Blitzwing (G1)/toys
From MediaWiki
Blitzwing has many toys.
Toys
Generation 1
- Blitzwing (Triple Changer, 1985/2005)
- Japanese ID number: 43, TFC-17
- Accessories: "Gyro-Blaster Rifle", "Electron Scimitar", 3 concussion missiles
- Originally a Diaclone toy (the only Transformers Triple Changer who had a previous Diaclone release), Blitzwing can transform from robot mode to two different vehicle modes; a Soviet MiG-25 fighter jet or a Japanese Type-74 assault tank. Like most early G1 toys, he has little or no articulation in robot mode, with only his arms being able to move up and down a little. He does, however, have a swiveling turret and deployable front landing gear in his vehicle modes. Originally released in 1985, he was re-issued two decades later in Takara's "bookbox" The Transformers Collection series; despite being included in the instruction manual, the rub face decal was nowhere to be found on this version.
- All US versions had the spring-loaded missile launchers severely weakened. The Japanese releases, however, kept the full-strength launching mechanisms. The tank turret on the original Blitzwing toy can be taken off, while later releases feature a turret that cannot be removed.
- This mold was returned to its Diaclone coloration and re-released in 2005 as Overcharge, an e-HOBBY exclusive.
Generations
- Blitzwing (Triple Changer Voyager, 2013)
- Series / Number: 02 / 002
- Japanese ID number: TG22
- Accessories: Rifle, scimitar, missile
- Part of the third wave of 2012-2013 Generations Voyager Class toys, 'Thrilling 30' Blitzwing is a modern reinterpretation of his original toy, and transforms into two vaguely futuristic vehicles: a jet with an opening cockpit and back-mounted rocket boosters, as well as a tank with a rotating turret and a spring-loaded cannon that launches its missile when the barrel is compressed. The cannon can be swung out and deployed for use in jet mode. He comes with a blaster and a sword, both of which mount/are held by 5mm post. He features 5mm ports for his hands, shoulders/vehicle sides, cannon base, and wings, while both weapons have numerous additional posts and ports.
- In a nod to his Transformers Animated incarnation, he sports a face-swapping feature, allowing him to switch between a more traditional, visored face, a monocled face (inspired by the Animated character's 'Icy' persona), and a black jack-o'-lantern-like face (inspired by the Animated character's 'Random' persona).
- The toy is renowned for two significant design flaws. The first is that tabs meant to anchor the robot shoulders to the chest never solidly lock into place—they are simply too far apart. This makes his shoulder assemblies swing up and out of his chest when the shoulders are rotated up. Pressing the shoulder slots into the chest tabs sometimes works to counter this, but it depends on the tolerances of each individual figure. The problem can be completely eliminated with a little work:
- For those not wishing to modify the toy itself, spacing material can be affixed to the back of the shoulder piece. This creates support in the back and allows the front tabs to remain in place.
- Alternately, one can disassemble the figure and lightly sand the screw mounts and inside chest walls on the front half, bringing the back of the figure and the front closer together, and allowing the shoulder assemblies to lock in completely solid as originally intended. This has the potential risk of over-sanding, which prevents the legs from clipping securely to his chest for his vehicle modes.
- The second major flaw concerns the face-swapping feature; almost universally, this does not actually end up working because the rotating faces are rendered immobile by an excess of paint on the inside of the helmet, including the post the faces are mounted on. This can be fixed by dismantling the head, removing the faces, and trimming the excess paint in the helmet interior, or in some circumstances, by leaving the toy in a freezer until the inner-helmet paint becomes brittle enough to crack by exerting pressure on the faces, allowing the faces to move as designed.
- There are two variants of Blitzwing: The first version sports an all-silver Decepticon insignia on its chest and has the missile inserted into the turret inside the packaging, no extra space for the missile in the plastic tray behind the turret and no holes cut for tying down the missile, while a later running change changed the Decepticon insignia's color to purple, with a silver outline, and has the missile tied down in the plastic tray behind the turret.[1][2] Oddly, the official Hasbro stock photo of the toy inside its packaging depicts the later version.
