In 1985, the second series of Generation 1 held a major watershed moment for the toyline: the introduction of combiners. This first team of combining robots was the Constructicons, of whom Mixmaster was a member. He transforms into a rather generic 6x4 cement mixer, with the large chrome grill resembling a Nissan Diesel CW 340. He can also combine with his fellow Constructicons to form Devastator.
Origins
Mixmaster was originally designed for Diaclone, around the time that Takara stopped focusing on interactivity with the Diaclone drivers. Dropping the driver concept allowed Takara to design at a different scale, making robots that represent larger vehicles without a larger price point. Mixmaster’s mold was originally named Construction Robo No. 6 Concrete Mixer. This version was sold in 1983 in red with a yellow drum and a blue chest, and again in 1984 blue with a yellow drum and red chest. Since Concrete Mixer included the large gun for the combined Construction Robo, the early version’s accessory was blue, and the latter was red, in keeping with the figure’s actual molding colors. Mixmaster was invented by Kouzin Ohno and the US Patent, titled Reconfigurable toy cement truck (aka Transformers G1 Mixmaster) was filed on March 28, 1984 (U.S. Patent No. USD288577 S).
Description
Mixmaster transforms into a blocky chartreuse-colored cement mixer of vague make and model. He uses a cab-over-engine design, with a large turnable mixing drum mounted on the rear of the truck. Despite his lack of a realistic truck model, he does feature details like a molded cement chute, and chrome wheel hubs. His transformation is very simple. The cab is rotated down to form his feet, and the rear fenders are pulled out to form the arms. His robot mode is very blocky, like many of the simpler G1 designs, including the Constructicons. Chrome thighs and stickers add visual interest to his simple sculpt. He is distinguished from the other team members by his face being set into a hood-like structure, and a missile launcher centered above his head. He includes a single- and double-tipped chrome missile for use in the launcher, which is triggered by a button on the side of the launcher portion. Mixmaster also includes a small black handgun, as well as a larger rifle with a tiered peg, allowing him to hold it in robot mode, or Devastator to hold it by a 5 mm post. He can also transform into an “Attack Truck” mode by mounting the two guns in holes on and behind his cab. Mixmaster transforms into Devastator’s left leg by extending the truck cab forward and pivoting it up, and connecting to Long Haul’s waist connector.
Collector Notes
Mixmaster is fairly sturdy, but his chrome upper legs are prone to wear, both cosmetic and functional. His cab section can also become quite loose with even minimal wear. Another common problem is damage to the rubsign. It is positioned on the rear of the truck, overlapping a divot that helps hold Mixmaster into the Devastator waist connector. Connecting him even once will dent the rubsign into the divot, and repeated use can cause the rubsign to delaminate.
Variants
>There is one major variant of Mixmaster, from French licensee Joustra. This version replaces the green plastic with yellow. The shade of yellow is similar to that of the Diaclone version’s drum, and darker than that of the G2-era versions (see Redecos & Retools, below), but he retains the dark purple chest and large gun, opposed to the Diaclone’s blue. Mixmaster’s Devastator gun has a few minor variants, and other minor casting variants may exist.
Availability
Mixmaster was available in G1 in 1985, either individually or in the Devastator gift set. Due to the Constructicons’ popularity, the individual carded figures were again available in 1986. Oddly, the Constructicons were not available in the UK, and the Devastator gift set was only available in Italy. He was reissued in Japan in 2011 as part of the Encore line. This version featured minor variations, as it was apparently cast from a new mold. However, this version, and its redeco, leave the rubsign in the same place, directly over the connector indent.
Redecos & Retools
Mixmaster’s mold was first used to make Diaclone Construction Robo No. 6 Concrete Mixer in two versions, with blue parts, and with red parts. It was sold again in Europe’s extension of G1 in 1992, simply called “Constructicon”. This version used bright yellow instead of green, and did not include the large cannon accessory. The bright yellow carried into G2 Mixmaster, who again included the Devastator gun, albeit using a much lighter shade of purple. KB Toys sold an exclusive G2 version the same year, replacing the bright yellow with blaze orange. The Encore reissue was redecorated slightly in the 2013 Devastator Anime Color, using a brighter colors, different paint applications, and a slightly different sticker set.
