Toybox & Games Room

In one of the various Chinese mythologies the constellations in the sky are ruled over by 12 animals. As the legend goes, when the animals queued up to accept their places in the heavens from the Buddha the Ox (Cow/Buffalo/whatever) was first in line, but just as the Buddha approached the Rat ran up the back of the Ox and jumped off its nose, thus becoming the First of the animals in the stellar cycles.

There have been several rats in the Transformers mythology, and it is quite conceivable that both Rattrap and Packrat would also have the cheek to do the same trick off the nose of Tantrum in order to be first to join Primus in the heavens.

This Year of the Rat is also the new beginning of a twelve year stellar cycle (as recognised by Chinese Astrology), and we also see the release of a new Transformers line -Transformers: Animated, unfortunately according to Chinese astrology anything new started within this year is destined to be built on unstable foundations (due to the equally strong Water and Earth elements - in the form of an unstable Mountain on top of a lake). All the toys due out this year began their design last year, so it is unlikely that this instability will effect them, we can just hope that next years releases will not suffer from mis-designs this year.

It is considered lucky to display red and gold items at New Year, particularly new items. If you have a collection of Transformers, put those items on display which are red and/or gold, eg. Generation One Predacons, Optimus Prime, Rodimus Prime, Super Side Burn, Mutant Poison Bite, Transmetal Rattrap, Transmetal 2 Megatron, etc.

Gifts of fish or icons of fish when given during the 15 days of the Chinese New Year are associated with wishing the person they are given to the gift of success in business endevours for the coming year. Mutant Poison Bite is a very fortuitous Transformer being both Red and a Fish, there is only one other fish Transformers Skalor (Coelecanth) and the Collector’s Club exclusive this year is due to release a recoloured version incorporating a gold-orange in its colour scheme, making it also fortuitous as a gift.

Beast Wars (1996-7)

Rattrap - C-5 Spy

#1 Common Brown Norway Rat (1996 - Yellow Eyes)
#2 (1997 - Red Eyes, Jp Release)

Rattrap vs. Terrorsaur - VS-5 Spy vs. Aerial Combat

Common Brown Norway Rat (1997 - Red Eyes, Jp Release) vs. Pteranodon (1997 - Red & Grey with Yellow Beak & no spots, Jp Release)

Packrat vs. Fractyl - BCVS-1997 Thief vs. Geochemist

North American Packrat (1997 - Metallic Blue, White & Gold, BotCon Exclusive 600 produced) vs. Pteranodon (1997 - Metallic Green, White & Gold, BotCon Exclusive 570 produced)

Beast Wars: Transmetals (Metals) (1998-2006)

Rattrap - C-43 Spy

#1 Transmetal Rat/Hot Rod (1998 - Brown, Chrome Red, Silver & Grey)
#2 (1998 - Catch on Neck assembly)
#3 (1999 - Black, Crome Blue, Tan & Grey, Wal*Mart Exlusive, referred to by collectors as Transmetal Packrat)
#4 (1999 - White, Chrome Gold, Silver & Orange with Cybertron mark & Jigsaw Puzzle, Jp Release)
#5 (1999 - Brown, Chrome Burgundy, Silver & Grey with Cybertron mark, Jp Release)
#6 (2000 - Red, Grey, Gunmetal Grey & Chrome-Black Fox-Kids exclusive)
#7 (2006 - 10th Anniversary Wave 2 Release, Mainframe TV Show accurate colours with DVD & Transmutate Component)

Rattrap vs. Terrorsaur - VS-43 Spy vs. Aerial Combat

Transmetal Rat/Hot Rod (1999 - Brown, Chrome Burgundy, Silver & Grey with Cybertron mark, Jp Release) vs. Transmetal Ptereanodon/Dual Pontoon Jet (1999 - Purple, Chrome Gold, Brown & Tan with White Face & Destron mark, Jp Release)

Beast Machines (Beast Wars: Returns) (2000-2005)

Rattrap - Spy

#1 Techno-Organic Rat (2000 - Green, Grey & Transparent Red, McDonalds Exclusive)
#2 (2000 - Green, Grey & Red, Red Rooster Exclusive [Australian Fast Food Chain])
#3 (2000 - Red, Green & Grey, Red Rooster Exclusive)
#4 (2000 - Dark Blue, Light Blue & Grey, Red Rooster Exclusive)
#5 (2000 - Light Blue, Dark Blue & Grey, Red Rooster Exclusive)

