Robot Pistol TG-117 : Part 2 (Versions 5-9)

Transformable TG-177 Robot Pistol - Part 2
Astro Magnum Knockoff
"Made in Taiwan"

Before you begin (Part 2) of Transformable TG-117: Robot Pistol, we invite you to first review (PART 1) which contains versions (V1-V4) as well as offering background comments and overview images. For (PART 1) Please (Click Here)

(V5)
  (V5) Robot Pistol TG-117:  Red Banner "Die-casting"

(V5) Notice the figure's ears/antennas are now in the pointed UP position.
Box features brighter blue sky with light streaks.
'L' in Pistol passes the right edge of the figure's right leg.
Box says "Made in Taiwan" on the front.

(V5) TG-117 Robot Pistol displays a red banner in the bottom right corner of the box which reads, "DIE-CASTING".

 

This picture shows a used sticker sheet. It also has an alternative instruction sheet with the complete word "Illustration" vs. only "Illustrat"

 

Battery cover has two stickers. Top sticker says, "POWER SOURLE - Pull Up". Notice "SOURLE" vs. SOURCE. The second gold sticker says, "MADE IN TAIWAN"

The sound switch label says, THORP - MAGNOID which is a departure from BULCAN - MAGNUM. The sound switch is a shallow 'V'.

Of the two boxed versions we have, one was imported into Italy and the other into the UK.

A. Imported into Italy via, MacDue S.R.L., Milano Via Morosini. The information above that reads: Giocattolo conforme alle prescrizioni della legge 18-2-1983 n. 46, per bambini di eta superiore ai tre anni, importato dalla ditta 2 Mac Due.

This information basically states that this figure conforms with an Italian child safety law from 1983. The date is the date of the law, not when the toy was manufactured.

B. The UK sticker lets us know it was sold for £9.99 back in the 80's.

Advertisement credit: Roboplastic Apocalypse

1984 Decemeber - "Toys R Joy" in Glenn Falls New York
Print advertisement for Robot Pistol for $7.99

Also sold at actual Toys R Us.

Photo Credit: AngryCanadianDecepticon

 Examples of a (V5) being sold in North America via KAY-BEE Toys.
KAY-BEE price tag of $16.99. Kiddie Land sold (V5)s for $12.97.

Transformable Robot Pistol TG-117
Sold at Murphy's for $11.97

Toys & Gift Outlet price tag
Suggested Price: $16.95
Our price: $9.99

 

(V5) Video in Portuguese (Brazil).

 Credit: Boni-M Show

NEW!!
Astro Magnum Collectors Guide & Archive 50 figures!
(Click Here)

 

(V6)
  (V6) Robot Pistolet TG-117:  French Canada version

(V6) Robot Pistol's ears/antennas are still in the pointed UP position.
Box features brighter blue sky with light streaks and is very similar to (V5).
'L' in Pistol passes the right edge of the figure's right leg.
Box is now bilingual in French & English.

 

Scanned box for the (V6) Robot Pistol Canada version.
Robot Pistolet has 4 modes:
1. Un Canon
2. Deux Canons
3. Pistolet Laser
4. Astro-Magnum

 Marketed with a "Montrose Industries" label on the box back as a Canadian distributor based in Montreal, Quebec. Lower box corner reads, "métal coulé" or die cast metal.

(V6) box comes with an almost identical figure to that found in the (V4) box.
Pink Crystal translucent parts are the same too.
The only difference between the figures are the transistor colors.

Click here to see more on the (V4) figure.

 

 

(V7)
  (V7) Robot Pistol TG-117:  Glare Effects Box

 (V7) TG-117 ears/antennas remain in the pointed UP position.
Most notable is the huge yellow lens flare / glare effects off the figures cannon arm.
Also noteworthy are the new smooth reflective designs behind the gun mode picture.
Of all the boxes, (V7), displays the most complete robot mode photograph with only a small tip of the right foot being cut off.
'L' in Pistol passes the right edge of the figure's right leg.
Box says "Made in Taiwan" on the front.

 

 

Hand on (V7) Robot Pistol is a Pink color but it looks almost milky opaque vs. a clear translucent.

Example 2 of (V7).
Note unapplied new sticker sheet.
Distinct Lime Green transistors.

Example 3 of (V7).
On the back of the box, note the distinct white swooshes off the rear of the pistol photograph, as if the pistol was flying into frame. In addition you can see either the white 'Power Source' or 'Power Sourle' sticker on the battery cover.

