Monday, January 13, 2014

G1 Hasbro Shockwave, Radio Shack Galactic Man, WST JustiToys Military Operation Commander, Transformable Robot Pistol TG-117

In light of my previous post, and partially due to coincidence, this post will be a smorgasbord of different Shockwaves.  I had deliberated about dividing each one into its own posting but in the end, I think it would just feel a bit redundant.

G1 Hasbro Shockwave, Radio Shack Galactic Man, WST JustiToys Military Operation Commander, Transformable Robot Pistol TG-117

Thanks to my friend "M" because these are all of his figures.  Everytime I pop over to his place for our weekly TF show-and-tell he pulls out something for me to shoot.  This time certainly was no different.

G1 HASBRO SHOCKWAVE
Habro G1 Shockwave
Starting off, we have the big -bad voodoo daddy himself, G1 Shockwave.

Shockwave has been referred to as "a computer on legs." This is not far from the truth. Logic rules Shockwave's thought processes and is the source of his every inspiration. He sees emotion as a weakness and a distraction. His cold and calculating modus operandi is supported by his frightening and exceptionally powerful form.
Shockwave is possibly even more powerful than Megatron. Perhaps logic may one day dictate that the time to replace Megatron's flawed, emotion-fueled rule is at hand. After all, the only logical choice for Decepticon leader would be Shockwave himself.


Click here for a link comparing a KO vs legit version of this figure just in case you were looking for one of these on eBay.


  • Shockwave (Decepticon, 1985)
    • Japanese ID number: 49
    • Accessories: "Magnetic impulse defuser" barrel
Shockwave transforms into a large Cybertronian handgun. He has light and sound electronics activated by his gun-mode trigger and powered by a 9-volt battery. The sound effects can be switched between two (fairly generic) blaster-sound frequencies with a small toggle on his battery pack.




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WST JUSTiTOYS MILITARY OPERATIONS COMMANDER
(Exclusive 2010 Grey Version Limited 500 Pcs.)


There was a limited run of only 500 differently colored WST Shockwaves. These were known as "Shackwave," which is colored grey to represent the Shockwave mold in its limited run at Radioshack. As an added appeal to this, it makes a grey Shockwave as seen in the show "Transformers Animated" which is highly praised and will one day be the new G1.


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WST JUSTiTOYS MILITARY OPERATIONS COMMANDER
 

An interesting piece of symbiotic marketing has made it so the WST Military Operations Commander can be held by the FansProject Colossus or the CrazyDevy CDW - 5 add on hands.






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TRANSFORMABLE TG-117 ROBOT PISTOL (KO)


This guy cost $35.





There are a few reasons why I like this shot so much.
  1. They did such a fantastic job photographing the toy in figure mode.  There was no need for an artists rendition of it.  Shockwave just stands there like the imposing figure he is and that's all this shot needs.
  2. The dia-casting banner in the corner.  Nothing more needs to be said, especially since a lot of the toys made now could be blown away with a strong enough breeze.
  3. The Kay-Bee sticker.  I don't know what it is, but I just love to see that name…..might be because we never had any of those stores here.  I think it also adds a bit of history to the figure with where it come from.  The only bad thing with this one is that it covers some of the figure, but because of the sticker type I wouldn't remove it.
  4. Shockwave's massive cod-piece trigger sticking out of his waist.  Dare I say it is comparable to Megatron's?  Let's look below of a comparison.

Is that a trigger in your pants or are you just happy to see me?
Nope,  I still have to say that Mr. Megs wins out in the cod-piece category.

 Generation 1 cartoon, The Transformers, "The Revenge of Bruticus"
"Just because you only have one hand doesn't mean you need to try and compensate for it elsewhere"…….or "Who is your daddy?"

4 Changeable TG-117
"4 Changeable" represents the four "transformations" you can play with…..though two of them; the anti-aircraft gun and vulcan base are a stretch.


This is the rare pink scope/hand/canon version of Shockwave…….just kidding of course.  This is obviously a KO and a good comparison to go along with the "How to tell a Shockwave KO" link I posted with the G1 Shockwave near the top of this post.


The rubber hose covering the wires connecting his torso and arm's electronics is particularly prone to dry-rotting. Be careful.

This one may have occurred due to the size of the box it come in.  This KO box doesn't allow for the figure to store in full-out gun mode as it would say for the G1 version.  The gun-barrel for this one has to be folded to fit in the box, thus resulting in extra stress for the already delicate rubber hose.
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RADIO SHACK GALACTIC MAN (aka SHACKWAVE)


"M" paid $120 (best offer accepted; listing was $145) + $15 shipping.


I'm going to put this next part in bold type just so that no one misses it because there is a lot of misunderstanding regarding this figure.

During Generation One, Radio Shack (as it was then known) sold a store exclusive licensed version of the Shockwave mold that was officially named Galactic Man, but is now more commonly known by the nickname "Shackwave". Galactic Man is not actually a knockoff as it was fully licensed by ToyCo.


Side of box

Notice the clear hand and cannon (Still a edit G1)
Unlike the G1 version, this figure comes shipped in robot mode as well as being grey in color.  After all of these years this styrofoam is still mint and bone white.
 
One could look down upon the use of colourless transparent plastic for this model in that a portion of his electronics (three large trnsistors) are plainly visible through the window in his chest. This could also be used to make him appear more archaic and robotic.


Check out the bottom right corner of this old newspapaer add I found.

Christmas Gift Guide, The Gainesville Sun Nov 28, 1985













Back of box





Again......you definitely have to use your imagination for a few of these "modes"......talking about you "Anti-Aircraft Gun" (bottom left).



 The Transformers Comics Magazine issue 3
This comic artwork says it all about Shocker.

Moneyshot……one more time.


6 comments:

  1. That's a whole lot of Shockwave! I've been trying to identify the grey version I had as a kid, and I'm pretty sure it was the Transformable TG-117 Robot Pistol (KO). That looks the most like it anyway, but I don't know what the odds were on it being released in the UK. It was my default ray gun of choice!

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  2. Thanks for checking the article out Joe!

    I never had one myself as a kid but my friend did and I always thought that he was so much cooler than Megatron since since he had those sound effects and he was a laser pistol instead of just a plain gun.

    I couldn't find any info on the TG-117 being released in the UK. I know that Galactic Man was released there I believe in '85?

    Cheers,
    Joe

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    Replies
    1. No worries, I always enjoy your blog!

      Shockwave was cooler than Megatron. I loved his brief cameo in the Movie, even if that was probably only because I owned *a* version of him.

      I guess it must have been Galactic Man as the time would be right, but I'd have sworn it was a lighter grey. Still, facts trump memory. Thanks for the reply!

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  3. That's...that's a lot Shockwave, right there. I love the imagined fourth mode on the KO, it really stretches the imagination. I used to know a kid that owned a Shackwave and he got teased mercilessly about having a fake Shockwave. I hope he still has it, as the colors are fantastic.

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  4. I can picture that poor id being teased. Back then, we didn't really know any better as kids in terms of anything about Toyco and their licensing of the mold.

    If it didn't say Transformers on it, then it was garbage and that's all we cared about.

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  5. I wonder If G1 Shockwave in his Gun form can fit into one of the 4 shelves of a Deltof Glass Cabinet for a Transformers glass display.

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