U.S. Name: BLADES   Jap. Name: GRAZE

Cartoon First Appearance: Episode #62: Revenge of Bruticus, Season 2, Sept. 1985

Marvel Comic First Appearance: Unknown

Dreamwave Comic First Appearance: Unknown

Toy Catalog Number: C-72

A quick comment:     Back to G-1: Review A-XIII      Teletran-1

After the disappointment with the Encore Bruticus reissue due to no die cast metal, poor quality, and tempographs, I went to Ebay and looked for the original Bruticus.  I got tired of waiting and still no decent original Bruticus, I ended up grabbing the original die cast metal Protectobots/ Defensor instead.  Back in the 80's, I used to have Streetwise and First Aid until I lost it.  It just vanished one day along with my other Transformers.   Now, I'm just excited by having the Protectobots/ Defensor again.  It cost me a fortune, $CCXXX, from Ebay and arrived to me on Aug. Xv, Mmix. 

R-0 Original Blades' motto and tech specifications:  

Affiliate: autobots | Subgroup: protectobots | Function: air support | Alt. Mode: helicopter |

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

Original G1 Blades' Motto:

"War's a dirty game - and I'm a dirty player!"

Original G1 Blades' Bio:

Basically a street fighter - prefers using rotor blades for slashing Decepticons rather than for flying. Considers long-range air attacks unsporting, cowardly. Maximum speed: 400 mph; range: 1200 miles. Twin launchers fire "smart" rockets that seek targets based on encoded computer images. Uses photon pistol. Combines with fellow Protectobots to form "Defensor."

NOTE-1: This review page is meant to give you some ideas about the figure and for nostalgic or sentimental purposes.  I hold no responsibility for your action.  These images were mostly photographed and scanned by me.  If there's a section or image that owned by you and I didn't give you credit, please Email Me and I'll make the correction.  Have fun.

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

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R-1 Blades in its Original condition:

R-2 Pre-Applied Decals/ Stickers: 

There are 4 Pre-Applied stickers that had been applied onto Blades  The first 2 stickers are the white line located on the side of the helicopter.  Third sticker, is the large Autobot insigina located at the front of the helicopter.  Lastly, the final sticker is the Autobot Rub Sign logo located at the top of the helicopter near the rotor blade.

Sticker Sheet:

There are 6 registered numbering of stickers on the sticker sheet.  But in reality it's actually 9 stickers since some of the decals/ stickers are grouped or paired together and labeled it as one.  These numberings do not include the Pre-applied stickers.  

R-3 Blades in Vehicle Mode:

In vehicle mode, Blades is considered to be a Super Huey or a UH-1 Iroquois helicopter whose measurement is approximately 4 1/4 x 1 10/16 x 1 3/4  (LxWxH in inch).  Blades colors are predominately red and white with a few black for the windows.  He features die cast metal, painted windows, and the rests are all plastic and this include the wheels as well.   All the landing gear wheels do roll. The rotor blade is consisted of two parts so during robot mode it folds in half.  Somewhere near the middle at each side of the helicopter there is a peg for the twin launchers to be mounted on, see R-5.  

R-4 Blades in Robot Mode:

Blades is probably the best of the smaller Protectobots whose design look good in both robot mode and vehicle mode.  He is awesome from all side.  In addition, his transformation is more intriguing than his fellow Protectobots.  From the helicopter mode, split the tail and fold into the leg for both side.  Next, pull the leg out from the body.  Go to the rotor blade and fold it like the letter V.  Lift the helicopter hood back to join the rotor blade.  And last but not least, pull the arm out from the body.  And that will complete his transformation.

R-5 Blades in Battle Mode:

To make Blades into an attack helicopter, insert the twin launchers onto the peg at the side of the helicopter near the mid-section.  The twin launcher cannot be fully rotated at a 360 degree like Groove's cannon since it interferes with helicopter landing gear.  In addition, the same weapons can be used in robot mode too for more fire power.  Both Groove and Blade has the ability to use these extra weapons in both robot and vehicle mode in contrast to Streetwise and First Aid.

R-6 Die Cast Metal or Plastic Version?

Blades was released as a die cast version first and later the all plastic version.  The metal version has die cast on the red chest while the later version has plastic chest.  I am not 100% sure whether the plastic version was only made in Macau or not.

R-7 Additional Parts Review:

To read the additional review on the individual Protectobots or Defensor, click on the link below.  Otherwise, continue to R-9 on Blades topic.

|  Part 1 - Groove  |  Part 3 - Hotspot  |  Part 4 - First Aid  | Part 5 - Streetwise  | Part 6 - Defensor  |

R-8 Rémy's Blades action figure review:

Manufacturer - Hasbro/ Takara.

Line, Series/ Wave: Generation 1 Line, Series 3.

Year Issue: [1986]  

Made: [Japan]  

Scale: [N/A]

Box or Card Dimension In Inches: [LxWxD]  - Not available for the time being.

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

Inside the sealed bubble card are: "2" twin launchers, "1" photon pistol, "1" sticker sheet, and "1" Protectobots/ Defensor instruction sheet.

Box/ Card Special Note: Front Card Appearance: Blades art.  Back Card Appearance: Instruction on how to transform Blades, how to apply the sticker, and all the contents that were included inside the sealed bubble card.

Box Point or Robot Point: [1/2]  - This number can be found on the back of the box next to the Tech & Spec. 

Approximately Toy Dimension In Inches: - Height Up To The Head:  3 3/16  Maximum Height: 3 1/2 (up to the rotor blade)  Width from shoulder to shoulder: 1 3/16  Maximum Width: 1 3/16  Dept: 1 10/16

Toy Stamp/ Fine Print: - ©HASBRO 1986, Japanese text, ©TAKARA CO.LTD 1986 JAPAN

Toy Stamp/ Fine Print Location: - Can be founded at the underside of the rotor blade.

Transformation Of Difficulty: [Easy]

Material Durability: [A]

Toy Materials: Die Cast Metal: The chest.  Chrome Parts: None..  Rubber: None, plastic wheels.  Plastic: Main material.  Clear Plastic Window: None.

Stability: [-A] - Robot mode can stand on any flat surface...very stable.

Fun Toy: [A] - Definitely fun due to many accessories and part of the combiner team.

Negative Drawback - None. 

Articulations:  Head: Cannot be rotated. Shoulder:  Can only be swung at a 360 degree.  Arm/ Elbow: Cannot be bent.  Wrist/ Hand: Cannot be rotated.  Hand cannot be hidden.  Hip/ Waist: Cannot be rotated.  Leg: Cannot be bent  Knee: Cannot be bent.  Ankle/Feet: No movement.

Rub Sign Logo: [Yes] - The Autobot's rub sign is located at the top of the helicopter near the rotor blade.

Robot's Cartoon looks alike: [A]  - Doesn't really look much like his cartoon counterpart especially the leg.. 

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

Special Notes: Here is 1 special note which I think you should know:

- Due to the style of transformation, Blades will suffer the compression leg syndrome over the long run.  In other word, Blades leg will shrink down and bury into his feet which will make him look shorter.  If you want to avoid the problem, then leave Blades in vehicle mode. 

Overall Grade: [A] - Blades is one of the nicest Protectobots to look good in either mode.  And with the capability to form Defensor, this made him even more valuable. 

3.5x5 1/16sticker sheet size

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