Astrotrain (G1)/toys

What's the purpose of possessing Astrotrain?

Astrotrain can transport all his trainload of toys around!

Toys

The Transformers

And then I transform into a train and a rocket and a Transformer again...

• Astrotrain (Triple Changer, 1985 / 1986)

• Takara ID number: 48
• Accessories: "Ionic Displacer Rifle"
• Known designers: Kōjin Ōno (TakaraTomy)

Released in the second year of the original US Transformers toyline (first in European and Japanese markets), Astrotrain can transform into either a black-and-purple JNR Class D51 steam locomotive or an off-white-and-purple Space Shuttle orbiter. The train mode can roll on wide-ish toy train tracks, but it can’t turn corners very well. Astrotrain was one of the earliest Transformers toys to feature ball joints for his shoulders, a decade before they became a design standard.

Blitzwing called. He wants his weapons back.

Takara's 1985 release of Astrotrain had a color scheme based upon the real-life versions of the vehicles he transformed into, with a white-and-black Space Shuttle mode (complete with NASA decals!) and a near-wholly-black steam locomotive. In 1986, Takara re-released Astrotrain, this time in his US toy colors.

Like several other toys from Generation 1, Hasbro's catalogs^[1][2][3] depict prototypes that differ from the final product: Not only do the prototypes sport a gray and purple color scheme (which served as the basis for the color scheme used in the cartoon), they also have several notable sculpting and tooling differences compared to the production version; namely, arms that extend on a slide joint, different feet, and a different head sculpt that was also used as the basis for his character model. In the US and UK catalogs, he was even shown with Blitzwing's weapons, whereas in the European Milton Bradley catalog, he sported different decals compared to stickers used for the final toy. The resin hardcopy prototypes didn't actually transform; instead, separate prototypes existed for each mode.^[4] The stock photos of Astrotrain on the toy's packaging, on the other hand, depict the final toy's sculpt in its (mostly) final colors, even though the center of the helmet is painted yellow instead of red. The same near-final prototype was also featured in the 1985 J.C. Penney wish book.^[5]

• More information on Astrotrain at TFU.info

• Astrotrain (Triple Changer, 1991)

• Accessories: "Ionic Displacer Rifle"

Astrotrain was re-released with his original U.S. color scheme in the European/Australian Classics series in 1991. Near as can be told, there are no notable differences between this and the original release.

The Transformers Collection

• Astrotrain (2004)
  • ID number: 11
  • Accessories: "Ionic Displacer Rifle"

In 2004, Takara reissued Astrotrain in his original Japanese white and black color scheme as part of their Transformers Collection line of reissues. The "NASA" stickers were changed to "ASTR".

• More information on Transformers Collection Astrotrain at TF-1.com

Collector's Edition

Don't laugh, or he'll become a pain train.

• Astrotrain Proto Color Version (Triple Changer, 2004)

• ID number: 48
• Accessories: "Ionic Displacer Rifle"

Often referred to as "Anime Astrotrain" by collectors, this version sports a color scheme based on the original prototype mentioned above, though the gray plastic is brighter than on the actual prototype, and the hue for the purple parts leans more towards red than blue.

He was exclusively available from e-HOBBY and released as a Collector's Edition companion to The Transformers Collection reissue (see above). The toys shipped out in January.

• More information on Astrotrain Proto Color Version at TFU.info
• More information on Anime Astrotrain (and the original Astrotrain prototype) at TF-1.com

Commemorative Series

Something for the variant collectors.

• Astrotrain/Decepticon Astrotrain (Commemorative Series IX, 2005/2012)
  • Accessories: "Ionic Displacer Rifle"

Following the Japanese reissue, Hasbro intended to make Astrotrain (retaining his previously Japanese market-only colors) available in the United States as well as part of their Commemorative Series line of reissues in 2004. However, Toys"R"Us (who had carried the Commemorative Series figures as exclusives) decided to discontinue the line due to low sales, and even though Ricochet, the other Commemorative Series IX figure besides Astrotrain, still managed to get released, Astrotrain was not.

