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Grindor (ROTF)

2009-09-19T21:06:52Z

202.180.106.109: /* Legends Class */

{{factions|decepticon}}
{{disambig3|Grindor}}
:''Grindor is a [[Decepticon]] from the [[Revenge of the Fallen (franchise)|Revenge of the Fallen franchise]] in the [[Live-action film series|live-action film]] [[continuity family]].''
[[Image:Grindor rotfgame trailer.jpg|thumb|250px|right|I copied another character's alt-mode 'cause [[Scavenger (ROTF)|all]] [[Buffalo MPV Decepticon|the]] [[Rampage (ROTF)|cool]] [[Mixmaster (ROTF)|'cons]] [[Long Haul (ROTF)|were]] [[Scrapper (ROTF)|doing]] it.]]

You have to get up pretty early in the morning to get one over on '''Grindor'''. A master strategist, and close combat specialist, Grindor can predict his opponents next move before they know it themselves. It's reached the point where it's less planning and more instinct on his part. With every possible move planned out beforehand, Grindor confidently wades into the center of battle, ready for any and all comers.

Except [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|this guy]].

Don't confuse him with [[Blackout (Movie)|that guy]].

{{bigquote|Objectives will win a battle, but it is sheer ruthlessness that will win a war.|Grindor's sagely advice to the Decepticons|[[Revenge of the Fallen (Xbox 360/PS3/PC)|Revenge of the Fallen: The Game]]}}

==Fiction==

===''Revenge of the Fallen'' film===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Frank Welker]]

Ordered by [[The Fallen]] to capture [[Sam Witwicky]] for the information that the [[All Spark (Movie)|All Spark]] had imprinted in his mind, [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] led [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] and Grindor to [[Earth]], waiting for the [[human]] boy to be flushed out by [[Alice|one of their agents]]. Grindor captured the humans' escape vehicle and brought it to an abandoned industrial facility where Starscream and Megatron were waiting. While Grindor waited outside, Megatron and [[Scalpel]] interrogated the boy, preparing to extract the information by removing his brain, a process that was interrupted by the arrival of [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]]. Optimus briefly fought off Megatron and Starscream before escaping with Sam into the woods.

[[Image:ROTF Optimus vs Grindor.jpg|thumb|left|250px|I predict a checkmate in 4 mo-*stab*.]]
Megatron followed, but soon called for his soldiers to assist. Grindor played little part in the opening attack, grabbing the Autobot and firing his gatling gun into his face before being knocked away, but eventually gathered on the outnumbered and outgunned but defiant Optimus Prime. The [[Autobot]] [[Prime (rank)|leader]] immediately unsheathed both [[Dual Energon Swords|battle blade]]s and attacked the Decepticons, cutting off Grindor's right arm, slashing into his chest, sending some of Starscream's artillery his way and throwing his right battle blade into the Decepticon's torso. Badly hurt, Grindor required some downtime before he could rejoin the battle, during which Optimus stabbed Megatron and knocked off Starscream's arm.

As Grindor advanced on him, Prime unleashed a hook and jabbed it into Grindor's [[optic]], using the leverage to pull him up. Once on top of the larger Decepticon, Prime then struck another hook into Grindor, then proceeded to ''tear his head apart'', killing Grindor. As he pushed the lifeless hulk to the ground, Optimus contemptuously commented on the materials Grindor was made of. {{storylink|Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}
{{-}}

===Titan Magazines===
{{note|Unlike his bio, Grindor here comes off more like a working stiff.}}

[[Image:GrindorTitan_talkinghislanguage.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Him and [[Raoul]] were in the same engineering course.]]

Grindor was despatched to [[Las Vegas]] by [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]], who refused to tell him what he was looking for and directed him to [[Seeker (ROTF)|some old car]]. He was a bit fed up until he was told to cut open said car and remove its insides, fun fun fun! Once he'd secured the Cybertronian "memory tree", he came under attack by [[NEST]] forces intending to capture him. Using his rotors, he created a whirlwind that hurled cars at his enemies, but they easily managed to anchor him to the ground with an electrified cable before he could retreat.