A. The sound switch has 4 small ridges unlike the shallow V switch on other TG-117 figures.
Sound switch options are: THORP or MAGNOID sounds.

B. Our particular example did not come with stickers on the battery cover. Most likely they came off or where removed since Example 3 above came with a sticker on it's battery cover.

C. In the manufacturing process, the diagonal lines ghostly drift outside the circle.
This is seen on other non-TG-117 figures so it is noteworthy.

 

 

(V8)
  (V8) Astroid Blaster - Transformable TG-117

 

 At this time, these are unfortunately the only known images of 'Astroid Blaster'.
This 'Astroid' Blaster vs. 'Asteroid' Blaster name comes from the side of the (V2) box.
The white barcode on the front of the box reads: Gobatron Roboblaster

On the front of the (V2) box example below, we also find the same white barcode that reads: Gobatron Roboblaster
Why? What is Gobatron Roboblaster?

(V2) box with Gobatron Roboblaster barcode

Astroid Blaster appears to have Pink translucent plastics.
It also appears to have come with the "Graphic Illustrat" instructions along with the optional sticker sheet.

 

 

(V9)
  (V9) Robot Pistol TG-117: Chinese

Similar to (V8), these are unfortunately the only known images of a (V9) box and figure. There are no images of the front of the box. Here we only see the back of the box which is identical to a (V5) back except for the yellow & red Chinese writing in the top right corner.

Since the images are small and very low-resolution the only Chinese symbols that can be made out are: 知合金
Translation services convert this to: 'smart alloy'.
Ultimately, the yellow and red label probably references 'DIE CAST' in Chinese.
It is unknown if the Chinese writing is a sticker OR printed directly on the box.

Figure has what appears to be custom purple Decepticon stickers applied to it's shoulders.
Figure appears to be most similar to a (V3) figure. It has Pink Crystal plastic, 3 pegs to the right arm, transistors to the left chest and a gray eye.

Perhaps one day other images of this figure and box will become available.

TG-117 Robot Pistol comes in a variety of boxes and figure variants. We suspect that other boxes will surface overtime. Have a variant that you are looking to sell? Please let us know.

(Astro Magnum Home Page)

astromagnumguide@gmail.com

 

 

 

Robot Pistol TG-117 : Part 1 (Versions 1-4)

Transformable TG-177 Robot Pistol - Part 1
Astro Magnum Knockoff
"Made in Taiwan"

"Can someone help me identify my gray colored Shockwave?"

We frequently see posts like this online. 9 out of 10 times, well meaning individuals will default to suggesting it must be "Galactic Man (Shackwave)" from Radio Shack, simply because it is gray colored.

The primary focus of this visual guide is to help the collecting community expand their understanding on the vast amounts of Astro Magnum mold variants that exist and to help them successfully ID figures. 95% of variants are gray. Of those, a huge majority are in fact "Robot Pistol TG-117" and not (Galactic Man).

Robot Pistol has at least nine known box variants. This post, Part 1, will focus on (V1-V4). Part 2 will focus on (V5-V9). (Click here for Part 2)

"TG-117" was supplied & distributed by Tai Fong Electric Co., LTD of Taipei Taiwan. Tai Fong released a variety of transformable robots like: TS-666 Traxtor - Robotic Missle Landcruiser, TS-558 Robotic Radio & TS-336 5-in-1 Convertible Fighter. In addition Tai Fong released a variety of laser guns & robots with the prefix of 'TG'. Tai Fong released: TG-107 B/O Space Gun, TG-108 Intergalactic Hunter Gun & TG-113 B/O Cosmo Phenix.

TG-113 Cosmo Phenix space pistol - Tai Fong

TG-107 Cosmo Phenix space gun - Tai Fong

This post will focus on TG-117 Robot Pistol which was released in 1985. This was the same time period that Shockwave hit the market.

The images above & below come from the 1985 Tai Fong toy dealer catalog. Here we see the use of 'TG-117' Robot Pistol. It appears that Tai Fong licensed the mold to Astro Magnum and produced it themselves. Tai Fong lists their factory at: No.2, lane 468, Sec 2. Chien Shing Road, Shing Feng Hsiang, Hsin Chu Taiwan, R.O.C.

Note: "Unavailable in the states, as copyright involved" <<<Transformers Shockwave
While Tai Fong started off by releasing TG-117 outside of the USA, it eventually made its way to the states nonetheless.