Rattrap - BR-03 Spy

#1 Techno-Organic Rat/Wheeled Robot (2000 - Green, Grey & Transparent Orange)
#2 (2005 - Green, Grey & Transparent Orange, Jp Release)

Beast Wars figures were also occasionally released as store exclusive 2-packs, I don’t have details of which stores released what and in what combination, if anyone knows, please let me know

1984-5
(Wave 2 January-June 1985)
‘Fight! Super Robot Lifeform’
(Wave 1 reissued with Rub-Signs - except short release variants - Japanese store shelves stock Transformers for the first time)

Car-Robots (Diaclone Recolours/Remoulds)
(1:32 Scale Vehicles)

Grapple - C-47 Architect

#1 Yellow/Orange & Black Mitsubishi Fuso Crane Truck (Yellow Eyes)
#2 (Red Eyes, extra Helmet details & Footpads, Black & White Crane Base Stripe Decals - Mexican Release)

Hoist - C-46 Maintennance

#1 Green & Yellow Toyota Hilux 4WD Wrecker Truck
#2 (Trailbreaker Head, Mexican Release)
#3 (’Wrecker’ Decals on side of Truck, Jp Release)

Inferno - C-10 Search & Rescue

#1 Red, Black & White Mitsubishi Fuso Fire Engine (Yellow Eyes)
#2 (Red Eyes & extra Helmet Detail, Mexican Release)

Red Alert - C-05 Security Director

White, Red & Black Lamborghini Countach LP500S Fire Chief

Skids - VSZ Theoretician

Blue, Black & Red Honda City Turbo Minivan

Smokescreen - C-45 Diversionary Tactician

#1 Red, Blue & White Nissan/Datsun 280ZX Fairlady Stock Car
#2 (No Bumper or Spoiler add-on, Mexican Release)

Tracks - C-44 Warrior

#1 Blue, Black & White Chevrolet Corvette Stingray
#2 Red, Black, Dark Blue & White (Gig European Release)

International Variants of Wave 1

Jazz - C-06 Special Operations Agent

White & Black Porsche 935 Turbo ‘Moby Dick’ (No Martini Decals)

Optimus Prime; Combat Deck; Roller - C-01 Autobot Leader

Red, Dark Blue & Silver Freightliner Cab-Over-Engine Truck Cab & Trailer with Scout Car
#1 (Red Feet, Gig European Release)
#2 (Plastic Feet & Wheels, Windows tinted Blue, European Release)
#3 (Red Eyes, European Release)
#4 (Blue Eyes, European Release)

Prowl - C-09 Military Strategist

White, Black & Grey Nissan/Datsun 280 ZX Police Cruiser
#1 (Black Head, Arms & Feet, Policia Decal, Mexican Release)
#2 (Black Head, Arms & Feet, Policia Decal, No Black Hood paint, Mexican Release)

1985-6
(Wave 2 January-June 1986)
‘Movie/2010′
(1984-5 Wave 1 reissued - except short release variants)

Mini-Bots (Microman Recolours/Remoulds)
(Deformed Car Modes) - Note: Wheelie was the last unique Minibot Mold created until the 2001 ‘Key Chains’ which merely added a chain and a loop to the bumpers (Bumblebee, Cliffjumper, Windcharger, Brawn).
The Throttlebots and Sparkabots replaced the Minibots sub-group and in Europe they were even nicknamed Minibots, however they are not Minibots since they possess a ’special feature’ as most post-animated movie toys do.
Wheelie was also the last Minibot released until the Chromed 1992 Christmas Decorations (Bumblebee, Hubcap (mistakenly in Cliffjumper Red), Beachcomber & Seaspray) were issued to Hasbro Employees (these later saw full release as the Generation 2 Minibots).

Wheelie - C-80 Survivalist

Orange, Light Orange & Grey Cybertronian Car

1985-6
(Wave 1 July-December 1985)
‘Scramble-City’
(1984-5 Wave 2 reissued - except short release variants)

Mini-Bots (Microman Recolours/Remoulds)
(Deformed Car Modes)

Bumblebee - C-56 Espionage

Yellow & Black Volkswagen Beetle (Short Release Reissue)

Hubcap - C-57 Communications

Yellow & Black Toyota

Outback - C-59 Gunner

Tan & Brown Jeep Wrangler with Gun Turret

Pipes - C-60 Warrior

Blue, White & Chrome Silver Semi-Truck Cab

Swerve - C-58 Metalurgist

Red & White 4WD Fuoristrada

Tailgate - C-61 Scout

White, Blue & Black Pontiac Firebird Trans Am

Mini-Bots (Mexican/Netherlands Releases)
(Deformed Car Modes)

Camaro - Warrior

White & Blue Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
Yellow & Blue (European Release)

Carrera - Warrior

Blue & Black Porsche 924 Turbo
Silver & Black

Pick-Up - Transport & Recon.

