Laser Artillery Soldier

Code Name:

Grand Slam

version 1.5 (Swivel Arm)

Desimone Guide: #13

Tomart's Guide: #GI5196b (swivel arm)

Bagged Figure (Front)

Grand Slam's Filecard

Figure Description:

This swivel-arm version was available with the Heavy Artillery Laser (HAL) as part of the second series (1983). This version of Grand Slam was discontinued domestically in 1984.

At some point - possibly in 1984 - Grand Slam was also available through Hasbro Direct.

Versions of Grand Slam:

• Grand Slam (1982)
• Grand Slam v1.5 (1983) (Swivel Arm)
• Grand Slam v2 (1983)
• Grand Slam v3 (2006)
• Grand Slam v4 (2007)
• Grand Slam v5 (2008)
• Grand Slam v6 (2009) - as James "Grand Slam" Barney

Accessories:

Grand Slam came with a dark gray helmet and a clear visor.

Variations:

When the old version of Grand Slam was replaced 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 Grand Slam are known to exist.

There are two versions of Grand Slam's filecard. The one that came from Hasbro Direct has a glossy red backing, while the one that came with the HAL does not.

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 Grand Slam was re-used with Grunt, Zap, and Tan Grunt (v2). Grand Slam's waist-piece was shared with twelve of the original fifteen figures. Grand Slam's arms, torso, and legs were shared with Flash.

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).

In 1983, the entire mold of Grand Slam v1.5 was re-used for Grand Slam (v2).