Luckily [[Skids (ROTF)|two]] [[Mudflap (ROTF)|dumbasses]] turned up and shot the cable off, allowing Grindor to escape! {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.3|Learning Curve}}

==Games==
===''Revenge of the Fallen'' - The Game===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Fred Tatasciore]]

====''Revenge of the Fallen'' - The Game (Xbox 360/Sony PS3/PC)====
=====Decepticon campaign=====
[[Image:ROTFgame-Grindor.jpg|left|thumb|I have tan parts! That's how you know.]]

Grindor served in a similar capacity amongst the Decepticons to that which [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] served for the Autobots - he was the Heavy Weapons Guy. Big, slow, durable, and seriously over-armed, Grindor could even drop off machinegun turrets for that extra added overkill.

During the Decepticons' missions in [[China]], Grindor oversaw their supposedly secret mission in [[Shanghai]], until his forces were detected and routed by [[NEST]] and the Autobots. Imprisoned in the docks, [[Sideways (ROTF)|Sideways]] had to come and rescue his comrade.

On the United States West Coast, Grindor was assigned to hack into NEST's communication network in the downtown area. Fighting through its Autobot [[Protectobot Scout|Protectobot]] defenders, Grindor managed to link up with each of the town's five communications arrays, furthering the Decepticon cause.

On the East Coast, Grindor was assigned to capture Ladiesman217, designation Samuel Witwicky. After destroying the human's dorm building, Grindor took Witwicky to the nearby foundry where he would be interrogated by Megatron. However, during this process, the Autobots sent waves of Protectobots against Grindor in an attempt to save the boy, but they failed.{{Storylink|Revenge of the Fallen (Xbox 360/PS3/PC)}}
{{-}}

=====Autobot campaign=====

While Grindor secured their position by deploying [[Combaticon (ROTF)|Combaticon]] and [[Constructicon (ROTF)|Constructicon]] drones around the town, [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] arrived to rescue Sam. Assisted by his drones, the Decepticon almost overwhelmed the plucky little Autobot, but in the end Bumblebee reduced Grindor and his unit into scrap metal. {{Storylink|Revenge of the Fallen (Xbox 360/PS3/PC)}}

==Toys==
===Revenge of the Fallen===
====Legends Class====
[[Image:ROTF_Legends_Grindor.jpg|thumb|300px|No, I'm not Blackout! There is NO missing scene dammit! We're nothing alike. I would never let myself get shot in the balls.]]
*'''Grindor''' (Legends, 2009)

:''[[Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' Legends Grindor is a [[redeco]] of the [[Movie (franchise)|first movie]]'s Legends class [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]] toy in a light blue base color with digital camouflage, possibly based on [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex's]] [[Generation 2 (toyline)|Genertaion 2]] deco. Legends Grindor is a small and highly simplified version of the character, featuring limited articulation and detail, with the helicopter mode not being a particularly faithful recreation of an [[wikipedia:MH-53_Pave_Low|Sikorsky MH-53 Pave Low]] heavy-lift helicopter. (The placement of the fuel tanks, in particular, makes him look more like a [[Wikipedia:CH-53 Sea Stallion|CH-53 Sea Stallion]].) Even though the robot mode sports an attempt to emulate the movie character's chest design, this does not involve the use of obvious fake elements of the helicopter mode's cockpit, unlike [[Jazz (Movie)|other]] Legends Class toys of movie characters.
{{-}}

====Voyager Class====
[[Image:ROTF_Voyager_Grindor.jpg|thumb|300px|Just you wait, someone will call him Leader-1.]]
*'''Grindor''' (Voyager, 2009)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''RD-18'''
**''Accessories:'' Scorponok mini-figure

:Grindor is a redeco of the first movie's Voyager class Blackout figure in a more military-accurate grey colour scheme. The little [[Scorponok (Movie)|Scorponok]] mini-figure has been redecoed to reflect the colour changes on the ''[[Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' release of Deluxe class Scorponok (even though the two never appear together in the film).