Burgundy & White 4WD Fuoristrada (Swerve)

Huffer - Construction Engineer

Blue, White & Chrome Silver Semi-Truck Cab (Pipes)
Blue & Chrome Silver (Pipes)

Jipe - Demolitions

Light Tan & Maroon Jeep Wrangler (Outback)

Volks - Espionage

Blue & Black Volkswagen Beetle (Bumblebee)

Mini-Bots (Lynsa Peruvian/Chilean Release)
(Deformed Car Modes)

Cliffjumper - Warrior

Orange & Black

1984-5
(Wave 2 January-June 1985)
‘Fight! Super Robot Lifeform’
(Wave 1 reissued with Rub-Signs - except short release variants)

Mini-Bots (Microman Recolours/Remoulds)
(Deformed Car Modes) - Note: Sedan had been planned to be released this year (making it up to 6 Mini-Vehicles like 1984 & 1985-6 wave 2), but for some reason Sedan was scrapped from the line-up. Wave 1 reissues were also short released with a Mini-Spy.

Beachcomber - C-63 Geologist

Blue & Grey Dune Buggy
#1 (Full Mesh on right arm, short release, left over Microman stock)
#2 (Half Mesh on right arm)

Cosmos - C-86 Recon. & Communications

Green, Yellow & Red Flying Saucer (Jp Mail-away Special)

Powerglide - C-62 Warrior

Red & Grey Fairchild-Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II Plane

Seaspray - C-64 Naval Defense

White, Blue & Yellow Hovercraft

Warpath - C-87 Warrior

#1 Burgundy & Grey General Motors M551A1 Sheridan ARAAV Tank (Jp Mail-away Special)
#2 (Black Face Plate)

Optimus (Estrela Brazilian Release)
(Deformed Car Modes)

Carrera - Warrior

#1 Blue & Black Porsche 924 Turbo
#2 White & Black

Sedan - MC-04-02 Strategist

#1 Lime Green & Black Mazda Familia 1500XG
#2 Yellow & Black

Volks - Espionage

#1 Yellow/Orange & Black Volkswagen Beetle
#2 Red & Black

Malingus (Estrela Brazilian Release)
(Deformed Car Modes)

Camaro - Warrior

#1 Pink & Dark Purple Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
#2 Teal & Cream

Jipe - Demolitions

#1 Purple, Black & Dark Yellow Jeep Wrangler
#2 Blue & Grey

Pick-Up - Transport & Recon.

#1 Burgundy & Pink 4WD Fuoristrada
#2 Lime Green & Dark Purple

Robo-Car (Estrela Brazilian Release)
(Deformed Car Modes)

Camaro - Warrior

#1 Red & Grey Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
#2 White & Grey

Carrera - Warrior

#1 Red & Black Porsche 924 Turbo
#2 Gold & Black

Pick-Up - Transport & Recon.

#1 Blue & Red 4WD Fuoristrada
#2 Orange & Light Orange

Jipe - Demolitions

#1 Olive Green & Yellow Jeep Wrangler
#2 Tan & White

Sedan - Strategist

#1 Blue & Black Mazda Familia 1500XG
#2 White & Black
(Official Bio & Tech Spec - Sedan - Function: Strategist - Motto: “To be in the right place at the right time - this is the key to victory.” - RoboCar Sedan is not super fast nor … extraordinarily strong. But he is unsurpassed in his speciality: strategic planning of the missions of all the RoboCars. His capacity for analysis and his logical reasoning are so highly developed that he frequently anticipates future events and plans devastating surprise attacks against the enemy. He is cold-blooded and calculating.)

Volks - Espionage

#1 Yellow & Black Volkswagen Beetle
#2 Silver & Black

Invasion Galactica V (Estrella Argentinian Release)

Camaro - Warrior

#1 Red & Grey Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
#2 White & Grey

Pick-Up - Transport & Recon.

