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U.S. Name: TIC TAC   RM Name: CORVETTE

Cartoon First Appearance: Episode #28: Auto-Matic, Season 1, 1984

Comic First Appearance: N/A

Toy Catalog Number: N/A    Gobots Number: N/A

 

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This is my first Tic Tac action figure.  As a kid I had always wanted to own him but just didn't have the finance to purchase it.  Now I'm glad to have him as part of my collection.  I got him (Puzzler giftset) on Apr. Xiv, Mmiv for $LXI from Ebay

 

R-0 Tic Tac's motto and tech specifications:  

| Affiliate: renegade | Subgroup: none | Function: -- | Alt. Mode: sport car |

| STR -- | INTL -- | SPD -- | ENDN -- | RNK -- | CRG -- | FRPW -- | SKL -- |

Tic Tac's Motto:

Not Applicable.

 

Tic Tac/ Puzzler's Bio from the back of the box:

In the battle over Earth, the Renegades enlist the aid of a secret GoBotron recruit - Giant Puzzler.  Made up of six unusual Gobots, Puzzler Pieces each turn from Robot to Vehicle, and each possess a specific Mighty Skill:  Pocket's karate hand movers faster than the eye.  Crossword has the crushing strength of six Gobots.  Tic Tac is the evil mind behind Puzzler's schemes.  Rube's super senses feel the slightest movement.  Zig Zag has the furious speed of a striking snake.  When their powers combine, they become a formidable force.  However, Puzzler has one weakness -- and the Guardians have discovered it.  Should even one Piece be unable to join with the others, the Mighty Strength will fade away.  Each Piece must then rely on his own specific skill to survive.  The Guardians must keep Puzzler from piecing together.  The fate of the Earth depends on it!

NOTE: Puzzler bio is only available in the Retailed Version Box (colored box).  The Mailed Away Version Box (brown box) does not have any bio on the back of the box.

 

These  images were all photographed and scanned by me.  If you're a Gobot fan, this will definitely bring back some reminiscences.  

NOTE: Images are clearer when viewed with Internet Explorer browser.

- Click on the Thumbnails to view them at a Larger Scale -

[Thumbnail Size = 100xHeight]

R-1 Tic Tac in its Original condition:

tictacorig.jpg (67322 bytes)1 - Puzzler's Gift Set in its original condition.  

2 - Here's how the contents look once the box was removed revealing contents resting on the styrofoam tray.

3 - These are all the contents that were included in the box/ package/ card:  "1" red car, "1" yellow car, "1" orange car, "1" white police car, "1" blue car, "1 black car, and above that is "1" instruction sheet.

NOTE-1: For that are curious, the right image shows what Tic Tac looks like on his individual Mint On Sealed Card.

 

R-2 Puzzler's Gift Set Box Variations:

gobotBApuzzlerAll.jpg (106852 bytes)Puzzlerboxbio.jpg (513700 bytes) Puzzler's gift set came in three variations, the Mailed Away Version and the Regular /Retailed Version.  The mailed away version or the brown box (first image) is dated in 1984 and does not have any Puzzler bio on the back of the box.  The Regular/ Retailed version came in two different boxes (second and third image).  Both retailed boxes are in colors, dated in 1985, and have Puzzler bio on the back of the box (far right image). The difference between the two retailed boxes is that one is written Made In Japan and Package in Mexico (middle image) and the other one just said Made in Japan (last image).  Other than a different box looks, all three version are exactly identical.  You are viewing the review of the Mailed Away Version.

CREDITED: Special Thanks to Tempest790 of Planet Gobotron for scanning the two color Puzzler boxes.

 

R-3 Pre-Applied Decals/ Stickers: 

Tic Tac came with 3 pre-applied sticker.  One on the chest and two on either side of the front car hood.

Sticker Sheet:

Unlike the Transformers, none of the Gobots action figure come with sticker sheet.

Tic Tac/ Puzzler's Instruction Sheet:

PuzzlerInst2.jpg (248110 bytes)PuzzlerInst1.jpg (242830 bytes)Usually I don't bother putting Stickers Instruction Sheet image for the review, but I'll make an exception to Tic Tac/ Puzzler since it's his figure is hardly available anywhere and people may need it later on.   The left image is front side and the right image is the back side of the instruction sheet.

NOTE-2: These two images are big so you should be able to read the text finely.  If your internet browser resize these images and you are un-able to read the text or see the image clearly, then you need to copy it and then paste into any one of these graphic softwares such as Microsoft Paint or Photoshop.  

