The year was 1987 - USA Headmasters, Targetmasters and Monsterbots

The 1987 Decepticon Headmasters & Targetmasters: Snapdragon MIB (unused, sealed), Apeface (unused, sealed), Targetmaster Cyclonus MIB, Targetmaster Scourge MIB, Slugslinger MIB, Triggerhappy MIB, Misfire MIB, Mindwipe MIB, Weirdwolf MIB, Skullcruncher MIB.

The 1987 Autobot Headmasters & Targetmasters: Highbrow MIB, Brainstorm MIB, Chromedome MIB, Hardhead MIB, Targetmaster Hot Rod MIB, Targetmasters Blurr MIB, Targetmasters Kup MIB, Pointblank MIB, Crosshairs MIB, Sureshot MIB

1987 Headmaster Horrorcons - Snapdragon and Apeface

Takara D-99: Apeface MIB
Takara D-100: Snapdragon MIB
Hasbro Apeface MIB (unused, sealed to bubble)
Hasbro Snapdragon MIB (unused, sealed to bubble)
Loose Apeface: robot mode, gorilla mode, plane mode
Loose Snapdragon: robot mode, dragon mode, plane mode

A third part - boxed Transformers 'A to B'

More random photos. This time a third part - boxed Transformers 'A to B'.

1987 Headmasters - Skullcruncher original box art - an Update

I had wanted to take this shot when I did my original birthday post Parts 2 & 3, but I didn't have time to dig out my US boxed Skullcruncher. I managed to dig out my US box Skullcruncher this morning and as I was chatting with a good buddy Seb (G1-Junkie / Hyperoptic), took the below shots.

Top - pre-production box flap of D-85: Skull's box; and original hand-drawn and air brushed box art for Skullcruncher.
Bottom - Takara boxed D-85: Skull MIB; and US boxed Skullcruncher.

I thought about it more and just really like this little collection here more and more. When we were little boys, the only Headmasters my brother and I had were Chromedome (mine) and Skullcruncher (my brother's). When I first got the box art in hand, I immediately texted my brother (who does not collect TFs) and asked if he remembers his "Transformers crocodile"; and he replied "yeah, the green and pink one right? Can't remember the name, but remember I had it".

The little collection of pieces below just warms my heart when I look at it because they will always remind me of my brother and of the fun we had with Transformers when we were little. Pity that he does not collect TFs now, but then his 5 year old son loves TFs! Haha...

The above shot shows the Jap box and US boxed Skullcruncher side by side. This would be a good place to start with Unicron Nemesis' idea of documenting and comparing Japanese vs US boxes.

Group shots of Transformers Cassettes in Japanese Takara packaging

So I took some time to photograph cassettes that were released by Takara, all of them.

Ben Frey, appreciate that you have linked this on FB.

Since I was a boy, I've always really liked the cassettes, whether they were Autobots or Decepticons. I just thought they were so cool and the concept of them being spies just fit so well. Since the 80s, cassettes have become something of an anachronism, but that has not stopped Takara from releasing Masterpiece versions of various Decepticon cassettes. I'm sure there will be more than one 90s or post 2000-born kid that will ask their parents what a 'cassette' is!

 

Takara Headmasters D-85: Skull MIB (aka Skullcruncher)

Here is something I bought a couple of months back, Destron Headmaster Swamp Warrior D-85: Skull, aka Skullcruncher.