Wednesday 7 December 2011

ARMADA NIGHT ATTACK TEAM

This set is from 2003. Unlike the Air Assault Team and Road Wrecker Team. This is not the powerlink form. They are re-paints of the Land Military Team but the team has completely different characters compared to the Land Military Team. Fetch had one appearance in the Armada cartoon. In the episode when Thrust goes to get his minicon from a storage area. Fetch is in a crowd of minicons. The entire team appeared in the Dreamwave comics.

No pictures are available from cartoon or comic.


The entire team in robot mode

SCATTOR

MOTTO; "Fight fire with firepower."

TECH SPEC; Scattor leads the battle-hardened unit of malcontent Mini-Cons known as the Night Attack Team with a cold confidence. They've personally fought in and won more battles than most armies have, so he's not worried about the team's ability to function under fire. Scattor has no doubt that those with the biggest guns will win the day, and he's equally sure that his team has those guns. Like their counterparts on the Land Military Team, the Night Attack trio has kept from joining officially with any group. However, it's no secret that the fiendish Scattor, who's wanted for war crimes throughout the galaxy, readily identifies with the cruel Decepticon ideology of might making right. He has even considered joining them, if only for added protection in case any survivors of the Night Attack Team's cosmic wrongdoing ever return to claim vengeance on Scattor. Should the Night Attack unit join with the Decepticons, their strength could tip the balance of power decidedly against the Autobots.

Scattor in robot mode

BROADSIDE

MOTTO; "Fear the darkness and shadows, for we are there." 

TECH SPEC; It's like looking into a mirror. A dirty, cracked, ugly-makin' mirror. Yeah, Broadside and his unit got a lot In common with us. They're warrior Mini-Cons who are unaligned with any faction, not to mention the fact that they were built to be pretty much our physical doubles. But this Broadside scraplet is nothing like me, and don't you forget it. He's , a cruel, pretentious shell of a 'bot who's always spouting off half-brained verses about "darkness this, shadows that:' Whatever. He'd better stick to the darkness, all right, 'cause if I ever catch sight of him on the battlefield there isn't gonna be too much left of him.


Broadside in robot mode

FETCH

MOTTO; "What, you think you can take me?"

TECH SPEC; Fetch's motto is essentially his response to anything that someone. might have to say to him. If someone asks a question that seems even remotely derogatory, Fetch bristles immediately and starts calling for a fight. Most people aren't prepared for Fetch's hair-trigger temper, much to the amusement of Broadside and Scattor. The other members of the Night Attack Team do little to discourage this behaviour, and actually egg Fetch on in these circumstances. They eagerly employ their favourite tactic: suggesting that some hapless, clueless Mini-Con talk to Fetch "about his self-esteem problem:' This gives them something to joke about and usually spells disaster for the object of Fetch's aggressive attentions. Fetch's foul disposition is indicative of his team's nature, so it's no surprise that they lean toward the Decepticon side of the war as much as the Land Military Team leans toward the Autobots.


Fetch in robot mode


The night attack team in vehicle mode

Scattor and Fetch both have missile launchers that you have to skewer your finger to fire but Broadside has a spring loaded one with a trigger.

The colour scheme suits them

Easy to transform.

Scattors transformation is good as his wheels go onto his chest but does mean that he has mismatched legs. It is quite clever though. he only has one hand as the other is one big cannon.

Fetch has no hands just two cannons.

Broadside has two hands as his cannon is on his shoulder. It does look very large though.










Tuesday 6 December 2011

ARMADA HOIST

This figure is from 2003. He appeared in the Armada cartoon. I don't know which Dreamwave comic he appeared in. Hoist is an upgraded version of an Autobot called Smokescreen .hen he was badly damaged in Battle Hoist took his place.


MOTTO 
"Keen vigilance is my weapon of choice."

