Title:
Optimus Prime Laser
Description:
Laser Optimus Prime (1995)
Takara ID number: TRF-13
Accessories: "Laser cannon”, "saber weapon”, missile launcher, 10 missiles, 5 discs, 2 rockets
Laser Optimus Prime (released in Europe under the name "Laser Rod Optimus Prime”) transforms into a mid-1990s Western Star 4964EX, pulling a grey and black fuel tank trailer. The sides of the trailer are decorated with a sticker depicting Prime using a flamethrower to burn down a banner with the words "Optimus Prime Octane” on it. The truck is armed with a disc launcher on the roof of its trailer, which launches five blue discs bearing the Generation 2 Autobot insignia as a knob is turned. Like the other "Laser” toys released this year, Prime features electronics powered by two button-cell batteries; in truck mode, pressing the button on the cab’s roof causes his headlight to light up with yellow LEDs.
In the grand Optimus tradition, the cab of Laser Optimus Prime disconnects to become the highly poseable robot mode of Prime himself. Like Powermaster Prime and Hero Prime, the toy features the iconic windshield pecs and grill abs, despite not actually being formed from the actual truck components they emulate. In robot mode, pressing the button on Prime’s cab (now on his back) activates a red LED in his right fist which illuminates his clear-plastic sword (which stores beneath his legs in truck mode).
Prime’s trailer unfolds via a spring-loaded transformation mechanism in a battle station that is positively bristling with varied weaponry. In addition to the disc launcher, it is armed with a "ripple-fire” missile launcher that fires five missiles, an air-powered rocket launcher like the one previously seen on Hero Optimus Prime, and a small laser cannon that mounts on the base’s main tower. Both the missile launcher and laser cannon can disconnect and be held by Prime; his LED-fist will illuminate the laser cannon like it does his sword. Additional missiles and a second rocket are stored in grooves inside the sides of the trailer.
This mold was redecoed by Takara in 2000 as Car Robots Black Convoy, sans electronics. The following year, it was released by Hasbro as Black Convoy’s 2001 Robots in Disguise franchise counterpart, Scourge, with retooled discs that lacked the Autobot insignia and a blunted sword, again sans electronics. Following this, the next use of the mold was planned to be Universe Toxitron, which ended up being canceled. The modified Scourge tooling was also used when Laser Prime was reissued by Takara in 2006 with a modified deco (see below), and for the e-Hobby exclusive Laser Ultra Magnus that accompanied the reissue’s release, with electronics restored. In 2015, Platinum Edition Year of the Goat Optimus Prime, another repaint version, comes with partially transparent plastic torso.
In addition to being the most popular Generation 2 figure, Laser Optimus Prime was, prior to 2003, a regular contender for most popular Transformers toy ever, back in the days of the annual alt.toys.transformers fan awards; the toy won twice, and actually lost once to his redeco, Scourge.
Takara ID number: TRF-13
Accessories: "Laser cannon”, "saber weapon”, missile launcher, 10 missiles, 5 discs, 2 rockets
Laser Optimus Prime (released in Europe under the name "Laser Rod Optimus Prime”) transforms into a mid-1990s Western Star 4964EX, pulling a grey and black fuel tank trailer. The sides of the trailer are decorated with a sticker depicting Prime using a flamethrower to burn down a banner with the words "Optimus Prime Octane” on it. The truck is armed with a disc launcher on the roof of its trailer, which launches five blue discs bearing the Generation 2 Autobot insignia as a knob is turned. Like the other "Laser” toys released this year, Prime features electronics powered by two button-cell batteries; in truck mode, pressing the button on the cab’s roof causes his headlight to light up with yellow LEDs.
In the grand Optimus tradition, the cab of Laser Optimus Prime disconnects to become the highly poseable robot mode of Prime himself. Like Powermaster Prime and Hero Prime, the toy features the iconic windshield pecs and grill abs, despite not actually being formed from the actual truck components they emulate. In robot mode, pressing the button on Prime’s cab (now on his back) activates a red LED in his right fist which illuminates his clear-plastic sword (which stores beneath his legs in truck mode).
Prime’s trailer unfolds via a spring-loaded transformation mechanism in a battle station that is positively bristling with varied weaponry. In addition to the disc launcher, it is armed with a "ripple-fire” missile launcher that fires five missiles, an air-powered rocket launcher like the one previously seen on Hero Optimus Prime, and a small laser cannon that mounts on the base’s main tower. Both the missile launcher and laser cannon can disconnect and be held by Prime; his LED-fist will illuminate the laser cannon like it does his sword. Additional missiles and a second rocket are stored in grooves inside the sides of the trailer.
This mold was redecoed by Takara in 2000 as Car Robots Black Convoy, sans electronics. The following year, it was released by Hasbro as Black Convoy’s 2001 Robots in Disguise franchise counterpart, Scourge, with retooled discs that lacked the Autobot insignia and a blunted sword, again sans electronics. Following this, the next use of the mold was planned to be Universe Toxitron, which ended up being canceled. The modified Scourge tooling was also used when Laser Prime was reissued by Takara in 2006 with a modified deco (see below), and for the e-Hobby exclusive Laser Ultra Magnus that accompanied the reissue’s release, with electronics restored. In 2015, Platinum Edition Year of the Goat Optimus Prime, another repaint version, comes with partially transparent plastic torso.
In addition to being the most popular Generation 2 figure, Laser Optimus Prime was, prior to 2003, a regular contender for most popular Transformers toy ever, back in the days of the annual alt.toys.transformers fan awards; the toy won twice, and actually lost once to his redeco, Scourge.
Theme:
Generation 2
Manufacturer:
Hasbro
Year:
1995
Country:
United States
Series:
G2
Model Number:
Red Truck
Date Added:
2022-01-09 16:17:26
Automatic Estimated Date:
2024-01-25
Date Added:
2022-01-09 16:17:26