#1 Blue & Red 4WD Fuoristrada
#2 Orange & Light Orange

Sedan - Strategist

#1 Blue & Black Mazda Familia 1500XG
#2 White & Black

The Popular Toy Series ‘Transformers’ fist hit the toy shelves in 1984, no-one seems to be able to confirm exactly which month, or which Country or which if any lines came out first, but at that time Hasbro US was in the habit of releasing new toy lines each quarter and it is generally agreed that they weren’t on the shelves before June.

1984-5
(Wave 1 July-December 1984)
‘More Than Meets the Eye’
(No Rub-Signs)

Gun-Robots (Microman Recolours/Remoulds)
(True to scale Equipment)

Megatron; Particle Beam Cannon - D-16-S Decepticon Leader

#1 Chrome Silver, Black & Red Walther P-38 9mm Automatic Pistol with Sight, Shoulder Stock & Silencer (Rifling on Right Shoulder; Safety Catch inset on Left Shoulder - Short Release, left over Microman stock, weakened shoulders)
#2 (Rifling covered on Right Shoulder; Safety Catch 1/2 outset on Left Shoulder, strengthened shoulders - no Jp release until 2001)

The Popular Toy Series ‘Transformers’ fist hit the toy shelves in 1984, no-one seems to be able to confirm exactly which month, or which Country or which if any lines came out first, but at that time Hasbro US was in the habit of releasing new toy lines each quarter and it is generally agreed that they weren’t on the shelves before June.

1984-5
(Wave 1 July-December 1984)
‘More Than Meets the Eye’
(No Rub-Signs)

Seeker Jets (Diaclone Recolours/Remoulds)
(1:52 Scale Vehicles)

Skywarp - D-23 Warrior

#1 Black, Lavender & Silver McDonnell-Douglas F-15 Eagle Fighter Jet (Short release, solid Tail wings/fists, left over Diaclone stock, parts incompatible with later releases)
#2 (Hollow Tail wings/fists)

Starscream - D-23 Air Commander

#1 Light Grey, Red & Blue McDonnell-Douglas F-15 Eagle Fighter Jet (Short release, solid Tail wings/fists, left over Diaclone stock, parts incompatible with later releases)
#2 (Hollow Tail wings/fists)

Thundercracker - D-23 Warrior

#1 Blue, Black & Silver McDonnell-Douglas F-15 Eagle Fighter Jet (Short release, solid Tail wings/fists, left over Diaclone stock, parts incompatible with later releases)
#2 (Hollow Tail wings/fists)
#3 (Plastic Landing Gear & Nosecone - Mexican Release)

The Popular Toy Series ‘Transformers’ fist hit the toy shelves in 1984, no-one seems to be able to confirm exactly which month, or which Country or which if any lines came out first, but at that time Hasbro US was in the habit of releasing new toy lines each quarter and it is generally agreed that they weren’t on the shelves before June.

1984-5
(Wave 1 July-December 1984)
‘More Than Meets the Eye’
(No Rub-Signs)

Mini-Cassettes/Communicator 2-Packs (Microman Recolours/Remoulds)
(True to scale Equipment)

Record & Playback Team:

Buzzsaw - VSZ Spy

#1 Black & Gold Micro-Cassette; Mechanical Condor (Flat Topped Head, Black Neck, Decal on Wings)
#2 Mechanical Condor (Flat Topped Head, Grey Neck, Decal on Wings - Short Packed, left over Microman stock)
#3 Mechanical Condor (Flat Topped Head, Black Neck, Paint on Wings - Italian Gig Release)

Soundwave - D-17 Communications

#1 Blue & Silver Sony Micro-Cassette Recorder
#2 (Extra Detailing on Cassette Door - Short Packed, left over Microman stock)

Super-Sonic Team:

Frenzy - D-18 Warrior

Blue & Dark Blue Micro-Cassette; Silver Weapons

Laserbeak - D-20 Warrior

Black & Red Micro-Cassette; Mechanical Condor (Ridged Head)

Sub-Sonic Team:

Ravage - D-19 Saboteur

Black & Silver Micro-Cassette; Mechanical Jaguar

Rumble - VSY Demolitions

Black & Red Micro-Cassette (Metal Feet)

The Popular Toy Series ‘Transformers’ fist hit the toy shelves in 1984, no-one seems to be able to confirm exactly which month, or which Country or which if any lines came out first, but at that time Hasbro US was in the habit of releasing new toy lines each quarter and it is generally agreed that they weren’t on the shelves before June.