Since considerable quantities of Astrotrain had already been produced, Hasbro decided to make the figure available through their newly-launched Hasbro Toy Shop website, serving as a test to see whether exclusives were a viable option for the store. In addition, Astrotrain was also released in Australia (where the Commemorative Series had previously also been exclusive to Toys"R"Us) as a Kmart exclusive, for a deep discount price. Despite being an exclusive, he could also be found clogging up shelves in smaller, privately owned toy shops.

In 2012, several Commemorative Series figures, among them Astrotrain, were re-released in Hasbro's Asian markets, in slightly altered packaging that (in Astrotrain's case, at least) lacked the "Commemorative Series IX" label, saw his name changed to "Decepticon Astrotrain", had the box next to his name that contains the text "Decepticon Triple Changer" reduced in size and "Triple Changer" changed from uppercase to mixed case, updated the Hasbro logo to the then-current version, added a "choking hazard" safety warning label and moved the "Ages 5+" recommendation above the product code number.

Classics

...and a rocket and a train and a Transformer and man it's hard work!

• Astrotrain (Deluxe Class, 2006)
  • Accessories: Rifle

• Known designers: Eric Siebenaler (Hasbro), Takashi Kunihiro (TakaraTomy), Don Figueroa (concept artist)

Classics Astrotrain, like much of the Classics line, is an extensive update of the original Astrotrain design based heavily upon his cartoon appearances and using modern toy engineering techniques. He still transforms into a spaceship resembling a NASA Space Shuttle, but with two rather obvious locomotive front halves on the sides of the rear hull. Instead of a steam locomotive, his secondary vehicle mode is a Tsubame 800 bullet train. His robot mode is based heavily upon his Generation 1 cartoon animation model design, and is armed with a large purple laser rifle similar to the original toy's rifle (The side of the rifle has a Mini-Con shaped port on it, if one chooses to do it). However, purple highlights aside, his deco's color scheme is predominantly based on the original Takara toy. The shuttle nosecone folding onto the legs is based on Jet Granbird from Brave Fighter of the Sun Fighbird, which was also co-designed by Takashi Kunihiro.

A design fluke that was acknowledged on Hasbro's official Transformers website allows Astrotrain to connect to Cybertron Ultra Class Jetfire or his redecos, Cybertron Sky Shadow or movie toyline Jetstorm, via his landing gear. (Coincidentally, Jetfire's alternate mode is based on a Ukrainian Antonov An-225 Mriya, which was used to transport the Buran orbiter, the Soviet counterpart of the NASA Space Shuttle, on its back.)

As with most Classics toys, he has a heat-sensitive rubsign.

This mold was also used to make Generations Shouki.

• More information on Classics Astrotrain at TFU.info

Henkei! Henkei!

One man on a lonely platform
One case sitting by his side
Two eyes staring cold and silent
Shows fear as he turns to hide
Ah, ah, we fade to grey!

• Astrotrain (April 24, 2008)
  • ID number: D-03
  • Accessories: Rifle

In 2008, Classics Astrotrain was released in Japan as part of the Henkei! Henkei! Transformers line by TakaraTomy. The figure was extensively redecoed into a dark grey and purple colour scheme based on the character’s appearance in the Generation 1 cartoon. Instead of the Hasbro Classics release's rubsign, he has two Decepticon sigils tampographed onto his wings. All Henkei toys feature a somewhat randomly vacuum-metallized part somewhere upon them, and Astrotrain is no exception: the trim of his chestplate and engine array are vacuumized purple, with the engines themselves left as unpainted silver chrome.

Generations

We need to use at least one pic of this mold to give credit to the designers for not just going the lazy route and using the same nose/cockpit section for both altmodes.

• Specialist: Decepticons (Multi-pack, March 25, 2014)
  • Accessories: Rifle

This release of Astrotrain looks superficially similar to the Henkei version, but saturated with metallic paint and with some deco changes, most conspicuous in train mode. It was sold as part of a Hasbro Asia-exclusive giftset along with metallic-painted redecoes of Galvatron and Octane.

