Astrotrain (G1)/toys

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What's the purpose of possessing Astrotrain?

Astrotrain can transport all his trainload of toys around!

Toys

The Transformers

And then I transform into a train and a rocket and a Transformer again...

• Astrotrain (1985, 1986)
  • Takara ID number: 48
  • Accessories: "Ionic Displacer Rifle"

The Transformers Astrotrain was one of the two Triple Changer toys released in 1985, the other being Blitzwing. He transforms into both a purple JNR Class D51 steam locomotive and a gray Space Shuttle orbiter. Astrotrain was one of the earliest Transformers toys to feature ball joints for his shoulders, a decade before they became a design standard.

Blitzwing called. He wants his weapons back.

In Japan, the 1985 release of Astrotrain had a color scheme based upon the real-life versions of the vehicles he transformed into, with a white Space Shuttle (complete with NASA decals!) and a black steam locomotive. In 1986, Takara released Astrotrain in his US toy colors. The train mode can roll on wide-ish toy train tracks, but it can’t turn corners very well.

Like several other toys from Generation 1, Hasbro's catalogs depict prototypes that differ from the final product: Not only do the prototypes sport a gray and purple color scheme (which served as the basis for the color scheme used in the cartoon), they also have several notable sculpting and tooling differences compared to the production version; namely, arms that extend on a slide joint, different feet, and a different head sculpt that was also used as the basis for his character model. In the US and UK catalogs, he was even shown with Blitzwing's weapons, whereas in the European Milton Bradley catalog, he sported different decals compared to stickers used for the final toy. The resin hardcopy prototypes didn't actually transform; instead, separate prototypes existed for each mode. The stock photos of Astrotrain on the toy's packaging, on the other hand, depict the final toy's sculpt in its (mostly) final colors, even though the center of the helmet is painted yellow instead of red. The same near-final prototype was also featured in the 1985 J.C. Penney wish book.

• More information on Astrotrain at TFU.info

• Astrotrain (1991)
  • Accessories: "Ionic Displacer Rifle"

Astrotrain was reissued with his original U.S. color scheme in the European/Australian "Classics" series in 1991.

The Transformers Collection

• Astrotrain (2004)
  • ID number: TFC-11
  • Accessories: "Ionic Displacer Rifle"

In 2004, Takara reissued Astrotrain in his original Japanese white and black color scheme as part of their Transformers Collection line of reissues. The "NASA" stickers were changed to "ASTR".

• More information on Transformers Collection Astrotrain at TF-1.com

Collector's Edition

Don't laugh, or he'll become a pain train.

• Astrotrain Proto Color Version (Collector's Edition, 2004)
  • ID number: 48
  • Accessories: "Ionic Displacer Rifle"

Often referred to as "Anime Astrotrain" by collectors, this version sported a color scheme based on the original prototype mentioned above, though the gray plastic is brighter than on the actual prototype, and the hue for the purple parts tends more towards red than blue. He was exclusively available from e-HOBBY and released as a Collector's Edition companion to the Transformers Collection reissue (see above).

• More information on Astrotrain Proto Color Version at TFU.info
• More information on Anime Astrotrain (and the original Astrotrain prototype) at TF-1.com

Commemorative Series

Something for the variant collectors.

• Astrotrain/Decepticon Astrotrain (Commemorative Series IX, 2005/2012)
  • Accessories: "Ionic Displacer Rifle"

Following the Japanese reissue, Hasbro intended to make Astrotrain (retaining his previously Japanese market-only colors) available in the United States as well as part of their Commemorative Series line of reissues in 2004. However, Toys"R"Us (who had carried the Commemorative Series figures as exclusives) decided to discontinue the line due to low sales, and even though Ricochet, the other Commemorative Series IX figure besides Astrotrain, still managed to get released, Astrotrain was not.

Since considerable quantities of Astrotrain had already been produced, Hasbro decided to make the figure available through their newly-launched Hasbro Toy Shop website, serving as a test to see whether exclusives were a viable option for the store. In addition, Astrotrain was also released in Australia (where the Commemorative Series had previously also been exclusive to Toys"R"Us) as a Kmart exclusive, for a deep discount price. Despite being an exclusive, he could also be found clogging up shelves in smaller, privately owned toy shops.