1984-5
(Wave 1 July-December 1984)
‘More Than Meets the Eye’
(No Rub-Signs)

Car-Robots (Diaclone Recolours/Remoulds)
(1:32 Scale Vehicles)

Bluestreak - C-08 Gunner

#1 Silver, Black & Red Nissan/Datsun 280 ZX
#2 Grey, Black & Red/Orange Nissan (Mexican Release)

Hound - C-02 Scout

Olive Green & Black Mitsubishi J59

Ironhide; Security Platform - C-98 Security

Red Toyota ‘Onebox’ Minivan (no Jp release until 2000)

Jazz - C-06 Special Operations Agent

White & Black Porsche 935 Turbo ‘Moby Dick’

Mirage - C-07 Counter Intelligence

Blue, White & Black Ligier JS11 Formula One Racing Car

Optimus Prime; Combat Deck; Roller - C-01 Autobot Leader

#1 Red, Dark Blue & Silver Freightliner Cab-Over-Engine Truck Cab & Trailer with Scout Car (Plated Trailer, short release, left over Diaclone stock, parts incompatible with later releases)
#2 (Unplated Trailer, Dark Blue Roller)
#3 (Unplated Trailer, Silver Roller)

Prowl - C-09 Military Strategist

White, Black & Grey Nissan/Datsun 280 ZX Police Cruiser

Ratchet; Medical Platform - C-99 Medic

White & Red Toyota ‘Onebox’ Minivan Ambulance (Jp Mail-away Special)
#1 (Red Cross Version, short release, left over Microman stock)
#2 (no Red Cross Version)

Sideswipe - C-04 Warrior

Red & Black Lamborghini Countach LP500S

Sunstreaker - VSZ Warrior

#1 Yellow & Black Lamborghini Countach LP500S ‘Super Tuning’ Custom Air Scoop (Thin Missile Tips, short release, left over Microman stock)
#2 (Thick Missile Tips)

Trailbreaker - C-25 Defensive Strategist

Black & Red Toyota Hilux Four Wheel Drive Camper Truck

Wheeljack - C-03 Mechanical Engineer

#1 White & Black Lancia Stratos Turbo Race Car (Wide Spoiler Connectors)
#2 (Thin Spoiler Connectors, short release, left over Microman stock)

The Popular Toy Series ‘Transformers’ fist hit the toy shelves in 1984, no-one seems to be able to confirm exactly which month, or which Country or which if any Sub-Groups came out first, but at that time Hasbro US was in the habit of releasing new toy lines each quarter and it is generally agreed that they weren’t on the shelves before June.

1984-5
(Wave 1 July-December 1984)
‘More Than Meets the Eye’
(No Rub-Signs)

Mini-Bots aka Mini-Cars (Microman Recolours/Remoulds)
(Deformed Scaled Car Modes)

Brawn - C-15 Demolitions

#1 Olive Green & Yellow Jeep Wrangler (Face Plate separate to body, short release, left over Microman stock)
#2 (Face Plate part of body)

Bumblebee - C-11 Espionage

#1 Yellow & Black Volkswagen Beetle (Chest Strip Decal, short release, left over Microman stock)
#2 (No Chest Strip Decal)

Bumblebee/Cliffjumper - (Toys released on either Bumblebee or Cliffjumper Cards with no individual names)

#1 Red & Black Volkswagen Beetle (Chest Strip Decal, short release, Sometimes Mis-Packaged as Cliffjumper, left over Microman stock)
#2 Yellow & Black Mazda Familia 1500XG (Mis-Packaged, nicknamed Bumblejumper or Bumper, unintentional short release, left over Microman stock - Officially Released by Estrela in 1985 Brazil as Sedan in both the Optimus line with a lime green recolour and again in white or blue recolours in the Robocar line)
#3 Yellow & Black Porsche 924 Turbo (short release, Sometimes Mis-Packaged as Bumblebee, left over Microman stock)

Cliffjumper - C-13 Warrior

Red & Black Porsche 924 Turbo

Gears - C-85 Transport & Recon.

Blue & Red 4WD Fuoristrada (released in Microman, but no Transformers release in Jp until 2003)

Huffer - C-14 Construction Engineer

Orange, Blue & Chrome Silver Semi-Truck Cab

Windcharger - C-12 Warrior

Red, Grey & Black Pontiac Firebird Trans Am