Once upon a time in my early teens I had to save my weekly allowance for a couple of months before I could buy an original Transformers G1 toy. I only managed to save enough to buy two: Sideswipe and Sunstreaker. Then later when I was overseas, I bought Wheeljack which I was unable to find when I returned back to Malaysia.
Last weekend back in Sitiawan I finally found Wheeljack somewhere in one of the cupboards, so I put the three of them together for a photo shoot.
Here are Sideswipe, Wheeljack and Sunstreaker, from left to right. One of Wheeljack’s arm is missing due to some sort of unfortunate accident I have no recollection about. I was also disappointed that Sunstreaker’s arm missiles have no spring-loaded firing mechanism, so I made one up myself using a knife and a spring from a pen.[[image:genone01.jpg:Robot Modes:center:0]]
Two Lamborghini Countachs and one Lancia Stratos. Sideswipe’s doors have come off (they’re just placed on there precariously) and Wheeljack’s spoilers have broken off during transit from Scotland and gone AWOL. [[image:genone02.jpg:Alt Modes:center:0]]
Some parts of the toys are die cast metal, which according to Optimus Primal in the Beast Wars episode The Agenda: “It’s a lost art.” All of their tires are made of rubber. Very good quality toys, they are. I wish I had the money to buy more back in those days. I’m almost certain I saw Jazz, Prowl and Hound in Super Kinta back in the 80s.