TECH SPEC; This boy's toughened up, but good. Back in the day, when he was just "Smokescreen" he was more of a joker, maybe even a little too hotheaded for his own good. Don't get me wrong--I loved the 'bot like I created 'im myself. But as good as he was, he just didn't have that edge that you need in a war like this. When Smokescreen got his chassis blown up pretty much beyond repair...well, let's just say I didn't take the news real well. The only way to save him was a complete overhaul, and that's when he got his new body and name. But that wasn't the only thing that changed... Hoist was more focused, more dedicated, and more powerful than before. Sure, he still cracks wise now and again, but now he knows exactly when it's time to buckle down and fight the good fight. His favourite joke now is that nearly getting killed was the best thing that ever happened to him, and he may be right.! just hope it never happens again!
Weapons and Abilities: Hoist is a couple of degrees stronger than he was as Smokescreen and definitely a bit smarter too. He's an excellent and fearless soldier, plus a more-than-decent construction worker. In his backhoe mode, he can move tons of material in minutes and demolish solid steel walls with a few hits


Hoist as robot


Hoist as Cybertronian Digger

REFUTE MINICON

His only appearance was in Dreamwave comic 18

MOTTO   "You call that battle damage? I'll show you battle damage!"

TECH SPEC;  One of the older Mini-Cons, Refute has been around in one form or another for as long as many seasoned Autobot warriors. Since he's a bit tougher than most of his race and a recognised war veteran, Refute finds himself the object of some unwelcome hero worship among his fellow Mini-Cons. He tries to live up to this image and set an example, but Refute is still basically an ornery tough-bot at his core. Unlike some Mini-Cons, Refute is firmly in the Autobot camp, and he loves fighting alongside Hoist and the others. When he's relaxing with other warriors, he enjoys pointing out the various battle scars he earned in combat. This has led to a friendly rivalry with Hoist, where the two rate each others damage after a battle to see who fought the hardest.


Refute in robot mode


Refute as robot


Hoist powerlinked to Refute

Hoist has a minicon port in the palm of his hand. You could plug a minicon into it.
When you powerlink him with any minicon his digger arm thrusts forward. You can still do this with out minicons though.

His robot mode feet are not really pegged into anything so they fall in a bit.

He can angle his arms upwards.

In digger mode his other arm does not stay in that well and can slide upwards.

Hoist still has Smokescreens head so I wonder when he was killed they reused it on this figure. His head looks like Beastwars Dinobot

They did eventually use this mould for the Bot con exclusive Dawn of Fighters past Dinobot

He is a nice figure to own.

He does have weird joints due to his transformation.

Refute has a gimmick. When you push him along in insect mode his pincers move together. He is a kind of stag beetle. He looks like decepticons leader Shrapnel with the antlers things sticking out of his shoulders in robot mode.





















ARMADA MINICON SEA TEAM

This team are from 2003. I am not sure what their allegiance is except to each other as minicons. They appeared in the Dreamwave comics and also in the Armada Cartoon. They are all types of boats with weapons.


OCEANGLIDE


MOTTO; "These small few know the triumph of vicious intent."


TECH SPEC; This seafaring poet achieved leadership of the Sea Team by being the sharpest of the trio, despite his occasionally garbled syntax and nonsensical limericks. It's just that Oceanglide gets so full of inspiration when he gazes over a beautiful aquatic panorama that he can't hold it in or keep his thoughts straight. This makes his work lively and unique, if not always easily understandable. This endearing, slightly bumbling side of him exists in stark contrast to his ruthless ways when commanding his unit in battle. Having been manipulated and persecuted like most Mini-Cons during the A/D war, the Sea Team gladly allied itself with the D's in order to take control of their own destinies. Under the tutelage of Tidal Wave, the vicious Decepticon marauder of space and the sea, Oceanglide has become a cutthroat warrior. Some wonder how he reconciles his sensitive, sometimes deeply moving poetry w/ his callousness on the battlefield, but Oceanglide decided it was better to take control of his destiny for the wrong side than be forever manipulated while on the right.
Weapons and Abilities: Subject has above-average strength and armour, as well as great intelligence. Regarded as deeply artistic, he is also an excellent naval commander and warrior. In both modes, his primary weapon is a dual-purpose projectile that can function as a surface-to-air missile or a torpedo. He is the most fuel efficient of the Sea Team, due in large part to the twin solar power collectors on his arms. He can use the panels as shields to defend himself in hand-to-hand combat, or to absorb the power of energy attacks. When fully charged, the pane is can emit a high-powered heat beam capable of melting solid steel

SPEC; UNKNOWN


Oceanglide

STORMCLOUD


MOTTO; "There's no warning before I roll in."

