Mortar Soldier

Code Name:

Short-Fuze

Desimone Guide: #4

Tomart's Guide: #GI5007 (straight arm)

Carded Figure

Carded Figure (closed mortar)

Short-Fuze's Filecard

Figure Description:

Short-Fuze was one of the original figures released carded in the first series (1982). Like all of the original sixteen figures, Short-Fuze was released with "straight arms".

Versions of Short-Fuze:

• Short-Fuze (1982)
• Short-Fuze v1.5 (1983) (Swivel Arm)
• Short-Fuse v2 (1997)
• Short-Fuze v3 (2004)
• Short-Fuze v4 (2005)
• Short-Fuze v5 (2005)

In 1997, Short-Fuze was renamed "Short-Fuse," then went back to Short-Fuze in 2004. So while there are several names, there are a total of six figures based on the character "Short-Fuze".

Accessories:

Short-Fuze came with a dark green helmet, a clear visor, a black mortar, a black mortar stand (that attached to the mortar), and a dark green backpack.

Click the link to see the figure with all its weapons - All Geared Up!

Variations:

There are three versions of Short-Fuze's mortar - closed, open (thin), and open (thick).

When the new version of Short-Fuze was released in 1983, two major changes were made to his construction. The straight-arms were replaced with arms that could swivel at the bicep, and his bulky waist-piece was replaced by a slimmer one. Also, the date stamp on the figure was changed from "1982" to "82-83". While technically only a variation, the changes are substantive enough to consider this a new version. However, as many people consider this only a variation, we have chosen to list this figure as version 1.5, rather than version 2. Other than "straight-arm" and "swivel-arm" releases, no variations of the actual Short-Fuze figure are known to exist.

There are several versions of Short-Fuze's filecard. Some filecards listed Short-Fuze's name as Eric W. Freistadt, while others listed him as Mark W. Brenstan. A third variation lists him as Mark W. Freistadt. Additionally, the filecard with the Short-Fuze available from Hasbro Direct has a glossy red backing, while the filecard that came with Short-Fuze did not. Short-Fuzes included with the Sears or JCPenney's exclusive gift packs also had the red backing.

Body Construction:

Most of the 1982 series figures and their swivel-arm counterparts re-used molds from each other, repainted slightly to make them seem more original.

The head of Short-Fuze was re-used with Flash, Hawk, and Steeler. Short-Fuze's arms were shared with Grunt, Hawk, Snake Eyes, Stalker, and Zap (and in 1983, Tan Grunt v2). Short-Fuze's torso was shared with Zap. Short-Fuze's waist-piece was shared with twelve of the original fifteen figures. Short-Fuze's legs were shared with Breaker, Clutch, Grunt, Hawk, Rock N Roll, Stalker, Steeler, and Zap (and in 1983, Tan Grunt v2 and in 1984 Tan Clutch v2).

Note that the figure's head only turns left and right - it does not allow the head to look up and down. The heads only turned left and right until the the swivel ball head that was introduced in 1985 (Series Four).

International Variants:

In Brazil, Estrela repainted Short-Fuze tan and released him as Falcon Piloto.