Insecticons from prior line?

[Jakalair]

As I have stated I am going through my old TF collection and some of the same questions came up once I got to the Insecticons.

Why do they have the little yellow opening in all of their chests?

Seems to me that is am awful lot of mold work for a place to hide pennies.

Then upon looking down in their I noticed that instead of the 1985 or 1986 I see on the rest of m G1 set, I see 1980, 1983

Does anyone know why this is? Did the Insecticons have their own show that predates transformers?

It is bugging me now.

[LD2062]

I just assumed that the insecticons, dinobots, seekers, etc. Had diaclone releases. So the little cockpits are for those tiny pilots.

[Jakalair]

I just assumed that the insecticons, dinobots, seekers, etc. Had diaclone releases. So the little cockpits are for those tiny pilots.

Ok, you just blew my mind, does that mean diaclone predates TF?

[LD2062]

Yes

[IDontThinkSoTim]

They are originally from the Diaclone line. The robots were just drones piloted by the drivers that came with the figures. The 84-85 Autobot cars are from the line originally, as are the Seeker jets, Constructicons, Prime/Magnus and other figures.

Some of the other figures that are 1:1 scale with their real life counterparts are from the Micro Change line.

http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Diaclone

http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Micro_Change

[Jakalair]

Oh, thank you very much. I am new to the history of Transformers but going through my old ones are bringing up some questions that I have had pre-internet.

[IDontThinkSoTim]

Here are some old Diaclone catalogs. I had a different one with the Dinobots but I can't find it now.

[Jakalair]

Wow, that is too cool.

I also just noticed that I used to have one of the jets that flipped into a guy I think it was on the 3rd or 4th page.

Hmm, this opens up a whole world of possibilities.

[Banzai-Tron]

Hmm, this opens up a whole world of possibilities.

It does? Just out of curiosity, like what?

Incidentally, you're not supposed to be putting pennies (or silly little Diaclone drivers) in those Insecticon hatches! You're *supposed* to be putting Strawberry PEZ in there! They make perfect (and cheap!) Energon cubes!

PS: (Alright, alright, fine. They make perfect Energon rectangles.)

PPS: (Alright, alright, alright, alright, fine fine. They make perfect Energon rectangular prisms.)

[Jakalair]

Well, the color variants are really cool and it means that there are a lot more of them out there than I knew of.

[skywarp408]

Diaclone is awesome. Me want.

[Jose]

The insecticons were the only "bad guys" from Diaclone (or Waruder) which made it to become Transformers.

Those shown in that catalog are prototypes, the Diaclone versions are like the E-Hobby reissues they made a few years ago.

[audionmotionink]

so i realize diaclone came before tf.... late 70's early 80's. how much of the g1 was brought over from diaclone? just 84-86?

i would love to get a few of the old prime/magnus diaclone vehicles... just to add to my prime/magnus collection

[Banzai-Tron]

so i realize diaclone came before tf.... late 70's early 80's. how much of the g1 was brought over from diaclone? just 84-86?

i would love to get a few of the old prime/magnus diaclone vehicles... just to add to my prime/magnus collection

Save your pennies, they cost a small fortune. The reissues are $200 or so, IIRC. EDIT: Egads, they're well north of $200 now! If I had to wager a guess on a vintage Diaclone toy, I'd say probably around $500-600 MLC, and around a grand MIB.


And yes, most of the 84/85 line, and roughly 1/3 of the 86 line were Diaclone or Micro-Change based (with a smattering of other acquisitions from Bandai (Jetfire, Deluxe Insecticons) and the company I've forgotten that created Shockwave... ToyCo, maybe?)

[Rhymus]

Well i sort of knew about Diaclone's different decos, but check out proto-Wheeljack--looks like the legs got retooled, the arms transformed differently, and if i'm not mistaken, he had a different headsculpt (and that's not Marlboor Wheeljack's headsculpt, either).

And proto-OP had a shoulder cannon! and--i'd heard about shortening his smokestacks (although i thought that was only 20th Anniversary/Masterpiece OP), but check out the antennae he used to have! ...i'm not even sure those antennae would FIT when you transform him into truck mode...

Which of the pre-Dinobots is shown with hip-mounted cannons in robot mode? Is that "Sludge"?

Hmm, this opens up a whole world of possibilities.

It does? Just out of curiosity, like what?

Incidentally, you're not supposed to be putting pennies (or silly little Diaclone drivers) in those Insecticon hatches! You're *supposed* to be putting Strawberry PEZ in there! They make perfect (and cheap!) Energon cubes!

PS: (Alright, alright, fine. They make perfect Energon rectangles.)

PPS: (Alright, alright, alright, alright, fine fine. They make perfect Energon rectangular prisms.)

HA! :-D

Mmm, strawberry Energon rectangular prisms...

i would love to get a few of the old prime/magnus diaclone vehicles... just to add to my prime/magnus collection

Save your pennies, they cost a small fortune.

Fortunately, Jakalair has a secret stash of pennies saved up, hidden inside his Insecticon collection. Maybe you can borrow some.

[Rhymus]

Wow, that is too cool.

I also just noticed that I used to have one of the jets that flipped into a guy I think it was on the 3rd or 4th page.

Hmm, this opens up a whole world of possibilities.

FYI:
http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Jumpstarter
http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Topspin_%28G1%29
http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Twin_Twist
http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Salt-Man_X
http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Salt-Man_Z
http://www.tfu.info/1994/Decepticon/Rob ... -man-x.htm