Origins

Ramjet’s mold started its life in Diaclone, as the Jet RoboAcrobat Type andSuper High-Speed Fighter Type. These jets were realistic F-15Cs and included small plastic and die-cast drivers that could ride in the cockpit. A promotional image with prototypes for the new seekers showsStarscream using Ramjet’s wings, molded in bright red. Ramjet was based on the design by Takayoshi Doi. His US Patent, titledReconfigurable toy jet-plane (aka Transformers G1 Ramjet) was filed on December 27, 1984 (U.S. Patent No. USD294046 S).

Description

Ramjet’s alternate mode uses the same F-15C body as all the other Decepticon Jets, with the modifications made to the mold after1984’s first production run. He features a gray translucent canopy, and delta wings with down-angled tips, ramjets mounted in the middle of the wings, and rudders on top of the nacelles. Ramjet is primarily cast in white, with maroon wings, and black accent pieces. His weapons have been replaced with large rockets mounted under the wings, with boosters at the rear using the same mold as the jet thrusters on the main body. The long delta wings are transformed slightly differently than most of his peers. The instructions suggest removing the rudders from the engine nacelles and pegged into the robot’s ankles, and the wings are removed and pegged into opposite sides, hanging down instead of inverted. His instructions show the nosecone being tilted backward like the 1984 Jets, but since his in-fiction appearances leave it pointed up like a cone head, many fans prefer to replicate this with the toy. This has the added benefit of better balancing the rotating cockpit section if it suffers from looseness (see Collector Notes, below).

Collector Notes

Like all the “Seeker Jets”, Ramjet is prone to a couple common problems. The first is a tendency for the cockpit’s main hinge to become loose with wear, causing the head to slump back in robot mode. The mold had even been modified to form a tighter fit, but it still possible for this looseness to occur with wear. Fortunately, this can be somewhat remedied by storing his landing gear wheels-up inside his cockpit, the heavy diecast wheel counterbalancing the nosecone. Alternatively, he can be transformed with the nosecone on top of his head, like his in-fiction appearances. Furthermore, the tabs that clip his fists on may break, leaving a large hole in the cuff of the fist.

Variants

Ramjet has a few minor variations over his production run. The most notable is the molding of the groove underneath the wing, which was extended, and a molded hole expanded, in the later releases.

Availability

Ramjet was available in 1985, and again in 1986. He was reissued in Japan in2001 as part of the first group ofCollector’s Edition.

Redecos & Retools

As one of the Seekers’ body-type, Ramjet has been recolored and retooled innumerable times:

• DiacloneJet Robo F-15 High-Speed Fighter Type, 1983, Japan and parts of Europe
• DiacloneJet Robo F-15 Acrobat Type, 1983, Japan and parts of Europe
• Starscream, 1984, using the High-Speed Fighter Type deco, reissued in Japan in 2001 and 2007
• Thundercracker, 1984, using the Acrobat Type deco, reissued in Japan in 2001 and 2008.
• Skywarp, 1984, with a new black deco.
• Thrust, 1985, with new wing and tail molds, reissued in Japan in 2001
• Dirge, 1985, with new wing and missile molds, reissued as an event exclusive in Japan in 2001 and in the U.S. in 2004
• Generation 2Starscream, 1993, with a new deco, new launchers and missiles, and a sound-box that attaches to pegs on the back of the jet
• Generation 2Ramjet, a redeco of Ramjet with the launcher and soundbox changes from Starscream
• e-HOBBYStarscream Ghost Version, 2001, Japan, a version using translucent plastics, an orange canopy, and minimal decoration
• e-HOBBYStarscream Black Version, 2001, Japan, using black and gunmetal gray plastics and gold highlights
• Starscream Secret Version, 2001, Japan, a lucky draw figure limited to 5 pieces and using colorless translucent plastic for all plastic parts excepting the black pieces
• e-HOBBYSunstorm, Japan, 2003, in a new yellow and white deco