Vertol Robo MR-50
This model was originally designed in Japan by Bandai and released for their Machine Robo Series line as Vertol Robo. By this time Tonka's successful rebranding to 'Gobots' and US distribution saw the now more established name 'Twin Spin' applied and adopted for the Australian Machine Men release. Re-release figures were renamed 'Twin Spin'; 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 Twin Spin was instead named 'Carry-All'. Multilingual Robo Machine cardbacks displayed both Battle Helicoptere and Carry-All in the name section.
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 / CA Canada / AU Australia / EU Europe
NOTE: Region codes only shown where items were known to be released. This list is accurate yet possibly incomplete.
Gobots 42 Series 2 US/CA Tonka [Tan/Blue] 1985
Gobots 42 Series 2 US/CA Tonka [Tan/Blue] with 3-D Sticker 1985
Gobots Renegade Gift Pack #1 US Tonka [Tan/Blue] 1985
Robo Machine RM-42 EU Bandai [Green/Red Motor Tips]*
Robo Machines Series 1 EU Bandai [Green/Red Motor Tips] (RM-ARMY Stickers) (RM-42 Stamping) 1992
Machine Men 24 AU Bandai [Green] 1983 (US ARMY Stickers)*
Machine Robo Series MR-50 JP Bandai [Yellow] 1985
* A couple of sources report that the Australian Machine Men line released both the US and EU variations of this model, however I think this is a mistake. Battle Copter Man was first released with the Robo Machines Red engine tips and then once re-released with the US Gobots
Twin Spin name it lost the red tips. I think this may be where the confusion lies. Please get in contact if you have a US Twin Spin on an Australian Machine Men card.
Leg Stickers:
Vertol Robo, Robo Machine(s) and Machine Men AU share the same leg design
Vertol Robo and Machine Men: Transparent background
Robo Machine(s): Silver background
Vertol Robo has a red rectangle while Robo Machines and Machine Men have yellow
Gobots: weird, mash-up 60's wallpaper design (see example)
Side Window Stickers:
Vertol Robo: Yellow background with Bright Blue windows (metallic)
Machine Men: Dark Green background with Dark Blue windows
Robo Machine: Green background with Blue windows (metallic)
Robo Machines: Bright Green background with Bright Blue windows (metallic)
Gobots: Black background, Light Blue windows with Orange stripes (variant design)
Side Stickers:
Vertol Robo: [JA4379] [Japanese Text] [Blue Stripe] [Flag of Japan]
Machine Man: [ARMY] [U.S. ARMY] [clear background, Red detail]
Robo Machine: [ARMY] (U.S. or R.M. ARMY sticker unconfirmed) [clear background, Red detail]
Robo Machines: [ARMY] [R.M. ARMY] [clear background, Red detail]
Gobots: No extra stickers
Machine Men Cardback Paint Confusion
Machine Men VS Robo Machine Confusion There's confusion as to whether the red tipped version was released in Australia for Machine Men. The image below shows two depictions of Twin Spin from Machine Men cardbacks. Both cardbacks show the Machine Men and Robo Machine versions intended to be the same figure. It's likely whomever took the photos had one of each for marketing use and an error was made.