:Grindor transforms into a reasonably accurate MH-53 Pave Low. An aft "cage" compartment can be opened to release a small PVC figurine of his partner, Scorponok. A button under his tail rotor can be pressed in a geared action to rotate his rotor blades. By attaching the Deluxe-class Scorponok to his underside, the rotor [[gimmick]] also spins Scorponok's claws.

: During transformation, Grindor's (mind-numbingly delicate) [[Automorph Technology|Automorphing]] gimmick is activated when the user swings down his legs, which in turn flips the gray chest section his head is mounted upon up and into position, and lifts his back assembly and locks it into place behind his head. Another, less impressive automorph is in his legs—if you pull his knees down, his shin armor pops out a bit. The entire rotor assembly on his back can be removed and converted into a gigantic fan weapon, to represent ''vaguely'' the hand-held rotor-blade weapon he and Blackout wield in the films. Because of the size of his rotor assembly, Grindor is also much shorter than most Voyager-class figures despite his bulk, barely taller than a Deluxe figure.

: It is ''very'' easy for the gears in the cockpit/chest to become misaligned during transformation, enough so that the chest/head section refuses to align with the cockpit halves. Getting the gears back into alignment is a veritable nightmare, as so many other parts shift and move as you attempt to manipulate the respective pieces. Swinging the legs down locks the back assembly into place for robot mode, but simply swinging the legs back does ''not'' ''un''lock it, with the user being required to separate the parts actively by hand. Failing to do so is sure to misalign your Grindor to bejeezus.

: An interesting side note is that the two hard points located on Grindor's shoulders, intended to support his abominably large weapon, are actually the same size as the [[Mini-Con]] [[Powerlinx]] plugs on most [[Unicron Trilogy]] figures.

:The original Blackout release of this mold was retooled as ''[[Movie (toyline)|Movie]]'' [[Evac (Movie)|Evac]] and ''Revenge of the Fallen'' [[Whirl (ROTF)|Whirl]].
{{-}}

====Fast Action Battlers====
[[Image:Grindor ROTF FAB toy.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Hey, is that Leader-1?]]
*'''Missile Assault Grindor''' (Fast Action Battler, 2009)
**''Accessories:'' Projectile

:Missile Assault Grindor is a redeco of the first movie's Gyro Blade Blackout in a more military-accurate grey colour scheme. He is a simplified version of Grindor/Blackout design, designed for smaller children. His rotor blade can be detached and inserted into his left hand to represent the hand-held rotor blade seen in the film, just like the Voyager class version. He also features a chest cannon which can be flipped up from his back. Oddly, you can only see one-fourth of Grindor's head from a 90-degree angle. Even less of it is visible when his chest cannon is flipped up. He features a firing missile.
{{--}}

==Notes==
*Although his toys (and seemingly the CG model of his robot mode) are identical to Blackout's, and although the toys' packaging retains Pave Low [[licensed vehicle alternate modes|licensing]] information, Grindor's alt mode in the movie is in fact a [[Wikipedia:CH-53E_Super_Stallion|Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion]]—essentially a slightly upsized Pave Low operated by the [[United States Marine Corps|US Marine Corps]]. The ROTF video games include licensing information for the Super Stallion instead of the Pave Low. The alt mode switch may be explained by the retirement of the USAF's Pave Lows in 2008.

*Frank Welker is not credited for the voice of Grindor in the credits of the film itself, but his "[http://www.frankwelker.net/ Official Homepage]" would later credit him for the role. While we're not entirely convinced that the page wasn't simply updated by someone who read it on Wikipedia, the "sheeeagh" that Grindor lets out as Optimus Prime rips his head apart is pretty unmistakeably Welker.

