Dirge (G1)/toys

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Dirge's figures aren't so much "toys" as they are miniature memorial statues.

As a Seeker, Dirge can generally count on receiving a toy whenever Starscream does.

Toys

Generation 1

Closet Conehead
A retool of the Starscream mold, Dirge transforms into a modified F-15 fighter jet with a delta wing and front canard. The spring-loaded missile launchers were replaced with simplified non-firing... rifle barrels?
In robot mode his official instructions have the user pulling down his nose cone to complete his head transformation, like Starscream. However, Dirge's character model depicts him as having his head untransformed, leaving a distinctive "conehead" shape to his appearance. This trait is shared by Thrust and Ramjet, leading many owners to do the same thing to differentiate the three later Decepticon jets from the three earlier ones. Dirge's robot mode stickers are the same design as Thundercracker's, but in different colors.
In Japan, Dirge was only available as a mail-away in 1986 (for 1980 yen and 4 Robot Points).
This sculpt was also used to make Ramjet, Skywarp, Sunstorm, Thrust, and Thundercracker.


Beast Wars

I'm the closest this mold got to looking like Thundercracker, but instead I'm two different Dirges.
  • Dirge (Basic, 1998)
    • Japanese ID number: D-14
    • Accessories: "Dirge Gun" rifle & barrel
Beast Wars II Dirge was officially repurposed as Generation 1 Dirge's new form in the Beast Wars Shattered Glass comic.
A redeco of the Machine Wars Skywarp/Thundercracker mold, Dirge transforms from a Dassault Rafale fighter jet to robot mode with a single-step, spring-loaded transformation. The two halves of his "Dirge Gun" rifle store in his lower legs in jet mode.
This sculpt was also used to make 2001 Robots in Disguise Skyfire, the "Dawn of Future's Past" version of Waspinator, and Robotmasters Wingstun.


Collector's Edition

As part of the Collector's Edition series of Japanese reissues in 2001, a limited run (an estimated 800 pieces made) of Dirge was available exclusive to the 20th Century Toy Museum event. Dirge came in standardized packaging also used by the other Collector's Edition Jetron reissues. Unlike the other 2001 reissues, which were all sold as sets of two individually packaged figures, "Set E" consisted of Dirge all by himself.


Commemorative Series

  • Dirge (Commemorative Series VI, 2004)
WYLD STALLYNS! deedleedleedleedleet
In 2004, a reissue of Dirge was released as part of the Toys"R"Us exclusive Commemorative Series. Unlike the reissues of the other Decepticon Planes, Dirge didn't require any notable modifcations to his missiles for safety reasons.


Timelines

Conehead uncloseted.
  • Games of Deception (Multi-pack, 2007)
    • Accessories: Left & right missile launchers, 2 missiles
Timelines Dirge is part of the Classics-themed BotCon 2007 box set, along with Bug Bite, Dreadwind, Thrust, and Thundercracker. He is a redeco of the Classics Ramjet toy, transforming into a made up fighter based upon the F-15. He also comes with two spring-loaded missile launchers that can mount on his biceps, under his wings, or be used as hand-held weapons. Like his set-mate Thrust, Dirge comes with Classics Ramjet's bulkier missiles, reminiscent of his G1 toy's non-firing weapons. As with most Classics toys, he features a heat-sensitive rubsign.
There were 1500 Timelines Dirge figures produced.
This tooling also served as the model for the non-toy Shattered Glass incarnation of Dirge.
Classics mold: Seeker
  • Hasbro:
  • Fun Publications:
  • TakaraTomy:
  • Million Publishing:

Henkei! Henkei! Starscream Ghost Version


Universe (2008)

Wait... if Dirge dies in the past, doesn't that create a time paradox?
  • Autobot Ambush (Voyager Deluxe Comic 2-Pack, 2008)
    • Series: G1 Series
    • Accessories: Launcher, missile, Decepticon Planet X-style Cyber Key
A Target-exclusive redeco of Galaxy Force Starscream, Dirge transforms into a Cybertronic starfighter. In both modes, plugging a Cyber Key into his back end flips out a spring-loaded "energon blade" from each arm. His spring-loaded missile launcher can be used as either a hand-held weapon, or mounted under his jet mode nosecone. His (conveniently color-coded) dark purple Cyber Key is unpainted, save for its silver movie-styled Decepticon symbol.
Some samples of Dirge suffer from a partially compromised key-activated gimmick, with the blade on the right arm not wanting to spring out even when the key is inserted. It can be fairly easily pried out with the included missile (or some other long object).
He is packed with Roadbuster (a redeco of Cybertron Cybertron Defense Hot Shot) and a comic book. In its first release in Canada, the set did not include a comic (in spite of the INCLUDES COMIC! marking on the package), and in the US, the set included the wrong comic. Instead of The Dark Ages issue "Escalation", which was meant for the "Standoff Beneath the Streets" Voyager-Deluxe two-pack of Springer and Ratbat, the right comic was to be a reprint of "Target: 2006" parts 5 and 6, which was similarly and erroneously included with the "Standoff Beneath the Streets" two-pack.
This mold was also used for the BotCon 2008-exclusive Shattered Glass Starscream.


