By 1988, Generation 1 had wandered into increasingly unfamiliar territory. Nearly all figures belonged to gimmick-based subgroups. As a first-wave Pretender, Landmine transforms from a thin robot to a Cybertronic all-terrain exploration vehicle, or he can hide within his armored humanoid shell.

Description

Landmine is a primarily gray robot with a wide stance, relatively thin limbs, and broad, wheeled shoulders. He has an entirely yellow face, and a sleek yellow cockpit decorates his abdomen. In robot mode, he has articulation in his hips, shoulders, and neck. His elbows are permanently bent at a slight angle. He can wield his large gun by inserting its side pegs into either of his palms. He transforms into the a fictional four-wheeled vehicle by basically sweeping his arms and legs up over his head. The spoilered gun pegs into the back of the head, aiming out over the cockpit and balancing the red-wheeled vehicle. Landmine’s Pretender shell is a brown-haired human with a widow’s peak wearing yellow and gray armor that covers every part of him but his eyes, nose, and the top of his head. The front and back of the shell separate to house the robot (whose toes must be folded down and arms rotated around to its back). The shell can use a dark gray, soft plastic belt and helmet to help lock the halves together. The shell can wield a dark gray sword or the robot’s cannon by the large peg on its bottom. Both the shell and inner robot are decorated with translucent plastic-based stickers.
Date stamp location: Front half of Pretender shell, sole of right foot

Collector Notes

Landmine does not have any particular design weaknesses, however he is prone to paint wear on his shell’s hair and abdomen from the soft plastic helmet and belt sticking or abrading the paint. The small tabs that guide the shell halves together may also break off, though this is hardly noticeable and rarely has any effect on play or display. Landmine's gray rubberized accessories are occasionally affected by spots of discoloration forming, due to the gradual outgassing and breakdown of the plastic chemicals. The spots tend to be less noticeable than figures with white vinyl accessories.

Variants

Landmine has a minor variation of either lighter or darker yellow paint on the inner robot’s canopy and face.

Availability

Landmine was available in 1988 in the United States, Europe, and Japan, where he was sold in identical form as a mail-away exclusive named Lander. He continued to be available in the US in 1989.
Case Assortments (Item#/Asst#): Pretenders Asst. 1 (5821/5990), 2 per 12
MSRP: $9.99
Packaging: Windowed box with top flap, inner plastic tray with plastic cover sealed to cardboard insert, Tech Spec on back
Robot Points: 2 Autobot
Paperwork included (early - mid 1988): Instruction booklet, sticker sheet, Tech Spec decoder, 1987 catalog, “Rodimus Prime remembers the Transformers greatest battle on Earth.”
Paperwork included (mid 1988 - 1989): Instruction booklet, sticker sheet, Tech Spec decoder, 1988 catalog (with figures unrevealed), “Rodimus Prime remembers the Transformers greatest battle on Earth.”

Redecos & Retools

Landmine’s mold has never been re-used.

Character Bio

FUNCTION: ASTEROID MINER
“The greatest treasures are found in the darkest places!”
A hard-working hothead. Always concerned with getting the job done right. Outer shell constructed of high density Cybertronic alloy, impervious to most armaments. Outside his shell, transforms into all-terrain, exploration vehicle. Mining activities facilitated by electromagnetic, sonic, thermal, chemical and radiation scanners. Armed with laser saber and astro blaster that shoots concetrated bursts of incendiary explosives.

STRENGTH INTELLIGENCE SPEED ENDURANCE RANK COURAGE FIREPOWER SKILL
8 8 6 7 6 5 10 8