The little pilot fellas look quite similar to what would end up being the headmaster/targetmaster minis a few years later. I wonder if those lines were somewhat inspired by the original Diaclone concepts?
Yeah, definitely exploring/returning to the same idea. In US/UK fiction the 'masters and the robot each had their own sentience, but in Japan it was back to the Diaclone idea of small pilots+ big dumb mechs.
Wow, I had never seen an actual Ironhide or Ratchet toy and always assumed (from the box image) that the weapons platform bit was an integral part of the robot mode (for reasons that always mystified me, since the whole combined thing looks nothing whatsoever like the cartoon). I’m glad to hear I was wrong!
On the subject of little pilot men, I seem to recall discovering that the tiny monopose pilots of Zoids fitted inside one (or both?) of Optimus Prime’s trailer components.
The intended pilots are known as Dia-Nauts, which fit in all the vehicular 84-85 toys (plus the dinobots and insect icons), inc Prime's trailer. They're probably double the size of a Zoids dude, but yes, similarly I would use those to populate my TFs as didn't know about/have access to the 'proper' ones. Cross-toy play was big fun back then
Great read, I enjoyed hearing how much Ironhide meant to you as a kid. I wouldn't mind a little clarity on which photos are yours and which photos are borrowed from Google.
The little pilot fellas look quite similar to what would end up being the headmaster/targetmaster minis a few years later. I wonder if those lines were somewhat inspired by the original Diaclone concepts?
Yeah, definitely exploring/returning to the same idea. In US/UK fiction the 'masters and the robot each had their own sentience, but in Japan it was back to the Diaclone idea of small pilots+ big dumb mechs.
My first Transformer as well. Similarly mocked in the playground. Solidarity brother.
And so the Ironhide Survivor's Club is founded.
*waves sad little flag*
Wow, I had never seen an actual Ironhide or Ratchet toy and always assumed (from the box image) that the weapons platform bit was an integral part of the robot mode (for reasons that always mystified me, since the whole combined thing looks nothing whatsoever like the cartoon). I’m glad to hear I was wrong!
On the subject of little pilot men, I seem to recall discovering that the tiny monopose pilots of Zoids fitted inside one (or both?) of Optimus Prime’s trailer components.
The intended pilots are known as Dia-Nauts, which fit in all the vehicular 84-85 toys (plus the dinobots and insect icons), inc Prime's trailer. They're probably double the size of a Zoids dude, but yes, similarly I would use those to populate my TFs as didn't know about/have access to the 'proper' ones. Cross-toy play was big fun back then
PS and absolutely agree about Ironhide’s death scene - the brutal deaths of Ironhide, Prowl, Hound et al are the true tragedy of the Movie.
Great read, I enjoyed hearing how much Ironhide meant to you as a kid. I wouldn't mind a little clarity on which photos are yours and which photos are borrowed from Google.
Thank you! They're all my own shots except for the upgrade kit and the boxed Ironhide (plus of course the cartoon screenshots and vintage toy aisle).