SUMMARY:
Buzz-Off, the “heroic spy in the sky” was produced in Hong Kong, Mexico (Aurimat), Argentina, Venezuela, Brazil, France, and Spain. This bee-like figure twists his waist, spreads his wings, and comes with both an axe and a removable helmet.
Spain Buzz-Off are characterized by light-brown limb tones, bright yellow-orange colors, and solid dark-green eyes. This is notable in that most other Buzz-Offs tend to have fluorescent eyes (France and Spain being the notable exception).
There are at least two clear variations of the Spain Buzz-Off: the first wave and the second (reedition) wave. The first wave has semi-soft accessories, darker shorts and boots, and a fully painted yellow belt. The wave 2 (“reedition”) Buzz-Off has a pronounced brown border at the top of the shorts (seen on other reedition figures such as Fisto), and the accessories are noticeably softer. Additionally, the reedition helmet has larger COO type but smaller part number sizing, matching a standard FRANCE Buzz-Off helmet). The shorts on the reedition are lighter brown.
Both figures are marked the same © MATTEL INC 1983 (erased HONG KONG marking), and both have helmets marked © MATTEL—INC FRANCE 1983. Axes are marked with 4923-2549 (and batch no. such as a 9 or 10)
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:
1. Light-brown tones, bright yellow-orange colors.
2. Solid dark-green eyes
3. Pronounced brown border on Wave 2 shorts
4. Semi-soft to very soft accessories
5. Dark brown boots
FIGURE AND WINGS MARKED: © MATTEL INC FRANCE 1983
HELMET MARKED: © MATTEL—INC FRANCE 1983 4923-2039 (and batch no. such as an 8)
AXE MARKED: 4923-2549 (and batch no. such as a 9 or 10)
VARIANTS:
1. Wave 1 with fully painted yellow belt and semi-soft accessories
2. Wave 2 (Reedition) with brown border on the belt, and very soft accessories
