Darkwing transforms into a Panavia Tornado GR1 fighter jet. He is locked in this mode until his packed-in partner Throttle is placed into the engine socket on his back (or until you push down the relevant buttons in said socket). Once “unlocked”, he can also form the back half of the “Dreadwing” super-jet.
Use caution when transforming him from jet to robot mode: the large clip inside the jet nosecone is famously prone to growing large stress marks, before breaking off entirely. You really have to make sure the Powermaster feature’s release buttons are being pushed firmly in – and may have more luck doing it with your fingertips than with Throttle.
This mold was used to make the Godmaster Hydra.
Archives
Slapdash (Powermaster) with Lube
Slapdash transforms into a yellow Formula-1-style race car (of extremely generic design) with blue highlights. Like all Powermasters, Slapdash is “locked” in his vehicle form until his Powermaster engine Lube is inserted into the engine socket (or until you push down the relevant buttons in said socket) revealed by removing a large yellow engine block cover on the rear of his car mode.
Unlike the other Autobot Powermaster cars, Lube plugs into what becomes Slapdash’s robot mode chest, providing a very different look compared to the standard representation of the character, which features the yellow engine block in this position. The toy’s instructions indicate you can “cheat” to achieve this look by not using his engine and that the cover and Lube are effectively interchangeable once Slapdash is transformed. Slapdash’s spoiler plugs into his back and is designed to be able to hold whichever item is not attached to his chest at the time.
This toy was sold in Japan as Road King.
Joyride (Powermaster) with Hotwire
Joyride transforms into a teal and crimson Baja buggy. Joyride’s white rifle plugs into a peg hole on the roof. As a Powermaster, one needs to plug his pack-in partner Hotwire (or any other Powermaster/Godmaster engine) into the panel bay at the front of the vehicle to unlock the transformation sequence to robot.
This toy was redecoed in Japan as the transtector for Ranger, and later released there as a mail-away as “Ranger Joy Ride”.
Getaway (Powermaster) with Rev
Getaway transforms into a racing-modified white Mazda RX-7 FC3S. Plasma-Shell shotgun can be plugged onto the vehicle roof for storage via 5 mm post. Attaching Rev (or any other Powermaster unit) into the Powermaster socket on the vehicle’s hood unlocks Getaway’s transformation sequence into robot mode, though one can unlock the transformation simply by pressing down on the panel without Rev. Getaway’s robot mode is mostly static with articulation restricted to arms.
Getaway has some design peculiarities. The lower legs work like a single unit à la fellow Powermaster Joyride, but they are actually separate sections only held together by the spoiler. Even the spoiler’s sticker has a cut down the middle! Furthermore, the car front hinge was likely double-jointed to allow the car chunk to go flat against the figure’s back, but was budgeted out. Evidence of this is left behind in the two layered plates (instead of a single piece) that form the figure’s back for no reason. Getaway is also nearly 1″ taller in robot mode than either of his fellow Powermasters, Joyride and Slapdash.
This toy was sold in Japan as Lightfoot.
Snaptrap (Seacon) – Piranacon limb
Snaptrap transforms into a mechanical land tortoise, which is odd considering the aquatic theme of the Seacons. A lever on his back makes the large cannons over his beast mode head move back and forth in a “pom-pom” reciprocating motion. His large black rifle can be mounted on the rear half of the shell. All four of his legs are articulated, the beast mode head is articulated at the neck and has an opening jaw. In robot mode he is armed with his rifle and large sword. The rear half of the turtle shell can be fitted on his shoulders as a shield.
He forms the torso of the combined mode Piranacon, but since the mold uses the Scramble City-style of combination, he can use any limb-robot of similar construction. The rear of the shell/shield becomes Piranacon’s chest and he is armed with Snaptrap’s sword.
This exact toy was released in Japan as Turtler, and was later redecoed as the Beast Wars II Predacon Halfshell.
Squeezeplay (Headmaster) with Lokos
Squeezeplay transforms into a crab monster, which looks something like a bipedal creature grew out of the underside of a crab, wearing the crustacean as a hat. His tail detaches into a handheld mace. Like the other Small Headmasters, there is a compartment in which Squeezeplay can store Lokos while in crab monster mode.