In 2012, several Commemorative Series figures, among them Astrotrain, were re-released in Hasbro's Asian markets, in slightly altered packaging that (in Astrotrain's case, at least) lacked the "Commemorative Series IX" label, saw his name changed to "Decepticon Astrotrain", had the box next to his name that contains the text "Decepticon Triple Changer" reduced in size and "Triple Changer" changed from uppercase to mixed case, updated the Hasbro logo to the then-current version, added a "choking hazard" safety warning label and moved the "Ages 5+" recommendation above the product code number.

Classics

...and a rocket and a train and a Transformer and man it's hard work!

• Astrotrain (Deluxe Class, 2006)
  • Accessories: Rifle

Classics Astrotrain, like much of the Classics line, is an extensive update of the original Astrotrain design based heavily upon his cartoon appearances and using modern toy engineering techniques. He still transforms into a spaceship resembling a NASA Space Shuttle, but with two rather obvious locomotive front halves on the sides of the rear hull. Instead of a steam locomotive, his secondary vehicle mode is a Tsubame 800 bullet train. His robot mode is based heavily upon his Generation 1 cartoon animation model design, and is armed with a large purple laser rifle similar to the original toy's rifle (The side of the rifle has a Mini-Con shaped port on it, if one chooses to do it). However, purple highlights aside, his deco's color scheme is predominantly based on the original Takara toy.

A design fluke that was acknowledged on Hasbro's official Transformers website allows Astrotrain to connect to Cybertron Ultra Class Jetfire or his redecos, Cybertron Sky Shadow or movie toyline Jetstorm, via his landing gear. (Coincidentally, Jetfire's alternate mode is based on a Ukrainian Antonov An-225 Mriya, which was used to transport the Buran orbiter, the Soviet counterpart of the NASA Space Shuttle, on its back.)

As with most Classics toys, he has a heat-sensitive rubsign.

This mold was also used to make Generations Shouki.

• More information on Classics Astrotrain at TFU.info

Henkei! Henkei!

One man on a lonely platform
One case sitting by his side
Two eyes staring cold and silent
Shows fear as he turns to hide
Ah, ah, we fade to grey!

• Astrotrain (April 24, 2008)
  • ID number: D-03
  • Accessories: Rifle

In 2008, Classics Astrotrain was released in Japan as part of the Henkei! Henkei! Transformers line by TakaraTomy. The figure was extensively redecoed into a dark grey and purple colour scheme based on the character’s appearance in the Generation 1 cartoon. Instead of the Hasbro Classics release's rubsign, he has two Decepticon sigils tampographed onto his wings. All Henkei toys feature a somewhat randomly vacuum-metallized part somewhere upon them, and Astrotrain is no exception: the trim of his chestplate and engine array are vacuumized purple, with the engines themselves left as unpainted silver chrome.

Generations

We need to use at least one pic of this mold to give credit to the designers for not just going the lazy route and using the same nose/cockpit section for both altmodes.

• Specialist: Decepticons (Multi-pack, March 25, 2014)
  • Accessories: Rifle

This release of Astrotrain looks superficially similar to the Henkei version, but saturated with metallic paint and with some deco changes, most conspicuous in train mode. It was sold as part of a Hasbro Asia-exclusive giftset along with metallic-painted redecoes of Galvatron and Octane.

Platinum Edition

Astrotrain was late getting to the G2 party.

• Decepticon Triple Changers (Platinum Edition, 2015)
  • Accessories: "Ionic Displacer Rifle"

Part of a Platinum Edition two-pack with Blitzwing released under the Generations line, this reissue of Astrotrain features an unprecedented orange, white, and blue color scheme. The exact inspiration for this deco is unknown, with the currently prevalent theory being that it's supposedly an homage to Victory Machtackle's colors.