* ''[[Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' never explicitly establishes Grindor as a separate character from Blackout. Screenwriter [[Roberto Orci]], when asked, was not sure whether they were supposed to be the same character or not.<ref name="orci">[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-movie-discussion/180451-welcome-mr-roberto-orci-you-may-ask-him-questions-283.html#post3785383 Q&A with Roberto Orci at TFW2005]</ref> In the [[Hasbro Q&A/July 2009: Answers|{{SITENAME_SHORT}} Hasbro Q&A for July 2009]], it was confirmed that Grindor, not Blackout, appears in the movie.

==Footnotes==
<references/>

[[Category: Strategists]]
[[Category:Revenge of the Fallen characters]]
[[Category:Decepticons]]

Grindor (ROTF)

2009-09-19T20:47:02Z

202.180.106.109: /* Legends Class */

{{factions|decepticon}}
{{disambig3|Grindor}}
:''Grindor is a [[Decepticon]] from the [[Revenge of the Fallen (franchise)|Revenge of the Fallen franchise]] in the [[Live-action film series|live-action film]] [[continuity family]].''
[[Image:Grindor rotfgame trailer.jpg|thumb|250px|right|I copied another character's alt-mode 'cause [[Scavenger (ROTF)|all]] [[Buffalo MPV Decepticon|the]] [[Rampage (ROTF)|cool]] [[Mixmaster (ROTF)|'cons]] [[Long Haul (ROTF)|were]] [[Scrapper (ROTF)|doing]] it.]]

You have to get up pretty early in the morning to get one over on '''Grindor'''. A master strategist, and close combat specialist, Grindor can predict his opponents next move before they know it themselves. It's reached the point where it's less planning and more instinct on his part. With every possible move planned out beforehand, Grindor confidently wades into the center of battle, ready for any and all comers.

Except [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|this guy]].

Don't confuse him with [[Blackout (Movie)|that guy]].

{{bigquote|Objectives will win a battle, but it is sheer ruthlessness that will win a war.|Grindor's sagely advice to the Decepticons|[[Revenge of the Fallen (Xbox 360/PS3/PC)|Revenge of the Fallen: The Game]]}}

==Fiction==

===''Revenge of the Fallen'' film===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Frank Welker]]

Ordered by [[The Fallen]] to capture [[Sam Witwicky]] for the information that the [[All Spark (Movie)|All Spark]] had imprinted in his mind, [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] led [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] and Grindor to [[Earth]], waiting for the [[human]] boy to be flushed out by [[Alice|one of their agents]]. Grindor captured the humans' escape vehicle and brought it to an abandoned industrial facility where Starscream and Megatron were waiting. While Grindor waited outside, Megatron and [[Scalpel]] interrogated the boy, preparing to extract the information by removing his brain, a process that was interrupted by the arrival of [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]]. Optimus briefly fought off Megatron and Starscream before escaping with Sam into the woods.

[[Image:ROTF Optimus vs Grindor.jpg|thumb|left|250px|I predict a checkmate in 4 mo-*stab*.]]
Megatron followed, but soon called for his soldiers to assist. Grindor played little part in the opening attack, grabbing the Autobot and firing his gatling gun into his face before being knocked away, but eventually gathered on the outnumbered and outgunned but defiant Optimus Prime. The [[Autobot]] [[Prime (rank)|leader]] immediately unsheathed both [[Dual Energon Swords|battle blade]]s and attacked the Decepticons, cutting off Grindor's right arm, slashing into his chest, sending some of Starscream's artillery his way and throwing his right battle blade into the Decepticon's torso. Badly hurt, Grindor required some downtime before he could rejoin the battle, during which Optimus stabbed Megatron and knocked off Starscream's arm.