In robot mode, like all Headmaster toys, Squeezeplay has a panel on his chest which houses a spring-loaded mini-Tech-Spec-meter which gives readouts for Speed, Strength, and Intelligence. The tumbler is activated when Lokos (or any other Headmaster unit) is plugged into his neck socket. As a smaller Headmaster, Squeezeplay’s power meter is on a single tumbler — so any head plugged into Squeezeplay will result in the same stats. His small size also robbed him of the door that usually hides the tech spec meters on larger Headmasters.
Squeezeplay’s box showed a picture of his gun protruding from the back of his crab mode. However, the actual toy lacked any compatible attachment points for it. It was possible to nest it in his back by opening up the two parts of his shell (his arms in robot mode), but this resulted in an irregular appearance that didn’t match the picture and the gun wasn’t secure.
This mold was released in Japan without changes as Super-God Masterforce Cancer.
Horri-bull (Headmaster) with Kreb
Horri-Bull transforms into a robotic bull (though he more closely resembles the “terror dogs” from the Ghostbusters movie). His beast mode back opens up to contain his Nebulan partner Kreb, who forms the robot mode’s head. Plugging Kreb (or any other Headmaster) into the neck socket activates the Tech Spec meter in Horri-Bull’s chest; as a smaller Headmaster, the stats are part of a single plate rather than individual rollers. His twin-barreled tail-blaster becomes a hand-held weapon in robot mode.
His beast mode forelegs feature articulated claws, but what purpose this serves is unknown, since they only fold down, useless in beast mode and actually covering up his fist-holes in robot. Making matters worse, he can’t hold his double-barreled tail gun without partially untransforming his fist away from the claws to clear room for the weapon. Like most larger toys of the era, he features 5mm pegholes for holding weapons.
This mold was released in Japan without changes as the Super-God Masterforce human villain Bullhorn.
Fangry (Headmaster) with Brisko
Like the other 1988 Decepticon Headmasters, Fangry’s alternate mode is a mix of different animals—in his case, he is a bat-winged wolf with a reptilian tail. (Some might say he more resembles a rat—these people don’t voice their opinion within Fangry’s earshot, though…)
Fangry’s robot mode has a panel on his chest which shows a spring-loaded mini-Tech-Spec-meter which gives readings for Speed, Strength and Intelligence. Unlike the larger Headmasters this meter doesn’t have a cover, and all three readings are on a single tumbler. The tumbler is activated when Brisko (or any other Headmaster unit) is plugged into his neck socket. Brisko has Fangry’s face plainly visible on his back because, as a smaller Headmaster toy, he lacks the flip-down panel that covers the face featured on larger Headmasters. In beast mode, Brisko can fit inside a compartment in Fangry’s stomach. In robot mode, Fangry can hold the wings accessory as a shield.
Due to his design, Fangry permanently leans a little bit, his robot mode legs unable to hold a perfectly upright pose. You can solve this by unscrewing the wolf arms and removing the springs from underneath.
This toy was sold in Japan without changes as Wilder.
Siren (Headmaster) with Quig
Siren transforms into a grey Mazda RX-7 with “Fire chief” decorations. The roof is hinged and can be opened to reveal an interior in which his Headmaster unit, Quig, can sit, with the helmet portion of the head forming a seat of sorts. His head guns can be stored on the hood while his rifle can be plugged onto the roof.
In robot mode, like all Headmaster toys, Siren has a flip-down panel on his chest which covers a spring-loaded mini-Tech-Spec-meter which gives reads for Speed, Strength and Intelligence. The tumblers are activated when Quig (or any other Headmaster unit) is plugged into his neck socket. Quig has Siren’s face plainly visible on his back because, as a smaller Headmaster toy, he lacks the flip-down panel featured on larger Headmasters.
The same mold was redecoed into Japanese Headmaster Junior Goshooter. A Siren-colored version of Shūta was also offered in Japan via Robot Point offer.
Nightbeat (Headmaster) with Muzzle
Nightbeat transforms into a blue and yellow Porsche 959. The roof is hinged and can be opened to reveal an interior that his Headmaster unit, Muzzle, can sit inside of. His head guns can be stored just above the headlights while his rifle can be plugged onto the roof.
