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| Pistola Robot P38 (Black Version). Source: eBay |
In 1984 alongside Takaras Diaclone Car Robot series, GiG also imported a good chunk of Takaras Micro Change toy line. Gone were the references to the Micro Change name and in its place was the Trasformer name on all the boxes. The figures however kept their MC designation numbers. Other than the Trasformer name ad the Italian text, the boxes were identical to the original Japanese counterparts.
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| Flyer. Source: eBay |
Just like the boxes, the figures were near identical to their Japanese counterparts and just as GiGs Auto Robots (See
Part 3), these figures were largely ignored on the collectors scene early on but now they command high prices on the second hand market.
Not all Micro Change figures made it to the Italian market even though there was a catalogue released with the figures advertising the whole range.
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| Catalogue which came with Pistola Robot 44 Magnum |
Below are the figures and variants released:-
1) Pistola Robot Browning M1910 (1984, GiG)
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| Red variant. Source: SoundwavesOblivion.com |
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| Blue variant. Courtesy of puffmarko of Giocattolivecchi.com |
Japanese name: ガンロボブローニングM1910
Article Number: Art.MC-07
The Browning pistol came in 2 variants identical to the Japanese versions although the barrel on each was painted red on the tip. The red version had red inner plastic and a dark bronze chrome finish. The blue variant had blue inner plastic and a lighter chrome finish. The blue version of the Browning pistol was released in the Japanese Transformers Super God Masterforce series, called Browning D-308.
2) Recorder Robot (1984, GiG)
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| Initial release. Courtesy of puffmarko of Giocattolivecchi.com |
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| The Soundwave mould with the Red Microman. Source: eBay |
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| The Soundwave mould with the Blue Microman. Courtesy of zizzo of Giocattolivecchi.com |
Japanese name: カセットマン (Cassette Man)
Article Number: Art.MC-10
The Recorder Robot (aka Transformers Soundwave) is another example where this toy line mixes with the Transformers. Three variants were released in Italy. The initial GiG release was identical to the Japanese version, Cassette Man and came with the Red Microx (Transformers Rumble). Later releases were the Transformers Soundwave mould which either came with the Red Microx or the Blue Microx. In the Catalogue, the Red/Blue Microx figures are named "Microman". The Recorder Robot came with 3 safety missiles rather than the standard missiles.
3) Pistola Robot 44 Magnum (1984, GiG)
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| Black version with brown grip |
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| Dark green with chromed barrel and brown grip. Source: Unknown |
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| Dark grey with chromed barrel and silver grip. Source: Unknown |
Japanese Name: ガンロボ 44 マグナム
Article Number: Art.MC-11
The 44 Magnum never made it to the Transformer toyline. It has a very realistic gun mode but a questionable robot mode. This came in 3 variants: the common black gun with brown grip, dark grey gun with silver grip and chromed barrel and a dark green gun with brown grip and chromed barrel. The latter 2 are very hard to get hold of. At the end of the gun barrel, GiG glued on a red plastic cap. See my previous article on the 44 Magnum
here.
4) Pistola Robot P38 (1984, GiG)
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| Source: eBay |
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| Grey version of the Pistole Robot P38. Courtesy of tenshin of Giocattolivecchi.com |
Japanese Name: ガンロボ ワルサーP38
Article Number: Art.MC-12
Just as the 44 Magnum, GiG glued a red cap on the end of the gun barrel. Just like the Japanese counterpart, the P-38 came in either the more common black colour or the rarer grey varient.
5) Pistola Robot Walther P-38 U.N.C.L.E (1984, GiG)
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| Source: Unknown |
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| Initial version with the gold tinted chrome. Source: Unknown |
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| Silver chromed version, the same as G1 Megatron. Courtesy of Marley10 of Giocattolivecchi.com |
Japanese Name: ガンロボ ワルサーP38 アンクルスペシャル
Article Number: Art.MC-13
The Walther P-38 U.N.C.L.E. is the Micro Change version used for G1 Megatron. The Japanese version had a gold tint to the chrome; this version carried over to the initial GiG version and the gold tint colouring on the box art was used for Hasbro's Megatron. Another crossover with the Transformers stock saw the silver chromed version being released as a GiG Trasformer as well. What separates this from the Pistola Robot P38 MC-12 is the fact is does not have a red plastic cap on the end of the gun barrel as it would stop the silencer from sliding on; instead the end of the barrel is painted red.
