Magnus Deals with it Now "Oh, yes he can!"

Patent for Ultra Magnus (See Also: Powered Convoy) And then...then there is the mess that is Ultra-Magnus. Ya got a few hours?

First Variants This unit started as but two-possible variations: rubber versus plastic wheeled. Good enough for the average american collector. Rubber vs Plastic Wheeled Cab | Rubber vs Plastic Wheeled Trailer

Later Variants Then, we found a 'transition' plastic unit. Satisfys most variations freaks, right? This was our base information for quite some time. It had proved rather robust to casual variant scrutiny. It still does, actually. But there's more. :-) Type 1: Deluxe! The rubber-wheel, metal toe version. All chromed on the upper legs and gastanks, and it has a full paintjob. Yes, it has a windshield, too...the small head has full paint, and the large head has full paint, meaning on both the face, and the antennas. Type 2: A step up from type 3...it's ENHANCED, meaning it still is plastic, and no chrome, BUT it HAS a windshield, and the small cab's head has paint on it. In addition, the faceplate on the large head was painted. Type 3: The 'Kaybee' special...plastic wheels, plastic toes, no paint on anything, no chrome on anything, no windshield... Type 4: 2002 TRU Reissue...rubber-wheeled, fully-painted and chromed, has windshield...shorter smokestacks, longer missles (compared to any other release) and has several remolded/reinforced areas on the cab and trailer... More... 3 Magnus Small Cab Heads

Trailers xxx And now, thanks to only the insane who collect all possible types...meet the rest of the variations of Ultra-Magnus. Special thanks to Particle Man, who spent many phone hours across the country comparing various toys with me. Here's a direct quote from him: "As I was going through my Ultra Magnus stuff tonight, I kept repeatedly asking myself one question- WHY THE HELL DID I EVER GET INTO VARIANTS?? -Needless to say I was cursing your name for the better part of the evening..." On that note, let's get started, shall we? The conclusion that there are 3 'base' Magnus units stems from the fact that I'm stubborn. :-) Besides, there are still only the 3 basic cab versions in the original release. Various other parts and accs are in a state of transition, spreading across multiple units, especially fists and trailers, but the base combination of units is still technically 3. Theoretically, you could claim that there are 4 base units (base-rubber, base-plastic, and a transitional of each). Then again, you can also claim that there are seven units, based on the trailers...8 counting the reissue. (That's my claim, actually, but more on that at the end of this page.) :-) Table One - Trailer Types Trailer 1: Rubber-Wheeled Large-Peg Front Flat-Peg Rear, Small-Hole in Circle, Large '3' in Square Small-Peg Bottom Flat Missle and Fist Mounts Made in Japan Small Stamping No Trailer Lights Trailer 2: Rubber-Wheeled Small-Peg Front Flat-Peg Rear, No-Hole in Circle, Large '3' in Square Small-Peg Bottom Flat Missle and Fist Mounts Made in Japan Small Stamping No Trailer Lights Trailer 3: Rubber-Wheeled Small-Peg Front Beveled-Peg Rear, No-Hole in Circle, No Number in Square Small-Peg Bottom Flat Missle and Fist Mounts Made in Japan Large Stamping Has Trailer Lights Trailer 4: Rubber-Wheeled Small-Peg Front Beveled-Peg Rear, No-Hole in Circle, No Number in Square Large-Peg Bottom Flat Missle and Fist Mounts Made in Japan Small Stamping Has Trailer Lights Trailer 5: Plastic-Wheeled Small-Peg Front Beveled-Peg Rear, No-Hole in Circle, No Number in Square Large-Peg Bottom Ringed Missle and Fist Mounts Made in Macau Small Stamping Has Trailer Lights Trailer 6: Plastic-Wheeled Large-Peg Front Flat-Peg Rear, No-Hole in Circle, Small '4' in Square Large-Peg Bottom Ringed Missle and Fist Mounts Made in Macau Small Stamping Has Trailer Lights Trailer 7: Plastic-Wheeled ****-Peg Front ****-Peg Rear, ****** in Circle, **** in Square **-Peg Bottom ** Missle and Fist Mounts Made in Macau Large Stamping *** Trailer Lights Trailer 8: (Reissue) Rubber-Wheeled Large-Peg Front ***-Peg Rear, No-Hole in Circle, Small '4' in Square **-Peg Bottom Ringed Missle and Fist Mounts Made in China Stamping Has Trailer Lights Magnus Trailer Front of 'Chest' Small vs Large Peg Hole vs No-Hole Circle | Large vs Small Number Indents Large vs Small Trailer Pegs (Bottom) | Flat vs Ringed Peg (Arms) Hasbro Stamping Large vs Small | Back of Trailer Tail Lights vs No Tail Lights Trailer Side Bracings A final note on trailers: trailers come with, or without tail-lights (all plastic trailers seem to come with lights, since only some rubber-wheeled ones do, it is presumed to have been phased out of the design at that point). It is also interesting to note the color difference between the plastic and rubber-wheeled trailer components. Blue versus green, at it's most basic. Or blue versus turquoise, if you prefer.

