Early G1 Jets - Prototypes, Production samples etc

[Maz]

Hey guys,

It's been a while since I put together anything this big or long, but I think it's been worth the wait. This article deals with the earliest versions of the G1 jets: Starscream, Thundercracker, Skywarp, Ramjet, Thrust and Dirge. It focuses on the evolutionary process of these toys from original concepts and prototypes through samples to production pieces. There are still many gaps, but I feel that this article sheds some light on a few of those gaps that may previously have been unknown to most.

I've split the article into three parts.

Part 1: THE EARLY PRE-RUBSIGN SERIES 1 RELEASES

This section shows one of the first Transformers, a Thundercracker, to ever hit a shelf in the US, most likely amongst the very first ever assortments of Transformers sold anywhere in 1984.

Part 2: THE SERIES 2 CONCEPTS AND PROTOTYPES

This section shows what could have been for Ramjet, Thrust and Dirge. It includes some great catalog photography and artwork from Japan that show very strange hybrids of the series 1 and series 2 jets. Also included in this section are amazing pictures of original G1 unpainted and painted RESIN HARDCOPY PROTOTYPE Thrust, Dirge and Ramjet wings, fins and weapons.

Part 3: THE PRE-PRODUCTION ORANGE-CANOPIED RAMJET

This section focuses on a very special US Transformers Ramjet that was a production sample previously in the possession of an ex-Hasbro VP responsible for TFs. It was intended to be part of a Hasbro TF museum collection but instead was sold off on eBay as part of a magnificent collection of production samples and variants.

All in all, very text-heavy, picture-heavy and info-heavy.

Hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it. Here ya go:
www.tf-1.com/articles/eurous_frame.php?art=earlyjets

Many thanks to Paul Hitchens, Himawari, Curt Fignar, all the other contributors of pics and of course to Paul Vromen for the spectacular Ramjet artwork in the sidebar.


All the best
Maz

[Xbot]

nice work, good insight I give your work two thumbs up!

[Moonbug]

Awesome stuff again. It's great to see comparisons between the hardcopy wings as well, so you can actually see the difference now. I've front-paged, the story, as I think everyone should read it.

[Maz]

Wow, cheers for the feedback and kind words lads, it's much appreciated!

The best part for me about writing these long articles is that without fail. Everytime I start, by the time I've finished writing I actually discover things during the writing of it. The whole early-box alteration and knee sticker stuff is a good example.

Thanks again for the praise, all the best
Maz

[Minion]

Another really interesting read. Lots of fun facts and some great pictures. keep up the good work.

[kek23k]

That was a wicked article Maz, I really enjoyed reading it through. One thing you didn't mention though was the rumour/myth that the series 2 jets were originally going to be powered up versions of the original 3. Is that purely fan-based or was there ever some truth in it?

[Maz]

MAJOR update! I've got the scans I wanted from Paul Hitchens and have added the following images to the article:





To find out what this is all about, just scroll back to Part 2 of the article where all is revealed

www.tf-1.com/articles/eurous_frame.php?art=earlyjets

All the best
Maz

[Fireforce]

Thanks Maz. Really enjoyed reading that. Fantastic work

[Sunstreaker]

[glow=red,2,300] Wow - what a thoroughly good read! Top work Maz - that's a fantastic article!
[/glow]