TECH SPEC; For Stormcloud, the sharp tang of the ocean is the smell of home. He finds endless pleasure in being the fastest member of the Sea Team, and leaps at any opportunity to demonstrate his speed regardless of his orders. After countless years of being mistreated along with the other MiniCons, Stormcloud couldn't be happier with his current position of power alongside Tidal Wave and the Decepticons. He rarely misses a chance to take advantage of being one of the most-feared pirates in the galaxy, as his many randomly chosen victims can attest. Going from a maltreated peon to a powerful warrior has made Stormcloud an uncaring monster, a fact that is not lost on his friend Ocean glide during the latter's more introspective moments.
Weapons and Abilities: Subject possesses above-average strength and incredible speed. He is by far the fastest of the Sea Team when in the water, able to move in at lightning speed and strike without warning thanks to his stealthy engine. His ability to get in and out fast and unnoticed has made him the team's expert in covert demolitions operations. His cannon mode's main weapon is a sonic missile launcher that can strike accurately from up to 8 miles away. Subject also uses the cannon as an overhead launcher in robot mode.

SPEC; UNKNOWN


Stormcloud

WATERLOG

MOTTO; "Whether it's land or sea, there I be, matey."

TECH SPEC; The most versatile combatant of the Sea Team, Waterlog is the only one whose rugged vehicle mode can travel as easily on land as the water. While Waterlog is mentally and physically the slowest of the team, he's still the most competent warrior of the trio. He's an old-style pirate in the truest sense; he despises "landlubbers" and believes that "dead 'bots tell no tales." He obsessively scours the waterways and spaceways for Energon or other valuables that he can use to enhance the team's power and their standing with their Decepticon cohorts. Tough and remorseless, Waterlog still bears the emotional scars of the days when the Sea Team was bullied and mistreated by larger Transformers.
Weapons and Abilities: Subject is the strongest member of the team, with the most artillery resistant armour plating. His vehicle mode is capable of travel over most terrain, although its speed is decreased considerably on land. His main weapon in both modes is his powerful ion torpedo, which is guided by an advanced scanner system utilising a combination of radar, infrared, and sonar technologies

SPEC; UNKNOWN


Waterlog


The team together in robot mode


Vehicle mode

They all fire missiles but they are not spring loaded so you end up skewering your finger trying to get them to fire.
They vehicle modes are cute. The robots however can be tricky to stand.

The colours are good. You can also get this team in blue but I like this combination.









