of Diaclone Driver / MicroMan-32

Takara action figure toyline are as below ('71 - '83)

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

Micro Change - Backstory

Microman Salam/Saram came to Earth with 'MICROM 2000' computer (Teletraan I predecessor :D).

MC-01 MC-02 MC-03 are created for Reconnaissance
MC-10 later created to be Energy resupply Base for the MicroCassettes

MC-08 & MC-09 are being used to engage directly with Acroyears

MC-07 MC-11 MC-12 MC-13 later built with heavy-armor

MC-05s & MC-06s are created to monitor Earth for any Acroyears sub-space activity

MC-14 MC-15 MC-16 later helped in attacking the Acroyears' HQ


MICROMAN MICRO-CHANGE STORY 
Snippets of 'Microman Secret File Vol. 1', translated by MicroBry

Using a “subspace generator”, ten MICROMAN survivors materialized on Earth after the loss of their homeworld known as MICROEARTH. This was quickly followed by the ACROYEAR invasion of our planet.

Thus began the conflict on Earth between MICROMAN and ACROYEAR.

Not long after these events, “SALAM” became the eleventh MICROMAN to reach our world, bringing with him the “MICROM 2000” supercomputer, having rescued it during a harrowing last-minute escape from the final stages of MICROEARTH’s destruction.

SALAM was an expert technician, and soon used the MICROM 2000 module to create an ever-expanding new series of MICROCHANGE mecha in order to try putting a stop to the ACROYEAR invasion.

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.

Meanwhile, the ACROYEARS welcomed the Admiral ACRODEVIL as the new supervisor of their Earth operations, and were strengthening their military forces. The focus of their attacks would be upon MICROMAN and their friends, the Earthling children.

Therefore SALAM crafted the GUN ROBO in the shapes of model guns and entrusted the children with them. The GUN ROBO BROWNING, 44 MAGNUM and WALTHER could CHANGE into heavily armored robots in an instant and stand up to the ACROYEAR attacks.

The ACROYEARS thus began to extend their various subversive plots not only toward MICROMAN, but towards humanity as well. As such, being prepared for random ACROYEAR attacks popping in and out of subspace proved exceedingly difficult.
Therefore, MICROMAN created CAMERA ROBO and WATCH ROBO with the ability to detect the ACROYEARs in defense of the Earth. As a direct result, the extra-dimensional ACROYEAR fortress was discovered at last and it finally became possible for MICROMAN to directly approach the enemy’s headquarters.
In the meantime the ACROYEARS viciously counterattacked, but their tactics were repeatedly foiled by the mysterious METEOR ROBO.

The Admiral ACRODEVIL became so infuriated, he became intent on nothing less than the complete annihilation of the Earth. MICROMAN continued to produce more and more MICROCHANGE mecha and gave all their effort toward building their defenses.

KEY ROBO, RADICASSE ROBO, MICRO-SCOPE, SCOPEMAN, BEAM ROBO…this MICROCHANGE mecha squadron fights on to protect peace on this beautiful planet Earth, and the rest of the universe!!

http://www.microforever.com/M011saram.htm

Neo MicroChange - MC-04

1980s New Microman - Micro Change (MC)


These releases that eventually became Transformers, since it's the starting of MC robot that became everyday object for 1:1 scale human (us)



But not all of them are actually everyday objects, some of them is weirdly has vehicular alt-mode (like Diaclone), mostly the MC-04 Mini CAR Robos


The list goes from MC-01 Micross until MC-22 Beam Robo, in which the designs for MC are stopped, to focus on Transformers itself


Collecting Neo-MC in 1:32 scale are impossible, imagine 1:32 radio / gun / cassette, no use hence ideally for MC, we need to focus on the Bot mode,
in which after much contemplation, settles for Leader Class figure or bigger

But it's harder, because Leader Class figure are rare, Voyager class are a lot more, hence compromises are made...



