Tag: Generation 1

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.

 

 

 

 

Gears is a cool little mini vehicle is a nice design and easy to transform. Since you don’t have to extend the legs, he stands a lot easier than say Bumblebee and Cliffjumper from the same collection of G1 mini vehicles. Mini vehicles in general are simplistic robots in form and transformation, but that makes them a lot of fun. I find myself transforming them back and forth as I take pictures, write about them, and research more about these pieces. This one is in pretty good shape except for the Autobot sticker. It’s not too bad in either robot or truck form.

When these came out in the 80’s I really didn’t care much for them. I only came into them recently in auction lot of which now makes up the bulk of my G1 Transformers.  This line of robots really remind me of the Gobots or Machine Robo. I find the original Japanese Machine Robos superior in packaging and design. They transform easier, you can keep them in their original packaging, and they look good both as robots and vehicles. Because of these similarity and the fact that I don’t care if I break them, I find them just as fun. This is probably my favorite one to play with so far. =)

 

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.

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.

 

So I am finally getting out my Robot of the Week. Sometime this week. LOL, most likely in the next day or two. I just updated my first posts which were just images. Now I have my own take on of my collection, light review of the robot and some light commentary. As I update old posts which were only pix, I will update the publish date show they show as new posts.

So on to my first Robot of the Week. Here is a hint, this is my first Transformer post and this little robot is not always red.

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. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here’s a loose version of the Decepticon camera – “Reflector.” This is another one I never had as a kid but I was fortunate to pick him up loose for under 30 dollars. The color scheme in the toy looks different from the cartoon as the cartoon shows him as purple/green.

 

Hopefully the pictures come out ok (might be some daytime glare/flash glare) but here’s my display of all of my Transformers.  To the left of the t.v. you’ll see the Insecticons, Ultra Magnus (White Optimus Prime), Shockwave.  To the right of the TV, you’ll see the 3 280ZX cars (Smokescreen, Prowl, Silverstreak), Hoist, Trailbreaker, Grapple, Inferno, and Blaster.  One the 2nd shelf, you’ll see my four Dinobots.  I’m still looking for the Swoop (the Petradactyl) and the rest of the G1 Autobot cars for my Transformers Collection.  The bottom shelf has my collection of the 6 Decepticon planes.  Evidently, there is one more called Sunstreaker (he’s yellow) but I’ve never seen him as a child but I have seen recent versions of him.

 

So my pictures were so bad, I decided to get a few more that were still pretty bad. Oh well, at least they were not as blurry!