3-in-1 ROBOT GUN

3-in-1 ROBOT GUN
1986

 3-in-1 ROBOT GUN

A Truly Mysterious Vintage Robot Inspired by Astro Magnum

This intriguing vintage 3-in-1 robot gun has puzzled collectors for years. Although only a few images of this figure exist, very little verified information is available about its origins or manufacturer.

What we can confirm is that the chest piece of this 3-in-1 Robot Gun is a direct copy of the classic Astro Magnum mold. The distinctive clear red gun sight also mirrors the design of Astro Magnum, further suggesting a strong connection—or perhaps an unlicensed reproduction.

Because documentation is so scarce, this figure remains one of the more mysterious robot toys circulating among vintage collectors. If anyone has more details, history, or additional photos, your insight could help shed light on this fascinating piece of retro robot toy history.

So, what do we actually know about this elusive figure?
Let’s explore the mystery together!

Catalog Images

 1986 
Reeves International toy dealer catalog
featuring '3 IN 1 Robot Gun'
Black version with gold chrome 

1. Robot mode (yellow eyes)

2. Gun mode

3. Spaceship mode (gold chest rectangle)

Alternate Color Variants
Silver chrome legs & red chest rectangle

Photo Credit: padillarrobertt Instgram

A vintage catalog from Chung’s International Co. LTD. showcases the “3 IN 1 ROBOT GUN” in both its robot mode and gun mode. The catalog image reveals two distinct color variants displayed side-by-side:

1. Navy Blue Variant – shown on the left, notably without the eye stickers applied.
2. Dark Gray / Black Variant – shown on the right.

An important detail for collectors:
These are two separate physical figures, not the same toy photographed twice and placed together in the catalog layout.

Photo Credit: Roboplastic Apocalypse

Battery operated "3 IN 1 Robot Gun" displayed in all 3 modes.
Notice the figure now has 'silver' eye stickers applied.

Interesting to note the catalog has it shown next to another robot gun:
B/O 'F14 Laser Fighter'
F14 Laser Fighter was manufactured by Tai Fong of Taiwan.


Who Made 3-in-1 Robot Gun?

The Mystery of Tai Fong’s 1985 TG-118 2-in-1 Robot Pistol Prototype

In 1985, Tai Fong distributed a product catalog to toy dealers, and among its pages was an intriguing prototype illustration labeled TG-118 2 in 1 Robot Pistol. The artwork is especially interesting because the robot’s cannon arms are shown without a barrel cover, a detail that sets it apart from later known designs.

At the time, Tai Fong already offered another transforming weapon toy, the TG-117 2-in-1 Robot Pistol. This raises a major question for collectors and toy historians:
Why introduce another robot pistol when one already existed in the lineup?

We now believe that the unreleased TG-118 eventually evolved into what fans recognize today as the 1986 “3 in 1 Robot Gun.” This theory is strengthened by the fact that no additional records, photos, or confirmed releases of a product under the name TG-118 have ever surfaced.

The TG-118 remains one of Tai Fong’s most puzzling catalog entries—an early glimpse at a toy that may have been redesigned before reaching the market.

(Photoshopped restored Image - not A.I., original picture below)
3-IN-1 ROBOT GUN
Battery Operated
Robot
Space Ship
Robot Gun
Item No: HC-633

Photo Credit: St3gOs4uR
Giocattolivechi.com

Currently, the only known boxed example of '3-in-1 Robot Gun'.
Left shows: foam insert, broken clear red gun sight and the instructions.
Note: Gold chrome eyes.

Do you have any information or photographs of 3-in-1 Robot Gun?
Let us know!
astromagnumguide@gmail.com

PENTABOT : Royal Condor Variants

PENTABOT
Royal Condor 
S.R.M. Co. Inc

PENTABOT
Visual Checklist / Archive
of the various releases of Pentabot
Based on Poplar's Acrobunch アクロバンチ from Japan
1985-1987

Size comparison of Arcubots/Pentabot next to 
Transformers G1 Optimus Prime and GIJOE Cobra Commander

This post will visually document a variety of
 variant Pentabot figures & boxes.