As Grindor advanced on him, Prime unleashed a hook and jabbed it into Grindor's [[optic]], using the leverage to pull him up. Once on top of the larger Decepticon, Prime then struck another hook into Grindor, then proceeded to ''tear his head apart'', killing Grindor. As he pushed the lifeless hulk to the ground, Optimus contemptuously commented on the materials Grindor was made of. {{storylink|Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}
{{-}}

===Titan Magazines===
{{note|Unlike his bio, Grindor here comes off more like a working stiff.}}

[[Image:GrindorTitan_talkinghislanguage.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Him and [[Raoul]] were in the same engineering course.]]

Grindor was despatched to [[Las Vegas]] by [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]], who refused to tell him what he was looking for and directed him to [[Seeker (ROTF)|some old car]]. He was a bit fed up until he was told to cut open said car and remove its insides, fun fun fun! Once he'd secured the Cybertronian "memory tree", he came under attack by [[NEST]] forces intending to capture him. Using his rotors, he created a whirlwind that hurled cars at his enemies, but they easily managed to anchor him to the ground with an electrified cable before he could retreat.

Luckily [[Skids (ROTF)|two]] [[Mudflap (ROTF)|dumbasses]] turned up and shot the cable off, allowing Grindor to escape! {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.3|Learning Curve}}

==Games==
===''Revenge of the Fallen'' - The Game===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Fred Tatasciore]]

====''Revenge of the Fallen'' - The Game (Xbox 360/Sony PS3/PC)====
=====Decepticon campaign=====
[[Image:ROTFgame-Grindor.jpg|left|thumb|I have tan parts! That's how you know.]]

Grindor served in a similar capacity amongst the Decepticons to that which [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] served for the Autobots - he was the Heavy Weapons Guy. Big, slow, durable, and seriously over-armed, Grindor could even drop off machinegun turrets for that extra added overkill.

During the Decepticons' missions in [[China]], Grindor oversaw their supposedly secret mission in [[Shanghai]], until his forces were detected and routed by [[NEST]] and the Autobots. Imprisoned in the docks, [[Sideways (ROTF)|Sideways]] had to come and rescue his comrade.

On the United States West Coast, Grindor was assigned to hack into NEST's communication network in the downtown area. Fighting through its Autobot [[Protectobot Scout|Protectobot]] defenders, Grindor managed to link up with each of the town's five communications arrays, furthering the Decepticon cause.

On the East Coast, Grindor was assigned to capture Ladiesman217, designation Samuel Witwicky. After destroying the human's dorm building, Grindor took Witwicky to the nearby foundry where he would be interrogated by Megatron. However, during this process, the Autobots sent waves of Protectobots against Grindor in an attempt to save the boy, but they failed.{{Storylink|Revenge of the Fallen (Xbox 360/PS3/PC)}}
{{-}}

=====Autobot campaign=====

While Grindor secured their position by deploying [[Combaticon (ROTF)|Combaticon]] and [[Constructicon (ROTF)|Constructicon]] drones around the town, [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] arrived to rescue Sam. Assisted by his drones, the Decepticon almost overwhelmed the plucky little Autobot, but in the end Bumblebee reduced Grindor and his unit into scrap metal. {{Storylink|Revenge of the Fallen (Xbox 360/PS3/PC)}}

==Toys==
===Revenge of the Fallen===
====Legends Class====
[[Image:ROTF_Legends_Grindor.jpg|thumb|300px|No, I'm not Blackout! There is NO missing scene dammit! We're nothing alike. I would never let myself get shot in the balls.]]
*'''Grindor''' (Legends, 2009)

:''[[Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' Legends Grindor is a [[redeco]] of the [[Movie (franchise)|first movie]]'s Legends class [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]] toy in a light blue base color with digital camouflage, possible based on [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex's]] [[Generation 2 (toyline)|Genertaion 2]] deco. Legends Grindor is a small and highly simplified version of the character, featuring limited articulation and detail, with the helicopter mode not being a particularly faithful recreation of an [[wikipedia:MH-53_Pave_Low|Sikorsky MH-53 Pave Low]] heavy-lift helicopter. (The placement of the fuel tanks, in particular, makes him look more like a [[Wikipedia:CH-53 Sea Stallion|CH-53 Sea Stallion]].) Even though the robot mode sports an attempt to emulate the movie character's chest design, this does not involve the use of obvious fake elements of the helicopter mode's cockpit, unlike [[Jazz (Movie)|other]] Legends Class toys of movie characters.
{{-}}