Cabs But wait! There's more. :-) Yes, not only do you get the above 8 trailers, but we also throw in five...count them...five different Magnus cabs at no extra charge! :-) (Technically 4, since cab #4 is a VERY minor change on cab 3, but I digress.) You can see where the 'transitional' problems begin, as there's only one rubber-wheeled cab to match to four rubber wheeled trailers. But hang with us; we'll get you through it yet. After Prime time, this fellow is a piece of cake, variant-wise. Table Two - Cab Types Cab 1: Rubber-Wheeled Full Paint and Chrome 6-dot side Metal-Toed Cab 2: Plastic-Wheeled Painted Face, but Unchromed Upper Legs and Tanks 6 Dot Side Plastic-Toed Cab 3: Plastic-Wheeled Unpainted Face, No Chrome, No Window 6 Dot Side Plastic-Toed Cab 4: Plastic-Wheeled Unpainted Face, No Chrome, No Window 5 Dot Side Plastic-Toed Cab 5: (Reissue) Rubber-Wheeled Full Paint and Chrome 6 Dot Side ***-Toed Rubber, Transitional, and Plastic Cabs (Front) | Long vs Short Smokestacks 5 Dot vs 6 Dot Plastic Cab (Side View) | Window Tabs vs No Window Tabs (Inside Chest)

Large Heads Next up, we have 7, count'em 7 different Large-head types. Sorry to say, but it's true. In addition to the three paint-styles, you also have to contend with three mold types. Table Three - Head Types Head 1: Oval-Forehead, Dual-Ribbed Antenna Full Paint on Face and Antenna Head 2: Square-Forehead, One-Rib on Antenna Full Paint on Face and Antenna Head 3: Oval-Forehead, Dual-Ribbed Antenna Only Face Painted Head 4: (Unconfirmed existence) Square-Forehead, One-Rib on Antenna Only Face Painted Head 5: Oval-Forehead, Dual-Ribbed Aantenna No Paint Head 6: Square-Forehead, One-Rib on Aantenna No Paint Head 7: Oval-Forehead, Dual-Ribbed Aantenna, no brow indents Full Paint on Face and Antenna Large Heads, 3 Paint Types | Large Heads, 3 Mold Types Large Heads, 2 Standard Mold Comparisons There is no further speculation thus far on head number 7. While normal enough in the paint area, the head is devoid of any brow ridges. We don't know why. Only two samples of this head have been discovered thus far. It's not a holdover from Powered Convoy's head, as even *he* has the brow ridges. (Pic) In addition, we do not believe head 4 exists. No one has ever come forward with a finding, so it's become pretty safe to say it never occurred (even if the pattern makes us want to believe there was one). :-) For more details on the unit that has the missing brow-indents head, look here.

