(*thinks*)

Try this: after flipping up the Outer panel, instead of lifting from the bottom of the Inner panel, try pulling outwards from the top , which will tilt it downwards. The only trick to this, though, is that you make sure you don't unsnap the Outer panel at the same time!
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CollectionDX Staff

I'm gonna use two phrases here- "Outer chest panel" (the one that looks like G1's cassette tape deck), and the "Inner chest panel" (which the outer one folds up against)- to describe this; keeping in mind that these are terms which do not appear in the instructions.

You see how the Outer panel has that small lever on the bottom that it hinges on when you flip it upwards? Well, there's an identical one- not under- but rather hidden directly behind the Inner panel. While the Outer swings upwards 180-degrees, the Inner does not, and it snaps into both positions when transforming him.
What you need to do is- after flipping the Outer into place, obviously- lift gently on the bottom of the Inner until it clicks out of place. When it clicks, then pull it away from the body. Now, when you pull, look closely in there, and you'll see the Inner panel's tiny hinge lever; it's no bigger than the Outer's, so be careful1! Then, just make sure that the whole chest component- with both halves snapped together- swings upwards that little bit, and then snaps into position.

Once you lift up on the bottom of the Inner panel the first time, and you see that tiny lever in there, you should be able to figure out how it shifts up-and-down when transforming it in the future. The only thing that might set your hair on end is when it snaps that first time- watch for it, and you'll do fine.
And also, you don't have to force anything on Soundwave, so don't rush and just take your time!

I would love, of course, to show you what I mean with photos, but my camera can't shoot things that small!
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CollectionDX Staff

Help would be appreciated.

The more that I think about it, the more I'm wondering if the Deluxe-class figure wasn't meant more as a stop-gap to whit our appetites for a later appearance in the series. I mean, we know that Deluxe-class Prowl will be getting the samurai armor upgrade like he did in the series during the second season, and yet they released him standard early on in the first wave.
Is that reaching too far for satisfaction in wanting a new Voyager-class Soundwave...?
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CollectionDX Staff

I wish I had a little mini-guitar amp so I could pose him with one foot on the amp and the other on the ground so he'd look like Dimebag Darrel or something.

Heavyarms
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