I'm trying to customize my GF Soundwave but there is one thing holding me back.  I want to remove the nosecone from his arm and it is held on by one of those pins that are used to hold moving parts together.  I tried to (carefully) tap it out with a nail and a hammer but it didn't budge.

 

Does anyone have any advice on how to remove this thing?

try the soldering iron technique, here it is

http://www.tfmaster.com/articles_pin.php

I don't have a soldering iron or access to one.  I go the pin out by removing the two screws from the nosecone which allows it to split in half.  Then, I gripped the plastic around the end of the pin (the end without the head) with a pliers and yanked it off.  After that piece was off the rest came off pretty easily.  I did end up damaging some of the plastic with the teeth on the pliers, but it's not that bad. 

 

Once the piece is off it can be screwed back together and still used for the alt mode.  Luckily there is a nice snug hole on the nose that plugs into a peg on the undercarriage of the wings, so even though it's not attached to anything it stays pretty good.  I'm not sure wether I'll leave it plugged into that spot in bot mode or just keep it off.  One thing I am sure about though is Soundwave looks a hundred times better without that thing hanging from his arm.  He's by far my favorite GF toy now.  :)