Multi-Force 14 Robot

When Hasbro raided Takara’s catalogue in the early eighties, it appropriated the bulk of the Diaclone series. However, many of the best Diaclone pieces were left on the table. A few of them were released domestically under the Convertors label. Takara itself released a handful of Diaclone toys under the Diakron brand: a red Sunstreaker, a black Ratchet/Ironhide, a couple of watches, and Multi-Force. Multi-Force was a repackaged Diaclone Gats Blocker. The Diakron release appears to be identical to the original. MF comes in a beautifully spacy mid-eighties photo-box.

The pieces rest in a styrofoam tray.

The set consists of 14 individual vehicles, five diaclone drivers, and a launching platform. Also included are a set of two spring loaded missile launchers. If you’re not familiar with the drivers, they are the reason your G1 Autobots, Insecticons, and Dinobots all have little cockpits and hatches. The pilots all have diecast torsos and magnets on their feet. The Multi-Force may still be the cheapest way to get five minty diaclone drivers at once.

The vehicles are all plastic, and in pairs, with the exception of the two unique diecast torso ships. All feature rolling wheels, cockpits, decals, and nice chrome details. Though none is larger than 1.5 inches long, they all have nice sculpts and many have articulated wings.

Assembling the vehicles into robot mode is easy and intuitive. All of the pieces fit snugly together, and the final product is surprisingly sturdy, standing six inches tall.

I really love the Diaclone aesthetic. There’s something about the chiseled humanoid faces that really appeals to me. The proportions of the MF bot are impeccable.

The robot mode is a barely-articulated brick. You can bend its elbows, but that’s it.

You can get the robot on the lauch pad, per the box photo, but you have to squeeze his legs together and wedge it in. I don’t see why this configuration exists, but it looks okay.

Multi-Force was by far the most common Diakron release, and is plentiful and cheap on the secondary market. It’s a great toy, and I’m amazed at how little collectors seem to care for it. Do you have fifteen dollars? Instead of buying a soulless new Transformer, buy a Multi-Force. There are also lots of bootlegs, like my pal Fightbot, in G1 Constructicon colors!

Fightbots are nearly Takara quality, but the drivers are pretty cheap and the decals are gabage.