In addition, we see a very interesting small glimpse of what almost appears to be a prototype drawing for TG-118 Robot Pistol a figure that looks very similar to TG-117 but on a slightly smaller scale. 

A Parallel Sister Mold: The Strategy Behind the TG-118

A closer inspection of the catalog text completely upends the theory that the TG-118 was a budget release, revealing instead a brilliant piece of parallel engineering. The text explicitly states that the TG-118 features the exact same "W/2 sounds and lights" configuration, matching box dimensions, and case-packing specs as its fully photographed neighbor, the TG-117. Furthermore, knowing that the real-world TG-117 utilized a vibrant, translucent pink plastic cannon barrel—perfectly matching the distinct needle-tip styling sketched on the TG-118—it becomes clear that these two toys were engineered as direct aesthetic sister designs built around a shared internal chassis. In the high-stakes 1980s Taiwanese export market, tooling factories routinely maximized their electronic component investments by designing multiple distinct outer plastic housings around a single internal circuit board, offering international wholesalers two stylistic choices for the same toy.

However, the driving force behind this parallel design was almost certainly legal survival. Tai Fong’s catalog openly acknowledges the tightening net around their robot pistol lines, explicitly warning that the TG-117 was "unavailable in the states, as copyright involved." Because their flagship mold was walking a dangerous legal tightrope, the sketched TG-118 represents an in-house countermeasure to salvage their engineering investments. By keeping the identical electronic footprint and translucent pink components but sketching a heavily stylized geometric body, Tai Fong attempted to alter the toy’s silhouette enough to bypass western customs and copyright radar. It was a rapid-response alternative pitch to U.S. importers: if the TG-117 was legally untouchable, they could tool up the TG-118 shell instead. Ultimately, as legal clampdowns intensified in late 1985, western wholesalers backed away from the pistol molds entirely, leaving the defensive TG-118 redesign trapped forever on the catalog page.

PREVIEW of Tai Fong TG-117 boxes (V1-V8)

(V9) not pictured here. See Part 2

Transformable TG-117 Robot Pistol, per it's box, has 4 modes. They include:
1. Single Barrel
2. Double Barrel
3. Laser Gun
4. Astro Magnum

Astro Magnum is TG-117 in robot mode. In a few variants, the term Astro Magnum was substituted for 'Astroid Blaster' (spelled wrong vs. Asteroid Blaster). 

Box also reads: 2 Space sounds with flashing lights. For ages 3 and up. Uses one 9V(006P) battery (not included)

Photo Credit: RoboPlastic Apocalypse
Playland advertisement: 12/9/84

Photo Credit: RoboPlastic Apocalypse
Eckerd Drug advertisement: 12/2/84

9 box variants (V1-V9)
The following variants are listed in chronological order based on their release dates as can best be determined by the figure, instruction and box modifications.

(V1-V4) = BOX VERSIONS WITH THE EARS DOWN

(V1)
(V1) Robot Pistol TG-117:  Blank bottom right corner

Photo Credit: SSJ Rodimus

Of all the boxes, this is the simplest and cleanest TG-117 Robot Pistol box. The bottom right corner is left blank while other versions typically have graphics there. The box does not mention that it was "Made in Taiwan", other versions eventually will. Notice that the figure photography on the box has the 'ears down' to the side of the head.

 Box features an almost cloudy gray with main blue streak.
Figure's right leg and the right edge of the 'L' in Pistol line up.

Photo Credit: SSJ Rodimus

This is the first release of TG-117 Robot Pistol figure (F1). The figure photography used on boxes (V1-V4) are all of the (F1) figure. Very few pictures exist of the (V1) box or the (F1) figure.

Example 2 of a (V1) box and (F1) Figure with broken off cannon tip.

Photo Credit: DX Robo

Example 3:
Sound switch is a shallow 'V'. Sound switch label reads "BULCAN - MAGNUM" similar to an original licensed Astro Magnum. (V1 & V2) are the only variants of TG-117 with "BULCAN - MAGNUM" on the sound switch.

 

(V2)
(V2) Robot Pistol TG-117:  Yellow "Die-casting" Triangle

(V2) Notice the figure's ears/antennas are still pointed in the 'downward' position.
Box continues to feature an almost cloudy gray with main blue streak.
Figure's right leg and the right edge of the 'L' in Pistol still line up.

 

(V2) TG-117 displays a distinct yellow triangle in the bottom right corner of the box which reads, "DIE-CASTING".

