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EURO TRANSFORMERS
[1990(-1991)]
CLASSICS
Stunticons, Aerialbots, Protectobots, Combaticons Triple Changers (Springer, Sandstorm), (Astrotrain, Octane) Dinobots (Grimlock, Slag, Snarl, Sludge) Cars (Sideswipe, Jazz, Tracks, Prowl, Wheeljack, Inferno) Throttlebots (Goldbug, Chase, Freeway, Rollbar, Searchlight, Wideload)*notes: Hasbro apparently needed to revive the TF line after the Action Masters bombed the year before. I find it interesting that all of the Autobot cars WERE AMs. However, according to Darren Murphy, the Australian releases included Sunstreaker and Ironhide Classics! For the gestaults, there were slight color variations on the individual robots (for instance Swindle had a grey chestplate), and many replaced metal parts with plastic (First Aid) or vice versa (Groove). On the back of the Onslaught box, the Combaticons are shown with fluorescent green details (Swindle is entirely lime-green), though the toys were NOT created that way. The entire Classic line had that handsome gold packaging like US year six. The heat-decals were removed.
OVERLORD [D]*notes: Not sure if they call him a Powermaster over here, this mutha is a total Decepticon loner, though he was paired against the Motorvators (see below). I have only seen the European version in catalogs, so I can't really comment on him. Apparently he is the exact same release as the venerable Japanese version. I am not sure what names Mega and Giga (the Nebulons) have though.
MOTORVATORS [A]
Flame*notes: These Autobots are repaints of the Japanese Brainmasters, each one included a energon mini-figure that forms the head (brain) of the larger robot. No merging parts for Road Caesar. They are blocky, but stable toys nonetheless. Lightspeed REALLY looks like the Technobot, but I doubt Hasbro UK was trying for that...
Gripper
Lightspeed
ACTION MASTERS
Sideswipe [A]*notes: What can I say, the best of the AM lot! The companions transform into backpacks/helmet exo-suits for these cool figures. Sideswipe has some blue joints (foreshadowing of the Gobot version?!)
Tracks [A]
Powerflash [A]
Bombshell [D]
Take-Off[D]
Charger [D]
ACTION MASTER EXO-SUITS
Thundercracker [D]*notes: TC (terribly repainted Starscream) comes with a jet-skiff, and Circuit (repainted Axer) drives a dragster. The vehicles then form "exo-suits" for the warriors.
Circuit [A]
ACTION MASTER VEHICLES
Rumbler [A]*notes: Rumbler (repainted Sprocket) and Slicer (repainted Wheeljack) each come with a battery operated "motorized" battle vehicle, that sort of transforms into an exo-suit.
Slicer [D]
ACTION MASTER ELITES
Omega Spreem [A]*notes: Yes, yes, transforming AMs. A misspelled Omega on the package, but it is definitly an incarnation of the supreme one. Paint jobs aren't all that impressive. These were only available in continental Europe and are considered EXTREMELY rare. They stand a bit taller and wider than the usual AM mold, and each features a "battle action" trick. For instance, Omega's upper torso spins around when you push a stick on his lower back. Raksha claims that Turbomaster resembles Bruticus.
Windmill [A]
Double Punch [D]
Turbomaster [D]
[1991]Skyquake*notes: This line of Decepticons is (in my view) one of the nicest looking sets. Skyquake stands as large as Jetfire. The gimmick with these jets is that they "lock on" to Skyquake or Stalker (missile carrier) and you can see a nifty battle scene through the viewfinder or "scope" - actually, the gimmick is really stupid, but the figures are designed well. These 'cons were the first to employ translucent eyes that are common on the Gen2 toys. Spring-loaded missle launchers for all of them.
Stalker
Snare
Skydive
Talon
Falcon (in continental Europe, one of these cool toys is named Hyena)
*notes: The original six all molded in yellow with grey pieces to boot. NO parts to merge and NO individual names given on the package. Seems like the Predators enslaved them or something. The purple is darker than the US G2 versions - different card art for each Constructicon too.
