Transformer of the Day for September 12, 2009
SUBMARAUDER
-Faction: Decepticon (Pretender)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Undersea Warfare
-Motto: “Conquer the Seas and the Rest will Fall”
-Notable Toy: Deluxe (Hasbro, 1988)
Notes: Like his Decepticon Pretender brethren, Submarauder seems to be an excuse to bring life to a monster. The toy inside may not look like much more than something small enough to actually fit inside the shell, but the outside is a thing of beauty. Can you imagine if there had been the technology to give him articulation?
Transformer of the Day for September 11, 2009
CHECKPOINT
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Armada-Energon-Cyberton (2002-2006)
-Function: Security
-Motto: “There is No Room for Error, No Possibility of Mistake”
-Notable Toy: Exclusive Two-Pack (Hasbro, 2004)
Notes: Although Checkpoint may technically be part of the Unicron Battles, he and the redecoed Energon Prowl seem more appropriate to the Universe line of toys. Otherwise he is a great use of a relatively underused Energon toy, Rodimus, and ironically looks closer to being Prowl than his traveling companion. Which is kind of ironic, when you think about it.
Transformer of the Day for September 10, 2009
CYCLONUS / SNOWCAT
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Armada-Energon-Cyberton (2002-2006)
-Function: Warrior
-Motto: “”There is No Terrain, or Opponent, that I Cannot Conquer.”
-Notable Toy: Deluxe (Hasbro, 2005)
Notes: Oh I could go on about Cyclonus, the halfwit Decepticon from Armada. But I am so intrigued by his “upgraded” self, Snowcat. Here is a vehicle that bears eerie resemblance to a GIJoe vehicle of the same name, right down to the wiper blade and name! Even weirder is the Transformers Universe repaint, which you could almost see as part of GIJoe’s Night Force line.
Transformer of the Day for September 9, 2009
PIPES
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Bulldozer
-Motto: “One Being’s Junk is Another’s Art”
-Notable Toy: Mini-Bot (Hasbro, 1986)
Notes: Pipes has always fascinated me as a Transformer. First, he seems so appropriate for collectors, his motto and bio seemingly made to describe much of our collections. But it was the clever reuse of the original Huffer form that truly intrigues me. Same vehicle, and yet, with a slight change of the head transformation (and head), there is a completely different figure sitting on the shelf. Even wilder when you can put him next to the blue version of Huffer that showed up in some markets.
(Apologies and thanks to shmax.com for the toy pic.)
Transformer of the Day for September 8, 2009
SCORPONOK
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Armada-Energon-Cyberton (2002-2006)
-Function: Warrior
-Motto: “If I Do Not Crush You with my Claws, I Will Finish You with my Sting!”
-Notable Toy: Built-To-Rule (Hasbro, 2005)
Notes: While Scorponok is clearly inspired by his Generation One counterpart, it’s his comic book characterization that wins me over to his side. It’s a shame that Dreamwaves’ implosion prevented us from learning his ultimate fate. While the Cybertron Dark Scorponok repaint was a contender for the toy, I have to go with the rare Built to Rule Scorponok from the ill-fated second series. Such a shame that the line had to die just as a lot of the bugs had been worked out.
Transformer of the Day for September 7, 2009
METALHAWK
-Faction: Autobot (Pretender)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Space Commander
-Motto: “Harmony is a Goal Worth Catching”
-Notable Toy: Deluxe (Takara, 1988)
Notes: Metalhawk was a Japanese-exclusive Pretender who stands out because of the use of die-cast metal in his construction. This is another example of a toy that is begging for a reissue, even if the jet form could be a little more streamlined.
(Apologies and thanks to bbts.com and shmax.com for the toy pics.)
Transformer of the Day for September 6, 2009
MONSTRUCTOR
-Faction: Decepticon (Monster Pretender)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Super Warrior
-Motto: “My Touch is Death”
-Notable Toy: Basics (Hasbro, 1989)
Notes: Originally called Titanus, Monstructor was the last of the G1 gestalts, ironic given that he has been reimagined as the first gestalt in the IDWverse. Interestingly, and unlike his Japanese counterpart, Dinoking, he is the only gestalt to be marketed without a collected giftset, making the special toy pic for his entry simply a combination of the available six limbs.
(Apologies and thanks to shmax.com for the toy pics.)
Transformer of the Day for September 5, 2009
WEDGE
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Robots in Disguise / Car Robots (2000-2001)
-Function: Bulldozer
-Motto: “I’ll Shove the Bad Guys Out of the Way”
-Notable Toy: Exclusive Four-Pack (Hasbro, 2003)
Notes: Wedge has to be the strangest choice for a gestalt leader. Interestingly, what he lacks in experience and size, he makes up for in enthusiasm and team support. The build team really seems to get behind their leader, even if he doesn’t always make the best of choices. And although the original release had the advantage of colour differentiation between the four construction vehicles, there is something to be said for the leader coming complete with colour-matching troops in one convenient package.
(Apologies and thanks to bbts.com and shmax.com for the toy pic.)
Transformer of the Day for September 4, 2009
BATTLETRAP
-Faction: Decepticon (Duocon)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Assault Team
-Motto: “We’re Only Halves of a Whole, but Double the Trouble
-Notable Toy: Basic (Hasbro, 1987)
Notes: Although Hasbro only produced two duocons, you can see the principle idea of two vehicles forming a larger robot in the form of the Slamdance and Squawkbox tape sets. Although not articulate, it was nevertheless rewarding to see an almost automatic transformation in the way the duocons became one. I imagine a lot of inexperienced collectors scratch their heads when they find one half of Battletrap at a yard sale.
(Apologies and thanks to bbts.com and shmax.com for the toy pic.)
Transformer of the Day for September 3, 2009
GO SHOOTER
-Faction: Autobot (Headmaster)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Rescue Commander
-Motto: “Only A Careless Warrior Leaves the Wounded Behind”
-Notable Toy: Deluxe (Takara, 1988)
Notes: Go Shooter was the Japanese equivalent of Siren. Unlike other toy variations between the Japanese and North American markets, there is limited differences between these two toys. Some slight decal recolouration and a lighter shade of plastic colouring comprise the difference. And though his white plastic is likely susceptible to discolouration with age, he’s a pretty neat toy and would look good standing behind his English language cousin.
(Apologies and thanks to toyarchive.com for the toy pic.)