This set was officially an Amazon exclusive in the United States and Canada. However, it was also stocked by US-based online retailers BigBadToyStore and TFSource, who supposedly obtained it as an import from Asia. It was available in several of Hasbro's Asian markets (namely Malaysia, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Singapore, and Taiwan; it's currently unknown whether it was exclusive to any particular stores there or not). In the United Kingdom, it was available via A1Toys.

This toy was repurposed as Star Dasher in Beast Wars: Uprising.

• More information on Platinum Edition Astrotrain at TFU.info

Titans Return

And all this science I don't understand
It's just my job five days a week
A rocket man, a rocket man...

• Darkmoon & Astrotrain (Voyager Class, 2016)
  • Accessories: 2 guns, Darkmoon Titan Master

A retool of Titans Return Sentinel Prime, Astrotrain can transform from robot to shuttle to armored train and back. He comes with Darkmoon, a Titan Master figure which can transform from a robot into his head (but any Titan Master-class figure is compatible). Like all Titans Return Voyager-class figures, he has spring-loaded parts designed to "bulk up" his head; in his case, a pair of pylons that pop up on either side of his head, replicating the shoulder "landing gear" on his original Generation 1 character model. Like Sentinel, the train engine ends can be used as feet, but they sit at an awkward angle that makes it hard for Astrotrain to stand upright. His two guns can combine to form one larger weapon which Darkmoon (or any Titan Master) can operate in robot mode, The largest of the two can be piloted by any Titan Master figure in both modes. His guns also attach to form his Vehicle mode weapons. In Australia and some Asian countries, Astrotrain and his wavemate Alpha Trion were prominent shelfwarmers.

The Hasbro Asia exclusive giveaway sticker sheet can be used to enhance the figure's details.

This mold also served as the model for the Omega Sentinel in the Primus Vanguard.

War for Cybertron: Siege

Runaway train, never coming back.

• Astrotrain (Leader Class, 2019)
  • Hasbro ID number: WFC-S51
  • TakaraTomy ID number: SG-47
  • TakaraTomy release date: March 28, 2020
  • Hidden message code: IONICDISPLACER
  • Accessories: 2 "JF-50 Ionic Displacer Blasters," "JF-30 Astro Blaster," "W-15 Destabilizer Cannon," "W-40 Turbo-Core Derailer" (combine to form the "Omni-Force Orbital Cannon")

Siege Astrotrain is an all-new, heavily-cartoon-inspired mold that transforms from robot to either a space shuttle or steam locomotive (not a modern locomotive like every toy of his since the original). Despite being released in the Siege line, his alternate modes are clearly styled after Earth vehicles. This, together with his A.I.R. Lock System compatibility, makes it seem a lot like he was designed with Earthrise in mind, and indeed his toy later received a straight rerelease in that line. He features the trademark Siege "battle damage" paint applications on his legs, as well as multiple hardpoints all over himself and his weapons to accommodate "Fire Blasts" from the Battle Masters assortment, which can be used to simulate blaster fire or explosions.

As with other Leader Class figures in the line, Astrotrain himself is roughly Voyager-sized, with his accessories accounting for the rest of the pricepoint. In addition to five C.O.M.B.A.T. System weapons (including one based on his original toy's blaster), which can be combined to form the "Omni-Force Orbital Cannon", he includes a tender large enough to store all five weapons inside. The tender can be converted into a small launch pad base (designed as a treaded crawler vehicle with two cabs) for his shuttle mode. The launch pad features a pair of A.I.R. Lock System connectors, but unfortunately doesn't seem able to unfold flat as designed. It can also turn into a weapons rack, which can be mounted on Astrotain's back in robot mode, with a pair of foot pads for extra stability since the backpack makes Astrotrain incredibly back-heavy.

The toy's coloration, with purple helmet and shoulder wheels, but mostly-grey wings, is based on a widely-shared but incorrectly-colored screenshot of the character from the episode "Triple Takeover." Though the gray plastic appears slate gray in renders, the actual plastic color has a slightly-brown tint to it.

