|
|
Post by Philip Ayres on Jul 23, 2008 16:47:37 GMT
Special Teams/Scramble City has been on my mind recently. So....
|
|
|
|
Post by Philip Ayres on Jul 23, 2008 16:56:31 GMT
I've voted Defensor. You'll have heard my theory that the Special Teams are meant to be Year 1 characters redone before and it's most obvious with this set. A rename and recolour would go down a treat.
The 3 later combining teams may be better toys but I think Defensor does the combining gimmick the best to gice the bestt looking combined robot.
|
|
|
|
Post by Bogatan on Jul 23, 2008 17:10:39 GMT
I choose Protectorbots too. 3/5ths of Defensor was my first Transformers. Plus I always liked the look of it more than the rest. Always seemed a shame that they gotthe least character in the cartoon and comics.
Andy
|
|
|
|
Post by Grand Moff Muffin on Jul 23, 2008 17:15:13 GMT
I don't really think much of your theory, Phil, what with a helicopter and motorcycle in there, but I agree the Protectobots were best. Flawed (motorcycle same size as helicopter, blue fire engine far inferior to Inferno, with his clear windscreen, rubber tyres, die-cast metal, firing missiles and chrome) but still best.
Unlike the Aerialbots and Stunticons they're nice and different from one another, and Defensor is nice and stable, unlike Bruticus. Plus, I liked the way Defensor's head works.
Martin
|
|
Nigel
Thunderjet
Posts: 4,967
|
Post by Nigel on Jul 23, 2008 17:33:53 GMT
Stunticons for me. Really only because that was the first complete Special Team that I had, receiving the whole team as a birthday present. I wouldn't have any other complete teams for a few years; I had Streetwise and First Aid later that year and was able to get several limbs at car boot sales - and the Weetabix Fireflight - before getting the Classic versions of Hot Spot, Onslaught, Brawl and Vortex to complete those teams. The Aerialbots I didn't complete for a few more years, and then that was with G2 Silverbolt. (I since got the original.) I have yet to complete the other combiners, lacking the accessories.
|
|
The Huff
Thunderjet
Hufferlover
Posts: 4,070
|
Post by The Huff on Jul 23, 2008 20:24:36 GMT
Stunticons were my favorite! Loved the idea of four trouble making cars and the big bad lorry! Before they appeared properly in the comics and cartoon (in the special teams mini-comic), I always pictured them being a cross between street punks and gangsters - Motormaster being the big mob gang leader of course.
Not that I didn't like their characters as they turned out - Dead End was great! And I remember being suprised to see them in the cartoon as they were a year ahead of the characters in the second season.
The toys were cool too - I remember spending ages trying to complete the set. My only disappointment was that Motormaster wasn't big enough to fit a stunticon car in his trailer like Prime could with the Autobot cars. Even being able to fit his roller-style chest plate inside would have done.
2nd favorites were the Seacons. Interesting alt modes.
Combaticons always looked odd as the scale of the vehicles was a bit off.
|
|
|
|
Post by Philip Ayres on Jul 24, 2008 5:27:40 GMT
Surely Martin Groove implies Jazz ? That just leaves you o align Blades with a G1 character (Hotspot, Streetwise and FirstAid obviously being a miscoloured Op, Prowl and Ratchet)
|
|
|
|
Post by Grand Moff Muffin on Jul 24, 2008 7:03:45 GMT
Nah... you're saying Hotspot, Streetwise and First Aid were Op, Prowl and Ratchet because of the physical design of the toys, and then somehow the toy designers knew that Bob Budiansky (who would give Hotspot and Streetwise characters nothing like those of Prime and Prowl) would give the motorbike a name which is a bit - but not - like Jazz...? He's a police motorbike anyway, and a pacifist. Neither the shape nor the character are at all Jazz-like. Anyway, I thought your theory was that Motormaster was meant to be the new Optimus Prime, and Hotspot the new Inferno. One out of Dead End and Wildrider is a Porsche so could be Jazz, Drag Strip Mirage, Breakdown Sideswipe, etc. - if all coloured differently. But the simple fact is, they wanted twenty new vehicular Transformers, and it's a pretty natural thing to make a selection of some planes, some sports cars, some military vehicles, some rescue vehicles. They may have lacked imagination and so ended up with some similar choices to the original range - a jeep, a Formula-1 car, etc. but they also had motorbikes, helicopters, passenger aircraft and... Onslaught. Sorry, not buying your theory, Phil. Coincidence / lack of originality is just coincidence / lack of originality.  Martin |
|
|
|
Post by grahamthomson on Jul 24, 2008 7:52:40 GMT
For the record, I don't agree with Phil's theory either. Sorry Phil.
My favourite Special Team is the Combaticons. Followed closely by the Aerialbots and Stunticons. Protectobots I like least to be honest. They always felt too "plasticky" and less detailed than the others.
I do have a special place in my heart for the Seacons as well. Love those colour schemes. And I am convinced (here comes another Special Theory) that Tentakil was originally supposed to be female. Just look at her boxart illustration!!
|
|
|
|
Post by The Doctor on Jul 24, 2008 10:07:52 GMT
I have a burning desire to own the fan club Seacons. They look great and it would be nice to have a minty fresh set of the Seacon warriors!
-Ralph
|
|
|
|
Post by Philip Ayres on Jul 24, 2008 10:19:08 GMT
No Hotspot's obviously Prime. Look at the head. Why else would they not paint a Fire Engine red ?
These toys do predate TFs anyway - they're meant to be Diaclone toys along with Metroplex iirc and thus predate TFs
|
|
|
|
Post by Andy Turnbull on Jul 24, 2008 11:38:57 GMT
I'm with Phil on this one, well the Hotspot is Prime bit. Purely because of the fact they predate Transformers means that Hotspot had the Diaclone line continued would have no doubt been known as Fire Convoy. I'd argue that Hasbro probably fairly early on decided they wanted new characters but the designs could and should have been used on the existing cast.
Especially given the importance placed on the Special Teams in the UK introduction, coupled with the lack of resources means it wouldn't be unreasonable for Ratchet and Wheeljack to cannibalise the injured bodies of the others in order to give them smaller but functional forms once more.
(Although where did they get the spare materials for five new Autobots considering the state of the Autobot Infirmary at the time)
Andy
|
|
Nigel
Thunderjet
Posts: 4,967
|
Post by Nigel on Jul 24, 2008 11:39:36 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by Andy Turnbull on Jul 24, 2008 11:42:17 GMT
But for a children's toyline you are usually going to stick with what would be chiefly associated with a fire engine which is red.
Andy
|
|
|
|
Post by Philip Ayres on Jul 24, 2008 11:49:05 GMT
That's the first real blue fire engine I've ever seen
|
|
Gav
Drone
John Travoltage!
Posts: 2,045
|
Post by Gav on Jul 24, 2008 15:05:57 GMT
Seacons for me. KING POSEIDON!
|
|
|
|
Post by Grand Moff Muffin on Jul 24, 2008 18:45:00 GMT
But... if they'd made Hotspot red, and left his head black, he'd be even more like Inferno! Prime's red and blue with a grey trailer. People didn't mistake Inferno for Prime, so what would be the problem with a red Hotspot? Nah. Just... nah. If you'd said your theory was that Motormaster was the new Prime, what with the scout car and everything, I'd still have disagreed but I would have considered your case to be stronger. Still, I bet if they coloured the Terrorcons grey and gold, gave them Autobot stickers and called them combining Dinobots, they'd sell.  Martin |
|
