G1 variants (obscure and not so obscure)

[heroic_decepticon]

I'm trying to compile a list of USA G1 variants (minus European variants) that were released in appreciable quantities and was hoping for some help.

So far, I consider these variants:

[updated 21 March 2012]

All pre-rubs from 1984 (due to pretty significant molding differences from some; this also covers metal/ plastic toe cassettes).
Cliffjumper (yellow)
Bumblebee (red)
Ratchet with cross
Slag (Canadian, red face)
Snarl (red head, red connectors)
Jetfire (Matsushiro)
Blaster - openable battery cover/no battery cover.
Jazz - Cookie Crisp with no 'Martinni' stickers.
Astrotrain (with chrome on front light)
Sandstorm (metal toes)
Springer (metal chest)
Scourge (painted hovercraft top/ wings)
Cyclonus (blue ear)


Hot Rod - metal/plastic feet
Kup - metal/plastic wheels
Rodimus Prime - rubber wheels metal feet/plastic wheels and feet
Combaticons - metal/plastic chests
Hot Spot, First Aid, Blades - metal/plastic chests
Groove - silver chest/gold chest.
Predacons - metal/plastic parts
Metroplex - rubber wheels chromed legs/plastic wheels and bare legs
Ultra Magnus - um... various differences in paint, rubber, metal, plastic and chrome.
Cassettes with stickered vs tampograph variants (eg: Buzzsaw, Frenzy, Ratbat, Eject, Rewind, Steeljaw(?), Ramhorn(?))
Autobot Clones (I think plastic chest is the 'rarer' variant in this case?)
Decepticon Clones (I think plastic chest is the 'rarer' variant in this case?)
Technobots - no rub-sign indent
Terrorcons - no rub-sign indent

....

anything else?

[Sky Shadow]

I think it depends on how thorough you want to be, HD. If you're counting Sandstorm and Springer, then I guess most of the '86 toys had clear variations, did they not?

Hot Rod - metal/plastic feet
Kup - metal/plastic wheels
Rodimus Prime - rubber wheels metal feet/plastic wheels and feet
Combaticons - metal/plastic chests
Hot Spot, First Aid, Blades - metal/plastic chests
Predacons - metal/plastic parts
Metroplex - rubber wheels chromed legs/plastic wheels and bare legs
Ultra Magnus - um... various differences in paint, rubber, metal, plastic and chrome.

Oh, and 1984 Optimus Prime with a grey Roller and metal trailer is a variant (I don't know if they were all pre-rub signs). Plus Pepsi Prime and purple Roller.

[Cat]

Bumper

[heroic_decepticon]

I think it depends on how thorough you want to be, HD. If you're counting Sandstorm and Springer, then I guess most of the '86 toys had clear variations, did they not?

Hot Rod - metal/plastic feet
Kup - metal/plastic wheels
Rodimus Prime - rubber wheels metal feet/plastic wheels and feet
Combaticons - metal/plastic chests
Hot Spot, First Aid, Blades - metal/plastic chests
Predacons - metal/plastic parts
Metroplex - rubber wheels chromed legs/plastic wheels and bare legs
Ultra Magnus - um... various differences in paint, rubber, metal, plastic and chrome.

Oh, and 1984 Optimus Prime with a grey Roller and metal trailer is a variant (I don't know if they were all pre-rub signs). Plus Pepsi Prime and purple Roller.

Thanks Sky Shadow, have added those to the list below.

I think the following would also qualify?

Cassettes with stickered vs tampograph variants (eg: Buzzsaw, Frenzy, Ratbat, Eject, Rewind, Steeljaw(?), Ramhorn(?))
Autobot Clones (I think plastic chest is the 'rarer' variant in this case?)
Decepticon Clones (I think plastic chest is the 'rarer' variant in this case?)



Bumper

Hmmm... I'm not sure Bumper is a variant rather than a completely unique bot in itself, albeit packed in CJ or BB backing cards...

***

LIST

All pre-rubs from 1984 (due to pretty significant molding differences from some; this also covers metal/ plastic toe cassettes).
Optimus Prime (rub-sign, grey roller, metal trailer)
Optimus Prime (Pepsi)
Roller (purple)
Cliffjumper (yellow)
Bumblebee (red)
Ratchet with cross
Slag (Canadian, red face)
Snarl (red head, red connectors)
Jetfire (Matsushiro)
Astrotrain (with chrome on front light)
Sandstorm (metal toes)
Springer (metal chest)
Scourge (painted hovercraft top/ wings)
Cyclonus (blue ear)
Hot Rod - metal/plastic feet
Kup - metal/plastic wheels
Rodimus Prime - rubber wheels metal feet/plastic wheels and feet
Combaticons - metal/plastic chests
Hot Spot, First Aid, Blades - metal/plastic chests
Predacons - metal/plastic parts
Metroplex - rubber wheels chromed legs/plastic wheels and bare legs
Ultra Magnus - um... various differences in paint, rubber, metal, plastic and chrome.

[griffin]

I thought Fred's Variants site (http://www.fredsworkshop.com/variants.html) was pretty comprehensive with all known Gen1 variants.

[iamirondude]

thanks to griffin i just found out my g1 skywarp is a type 2 jet.i thought it may of been a fake as it has the solid rudders and no stamp on the leg

[heroic_decepticon]

I thought Fred's Variants site (http://www.fredsworkshop.com/variants.html) was pretty comprehensive with all known Gen1 variants.

