Thunder-3 MOTU Charger Collectibles Exclusive In-Hand Images & Purchase Details

Mr. Home Arcade has once again delivered something truly special for the collecting community as he brings us in-hand images of the Thunder-3, a Charger Collectibles exclusive that has a fascinating origin story tied to the earliest days of Masters of the Universe. This unique three-wheeled vehicle is based on the very first vehicle design by legendary MOTU creator Mark Taylor for the vintage line, though it was never produced at the time. In fact, this piece of history remained locked away in concept form for decades, only documented in rare collector references like The Power and the Honor Foundation book. Now, for the very first time, collectors can see this vision come to life in toy form, making it an incredible moment for fans who appreciate the deep history behind MOTU. Not only can fans enjoy these amazing in-hand images of the Thunder-3, but they also have the opportunity to purchase one for their own collection. Also, check out the outstanding video review on Mr. Home Arcade’s YouTube channel!

How to Purchase

The vehicle is a Charger Collectibles exclusive, and is priced at 190€, and orders can be placed by going to Charger Collectibles on Facebook and writing a message there, messaging the thesecretsoforko Instagram, or by sending an email to javila3d.motu@gmail.com. Also, thesecretsoforko will be at Toyplosion 2025 and it will be available for sale at his booth so if you want to see it in-person, check out this amazing vehicle there!

Before we go any further, here are the amazing people that brought this vehicle to life:

Great Wars: Thunder-3 Credits

• Conceptual Design: Axel Giménez and Leonardo Vega
  Based on concept art by Mark Taylor
• 3D Prints and Paints: Javier Avila (@thesecretsoforko)

• 3D Modelling: Leonardo Vega and Josh Kolipillai

• Production Manager: Ayatollah Rodriguez
• Pencil Art and Inks: Axel Giménez
• Art Colorist: David Alonso
• Art Direction: Axel Giménez and Timo Mrazek
• Packaging Design and Text: Timo Mrazek

Dedicated to Mark Taylor and Alfredo Alcala

Packaging

The Thunder-3 packaging features striking artwork of a warrior charging through rocky terrain in a three-wheeled chariot with spiked wheels and a ram-headed front, bursting from a swirling cosmic portal while raising an axe in battle. The back of the box shifts to a parchment-style design, weaving lore that credits ancient wizards of science for its creation and describing how its thunderous wheels can rip space-time to open portals. Accompanying illustrations showcase the Thunder-3 vehicle itself, a Turret Cannon labeled as an ancient laser weapon, and the Underworld Door, a skull-like subterranean gateway, tying the vehicle into a larger world of mysterious weapons and portals.

One side of the Thunder-3 box carries forward the vintage-style illustration, showcasing the ram-headed three-wheeled vehicle tearing across rocky ground. The bold “Great Wars” branding and tagline “Carries Warriors Through Space and Time” frame the artwork, while the lower portion provides collector details, noting compatibility with 5.5”–7” action figures, an adult collectible, and its handcrafted, custom nature. The combination of retro-style artwork and modern collector callouts creates a strong nod to vintage packaging traditions.

The Thunder-3 also comes with a sticker sheet featuring a variety of colorful control panel graphics, giving collectors the option to customize the vehicle with detailed console and radar screen designs that add extra flair and playability.

The collectible poster showcases vintage-inspired artwork of the Thunder-3 styled like an ancient parchment, giving fans a behind-the-scenes look at the creative team while celebrating the vehicle’s roots in MOTU history.

A closer look at the artwork highlights the Turret Cannon and Underworld Door in greater detail. The Turret Cannon is depicted as a towering ancient laser weapon with a long drill-like barrel and mechanical housing perched on a sturdy base, giving it an imposing presence as a battlefield relic. A nod to Castle Grayskull, the Underworld Door is illustrated as a jagged stone arch carved into the likeness of a monstrous skull, complete with sharp fangs and shadowed eye sockets, evoking a sinister subterranean gateway.

The up-close illustration of the Thunder-3 shows off its bold ram-inspired design, with a detailed angular headpiece complete with curled horns that give the vehicle a fierce, mythic presence. Its massive wheels are reinforced with riveted plating and spiked rims, while the central body features layered armor panels and mechanical tubing that emphasize its mix of fantasy and sci-fi engineering. The side turbine and shield-like accents add extra touches of color and detail, cementing the Thunder-3 as a chariot-like war machine built for both power and style.

Vehicle Details

The Thunder-3 in hand shows off its bold bronze finish with sculpted rivets and plating that give it a heavy, armored look. The ram’s head at the front is sharply detailed with curled horns and metallic eyes, setting the tone for its mythic design. From the angled view, the large spiked wheels come into focus with their rugged tread pattern, while the narrow front wheel stretches forward on a long arm, emphasizing its chariot-like proportions. Pops of color from the blue and red shield-inspired side details break up the metallic tones, adding a vintage fantasy flair to this powerful vehicle.

From the side views, the Thunder-3’s profile really shows off its unique proportions, with the elongated front arm stretching toward the spiked wheel and the ram head forming a sharp, forward-pointing nose. The large back wheels dominate the silhouette, featuring deep sculpted grooves that add to its rugged, heavy-duty look. The shield-like discs with alternating red and blue panels stand out, giving the vehicle a splash of color. The layered armor plating along the body completes the look.

From the back, the Thunder-3 shows off its ribbed paneling and reinforced rear section, supported by thick riveted wheels that look built for grinding over rough terrain. Turning to the cockpit, the inside is packed with retro-styled control details, featuring colorful buttons, dials, and display screens. The ram’s head even integrates a small tech panel between the horns, blending its fantasy beast design with sci-fi instrumentation for a perfect mix of myth and machine.