Gentei! Gentei!

AHA! Undeniable proof that Takara does things better than Hasbro! (Sometimes.)
  • Dirge (Deluxe, 2009)
    • Accessories: Left & right missile launchers, 2 Sonic missiles
Gentei! Gentei! Dirge is a Toy Hobby Market exclusive retool of Classics Ramjet. Unlike his BotCon 2007 Timelines version, he has newly tooled wings based upon the wings from his original toy, uses the smaller gun missiles from Starscream, and, unusually for Henkei! Henkei!, features an all-new, colorful Hasbro Classics-style deco for his new wings. Like all Henkei! Henkei! toys, he features vacuum metallized parts, specifically the barrels of his missile launchers, his engine nozzles and his cockpit interior.
Dirge was available for pre-order from November 13th through December 10th 2008, and shipped in late March of 2009.
Classics mold: Seeker
  • Hasbro:
  • Fun Publications:
  • TakaraTomy:
  • Million Publishing:

Henkei! Henkei! Starscream Ghost Version


Generations

Death by mold degradation.
  • Dirge (Deluxe, 2010)
    • Accessories: Left & right missile launchers, 2 missiles
Generations Dirge is a redeco of Gentei! Gentei! Dirge.
Like Ghost Starscream and Generations Thrust, Dirge uses the older version of the Classics Seeker mold used from Classics Skywarp to Acid Storm, rather than the newer version used for the majority of the Henkei figures and Universe Starscream, right down to the 2006 copyright rather than 2008 featured on Gentei Dirge. Unlike the Gentei version, this figure only features wing deco on the top side; to compensate for the Decepticon faction symbols appearing only on the back in robot mode, a tiny symbol has been tampographed on the upper chest. The wing stripes are based on the G1 figure.
Initial batches of Dirge lacked the white center of the head crest in all three tampographed Decepticon faction symbols. This was fixed by a running change.[1]
Classics mold: Seeker
  • Hasbro:
  • Fun Publications:
  • TakaraTomy:
  • Million Publishing:

Henkei! Henkei! Starscream Ghost Version


Platinum Edition

File:TF-Platinum-Edition-Seeker-Squadron-Dirge.jpg
He transforms by dropping dead.
  • Seeker Squadron (Platinum Edition, 2015)
A reissue of the original Dirge toy in a Platinum Edition 3-pack with Ramjet and Thrust.
In the United States, this set was officially a Target exclusive, though only ever found at a single Target store, otherwise only available via the company's website. 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 Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines; it's currently unknown whether it was exclusive to any particular stores there or not). In Australia, it was sold at Myer stores, whereas in Canada, it was available via the Canadian Walmart website (but never found in stores).
In the United Kingdom, it was sold at Toys"R"Us stores and A1 Toys, whereas in Spain, was officially available via the Spanish division of Amazon. In Germany, it was originally available via Bankroft, an online retailer that otherwise specializes in Nerf blasters and accessories, as part of a special "Fan Edition" arrangement through Hasbro Germany, with the help of several German fan sites. Due to low sales, the unsold stock was later sold to Actionfiguren24, a German online retailer that specializes in imported toys, who was able to lower its price for its existing stock of imported Seeker Squadron sets as a result.


Alt-Modes

  • Dirge (Alt-Modes)
A retool of Alt-Modes Starscream with a new head and legs, Dirge was to be a super deformed toy whose body transforms into a jet when the Decepticon faction symbol on his head is flipped. He would have been blind-boxed and available in the second series of the toyline, but the line was canceled before he could be released. The toy itself was never shown off even as a prototype, but a 3D render of it was used in solicitations.
The original version of this mold was also used to make Alt-Modes Thundercracker, Skywarp, Acid Storm and Sunstorm.
Your bargaining posture is highly dubious.
Your bargaining posture is highly dubious.

Proceed on your way to oblivion.
This item has been canceled, with no current plans for release.


United

  • Seekers: Elites (2012-12-28)
    • Accessories: Left & right launchers, 2 missiles
United Dirge is a redeco of the Gentei! Gentei!/Generations Dirge retooling of the Classics Ramjet mold. This release marks the first time he is offered with Ramjet as well as Thrust.
This version of Dirge is more closely based on his cartoon appearance. Like his Gentei!/Generations releases, he comes with the thinner Starscream missiles. His missile launchers are solid dark grey. His wings are undecorated, save for tampographs of his Decepticon faction symbols on both sides of each wing. Dirge features metallic blue paint applications on much of his blue plastic.
Let's see what you can see...

