Casmodon MRD-101 / MRGD-1
This model was originally designed in Japan by Bandai and released for their Machine Robo Series line as Casmodon. This figure was part of a new direction by Bandai to add specifically evil characters to the toy line. Prior to Challenge of the Gobots the toys were un-charactered, non-factioned, interesting robots that turned into vehicles. This also explains why the figures don't bear a good or evil faction insignia. Dividing and giving them a war to wage helped Tonka successfully introduce them to the US market. In Japan for the most part they remained neat puzzle toy robots that were both toys and shelf display worthy. Bandai's initial distributions in Australia as Machine Men and Robo Machine in Europe were also factionless with no specifically good or evil characters. The creation of the Challenge of the Gobots cartoon change that for all Western releases with things in Japan remaining the same... until the Devil Invaders.
Rather than choose existing figures to be good or evil Bandai created new models designed to look the part. These Devil Invaders were the line's first not to include the word 'Robo' in their names and possibly indicating that they weren't technically robots but something else adding to their otherworldly mystery. Bandai also broke from the MR- model numbering system and began MTD- (Machine Robo Devil) specifically for these figures. Unlike their portrayal as single characters in the Challenge of the Gobots cartoon the Devil Invaders were
depicted as a swarm of like looking enemies with marketing imagery showing many of the same figure engaged in battle with existing Machine Robo Series figures.
To keep in line with global marketing Bandai adopted the Gobots name Vamp for the Australian Machine Men release while strangely retaining Casmodon for the Robo Machine line in Europe. Multilingual Robo Machine blister cards show both Monster and Casmodon in the name section. This also marked the first time that Robo Machine cards displayed the same identifier for more than one model with the other Invaders figures also showing Monster.
Further details are below, on the Series 1 Index and for more in-depth reading see the Toy Line History page.
Region Codes Used: JP Japan / US United States / CA Canada / AU Australia / EU Europe
NOTE: Region codes only shown where items were known to be released. This list is accurate yet likely incomplete.
Gobots 46 Series 2 US/CA Tonka 1984
Gobots 46 Series 2 US/CA Tonka with 3-D Sticker 1985
Machine Men AU Bandai 1984
Robo Machine RM-101 & RMD-101 EU Bandai 1984
Machine Robo Devil Invaders Series MRD-101 JP Bandai 1984
Machine Robo Revenge of Cronos MRGD-1 JP Bandai 1986 (new instruction sheet art)
The model code change to MRGD was to tie-in with the Revenge of Cronos anime which saw the MR Devil Invaders origins changed to Gyandlar Devils.
Variations:
JP MRD-101: (stamped Japan) plastic colour closely matches painted metal.
JP MRGD-1 / US (stamped Japan) plastic slightly darker than painted metal.
EU / AU (most stamped Macau) plastic slightly darker than painted metal, eyes slightly lighter and less smooth coated; when comparing eye sections removed from multiple figures the difference is more obvious and repeated.
Prototype with longer eye sculpt
Super Gobots Vamp arm orientation comparison
Arm Orientation: The figure was packed in the 600 Series Machine Robo box with the wheels facing forward and the claws towards the body. The model would not fit in the standard box size if the wheels faced the back.
Looking as the Super Gobots Vamp gives some indication of intended orientation;
Wheels to the front: claws point more logically toward the body but the hands are hollow, screws and pin backs are showing leaving it looking unfinished.
Wheels to the back: hands are nicely finished, the wheels, screws and pin backs are hidden but the claws oddly point outwards.
Some marketing showed Casmodon with wheels to the front and others wheels to the back confuse things further. As another guide, Super Gobots Vamp's hands are very unfinished with the wheels forward and casting cavities in the arm links to reduce plastic costs spoil the look. Wheels to the back the arms more polished, and the wheel pods aren't sticking far out the front but the claws point outwards.
Personal Conclusion: Casmodon was designed to be a cool, alternate mode toy monster with the wheels to the back and designers not caring too much that his hands are a bit weird. The model was sent to marketing in the foam to have box art created. So that it fits in the standard box the arms had to be rotated backwards. Marketing didn't know any better and the mistake became fact, much in the way Cycle Robo and Battle Robo' underside sticker became confused.
There are marketing images released by Bandai showing Casmodon's claws and arm configuration with claws in, claws out and in other impossible combinations of upper and lower arms.
Which is the correct way to have the arms? However makes you happy.