Tag: G1

When I found the Transformers Hero Mashers at Toys R’ Us, I almost picked them up. I find these robots very appealing as they are faithful to the Generation 1 cartoon. This is one of the better Generation 1 renditions of Megatron. The original G1 robot form was so poorly done, I have never wanted to add it to my collection. I wish they had concentrated on the robot form instead of how it looks as a gun. The Optimus Prime Generation 1 robot was always the cream of the crop. Awesome looking robot, looks great as a truck.

I may pick up the Megatron, Starscream,  Optimus Prime and Bumblebee. I find the Megatron and Starscream are the best looking figures in the bunch followed by Bumblebee. I love the Starscream as you can see the smirk on his face or Megatron the sneer of disgust. It brings back so many good memories. The size is perfect for display or just playing around with your kids. The only fault I see is that the robots do not transform. But they are not meant to be transformed. You are supposed to pull them apart and mix up the body parts like Mr. Potato Head. Imagine Megatron Prime or a mashup of Grimlock and Optimus?

The Hero Mashers offer a fun option for G1 collectors who want robots that look more like the original cartoon, than their original G1 counterparts in the 80’s or just a great way to get your kids love the Generation 1 Transformers as much as we did. I am glad they came out with these instead of another reissue.

Hero Mashers 2014 Hasbro Megatron, Optimus Prime, Starscream, Bumblebee

Hero Mashers Hasbro 2014 Grimlock, Springer, Drift

The Optimus Prime is also pretty sharp too, but they have so many decent versions of him out there. A good Megatron or Starscream figure is much more appealing as it is harder to find cartoon faithful rendition of those figures. I am sure several of these will fill a happy space in my collection.

Here is your Robot of the Week! Beachcomber from the Generation 1 Transformers mini vehicles. So if it looks like I am doing a run of G1 mini vehicles, you would be correct. I will probably eventually do a run of Go-Bots from Generation 2 and Machine Robos when I get around to it. So Beachcomber is a pretty cool little robot. Stands good, you don’t have to extend the legs(like Bumblebee and Cliffjumper) which can cause issues down the line if you transform these baby’s long enough. Blue and gray work pretty good colorwise for this little dune buggy. It is a simple design, but simple can take you a long way when you got a nice looking dune buggy and decent looking robot as options. The transformation is simplistic as well, but it’s nice as I have done it about 3 times while writing this little blurb. The dune buggy mode reminds me of a Lego car. The pieces mold tightly together and you would hardly know it was a Transformers robot if not for the Autobot sticker on the hood. It’s a nice Generation 1 robot that really would not cost you much to add to your collection loose.

Beachcomber Generation 1 Autobot Hasbro 1985

When I first got this one, I was like nice. I have Bumblebee! It really looks like Bumblebee from the cartoon since I have the yellow version, but it is the wrong car. Bumblebee is a Volkswagon Bug, not a Porsche Turbo. The face really looks like Bumblebee though. While looking this up with Bumblebee I realized I had Cliffjumper and I mixed the two up. Hasbro made the choice to have Cliffjumper in red and yellow as a way to make the toy line look bigger. I dunno, six cars in the Mini Vehicles line is good enough as far as I can tell.

Cliffjumper Generation 1 Autobot 1984 Mini Vehicles

I enjoy the little guy as it is easy to transform. Not too stupid looking, but they could have put a little more effort into the hands and arms. Anyway figure since these Bumblebee and Cliffjumper both transform the same way and I confused the two, they will my Robot of the Week this week. Cliffjumper’s legs are a little loose after transforming him over the years. So the joints on the arms and legs are a bit loose and he does not stand or pose as well as he used to.

Cliffjumper G1 Transformers Hasbro Mini Vehicles 1984 car form

Bumblebee was always one of the more irritating Transformers characters. Always getting in trouble  and doing stupid things. Like having an little brother that keeps bugging you all the time. Usually you see him in his standard yellow as a Volkswagon Beetle. As the initial line did not have enough robots. Some of the mini vehicles came in the two colors red and yellow. My Bumblebee comes in red.  There is nothing complicated about transforming the robot to a car. It is a simple, fun design. I could see why it would be a popular toy back then and even now.

Bumblebee Generation 1 Transformers red mini vehicle Hasbro 1984

I always find these interesting tidbits as I explore my robots and Dave’s. I bought this in a lot in auction. I never would have picked this up on its own. But it is nice having these robots to fill out my Generation 1 collection as I found out I have more Generation 2, Beast Wars, Machine Wars and other later series. I have a really small G1 collection. That being said I never really cared about these robots in the 80’s.  but I enjoy them much more now as an adult and my daughter enjoys transforming them too.

Bumblebee Generation 1 Transformers red mini vehicle Hasbro 1984

Bumblebee G1 Transformers red mini vehicle Hasbro 1984

Soundblaster with Buzzsaw and Ravage Generation 1 Takara 2003 The Transformers Collection

Here’s Soundwave, one of the G1 Transformers I never had as a kid.  I had a loose one at some point but traded it.  This re-issue comes with two of the Decepticon tapes – “Laserbeak” and “Ravage.”  This is the Soundblaster version. Soundwave is upgraded to Soundblaster in later iterations of the cartoon.

I bought this in Japan at Mandarake, Akihabara branch for 52 dollars. If I were to buy him here, he’d be double the price, maybe more since I never saw him at Toys R Us when these were re-issued in the early 2000’s. I haven’t put any of the stickers because I’m afraid they will come off over time.

Soundblaster with Buzzsaw and Ravage Generation 1 Decepticons Takara 2003 The Transformers Collection

Soundblaster with Buzzsaw and Ravage Generation 1 Decepticons Takara 2003 The Transformers Collection

Twincast G1 Encore 22 Takara Tomy 2012 with Nightstalker and Stripes

Here’s a Japan-only issue of Blaster redone in blue and yellow -named as “Twincast.”  I bought this because I didn’t have any of the Autobot tapes.  I thought he was worth it for 80 dollars since he came with two of the Autobot tapes. I’ve also included a picture of Blaster for comparison.

I have finally taken him out of the box, along with the two tapes that came with him (“Nightstalker” and “Stripes.”)  I never had any of the tapes as a kid and I’ve casually looked for them online but they are so expensive for what they are – I usually see them for about 30 dollars each!  So, I decided to buy this encore, Japan-only re-issue to get Twincast and two tapes.  I believe there are 10 Decepticon and Autobot tapes. 

Blaster – G1 1985

Jetfire Transformers Generation 1 Autobot Hasbro 1985

Here’s a picture of Jetfire – the Autobot air guardian.  He looks dramatically different from the cartoon.  He’s basically the same jet as the “Macross” series as they used the same mold. My cousin lent this one to me so that I could display it with the rest of the Macross collection.  I recall he had this as a kid but I don’t know if this is the original one – he may have re-purchased this one later on.

Jetfire Transformers Autobot from the Generation 1 cartoon