- The Japanese release sports a more metallic gold paint application as opposed to the lemon yellow gloss of his helmet, additional purple paint on his thighs and shoulders, dark metallic gray paint within his cockpit, and additional silver paint on his torso. The neck of the figure is now painted black rather than yellow to better blend in with the lower portion his three faces. Some of the silver detailing on his torso was changed to gold. The figure also features a lighter, more metallic purple, lighter tan, and silver paint on all his gray plastic. The rubberized nose cone's colors are now more in sync with the entire body's purple. The scimitar weapon is molded in a solid purple plastic as opposed to the Hasbro version's "blade" being painted in a lighter hue to simulate an "energon" effect. The same design flaws that plagued the Hasbro release were also carried over in the Tomy version with the exception of the face switching gimmick issue.
- Blitzwing was retooled into Generations Doubledealer and Cloud Starscream.
- Blitzwing (Platinum Edition, 2015)
- Accessories: "Gyro-Blaster Rifle", "Electron Scimitar", 3 concussion missiles
- Part of a Platinum Edition two-pack with Astrotrain released under the Generations line, this reissue of Blitzwing features an unprecedented light brown and red color scheme. The exact inspiration for this deco is unknown, with the currently prevalent theory being that it's supposed to homage the Generation 1 Duocon Flywheels's colors.
Construct-Bots
- Blitzwing (Triple-Changer, 2013)
- Part of Wave 1 of Construct-Bots Triple-Changers, Blitzwing can transform into something that vaguely resembles a jet and something that vaguely resembles a tank. He is armed with a projectile launching main cannon, and a set of non-firing gattling guns and a blaster. His face was retooled into Ironhide's.
Bot Shots
- Scourge / Sergeant Kup / Blitzwing (Multi-pack, 2013)
- Series: 2
- Number: Super Bot 007
- Fist strength: 181
- Blaster strength: 845
- Sword strength: 594
- Part of the second wave of Bot Shots Series 2 three-packs, Blitzwing is a redeco of Series 1 Decepticon Brawl in transparent purple, transforming into a tank with a spring-loaded automatic transformation to robot mode triggered when the front is pressed. He has a "spinner" in his chest that shows his three attack types and power levels. As a Super Bot, he has more lopsided strength ratings.
- He comes with Spin Shot Scourge and Spin Shot Sergeant Kup. He shares parts with Series 1 Megatron and Series 1 Shockwave.
- The second wave of Series 2 three-packs didn't reach mass retail in the United States, only showing up in discount stores like Ross.
Kre-O
Merchandise
Decoy
- Blitzwing (1986)
- Decoy Blitzwing is a small, purple, soft-rubber figure that came randomly packed with smaller carded toys.
Transformers Gum
- Blitzwing (1986)
- Accessories: "Gyro-Blaster Gun"
- Essentially a downsized version of the original Blitzwing toy, the Transformers Gum kit is sculpted from black, red and grey plastic, features stickers rather than paint applications for details, and came with a stick of gum.
3D Battle-Card Game
- Blitzwing (2007)
- A 30-point "uncommon" character in the 3D Battle-Card Game's "Energon Wars" expansion, Blitzwing "transforms" into a burgundy and blue tank. He uses the same parts layout as Movie Brawl and Wreckage and Generation 1 Warpath.
- Blitzwing really looks like Quake. However, his stat card is clearly intended for Blitzwing, listing several of that character's trademark weapons as attacks.
Robot Heroes
- Autobot Hound vs Blitzwing (2008)
- A super deformed Blitzwing sculpted holding his electron scimitar. He has articulation in his neck and shoulders and came in a two-pack with Hound.
The Loyal Subjects
The Loyal Subjects Blitzwing is a Wave 3 figure with standard articulation. He features a pumping cannon gimmick. He also has a sword and a gun. There are two Blitzwings per 16 figures.
- ↑ TFW2005 thread about Generations Blitzwing's Decepticon insignia variant.
- ↑ TFW2005 thread about Generations Blitzwing's missile-placement-inside-the-packaging variant.