 

Battery cover has a "MADE IN TAIWAN" gold sticker.
Second sticker below reads, " BATTERY ENERGY Pull UP".

Sound switch is a shallow 'V'. Sound switch label reads "BULCAN - MAGNUM" similar to an original licensed Astro Magnum. (V1 & V2) are the only variants of TG-117 with "BULCAN - MAGNUM" on the sound switch.

New, unapplied sticker sheet.

Robot Pistol did not come with factory applied stickers. Buyers were provided with an optional sticker sheet. There were no instructions as to wear the stickers should be placed, so at best buyers could look at the photography on the box and then try to mimic it.

Instructions: The Magic Robot Pistol. Graphic "Illustrat" vs. Illustration.
Instructions show the various forms for TG-117. It includes the saying, "Nike-Ajax Robot".
(Robot Fighting Gun RG-908) instructions are very similar and thus point to a connection between the two figures & the manufacture.

Tai Fong released TB-931
calling it: The Magic Robot Car
Similar to: The Magic Robot Pistol
Note: IC3SOUND graphic

(V3)
(V3) Robot Pistol TG-117:  "BUY ME A BATTERY"

(V3) Notice the TG-117's ears/antennas are still pointed in the 'downward' position.
Box still features an almost cloudy gray with main blue streak like (V1 & V2)
Figure's right leg and the right edge of the 'L' in Pistol line up.

 

(V3) TG-117  Box now has white circles printed on it saying: "buy me a battery".
It also has printed: "Regular $19.99 Retail" with 795.45-8 item number.

 

Despite the printed $19.99 printed price on the boxes, both of our boxed example have a coded price tag sticker on the box bottoms. These stickers say:
795468  $12.99
*ROBOT PISTLD
184 M47 TNA or 229 M40 TNA
The last line on each sticker is some kind of unique code, meaning = unknown currently.

SIDE NOTE: These stickers also appear on the 1983 Intecs (Spark Man) boxes.
Several things lead us to believe that SPARK MAN transitioned into TG-117. A subsequent post will be made demonstrating this transition.

UPDATE: These prices stickers appear to have come from Spencer Gifts, the store found in just about every 1980s mall.

Photo Credit: Brandon Alamo - Rogue Five Toys

(V3) Figure came with a hole through the entire left hand.
Was this hole intended to hold something but then the manufacture changed their mind?
(Robot Fighting Gun RG-908) has a hole in it's hand to hold it's shield/barrel cover. RG-908's shield does not fit in TG-117 hand hole.

Hole in the hand of (V3) TG-117 Robot Pistol

A. Gold "Made in Taiwan" sticker has fallen off but the sticker residue remains.
Lower sticker reads ""POWER SOURLE - Pull Up". Notice "SOURLE" vs. SOURCE.
Classic KO spelling error.

B. The sound switch label says, THORP - MAGNOID which is a departure from BULCAN - MAGNUM. The sound switch is a shallow 'V'.

Instructions: The Magic Robot Pistol. Graphic "Illustrat" vs. Illustration.
Instructions show the various forms for TG-117. It includes the saying, "Nike-Ajax Robot".

 

(V4)
  (V4) Robot Pistol TG-117:  Red Banner "Die-casting"

(V4) Notice the figure's ears/antennas are still pointed in the 'downward' position.
Box remains the same cloudy gray with main blue streak like (V1-V3)
Unlike (V1 -V3) the photo of the figure in robot mode is smaller in scale and therefore the figure's right leg and the right edge of the 'L' in Pistol do not line up any longer.
The 'L' goes past the right leg by 1/4".
For the first time, the box now says "Made in Taiwan" on the front.

All boxes appear to have been closed with 'tape' from the side flap onto the front of the box. Note the tape residue on the photos above and below.

 

Photo Credit: Comic Alley Toys - Canada

Several examples of (V4) boxes have been found with white stickers in both French & English. These are import stickers into Montreal Quebec Canada.
"Fabriqué en Taïwan"

Please note: The figures that actually came in (V4) boxes appear to be varied.
The (V4) figure above is the most consistent of them all.

(V4) Sound switch and battery cover.

Similar to (V3):

The sound switch label says, THORP - MAGNOID. The sound switch is a shallow 'V'.

Gold "Made in Taiwan" sticker
Lower sticker reads ""POWER SOURLE - Pull Up". Notice "SOURLE" vs. SOURCE.

Again, Part 2 will focus on TG-117 Robot Pistol (V5-V9) figures.
To be continued... (CLICK HERE) for Part 2