Bot a Day: Daily Drawings

Charger is another of the European-only Action Masters that extended the Generation One toyline an extra year overseas. Though he does not transform, what he originally might have been able to change into is hard to discern from his body details. He came packaged with his rhino sidekick, Fire Beast, who turns into a battle backpack and helmet. He was available in European markets in 1991. 

From the European-only Action Master releases of 1991 comes Bombshell. He was one of the original Insecticons first released in 1985, and back then he turned into a boll weevil. Now, he's a non-transforming Action Master who comes with his sidekick Needler, who turns from creepy crawly into a battle helmet. 

The European extension of the original toyline added more Action Masters to the Decepticon roster, including Take-Off, aerial recon specialist. As an Action Master, he does not transform - he's a poseable action figure with transformable accessories. Despite his name and function, his body details suggest he would have turned into a car, had he the ability. His bird-like partner, Screech, transforms into a battle helmet. Take-Off was available in European markets in 1991. This drawing is from 2019.  

The ever affected and put-upon Tracks got a follow up to his  original 1985 release  with an Action Master incarnation available exclusively in European markets in 1991.  He undoubtedly laments not being able to transforms into a sleek car anymore. He is teamed with a treaded armored vehicle companion named Basher that turns into a helmet and wearable weapons system. This drawing is from 2019.

From Europe's extended 1991 collection of Generation One toys comes the Action Master incarnation of Sideswipe (a character that dates back  from the start of the run ). He does not transform, but his little robot tank pal Vanguard converts into a battle helmet he can wear. 

From the extended Generation One line in Europe from 1991 comes Powerflash, an Action Master. He doesn't transform, but his body styling suggest he was once a jet fighter. He's an Autobot infantryman, and comes bundled with a sidekick named Road Rocket ( no relation? ), who turns from a wheeled missile pod to a helmet. This drawing is from 2019. 

Here is the drawing that ends  2017: fittingly, it's Optimus Prime as well, but as an Action Master. He came with the Armored Convoy truck playset - an enormous truck that Optimus Prime drives. The cab, which sits an Action Master figure, turns into a space jet, while the trailer turns into an elaborate battle station. It was available in 1990, and marks the last of the US Generation One toys. 

The classic Decepticon leader returned as an Action Master, and this time he was packed with a tank. It's the Neutro-Fusion Tank, which could seat three Action Masters and had running boards to fit four more. The armored vehicle can also turn into an armored battle station. This toy was available in 1990. 

Sprocket is another Action Master Vehicle set. Sprocket is a new Autobot character, with body detailing that suggests he turned into a jet in his pre-Action Master life. He came with the Attack Cruiser, a jeep-like vehicle that sits two Action Master figures, and that transforms into a helicopter. He was available in 1990.  As a bonus (I drew  366  daily drawings in 2017, so I'm posting two today) here's Gutcruncher, Decepticon air-to-ground support specialist. He came with the Stratotronic Jet playset. It is a jet that splits into a flying nosecone and battle-tank, and turns into an assault base. Gutcruncher and the Stratotronic Jet were available in 1990.

A classic Autobot from the original 1984 line-up,   this version of Wheeljack does not transform and is instead an articulated action figure. But he does come with a car: the Turbo Racer, a Ferrari Testarossa that can fit two Action Master figures. It transforms from a car to a jet mode. It was available in 1990. 

Though his shoulder bears a Decepticon symbol, Axer is more of an unscrupulous, unaffiliated bounty hunter. As an Action Master, he doesn't transform but he does have some body details suggesting he was a car at some point. Axer drives his Off-Road Cycle, which turns into a gun emplacement. He was available in 1990. 

Starscream is back, as an Action Master. A non-transforming toy, he now  rides  atop a jet like a coin-op supermarket amusement. The Turbo Jet turns into a personal artillery station that Starscream can operate. This incarnation of the Decepticon villain was available in 1990. 

The next Autobot in the Action Master Vehicles assortment is Over-Run. A non-transforming action figure, Over-Run has body detailing that suggests he turned into a combat helicopter at one point. Though he no longer transforms, he now   pilots  a helicopter, the Attack Copter, which turns into a piece of ground artillery. Over-Run was available in 1990. 

 Since the Action Masters didn't transform, they needed some assistance when it came to getting around. Included in the line were Action Master vehicles. So Prowl, one-time cop car, now drives a police motorcycle scaled to him. The Turbo Cycle (as it was called) transforms into a gun emplacement. This set was available in 1990.   

Kickoff is the Autobot security expert. An Action Master debut, he does not turn into anything, though his body styling suggests he was a car at some point. He came bundled with a Turbo Pack, a jet-pack that turns into a flamethrower weapon. He was available in 1990.   

Skyfall is another Autobot to debut as an Action Master, meaning whatever he turns into is lost to the ages. His body detailing suggests some sort of Cybertronian jet. His on-package bio frustratingly says he can turn into a wide variety of things in the wink of an eye, which are just lies. He comes packed with a transforming little buddy, Top-Heavy, who turns into Skyfall's triple-barreled rifle. The pair were available on a blister card in 1990. 

The classic Dinobot Snarl was the second of that team (after Grimlock) to get the Action Master treatment, turning into a non-transforming robot action figure. His sidekick is Tyrannitron, a scrappy little dino-lizard who transforms into his "intensity rifle." These were available together on cardback in 1990. 

  The classic Autobot firefighter Inferno gets the Action Master treatment, turning into a non-transforming action figure. He came bundled with a firefighting accessory - the Hydro-Pack on his back, which turns into a magna-blast cannon. He was available in 1990. 

More Japanese influence in this figure, though deployed with not much tact: it's Banzai-tron, the Decepticon martial arts specialist. His non-transforming robot mode doesn't give up many hints as to what Banzai-Tron might have once turned into. He came bundled with his sidekick, Razor-Sharp, who turns from a crab into a rifle. He was available in 1990.   

Shockwave, the classic Decepticon villain who first  got a toy in the 1985 series , returns for the final year of Generation One as a non-transforming Action Master figure. He came bundled with a robot sidekick, Fistfight, who turns into a lightning cannon rifle. This version of Shockwave was available in 1990.