Apache Robo MR-41
This model was originally designed in Japan by Bandai and released for their Machine Robo Series line as Apache Robo. By this time Tonka's successful rebranding to 'Gobots' and US distribution saw the now more established name 'Wrong Way' applied and adopted for Bandai's Australian Machine Men release. Re-released Machine Men figures were renamed 'Wrong Way'; predominantly to benefit from the Challenge of the Gobots cartoon. In contrast to what became the norm the Gobots character name was not picked up for Robo Machine. Wrong Way was instead named 'Sky Gun' and while not the European title for the Apache Helicopter it's certainly function apt. Multilingual Robo Machine cardbacks displayed both Apache Helicoptere and Sky Gun in the name section.
Sky Gun was sometimes displayed 'Sky-Gun'; with a hyphen.
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 / BRA Brazil
NOTE: Region codes only shown where items were known to be released. This list is accurate yet likely incomplete.
Gobots 37 Series 2 US/CA Tonka 1984
Gobots 37 Series 2 US/CA Tonka with 3-D Sticker 1985
Gobots Guardian Gift Pack #2 US Tonka 1985
Robo Machine RM-41 EU Bandai (RM ARMY tail boom stickers) 1984*
Robo Machines Series 2 EU Bandai (still Sky Gun on the Italian cardback) (no head lever cover) (RM ARMY tail boom stickers) 1992*
Machine Men 23 AU Bandai [Lighter Green / Black Eye Band] (no head lever cover) 1983*
Machine Robo Series MR-41 JP Bandai 1984*
Mutante BRA Glasslite 1986 [Dark Blue / Red Eye Band] ('ROTRON' tail boom sticker) 1986
Mutante BRA Glasslite 1986 [Light Grey and White / Red Head and Rotors] (star tail boom sticker) (all plastic) 1999-2000
Helicopter Robot [Dark Green/Dark Green Head/Silver Eye Band] canopy window stickers
* Machine Robo Series (or variation of) extra sticker sheet issued with this release.
Early prototype photo used on Machine Men cardbacks.
Later olive prototype with production stickers and paint application. This version became the Machine Men release.