In robot mode, like all Headmaster toys, Nightbeat has a flip-down panel on his chest which covers a spring-loaded mini-Tech-Spec-meter which gives readings for Speed, Strength and Intelligence. The tumblers are activated when Muzzle (or any other Headmaster unit) is plugged into his neck socket. Muzzle has Nightbeat’s face plainly visible on his back because, as a smaller Headmaster toy, he lacks the flip down panel that covers the face, featured on larger Headmasters. As another consequence of being a smaller Headmaster, his chest cavity was apparently too small for 3 individual tumblers. As a result, all Headmaster heads inserted will display Nightbeat’s pre-molded (and painted) Speed, Strength, and Intelligence readings on one large sliding plate.
He shares a mold with the Japanese Super-God Masterforce Headmaster Junior, Minerva, who also got a mail-order exclusive version in Nightbeat’s colors.
Hosehead (Headmaster) with Lug
Hosehead transforms into a sweet fire truck of undetermined model. The area between the cabin and the rear of the truck has a seat that Headmaster unit, Lug, can sit on, but he can also be stowed inside the cabin itself. (This method isn’t as secure, however.) The ladder base has a ratcheted joint, allowing it to rotate, while the ladder itself can extend out to 22cm in length and also has a movable compound nozzle. His head guns can be stored on the sides of the vehicle while his rifle can be plugged onto the ladder.
In robot mode, like all Headmaster toys, Hosehead has a flip-down panel on his chest which covers a spring-loaded mini-Tech-Spec-meter which gives readouts for Speed, Strength and Intelligence. The tumblers are activated when Lug (or any other Headmaster unit) is plugged into his neck socket. Lug has Hosehead’s face plainly visible on his back because, as a smaller Headmaster toy, he lacks the flip-down panel featured on larger Headmasters. As another consequence of being a smaller Headmaster, Hosehead’s chest cavity was apparently too small for 3 individual tumblers. As a result, all Headmaster heads inserted will display Hosehead’s pre-molded (and painted) Speed, Strength, and Intelligence readings (5, 8, 6) on one large sliding plate.
This toy was released in Japan as the Headmaster Junior Cab, with few or no changes.
Spinister (Targetmaster) with Singe and Hairsplitter
Spinister transforms into a rather busily-coloured AH-64 Apache attack helicopter. His Targetmaster partners Singe and Hairsplitter can be attached onto peg holes on the underside of his wings. The rotors spin, but the main rotor tends to fold back into its storage mode when turned. Ironically, despite being a Double Targetmaster, he has no arm articulation whatsoever, meaning he can’t actually aim his Targetmasters.
Spinister, like all the Double Targetmasters, was never released in Japan.
Quake (Targetmaster) with Tiptop and Heater
Quake transforms into a Leopard 2 Main Battle Tank equipped with a plasma cannon. Unlike the other “double” Targetmasters, Quake has a third non-Nebulan weapon; his removable turret cannon, which can be replaced in vehicle mode by any smaller Targetmaster partner, or be held in robot mode.
He comes with the Nebulan Targetmasters Tiptop and Heater.
Needlenose (Targetmaster) with Zigzag and Sunbeam
Needlenose transforms into the F-16XL variant of the F-16 Fighting Falcon. Zig-Zag and Sunbeam are mounted on 5mm hardpoints under his wingtips in this mode. In robot mode, Needlenose’s articulation is located entirely in his shoulders, which can move up and down as well as swing out to the sides.
Like all of the smaller Targetmasters, Needlenose was never released in Takara’s Transformers line.
Scoop (Targetmaster) with Tracer and Holepunch
Scoop transforms into an orange and yellow front payloader. The loader arm and bucket are hinged with two joints and thus can actually be used to simulate the loading of things. His wheels are appropriately large and his overall sculpting is quite detailed for a small Targetmaster.
Most of the smaller Targetmasters have two 5mm mount points for their Nebulan companions, however Scoop is quite the exception with a total of five mount points. Holepunch and Tracer (or any other accessories with handle pegs of the correct size) can be mounted on either side of the vehicle, on either of two points at the rear, or at a single, central point at the front of the vehicle. Scoop’s Targetmaster partners can attach to this central point in robot mode to create the illusion that he is looking through a gun sight. He also has very small hands, so his Targetmasters instead mount on the outside of his wrists. Holepunch and Tracer can become two separate handguns, or either can attach to the rear of the other gun to form a single rifle.