One of the coolest features of the Thunder-3 is that the shield details on the sides can be removed and used by figures, adding extra play and display options. Here, a custom MOTU Origins Vykron, created by Mr. Home Arcade, is shown wielding both shields, one painted in the classic red and blue pattern and the other in bold red with black rivet-like circles, tying the vehicle’s design directly into the figure’s arsenal.

When placed next to the MOTU Origins Roton, the Thunder-3 shows a comparable footprint, with both vehicles having a solid, chunky build that feels right at home together. The Thunder-3 stretches longer with its extended front arm and wheel, giving it a sleeker chariot-like profile, while the Roton’s rounder, enclosed shape makes it look more compact and tank-like. Seeing them side by side really highlights how the Thunder-3 balances length and detail against the Roton’s wider, more menacing frame.

Also, check out the outstanding video review on Mr. Home Arcade’s YouTube channel!

Thunder-3 History

Based on the very first vehicle design by Mark Taylor for the Masters of the Universe vintage line, but which was never made until now. The following is an experp from my personal copy of The Power and the Honor Foundation book as it describes this concept: “One of the first vehicles conceptualized for the line, which never saw the light of day, was a three-wheeled battle chariot of sorts (below). As this artwork reveals, the figure would have physically attached itself to the toy rather than merely sitting on it. From this illustration, it can be seen that science fiction elements are slowly beginning to merge with the initial straight-fantasy style. The character in this piece is one of the earliest illustrations of He-Man by Mark Taylor, based on his designs of the character.”

The Great Wars

The Great Wars, and, according to Axel, “We decided to name this project after the events mentioned in the first four storybooks included with the original Masters of the Universe figures. And also, because with at least two of the three customs we made, we based them on concepts from the early days of that line. Our favorite version of that legendary world. The three exclusives were primarily for Classics and Masterverse scale figures, although some can be used with Origins as well.”

• TURRET CANNON is based on the version that Mark Taylor made when he sculpted the original Castle Grayskull playset prototype.
• THUNDER-3 is the very first design that Mark Taylor also created for Masters.
• UNDERWORLD DOOR comes from the “Underworld” episode of the 200x animated series.

The Great Wars History

According to the Wiki Grayskull:

Early Minicomics

The Great Wars are first mentioned in He-Man and the Power Sword. Writer Donald F. Glut put no thought into the history of the Great Wars; the premise was simply an easy way for him to present a concept without having to explain it.[1] Accordingly, little is established about the conflict itself. It serves primarily to convey the notion that Eternia was once a highly advanced society until the wars reduced it to a barbaric, post-apocalyptic wasteland with little knowledge of the previous era. The characters are familiar with science and magic, but it is implicit that any technology or sorcery predating the Great Wars is inherently superior to modern works, and often incomprehensible to present-day Eternians.

When the Sorceress presents He-Man with the weapons and equipment she has been guarding, she implies their quality by stating that they were created by scientists centuries before the Great Wars. Skeletor later claims that a “hole” between dimensions was opened during the Great Wars, through which he was thrown from his native dimension into Eternia. In King of Castle Grayskull, He-Man remarks that Castle Grayskull was built before the Great Wars.

Filmation Era

The Great Wars are never referenced in He-Man and the Masters of the Universe or She-Ra: Princess of Power. However, the backstory of this version of Eternia does suggest several similar wars.

The Masters of the Universe Bible describes a series of wars on the evil world Infinita, which only ended when the last of the two warring factions each activated their ultimate weapns simultaneously, sending several of the combatants’ leaders through a space portal to Eternia, which they decided to conquer. After the Infinitan invasion is repelled, and to prepare for the day the evil might return the Council of Elders create Castle Grayskull to store their knowledge until a champion emerges to use it. These concepts were abandoned without ever being used in either animated series.

The attempted invasion of Eternia by the Evil Horde, as alluded to in “Origin of the Sorceress” and described in “Reunions,” represented an existential threat to the planet. Given the strength of the Horde Empire and the effort that would be required to repel such a force, this would presumably be one of the most terrible wars in Eternia’s history.

“Journey to Stone City” reveals that Vokan’s people were great warriors who had themselves turned to stone when life became too peaceful, so that they could be awakened when their talents would be needed again. This implies that a time existed, centuries ago, when Vokan’s people were needed, although the nature of that crisis is unknown.

Classics Continuity

The Masters of the Universe Classics franchise makes frequent references to the Great Wars in its attempt to forge a single history from elements of all previous continuities. In the biographies included with the action figures, the Great Wars are presented as a series of conflicts between the Evil Horde, the Snake Men, and the forces of King Grayskull, around five hundred years before the birth of Prince Adam.

The wars began as a rebellion by the ancient Eternians against the oppressive rule of King Hssss, who had conquered the planet three hundred years earlier on behalf of the Unnamed One. However, the arrival of He-Ro to Eternia attracted the attention of the Hordak, who arrived with his Hordesmen and soon challenged the Snake Men for control of the planet, escelating the violence. Eventually the three warring factions agreed to a temporary truce to construct the Three Towers. Eventually, with the aid of He-Man visiting from the future, King Grayskull and He-Ro turned the tide against their enemies at the first Ultimate Battleground. Hordak betrayed King Hssss, causing the Snake Men to be banished to the Void. Grayskull in turn successfully banished the Horde to Despondos, although he would ultimately fall to Hordak’s magic.