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Micro Change

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This article is about the pre-Transformers toyline. For the Kreons with alternate modes, see Micro-Changer.
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Micromasters Micro Machines Micromen!

The Micro Change Series (ミクロチェンジシリーズ) sub-line of TakaraTomy's long running Microman series was, along with Diaclone, one of the two major sources of molds for the original Transformers line.

Contents

Overview

Micro Change was a subline of Takara's successful New Microman line of the early '80s, which consisted of 3.75" action figures that were super-posable and vehicles and robots for use by them. The Microman figures, unlike all subsequent 3.75" action figures (except their Western counterpart the Micronauts, made by Mego using licensed Microman molds) were on a 1:1 scale rather than representing full-sized humans/aliens/robots, so the transforming robots and vehicles they created had ordinary household objects (such as, um, handguns) as disguise modes. Many of the Micro Change figures came in multiple color schemes, many of which were eventually used for the Transformers line.



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Toys

The following list covers all Micro Change releases that were later rereleased as Transformers toys or otherwise inspired Transformers concepts. Micro Change molds with no Transformers relation are generally not listed as they fall outside the purview of this site.

1983

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Before he was our Enemy...
  • MC-01 Micross
The first version was the blue-body, grey-limb cassette used for Frenzy. A black-body, red-limb version, used for Rumble, came with Cassette Man. Towards the end of the line, a red-body, blue-limb version was released.
  • MC-02 Jaguar
The first version was used for Ravage. A blue version was released at the end of the line, and was used for the e-HOBBY figure Howlback. In 2007, Jaguar was redecoed into Glit (later repurposed as Shattered Glass Ravage) and then Stripes in 2012.
  • MC-03 Condor
The first version was used for Laserbeak. The blue second version was used for the e-HOBBY figure Garboil. Buzzsaw's and Sundor's decos were created for the Transformers line.
  • Micro Cassette Robo DX 3-Figure Set
A giftset that collects the first versions of MC-01 Micross, MC-02 Jaguar and MC-03 Condor.


  • MC-04 Mini Car Robo
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We'll slip you a fiver if you tell the guy in charge of pre-Transformer redecoes at Hasbro that this is Glyph.
This small car assortment actually had two different origins. 01-03 were designed by Takara and transform into super deformed toy cars in the style of Takara's own Choro-Q line (imported to English-speaking markets as Penny Racers). They were released in red, yellow, and blue and had license plate stickers on the back of the head panel. 04-07 were initially designed as part of the little-known Mysterians toyline but left unproduced, with the tooling used by Takara for Micro Change. When they came out as part of that line, they were released in only one color scheme each. Their subsequent Transformers releases were largely identical, but "Jeep" went from olive green to forest green in becoming Brawn.
  • 01 Porsche Turbo 924 ("red body", "blue body" or "yellow body"), Pre-Cliffjumper
  • 02 Familia 1500 XG ("red body", "blue body" or "yellow body"), Pre-Bumper
  • 03 Volkswagen ("red body", "blue body" or "yellow body"), Pre-Bumblebee
  • 04 4WD Offroad, Pre-Gears
  • 05 Jeep, Pre-Brawn
  • 06 Transam, Pre-Windcharger
  • 07 American Truck, Pre-Huffer
  • MC-05 Camera Robo Microx
Pre-Reflector

  • MC-06 Watch Robo
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We don't have
time
to get into this figure's whole deal right now.
Eh? Eh?
This figure transformed from a robot to a watch. It came in chrome, black, blue, and gold versions. Before appearing in Transformers, the toy was released in North America as the title character of the Kronoform toyline and in Europe as part of Joustra's rather idiosyncratic incarnation of Micro Change' sister toyline Diaclone. Each colorway met a different fate in Transformers:
  • MC-07 Gun Robo Browning M1910
Browning came either in Silver with red robot parts, or Gold with blue robot parts, in addition to a gold chromed contest piece. The version released as the Japanese exclusive Browning sported the blue parts, but with the silver body, though his animation model used in Super-God Masterforce depicted him using the gold body with the blue parts.
  • MC-08 Cassette Machine Battlebike HG90
The Battlebike transforms from a full-sized audio cassette into a motorbike vehicle for the included Microman figure. A redeco of this toy was released in the 1999 Microman line.
  • MC-09 Cassette Machine Jetheli XL120
The Jetheli transforms from a full-sized audio cassette into a helicopter for the included Microman figure. A redeco of this toy was re-released in the 1999 Microman line.
  • MC-10 Cassette Man
Pre-TF Soundwave with "Cassette Man" molded on the cassette door. He came with fake earphones and microphone that were also included in Soundwave's Japanese release, and Pre-Rumble. Likewise, the Japanese Soundwave came with Rumble instead of Buzzsaw.

