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[Thunderclash]

With reference to Fighbird/Martin's current NTFA blog thread "Episode 2: Moving on at the speed of 750 mph!, Origins of Fighbird, part 2" in the Miscellaneous forums section, I offered to provide some photos of miscellaneous TF catalogues. Below are links to the different catalogues; these are intentionally kept large (2-3,5 MB), so I will only provide links to the photos on my site and not insert the pictures directly in this topic. If I had done the latter, you would have had to wait for ages . Please note that these pictures are not scans, so there will be some bulges and slightly irregular shapes. Apologies for that.


US 1984 TF catalogue - (part 1)

US 1984 TF catalogue - (part 2)

US - Reinforcements from Cybertron 1984 mail-in campaign leaflet - (part 1)

US - Reinforcements from Cybertron 1984 mail-in campaign leaflet - (part 2)

Japanese 1985 TF catalogue - (part 1)

Japanese 1985 TF catalogue - (part 2)

US 1985 TF catalogue - (part 1)

US 1985 TF catalogue - (part 2)

US 1985 TF catalogue - (part 3)

US 1985 TF catalogue - Notice Optimus has the grey Roller and the larger hands/rifle in this picture - (part 4)

Euro 1985 TF catalogue - No Optimus Prime yet; catalogue states Jetfire as Autobot leader - (part 1)

Euro 1985 TF catalogue - Decepticons Astrotrain and Blitzwing are in Diaclone colours - (part 2)

Euro 1985 TF catalogue #2 - (part 1)

Euro 1985 TF catalogue #2 - (part 2)

Euro 1985 TF catalogue #2 - (part 3)

Euro 1985 TF catalogue #2 - (part 4)

More "katalogues" coming tomorrow !

This post has been edited by Thunderclash: 25 March 2012, 13:09

[vmv-81]

"HTTP Server Error 503
No available server to handle this request "

Is anyone else getting this?

[Thunderclash]

"HTTP Server Error 503
No available server to handle this request "

Is anyone else getting this?

Yes, I got this message several times when I uploaded the pictures. I thought it was an intermittent problem. Perhaps 2 to 3,5 MB per file is a tiny bit too optimistic and too taxing for my provider's web servers. I will look into it and cut down the size on the files.

This post has been edited by Thunderclash: 25 March 2012, 11:15

[Fighbird]

Beautiful stuff - thank you for sharing!

US 1984 TF catalogue - (part 1)

Lots of nice pre-TF toys in there like Blue Bluestreak, blue-trailer Prime, "blue sticker on chest" Soundwave (to hide the Microman "Cassetteman" logo), brown Brawn and black mock-up Skywarp with purple nose and weapons.

Japanese 1985 TF catalogue - (part 1)

The first year line-up in Japan in Japan was an amalgation of both the 1984 and 1985 US line, so their "1st series" of toys included characters like Inferno and Red Alert, who weren't released in the US untill later. Also, Reflector was a full market release with unique box art and all, whereas Megatron got the shaft and didn't come with neither his scope pieces, his fusion cannon NOR his crome get-up.

Japanese 1985 TF catalogue - (part 2)

I love that artwork there on the left. Trailbreaker, who was a series 1 toy in the US, was a later addition to the Japanese line. And Astrotrain is in his black/white getup. No Skids and no Sunstreaker for the Japanese this year, BTW...

US 1985 TF catalogue - (part 2)

Protos galore: Proto coneheads (wow, that is one red Thrust!), protocolored Constructicons (I loce those black forearms on Devvy) and proto Astrotrain (prefer the black/purple colors, though).

Euro 1985 TF catalogue - No Optimus Prime yet; catalogue states Jetfire as Autobot leader - (part 1)

Yup, and nice Microman version of Blaster and no Swoop!

Euro 1985 TF catalogue - Decepticons Astrotrain and Blitzwing are in Diaclone colours - (part 2)

Actually, only Blitzwing is in Diaclone colors. Astrotrain was perhaps on the drawing board for Diaclone, but the toy pictured is an early resin prototype. Also, the coneheads have old-school style seeker weapons still.

Euro 1985 TF catalogue #2 - (part 1)

Now THIS is "my" catalogue. Seems like yours has had its share of lovin' over the years as well. Always wondered why Jetfire was in the logo there, but figured (back then) that it was because he was the biggest and coolest toy of them all. Still no Swoop for us Europeans.

Euro 1985 TF catalogue #2 - (part 2)

Blurr looks a bit different than what he wound up looking like, and Broadside is an early proto with different colors and transformation.

Euro 1985 TF catalogue #2 - (part 3)

I never felt that this was Megatron's best shot, so I kind of wrote him off as "un-cool" at an early age. Still, I had a tough time figuring out how the heck he transformed. Scourge and especially Cyclonus are protos, and I kinda dig Cyclonus' colors more here than on the final toy.

