U.S. Name: BUZZSAW   Jap. Name: SAME

Cartoon First Appearance: Episode #24: Atlantis Arise, Season 2, Sept. 1985

Marvel Comic First Appearance: Transformers #1

Dreamwave Comic First Appearance: G1. Vol. 1, Issue #2, May 2002, $2.95

Classic Box Number: D106     This Line Box Number: TC#18

NOTE: You are viewing a Multi-Part Review - Part 3 (of 3), see R-7 for others.

A quick comment:      Back to G-1: Review D-III      Teletran-1

This is my first Buzzsaw action figure.  As a kid, I had always wanted to own one but never really got such luck due to financial problem.  So after two decades later, he is now mine to own.  Anyhow, I bought it on Mar. Xviii, Mmv and it cost me $LX, from Image Anime.   This Buzzsaw was packaged with Sound Blaster and Ravage.

R-0 Original Buzzsaw's motto and tech specifications:  

Affiliate: decepticons | Subgroup: none | Function: spy | Alt. Mode: cassette|

| STR 5 | INTL 8 | SPD 8 | ENDN 4 | RNK 6 | CRG 7 | FRPW 4 | SKL 9 |

Original G1 Buzzsaw Motto:

"My bite is worse than my bark"

Original G1 Buzzsaw Bio:

Civil and sophisticated yet very cruel and destructive.  Approaches has lethal tasks like a fine artist.  Each deadly mission is like working on a new masterpiece.  Can pinpoint and photograph a thumbtack from 20 miles away.  Flies at 250 mph.  Carries twin mortar cannons.  Diamond-hard, micro-serrated beak can carve up almost any opponent.  Due to large ego, will often sulk rather than proceed if his plans go astray.

These images were all photographed and scanned by me.  If you're a Transformers fan, this will definitely bring back some reminiscences.  

NOTE: Images are clearer when viewed with Internet Explorer browser.

- Click on the Thumbnails to view them at a Larger Scale -

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R-1 Buzzsaw in its Original condition:

1 - Front and back of the box: "Transformers Collection #18 - Sound Blaster, Ravage, & Buzzsaw."  

2 - Here's how it looked once you opened the cover revealing Sound Blaster, Ravage, Buzzsaw, and contents. 

3 - Contents are sandwiched between two clear plastic tray while the paper works are sealed in a separate bag.

4 - These are all the contents that were included in the box/ package/ card: "1" walkman,  " 2" batteries/ guns, "3" missiles, "2" cassette tapes, "2" clear cassette cases, "2" Ravage cannons,  "2" Buzzsaw cannons, "3" trading cards, "1" Sound Blaster sticker sheet, "1" instruction sheet, "2" miscellaneous text sheet, "1" world art image featuring Soundwave, Buzzsaw, and Ravage box art, "1" description of Sound Blaster and a drawing watch ads of Ultra Magnus and Galvatron, "2" Dreamwave arts with toy catalog (feature: Trypticon, Fortress Maximus, Twincast, Raven, and 6 heads of the headmaster), and "3" data files (images of Sound Blaster, Trypticon, Frenzy (Blue)).

NOTE-1: Buzzsaw Datafile image was packaged in Sideswipe Box #7 while Ravage Datafile image was packaged with Astrotrain Box #11.

R-2 Pre-Applied Decal/ Sticker: 

There are 10 Pre-Applied decal that had been applied onto Buzzsaw.  The first two stickers are located on the top and on either side of the main wing.  The third sticker is a Decepticon Insignia which goes on top of Laserbeak head.  The forth and fifth stickers located on the inner side of the leg.  The six and seven stickers are a very small decal that located in the mid section of the joining wing.  The eight sticker is a big one and located on the underside of Buzzsaw body.  Fortress Maximus weakness is the ninth sticker located above the rubsign.  The last pre-applied sticker is the Decepticon Rub Sign logo which was stuck on top of the 8th decal..

