2024 TMUK Toy Fu Fanzine - Pre-Transformers

[blueshift]

Theme: Pre-Transformers ('Secret Origins'?)
Deadline: Easter 2024. This is IMPORTANT as I will literally die if I have to do everything in a big rush again
Format: Full colour

Submission guidelines:
Fun and/or informative. Family friendly - there will be kids at the convention, so no articles full of swearing or violence!
Stuff is cool! No excessive bashing please!
If artwork, needs to be in colour by Easter. If you only want to do lineart or colour, let me know and I can match you up with someone it myself!
If text, a page is around 500 words (less if with pictures)
Submissions should be 2-3 pages, but no max length. Check if unsure!


Let me know what you want to do so I can add it to my spreadsheet and make sure we don't have any duplicates!



What is included
This zine will cover all pre-transformers stuff.
What things didn't we get (facts!) It would be good to have people doing an article on each of the various pre-tf lines with pics if possible.
How might things have been different?
What if they used toys from those pre-lines that weren't used in the end? Like Police Sunstreaker, the Waruder, Alphatron? How would they fit into Transformers? With maybe art, comics etc
Maybe any sort of reviews/articles about the original toys?
Anything else!!

The scope (and inspiration!)
Diaclone
tfwiki.net/wiki/Diaclone
Great Robot Base - the HUGE guy - soundwavesoblivion.blogspot.com/2017/02/gigs-diaclone-trasformers-part-2.html
Diatron - blog.kapowtoys.co.uk/tag/kingdam-3-in-1/
Robot Fortress X - blog.kapowtoys.co.uk/diaclone-robot-fortress-x-marks-the-spot/
Diaclone pilot lads
Gats Blocker - tfwiki.net/wiki/File:Gats_Blocker_with_keshi.jpg
Waruder, not just the Insecticons but also this lad and others: soundwavesoblivion.blogspot.com/2016/02/grandstand-convertors-siclonoid.html
Change Attacars (the cars with flip out weapons but no robot mode) blog.kapowtoys.co.uk/diaclone-change-attacars-gig-trasformer-destroy-cars/

Also:
Powered Convoy's Buggy
Red Sunstreaker
Police Sunstreaker
Black Ironhide
Blue & Hellow Trailbreaker
Crosscut
Blue Bluestreak
Red Hoist
Tigertrack
Red Mirage
Marlboro Wheeljack
Red Tracks
Multicolour Devastator tfwiki.net/wiki/File:Diaclone_Constructicons.jpg
Diaclone Blitzwing and that Triple Changer we never got tfwiki.net/wiki/File:Diaclone_Overcharge_and_Rotorbolt.jpg



Microman
Microman fansite - www.micromanforever.com/microdesign.htm
Good overview on TF Wiki - tfwiki.net/wiki/Micro_Change
LOADS of stuff not used in Transformers including:
That weird pre-Tako Tank thing (looking at you Andy K!) www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-microman-takoroyear-acro-navy-468271127
Binocular Robo www.micromanforever.com/MC19scopeman.htm
Megatron's origin as the specific Man from Uncle gun
The big cassettes www.micromanforever.com/MC08&MC09.htm
7-2-1 formation www.micromanforever.com/721formation.htm
Beam Robo: tfwiki.net/wiki/File:Hardcase_Micro-Change_Toy.jpg
Robo Magnum (which inspired Treadshot) tfwiki.net/wiki/File:MicroChangeGunRoboMagnum.jpg
The Bumblebee/Cliffjumper etc vehicles were super deformed as they were based on Choro-Q pennyracers. Is there anything that can be done with that?
And the mysterious BRAWNBLEBEE


Beetras
Where the four Deluxe Insecticons came from.
There was also an unmade fifth one, a female ladybug called Beet-Papil tfwiki.net/wiki/File:Beet-Papil.jpg


Mysterians
tfwiki.net/wiki/Mysterians
The line which would have had some of the Minibots originally, might be nice to see Brawn, Gears, Hugger and Windcharger with slightly different looks art-wise. Gear's face looks wild on the card art.


Macross
Jetfire and where he came from and who his pals were!


Dorvack
This was the line Roadbuster and Whirl came from... but there was a third, unused figure, this thing: www.collectiondx.com/toy_review/1983/bonaparte_tulcas_real_proportion_model_172


Astro Magnum
Galactic Man! Shockwave! Shackwave!


Toybox
Where Omega Supreme came from! We know him as the mighty Grandstand Omegatron
Sky Lynx was also from this line, don't think he had any alternate colours though


There might be more! If you're unsure of it's in scope, just ask!


Contribution planning:

Diaclone
Turnbull - Article on alternate history comic world where Diaclone was part of GI Joe comics
Martin - Story/profile on Grandstand Converter Alphatron/Diaclone Gats Blocker
Sixo - Pics of triple changing helicopter?
Blueshift - Powered Buggy details/stuff

Microman
Sixo - Pics or article on Takatoku

Mysterians
Avon Fox - article

Macross
Karl?
Iblis?
Pics - Sixo


Dorvak
Sixo - Pics

Astro Magnum
Ralph - Weird story about Astro Magnum
Sixo - Pics?

Beetras
Gav - Ladybird book story about Beet-Papil
Sens - something
Sixo - Pics


Something TBC
Turnbull and Burns - Diceman style comic strip?
Ben - Some Art
Jim/Dan/Kit - Comic strip
Matt D

[Andy Turnbull]

I want to do an article of the comic history if Diaclone had been brought in as a G.I. Joe spin off line and incorporated into the Joe comic stories of Larry Hama.