====Voyager Class====
[[Image:ROTF_Voyager_Grindor.jpg|thumb|300px|Just you wait, someone will call him Leader-1.]]
*'''Grindor''' (Voyager, 2009)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''RD-18'''
**''Accessories:'' Scorponok mini-figure

:Grindor is a redeco of the first movie's Voyager class Blackout figure in a more military-accurate grey colour scheme. The little [[Scorponok (Movie)|Scorponok]] mini-figure has been redecoed to reflect the colour changes on the ''[[Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' release of Deluxe class Scorponok (even though the two never appear together in the film).

:Grindor transforms into a reasonably accurate MH-53 Pave Low. An aft "cage" compartment can be opened to release a small PVC figurine of his partner, Scorponok. A button under his tail rotor can be pressed in a geared action to rotate his rotor blades. By attaching the Deluxe-class Scorponok to his underside, the rotor [[gimmick]] also spins Scorponok's claws.

: During transformation, Grindor's (mind-numbingly delicate) [[Automorph Technology|Automorphing]] gimmick is activated when the user swings down his legs, which in turn flips the gray chest section his head is mounted upon up and into position, and lifts his back assembly and locks it into place behind his head. Another, less impressive automorph is in his legs—if you pull his knees down, his shin armor pops out a bit. The entire rotor assembly on his back can be removed and converted into a gigantic fan weapon, to represent ''vaguely'' the hand-held rotor-blade weapon he and Blackout wield in the films. Because of the size of his rotor assembly, Grindor is also much shorter than most Voyager-class figures despite his bulk, barely taller than a Deluxe figure.

: It is ''very'' easy for the gears in the cockpit/chest to become misaligned during transformation, enough so that the chest/head section refuses to align with the cockpit halves. Getting the gears back into alignment is a veritable nightmare, as so many other parts shift and move as you attempt to manipulate the respective pieces. Swinging the legs down locks the back assembly into place for robot mode, but simply swinging the legs back does ''not'' ''un''lock it, with the user being required to separate the parts actively by hand. Failing to do so is sure to misalign your Grindor to bejeezus.

: An interesting side note is that the two hard points located on Grindor's shoulders, intended to support his abominably large weapon, are actually the same size as the [[Mini-Con]] [[Powerlinx]] plugs on most [[Unicron Trilogy]] figures.

:The original Blackout release of this mold was retooled as ''[[Movie (toyline)|Movie]]'' [[Evac (Movie)|Evac]] and ''Revenge of the Fallen'' [[Whirl (ROTF)|Whirl]].
{{-}}

====Fast Action Battlers====
[[Image:Grindor ROTF FAB toy.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Hey, is that Leader-1?]]
*'''Missile Assault Grindor''' (Fast Action Battler, 2009)
**''Accessories:'' Projectile

:Missile Assault Grindor is a redeco of the first movie's Gyro Blade Blackout in a more military-accurate grey colour scheme. He is a simplified version of Grindor/Blackout design, designed for smaller children. His rotor blade can be detached and inserted into his left hand to represent the hand-held rotor blade seen in the film, just like the Voyager class version. He also features a chest cannon which can be flipped up from his back. Oddly, you can only see one-fourth of Grindor's head from a 90-degree angle. Even less of it is visible when his chest cannon is flipped up. He features a firing missile.
{{--}}

==Notes==
*Although his toys (and seemingly the CG model of his robot mode) are identical to Blackout's, and although the toys' packaging retains Pave Low [[licensed vehicle alternate modes|licensing]] information, Grindor's alt mode in the movie is in fact a [[Wikipedia:CH-53E_Super_Stallion|Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion]]—essentially a slightly upsized Pave Low operated by the [[United States Marine Corps|US Marine Corps]]. The ROTF video games include licensing information for the Super Stallion instead of the Pave Low. The alt mode switch may be explained by the retirement of the USAF's Pave Lows in 2008.