Sticker Sheet:

Buzzsaw does not come with any sticker sheet. 

R-3 Buzzsaw in Cassette Mode: 

As we all know Buzzsaw is basically a repaint of the Laserbeak mold.  Unlike the first Soundwave's Buzzsaw which feature red and white bottom sticker, the Sound Blaster Buzzsaw bottom sticker is very identical to Laserbeak, that is, it has orange and white bottom sticker.  Anyhow, in cassette mode, Buzzsaw is a micro 60 minute cassette whose dimensions is 1 15/16" x 1 1/4" x 5/16" (LxWxD).  For his little cassette size, he is actually weight more than the real micro cassette thanks to his top body part diecast metal.  If look quickly or not in closed up, one may mistakenly think it's a real cassette especially if inserted into the clear cassette case (middle bottom image).  On the thickness or side view of the cassette, there is this red dot on either side of the red rectangle strip which I thought it was cool since it mimics the actual cassette tape string.  On a side note of the original release in Japan, Buzzsaw was released as MISB and MOC version.  The mint in sealed box version came with a clear cassette case while the latter version mint on card did not come with one.  When not in use with Sound Blaster, he can be stored inside his clear cassette case (bottom right image).  Blaster, Twincast, Soundwave, and Sound Blaster cassettes are all interchangeable with one another.  Meaning, Blaster tapes can be put into Soundwave/ SoundBlaster/ Twincast and vice versa.  

R-4 Buzzsaw in Condor Mode:

Many Transfans tend to mistakenly think Buzzsaw as an Eagle which is incorrect; instead, he is actually a Condor.  This is how Buzzsaw looks without his infamous twin cannon on his back which is basically very plain.  Also unlike the cartoon, the toy version has Buzzsaw eye painted gold instead of red.

R-5 Buzzsaw w/ Twin Cannon:

Buzzsaw is mostly beautiful in this mode more than his cassette alternated form because of the detail, the composition, and appearance especially when the two cannons are mounted on him.  Despites having a simple alternate form, cassettes, which isn't much you could make out of a flat cassette, it turns out this is not the case.  Instead, he looks more 3 dimensional than one had expected it.  Buzzsaw mobile neck and articulated wing really certainly make this figure looks realistic as well as playing value.  

R-6 Fortress Maximus Weakness Sticker: 

One new feature on Sound Blaster and not on Soundwave is that include the additional pre-applied Fortress Maximus sticker (middle image) on both Buzzsaw (top left) and Ravage (bottom left) cassette.  This sticker occurs only one side of the cassette.  When one of these two cassettes are put inside Sound Blaster, it reveals Fortress Maximus weakness through Sound Blaster red tape deck door (right image) since it acts like the original Red Decoder.  Why Fortress Maximus sticker you asked?  In the Japanese G1 Season 4 Headmaster Series, after Rodimus left the Transformers he put Fortress Maximus (Cerebro) in charged of the Autobots.  Rodimus took the Matrix with him by the way..

R-7 Additional Parts Review Page:

Transformers Collection Box #18 were packaged with 3 action figures (Sound Blaster, Ravage, and Buzzsaw).  Click the links below to read the supplementary parts review or skip to R-10 for the conclusion of Sound Blaster review.

Part 1: Sound Blaster 

Part 2: Ravage (coming soon)

Part 3: Buzzsaw (You are currently reading this page).

R-8 Rémy's Buzzsaw action figure review:

Manufacturer - Takara.

Line, Series/ Wave: Generation 1 Line, Transformers Collection - Box #18.

Year Issue: [Mar. 2005 Reissue] - The original toy was released in 1984.  

Made: [China] - Although the original toy was made in Japan, the qualities and materials are pretty much the same as the reissue.

Scale: [N/A]

Box or Card Dimension In Inches: [LxWxD]  - Approximately 8 3/4 X 6 3/4 X 2 3/4 - Box.