VARIANTS
1. (Original) Acrobunch (Poplar / Clover)
2. Pentabot (Royal Condor)
3. Pentabot (Royal Condor) French
4. Thorn Rock (Royal Condor) French
5. Pentabot (TTW Toys)
6. Arcubots (TTW Toys)
7. Arcubots (TTW Toys) Astro-Form
8. Variobot (Toyco) French & English
9. Variobot (variant font) French & English
10. Variobot (variant font) Galaxy

Although the figure itself is identical across all the variant boxes, there is one notable difference worth highlighting—the stickers on the red wings. 
These variations include Arcobunch, Pentabot, Thorn-Rock, and Variobot stickers, each adding a unique touch for collectors and fans.

The Strange Story of Pentabot

While we usually provide background information on the figures featured here, this time we recommend watching the excellent video above instead. Jeff from The Classic Comics Forum delivers a clear and engaging overview of the history, making it the perfect resource for anyone looking to learn more about the history of Pentabot.

1

Photo Credit: RoboToyDays

Acrobunch in Devil-Land
Poplar / Clover
This is the original figure and mold from which Pentabot 
was produced, making it an essential piece of history for 
vintage robot and transforming toy collectors.

2

1985
PENTABOT
Blue Box
Royal Condor (SRM)
 Item No. 6480
Die cast metal 6 in 1 robot toy
Robot converts to 5 vehicles
Toys-r-us $29.97
Full box (6 sides)


Foam insert tray with additional parts 
and option sticker sheets. In addition, you see Pentabot's
sword and blaster gun.

3

Photo Credit: Lulu Berlu

1986
PENTABOT
French Blue Box
"Plastique et metal 6 robots en un"
Slip over box only

 

1986
French toy catalog featuring:
PENTABOT
French Blue Box
Also featured is French Hergoss Robotech,
to learn more (click here)

1986 
French Toy Distributor Catalog featuring Pentabot

4

THORN-ROCK
French Blue Box
"Plastique et metal 6 robots en un"
Slip over box only

The Acrobunch cartoon series was known as:
 "L'Empire des 5" in France
'Antenne 2' logo in the top right.

The Thorn-Rock Cartoon was also spelled out as:
"L'Empire Des Cinq"
It was broadcast on Antenne 2, a French public television station

 5

PENTABOT
Red Grid Box Variant
TTW Toys
TTW 6480
Made in Taiwan
Full box (6 sides)

6

ARCUBOTS
France - Red Grid Box
TTW Toys
TTW 6480
Box Front
Full box (6 sides)
Die cast metal 6 in 1 robot toy
Metal moule robot jouet "6 dansl"

ARCUBOTS
France
Box back
Made in Taiwan for (left blank)
Fabrique a Taiwan pour (left blank)

 

7

ARCUBOTS
ASTRO-FORM
Canada
Box Front

ARCUBOTS
ASTRO-FORM
Box Back
TTW Toys
TTW 6480
Made in Taiwan for Fabrique a Taiwan pour 
Videl Distributing Corp
Concord, Ontario L4K 2L7
Astro-Form is a registerd Trade Mark of Videl.
To learn about Videl Astro-Form Sludge Dinobot (click here)

8

VARIOBOT
French & English Red to Black grid box
Standard pink to blue font
"Pentabot sticker on wings"

(Box back)

Distributed by: Toyco R1004 
 Boite Postale 1104 - Plattsburgh, NY 12901
Boite Postale 1496 - Place Bonaventure - Monteal, Quebec H5A 1H5

Made in Taiwan
Toyco (Canada) also released 'ROBO-LOCK Variobot'

9

VARIOBOT
French & English Red to Black grid box
Variant Red, White & Blue Font
Metal Moule 6 dans 1 robot
Die Cast Metal 6 in 1 Robot Toy
"Variobot sticker on the wings"

Photo Credit: padillarrobertt Instgram

Vintage toy dealer 'Chung's International Co. LTD.'
 catalog featuring "Variobot"

in both robot and vehicles modes 

10

VARIOBOT
Variant Metallic Font
Galaxy background
English only
"Variobot sticker on the wings"




PENTABOT 
Advertisements


(Click to enlarge)
Print ad for: Thorn Rock, Attackbot and Tankbot (top right).
Also includes some Gobots, Sectaurs and more!