Monday 5 December 2011

UNIVERSE 2.0 UNICRON 2008

This basically a Toys R Us exclusive re issue of Armada Unicron. This figure is actually difficult to find and is rarer than the original.
Unicron is the ultimate evil. The interesting thing about Unicron is that he is not just in Transformers as there is this character in the Marvel Universe called Glactus who has some remarkable resemblance to Unicron including horns. the Silver surfer said he was known by many names in " The fantastic four- Rise of the Silver Surfer" Am I right??
In G1 he first appeared in the G1 movie. Unicron was travelling the universe devouring the planets one by one. But the only thing that could stop him was the Matrix of leadership. he found Megatron, Skywarp Thundercracker and the Insecticons floating through space after being chucked out of Astrotrain by Starscream. He made a deal with Megatron to re format Megatron and the others into new bodies with the catch they they would then belong to him. Megatron refused but Unicron tortured him until he changed his mind. he made Megatro into Galvatron, Thundercracker into Scourge, Shrapnel and Kickback the Insecticons into the two original Sweeps. Skywarp became Cyclonus even though it is debatable and Insecticon  Bombshell became Armada, again debatable.
Galvatron was sent to Ultra Magnus and kill him for the Matrix of leadership.
While Galvatron was busy blasting Starscream to dust Unicron went to Cybertron and devours both its moons. In the process he captured. Jazz, Cliffjumper, Spike and Bumblebee.
Unicron floated round in space until Galvatron returned with the matrix. On his return he threatened Unicron with the Matrix but Unicron was underestimated and went to attack Cybertron as punishment. Galvatron was thrown down his throat. All the Autobots arrive on a Junkion and Quintession ship but Unicron crushes the Junkion ship. The Autobots on the other ship fly it right through Unicrons eye and they are then inside him. They battle Unicrons antibody system which appear as Tenticled creatures.
Hot rod meets Glavatron and they have a fight. Hotrod manages to take the Matrix and become Rodimus prime. He kicks Galvatron out of Unicron and opens the matrix causing Unicron to explode.
Unicrons severed head is found floating in space around Cybertron.
Ghost Starscream and Scourge re activated him from inside his head
Later on in the series Starscream ghost possesses Scourge and attacks the other Decepticons. He is not fully in control so Scourge stops him blasting Galvatron. Starscream takes Scourge to Unicron's head which floats in orbit off Cybertron. He reactivates Unicron and asks for his own body back. Unicron says he will do this if he completes three labours for him. The first was to go to Metroplex on earth and steel his eyes. They do this with Scourges help as he is still thought of as a traitor. Scourge drops one of the eyes and it smashes so they had to go to Char and steel one of Tripticons eyes to make up for their mistake.
Starscream possess Astrotrain and uses his extra cargo room to store the eyes. He then takes the eyes to Unicron. He then leaves Artotrain on Cybertron at the mercy of the Autobots. They install the eyes in Unicron.
The second task was to go to Trypticon and bring him to Unicron. They then go back to Char and Starscream possess Tripticon. He takes him pursued by Galvatron and the Decepticons to Unicron and Unicron tells Starscream to install Trypticons transformation cog within him.
The third task was to connect Unicrons head to Cybertron which would become Unicrons new body and he would return. Scourge learning of this warns the Autobots. As The connection is happening the Decepticons go inside Trypticon and disable him. Starscream is unable to make the final connections. He asks for his body back so he can do this. Unicron gives him his body back. Starscream tells him to make the final connection himself and betrays him. At that moment the Autobots plant Energon Explosives just beneath Unicrons head and blow him and Starscream back into space. Starscream is left out of control.,
Unicron even though he is still a head in space still has power.
In " Call of the Primatives" You learn that Unicron was created by a being called Primacron who had created all the first Primatives. Unicron wanted to rule himself so tried to kill his creator.
That was G1.
In the Armada cartoon. Unicron appears when the Decepticons leave Earth and the Autobots are chasing them. Unicron creates Nemasis Prime who is the clone of Optimus Prime but indestructible.
There was a black hole . The Autobtos knew that Unicron was coming as the Minibots had told them. The black hole appears and becomes Unicron. He attacks Cybertron and it goes into a mini series called the Unicron battles where the Autobots and Decepticons join forces to defend  Cybertron from him. The Decepticon Thrust turns out to be a harbinger of Unicron. He is an idiot. Sideways is also a harbinger but he ais also an extension of Unicron s conciousness and he tricks Thrust. Thrust ends up being killed by Unicron by crushing him until his head explodes. Thrust stole the Retrium blaster and the Skyboom shield.from the Decepticons. Sideways stole the Star saber. They together form the Hydra cannon. Unicron took the powerf rom them. In Armada Unicron is inpenitrable. The Minicons joined together to form a giant glowing green Unicron to fight him. They held him at bay.
The Autobots discovered that Unicron had a weak point on his neck so Optimus and Glavatron used this to get inside him. They found laserpods as part of his antibody system. The destoyed Sideways in Unicrons heart. Optimus and Galvatron were captured. Uncron went offline when Sideways was killed but then transforms into him planet mode. Optimus and Galvatron are fighting. they find out that Unicron feeds on hatred so he appeared because of the Autobot and Decepicons hatred. Galvatron gets sucked into the black hole but Optimus was almost rying to save him but Galvatron refused. Optimus did not want to wi that way but when Galvatron goes Unicron blinks out of existance.
In Energon when Unicron was reduced to a lifeless husk. He came across them on the planet Q . This is the planet of the Terrorcons. The planet was destroyed. by Unicron. Alphs Quintesson and Scorponok where reserected out of Unicrons lifless husk. Alpha Q finds out that everything that Unicron has devoured can be brought back so they actuallt brought back the Terricons and sent them to collect the Energon form Autobots. Alpha Q wanted to bring back his planet Q. Terricons had captured Tidalwave and he was persuaded to join them as they were going to bring back Megatron. It was never the plan but they wanted to gain the trust of the Decepticons. megatron beats Scorpanoks to a pulp and then gets him to join him.
Megatron uses Energon to reserect Unicron and wants to use him to serve his purpose.
Unicron posses Megatron as he has turned black as he is damaged. Megatron is controlled by him as Unicron needs a host. Uncron tries to destroy all of the Alpha Q planets of which there are many.
Shockblast tries to use Unicrons power as Megatron did but he ends up going insane and is crushed by him.
Optimus takes on the power of Primus adn grows to he is the same size as Unicron. They fight and punch. Unicron is defeated and turns to a tiny ember.









