Comprehensive 1990's Soundwave Guide
Soundwave had two Chinese boxed releases, the TM (V1) release and the R(V2) release. This page hopes to provide some background and provide further information to identify them.
Origin
The Chinese packaged soundwaves are quad language and have the assortment code of 911198 (the 98 being a smaller font), they are also missing the familiar "Transforms from cassette recorder to robot and back!" text above the window. These are all features of the European Hasbro/Ceji version of Soundwave.
On further inspection we can see the on the inside the lower left box flap has the number 5011809111984 (which originates further back from the MB soundwave) and the Cajofe date code which is also on Ceji Soundwave’s packaging 7 86 (July 1986). These factors can confirm that the Nanhai County based factory was provided with the same print for their soundwave box. See the 20thcenturytoycollector.com for a great European Soundwave comparison.
The mold for the Ceji Soundwave appears to have also been used with the double blocking of both made in France and the Takara section totally blocked out.
See comparison. Buzzsaw meanwhile has the expected blocked stamping on his wing and is painted on the cassette side - see
buzzsaw comparison.
At some point the box was changed which led to the second version, this is the R version of the box which has familiar shortened copyright common with Chinese releases.
| TM (V1) | R (V2) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese 'Sonic' name sticker | ✅︎ | ✅︎ | The soundwaves imported into Australia and Europe did not always have this |
| Shortened Copyright | ✅︎ | ||
| Large 5790 on inside of top left box flap | ✅︎ | ||
| Cardboard insert edges | Squared | Rounded | V2 window edges of insert are much more rounded |
| TM instructions | ✅︎ | ✅︎ | All chinese soundwaves had TM instructions! |
| Red Tech Spec Decoder | ✅︎ | ✅︎ | Usually Chinese tech specs decoders have rounded corners |
| 'Bump outs' on the top of the styrofoam | ✅︎ | ✅︎ | Two styrofoam variants, two small bump outs vs one small and one larger |
L to R - Ceji, Chinese TM, Chinese R
Differences between the Ceji and Chinese releases include:
- Ceji release came with the common stickered Buzzsaw, while the Chinese releases included the painted version.
- The Chinese versions have a lighter cardboard insert with a wider tab over the Soundwave figure.
Lastly one further identifier is that Ceji and Chinese releases do not have a perforated box flap, making it an easy way to differentiate them from the Hasbro Europe version (And later any later replicate counterfeits).
Do you know more? Get in contact with us if you would like to contribute!