This article is in need of images.

Specifics: Seekers: Elites Dirge toy
Classics mold: Seeker
  • Hasbro:
  • Fun Publications:
  • TakaraTomy:
  • Million Publishing:

Henkei! Henkei! Starscream Ghost Version


Kre-O

Seeing as how often Dirges die, the flak jacket is probably a good idea.
  • Dirge (Kreon Micro-Changer, 2012)
    • Bag number: ***** 49
    • Accessories: Stand brick, 2 clip-on blasters
Part of the first normal wave of Micro-Changer Kreons, Dirge is a blindpacked-bagged mini-figure, though a stamped ID number can be found on the back of the bag, top-right corner. He comes with extra parts to convert him into a jet. He features new wings which clip into his arms and a new jet nosecone helmet, but reuses Starscream's arm-mounted missile pieces.


  • Kreon Class of '85 (Kreon figure set, 2015)
    • Set number B5152
    • Voted: Most Likely to Be Found Wandering the Woods Wearing a Hockey Mask
    • Accessories: 2 clip-on blasters
Kreon Class of '85 Dirge's tampographs are much more accurate to the original 1985 toy. He has the wrong wing color, tho. Like all the figures in the set, he uses the almost-wholly-retooled 2015 style Kreon body.
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.


  • Dirge (Kreon Micro-Changer, 2016)
    • Collection: 1
    • Accessories: Logo plate, 2 clip-on blasters
In 2016, the Collection 1 Micro-Changers were re-released in a whole new production run for Dollar General stores in the US as part of a large collection of re-released Kre-O sets, later seeing release in other budget outlets and drug stores. But where most of these releases are nigh-identical to the originals, the re-released Micro-Changer blind-bags use the almost-entirely-retooled 2015 Kreon, with slightly-differently-hued plastics than the originals. (It is possible for some of the add-on pieces to be in the older hues.) Dirge's torso tampograph has also been reworked to be slightly more detailed, and the formerly-bare legs now have extra detail tampographing on them.
Sadly, this release has no individual-identification code on the bag, requiring you to use the feel-through-the-bag method or just buy blind and hope.

Masterpiece

Very soon, I will die from Ramjet's flawed shoulders or Thrust's loose waist.
  • Dirge (2017-06-28)
    • Japanese ID Number: MP-11ND
    • Accessories: 2 null rays, 2 sonic missiles, clear hologram pilot figurine
Masterpiece Dirge is a redeco/retool of Ramjet, with new delta wing and front canard parts.
Dirge also includes two new "sonic missiles" which are hollow and slip over the mold's ever-present null rays, to recreate the character's signature weapons. When not in use in robot mode, they can be pegged onto his back, using holes on the underside of the front canards.
Like the rest of the Coneheads, Dirge was able to be pre-ordered at TakaraTomy Mall from December 12, 2016 to January 19, 2017; Dirge was originally scheduled to ship May 27 but was delayed to June 28.

Template:MPSeekerMold

Merchandise

Super Collection Figure

My head's not pointy enough! Someone fix this before I start busting YOUR nice, flat heads.
A retool of the Super Collection Figure Starscream mold, Dirge is a three-inch tall non-transforming figure. He was released as a chase figure in the sixth wave of the line.
This mold was further retooled into Ramjet and Thrust.

Heroes of Cybertron

Heroes of Cybertron Dirge is redeco of Super Collection Figure Dirge, cast in translucent red plastic and painted over to allow for a light-piping gimmick. His cone was also rounded off for safety reasons. The Hasbro release of Dirge was much easier to find than his Japanese counterpart, as he was a normal release in wave four, and packed on a blister card rather than in a blindpacked box.
Dirge came with the torso to the Fortress Maximus Build-A-Figure.


MyClone

  • Dirge (MyClone, 2003)
Dirge was a chase figure in the third wave of MyClone figures. He's a cute, Super deformed figure who can be disassembled to switch his components with other MyClones. Dirge shares many, but not all, of his component molds with MyClone Ramjet and Thrust.

Transformers - Mini Bust

Worst case of petrification he's ever had.
  • Dirge (Diamond Select, 2008)
Dirge was released by Diamond Select Toys in 2008 and exclusive to online retailer Big Bad Toy Store. He was sculpted by Mark Wong of Art Asylum and limited to 250 pieces. The sculpt features Dirge's distinctive wings.
  1. ↑ Comparison between both versions of Generations Dirge.
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