Cosmos was an Autobot Mini Vehicle released in 1985 with the second series of Generation 1, as part of the low-cost Mini Vehicle assortment. Cosmos transforms into a green George Adamski-style flying saucer UFO.
Origins
His mold was very likely originally designed by Akio Kitamura to be included in Takara’s Microman: Microchange line, but was never released in this capacity due to the line’s cancellation in early 1984. Unlike Diaclone, the Mini CAR robo assortment of Microchange (of which Cosmos was presumably to have been a part) were intended to represent toy vehicles rather than real ones, causing many of the figures to have somewhat distorted proportions. An early Takara solicitation catalog showed Cosmos with blue as his primary color, before it was finalzed as green. Cosmos’ US Patent, titled Reconfigurable toy vehicle (aka Transformers G1 Cosmos) was filed on October 25, 1984 (U.S. Patent No. USD291461 S).
Description
Cosmos is molded in green and yellow plastics, and takes the shape of a 1950s-style flying saucer, with a domed lower portion, and cylindrical upper portion, topped by a smaller red cylinder. The saucer features three “exhasut pipes” on the rear of the lower disc, which become Cosmos’ fingers. He features three black rolling wheels under the saucer body, that allow him to roll along the ground. Cosmos was released exclusively with the inclusion of a rubsign. The rubsign is accommodated by a shallow, flat square depression on the front of the main saucer body, unlike 1984 releases where the rubsign was placed over existing details, causing them to look out of place. His transformation is simple, and very similar to some of the other 1985 Minibots. The front of the vehicle is extended, then rotated to form the legs and feet, the arms rotate straight down from the shoulders, and the head is pulled up from the center of the saucer top.
Date stamp location: Botton of saucer, in two parts (later 1985)
Rubsign location: front of saucer base (top of robot feet)
Collector Notes
Cosmos is a fairly sturdy figure, and not prone to any particular breakage.
Variants
Cosmos is subject to only minor variations of the molding on the back of his legs. Some versions have longer or shorter gaps molded in to the yellow plastic. Two molds were in action, leap-frogging each other with stamping revisions. Type 1 and 4 are revisions of the same mold, Type 2/3/5 are revisions of the second mold. Type 5 is very uncommon, and may be associated with the 1986-88 mail-away production.
Type 1: "Takara 1984 Japan" stamp, banded legs
Type 2: "Takara Co. Ltd. 1984 Japan" stamp, banded legs
Type 3: "Takara Co. Ltd. 1984 Japan" stamp, 4 post legs
Type 4: "Hasbro 1984 ©Takara 1984 Japan" stamp, 4 post legs
Type 5: "Hasbro 1984 ©Takara Co. Ltd. 1984 Japan" stamp, 5 post legs
Type 1GR: ?
Type ?FR: ?
Availability
Cosmos was available in the US, UK, and continental Europe in 1985. He also debuted as a mail-away exclusive in Japan as G1 - Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers Adams (so named as a reference to George Adamski). Cosmos was also available from 1986 to 1988 as a mail-in exclusive. He continued to be available in the US and mainland Europe (this time likely supplemented by the Ceji-produced Type ?FR, see “Variants”, above), and was introduced in Greece (as the El Greco-produced Κυρίαρχος [Kyríarchos, Sovereign]) in 1986. During the early wave of 1986 in the US, Cosmos was available with a random one of ten iron-on character patches.
Case Assortments (Item#/Asst#): 1985: Mini Vehicles Asst. 2 (F5905/5710), 3 per 24; early 1986: Mini Vehicles Asst. 3 with Prizes in Disguise Patch (5905/5711.05), 1 per 24; late 1986: Mini Vehicles Asst. 3 (5905/5711), 1 per 24
MSRP: $2.99
Mail-Order Price: $4 and 1 Robot Point (1986), $3.50 and 1 Robot Point (1987-88) OR $4.25 and 0 Robot Points (1987)
Packaging: Blister card with instructions and Tech Spec on back, white border around vehicle photo (early 1985), or gray border around vehicle photo (mid 1985-)
Robot Points: ½ Autobot
Paperwork included: none (1985), iron-on patch with “Prizes in Disguise” entry form (early 1986), “Look Inside for a Special Offer!” (late 1986), instructions with b/w tech specs (mail-away)
Redecos & Retools
Cosmos was recolored as Pathfinder in the e-HOBBY exclusive G1 Gobots set.
Character Bio
FUNCTION: RECONNAISSANCE & COMMUNICATIONS
“Reach for the stars, but never leave your friends.”
| STRENGTH | INTELLIGENCE | SPEED | ENDURANCE | RANK | COURAGE | FIREPOWER | SKILL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 8 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 9 |
