Same with the black plastic piece. Is that piece supposed to stay or is it meant to be removed? And if the latter, how?

Truth be told, I'd also like to do as little destruction to these pieces as possible.

For a visual aid, this old photo from this old Seibertron news article basically matches what my throne currently looks like (but with some of the paper and plastic ties still trapped in the plastic pieces):

I too would like to know as my throne and Primal are at work and just today I was looking at all the tape that holds the backdrop to the throne. I thought the two side tabs on the clear piece where the only things holding it. I didn't realize it was connected to the bottom black piece, which I assume is the seat proper and does not come off.