TURBOMASTERS (CANNONMASTERS) [A]
Thunderclash*notes: Again, nice looking, well thought out faction of Autobots. Pink fluorescent eyes were new at the time of release. Weapons shoot annoying yellow missiles very well. Thunderclash is an Optimus wannabee - the cab portion transforms into a robot and his trailer converts into a shoddy battle platform. Rotorstorm is a helicopter and the other four are cars - Boss resembles the Batmobile, and Flash is Hot Rod-ish. Very nice balance in conjunction with the Predators line.
Rotorstorm (Storm)
Flash
Boss
Scorch
Hurricane
"Leozak"*notes: Recolored Breastmasters from Japan, these four Autobots have no names or stats, and no gestalt mode. Guns are either red, grey, or maybe even black (pictured in a catalog). Argh for the completists, because some of the face plates are different colors as well ("Jaguar" with grey weapons has a silver face, while the red weapons version has a bronze faceplate) Seem to be the counterpart to the Constructicons during this year.
"Jaguar"
"Drillhorn"
"Kill Bison"
[1992]Pyro (Spark) [A]*notes: "Continental" European names in parenthesis - according to Iggy Drouge, Sweden received the UK-named toys. These two are the apparent leaders of this 1992 line. Excellent robot modes with battle platforms. Clench is a black truck and Pyro a red rescue vehicle (the back half of the vehicles become the outposts. I THINK that the G2 insigniae are supposed to resemble the heads of these two characters - look closely. Glowing eyes work well.
Clench (Colossus) [D]
AQUASPEEDERS [A]
Aquafend*notes: All Autobots. We know them as the G2 Color Changers - and they ARE colored differently. The toy molds correlate as follows: UK Aquafend ('bot) = US Jetstorm ('con, recolored), UK Speedstream ('bot) = US Deluge ('con, recolored), UK Deluge ('bot) = US Drench ('bot, recolored), and UK Jetstorm ('bot) = US Gobots (recolored), confused? The UK versions all have pink optics as opposed to the US clear/gray. Some of the UK versions have translucent parts (Jetstorm and Aquafend) and different labels (Speedstream).
Speedstream
Deluge
Jetstorm
STORMTROOPERS [D]
Rage*notes: Decepticon color changers - molds not available in the US. They are sports cars that look better (IMO) than the Autobot ones. The catalog mentions Aquanaught their leader, but as far as I know, he was never produced (Rage's tech spec labels him as the leader, though, so maybe Aquanaught is the name of Rage in continental Europe?)
Hydradread
Drench
Aquablast
AXELERATORS [A]
Rapido*notes: The original names of the US G2 minicars. Same colors, but the eye plastic is pink, and some had different names in continental Europe.
Skram
Hotrider
Zap
SKYSCORCHERS [D]
Tornado*notes: Sames as the US G2 planes (Windrazor, Afterburner, etc.), the only minute differences are the yellow "branded" Decepticon logos in different places. Their eyes have that green/yellow glow.
Hawk
Terradive
Snipe
TRAKKONS [D]
Fearswoop*notes: These mid-sized Cons come with "cannons" that you can look through and "shoot" twin lasers in the viewfinder. While pressing a stick or rotating a dial, you trigger a knob to turn which advances several "frames" of a laser. With the help of translucent plastic, this becomes an amusing effect, where you can get the enemy in your sights...
Calcar
LIGHTFORMERS [A]
Ironfist*notes: Same gimmick as the Trakkons, but these are Autobots! Ironfist looks like he could have been IronHIDE...speculation. Cheapo lables though, for instance, Ironfist has a shovel sticker that you put on him!?
Deftwing
GENERATION 2 (1993 - 1995)
OBLITORATORS
LIGHTFORMERS
TRAKKONS
AQUASPEEDERS
STORMTROOPERS
AXELLERATORS
SKYSCORCHERS*notes: ALL of these were rereleased in G2 packaging. There are no color variations in the toys themselves, except for the occasional manufacturing flub-up no doubt. G2 packaging employs a "tri-logo" print, where there are three tech specs in different languages. It varies from country to country, but the UK releases seemed to have English, Spanish and Portuguese, while a TF from Spain had Spanish, French, and Danish - it must depend on distribution channels.