[Andy Turnbull]

I would also like to do a Dice Man style comic strip - need to speak with Burns.

[Grand Moff Muffin]

Put me down for a story with accompanying character profile, about how the ultimate Special Team envisaged by the Autobots and/or Creation Matrix, but who sadly never got built for lack of sufficiently good combiner technology, was ALPHA SUPREME (a recolour of the Grandstand Convertor 'Alphatron'). Omega Supreme was the first and least ambitious Autobot combiner - Alpha Supreme would have been the ultimate fourteen-combiner.

Martin

[The Doctor]

I CLAIM ASTRO MAGNUM! I will do a bit for those.

-Ralph

[The Doctor]

Sept 16, 2023 18:53:18 GMT Andy Turnbull said:

I would also like to do a Dice Man style comic strip - need to speak with Burns.

Hullo.

-Ralph

[Benn]

As always, I'm down for doing some scribbles.

[Bogatan]

I'm sure I can do something about amtc.

[Jaymz]

As replied via email [and already noted], me and Dan will do a comic

[The Huff]

I'll definitely contribute as usual so will have can think about what.

Very coincidental that I had my Diaclone toys out for a fiddle on Wednesday!

[Pinwig]

I'll contribute, but I'll need to read a bit before I can work out what.

[Andy Turnbull]

Tightening up my notes and will send on so you can have a butchers.

Philip Ayres - will need your help on some research and consistency with this one, will also fire you on a copy.

[Philip Ayres]

No problem, I stand (sit) ready to assist

[Philip Ayres]

Do we need something about Grandstand Converters and how they brought over many non TF pre TFs?

[Philip Ayres]

Sept 17, 2023 7:24:39 GMT The Huff said:

I'll definitely contribute as usual so will have can think about what.

Very coincidental that I had my Diaclone toys out for a fiddle on Wednesday!

What Diaclone has Matt got?

[The Doctor]

Sept 17, 2023 10:44:18 GMT Philip Ayres said:

Do we need something about Grandstand Converters and how they brought over many non TF pre TFs?

You have volunteered!

-Ralph

[blueshift]

Sept 17, 2023 10:52:09 GMT The Doctor said:

Sept 17, 2023 10:44:18 GMT Philip Ayres said:

Do we need something about Grandstand Converters and how they brought over many non TF pre TFs?

You have volunteered!

-Ralph

Yes, go phil go

[Andy Turnbull]

Sept 17, 2023 10:42:36 GMT Philip Ayres said:

No problem, I stand (sit) ready to assist

Sent on just now.

[The Huff]

Sept 17, 2023 10:47:01 GMT Philip Ayres said:

Sept 17, 2023 7:24:39 GMT The Huff said:

I'll definitely contribute as usual so will have can think about what.

Very coincidental that I had my Diaclone toys out for a fiddle on Wednesday!

What Diaclone has Matt got?

Not many:

Cosmo Car, Gats Blocker, Black Van and Gun (Browning) but I also include my Powerdashers in the collection too.

[Philip Ayres]

The Diaclone sets

www.diaclone.net/orid/diaatackm/roller.html
www.diaclone.net/orid/diaguts/set.html
www.diaclone.net/orid/dia037/index.html

Browning is Microchange (Microman) not Diaclone

soundwavesoblivion.blogspot.com/2018/03/browning-m1910-mc-07-micro-change.html

For more Diaclone see

www.diaclone.net/orid/list.html

For more Microchange see

www.micromanforever.com/1983microchange.htm
www.micromanforever.com/1984transformers.htm

I've got the Diaclone book from a few years back but one of the big holes in my guidebook collection is a Microman/Microchange book. It's Microman's 50th next year so I'm hoping Hero-X will oblige

[legios]

Definitely thinking about something on the Macross front. I've had a weird story idea relating to Special Armoured Battallion Dorvack, but it may be too close to things that are already being done for other properties. Might pivot it to a very short article about the Tulcas instead.

Karl

[The Huff]

Sept 17, 2023 13:04:05 GMT Philip Ayres said:

Browning is Microchange (Microman) not Diaclone

My Browning (Or Gun as I think he's called) is definitely Diaclone - its on the box.

(And yes, I know he would have originally been Microchange)

[Philip Ayres]

Ah so a Joustra Diaclone one?

tfsquareone.blogspot.com/2014/12/browning-one-figure-3-types-of-robot-art.html

tfsquareone.blogspot.com/2014/03/browning-in-europe.html

[Kingoji]

Gutted I couldn't fit anything in this year. Definitely want in on this.

[lubalin]

I'll get in on this, maybe a two page strip? I'll find a writer and see what we can come up with.

[Philip Ayres]

As part of my fanzine article I took a top secret photo today.

In the course of packing up after my Palisades Pharoid decided to snap it's O-Ring.

Matt must therefore fit a new one for me

[Benn]

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO FOR THIS

[Pinwig]

I'm in the same boat. I was thinking about this the other day, Easter's been and Matt isn't asking yet, I thought. I'd better get on. But what? No idea. I know nowt about the topic.

[Philip Ayres]

I went considerably away from my originally planned topic of Grandstand Convertors, and ended up writing an article about Microman's relationship to Transformers, so is that of any use to you?

[Benn]

I might start off drawing a Macross or a buncha Diaclone stuff.

legios, need anything in particular?