No version of this character or mold was released in Japan.
Quickmix (Targetmaster) with Ricochet and Boomer
Quickmix transforms into a red and off-white cement mixer truck, a rarity in Transformers and very rare amongst the Autobots in Generation 1. While Landfill received painted chrome on his wheel rims, Quickmix gets this paint on his headlights. The mixing drum does not spin due to his unusual robot mode design. Boomer and Ricochet (or any other accessories with handle pegs of the correct size) can be mounted on either side of his (immobile) mixing drum.
The most remarkable aspect of Quickmix’s robot mode is the fact the mixing drum forms the majority of his upper torso. Boomer and Ricochet can become two separate handguns, or either can attach to the rear of the other gun to form a single rifle.
No version of this character or mold was released in Japan.
Landfill (Targetmaster) with Silencer and Flintlock
Landfill transforms into a beige and brown off-road earth-moving dump truck, with a non-functional dumping tray (can’t even put anything in it) due to his unusual arm transformation sequence. His Targetmaster partners Flintlock and Silencer (or any other accessories with 5mm posts) can be stored in the two peg holes on either side of the dumping tray.
In robot mode it is revealed that the reason his tray is non-functional is because the arms are stored within two flip-over panels. As was the standard of smaller Generation 1 toys of this era, Landfill has very limited articulation, all located in his ratcheting shoulder joints (and one has to hold the arm panels in place while rotating the arms themselves). Flintlock and Silencer can become two separate handguns, or either can attach to the rear of the other gun to form a single rifle.
No version of this character or mold was released in Japan.
Squawkbox (Squawktalk & Beastbox)
The Decepticon cassettes Squawktalk and Beastbox were packaged together, and combined to form the humanoid robot Squawkbox. Though they had separate bios, the combined form lacked one. They were the last Decepticon cassettes ever released in the United States, years after Soundwave himself stopped being available.
In Japan, Squawkbox was only available as a mail-away exclusive during Super-God Masterforce. He cost 980 yen and 2 Robot Points.
Slamdance (Grand Slam & Raindance)
Slamdance combines the two Mini-Cassettes Grand Slam and Raindance into a humanoid robot mode (which the individuals lack). In this combined mode he can make use of all of his components’ chromed add-on weapons. Since the two individuals were only ever sold as a combined set, that was the only way to get Slamdance.
Windsweeper
Windsweeper transforms from robot to modified B-1B Lancer bomber. Activating his Triggercon gimmick causes a pair of spring-loaded guns to flip out from his wings and point forward.
Ruckus
Ruckus transforms into an indigo and tan Baja buggy. Like the other Triggercons, Ruckus has a pair of twin flip-out cannons as his focal gimmick. The cannons are the unchromed gear-deploying style, like those of Crankcase and the Autobot Triggerbot Dogfight. In vehicle mode, the cannons deploy either side of the driver’s cabin, while in his robot form they’re mounted atop his shoulders. In both cases, they point up at an angle instead of straight forward.
Override
Generation 1 Override transforms into a blue and red 1980s Suzuki touring motorcycle. As part of the Triggerbots subgroup, he featured flip-out weapons. In motorcycle mode, pressing the trigger deploys the weapons from the rear end of the vehicle. In robot mode, the cannons are mounted on his arms.
Dogfight
Dogfight transforms from robot to hypercritical-winged Grumman X-29 fighter jet. Activating his Triggerbot gimmick rotates his wings to a swept configuration, flipping over a pair of large cannons with a geared jackspring mechanism (and making him look less like a winged brick). In robot mode, this simply brings his arms up into a firing position.
