Warpath 1985 - 100% Complete– Transformers - G1 - Japan – Mini Vehicles - Takara - Autobot - War Path

Description:
I am the original owner of this gem.  I was a Transformers fan as a kid.  Everything went into a box and into the basement for storage until now.

Itemis in “played with” condition. Please see photos or inquire for more details.

- 100%original

- Any Questions or comments are welcome

- Offers Will be considered

Warpath

Notes:

-stressmarks on grey plastic

-TakaraJapan 1984

Variant:

-Type 2a: Takara 1984 Japan: tightspacing, painted eyes, 1 under turret 

(see description below***I believe this is correct***)

Missing:

-nothing!

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AdditionalBackground Info:

G1
Mini Vehicles: Warpath

Warpathwas an Autobot MiniVehicle released in 1985with the second series of Generation 1.Warpath transforms into a General Motors M551 Sheridan Armored Recon/AirborneAssault Vehicle, a lightly-armored Vietnam-era tank.

Origins

His moldwas very likely originally designed by Akio Kitamura to be included in Takara’sMicroman: Microchangeline, but was never released in this capacity due to the line’s cancellation inearly 1984.Unlike Diaclone,the Mini CAR robo assortment of Microchange (of which Warpath was presumably tohave been a part) were intended to represent toy vehicles rather than realones, causing many of the figures to have somewhat distorted proportions.However, the M551 Sheridan was already a very small tank armed with adisproportionate gun, so much of Warpath’s toylike proportions are realistic.Warpath’s US Patent, titled Reconfigurable toy tank (akaTransformers G1 Warpath) was filed on October 25, 1984 (U.S. Patent No.USD290630 S).

Description

Warpath ismostly molded in a maroon red plastic with hardly any decorative colorhighlights, save for his silver plastic tracks and roadwheels. Warpath hashidden rolling wheels beneath his tank mode to allow him to roll despite hisone-piece track and roadwheel details. Warpath was released exclusively withthe inclusion of a rubsign. The rubsign is accommodated by a shallow, squaredepression on the front of the tank hull, unlike 1984 releases, where therubsign was typically placed over existing details, causing them to look out ofplace. His transformation is simple, and very similar to some of the other 1985Minibots. The front of the vehicle is extended, then rotated to form the legsand feet, the arms pull out to the sides and rotate straight down from theshoulders, and the head is flipped up from the hatch on the tank turret.
Date stamp location: Bottom ofvehicle front
Rubsign location: top center offront tank hull

Collector Notes

Warpath isa fairly sturdy figure. The most common damage is a stress mark on the silvertrack through which the turret slides. These marks are caused by rotating theturret down into tank mode when it is not fully slid forward in the track. Themain cannon is part of the lower turret piece, and can sometimes become bent orstressed downward, or occasionally broken completely.

Variants

Warpathclearly has two mold lineages, as a wide or narrow line spacing in the datestamp is preserved through the full production run. The painted mask isprobably the very earliest production, as the US 1985 catalog shows the mockupWarpath having a gray-painted mask. The “bearded” warpath therefore probablyindicates that the 1/2a/3a mold came first, followed closely by the 2b/3b mold.The Type 1 is exceedingly uncommon, with a fairly even distribution of the 2and 3 types. There are also variants produced in France and Greece for theirrespective markets.
Type 1: Takara 1984 Japan (tightspacing), painted mouth, 2 under turret
Type 2a: Takara 1984 Japan (tightspacing), painted eyes, 1 under turret
Type 2b: Takara 1984 Japan (openspacing), painted eyes, 2 under turret
Type 3a: Hasbro 1984 ©Takara 1984Japan (tight spacing), painted eyes, 1 under turret
Type 3b: Hasbro 1984 ©Takara 1984Japan (open spacing), painted eyes, 3 under turret
Type ?FR: ??
Type ?GR: ??

Availability

Warpathwas available worldwide in 1985, but only as a mail-away exclusive in Japan. Hewas also available from 1986 to1988as a mail-in exclusive. He continued to be available in the US and mainlandEurope (this time likely supplemented by the Ceji-produced Type ?FR, see“Variants”, above), and was introduced in Greece (as the El Greco-produced Αχτύπητος[Achtýpitos, Unbeatable]) in 1986.During the early wave of 1986 in the US, Warpath was available with a randomone of ten iron-on character patches.
Case Assortments (Item#/Asst#):1985: Mini Vehicles Asst. 2 (F5903/5710), 3 per 24; early 1986: Mini VehiclesAsst. 3 with Prizes in Disguise Patch (5903/5711.05), 1 per 24; late 1986: MiniVehicles Asst. 3 (5903/5711), 1 per 24
MSRP: $2.99
Mail-Order Price: $4 and 1 RobotPoint (1986), $3.50 and 1 Robot Point (1987-88) OR $4.25 and 0 Robot Points(1987)
Packaging: Blister card withinstructions and Tech Spec on back, white border around vehicle photo (early1985), or gray border around vehicle photo (mid 1985-)
Robot Points: ½ Autobot
Paperwork included: none (1985),iron-on patch with “Prizes in Disguise” entry form (early 1986), “Look Insidefor a Special Offer!” (late 1986), instructions with b/w tech specs (mail-away)

Redecos & Retools

Warpathwas recolored as Treds in the e-HOBBY exclusive G1 Gobots set.

Character Bio

FUNCTION:WARRIOR
“A good shot is worth more than a good intention.”

Thinks he's more impressivethan his comrades do... likes to show off his sharpshooting. Boisterous,loud-mouthed...raucous sense of humor makes him welcome company. Vain—upset byeven the smallest scratch to his gun barrel. Can go 30 mph over roughestterrain, hit a hex-nut 1.5 miles away. Shoots explosives, thermal, cryogenic,acid, sonic shells. Great strength but helpless if upended.

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