12.00in - Hensin Cyborg -> 03.50in - Microman -> 01.25in - Diaclone
Imagine 1.75m man interacts with 3.5m man, yeah impossible (and non-existent)...
Takara's Diaclone & MicroMan actually have two size of pilot, in which hampers any attempt of cross-playability, in which makes Hasbro let go of the concept completely (Takara tries to integrates but ultimately failed)
The ever-shrinking action figures are Takara's attempt to caters to Japan toys demand and/or trends. The figure size reduction means Takara able to design the figure accessories much more elaborately, that eventually results in transforming cities / vehicles / bases / etc, which leads to awesome transforming robots
Eventually the pilot figure itself was dismissed, and those transforming Diaclone & MicroMan accessories became fully sentient, which get re-branded as Transformers. Simultaneously makes Takara's original plans for integration successful
This is unfortunate IMHO, as the most interesting part of the Diaclone/Microman toys is that they are designed with playability / pilot interaction in mind, which restricts on how a bot transforms, which results in awesome transforming robots that we all known as Transformers.
Anyway, below are the list of Diaclone cars, sorted on pilot-centric transformation (from Jeff Heller)
Countach | Vanette Fire Engine | Crane | Lacia Stratos | Battle Convoy 4WD Hi-Luxe | 4WD Wrecker | Stingray Honda City R | J59 Jeep | Ligier JS11 Porsche 935 Turbo | New Countach LP500S Fairlady Z
It's not all bad, the bottom-list do results in beautiful alt-mode & robot, but that's it...
Which is why my main Pre-TF collection will include driver(s), albeit came from an entirely different size from the original & different toy line
Lego Hero Factory Mini
With the recent official MP (and unofficial MP from 3rd-party), it seems to be possible. Mainly because TakaraTomy MP 2.0 designers decides to stick to a scale (1/32-ish) for MP cars (MP Diaclone in my mind), in which the Lego Mini Hero (I'm calling it MicroMan-32) fits nicely
Then came the first MP Microman that is MP-13 Soundwave. Yes he's too big for 1/32 scale pilot, but original CassetteMan has an interesting backstory on how it interacts with M-011 MicroMan Saram / Salam
First, the MICROSS, CONDOR and JAGUAR MICROCASSETTEs were built and put in charge of terrestrial reconnaissance. Next CASSETTEMAN was constructed as an energy resupply base for the MICROCASSETTE corps, while the CASSETTE-MACHINE JET HELI and BATTLE BIKE were utilized by MICROMAN to engage the ACROYEAR threat.
Yes, CassetteMan was not only a walkman, but it's also a base for Micross / Condor / Jaguar (also known as Mini-Cassette in Transformers). Those three are perfect with MicroMan-32 pilot. MP-13 now back to being accessories, and that's a good thing
Now the main Pre-TF release will at last have the same scale of pilots for both MP Diaclone & MicroMan. Playability restored, until MP combiners / City-bot came. In which I have an (very prohibitively) expensive idea, transforming display case.
A few letdowns
- MP 2.0 cars has totally NO pilot space, unlike Alternators / Alternity...
- MP Jets are too small, 1/60 scale instead of 1/32
p/s: The Lego Hero minifigs are not exactly awesome, in terms of articulation, but they're the best shot I have for MicroMan-32, until another line are able to fill-in 55mm pilots, with better articulation. The hunt continues :D