MOTTO; "That which does not become part of the one, shall become one with the void."

TECH SPEC; Consumption is the core of Unicron's being, providing the dominant characteristic of this dark, god-like entity. It devours everything in its path, from space trash to whole worlds, fully aware yet completely unrepentant about the dire consequences these actions have on living beings. Unicron exists above and beyond such petty moral concerns, seeking only to absorb all things in order to satiate its unquenchable and inexplicable desire for more power. This insatiable hunger has led the creature known as Unicron across not only whole galaxies, but also entire universes and dimensions as well. Since Unicron's thought processes, not to mention its immense size, put it on a plane of existence far beyond the average life form, it often employs agents to prepare the way for itself and deal with any mortal beings that could potentially stand in the way of its goals. These agents are usually super-powerful beings that Unicron has encountered and been somehow impressed by during its travels. Unicron itself was actually staggered and seemingly annihilated by the combined might of the Transformers and Mini-Cons, but many have become suspicious about whether this force of nature can ever truly be destroyed.



SPEC; Strength 10, Intelligence 10, Speed 10, Endurance 10, Rank 10, Courage 10, Firepower 10, Skill 10



Planet mode



Planet mode with power linked minicons


Unicron as robot


Glowing eyes


Glowing hand


Holding Deadend in Drone mode


Holding Deadend in robot mode


Minicon powerlinked to left missile pod


Minicon power linked to right missile pod


Primary cannon

He is 24 inches tall that makes him the biggest Transformer in my collection. We had to send to America for him. Some figures of this size are silly with no articulation but this figure is an exception as he has loads of articulation. His fingers have two joints and his thumb  one. He can swivel his joints and his head turns from side to side.

It can be tricky to Transform him at first but after that he is quite easy.

His eyes flash red when you press a button on the top of his head. They also flash when his primary cannon is activated. You need a minicon to activate this. You push it into a minicon post on his back and his chest will open up to reveal a cannon which will then fire. His right fist which is translucent flashes red when you push it into his arm.

In planet mode push his pincers together and the teeth on the mouth will open and close.

In the instructions it tells you to put the planet pieces on his shoulder like they are in the Armada cartoon but they will not stay there and will fall down constantly so I leave them to one side or fold them on to his back out of view.

He already  has big skeletal wings so it seems pointless to have two sets.

His stomach opens up and this can be a tractor beam but I use this to store Deadend in both modes. He is a weird minicon in robot mode. He transforms into one of the antibody laser pod drones from the cartoon.You can take it or leave it. He is supposed to go into a place near his mouth in planet mode but I think it looks silly. It does not peg in properly.

He has minicon traps in robot mode. There are also panels on his legs that look like cannons.He also has firing missile pods on his legs which fire six missiles.  There are also ports on his shoulders for minicons of different sizes

 
His planet mode has been critisized as looking like a beach ball but I think it is prety good. If you look in its mouth it looks like a black hole.
There are many minicon ports around his round so you can choose where to put them
 
He has purple translucent plastic with detail infact there is so much detail on him. he looks like he has a beard and with his horns like a devil.
 
He is a really good figure and I don't think any collection is complete with out a version of this mould
 
Amazing!