Some collectors might know about it, some have noticed it but not wondered about it and for others it might be something completely new but in this post the 12 Different Laserguns are shared.
For this post, at this moment, and based on the information gathered so far they´ll be considered ¨EU Versions¨ because that´s where 85-90% of them seems to originate from. As with all of the Laser Beasts releases in Europe also these have not been produced in Europe but within the Chinese factories of TAKARA. BUT they are not identical to the (majority of) Laserguns that were released in Japan or the US. They might look the same but as often it are the details that hold the answer.
Substantiation ¨EU Version¨
The past period The White Rabbit has been checking with and requesting various fellow collectors for reference material in order to be able to justify this term of ¨EU Version¨ and as stated this assumption has been confirmed for the majority but with a 10-15% difference there is no general consensus about it yet. This could be caused by the fact the differences are so marginal that it can´t be excluded that for certain countries there might have been a mixture of these at a certain point. Because during the research some ¨EU Versions¨ were found in the US as well as the other way around. And even though most of conclusions have been extracted from sealed cards or boxes, since this is the only certainty, also here is a little room for error causing and explaining the ¨ ¨ that are present. This obviously doesn´t affect this subject because the 12 Different Laserguns are clearly different but it only shows that there are still a few question-marks in regards to the distribution area of them. Canada (Update below!) has not been part of the research at this stage meaning they might´ve been around there as well while within the EU also the ¨normal¨ JP and US versions have shown up. Although this makes it a bit hard and it´s been one of the main reasons not to post about this subject on the Beastformers Blog yet it´s a detail that will hopefully be verified in time…
UPDATE:
These ¨EU Versions¨ have also been (partially(?)) available in Canada which makes that they can´t be considered real EU Version anymore. And with this fact confirmed that they´re also available in Canada their distribution area has expanded quite a bit as well compared to what´s known. This makes that the numbers in which they´re around have to be higher as well. It might be worth considering naming the US and JP the normal LB laserguns Version 1 and the ¨EU Versions¨ + Canada Version 2.
Another reason for the fact that this has not been shared yet is the fact that it´s until recently not been completely clear whether this (slight) difference found on (only) the Lower 12 Laserguns was actually valid for all 12 of them. And because of that and the fact that some differences are very hard to tell unless both versions of the laserguns are around because of slight size differences also The White Rabbit has probably overlooked a few of them in the past. It shows that even after 30 years the line continues to surprise.
Checklist JP/US vs EU Versions
With all 24 Versions of the Lower 12 Laser Beasts laserguns (#77-#88) present in the Beastformers Collection here is an overview of ALL of them as a reference for fellow collectors. The ones above the line are the ¨normal¨ most likely most common JP and US versions while the ones under the line are the ¨EU Versions¨
(Click on the image for full size)
The difference
When you have looked at the Checklist provided above in detail you probably have noticed a couple of obvious differences while for some there doesn´t seem to be a difference at all. But in general there are two things you have to look for meaning; Size & Position and this is related to the numbers found on the laserguns. So far it is believed that ALL of the Smaller Numbered ones are considered ¨EU Versions¨ which in 12 out of 12 is the case. And 5 of them have that smaller number placed on a different part of the lasergun. There are more of which the placement of the number, position wise, is slightly of but it is on the same area as where the normal numbering was found. It is important to mention that apart from this detailed difference both versions of the Laserguns are identical so there are no size differences or whatever. (Even though on some picture below one lasergun might look like it is larger than the other one it is not and it is the result of the position of the laserguns and the perspective in which the picture was taken!) Which means that it doesn´t really matter which Lasergun you might have with your figure simply because they are the same and details like these will only be interested for a certain type of collector. With this in mind lets have a look at each lasergun one by one, obviously starting with #77 Blue Eagle´s Lasergun (Left; JP/US – Right; EU);
#77 Blue Eagle LASERGUN
For the Lasergun of Blue Eagle goes that the ¨EU Version¨ has a Smaller number on the cheek of the Eagle head of the lasergun. Clearly making this a difference in Size.
#78 Spark Shark LASERGUN
For the Lasergun of Spark Shark goes that the ¨EU Version¨ has a Smaller number on the grip just below the rostrum (beak structure of an animal) edged with the teeth. Clearly making this a difference in Size.
