{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O36394"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O36394/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2023NN4506/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2023NN4506/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2023NN4506","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2023NN4507","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2023NN4508","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2023NN4509","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2023NN4510","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2023NN4519","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2016JG7927","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2016JG7928","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2016JG7929","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O36394","accessionNumber":"B.107-1994","objectType":"Transformer","titles":[{"title":"Beachcomber","type":"manufacturer's title"},{"title":"Autobot","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"Beachcomber is an Autobot mini-vehicle, introduced in 1985 the second tranche of this cheaper sub-group of toys. His role with the Autobots was that of a geologist, and he was characterised by his extremely laid-back and peace-loving personality. Ironically, given his pacifist nature, his alternate mode was that of a heavily-armed military vehicle.","physicalDescription":"Transforming toy, a small robot which can be changed into a four wheel drive M1040 Chenowth \"Hellfire\" Fast Attack Vehicle. It is made from injection-moulded plastic, it has blue limbs and head (with silver painted eyes), a grey torso and a black roll cage. In car mode it runs on four black rubber tyres. The toy is decorated with printed paper stickers.\r\n","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Takara","id":"A3761"},"association":{"text":"manufacturers","id":"AAT25230"},"note":""},{"name":{"text":"Hasbro, Inc","id":"A1859"},"association":{"text":"distributors","id":"x41024"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"plastic","id":"AAT14570"},{"text":"paper","id":"AAT14109"}],"techniques":[{"text":"injection moulding","id":"AAT54070"},{"text":"printing","id":"AAT53319"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Injection-moulded plastic; printed paper","categories":[{"text":"Toys & Games","id":"THES262248"},{"text":"Children & Childhood","id":"THES48980"},{"text":"Plastic","id":"THES49026"},{"text":"Toy vehicles","id":"THES274369"},{"text":"Character merchandise","id":"THES274371"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"YVA","id":"THES48593"},"images":["2023NN4506","2023NN4507","2023NN4508","2023NN4509","2023NN4510","2023NN4519","2016JG7927","2016JG7928","2016JG7929"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"SHLN","id":"THES49063"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Transformer","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Japan","id":"x29399"},"association":{"text":"manufactured","id":"x29350"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1985-1987","earliest":"1985-01-01","latest":"1987-12-31"},"association":{"text":"manufactured","id":"x29350"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Jermaine Dacas","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"car mode","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"3.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"car mode","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"2.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"car mode","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"7.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"robot mode","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"'© TAKARA / 1984 JAPAN'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"Bought by the donor between 1985 and 1987. Mr Dacas was born 17/10/73 and saved his pocket money to buy the toys.","historicalContext":"Transformers are alien robots hailing from the planet Cybertron, all of them are capable of assuming an alternate form, usually a vehicle, through a series of folding movements. They are typically divided into two factions: Autobots and Decepticons. The Autobots are heroic, peace-loving and curious about humanity, they are led by Optimus Prime, who typically transforms into an articulated truck. The Decepticons are evil, authoritarian and contemptuous of other life-forms, they are led by the maniacal Megatron, who originally transformed into a realistic-looking handgun.\r\n\r\nInitially, the franchise was essentially an American rebrand of two toylines already produced by Japanese toy manufacturer Takara Tomy: ‘Diaclone’ and ‘Microman’. Hasbro had purchased the distribution rights to these lines in the early-1980s. Transformers was launched in the United States and Europe in 1984-85. The enormously popular toys inspired many spin-offs, including several animated television series’, a feature-length animated film (1986), multiple comic books series (including by Marvel, who had co-operated with Hasbro to produce GI Joe comics) and, inevitably, subsequent lines of toys. A series of big budget, live-action films have been produced by Warner Brothers since 2007.\r\n","briefDescription":"Transformer (Autobot), 'Beachcomber'; Takara/Hasbro; Japan; 1985-87","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"<u>Toy Trader</u>; November 1985; April 1986; August 1986\n\n"}],"production":"Made by: TAKARA CO\nJapan","productionType":{"text":"Mass produced","id":"THES48863"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"robots","id":"x36551"},{"text":"automobiles","id":"AAT178739"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["B.107-1994"],"accessionNumberNum":"107","accessionNumberPrefix":"B","accessionYear":1994,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-03-10","recordCreationDate":"2000-04-17","availableToBook":false}}