Thanks Griffin!

I know about Fred's page, but was not looking at going into that type of detail.

I really wanted to know the 'big ticket' differences that set each variation apart visually (eg: distinct colour differences) and physically (eg: plastic vs die-cast; distinct molding differences). I'm less interested in the great detail (which is very informative btw) that Fred's site goes into eg: which assortment of seekers has fists with square holes as opposed to rounds holes in them.

Hoping that is sort of clear?

[Slag]

I got a Slag that came with white legs from America bout 5 years ago?? (i can dig it out)

was there a Whirl that came with a painted frame on the canopy somewhere??

[heroic_decepticon]

I got a Slag that came with white legs from America bout 5 years ago?? (i can dig it out)

was there a Whirl that came with a painted frame on the canopy somewhere??

Would the Slag be this one here (http://heroicdecepticon.blogspot.com/2012/02/g1-variant-canadian-slag-vs-g1-regular.html)?

Not sure about Whirl with painted canopy, that'd be interesting!

[Sky Shadow]

Just thought of a few more.

Blaster - openable battery cover/no battery cover.
Jazz - Cookie Crisp with no 'Martinni' stickers.
Groove - silver chest/gold chest.

Also, HD - I know you have the Japanese release of Pretender Grimlock's inner robot which has a silver face. The one in the US had an orange face.

[Slag]

I wish.. This one just had white legs. i think the rest was the same.

I always just thought it was left over parts. or someone did a part swap.

I got a blue junker version which i thought was diaclone but on closer inspection i could not find Takara on the leg

[dirge]

What about the Terrorcons & Technobot with/without rubsign indents?

[griffin]

Thanks Griffin!

I know about Fred's page, but was not looking at going into that type of detail.

I really wanted to know the 'big ticket' differences that set each variation apart visually (eg: distinct colour differences) and physically (eg: plastic vs die-cast; distinct molding differences). I'm less interested in the great detail (which is very informative btw) that Fred's site goes into eg: which assortment of seekers has fists with square holes as opposed to rounds holes in them.

Hoping that is sort of clear?

I figured that you wanted the major variants, but thought you could use that site to collate the ones you were wanting... perhaps to start collecting them now that you have all the regular figures you wanted?

Is it not enough that you've got all the rare JP figures, that you want variants of different figures as well... :p

[robwin1974]

I wish.. This one just had white legs. i think the rest was the same.

I always just thought it was left over parts. or someone did a part swap.

I got a blue junker version which i thought was diaclone but on closer inspection i could not find Takara on the leg

For the Canadian Slags - there is the red face white legs but there is the above black face white legs which I also have one and I also have a red face black legs. I have seen a few of the black face white legs on ebay in my time so I doubt it was a parts swap. Only seen two red face black legs on ebay but I kind of figure that people dont really notice since the legs are black.

Anyway, red face white legs looks the best!

I have pic at home of them all side by side which I will attach later.

[Slag]

For the Canadian Slags - there is the red face white legs but there is the above black face white legs which I also have one and I also have a red face black legs. I have seen a few of the black face white legs on ebay in my time so I doubt it was a parts swap. Only seen two red face black legs on ebay but I kind of figure that people dont really notice since the legs are black.

Anyway, red face white legs looks the best!

I have pic at home of them all side by side which I will attach later.

thats good to know.. I'll look forward to seeing those pics.
thanks.

[heroic_decepticon]

For the Canadian Slags - there is the red face white legs but there is the above black face white legs which I also have one and I also have a red face black legs. I have seen a few of the black face white legs on ebay in my time so I doubt it was a parts swap. Only seen two red face black legs on ebay but I kind of figure that people dont really notice since the legs are black.

Anyway, red face white legs looks the best!

I have pic at home of them all side by side which I will attach later.

Ah, I did want to reply with something to the effect of what you said, which I completely agree with. Thanks Rob!

[heroic_decepticon]

What about the Terrorcons & Technobot with/without rubsign indents?

Hmmm, yes, I did read about that on Dlin & Tietjens. Personally, I consider it a fairly minor (nearly insignificant) variation, but will add them to the list nonetheless! :D


I figured that you wanted the major variants, but thought you could use that site to collate the ones you were wanting... perhaps to start collecting them now that you have all the regular figures you wanted?

Is it not enough that you've got all the rare JP figures, that you want variants of different figures as well... :p

Griffin, you're a mind reader. How come you seen to always know what I'm thinking when I try to ask questions that don't give away my intent! :p

Major variants are indeed what I am aiming for this year..... heh. Looking at the partial G1 USA pieces that I lugged back from SG to HK, it appears I already have quite a number of them too...

PS: blue-ear Cyclonus is incoming too...

[robwin1974]

Pics of Slag

First one has

red face white legs, red face black legs, black face white legs, and normal black face black legs

2nd pic is a more minty red face white legs slag (the one above - legs have gone a bit creamy)

[Slag]

Pics of Slag

First one has

red face white legs, red face black legs, black face white legs, and normal black face black legs

2nd pic is a more minty red face white legs slag (the one above - legs have gone a bit creamy)

Awesome, they look great, all in a line like that. I want them!! :rolleyes:
those must be pics from that time they all went clubbing together..:p