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Megatron and this guy go way back.
  • MC-11 Gun Robo S&W Magnum 44
This figure had a revolving chamber, and came with either a brown or gold hilt. Ask Vector Prime would establish that this figure represents the Cymond analog of Kiloton.
  • MC-12 Gun Robo Walther P-38
Pre-Japanese Megatron. This toy did not include any gun attachments (and lacked the tooling to attach them anyway), but had a gun, sword, and plastic pellets which it could fire. It came with blue inner arms and legs, and was either black with a brown grip, or grey with a black grip in gun mode. The grey version was used for all vintage Japanese Megatrons (The Goodbye Megatron set came with the U.N.C.L.E. scope and attachment bracket).
  • MC-13 Gun Robo Walther P-38 U.N.C.L.E.
This figure came with all of MC-12's parts, as well as several gun extensions, namely a scope, a silencer and a shoulder stock, which were inspired by a similarly modified version of the Walther P-38 as seen in the popular 1960s spy television series The Man from U.N.C.L.E..[1] Only one color scheme, silver with black handle in gun mode with red inner arms and legs, was released. This color scheme was used for all Hasbro releases of the original Megatron and the Japanese reissues. The toy was also released by e-HOBBY as Megaplex, using the MC-12 grey/blue deco, as well as a new "Black Megatron" deco in dark chrome, black plastic in place of grey, brown handle, and red inner sections.


1984

  • Meteor Robo (MC-14 - MC-16)
This figure transforms from a robot into a metallic ball. It came with two guns that could either be wielded in robot mode or attached to the sides in ball mode and a circular base upon which the ball mode could sit.
Two versions were available, the more common silver chrome with black plastic accessories and robot parts or the considerably rarer bluish-silver chrome with red plastic accessories and robot parts. This mold (minus accessories) didn't see release in Transformers until Beast Wars Eggbot and Dark Eggbot, where it was retooled to include a keychain. This keychain retool was later (again without accessories) used for Kiss Players Star Dust.
  • MC-15 Metal Leo
This figure transforms from a lion into a metallic ball. It came with two guns that could either be wielded in lion mode or attached to the sides in ball mode and a circular base upon which the ball mode could sit.
Two versions were available, the more common gold chrome with black plastic accessories or the considerably rarer silver chrome with red plastic accessories. This mold (minus accessories) didn't see release in Transformers until Beast Wars Eggleo and Dark Eggleo where it was retooled to include a keychain. This keychain retool was later (again without accessories) used for Kiss Players Angela.
  • MC-16 Metal Hawk
This figure transforms from a hawk into a metallic ball. It came with two guns that could either be wielded in hawk mode or attached to the sides in ball mode and a circular base upon which the ball mode could sit.
Two versions were available, the more common gold chrome with black plastic accessories or the considerably rarer silver chrome with red plastic accessories. This mold (minus accessories) didn't see release in Transformers until Beast Wars Eggbird and Dark Eggbird where it was retooled to include a keychain. This keychain retool was later (again without accessories) used for Kiss Players Zangetsu.

  • Lock Robo (MC-17 - MC-18)
This figure transforms from a working dial lock to a robot. The toy was never released in any Transformers line, but a version in a purple deco did make a cameo in the Dreamwave G1 comics as a background generic.
  • MC-18 Magneman
This figure transforms from a working key lock to a robot.
MicroChangeScopeMan.jpg

  • MC-19 Binocular Robo Scope Man
This figure transforms from a pair of working binoculars into a robot. The toy was never released in any Transformers line, but a version in a yellow deco did make a cameo in the Dreamwave G1 comics as Pulse.
  • MC-20 Micro Scope
Released in a primarily black deco, MC-20 was recolored into Perceptor. The third tank mode could be used as a vehicle for a Microman figure. The toy's Micro Change deco was used for the e-HOBBY exclusive Magnificus (and Shattered Glass Perceptor).
  • MC-21 Radi-Cassette Robo
This figure came with an AM radio in the form of a fake Micro cassette, and an earphone. One could listen to the radio through the earphone, or put the radio in the main toy's cassette deck. After moving the switch above the left (non-functional) speaker "on" and pressing "play", a pair of batteries in the toy's right leg would amplify the signal from the cassette to the functional right speaker. A knob to the right of the tape door could change the station, and a volume knob and a plug for headphones were located on the toy's left leg. Due to the speaker plug, the transforming micro cassettes could not fit in the tape door. They could, however, fit in a compartment in the toy's back. The earphone plug could also fit in the small hole on the stock of the toys gun, and the speaker could fit in the large hole at the gun's center. The toy came in either blue or red. The red deco was used for Blaster.


Unreleased

  • MC-22 Beam Robo
Hardcase Micro-Change Toy.jpg
This figure transforms from a working flashlight into a robot. It would eventually be repurposed as a full-body physical basis of the Decepticon Hardcase.

External links

References

  1. ↑ "U.N.C.L.E. Special" Carbine at CIA Museum, archived version
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