|
An in-process listing of the numbers that are physically PRESSED into the package on RiD, Armada, etc packages. Thanks to Karl, Esteban, and Zob for their information. I've made a feeble attempt to combine their info into a coherant whole. If it seems confusing, blame me. :-) I've added the numbers from my end where applicable. There will still be holes in the list; if everyone else could check their packages, and let us know, we'd be grateful. Note that the complex-numberings in parenthesis are the Hartman's original list, and sorted by year of release. The simple numberings are Crazy-Steve's and Zob's additions (many of which were culled from Kaybee toy shelves), and do not necessarily correspond to the year-sort format.
 |
|
Why do we want to track these numbers? Easy! It's a variant! :-) Actually, to quote Karl: "Keeping track of these would be a great way to try and see when and for how long certain variations shipped. Jon and I finally broke down and started keeping track of these when the 3rd packaging variation of Supercon Prime was spotted (Blurr as well). These are three different package versions, and chronologically make sense with the date codes." RID: The numbers were a little bizarre, as far as the sequences go...and then there was an...unexplained skip in numbers (maybe they were using the chinese calendar. :-) Armada: Seemingly much more reliable. (Karl: "I will tell the actual toy, and the six number-decimal-four number package variation, and then the date code. If we have more than one date code, both are listed."
|
|
Basics:
Hot Shot/REV (608295.0400) {12641}
Rollbar (608295.0200) {12501}
Armorhide (608295.0200) {12501}
Movor (608295.0200) {12501}
Ro-tor (608295.0200) {12501}
Obsidian {20581}
KayBee Spychangers: All with {21641} Deluxes:
Grimlock (608317.0800) {12391,12431}
Mega-Octane (608317.1200) {12661}
Storm Jet {20731}
Prowl (608317.1300) {13201}** ** Note: These last 3 were pulled from one case, which shows that the whole process wasn't totally reliable. The second set of these that we got, also pulled from one case had the date code of {13421}. Megas:
Sky-byte {12561} *Note: I don't think these were pulled from one case, because we were scrambling to find these after reading about them on your web site. Autobot 3 pack {?????} (Jon didn't write it down for me.) Ultras:
Galvatron {12731} Others:
Air Attack Optimus Primal {23071}
Mini-Cons
Air Defense Team (614657.0000) {21321}
Race Team (614657.0300) {22061}
Street Speed Team with NEW Sticker (614657.0800) {22671} Supercons
Hot Shot (614815.0000) {21431}
Optimus Prime with NEW sticker (614815.1300) {22831} *(not really part of the Supercons, but his number is in the sequence.)
**Note: The most recent package version of the first three Supercons were Maxcons
Starscream (614621.0000) {21621}
Scavenger without NEW sticker (617424.0000) {22691, 22891}
** Note: This is the exception to the rule. Notice the sequence of date Gigacons
Megatron (614418.0000) {21681} Others
Optimus Prime (614819.0000) {22141}
Heroes of Cybertron
First Assortment {21071}
--* Note that for HOC wave 2 the stampings began Toyr R Us Commomoratives
Commemorative Series 1 Optimus Prime:
Optimus Prime {21671} Go-Bots:
Buzzer-Bot {22971}
 |
|
Box Codes: From Crazy-Steve Thanks to the following Star Wars fan site: http://members.aol.com/heybtbmtwo/december.html&e=912, I found out how to decode the Hasbro date stamps on each Transformers case and product package. It turns out they're encoded using the Julian calendar, a system which assigns each day of the year a number from 1 to 365. For Transformers, the date codes are 5 digit numbers after the 'C-1063A' or 'C063A' portion of the stamping. The first digit is the last number of the year-for example, '1' is the code for 2001, '2' represents 2002, etc. The next three digits are the actual day the item was packaged. The last number is a check digit-the company code for production order or time of day. So in the following example: 80702.0005 ARMADA SUPERCON ASSORTMENT WV3 C-1063A23101 ...the date code is 23101. It means this case was packaged the 310th day of 2002. These date codes have been used on TF cases and packages since RiD, including HOC. It's as close as I can get to figuring out my TFs' 'birthdays'. Here's a reposting of all the numbers off the recent Armada cases I've seen, with slight revisions and refinements:
80701.0007 ARMADA MINICON ASST WV3.5 R1 C036A230*1 * This digit is only partially printed-it's either a '3' or an '8' ** Note that as with the Supercon cases, 'ASSORTMENT' is actually spelled out here *** Note the blank where the '0' usually follows the 'C'. I've seen other cases with this date stamp that have the '0'. It may just be that on this case the '0' portion of the stamp didn't have enough ink or something.
80703.0005 ARMADA MAXCON ASST WV2 C036A232*1
80702.0005 ARMADA SUPERCON ASSORTMENT WV3 C-1063A23101
80705.0001 ARMADA GIGACON ASST WV2 C-1036A23291 * Note how for the Supercons and Gigacons there's a dash '-' between the 'C' & '1', unlike other cases that just run the 'C' and '0' together
80724.0000 ARMADA SUPER BASE ASST WV1 C063A23371
-Esteban and his Evil Rubber Tires |
|
In this episode of Armada date codes gone wild, more dumpster diving mayhem leads to a few new numbers to chew on. In this round there's a Maxcon wave 3 case packaged Feb 21, a Supercon wave 4 packaged March 2nd, and a Gigacon wave 3 packaged Feb 11th. I haven't spotted any cases of the Target exclusive Gigacons with free minicon recolors, but they have been showing up in nearby Phoenix. I expect they'll be here in Tucson soon. We just got the word that the wife and I will be getting stationed in Turkey within the next few months. So between selling the house and all the other chaos that comes from moving, I probably won't have much time for fun stuff like the internet. I think we may still be able to got to Botcon, but it'll defenitely be my last one for a looong time...
80701.0007 ARMADA MINICON ASST WV3.5 R1 * This digit is only partially printed-I can't tell if it's a '3' or an '8'. I'm going with 3, but if it's an '8', the date is Nov 4. ** Note that as with the Supercon cases, 'ASSORTMENT' is actually spelled out on the 3.7 case
80703.0005 ARMADA MAXCON ASST WV2 * This digit is smudged-it's either a '9' or a '0'. I'm going with 0, but if it's a '9', the date is Nov 25.
80702.0005 ARMADA SUPERCON ASSORTMENT WV3
80705.0001 ARMADA GIGACON ASST WV2 * Note how for the Supercons and Gigacons there's a dash '-' between the 'C' & '1', unlike other cases that just run the 'C' and '0' together
80724.0000 ARMADA SUPER BASE ASST WV1
crazysteve with rubber tires |