Astro Magnum / Shockwave: Visual ID Guide: Robot Fighting Gun RG-908

Robot Fighting Gun: RG-908
Part of the Rainer line of toys
Made in Taiwan
1985

Robot Fighting Gun RG-908 group
(click to enlarge)

While many of the Astro Magnum / Shockwave KO figures simply swapped out color schemes, RG-908 is a wonderful example of body remolding on steroids. This Taiwanese manufacture went to great lengths to really change things up from size, shape and the addition of many creative astrological design patterns.

Every variant collection deserves a RG-908 in it!

Robot Fighting Gun art by MCRguy

The creative changes continue...

Robot Fighting Gun RG-908 comes with true dark read translucent plastics.

RG-908 has a very unique battery cover.

Who actually manufactured Robot Fighting Gun RG-908? It was made in Taiwan & Macau, of that we are certain (see below). All over the internet this figure is attributed to a knockoff company called "Four Star". In fact it is often called, "Four Star - Robot Fighting Gun" by collectors. This is inaccurate as this figure was 'not' released by Four Star. Four Star released a line called Transistor Robots. Four Star was primarily taking products manufactured by others and then reselling them under the name 'Transistor Robots'. At some point, in the past, it appears that someone believed this figure came from Four Star and called it such. From there, the rumor just stuck.

The supplier, however, of RG-908 was Rainier. Rainer released a variety of laser pistols and transformable robots. To see more of their offerings (click here) With time we may very well learn the name of the actual manufacturer.

Robot Fighting Gun RG-908 was then distributed through several companies around the world. The primary channel for distribution, however, was clearly via Italy as evidenced by the distributor stickers found on the boxes. Hunting down variant boxes can take collecting to a whole other level.

"GIG" & "Transformabile" stickers

The most famous of these distributors was Italian toy company:
'GIG' - "nel paese delle meraviglie"

Box A. Photo credit: Mike Copelin. (CID distributor Italy)
Box B. Photo credit: Gameswordshop (VDM distributor Italy)
Box C. Photo Credit: Flash (Brabo distributor France)

Box A: another distributor called 'CID' or Centro Italiano Distribuzione Italy.

Box B: While not as famous as GIG, 'VDM' or 'Vi Da Mi' S.A.S Milano Italy would be a close second in distribution power of Italian 'giocattoli' (toys). VDM would distribute other Astro Magnum knockoff figures like (Super Electronic Gun - 4 Changeable ASTRO MAGNUM)

Both boxes above have prices tags. Their cost was 25,000₤ & 30,000₤ Italian Lire, or approximately $30 USD back in the 1980s. Interesting that though distributed through separate companies, both price tags look similar in style.

Box C: distributed via a French company called Brabo. Brabo (France) would also distribute other Astro Magnum variant KOs.

Example of Robot Fighting Gun RG-908 box sold outside of Italy.

RG-908 robot fighting gun Taiwan Shockwave

"Made in Taiwan" sticker vs. box print RG-908

There is no indication that RG-908 ever came with a loose sticker sheet or factory applied stickers.

Many of the Astro Magnum knockoffs used the same instructions over and over again. In this instance, RG-908 Robot Fighting Gun received a modified version of a previously used instruction sheet.

Magic Robot Pistol - Graphic Illustrat
Nike-Ajax Robot

The original instructions belonged to a different figure, (Robot Pistol TG-117). TG-117's instructions said, "THE MAGIC ROBOT PISTOL - GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION". To a certain extent, RG-908 manipulated the TG-117 instructions while leaving behind a glaring new spelling error. RG-908 now reads, "THE MAGIC ROBOT PISTOL - GRAPHIC ILLUSTRAT....".

A lot of these instructions are famous for allowing users to transform their figures into a "Nike-Ajax Robot". Side note: "The world's first operational guided surface-to-air missile, was the Nike Ajax"

Grail figure from France!

A wonderful milestone & transitional Robot Fighting Gun find from France!

Distributed in France via Brabo, this version came with what once was original Astro Magnum instructions translated into French. Almost no effort to make it look legit with varying font styles. Either way, this gave customers in France a way to read the instructions.