Guns Nope, we're not done. :-) Moving on to the other accessories, we have the four different types of guns: Table Four - Gun Types Gun 1: Thin Lines, Connected to Handle No Indent on Small Handle Big-Raised-Indent on Side of Stock No-Letter Gun 2: Thin Lines, Not-Connected to Handle Large Indent on Small Handle Big-Indent on Side of Stock No-Letter Gun 3: Thick Lines, Not-Connected to Handle Small Indent on Small Handle Small-Indent on Side of Stock Letter 'B' Gun 4: Thick Lines, Not-Connected to Handle Small Indent on Small Handle Small-Raised-Indent on Side of Stock No-Letter Back of Gun, Large Handles, Thin vs Thin Lines Middle of Gun, Small-Handles Indent vs None and Side of Stock Large vs Small Indents Raised and Not Front of Gun Barrel

Missiles Missle Types: We currently have 3 missle-types (2 regular, 1 reissue). The two original ones are best described as large shaft/ring versus small shaft/ring. Or just large and small ringed, if you prefer. They both more-or-less fit any launcher type. No information is available as to whether or not the missle change was phased between multiple units, but I can tell you that the large missles come with the plastic unit, while the small ones go to the rubber one. The missles with the ridiculously longshaft is, of course, the reissue. :-) Magnus Missles Large vs Small Ringed | Original vs Reissue Missles

Waisteplates There are a series of mold indents, or MIPS, on the back of the waist plates. R=Raised - S=Sunken. The front appears to be unchanged. I have them in no particular order, nor have I matched them up with a specific trailer. I leave that to posterity... :-) So get going, already! Table Five - Waist Plate Types Waist Plate 1: Short, flat hole mounts, seems to work with a rubber wheels trailer. R S R S R S Waist Plate 2: Slightly taller, flat mounts, presumably goes to one of the plastic trailers. R R S S R R Waist Plate 3: Tall hole mounts with beveled tops. The A1 is stamped upside down in the center hole, and note the extra MIPS. S A1 S R R R R S S Waist Plate 4: Short, flat hole mounts with ridges (like the Defensor fists), and a sideways '1' printed towards the lefthand corner. The |S| indicates a sunken hole in the center hole. S S S |S| S S S Waist Plate 5: Short, flat hole mounts with ridges (like the Defensor fists), and a sideways 2 printed towards the lefthand corner. The |S| indicates a sunken hole in the center hole. S S S |S| S S S Waist Plate 6: Sunken corner holes, B2 in center hole stamped right side up, plus 2 extra indents. Defintely plastic. S S S S |B2| S S S S Waist Plate 7: Like Type 6, except no B. Definately plastic. The 2 can be printed in either direction (right side up, upside down, natch). S S S S |2| S S S S Anal retentive content at its finest huh?

Chest Plates Table Six - Chest Plate Types Chest Plate 1: Rubber-Wheeled No Cannons, Thick Sidetabs, Indented Tip Chest Plate 2: Transitional Has Cannons, Thin Sidetabs, Small Bubbled Tip Chest Plate 3: Plastic-Wheeled Has Cannons, Thin Sidetabs, Remolded Insides w/Large Bubbled Tip From my experience, the chest plates are as unique as the trailer, with a good fit only for the trailer for which it is assigned to (transition fits last release rubber and first release plastic, for example). Large Chest Plate (Back) | Large Chest Plate (Front)

Large Fists Table Seven - Large Fist Types Large Fist 1: Solid mount hole, flat back, top has large hole opposite thumb, a raised peg behind the thumb, a large bottom hole w/a ridge. These definately go to a rubber wheels version, and work with the large and small hole on handle gun, but NOT the no hole gun. Large Fist 2: Solid mount hole, sunken circle around the mount hole, small bottom hole, two raised pin holes on top. Works w/large hole and no hole gun, but NOT small hole. Works w/rubber wheels trailer. Large Fist 3: Solid mount hole, raised circle around the mount hole, small bottom hole, 1 sunken pinhole on top. Works w/large hole and no hole gun, but NOT small hole. Works w/rubber wheels trailer. Large Fist 4: Hollow mount hole, flat back, top hole next to thumb, large bottom hole w/o ridge. Works w/no hole gun (other two seem too tight). Works with plastic or rubber trailer. Large Fist 5: 'T'-backed mount hole, shallow hole on bottom (accomodates gun sort of), faint indents on thumb and across from thumb, hole right next to thumb, double raised behind thumb. Large Fist 6: No hole on bottom, flat mount hole, triangle of shallow indents, indent on middle finger of fist. Large Fist 7: Same as 6, no dot on middle finger. Large Fist 8: (Reissue) Rring-backed mount-hole, small-deep hole on bottom, VERY faint indents on thumb and across from thumb, double raised-indent behind thumb. (Similar to type-5 fist.) 8 Types of Magnus Large Fists

