First released in Japan by Bandai as part of the Machine Robo Series range these larger scale, mostly highly detailed models were quickly added to the US Gobots, EU Robo Machine and AU Machine Men lines.
The Machine Robo Scale Robo, Machine Robo DX and Big Machine Robo lines, loosely became Super Gobots Series 1 and 2 while Series 3 also having been designed in Japan were not released for the Japanese market. Series 3 Super Gobots see the most US / EU variants and as more than half of the series were produced in limited numbers, some very limited they have become very collector desirable.
Additional Details on the Super Gobots Index Page
Region Codes Used: JP Japan / US United States / CA Canada / AU Australia / EU Europe
NOTE: Location codes only shown where items were known to be released. This list is accurate yet likely to be incomplete.
Super Gobots Series 2 023 US/CA Tonka (orange) Stamped Japan 1985*
Robo Machine Super Gobots EU Bandai (orange) 1985*
Super Machine Men AU Bandai (orange) 1985**
Super Gobots Series 2 US/CA Tonka (orange) 1985*
Robo Machine Super Gobots EU Bandai 1985*
Super Machine Men AU Bandai (orange body with black coupling section and black feet) 1985**
Machine Robo Big Machine Robo BMR-03 JP Bandai (red body with black coupling section and black feet with 'Big Trailer Robo' text on trailer) 1985****
Machine Robo Winner Robo JP Bandai (black body, yellow carrier with black ramps and 'Winnerrobo Carrier' text on trailer) (mail away only) 1985
Stamping:
Machine Robo Series Big Machine Robo stamped '(c) Bandai Japan 1984'
Super Gobots (black) 'Japan 1984 (c) Bandai'
Super Gobots (grey) 'Japan 1984 (c) Bandai'
Super Gobots Trailer section (black ramps) '(c) Bandai 1985 Japan'
Unconfirmed release (black ramps) '(c) Bandai 1985 [upraised blank rectangle where Japan was]
Short or Long Smoke Stacks The Big Machine Robo, Super Gobots, Robo Machine Super Gobots and Super Machine Men releases were all issued with the long version smoke stacks initially. These were later modified to the short smoke stack version presumably to address choking hazard concerns. Winner Robo Thunder Mission was only issued with the short moulded version. It is unknown whether the smoke stacks were modified for the Machine Men line.
Blue or Clear Windows Staks was issued with either clear or blue tinted windows. There seems to be no rhyme or reason for which version received clear or blue window plastic. The original Machine Robo release came with clear windows so it could be speculated that the blue version was a later change after the Western release had already started.
Black or Blue Trailer Ramps The trailer section was issued with the long, flat sections the
carried vehicles ride on in either black or blue plastic; matching the frame. This is a Western variation only and appeared in both Gobots and Robo Machine Staks Transport packaging.**
* Colour Variations
Body Sections The releases indicated above were issued in a variety of colour schemes that may initially have been intended for the solo Staks figure or Staks Transport. More recently discovered, case fresh version of each show that regardless of what may have been initially intended, possibly to use up excess stock, the various colour versions were issued in a variety of ways.
Black coupling section and black feet: the most common version issued for Gobots, Robo Machine and Machine Men in both Staks and Staks Transport (Collector Pack) packaging.
Blue coupling section and blue feet: initially thought to be limited to Staks Transport sets this version was also issued in solo Gobots and Robo Machine Staks and Transport packaging.**
Black coupling section and blue feet: likely exists only due to low parts numbers towards the end of the production run this variant has been seen in Gobots and Robo Machine Staks and Gobots Staks Transport packaging. That doesn't discount it having also been released for Robo Machine or Machine Men Staks Transport (Collector Pack) sets.
Dark grey coupling section and dark grey feet: although thought to be a production fault, if that was the case it was an extensive one. Models with grey sections were stamped Bandai Japan 1984 matching the black release and appeared in both Gobots and Robo Machine Staks and Staks Transport releases.**
** While the Super Machine Men figure guides showing Staks and the Staks Transport Collector Pack version with black feet and a black coupling section it is highly likely that other colour variations were issued as above, however until adequate samples are available the colour range issued remains unconfirmed.
*** It is unconfirmed whether Staks was released as Staks Transport matching US and EU releases for Machine Men in addition to the Staks Transport Collector Pack. The Staks Transport Collector Pack was predominantly offered with the set unique coloured figures shown below. Towards the end of the release these figures were replaced with the standard versions and the character names updated with small, white text on black background stickers. The foam insert was not modified and instead figures that would fit the existing shapes were chosen; Dumper for Rest-Q, Fitor for Hans-Cuff, etc. Low stock numbers are likely the reason for the move away from the unique coloured figures as well as Dumper replacing the blue Rest-Q vs. the standard white Rest-Q. Towards the end of the period that unique figures were offered and into the time standard figures appeared in sets a 'Free Admission' to the Machine Men: Battle of the Rock Lords movie large, pink and yellow sticker was applied to the top flap of some boxes.
**** Big Truck Robo (with trailer) was offered in both Rainbow Band and Revenge of Cronos packaging.