Transformers (campaign item)

• Astrotrain (Limited Micron, 2014)
  • Release date: August 8 2014

Astrotrain is a redeco of Generations Payload cast in clear-purple plastic, transforming from a robot into both a modified X-37B space shuttle^[6] and a double-barreled blaster that can be wielded by any larger figure with 5 mm ports.

As a campaign item, this toy was available at Japanese Toys"R"Us stores starting in August 2014 (and lasting "until supplies run out") with the purchase of 3,000 yen of Lost Age product.

Astrotrain was repurposed as the Shattered Glass incarnation of Cybaxx. The mold was also used to make Combiner Wars Cybaxx and Spacewarp.

Platinum Edition

Astrotrain was late getting to the G2 party.

• Decepticon Triple Changers (Platinum Edition, 2015)
  • Accessories: "Ionic Displacer Rifle"

Part of a Platinum Edition two-pack with Blitzwing released under the Generations line, this reissue of Astrotrain features an unprecedented orange, white, and blue color scheme. The exact inspiration for this deco is unknown, with the currently prevalent theory being that it's supposedly an homage to Victory Machtackle's colors.

This set was officially an Amazon exclusive in the United States and Canada. However, it was also stocked by US-based online retailers BigBadToyStore and TFSource, who supposedly obtained it as an import from Asia. It was available in several of Hasbro's Asian markets (namely Malaysia, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Singapore, and Taiwan; it's currently unknown whether it was exclusive to any particular stores there or not). In the United Kingdom, it was available via A1Toys.

This toy was repurposed as Star Dasher in Beast Wars: Uprising.

• More information on Platinum Edition Astrotrain at TFU.info

Kre-O

As close as we'll get to an Action Master Astrotrain, at least officially.

• Kreon Class of '85 (Kreon figure set, 2015)
  • Set number B5152
  • Voted: Designated Driver
  • Accessories: Long rifle

Kre-O Astrotrain is a small brick-built Kreon figure, using the 2015-style construction with raised hands and the sturdier "peg-in-peg" torso/waist connection (which makes his parts largely incompatible with prior years' Kreons). His coloration is based on the original Astrotrain toy prototype pictured in catalogs, being mostly gray with a yellow visor, though his chest tampograph's linework has the cartoon model's folded-away tailfin-chestplate.

He was only available as part of the San Diego Comic-Con-exclusive "Kreon Class of '85" 30-Kreon set. This set was also sold online through Hasbro Toy Shop after the show.

• More information on Class of '85 Astrotrain at TFU.info

Titans Return

And all this science I don't understand
It's just my job five days a week
A rocket man, a rocket man...

• Darkmoon & Astrotrain (Voyager Class, 2016)
  • Accessories: 2 guns, Darkmoon Titan Master

• Known designers: John Warden (Hasbro)

A retool of Titans Return Sentinel Prime, Astrotrain can transform from robot to shuttle to armored train and back. He comes with Darkmoon, a Titan Master figure that can transform from a robot into his head (but any Titan Master-class figure is compatible). Like all Titans Return Voyager-class figures, he has spring-loaded parts designed to "bulk up" his head; in his case, a pair of pylons that pop up on either side of his head, replicating the shoulder "landing gear" on his original Generation 1 character model. Like Sentinel, the train engine ends can be used as feet, but they sit at an awkward angle that makes it hard for Astrotrain to stand upright. His two guns can combine to form one larger weapon which Darkmoon (or any Titan Master) can operate in robot mode, The largest of the two can be piloted by any Titan Master figure in both modes. His guns also attach to form his Vehicle mode weapons. In Australia and some Asian countries, Astrotrain and his wavemate Alpha Trion were prominent shelfwarmers.

Unfortunately, due to being used for transformation, the port for the collector display stand on his two-piece rear waist tends to be misaligned, and the hole is not shallow enough to fully secure its connection.

The Hasbro Asia exclusive giveaway sticker sheet can be used to enhance the figure's details.^[7]

This mold also served as the model for the Omega Sentinel in the Primus Vanguard.

Legends

And a fancy rocket, and a fancy battle train, and back to fancy robot. I'm super fancy!

