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MyFigureCollection.net collection · by **Emerje** » Sat Feb 23, 2019 9:34 pm

Thanks to a series of scans from Figure King magazine posted to Loopaza Mega Store's Facebook page we're getting a very rare look at some early Transformers prototypes from back in the early planning stages of Diaclone! This is some great insight into the days when toys weren't designed on computers like they are today, but through actual hand made prototyping. These aren't even to the hand sculpting phase, but the earlier proof of concept stage using wood and layers of styrene plastic sheets.

And yet, as early on as these are it's very clear what these figures would become. We've got an Optimus Prime sporting a samurai-looking helmet along with some attempts at a trailer including a shot at the trailer that would later belong to Ultra Magnus. We also get to see Grimlock, Motormaster, and Metroplex among various Autobot cars. But what's very special is the prototypes that never became figures. Next to a rough attempt at Soundwave we have several unproduced tapes including various insects, a sabertooth tiger, and even a horse! There's also a Triplechanger that turns from robot, to tractor, to seaplane! And the biggest of all is a 5-changer that can turn into a robot, spaceship, tank, aircraft carrier, and what appears to be a train! How cool would that have been in the '80s or even 2019?

Thanks to Cyberpath for sending in the tip! Let us know what you think of these prototypes and if you see anything else interesting of note in these photos in the Energon Pub forums below.

News Credits: 41 · by **Cobotron** » Sat Feb 23, 2019 10:06 pm

Awesome! Just Awesome!
Those wooden cassettes are amazing.
The HORSE!

http://www.youtube.com/user/Pepsimus · by **Black Bumblebee** » Sat Feb 23, 2019 10:11 pm

They belong in a museum... near me :-D

by **Stormshot_Prime** » Sun Feb 24, 2019 12:17 am

Hey Has/Tak why don’t you make some siege characters based on these?

News Credits: 1 · by **megamanfan** » Sun Feb 24, 2019 12:22 am

ah WHAT!? we could've had a biplane turn into a steam shovel!?

News Credits: 56 · by **Nathaniel Prime** » Sun Feb 24, 2019 1:27 am

Wow, some of these are amazing! Biplane triplechanger, Powered Up Prime, and the cassettes look great. Wow, this is an awesome blast from the past, and a really nice " what could have been" for us fans ;)^

MyFigureCollection.net collection · by **Emerje** » Sun Feb 24, 2019 1:59 am

megamanfan wrote:biplane

Nathaniel Prime wrote:Biplane

Not a biplane, those have 4 wings. It's a seaplane/pontoon plane.

Emerje

by **Short Circuit** » Sun Feb 24, 2019 2:06 am

Interesting that they really wanted to keep the idea of a ramp trailer from here up to convoy’s diaclone prototype. Glad we ended up with Ultra Magnus and not G1 Shovel Hands Mcgee :lol:

News Credits: 27 · by **Albatross250** » Sun Feb 24, 2019 3:26 am

I'm shocked that they have a 5 changer design that can turn into a Tank, Jet, Aircraft Carrier, Robot and Dragon Mode (Not Train mode) 8-}

If only they make a modernized 5 changer with those modes.

News Credits: 1350 · by **ZeroWolf** » Sun Feb 24, 2019 6:45 am

I'd actually say that the train mode was supposed to be a train and a dragon... A precursor to Optimus Prime EX from the Transformers Go! Line?

News Credits: 12 · by **Evil Eye** » Sun Feb 24, 2019 8:46 am

That 5-changer and the seaplane/excavator combo need to be made real somehow. Also Prime with a samurai helmet is pretty cool.

by **CobraKai** » Sun Feb 24, 2019 9:28 am

I like the use of a pack of Winston cigarettes to establish scale ;)^

News Credits: 56 · by **Nathaniel Prime** » Sun Feb 24, 2019 10:00 am

Emerje wrote:
megamanfan wrote:biplane

Nathaniel Prime wrote:Biplane

Not a biplane, those have 4 wings. It's a seaplane/pontoon plane.

Emerje

Oops, my mistake. Should have said monoplane or seaplane but I guess I read the first guy's comment and put the name there :lol:

News Credits: 639 · by **ScottyP** » Sun Feb 24, 2019 10:51 am

One of those cassettes looks like Stinger, neat!

News Credits: 18 · by **Immortal Starscream** » Sun Feb 24, 2019 2:23 pm

I want that seaplane/excavator triple changer in my life. for realzies

News Credits: 241 · by **Jelze Bunnycat** » Sun Feb 24, 2019 2:53 pm

ZeroWolf wrote:I'd actually say that the train mode was supposed to be a train and a dragon... A precursor to Optimus Prime EX from the Transformers Go! Line?

Sorry, it's a dragon all the way. The writing calls out all 5 modes, in order:

Jet
Tank
Aircraft Carrier
Dragon
Robot

The dragon is serpentine, the traditional kind for East Asian countries. The length is not capped, so they can be as long as they like: look at Shenron from Dragon Ball :lol: