Perceptor

Perceptor is one of those Transformers that I distinctly remember having a knock-off of as a kid. It was actually a KO of the Micro Change version, in the black color scheme.

I would eventually get the regular release, and such, have an affinity for Perceptor.

This one is part of a sub-line of Studio Series, focusing on characters from the 1986 Transformers The Movie. It was a fine movie but as an adult collector this movie is a sort of cut-off in collecting Transformers for me. If they are making a modern version of an old character, and it came out after this movie, I am probably not interested.

Packaging is nice though.

Perceptor has three modes – Robot, Microscope, Tank. 

He looks good in Robot mode, very evocative of the movie design. He can hold a neutral pose well.

There’s a big gap on the back where the head goes during transformation.

The plastic on this one is weird. It feels a bit like… Little Tykes? Almost like recycled plastic? It’s hard to explain.

Articulation is great.

He’s got a gun…

There is an additional joint in the thigh for transformation that goes out of line rather easily. I wish there was a way to lock it in place in robot mode.

Transformation is super-simple, and basically the same as the original, aside from the overly-engineered head section.

Quick, hide… as a Microscope!

There’s also a tank mode. This begs the question: Does Perceptor become a really big microscope or a really small tank?

You can sort of see through the microscope lens.