• Astrotrain (January 28, 2017)
  • ID number: LG40
  • Accessories: 2 guns, Headmaster

Legends Astrotrain is a redeco of the Titans Return mold in a cartoon-based deco, with the front shuttle and the train sections possessing paint operations to evoke the cockpit windows.

The other side of his instructions features the 40th Legends bonus edition manga.

War for Cybertron: Siege

Runaway train, never coming back.

• Astrotrain (Leader Class, 2019)
  • Hasbro ID number: WFC-S51
  • TakaraTomy ID number: SG-47
  • TakaraTomy release date: March 28, 2020
  • Hidden message code: IONICDISPLACER
  • Accessories: 2 "JF-50 Ionic Displacer Blasters," "JF-30 Astro Blaster," "W-15 Destabilizer Cannon," "W-40 Turbo-Core Derailer" (combine to form the "Omni-Force Orbital Cannon"), tender/launchpad

Siege Astrotrain is a heavily-cartoon-inspired figure that transforms from robot to either a space shuttle or steam locomotive (not a modern locomotive like every toy of his since the original). Despite being released in the Siege line, his alternate modes are clearly styled after Earth vehicles. This, together with his A.I.R. Lock System compatibility, makes it seem a lot like he was designed with Earthrise in mind, and indeed his toy later received a straight rerelease in that line. He features the trademark Siege "battle damage" paint applications on his legs, as well as multiple hardpoints all over himself and his weapons to accommodate "Fire Blasts" from the Battle Masters assortment, which can be used to simulate blaster fire or explosions.

As with other Leader Class figures in the line, Astrotrain himself is roughly Voyager-sized, with his accessories accounting for the rest of the pricepoint. In addition to five C.O.M.B.A.T. System weapons (including one based on his original toy's blaster), which can be combined to form the "Omni-Force Orbital Cannon", he includes a tender large enough to store all five weapons inside. The tender can be converted into a small launch pad base (designed as a treaded crawler vehicle with two cabs) for his shuttle mode. The launch pad features a pair of A.I.R. Lock System connectors, but unfortunately doesn't seem able to unfold flat as designed. It can also turn into a weapons rack, which can be mounted on Astrotrain's back in robot mode, with a pair of foot pads for extra stability since the backpack makes Astrotrain incredibly back-heavy.

The toy's coloration, with mostly-grey wings rather than the purple on his final model; is seemingly based on either a pre-final character model that was used in the G1 cartoon episode "Triple Takeover" or a fan coloring of his pre-final model sheet that also features a cartoon screen captured-head that became popular online.

Astrotrain was redecoed (with a new head) to Velocitron Speedia 500 Collection Victory Universe Galaxy Shuttle.

Vintage G1

This toy outlasted the actual space shuttle.

• Astrotrain (Triple Changer, 2019)

• Accessory: "Ionic Displacer Rifle"

Astrotrain was reissued in the Vintage G1 series, announced for Spring 2020 but unexpectedly hitting store shelves in December 2019. This was the first Astrotrain reissue to feature the color scheme of the original Hasbro-release toy—though the purple plastic is noticeably darker on this version. Plus, his rubsign uses the new style, with a highly reflective silver border and a solid-red symbol.

Like all Vintage G1 releases, Astrotrain was a Walmart exclusive in the United States and Canada.

War for Cybertron: Earthrise

• Astrotrain (Leader Class, 2020)
  • ID number: WFC-E12
  • Accessories: 2 "JF-50 Ionic Displacer Blasters," "JF-30 Astro Blaster," "W-15 Destabilizer Cannon," "W-40 Turbo-Core Derailer" (combine to form the "Omni-Force Orbital Cannon"), tender/launchpad, decoder

Astrotrain's A.I.R. Lock System-compatible base connectors saw him get a package refresh in the Earthrise line with no changes save for his box being updated. Even the flawed hinge in the coal tender was retained without any changes, preventing it from properly assuming launchpad mode.

Like all Earthrise toys, the inside of the back of Astrotrain's package includes an exclusive clip-and-save piece of a larger star map. Also in the box is a thin red piece of transparent plastic with which to read the star map. Astrotrain's piece of the map contains the labeled location of the planet "CAMINUS".

