More On Tech Specs, Box Backs, etc.

(Note: For those that missed the previous page, the gist is that tech specs for similar figures have vast changes, moreso than just the gridwork, pictured here. (Pic)

-From TSczerby:

---I've attached pics of the Rumble and Ravage tech spec variants. The 1984, 1985 Rumble and Ravage specs are on top and come with the "STRAIGHT" red lines in the graph. The 1986 Rumble and Ravage specs are on bottom and have the "CROSS-HATCHED" red lines in the spec graph. NOTE: Ravage's rank in 1984 was #7. In the 1986 Ravage tech spec, Ravage seems to have been demoted to rank #6. Ravage's speed in 1984 was #5 but in the 1986 tech spec, Ravage gets slower with age and his speed has dropped to #4.

The 1984 Rumble tech spec lists Rumble's endurance as #9 and in the 1986 Rumble tech spec his endurance is #8. The 1984 Rumble tech spec has Rumbles firepower at #9, while the 1986 Rumble tech spec lists his firepower at #8. In the 1984 Rumble tech spec, there is a period after the word "tough" printed in Rumbles tech spec profile. In 1986 there is no period after the word "tough" in Rumbles tech spec profile, making for a very long "run-on" sentence. :) The 1984 Rumble tech spec has printed in his profile, "Follows Megatron's orders eagerly." The 1986 Rumble tech spec has printed "Follow Megatron's orders eagerly." The letter "s" in the word "Follows" is missing from the 1986 tech spec.



The 1984 Ravage tech spec has a hyphen (-) between the word "detection" and "emits" in Ravages profile. This hyphen is missing in the 1986 Ravage spec profile. The 1984 Ravage tech spec does not have a hyphen in the word "electromagnetic" in the profile. In the 1986 Ravage spec profile, there is a hyphen in the word "electro-magnetic". Also the lettering font used in 1984, 85 Rumble/Ravages specs is different from the 1986 Rumble/Ravage spec profile font. (See Pics)

Here are the pics of the Frenzy tech spec variant. In 1984-85, Frenzy came packaged with Laserbeak. In 1986 Frenzy came packaged with Ratbat. The 1984-85 Frenzy tech spec has straight red lines in the spec graph, while the 1986 Frenzy spec has crosshatched lines in the spec graph. NOTE: Frenzy's picture in the 1986 tech spec is a mirror image from the 1984-85 spec. Frenzy's picture in the 1986 spec is smaller and appears fuzzy when compared to the 1984-85 spec. Also the font used in the 1986 Frenzy spec is different than the 1984-85 spec.

This next variant only applies to the 1984 series autobot cars. I used Prowl as an example for this variant.

In the first pic, you will see two "DIFFERENT" Prowl tech specs, the very early 1984 spec on top and the late 1984-85 spec on the bottom.

In the 2nd pic you will see a bottom view of a very early release Prowl with the "TAKARA JAPAN" circle stamping on the bottom. This "TAKARA JAPAN" only stamping variant "ONLY" came with the straight red line tech specs. If your 1984 series autobot car has a "TAKARA JAPAN" only stamping,( NO copyright dates), then your 1984 series autobot car most definately came with a straight red line tec spec.


For example, you have a Sunstreaker tech spec with straight red lines in the spec graph and three different Sunstreaker figures to match it with. Your Sunstreaker figures are stamped "TAKARA JAPAN 1980, 1982", "TAKARA JAPAN 1980, 1982 HASBRO" OR "TAKARA JAPAN" only (no copyright date).

The correct match in this case would be to match the Sunstreaker spec with the straight red lines in the graph to the Sunstreaker figure stamped "TAKARA JAPAN" (no copyright date).

NOTE: "ONLY" the 1984 year autobot "CARS" have this straight red line or cross-hatched tech spec variant. You won't see any 1985 series cars such as Smokescreen or Tracks with straight red lines in thier tech spec graphs. The 1984 series Transformers were the only ones capable of having straight red lines in thier tech spec graphs.

Optimus Prime, Megatron, Starscream, Thundercracker, Skywarp, Soundwave/Buzzsaw, Laserbeak, Bumblebee, Brawn, Huffer, Cliffjumper, Windcharger, and Gears "WILL" have the straight red line spec "NO MATTER WHAT YEAR THEY WERE OFFERED IN" from 1984, 1985 or 1986. Rumble, Ravage, and Frenzy will have the straight red line spec in 1984 and 1985. The 1986 Rumble, Ravage, and Frenzy will have crosshatched red lines in the tech spec.

So its simple, very early release 1984 series Autobot cars will say "TAKARA JAPAN" only and come with a straight red line spec, in late 1984 through 1985, they came with a "TAKARA JAPAN 1980,1982" AND/OR "HASBRO" stamping with cross hatched red lines in the spec graph.