Fred,
I found 3 variants for Mega Octane from R.I.D. Look at each of his
wheels. The little metal rims have either 4 or 5 "bolts" or "lugnuts"
on them. Plus I found a transition version with 5 bolt rims on the 2
front wheels and 4 rear wheels, and 4-bolt rims on the 4 wheels in the
middle. I am having problems with my email so I can't send pictures,
but I've made 3 pics @ 50k each (one for each variant) and when my
computer is working right I'll send them to you.
So far the transition unit is the rarest-I've only found one, and
the 4 & 5 bolt versions seem to be evenly divided and fairly common.
(Just for fun, check out how these "lugnuts" on G1 Onslaught are
'innies' instead of 'outies' like the RiD versions)
As always, thanks for reading.
-steve
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Message 2 in thread
From: crazysteve ([email protected])
Subject: Attention Freds Workshop (and other RiD variant hunters!)
Newsgroups: alt.toys.transformers
Fred (and everybody else),
I have something important to add to the earlier email about Mega
Octane's bolt variations. It seems I have found a correlation between
how many bolts a MO has on it wheels and the 5 digit number 'branded'
onto the back of each package. The number I am taking about is an
indented branding done to the back of the packages, to the right of
the UPC bar code. You can't see it unless you angle the package just
right because it's really just a mark impressed onto the card.
I have two 4-bolt Mega Octanes, and the number branded onto BOTH
their packages is 12691. My 5-bolt package is branded 12831, and my
transition unit is branded 13101.
SPECULATION FOLLOWS: I don't know what the numbers mean, but I
wonder if there is a consistency between the bolt patterns and the
number branded on the package. I am guessing that all 5 bolt versions
are branded 12831, all 4 bolt versions are branded 12691, and all
transition units are branded 13101. Maybe the Hartmans know what the
connection (if any) is?
-steve
P.S. All of my type 2 RiD Decepticon basics have the same number
imprinted onto the backs of their cards. It's C-1063A 12521. The
number doesn't change even though they are four different figures. I
don't have the later release cards with the type 3 tri-lingual
"Combiners" logo. I'll go to the stores in the next few days and
figure out if that number changed with the type 3 packaging.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Message 3 in thread
From: crazysteve ([email protected])
Subject: Re: Attention Freds Workshop (and other RiD variant hunters!)
Newsgroups: alt.toys.transformers
Date: 2002-01-01 20:21:50 PST
I wrote:
> I have two 4-bolt Mega Octanes, and the number branded onto BOTH
> their packages is 12691. My 5-bolt package is branded 12831, and my
> transition unit is branded 13101.
> SPECULATION FOLLOWS: I don't know what the numbers mean, but I
> wonder if there is a consistency between the bolt patterns and the
> number branded on the package. I am guessing that all 5 bolt versions
> are branded 12831, all 4 bolt versions are branded 12691, and all
> transition units are branded 13101.
This is a dead end. I went looking today and found 5 bolt versions
stamped with 12691, 13101, and 12661. So the number stampings do not
directly correspond to the bolt variations. I also found another 4
bolt version stamped 12691.
>
> P.S. All of my type 2 RiD Decepticon basics have the same number
> imprinted onto the backs of their cards. It's C-1063A 12521. The
> number doesn't change even though they are four different figures. I
> don't have the later release cards with the type 3 tri-lingual
> "Combiners" logo. I'll go to the stores in the next few days and
> figure out if that number changed with the type 3 packaging.
I DID find that the wave 3 cards have the first part of this number
(C1063A) PRINTED onto the backs in black ink (instead of branded on
like the type 2 unilingual combiner logo cards). But although the
first part is set in print, th
last 5 digits vary. I found type 3's with 13021, 12851, or 12571 all
stamped onto their cards after the C1063A. I don't know what it all
means-maybe these are the codes for the distribution or packaging
centers they come from?
And finally, I found a Prowl 2/Side Swipe card that had 13021
branded onto it, too, so these numbers don't seem to be exclusive to
the Decepticons. In fact, I noticed the Megas had similar code
numbers, except they are "B" level prefixes. It reminds me of back in
'84/'85 when the packages came with similar product assortment codes
printed beneath the character art (prefixed with letters, too I might
add).
--
crasysteve with 4 bolt rims and fireblast of 10
http://www.scrambledcity.com
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Message 4 in thread
From: [email protected] (crazysteve)
Newsgroups: alt.toys.transformers
Subject: Re: Attention Freds Workshop (and other RiD variant hunters!)
Well this is just getting RiDiculous. I found a FOURTH variant Mega
Octane. It's another transition unit, this time with 4 bolt rims on
the front 4 tires and 5 bolt rims on the other 6. At this point I am
going to give up because I don't want to find anymore. The potential
number of combinations between 4 and 5 bolt rims is enormous, and I
refuse to buy more than 5 of the same friggin' toy. So I will keep
temptation at bay by not actively searching.
--
crazysteve, glancing at his G1 Onslaughts while a horrifying thought
crosses his mind...
http://www.scrambledcity.com