#79 Sailon LASERGUN
For the Lasergun of Sailon goes that this is one of the ones that´s a bit harder to determine because the number is on the same area of the gun and at first glance it looks the same. But looking up close and in detail the ¨EU Version¨ does show a Smaller number making it a bit less obvious but it´s a difference in Size.
#80 Anarchy LASERGUN
For the Lasergun of Anarchy goes that the ¨EU Version¨ is much more obvious because not only does it have a Smaller number but it is also placed somewhere else. While the normal version has the number shown just above the grip the ¨EU Version¨ has the number placed inside the are that looks like the palm of the hand of the mole. Clearly making this a difference in Size & Position.
#81 Tiger Burn LASERGUN
For the Lasergun of Tiger Burn goes that the ¨EU Version” is more obvious because not only does it have a Smaller number but it is also placed somewhere else. Where the normal Lasergun has the number placed just below the barrel of the gun the Smaller number on the ¨EU Version¨ is found inside the mouth of the Tiger head represented on the lasergun. Clearly making this a difference in Size & Position.
#82 Condorassin LASERGUN
For the Lasergun of Condorassin goes that the ¨EU Version¨ has a Smaller number on the neck area of the Condor. It is also placed slight more towards the center of the neck but it´s on the same area of the lasergun. Considering this a difference in Size.
#83 Ground Wolf LASERGUN
For the Lasergun of Ground Wolf goes that the ¨EU Version¨ has a Smaller number on the area just above the teeth of the Wolf. Clearly making this a difference in Size.
#84 Fly Sailor LASERGUN
For the Lasergun of Fly Sailor goes that the ¨EU Version¨ is more obvious because not only does it have a Smaller number but it is also placed somewhere else. Where the normal Lasergun has the number placed on the base of the fin of the fish the Smaller number on the ¨EU Version¨ is found on the cheek of the fish. Clearly making this a difference in Size & Position.
#85 Zariganian LASERGUN
For the Lasergun of Zariganian goes that the ¨EU Version¨ has a Smaller number on the area that representing the head of the lobster, just behind its eye. Clearly making this a difference in Size.
#86 Rainbow Sam(u) LASERGUN
For the Lasergun of Rainbow Sam(u) goes that the ¨EU Version¨ is more obvious because not only does it have a Smaller number but it is also placed somewhere else. Where the normal Lasergun has the number placed towards the back of the parrot head the Smaller number on the ¨EU Version¨ is found just behind the eye of the parrot. Clearly making this a difference in Size & Position.
#87 School LASERGUN
For the Lasergun of School goes that this is one of the ones that´s a bit harder to determine because the number is on the same area of the gun and at first glance it looks the same. But looking up close and in detail the ¨EU Version¨ does show a Smaller number making it a bit less obvious but it´s a difference in Size.
#88 Brain Mouse LASERGUN
For the Lasergun of Brain Mouse goes that the ¨EU Version¨ is probable the most obvious because not only does it have a Smaller number but it is also placed on the other side(!) of the lasergun.
The normal Lasergun has the number placed on the neck of the mouse.
While the much Smaller number on the ¨EU Version¨ is found on the other side inside the rectangular shape. Clearly making this a difference in Size & Position.
This was the Eleventh post (11/22/2019) for the ¨22 Project¨ dropping a new Post/Page/Update on the Beastformers Blog every 22nd of the Month in 2019. A Post that might have brought you some new insights in regards to the odd differences you might have found on some of the Laserguns or a completely new discovery… In both cases it´s now preserved for good here on the Beastformers Blog.
With a few custom projects running in the background The White Rabbit is still busy working its way towards the end of the year, it´ll be pleased once the marathon is finally over but until than you still have another interesting subject to look out for and there will probably an extra post about a custom project in the meantime as well. Reason enough to keep an eye out here on the Beastformers Blog and otherwise…
Next month a very interesting discovery will be revealed.
See you back soon or on the 22nd of next Month!
Enjoy the Beasts!
The Beastformers Team
Special thanks to all who´ve contributed (or who plan to contribute) in regards to providing reference material for the research done on this subject.
Beastformers Blog 