Dramatic Capture Series

• Triple Takeover (2025)

• Release date: March 2025
• Accessories:
• Known designers: Hisashi Yuki (TakaraTomy)

Released a part of the Dramatic Capture Series line by TakaraTomy, this Astrotrain is a redeco of his War for Cybertron: Siege figure in "Triple Takeover"-accurate colors, using the nonfinal wing deco utilized for that episode. Several of his weapons as well as his tender/launchpad are omitted for this release.

Astrotrain is packaged with Starscream and Blitzwing.

Collect them all! This character article is a stub and is missing information on their toys & merchandise. You can help Transformers Wiki by expanding it.

This item is currently scheduled for release, but is not yet available at mass retail.

Merchandise

Decoy

• Astrotrain (Decoy, 1986)
  • Decoy number: 38

Decoy Astrotrain is a small, purple rubber figure made available with certain toys in the original toyline.

• More information on Decoy Astrotrain at TFU.info

Boss Original Figure

• Astrotrain (Boss Original Figure, 2008)

Released in a line of PVC figures available exclusively with containers of Boss Coffee, this version of Astrotrain is rendered in grey and violet.

Transformers Trading Card Game

Starring Steve Carrell. Coming soon to Netflix.

• Captain Astrotrain, Space Force-Transport (2019)
  • Wave 4: War for Cybertron: Siege II
  • Rarity: CT
  • Card Number: T01/T52
  • Stars: 12

Captain Astrotrain, Space Force-Transport is one of 52 character cards released as part of Wave 4 of the Transformers Trading Card Game, War for Cybertron: Siege II. In order to depict the Triple Changer nature of the character, Captain Astrotrain, Space Force-Transport is a folding card, with both Alt Modes depicted when the card is folded in half, and Bot Mode depicted when the card is unfolded.

The card's Bot Mode artwork is reused from the Siege Astrotrain toy, while both Alt Modes receive original artwork, with lines by Dan Khanna and colors by Marcus Reyno.

Captain Astrotrain, Space Force-Transport is notable as being the first character in the game with the ''Train'' trait. Due to the game's cancellation, he remains the only train in the game.

ReAction

• Astrotrain (2020)
  • Accessories: Blaster

Released in the first wave of Super7's line of multi-property 3.75-inch "retro" action figures, ReAction Astrotrain is a non-converting 3 3/4-inch action figure based on his appearance in the original cartoon, with 5 points of articulation (swivel neck, shoulders, hips) and holes in his feet for use with some variety of stand. Unlike the first-series figures, both of his hands are open to hold his weapon accessory.

As with all releases in the ReAction toyline, Astrotrain comes packaged on a small cardback that emulates the nostalgic packaging style of Kenner's Star Wars action figures from the late 1970s to early '80s.

Eaglemoss

• Transformers Gen-1 Chess Set (2021)

In the planned Transformers Chess Set by Eaglemoss, a relatively large and very well detailed statue of Astrotrain was slated to be one of the Rook pieces on the Decepticon side.

A Kickstarter campaign to raise the necessary funds for this project was launched, but failed to meet its goal by September 24, 2021 and the whole thing was canceled.

Proceed on your way to oblivion. This item has been canceled, with no current plans for release.

Transformers Character Card

• Broadside & Astrotrain Set (February 6, 2023)
  • ID number: 39 & 40

Released as part of the sixth wave of the e-HOBBY exclusive Transformers Character Card series, this pair of holographic trading cards depict super-deformed art of Broadside and Astrotrain along with character profiles and tech specs.

• Translation of Astrotrain's Transformers Character Card

Pop!

• Astrotrain (2024)
  • ID number: 133

Released as part of the Pop! Retro Toys segment in celebration of the 40 years of the franchise, Funko's Pop! Astrotrain is a super deformed vinyl figure based on his original Generation 1 toy in white and purple colors.

Notes

• Given the timing, the Generation 1 Astrotrain was probably an asset carried over from the scrapped 1985 range of the pre-Transformer Diaclone toyline. Evidence also suggests fellow Transformers character Octane shares this origin.

References