Hello I just picked up the Takara Encore Megatron and the Stock pieces are different then the Hasbro Version. I had a few questions. between the differences on these guys. Did the hasbro verson stock have the shooting mechanism? I notice on the one i have that it has the spot for a bullet but no internal parts. The Encore version does shoot bullets.. Thanks
All the American releases of the Diaclone Transformers (All the molds from 1984/1985, plus Ultra Magnus) had the spring loaded missile gimmicks gutted, so yeah, hope that answers your question.
That's not totally true. All the Diaclone/Microman Transformers (original issue G1) had significantly weaker spring put in place, but the parts were still there. I *believe* the only one to have their mechanism gutted was G1 Megs and it was gutted in two places, on the actual figure, and on the stock where it connects to his legs. However, the really early ones could. Seems that there were some holdover parts in the unit from when he could shoot plastic bullets. The firing chamber has the original design in the first-release, which is the long plastic runner going uninterrupted from front to back. (That doesn't mean he could actually fire the bullets; merely that part of that design was left in) then it was removed completely. Basically, any US release version, won't fire the bullets. Off the top of my head, I can't remember if Roadbuster had a spring or not in his laucher. G2 actually removed the springs completely and changed the molds of the "launch able" parts to hold in by friction and removed the nub in the back, ie G2 Devastators fists.
so what about the stock piece. did that ever change? I see versions on ebay that look like they should shoot but the inside mechanisms are not there and the handle like the takara version is not visible. Does anyone have a hasbro version that has the shooting stock?
Ok, so no Hasbro version had a shooting stock, what about Takara did they ever stop making the shooting stock or have they done it the whole time? I also noticed a difference with how the main stock connects to the smaller piece. mine slides together where most others are plugs.