Description:

Pictured above is a hand painted prototype Short-Fuze as shown in the 1982 insert catalog. The figure has several notable differences when compared to the full production Short-Fuze. The visor is a solid black instead of translucent, the face has been handpainted, and the backpack is the same mold as Grunt rather than Zap. Note that the mortar pictured has a closed handle.

Additional Images:

The same figure appeared in a 1982 Hasbro product catalog.

Another version of Short-Fuze also appears in the book. This version is less like the production figure because it has yellow pockets on the arms.

The same figure was featured in various television commercials.

Action figures usually start as "Hard Copies". These models are used to create the molds, that are used to press out a run of "First shots" or "Test shots". These test shots are done in many different colors and lack a date stamp until the production run begins.

Pictured above is an unpainted test shot of the 1982 straight-arm Short-Fuze. There is no date stamp on the figure.