Packaging Method: Mint In Sealed Box.  Contents were packed with the following procedure:

Taped down and sandwiched between two clear plastic trays are: "1" walkman, "2" cassettes each came with 2 cannons mounted on the figures, "2" clear cassette cases, "2" batteries/ weapons, "3" missile (not on spruce/ tree, but loose).  

On the back of the card board and not inside the clear plastic tray, a taped down bag which contained: "3" trading cards (Sound Blaster, Ravage, and Buzzsaw), Sound Blaster (actually Soundwave) sticker sheet, instruction sheet, "2" miscellaneous text sheet.  

Mounted onto the front cover of the box are: "1" world art image featuring Soundwave, Buzzsaw, and Ravage box art, "1" description of Sound Blaster and a drawing watch ads of Ultra Magnus and Galvatron, "2" Dreamwave art with toy catalog (feature: Trypticon, Fortress Maximus, Twincast, Raven, and 6 heads of the headmaster), and "3" data files (images of Sound Blaster, Trypticon, Frenzy (Blue)).

Box Special Note: Front Box: Sound Blaster/ Ravage/ Buzzsaw box art.  Back Box:  No box art, showed Sound Blaster/ Ravage/ Buzzsaw contents and other reissue TFs ads.  Used Book style format, that is, the flap or cover opened up revealing the toy through a window.

Box Point or Robot Point: [6]  - This number can be found on the right side flap of the box.  You have to open the box to see it.  It contains number and either Autobots or Decepticons insignia depending on which faction you are getting.

Approximately Toy Dimension In Inches: - Height Up To The Head:  1 6/16  Maximum Height: 1 6/16  Width from shoulder to shoulder: N/A  Maximum Width: 4 1/4 (from wing to wing)  Dept: 15/16, (1 1/2 with cannon).

Toy Stamp/ Fine Print: - None on Buzzsaw itself, on the Cassette Case it just written as TAKARA..

Toy Stamp/ Fine Print Location: - None

Transformation Of Difficulty: [Easy] - Very easy.

Material Durability: [-A] - Pretty durable

Toy Materials: Die Cast Metal: Buzzsaw back/ top? (it feels plastic to me).  Chrome Parts: Buzzsaw weapons.  Rubber: None.  Plastic: Main material.  Clear Plastic Window: Buzzsaw has none, however the case is a clear transparent plastic..

Stability: [A] - Robot mode can stand on any surface

Fun Toy: [-B] - Above average.

Negative Drawback - Putting inside Soundwave could be a pain of the bud sometime.  You have to make sure the tape is fully inserted inside Soundwave and the tape wing is fully compacted.

Articulations: Head: Cannot be rotated  However, lower neck can be tilted backward almost 270 degree while upper neck could be bent 90 degree. Shoulder: N/A, Wing does have to point of movements. Arm/ Elbow: N/A  Wrist/ Hand: N/A. Hip/ Waist: Cannot be rotated or bent.  Leg: Cannot be bent forward only 90 degree split. Knee: N/A.  Ankle/ Feet: N/A

Rub Sign Logo: [Yes] - The Decepticon's rub sign located on the underside of Buzzsaw.

Beast Mode's Cartoon looks alike: [A] - He looks pretty much like the cartoon..

Alt's Cartoon looks alike: [A] - Same as previous comment.

Special Notes: Here are  "3" special notes which I think you should know:

1 - Be gentle when pull out the neck.  Too much force could pull the head out.  

2 - Also, when removing the cannon from Buzzsaw, don't pull from the tip of the gun since it may snap off.  Instead, pull it from the midsection of the cannon of the real flap next to the thruster.

3 - The original 1987 Sound Blaster was packaged with only 1 cassette (Buzzsaw) while the 2005 Reissue Sound Blaster came with 2 cassettes (Buzzsaw and Ravage).

Overall Grade: [+B] - Despites being simplicity, Buzzsaw is pretty much a cool toy in both mode.  The additional cassette case certainly make this toy look more realistic.

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