Micromaster Combiners

As promised, it's time to start showcasing my collection.  I thought I'd start with these as you just never see them.

Pictured below are all the RE-ISSUE Micromaster Combiners.  These originally were released as Japan only exclusives when the American toyline was on it's last legs.

Stop looking at my video games.

Sixliner was the first figure to debut - the more Orange train set with the unique head - in 1991, as part of the same toy line as Sky Garry, Grandus and Star Convoy.

During this period of time, Takara only saw fit to release Autobots, as historically good guys always sell much better than bad guys in Japan, and it's not unusual for toylines to contain no "evil" toys for children to fight against.

Sixliner at the back, Chase Sixtrain up front.

The other figures, Sixbuilder, Sixwing, Sixtrain (Sixliners brother - a few re-molds in the line and a new head) and Sixturbo were released in 1992, and the original figures have some differences between the reissues that I collect, mainly deco choices.

The reason why I opted to collect the Japanese reissues, as opposed to the originals wasn't just a price factor - although that did help the decision it was a double edged sword as I will explain in a moment.

Sixbuilder and chase Devy style

What I like about the 2002 Takara reissues (and fuck, yes, it has been ten years since these reissues started to come to market was not only were they easier to buy thanks to the internet, online retailers and entire case purchases, not only were all the stickers removed and replaced with tampographs (MUCH easier to clean, trust me I'm in the middle of attacking 20 years of dust accumulation with a toothbrush as we speak) but Takara also introduced Decepticons into the line with the relatively new (to Transformers) concept of "chase" figures.

Sixwings - I count more than six wings.

Sixturbo and Blackturbo - guess which ones are which?

I believe Sixliner was again the first figure in the line with the reissues, and all his figures we're sold blind packed, although later assortments had part of the instructions showing so you could at least make sure you were buying a set of 6 different figures.  With the introduction of the second release, Sixturbo, you had to wait until you got home (or opened them in transit and risked losing bits) to find out if you had one of the super duper (sort of) rare chase figures.  I remember breaking a case of twelve figures down and finding only one chase figure from the rare Decepticon BlackTurbo set, and I stupidly kept it for my set of six as it was "rarer".  Amateur mistake.  (most TF historians seem to think the official breakdown was two per case)
It was plain to see that one Black evil leg on Sixturbo wasn't going to work, especially after I bought a set of BlackTurbo from eBay which made him superfluous. Another eBay purchase later and Sixturbo was complete, but I still have a spare black ambulance floating about in my parts box.

Lesser seen attack modes.

Over the years more and more figures trickled out, and for every Japanese release there was the even more awesome and elusive chase figures.  Subtle changes were made along the way to differentiate and for various reasons.  Sixbuilder lost his green leg so as not to confuse the collectors with the chase variant, Sixtrain lost a red leg for similar reasons, and whilst Sixturbo was largely unchanged, Sixwing changed factions entirely and become the first non-chase Decepticon Micromaster combiner, instead his chase figure became Autobots.

Pictured below are:  Sixwing, White Berserker Sixwing, Sixliner, Sixtrain, Burning Sixtrain, Sixbuilder, Green Devybuilder, Sixturbo and Blackturbo.

You may notice a tenth figure in the picture,of a lighter, more Autobot looking Sixwing.  Given the popularity of these, Hasbro opted to release the figures for the Western markets as part of the Universe range (Energon in the UK), but picked decos and changed the names to make them more familiar for Hasbro collectors.  Sixtrain became Rail Racer.  Sixturbo again unchanged became Defensor - and interestingly used four of the original six names.  Sixbuilder was only available in Devastaor colours with minor changes and a bit more purple under that name, and actually looks nicer than the Japanese chase set.  Sixwing with his friendly Autobot colourings became Superion, and is the only figure I deemed different enough to warrant purchasing the US version. 

One last image, just because I can.  All the Autobot Takara reissue Micromaster combiners with original Sky Garry and Star Convoy.

Obviously Erector is the sought after figure.