A thought occurred to me....how do TF's age? Like Alpha Trion, who is depicted as a frail, sometimes befuddled elderly Transformer, complete with white Fu-Manchu moustache. And what about Kup...who seems to feel every ache and scar he ever recieved?

 

Was it just aesthetics?  I can see a transformer maturing in regards to their knowledge and experiences, and their components wearing out (wouldnt they just repair or replace them as needed?)

 

Thoughts? Comments?

 

Dave

As entirely mechanical lifeforms, TF's could replace any part as needed. Alpha Trion and Kup were characterized that way just because that's how they were written.

As time passes, the various dyes and chemicals in the plastics break down, especially if exposed to sunlight. This turns the plastic yellowish, or bleaches out some of the other colors....

 

...Oh, you meant the characters, not the toys... :P

Every thing ages and breaks down. The reason why some transformers have beards and look old and what not is just for our benefit. It's hard to think of a character as old if they are using the same body model as Clocker.

 

Or maybe characters like Kup and Alpha T just couldn't afford new parts.

yanno, it's a possibility that they can only repair or replace certain parts, and then only so many times.  much in the way humans have too.  if they could replace/repair any part prime wouldn't have died, neither would any of the other autobots.  also, maybe the junkions knew something the autobots didn't, thus where able to repair magnus.

If you wanted to think really deeply on it there is the fact that no matter how hard you try machines will eventually breakdown.  You can only replace parts for so long before it becomes impossible to repair them any longer.

 

With Transformers you'd assume thier advanced tech would extend the time limit out, but eventually even a Transformer's body would wear out.  Then of course your left with the question of how hard would it be to move the Spark from one body to another. 

if you go by energon then it isn't that hard at all

whats energon?

 

i digress. imo its just the upgrades they get. we saw cheetor go from kidish to adult.. ish. and these character changes came from body changes. not that im saying they all go through this, but there are some things to show this, primal got wiser throuh each of his body changes. megatron seemed kind of old in tftm, but when he was reformatted into galvy, he was like a young pup again.

I used to wonder this until I found out that when subjected to operating conditions even metal begins to show signs of wear, stress, and age.  Let's just consider this for a moment:  IBM PC XTs had parts that are also replaceable, yet how many of them do you still see in operation today (aside from the one in my brother's room)?

 

Now granted there may be more motivation to do so if they were sentient and sapient beings (at least on their own part), but the reality is metal can age just like anything else.  An old car that's been banged up and repaired again is still not considered structurally as sound as if it were an undamaged car even of the same make and model.  Metal is not inert.  It can react with certain substances, and so forth.  And after millions of years, you think your computer or your car would look or operate as well as it does today?  Even if there were conceivable constant maintenance.

Apparently that's why Emirate Xaaron can't transform... he's just too old. :P