*Frank Welker is not credited for the voice of Grindor in the credits of the film itself, but his "[http://www.frankwelker.net/ Official Homepage]" would later credit him for the role. While we're not entirely convinced that the page wasn't simply updated by someone who read it on Wikipedia, the "sheeeagh" that Grindor lets out as Optimus Prime rips his head apart is pretty unmistakeably Welker.

* ''[[Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' never explicitly establishes Grindor as a separate character from Blackout. Screenwriter [[Roberto Orci]], when asked, was not sure whether they were supposed to be the same character or not.<ref name="orci">[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-movie-discussion/180451-welcome-mr-roberto-orci-you-may-ask-him-questions-283.html#post3785383 Q&A with Roberto Orci at TFW2005]</ref> In the [[Hasbro Q&A/July 2009: Answers|{{SITENAME_SHORT}} Hasbro Q&A for July 2009]], it was confirmed that Grindor, not Blackout, appears in the movie.

==Footnotes==
<references/>

[[Category: Strategists]]
[[Category:Revenge of the Fallen characters]]
[[Category:Decepticons]]

Sixliner

2009-09-19T17:03:59Z

202.180.106.109: It's a steam engine...

{{factions|autobot}}

:''Sixliner is a [[Micromaster]]-composed super robot from the [[Return of Convoy (franchise)|Return of Convoy]] portion of the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:G1Sixliner art1.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Sixliner is always ready to deploy the deadly "Double Deuce".]]

'''Sixliner''' (シックスライナー, ''shi-ku-su-ra-i-nā'') is the combined form of the '''Liner Team''' and the younger [[relatives|brother]] of [[Sixtrain]]. Though still considered a rookie, he's been thrust into positions of great importance among the Autobots; both being the ''de facto'' leader of the Micromasters based on [[Earth]] in the early 1980's (before [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] and their forces would awaken from their crash-induced slumber), and as a member of the elite [[Battlestars]] group.

His component robots are:

* Team leader [[D-Go]] the steam engine
* [[Alan]] the TGV Express train
* [[Joe (ROC)|Joe]] the Super Hitachi train
* [[Leaf]] the Tohoku bullet train
* [[Night]] the EF66 "Blue" train
* [[Spark (ROC)|Spark]] Tokaido 100 line bullet train

==Fiction==
===''Micromaster Collection''===
The Liner Team were [[Cyberdroid]]s who evolved into Micromasters thanks to a mysterious energy wave. Finding themselves on [[Earth]] in the early 1980's, they blended into [[human]] society and fought against those Micromasters who had evolved into [[Decepticon]]s. {{storylink|Micromaster Collection#Part 1: A New Transformer Legend Begins!!|A New Transformer Legend Begins!!}} When five of the [[Sixturbo|Turbo Team]] had been turned into Decepticons by the [[Reverse Evolution virus]], Sixliner stood ready in case [[Sireen]]'s plan to install an antivirus by merging with his teammates failed. Thankfully, the installation was a success, and Sixliner and the once-again Autobot Sixturbo shared a hearty handshake. {{storylink|Micromaster Collection#Part 2: Enter the Urban Disaster Relief Specialists!!|Enter the Urban Disaster Relief Specialists!!}} Shortly after, Sixliner rushed into battle against the Decepticon [[Sixwing]] brandishing the [[Vaccine Program Gun]], a weaponized version of the antivirus used to cure Sixturbo. Unfortunately, Sixwing was able to subvert the program, giving him the "Berserker" mode with the powers of an evil Autobot (look, just go with us on this, alright?). {{storylink|Micromaster Collection#Part 3: Enter the Decepticon Sixwing!!|Enter the Decepticon Sixwing!!}}

