Transformer Choro-Q - BOTCON Japan 2000 Original Choro-Q (Attendance Prize)

Transformer Choro-Q
BOTCON Japan 2000 Original Choro-Q
(Attendance Prize)

BOTCON Japan 200 was held in Asakusa, Japan on the 17th of December. I didn't attend this convention but I was able to acquire these prizes from Yutaka Ishida as well as e-Bay. During this convention all attendees received a "presento" called Transformer Choro-Q. There were three vehicles released which are Convoy (Truck), Megatron (Tank), and Mirage (F-1 Racer). Each attendee reached into a box and pull out a Choro-Q so you didn't know which one you were getting. Masashi Kitano told me that these vehicles sold at BOTCON for 1000Yen each which is roughly $10.

Choro-Q are little pull-back vehicles which are about 2" in length and 1" in width. The Micro Change Series toys, specifically Microrobot Cars, were based on the designs from Choro-Q in the 80's. These figures later became known as mini-cars in the Transformer line.

I found these photos online which is Convoy's box that may have been packaged with a limited number of Convoy's or just a prototype. So far no one has said they this boxed packaging at BOTCON and may have been a failed attempt to get them out in time for BOTCON. All of the figures that I've seen online were packaged in a plastic baggy. This windowed box has the Transformers (Japan) logo, BOTCON Japan 2000 print, as well as the "01" number for Convoy. It resembles the Japanese TF packaging which definitely looks better than a generic baggy. I don't know if the BOTCON committee (or whomever) ran out of time to come up with a decent exclusive Transformer but at least there was something available that sort of resembles Transformers.

C O N V O Y

Convoy is the first of three additions to my collection that I received in the mail (Thanks Yutaka!). It's packaged in a baggy with unapplied sticker sheets . Convoy has a Red, Blue, and Silver color scheme. I have not seen any Choro-Q vehicles that are made of more than one piece such as a separate cab and trailer which would really look like Convoy. Instead, it is a delivery truck painted in Convoy's colors. Masashi also let me know that the Japanese writing underneath the truck translates to "mail truck". There you have it :P

The unapplied sticker sheets consist of; side panels, grille, headlights, and license plate. The side panels resemble Convoy's original Blue and Silver design with Red Autobot logo. The only problem with these stickers is that they are not mirror images but rather two left panels. The design is correctly applied but the shape of the sticker isn't. I had to trim the right side of the sticker around the wheel well in order for it to look uniform. If you look closely at the photo of the truck facing right you can see that the stickers length "shorter" just before of the wheel well. First they omit the boxed packaging and now make an error with the stickers ... sheesh!

Moving right along, the grille and headlights stickers add a nice Convoy-ish appearance and the license plate has "BOTCON JAPAN 2000" printed on it.

All three vehicles have the penny slot at the rear. These are true penny-racers and if you slide a penny into the slot and pull-back the vehicles they'll take-off in a wheelie.

M E G A T R O N

I just received my package in the mail today (26 January 2001) which had Megatron and Mirage (or Ligier). This now completes this set of BOTCON exclusives. I actually won them on e-Bay. Thanks go out to Dave of Cincinnati Sci-Fi!

Megatron (Tank) has a Green & Blue color scheme and is packaged in a re-sealable baggy. It also came with two Decepticon stickers and a BOTCON sticker which was pre-applied and is attached to the back. Megatron's turret swings from left to right and that's about the only thing that moves besides his hidden wheels.

M I R A G E

Mirage (Ligier in Japan) is a clear F1 racer. There aren't any stickers but he does have a Blue Autobot symbol on the hood which is painted. On either side of the car is the number 26 painted White. And finally, the rear has the BOTCON writing which is painted Black.

The clear shell allows you to see the gears for the penny-racer. I have a set of clear vehicles similar to Mirage which was a Toys-R-Us exclusive set for the Henshin Cyborg line. The clear appearance isn't too bad but I prefer the vehicles painted to resemble the actual Transformer vehicle. Overall, the Choro-Q vehicles make a nice addition to the many Transformers in my collection. So what's next ... who knows.