Photo Credit: Roboplastic Apocalypse

1985 - Sept 29th
US Peoples Drug newspaper ad featuring
SRM Toys Pentabot for $18.99
Die Cast Metal 6 in 1 Robot Toy
Royal Condor was a toy line inside of SRM

French toy catalog featuring Thorn Rock - Pentabot

1986
Francajou jouet catalogue
Thorn-Rock with Pentabot wings


1987
Prodij toy catalog (French)
Thorn-Rock

Oddity

Photo Credit: Darnation

In this photo, you can see the “Stunt Robot Car” (Chuan-Shin Toys), a retro toy that features an interesting design choice by its manufacturer. To enhance the robot mode, they attached a knockoff (KO) set of Pentabot wings to the back of the figure. While these wings are noticeably thinner and decorated with different stickers, they are clearly inspired by — and modeled after — the original Pentabot wings.

MYSTERY : Transforming Robot KOs

MYSTERY COMPANY ?

HELP! Who did it?

In 1985, an unidentified toy company took a surprising step in the world of Taiwanese transforming robots—by gathering a set of seemingly unrelated knockoff figures and uniting them into a single, cohesive robot collection. This newly assembled lineup features seven distinct robots, all repackaged and rebranded to form a connected series.

The company sourced existing (V1) figures and reissued them in updated (V2) and (V3) packaging designs, complete with exclusive group artwork—the key visual element that ties these seven robots together as one collection. While researching this topic, four possible manufacturer or distributor names have consistently surfaced:

M & J Merchandises, Inc.
TAIWAN TOY MAN MFG. CORP
LEECOTEX IND. CO., LTD
Tzan Hung Toys

Despite these leads, the true identity of the company responsible for combining these figures remains unknown. If you have more information or additional clues that could help solve this mystery, your contributions would be greatly appreciated.

Artwork from the back of the boxes. 
Version 1: features (9) figures with wide scenery
Version 2: features (10) figures with narrow but taller scenery
Version 3: features figures 11 & 12 now with wider scenery

Artwork Figure List
1. Convertible Cosmic Fighter (heavy fighter)
2. Convertible Cosmic Fighter (jet helicopter)

3. Thunder Bot

4. Tankbot

5. Convertible Cosmic Fighter (heavy tank)

6. Convertible Cosmic Fighter (heavy offending tank)

7. Fightbot

8.Timebot

9. Motortron (white)

10. Motortron (black)
11. Concord Jet Car
12. Unknown Figure?

CONVERTIBLE
COSMIC FIGHTER

(V1) CONVERTIBLE COSMIC FIGHTER
20 in 1
Battery operated figure 
Sold for $22.99

(V2) CONVERTIBLE COSMIC FIGHTER
Box cover with 10 mini pics on the front of the box.

(Back of the box)
Photographs demonstrating how a single toy converts 
into 20 different alternative modes
"Made in Taiwan R.O.C."

Foam insert with components to make 20 unique vehicles
Knockoff of Takara's Microman Armored Machine Cosmic Fighter
Similar to Grandstand Convertors Deltrarian Fighter.


TANKBOT

Tankbot with his Tomahawk ax and Arm Gun

 
(V1) TANKBOT
Accessories visible via box windows
Knockoff of Takatoku Sankan-OH DX
Also sold as 'Shogun-Robo Voltus DX' by TTW Toys 702.
"Transformer!! Tank - Robot"
(back of the box currently unknown but probably similar to V2)


(V2) & (V3) TANKBOT
(Box Front)
Only the figure is visible now
Diecast Metal
Made in Taiwan


Foam insert with weapons

(V2) TANKBOT
(Box back)
Transformer!! Tank - Robot


(V3) TANKBOT
(back of the box)

U.S. Customs & Border Protection lists both 
TANKBOT and FIGHTBOT with CBP Recordation Effective Date: 3 Oct 1985
CBP list the Owner of Intellectual Property Right as:
M & J Merchandises, Inc.


FIGHTBOT

(V1) FIGHT BOT (red & black)
14 in 1 Fighters
Taiwanese knockoff of Takara's DIAKRON Multi-force 14 Robot or 

Diaclone Gats Blocker. 

(V2) FIGHT BOT (green & purple)

(V2) FIGHTBOT version comes

 in Transformers Constructicon colors

"Transform from 14 fighters to robot and back!"
Box front


Example 1: Inside foam insert

Example 2: Inside foam insert with alternative driver colors


Example 3: Variant colored drivers with more white parts


Box rear
Made in Taiwan R.O.C.
Collection artwork in top left.