War for Cybertron: Earthrise

• Astrotrain (Leader Class, 2020)
  • ID number: WFC-E12
  • Accessories: 2 "JF-50 Ionic Displacer Blasters," "JF-30 Astro Blaster," "W-15 Destabilizer Cannon," "W-40 Turbo-Core Derailer" (combine to form the "Omni-Force Orbital Cannon"), decoder

Astrotrain's A.I.R. Lock System-compatible base connectors got him rereleased in the Earthrise line with no changes save for his packaging being updated. Even the flawed hinge in the coal tender was retained without any changes, preventing it from properly assuming launchpad mode.

Like all Earthrise toys, the inside of the back of Astrotrain's package includes an exclusive clip-and-save piece of a larger star map. Also in the box is a thin red piece of transparent plastic with which to read the star map. Astrotrain's piece of the map contains the labeled location of the planet "CAMINUS".

Kre-O

As close as we'll get to an Action Master Astrotrain, at least officially.

• Kreon Class of '85 (Kreon figure set, 2015)
  • Set number B5152
  • Voted: Designated Driver
  • Accessories: Long rifle

Kre-O Astrotrain is a small brick-built Kreon figure, using the 2015-style construction with raised hands and the sturdier "peg-in-peg" torso/waist connection. His coloration is based on the original Astrotrain toy prototype pictured in catalogs, being mostly gray with a yellow visor, though his chest tampograph's linework has the cartoon model's folded-away tailfin-chestplate.

He was only available as part of the San Diego Comic-Con-exclusive "Kreon Class of '85" 30-Kreon set. This set was also sold online through Hasbro Toy Shop after the show.

• More information on Class of '85 Astrotrain at TFU.info

Legends

And a fancy rocket, and a fancy battle train, and back to fancy robot. I'm super fancy!

• Astrotrain (January 28, 2017)
  • ID number: LG40
  • Accessories: 2 guns, Headmaster

Legends Astrotrain is a redeco of the Titans Return mold in a cartoon-based deco, with the front shuttle and the train sections possessing paint operations to evoke the cockpit windows.

The other side of his instructions features the 40th Legends bonus edition manga.

Titans Return mold: Infinitus
Hasbro: Titans Return Autobot Infinitus Darkmoon Autobot Infinitus (Titan Force) TakaraTomy: Legends LG40 Astrotrain LG41 Leo Prime e-HOBBY: Legends LG-EX Convobat

Vintage G1

This toy outlasted the actual space shuttle.

• Astrotrain (Walmart exclusive reissue, 2019)
• Accessory: Gun

Astrotrain was reissued in the Vintage G1 series, announced for Spring 2020 but unexpectedly hitting store shelves in December 2019. This was the first Astrotrain reissue to feature the color scheme of the American G1 toy—though the purple plastic is noticeably darker on this version.

Like all Vintage G1 releases, Astrotrain is a Walmart exclusive in the United States and Canada.

Merchandise

Decoy

• Astrotrain (Decoy, 1986)
  • Decoy number: 38

Decoy Astrotrain is a small, purple rubber figure made available with certain toys in the original toyline.

• More information on Decoy Astrotrain at TFU.info

Boss Original Figure

• Astrotrain (Boss Original Figure, 2008)

Released in a line of PVC figures available exclusively with containers of Boss Coffee, this version of Astrotrain is rendered in grey and violet.

Transformers Trading Card Game

Starring Steve Carrell. Coming soon to Netflix.

• Captain Astrotrain, Space Force-Transport (2019)
  • Wave 4: War for Cybertron: Siege II
  • Rarity: CT
  • Card Number: T01/T52
  • Stars: 12

Captain Astrotrain, Space Force-Transport is one of 52 character cards released as part of Wave 4 of the Transformers Trading Card Game, War for Cybertron: Siege II. In order to depict the Triple Changer nature of the character, Captain Astrotrain, Space Force-Transport is a folding card, with both Alt Modes depicted when the card is folded in half, and Bot Mode depicted when the card is unfolded.

The card's Bot Mode artwork is reused from the Siege Astrotrain toy, while both Alt Modes receive original artwork, with lines by Dan Khanna and colors by Marcus Reyno.

Captain Astrotrain, Space Force-Transport is notable as being the first character in the game with the ''Train'' trait. Due to the game's cancellation, he remains the only train in the game.