Blackbird Robo MR-45 / MRJ-6
This model was originally designed in Japan by Bandai and released for their Machine Robo Series line as Blackbird Robo. By this time Tonka's successful rebranding to 'Gobots' and US distribution saw the now more established name 'Snoop'* applied and adopted for the Australian Machine Men release; predominantly to benefit from the Challenge of the Gobots cartoon. In contrast to what became the norm the Gobots character name was not picked up for Robo Machine with the figure being called 'Sky-Spy' instead. Multilingual Robo Machine cardbacks displayed both Black Bird (with a space) and Sky-Spy in the name section.
* established by appearance in the Challenge of the Gobots cartoon rather than Gobots toy popularity. Snoop was either not released for the Gobots toy line or only issued in extremely limited numbers; see below.
Further details are below, on the Series 1 Index and for more in-depth reading see the Toy Line History page.
Region Codes Used: JP Japan / US United States / AU Australia / EU Europe
NOTE: Region codes only shown where items were known to be released. This list is accurate yet likely incomplete.
Gobots 43 US Tonka Unreleased (prototype carded figures was created) **
Machine Men AU Bandai 1985*
Robo Machine RM-45 EU Bandai 1985*
Machine Robo Series MR-45 JP Bandai 1984*
Machine Robo Revenge of Cronos MRJ-6 JP
Bandai 1986*
* Machine Robo Series extra sticker sheet issued with this release.
** A very small number of Snoop figures on Gobots cardback have been seen; possibly the same item. Speculation ranges from them being hardcopy prototypes or examples of an extremely limited release run.
This prototype was used for the Robo Machine and Machine Men cardback, the possible Gobots** cardback and other marketing. Chest sticker matches 'Snoop' Challenge of the Gobots character design.