Small Fists Small fist types (all for right fists in palm view, ie thumb is facing left. Lowercase letter is peg pinhole) This section thanks to Particle Man. Table Eight - Small Fist Types Type 1 & 2: Both type 1 and 2 work in the rubber wheeled trailer but NOT in the plastic, and given that I only have right of 1 and left of 2 I believe them to be the left and right of the same type. Unless of course you have parts that prove differently. I need 1 more pair (1 type 1 right/1 type 2 left probably), and the match for whatever works in an unpainted plastic cab. Type 1 S s R Type 2 S F R Type 3: Only have a left fist here, and the raised hole is faint. Works with both rubber and plastic. F s R Type 4: The flat pinhole is almost invisible, even as an outline. I only have a right fist. Works with both rubber or plasitc. R s F Type 5: Only have a left. Works with both rubber and plastic. F s S Type 6: Only have a left. Works with rubber, slightly loose in plastic. S s S Type 7: The peg hole is noticably larger than on the others, there's a Defensor fist-esque ridge around the gunhole, and there's an upside down 4 on the palm. Only have a right. Works with rubber wheeled cab, not with plastic. S s S Type 8: (Reissue) Only one-faintly-visable mold-indent. Thick-ridge around peghole for gun. Also interesting is the rounded-peg insert (for going into the cab). S * * Launchers Table Nine - Launcher Types Launcher 1: Smooth Back Smooth Side Pegs Round Launch-hole Launcher 2: Ringed Back Smooth Side Pegs Round Launch-hole Launcher 3: Ringed Back Ringed Side Pegs Round Launch-hole Launcher 4: (Reissue) Smooth Back Smooth Side Pegs T-Shaped Launch hole Of course, that's not the know-all and end-all of launcher types. :-) So far, we've confirmed that type one launchers come as small-peg versus large-peg...imagine that. :-) As for the others, we're still awaiting information... Type One Launchers Large vs Small Peg | Type One and Two Launchers Original vs Reissue Launchers (Front) Summation The basic parts combinations for the Ultra Magnus Figure. This is an on-going process, one for which I have no stomach for at the moment. :-) Obviously, with 8 trailer types, and 7 known fist types, we can assume that there are at least 8 specific configurations for the Magnus unit, with certain parts crossing over multiple releases (such as chest plates, cabs, etc). Please note that right now, a type 3 fist doesn't necessarily go with a type 3 trailer! In the near future, I will of course match up all the number types, and give you the comprehensive list. Example, from Particle Man: "The transitional plastic chest plate (dark like rubber wheeled version, guns like plastic wheels) goes on the large print, Macau, plastic wheeled trailer, as does waist plate type #3, large fist types 2 and 3 (as stated, probably the same pair) and gun type #1 (the no pinhole on small fist handle one). Therefore, that is the transitional plastic trailer.". Until then, this will sit in a box so I can get some other parts of Vari-Quest updated. So basically, there is: G1 Magnus: Four or Seven types, depending on how you count. Probably more, Primus help us. TRU Reissue Ultra Magnus: Shortened smokestacks, otherwise much like original rubber wheeled. Head type 6, trailer type 8, gun type 1, waist plate type 3, and...chest plate type 3. :-) Yeah, reissue chest plate is the same as the plastic chest plate. :-) (Pic)

(See Also: List One, Japanese Reissue Ultra Magnus) (See Also: Pre-TF Powered Convoy)