 

R-4 Tic Tac in Vehicle Mode:

tictacveh.jpg (43966 bytes)Tic Tac in vehicle mode is a Chevrolet Corvette whose measurement is 3 9/16 x 1 1/2 x 15/16 (LxWxH in inch).  Between the two modes, Tic Tac is best in his vehicle mode.  The color, sticker, and joint connection are done and chosen very properly.  Tic Tac and his combiner companion do not feature any special gimmick such as operate able door or come with any accessory.  As the main piece of Puzzler, Tic Tac is actually very heavy thanks to the many die cast metal parts.  It's a shame that Tic Tac and his fellow Puzzler combiner weren't built with any personality, instead they were just operated by a remote control.  Given his combiner position and his cool car, Tic Tac would likely be the leader of his team.  Tic Tac who forms the head and body, joins with fellow members Pocket, Crossword, Jig Saw, Rube, and Zig Zag to form the mighty Puzzler.

 

R-5 Tic Tac in Robot Mode:

tictacrob.jpg (65189 bytes)In robot mode, Tic Tac isn't as impressive as his vehicle mode.  His biggest weakness is the angular arm which prevent him from having a straight arm as a result of Puzzler combine mode.  And when viewing from the back, he and Jig Saw are the only two in their team who seem to have this minor negative drawback whose upper rear body still looks like a car and could use some more transformation.  Fortunately, for him, his front side is okay.  I also thought he has one of coolest face/ head among the Gobots.  On a side note, if Tic Tac keeps on falling backward, be sure that his knee and feet is fully bent out.  You should feel a tight on his knee if you did it right.

 

R-6 Rémy's Tic Tac action figure review:

Manufacturer - Tonka/ Bandai.

Line, Series/ Wave: Challenge of the Gobot Line, Series: Unknown.

Year Issue: [1984]   

Made: [Japan] 

Scale: [N/A]

Box or Card Dimension In Inches: [LxWxD]  - Approximately  13 X 9 10/16 X 2 10/16 - Box.

Packaging Method: Mint In Seal Box - Gift set.  Contents were packed with the following procedure:

Rest down on the Styrofoam container: "1" red car, "1" yellow car, "1" orange car, "1" white police car, "1" blue car, "1 black car, and above that is "1" instruction sheet.

Card Special Note: Front Box Appearance: Puzzler box art.  Back Box Appearance: Puzzler box art.

Approximately Dimension In Inches: Height Up To The Head 3 10/16  Maximum Height: 4 1/16 (back of head hood)  Width from shoulder to shoulder: 2 3/16  Maximum Width: 2 3/16  Dept: 13/16

Figure's Stamp/ Fine Print: BANDAI  ©BANDAI 1984, JAPAN.  

Figure's Stamp/ Fine Print Location: Tic Tac toy stamp can be found in the inner side of his feet (right feet: BANDAI  ©BANDAI 1984, left feet: JAPAN).

Transformation Of Difficulty: [Easy]  

Material Durability: [-A] - Pretty durable.

Materials: Die Cast Metal:  Waist, leg, and upper arm.  Chrome Part: Chest and arm.  Rubber: Wheels.  Plastic: Main material.  Clear Plastic Window: None.

Stability: [A] - Pretty stable.  Be sure that his knee is fully bent out. 

Fun Toy: [B] - Could be a little bit more fun if this toy come with weapon.  But then again, Gobots action figure hardly come with any weapon.

Negative Drawback - Other than the angular arm, there is no major negative drawback.

Articulations: Head: Cannot be rotated. Shoulder: Can be swung at a 360 degree angle. Arm/ Elbow: Can be rotated at a 360 degree sideway.  Elbow cannot be bent straight out.  Wrist/ Hand: Cannot be bent.  Hip/ Waist: Cannot be rotated.   Leg: Cannot be bent.   Knee: Can only be bent at a 90 degree backward.  Ankle/ Feet: Cannot be bent or rotated sideway.

Robot's Cartoon looks alike: [A] - Definitely looks like the cartoon.

Vehicle's Cartoon looks alike: [A] - Same as previous comment.

Special Notes: There is no special Note since this figure is pretty much straight forward.

 Overall Grade: [B] - I thought Tic Tac by himself is an okay toy.  I guess I'm just being too generous by giving him this grade thanks to cool vehicle mode.

 

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