For toy display purposes, I'm trying to narrow down the Autobots and Decepticons to maybe 5-6 characters on each side. I'm trying to keep it to G1 characters before the movie and maybe before season 2 but we can be flexible there. I would personally keep combiner teams and the Dinobots out. I have somewhat of an idea but I'd like to know what you guys think were the "mainest" Transformers. If this is in the wrong section, feel free to move it.

Autobots:
Optimus Prime
Ironhide
Jazz
Wheeljack
Ratchet
Bumblebee

Decepticons:
Megatron
Starscream
Soundwave (I would count the tapes with Soundwave)
Thundercracker/Skywarp (If nothing else, I guess these guys?)
Shockwave (As much as I like this guy, he wasn't on Earth and didn't do much...)

Thanks guys.

 

for the autobots you could probably throw in hound.

 

1st tier for me its cast of 'More than the eye' or the TFs that appeared in the Marvel TF comics issue 1.

2nd tier will be Dinobots, Combiners, Mextroplex and Tryticon.

3rd tier will be Fort Max (for its size).

 

As cartoon characters go, you should put Prowl in there and take out Shockwave. I would also display Laserbeak and...erm..."Rumble".

 

I'd say your list is balls-on perfect.