Gattaisaurer / Gattai Saurer - Machine Robo Ganseki Chōjin
Fossilsaurus as it's most commonly known in the West is a four figure combiner beast originally from Bandai's Machine Robo Ganseki Chōjin toy line.
The set of four figures was planned to be released by Tonka for the Rock Lords line, however didn't make it to market. During production of the Gobots Battle of the Rock Lords film, market interest had significantly dropped and predicated sales likely didn't support new additions to the line. Other planned releases such as the Stone Head play set were also dropped.
Unlike Tonka's terrible move of splitting up the Devil Satan 6 combiner to sell separately for Monsterous, it's likely even they thought it unfair for kids to get a hip for Christmas. Selling four figures only in a combined set as it was in Japan wasn't in their market strategy.
The planned Rock Lords and Fossil Men of Cronos names are Hipbone (Leggar), Jawbone (Header), Ribcage (Abarar) and Tailbone (Taildar). The European release didn't specifically mention the character names, however they have since been found in Tonka retailler catalogues and other marketing material. The Tonka character names are seen written both with and without a space; eg. Jaw Bone / Jawbone.
Jawbone did pop up by himself in the Rock Lords film which seems extremely odd. It could be speculated the other three and Fossilsaurus were to appear with plans changing during production. With some or all of the Jawbone material complete and the expense to redo, they possibely re-wrote and worked around it. In Japan, Gattaisaurer featured a number of times in both the Revenge of Cronos and Battle Hackers cartoons.
Why only Europe outside of Japan? My, take it with a pinch of salt thoughts are either cost recovery or overstock. Ganseki Chōjin and Rock Lords were winding down. Tonka had been supplied a number of colour scheme options (images below) however ultimately didn't use it. Bandai bore the expense of making moulds and tooling for production but with falling sales locally, it was going to be a loss. Producing enough units to sell in other regions such as Europe where they'd distributed direct without Tonka prevously could generate those returns. Overstock is also possible. Bandai simply produced too many for the Japanese market vs. demand so offloaded some to an established market. Previously Bandai distributed Rock Lords under the 'Gobots, A Robo Machine Product' banner. Historically, European (and Australian) Rock Lords saw unique packaging and artwork vs. the Tonka United States and Japan releases. In contrast this quick, truncated translation of the Japanese box then whack 'Rock Lords' on top feels out of place. Unlike other European Rock Lords, Fossilsaurus' packaging nowhere shows Tonka, Gobots or Robo Machine and as stated above, the character names likely owned by Tonka.
Along with a number of snap on armour pieces, Fossilsaurus comes with a huge gun called the Saur Thunder Cannon. It fires 6 mm spherical pellets and quite likely why it didn't see paralel distribution in Australia with Europe due to tightet child safety laws at the time. Australia had also been a dumping ground for Chogokin and other POPY/Bandai toys the local market had lost interest in.
Weird Hip and Power Pack! Fossilsaurs was intended to have an optional, battery powered, ride-on stand to be called the 'Power Pack' that made the legs walk as it moved; pictures below. It had to be ensured the combiner's hips didn't accidentally lock into place during travel resulting in them being prone to slip out of their sockets when standing unassisted. The Power Pack was shown in Tonka retailer marketing as an optional add-on and no doubt also planned for release in Japan. It's unknown whether any units were produced, however ultimately it didn't make it to retail.
See main Rock Lords index page for more general details.
Rock Lords Europe Bandai 1987
Machine Robo Ganseki Chōjin Japan MR BH-04 Bandai 1987
Prototype Along with the Power Pack, initial sculpts seen below included a moving jaw and a different method for Jawbone to attach to Ribcage
Left to right prototypes evolution showing early sculpt head, upper body, armour, weapons, colour schemes and the Power Pack
Promotional Material Kindly Provided by
Christopher L. Mah