Euro 1985 TF catalogue #2 - (part 4)

Proto-Octane with chromed forearms.

Yes, I'm obsessed with prototypes...

[Thunderclash]

Beautiful stuff - thank you for sharing!

No problem, man. Just happy to share !

Euro 1985 TF catalogue #2 - (part 1)
Now THIS is "my" catalogue. Seems like yours has had its share of lovin' over the years as well. Always wondered why Jetfire was in the logo there, but figured (back then) that it was because he was the biggest and coolest toy of them all. Still no Swoop for us Europeans.

Oh yeah, this has gone on and off the walls lots of times and it's been folded "a million times". I consider this my holy grail of catalogues. Didn't really know why before, but your current input has made me appreciate it even more. I just wish I had a mint one; this is looking a bit sorry now .

[Thunderclash]

More "katalogues":

US 1986 Transformers catalogue - The Ultimate Battle (part 1)

US 1986 Transformers catalogue - The Ultimate Battle (part 2)

Japanese 1986 Transformers catalogue - Autobots - Metroplex, Dinobots & Triplechangers (part 1)

Japanese 1986 Transformers catalogue - Autobots - Aerialbots, Protectobots, Rodimus Prime and Ultra Magnus (part 2)

Japanese 1986 Transformers catalogue - Decepticons - Predacons, Constructicons, Soundwave & Triplechangers (part 3)

Japanese 1986 Transformers catalogue - Decepticons - Trypticon, Combaticons, Stunticons & Galvatron (part 4)

Japanese 1986 Transformers catalogue #2 - "VS" - Autobots (part 1)

Japanese 1986 Transformers catalogue #2 - "VS" - Autobots - (part 2)

Japanese 1986 Transformers catalogue #2 - "VS" - Decepticons (part 3)

Japanese 1986 Transformers catalogue #2 - "VS" - Decepticons (part 4)

US 1986 Transformers catalogue - Autobots (part 1)

US 1986 Transformers catalogue - Autobots (part 2)

US 1986 Transformers catalogue - Decepticons (part 3)

US 1986 Transformers catalogue - Decepticons (part 4)

UK 1986 Transformers catalogue - Autobots (part 1)

UK 1986 Transformers catalogue - Autobots (part 2)

UK 1986 Transformers catalogue - Decepticons (part 3)

UK 1986 Transformers catalogue - Decepticons (part 4)

Japanese 1987 Transformers catalogue - Autobots - Headmasters, Targetmasters & Throttlebots (part 1)

Japanese 1987 Transformers catalogue - Autobots - Fort Max, Twincast & Raiden among others (part 2)

Japanese 1987 Transformers catalogue - Decepticons - Sixshot, Headmaster Horrorcons, Abominus & Trypticon among others (part 3)

Japanese 1987 Transformers catalogue - Decepticons - Scorponok, Soundblaster & Predaking among others (part 4)

US 1988 Transformers catalogue - Powermasters, later Headmasters and Pretenders, among others

Euro 1991 Transformers catalogue - Constructicons & Rescue Force (part 1)

Euro 1991 Transformers catalogue - Turbomasters & Predators (part 2)


More coming... !

[Tformer]

Euro 1991 Transformers catalogue - Constructicons & Rescue Force (part 1)

Oh man! This is a blast from the past! I remember drooling over the Rescue Force quite bit back in the day. From memory though the ones I saw advertised were the red weapon variants.

Does anyone know if they were ever cross marketed during early G2 over here? It feels strange that I would've somehow managed to get my hands on late Euro G1 toys fresh from the store shelves as late as 1993/94. It could of course have been old stock through a liquidation chain (a lot of my toys during the early 90's came from Galne Gunnar for those who remember that chain. Bins full of Tonka Gobots for 25 sek each. Those were the days! ) or it could've been a regular clearance to get rid of old stock at Stor & Liten.

[Protek]

Indeed, a trip down the memory lane. The first Euro catalog was my first. Felt kinda disappointed that there was no Optimus Prime and other Autobot cars in that catalog. It came with Red Alert in 1986.

I never felt that this was Megatron's best shot, so I kind of wrote him off as "un-cool" at an early age. Still, I had a tough time figuring out how the heck he transformed. Scourge and especially Cyclonus are protos, and I kinda dig Cyclonus' colors more here than on the final toy.

I'd say Megatron looks mistransformed. Looking at the picture, it seems that Megs' chest hasn't been pulled up.

This post has been edited by Protek: 27 March 2012, 06:49

[palaste]

Good pictures! But do you have any pictures of the US 1987 G1 catalogue? That one might be my all-time favourite.

[Fighbird]

@TC: Thanks for sharing again! I might go over the last batch there as well with a fine tooth comb later on as well.