HEROICS [A] - (US Autobot cars: Sideswipe, Jazz, Inferno)
SKYRAIDERS [D] - (US planes: Starscream and Ramjet)
ILLUMINATORS
Electro [A]*notes: Laser Rods (US). Autobots with slight color variations. The yellow elbows and waists on the US Autobot versions is changed to orange on the UK releases. Fireball = Sizzle (US) and Hotrod (who's stat SOUNDS like he defected or something) = Volt (US). I like to think that it is a new version of Hot Rod (like Han in Stormtooper gear or something similar). All UK packaging is different.
Volt [A]
Fireball [D]
Hotrod [D]
ROTORBOTS
Hotfoot [A]*notes: The US Rotor Force. Only thing different are the names and packaging: Hotfoot = Leadfoot (US), Piranah = Manta Ray (US), Blade = Powerdive (US), and Blitz = Ransack (US). There are only red rotored Decepticon versions (i.e. no rare black ones)
Piranah [A]
Blade [D]
Blitz [D]
SPARKABOTS
Blaze [A]*notes: Confusing: Blaze is a recolored Fizzle, and the UK Sizzle is still Sizzle, however, the tech spec pictures have that reversed (a la Twin Twist and Topspin). I guess they had to rename the Illuminator Sizzle, Fireball so there wouldn't be two Sizzles...ah, politics. The toys formerly-known-as-Firecons retain their character names. All are molded in transparent plastic.
Sizzle [A]
Cindersaur [D]
Flamefeather [D]
MEGATRON [D]*notes: The big green and purple tank Megatron has the "graffiti" removed from his cannon! I guess it was offensive or something :) Probably, Spanish kids (for example) didn't want to see English on the actual toy. Also, only at Woolworths, there was a special offer for a Megatron tank watch to help clear out inventory. It has a flashing red barrel-nozzle as the alarm! Darren Murphy of Australia tells me that this watch was available on his continent as well.
AERIALBOTS [A]*notes: US G2 versions that were imported into the UK through Woolworths as an exclusive. What's strange is that underneath the US plastic packaging, there were UK Woolworths price tags - must be a leak in the US production line...
COMBAT HEROES
Sureshot [A]*notes: Sureshot is NOT Optimus Prime (the window stickers are altered) and Archforce is not Megatron (no "Megatron Rulz" on this one). The chassis lables are blank!
Archforce [D]
DECEPTICON STEALTH ASSAULT [D]*notes: That's what they call the US Dreadwing AND Smokescreen - no other names. "Hi Stealth, wassup?" Same colors, etc.
MINIJETS [D]*notes: The US Cyberjets, but with UK packaging and no stats. The profile is only one sentence long. They ARE still considered G2 (the logo is on the card). Not sure if the Classic Cyberjets (Air Raid, Jetfire, and Strafe ever made it over to Europe).
GOBOTS [A]**notes: Same as the US Go-Bots (but without the dash). Like the Minijets they have no stats, brief profiles, and the G2 logo. According to Eric Holmes (UK), Opt and Megs Go-bots were released as recolors of Firecracker and Blowout ... the other (US limited run) classic Gobots were spotted in Sweden by Iggy Drouge. *Frenzy, and Soundwave remain Decepticon releases.
POWERMASTERS
Ironhide [A]*notes: Unavailable in the US! These resemble Jumpstarters, or Throttlebots. You pull back the motor and nothing happens. Put the weapon into the slot and watch 'em go. Do not transform on their own. All are very blocky and carelessly throw together. Only redeeming quality is that they are "exclusive" and Ironhide is back! What's neat is that on the back of the packaging, if you look closely you can see different names printed on the prototypes' lables: for example, Ironhide was supposed to be Sandblast and Bulletbike was going to be called Meanstreak. The real Meanstreak has "Transformers" written on his sides, but with a Decepticon symbol...doh. US packaged versions of the G2 Powermasters are rumoured to be available in Hong Kong and Australia.
Meanstreak [A]
Staxx [D]
Bulletbike [D]
LASER ROD OPTIMUS PRIME (*same black European packaging - G2 logo still used)
AUTOROLLERS (*same as US, European/UK packaging and tech specs)
LASER CYCLES (*same as US, UK versions have the moniker, NINJA on the side of the cards! And who said Road Pig looks like Night Bird! :)
[1996]BEAST WARS (*BW were not shown at a recent toy fair in the UK.)
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