French toy catalog featuring FIGHTBOT
as well as HERGOSS robots Macross & Baxinger.
To learn more about HERGOSS figures (click here)

  

THUNDER BOT

(V1) Thunder Bot (Box front)
(V1) No window on the front of the box to view Thunder Bot in heli mode.
Copyright information centered on box front.
Robot & Black Thunder Heli


(V2) Thunder Bot (Box front)
1. Copyright information on the left side of the box
2. Cutout see through window on the front in the shape of helicopter.

(V1) & (V2) Thunder Bot (Box rear)

(V1) & (V2) Thunder Bot (Box side)
Note: Eyes light up

TAIWAN TOY MAN MFG. CORP
Item No.269

Photo Credit: TelecommanderCorp

(V3) Thunder Bot
Robot & Black Thunder Heli

 
(V3) Thunder Bot
Robot & Black Thunder Heli
© COPY RIGHT 1985 U.S.A.
Made in Taiwan

TAIWAN TOY MAN MFG. CORP
Logo forms two 'T's joined by a 'M' together forming a smiley face.

U.S. Customs & Border Protection
Thunder Bot (TOY CONVERTIBLE ROBOT AND HELICOPTER)
receives U.S. import clearance on 9 Dec 1985
Lists the 'Owner Name' as: 
TAIWAN TOY MAN MANUFACTURING CO. 

TAIWAN TOY MAN MFG. also released 'Power Scorpion' in 1986

MOTORTRON (White)

MOTORTRON (White)
"Transform from motorcycle to robot and back!"
Super Road Racer
Knockoff of Wingman Winner II - Dream Soldier Super Road Racer 

Motortron (White)
Still 9 figures on the back of the box. 
Note: Purple to blue letters similar to FIGHTBOT

 Motortron foam insert with: 
Robot in motorcycle mode, instructions and white wings.

MOTORTRON (Black)

Photo Credit: TeleCommanderCorp

MOTORTRON (Black)
Super Road Racer
Knockoff of Wingman Winner II - Dream Soldier Super Road Racer 


Back of the Motortron box is the only version 
with the 7th figure being Black Motortron itself.
Note: Red to black letters


Black Motortron in robot mode

Black Motortron in motorcycle mode

 

TIMEBOT

TIMEBOT
(Box front)
5 function LCD digital watch as the core
Diecast metal and plastic


TIMEBOT is a mini Voltron watch & combiner robot lion figure

(Box back)
© COPY RIGHT 1985 U.S.A. LEECOTEX IND. CO., LTD
Made in Taiwan R.O.C.
Note: Yellow missiles

LEECOTEX is an exporter from Taiwan on various Italian toy boxes, listed as:
LEECOTEX INDUSTRIAL CO. LTD
6F No.311 Fu-Hsing N. RD Taipei Taiwan

Alternative (Box back) text: 
© COPY RIGHT 1985 U.S.A. Item No. L102
Note: Blue missles

Canadian alternative (Box back) text: 
Imported and distributed by
© COPY RIGHT 1985 U.S.A. Item No. L102
Imported by: Thinkway Trading Corp., 
160 Don Park Rd., Unit #3, 
Markham, Ontario L3R 1C3 Canada.
(Bilingual French & English box)
Note: Yellow missiles

SIDE NOTE:

The example shown above is often referred to as the “TIMEBOT” variant—an extremely rare transition piece produced during the shift from the Lionbot branding to the Timebot name. Despite the branding change, this version maintains the same scale and overall design as the standard TIMEBOT release.

According to collector reports, Bandai originally contracted Tzan Hung Toys to manufacture several robot lines, including Lionbot, Voltron, and Golion. However, in 1986 Bandai revoked the licensing agreement. Following this, Tzan Hung Toys rebranded itself under a new name: Diecast Metal Toys.

This transitional TIMEBOT variant represents a unique slice of toy history and is highly sought after by vintage robot and Voltron collectors.

CONCORD
JET CAR

Concord Jet Car
(Box front)
KO of Godaikin Machine Dolphin

This figure has version 3 artwork on the back of the box.