Does anyone know if they were ever cross marketed during early G2 over here? It feels strange that I would've somehow managed to get my hands on late Euro G1 toys fresh from the store shelves as late as 1993/94. It could of course have been old stock through a liquidation chain (a lot of my toys during the early 90's came from Galne Gunnar for those who remember that chain. Bins full of Tonka Gobots for 25 sek each. Those were the days! ) or it could've been a regular clearance to get rid of old stock at Stor & Liten.

I picked up a G2 Hero Sureshot as late as 1997/1998 in a local TRU, so I guess it was just leftover stock that just didn't move. This was just a few weeks before Beast Wars hit, so I was there quite a lot...

Indeed, a trip down the memory lane. The first Euro catalog was my first. Felt kinda disappointed that there was no Optimus Prime and other Autobot cars in that catalog. It came with Red Alert in 1986.

Yeah, that must've been weird seing that catalog as your first one. Has a pretty good explanation, though.

I never felt that this was Megatron's best shot, so I kind of wrote him off as "un-cool" at an early age. Still, I had a tough time figuring out how the heck he transformed. Scourge and especially Cyclonus are protos, and I kinda dig Cyclonus' colors more here than on the final toy.

I'd say Megatron looks mistransformed. Looking at the picture, it seems that Megs' chest hasn't been pulled up.

Quite right: His chest needs extending and his legs need to be closer together. Imagine my surprise when I finally saw a properly transformed Megatron and saw how sleek he really was (for the longest time I only had this catalog pic of the toy; I think it was 1997 before I saw a "proper" Megs).

Good pictures! But do you have any pictures of the US 1987 G1 catalogue? That one might be my all-time favourite.

Indeed! The US 1987 was also one of my all-time favourites, although I only had a photocopy my mom made at her work from a catalog I borrowed from a friend.

[Thunderclash]

Good pictures! But do you have any pictures of the US 1987 G1 catalogue? That one might be my all-time favourite.

Is this the one you are talking about? I did have it at one time, but I did not find it in the bag, so I'm afraid I might have thrown it away, possibly because it was torn up.

[SureShot]

Interesting to see that the EU 1985 catalogues also have some 86 figures like Kup, Blurr, Cyclonus, Scourge.

[Thunderclash]

Interesting to see that the EU 1985 catalogues also have some 86 figures like Kup, Blurr, Cyclonus, Scourge.

Yes, but I'm not sure if these were really released in 1985 in the Euro zone. These could be prototypes (Fighbird would know ). I bought my pre-Targetmaster Scourge and Targetmaster Cyclonus at my local toy store in 1987 at about the same time; I did not see a Targetmaster variant of Scourge at that time. I wonder which of the pre-Targetmaster or Targetmaster variants were the regular and widely available releases over here.

This post has been edited by Thunderclash: 27 March 2012, 12:49

[Fighbird]

Interesting to see that the EU 1985 catalogues also have some 86 figures like Kup, Blurr, Cyclonus, Scourge.

Yes, but I'm not sure if these were really released in 1985 in the Euro zone. These could be prototypes (Fighbird would know ). I bought my pre-Targetmaster Scourge and Targetmaster Cyclonus at my local toy store in 1987 at about the same time; I did not see a Targetmaster variant of Scourge at that time. I wonder which of the pre-Targetmaster or Targetmaster variants were the regular and widely available releases over here.

What's most interesting is that I got the exact same catalog with two non-1986 toys, namely TM Blurr (1987 release) and HM Siren (1988(!) release). I think it was a pretty random thing which catalog got stuffed into what toy here in Europe.

Seems like most of the images and toys used that are slated for 1986 are all in various states of prototypes. The 4 combiner groups are, the Movie characters are and the newer Tripplechangers are. I guess they were saving the new leaders in order not to spoil the movie (although I doubt it was shown anywhere in Europe in any theaters besides maybe the UK). Also, since some of these toys were only "recently" made available in Europe through MB (toys like Prime and the early Autobot cars), they might wanted to push them a bit more before the movie line came out.

Re the non-TM and TM versions of each toys I think they were both widely available, even though it's a bit difficult to gauge that precisely when there are so few local (=nordic) sources to confirm/deny anything. Granted, I've seen and bought more TM version locally than non-TM in the recent years, but in theory both types should be equally avilable. In fact, the non-TMs should be prevailant, 'cause they would be sitting on the shelves untill they were sold - regardless of how many years that took. No need to re-order the same characters when they are already on the shelf. In theory...

[Fighbird]

Good pictures! But do you have any pictures of the US 1987 G1 catalogue? That one might be my all-time favourite.

Is this the one you are talking about? I did have it at one time, but I did not find it in the bag, so I'm afraid I might have thrown it away, possibly because it was torn up.

I think he's/I'm referring to this one here and here.