6) Sferik Robot Man (1984, GiG)
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| Source: munnen.nl/transformers |
Japanese Name: 流星ロボメタルマン (Meteor Robo Metal Man)
Article Number: Art.MC-14
Identical to the Japanese version, this chromed sphere transforms into a robot. In 1988, the mould was released by Takara under Mashin Hero Wataru (魔神英雄伝ワタル) which was a Japanese anime series.
The figure was recoloured red and blue and was renamed Evil Machine Man (邪機人). The figure was once again released in 1998 under the Beast Wars series against the "Egg Beast" subline. It was slightly remoulded to incorporate a key chain and was released in 2 colours: EC-3 Eggbot (translucent light blue) and ED-3 Dark Eggbot (translucent black).
The mould was reused again in the Transformers Kiss Play series where it was released as a "Sparkbot" named Star Dust in a translucent green deco in a giftset with the other Sparkbots; this was a Tokyo Toy Show Exclusive in 2007.
7) Sferik Robot Leo (1984, GiG)
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| Source: eBay |
Japanese Name: 流星ロボ メタルレオ (Meteor Robo Metal Leo)
Article Number: Art.MC-15
Identical to the Japanese version, this gold chromed sphere transforms into a lion. In 1988, the mould was released by Takara under Mashin Hero Wataru (魔神英雄伝ワタル) which was a Japanese anime series. The figure was recoloured yellow and was renamed Evil Lion (邪獅子).
The figure was once again released in 1998 under the Beast Wars series against the "Egg Beast" subline. It was slightly remoulded to incorporate a key chain and was released in 2 colours: EC-1 Eggleo (translucent yellow) and ED-1 Dark Eggleo (translucent dark green).
The mould including the keychain attachment was reused again in the Transformers Kiss Play series where it was released as a "Sparkbot" named Angela in a translucent pink deco in a giftset with the other Sparkbots; this was a Tokyo Toy Show Exclusive in 2007.
8) Sferik Robot Falco (1984, GiG)
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| Source: eBay |
Japanese Name: 流星ロボ メタルホーク (Meteor Robo Metal Hawk)
Article Number: Art.MC-16
Identical to the Japanese version, this gold chromed sphere transforms into a hawk. In 1988, the mould was released by Takara under Mashin Hero Wataru (魔神英雄伝ワタル) which was a Japanese anime series. The figure was recoloured blueand was renamed Evil Black Crow (邪黒烏).
The figure was once again released in 1998 under the Beast Wars series against the "Egg Beast" subline. It was slightly remoulded to incorporate a key chain and was released in 2 colours: EC-2 Eggbird (translucent red) and ED-2 Dark Eggbird (translucent purple).
The mould including the keychain attachment was reused again in the Transformers Kiss Play series where it was released as a "Sparkbot" named Zangetsu in a clear white translucent deco in a giftset with the other Sparkbots; this was a Tokyo Toy Show Exclusive in 2007.
9) Lucchetto Robot Combinazione Segreta (1984, GiG)
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| Robot Combinazione Segreta pictured right. Courtesy of Alfino of Giocattolivecchi.com |
Japanese Name: カギロボ ダイヤルマン (Key Robo Dialman)
Article Number: Art.MC-17
10) Lucchetto Robot Magnetico (1984, GiG)
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| Robot Magnetico pictured left. Courtesy of Alfino of Giocattolivecchi.com |
Japanese Name: カギロボ マグママン (Key Robo Magneman)
Article Number: Art.MC-18
11) Microscopio Robot (1984, GiG)
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| Courtesy of topy of Giocattolivecchi.com |
Japanese Name: 顕微鏡ロボ ミクロスコープ (Microscope Robo Microscope)
Article Number: Art.MC-20
Identical to the initial Japanese version although the missiles were replaced with the safety missiles. This would be recoloured red and released in the Transformer toy line as Perceptor. The black version would appear in the Transformer toy line as an e-Hobby exclusive called Magnificus.
12) Radio Robot (1984, GiG)
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| Blue Version. Courtesy of killcoffee of Giocattolivecchi.com |
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| Red version. Courtesy of killcoffee of Giocattolivecchi.com |
Japanese Name: サウンド戦士 ラジカセロボ (Sound Warrior Radio Cassette Robo)
Article Number: Art.MC-21
This was a working radio identical to the Japanese release. When released in the Transformers line as Blaster, the red version was used and the cassette door recoloured yellow and the radio function was removed to reduce the cost. The blue version would later see a release in the Japanese only Headmasters line in 1987 as Twincast.
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| Source: eBay |
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| Source: eBay |
See also:-
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