Crankcase
Crankcase transforms into a four-wheel-drive off-road vehicle of indeterminate model. Similar to the other Triggercons, he has flip-out weaponry, which in his case are two double-barreled laser cannons which deploy from his robot mode backpack/shoulders using a gear mechanism. In vehicle mode, they flip out from his camper and through his windshield. The windshield HE JUST HAD WASHED, thank you very much. Some people…
None of the Triggercons (or Triggerbots) were released in Takara’s Transformers lines. Figures that he gets forgotten as usual…
Backstreet
Backstreet transforms into a Porsche 962-based Le Mans racing car. As a Triggerbot, in either robot or car modes, pressing a push-button on his back end flips out a pair of chromed spring-loaded (non-firing) rifles. Due to this gimmick, his back tires are just stickers while a single wheel hidden under the rear of the car allows Backstreet to roll.
Tentakil
Tentakil transforms into a robotic squid with two leg-like lower tentacles. His two “Slime Laser rifles” can be mounted on each side of his beast mode noggin. He also has a third “50,000-volt lightning rifle” Targetmaster mode,[2] which can be mounted on the weapon stand formed from the “Tripod Rifle” and other accessories, or held in the hand of the Seacons’ combined robot. As a Scramble City-style combiner, he can form an arm or leg to any compatible robot combination, though his nominal placement is as the left leg to Piranacon.
This toy was sold in Japan as the Tentakil drone. It was also used to make Beast Wars II Scylla.
Skalor
Skalor transforms into a coelacanth with arms and legs. His two “dual crustation rifles” can be mounted on his fish mode back on opposite sides of his dorsal fin. He also has a third “corrosive slime-shooter” Targetmaster mode, which can be mounted on the weapon stand formed from the “Tripod Rifle” and other accessories, or held in the hand of the Seacons’ combined robot. As a Scramble City-style combiner, he can form an arm or leg to any compatible robot combination, though his nominal placement is as the right leg to Piranacon (although the toy’s instructions had him as the right arm).
This toy was sold in Japan as Gulf. It was also used to make Beast Wars II Coelagon.
Seawing
Seawing transforms into a robotic manta ray… with legs. His two “Venom Lasers” can be mounted on the undersides of his “wings”. A Targetmaster,[1] he has a third dual proton blaster mode that can be mounted on the weapon stand formed from the “Tripod Rifle” and other accessories, or held in the hand of the Seacons’ combined robot. As a Scramble City-style combiner, he can form an arm or leg to any compatible robot combination, though his nominal placement is as the left arm to Piranacon.
Seawing is cast from teal, gray, and black plastic, with golden yellow paint on his manta ray-mode eyes and robot-mode face being the only paint applications on the figure. Seawing shares his color scheme with Nautilator, while lacking some of the more garish colors of his other teammates.
This toy was sold in Japan as Kraken. It was also used to make Beast Wars II Terrormander.
Overbite
Overbite transforms into a robotic shark, albeit one with arms and legs. His “Jawbreaker cannon” can mount underneath his shark mode head. He also has a third Targetmaster mode, which can be mounted on the weapon stand formed from the “Tripod Rifle” and other accessories, or held in the hand of the Seacons’ combined robot. As a Scramble City-style combiner, he can form an arm or leg to any compatible robot combination; although the instructions included with the individual Seacons depict him as Piranacon’s hand weapon, the art and instructions for the US giftset transferred him to the right arm, replacing the missing Nautilator.
This toy was sold in Japan as the Overbite drone. It was also used to make Beast Wars II Sea Phantom.
Nautilator
Nautilator transforms into a robot lobster. He also has a third Targetmaster mode, a heat-seeking torpedo cannon that can be mounted on the weapon stand formed from the “Tripod Rifle” and other accessories, or held in the hand of the Seacons’ combined robot. As a Scramble City-style combiner, he can form an arm or leg to any compatible robot combination; the instructions included with the individual Seacons depict Nautilator as the right leg of Piranacon, while most other art depicts him as the right arm. The instructions and boxart associated with the Piranacon giftset omit Nautilator entirely, since he himself was omitted from the set.
Nautilator is cast from teal, gray, and black plastic, with golden yellow paint on his lobster-mode eyes and robot-mode face being the only paint applications on the figure. Nautilator shares his color scheme with Seawing, while lacking some of the more garish colors of his other teammates.
His beast mode lobster-claws are not really meant to be separate accessories and are not listed as such in his instructions, but they are easily removable, and therefore often missing from loose samples.
This exact toy was released in Japan as the Lobclaw drone.