Fortunately Takara-Tomy seems to made up their mind on releasing 'MC-04 Mini CAR Robo - Car 03 VW Bug : Yellow' or more known as Bumblebee as MP-21
so we should treat that Takara officially takes MC-04 line to be 1:32 scale, logically the rest of MC-04s (total of 6 mold) should be 1:32 too



Now the first three neo-MC-04 (Porsche, Mazda, VW) seems to be easy to collect at first sight, unfortunately after long I realised it's actually a lot harder ...


Recently some revelation came to me, in which I compare the alt-modes of modern (post-Energon) TF to be retro-fitted into neo-preTF, as below



MC-04 Porsche
Sports car / 2+2 coupé / FR layout

MC-04 Mazda
Subcompact car / 5-door hatchback / FF layout

MC-04 VW
Subcompact car / 2-door saloon, 2-door convertible / RR layout

MC-04 Firebird
Muscle car / .. / FR layout

Now to differ Mazda & WV, see the design cues, Mazda are boxy and VW are curvy

Seems to be better, now I can search for nicer Modern TF to make them my neo-MC-04 Cars

The rest of MC-04 (4WD, LandRover, Semi) are relatively easier to retrofit IF you can find them at decent alt-mode size


Back to researching on TF figures, mostly on TFWiki :P



Ah this will take some time to complete :) sometimes the journey are a lot more pleasant then the actual destination

Neo-G1 Jetfire

As should be known to many, G1 Jetfire toys came from the Japanese Macross Line (see tfwiki, as usual :D), specifically VF-1S Super Valkyrie w/ optional parts

Unfortunately the toys release are numerous throughout the years, and for a non-Macross fan, it is very very confusing

After searching for the accurate Neo-G1 Jetfire, it seems it can be settled with eother one of the below figure from Yamato

http://www.macrossworld.com/macross/toys/VF-1-160-Review/VF-1S_review.html
http://eyeforthings.wordpress.com/2010/07/10/yamatos-macross-160-vf-1s-tv-type/

Yes, it's not red, the red ones will got the head's antenna wrong (one per side instead of two),
but I'm a n00b so WTH

good, now this will stuck in my head :D

Bryan “MicroBry” Wilkinson

Long-time Micronauts and Microman fan, Bryan “MicroBry” Wilkinson, is one of the select few who’ve made the transition from toy fan to toy designer. His website was one of the earliest to draw attention to Transformers’ (then) little-known origins, and he was given the opportunity to work on Palisades’ Micronauts revival in 2002. As Transformers celebrates its 25th. anniversary and Microman celebrates its 35th., we thought it only appropriate to ask him about Micronauts, Microman, Transformers, fandom, and making the transition from consumer to creator.


Interview
part 1
part 2
part 3
part 4
part 5

MicroMan re-issues : MP-13 & MP-15

It seems that the upcoming MP-13 Masterpiece Soundwave and his cassette-bots is sort-of following MicroMan release back in days 80s

MP-13 Soundwave + Laserbeak
Pretty much MC-10 CassetteMan, but MC-10 actually came with MC-01 Red Micross (Rumble)
instead of MC-03 Condor

MP-15 Rumble & Ravage
Hence MP-15 is needed, and MP cassette mold is complete for me


MAR 2013
MC-01 Red Micross / MP-15 Rumble
MC-02 Black Jaguar / MP-15 Ravage


END 2012
MC-03 Black Condor / MP-13 Laserbeak
MC-10 Cassette Man / MP-13 Soundwave


Happy :D

Diaclone Car-02 - revisited

DOTM Ironhide seems small compared to iGear PP05M,
hence the need to re-consider the Movie Ironhide mold (TFTM vs DOTM)


Length
6782mm / 0180mm
6782mm / 0165mm


Width
2438.5mm / 0070mm
2438.5mm / 0063.5mm


Height
2413mm / 70mm
2413mm / 63.5mm


Scale calculation

2007 Voyager Ironhide
L - 1:37
W - 1:35
H - 1:34.5

DOTM Voyager Ironhide
L - 1:41
W - 1:38.5
H - 1:38

Obviously Movie I Ironhide wins T_T let's hunt for one