{{note|The Liner Team continued to play a role throughout the ''Micromaster Collection'' story as individuals, but the combined Sixliner mode did not appear within the story again after the creation of Berserker Sixwing.}}

===''The Battlestars'' manga and story pages===
Many years later, [[Sky Garry (G1)|Sky Garry]], temporary [[Supreme Commander]] of the [[Autobot]]s, enlisted the youthful rookie [[Sixliner]] into the [[Battlestars]] after watching an impressive fight between him and a horde of energy-plundering [[Galaman]] warriors on [[Earth]]. {{storylink|The Battlestars (story page)|The Battlestars Part 2}}

Aware of the mission of the Battlestars, [[Decepticon]] [[Emperor of Destruction|Emperor]] [[Dark Nova]] stole [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]'s body and cloned it as the evil [[False Convoy]]. Sixliner was quickly taken hostage by False Convoy, but was saved by a unified attack from Sky Garry and [[Grandus (ROC)|Grandus]]. {{storylink|The Battlestars (story page)|The Battlestars Part 3}} After False Convoy's defeat, the Battlestars rescued the fallen Supreme Commander's corpse from the [[Novaroid|Great Novaroid]] forces on planet [[Lucifer]]. Using the power of the Zodiac, they brought Optimus Prime back to life and upgraded him into Star Convoy. {{storylink|The Battlestars (story page)|The Battlestars Part 4}}

Sixliner then had the honor of fighting alongside his idol, Star Convoy, in a battle against a horde of [[Novaroid|Great Novaroid]] drones. With the help of Star Convoy's Microcarrier, they defeated their enemies. {{storylink|The Battlestars (story page)|The Battlestars Part 5}}

Sixliner was the first to go up against the resurrected [[Megatron (G1)|Super Megatron]] in a battle at the North Pole. His youth and inexperience made him a poor adversary, though, and Super Megatron swatted him aside with a single blow. Star Convoy quickly arrived to save the day and Sixliner swooned at how impressive the Supreme Commander was, desiring to be just like him some day. {{storylink|The Battlestars|The Battlestars special}}

Sixliner then joined in battle against Dark Nova and the upgraded Ultra Megatron. {{storylink|The Battlestars (story page)|The Battlestars Part 8}} However, he did not join the other Battlestars when they journeyed into [[Dark Nova|Star Giant]]'s stomach and destroyed the enemy. {{storylink|The Battlestars (story page)|The Battlestars Part 10}}

{{-}}
==Toys==
===Return of Convoy===
[[Image:ROC-toy Sixliner.jpg|right|thumb|300px|]]
*'''Sixliner''' (Micromaster Sixteam, 1991)
** ''Japanese ID number:'' '''C-370'''

:Sold only as a complete set, Sixliner is composed of six Micromaster trains who attach to various pieces of combiner [[kibble]] to form a robot. These kibble pieces form three weapons/vehicles when the team is separated: the [[Giga-Techvolt]] cannon, the [[Gripper (ROC)|Gripper]] probe, and the [[Wingard]] booster. He has limited compatibility with the other six-team combiners, really only able to swap out arm and "back" components with the "kibble-jet" types thanks to the connecting methods used for the chest and legs.

: This mold-set was [[retool]]ed to make [[Sixtrain]] and ''[[Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'' [[Rail Racer (Universe)|Rail Racer]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1991/Cybertron/Sixliner/sixliner.htm More information on Sixliner at TFU.info]''
::*''[http://www.transformertoys.co.uk/content.php?/transformers-toys/toy-gallery/782/Generation+1/Six+Liner.html Sixliner toy gallery at Transformertoys.co.uk]''

{{-}}

===Micromaster Collection===
[[Image:MC-toy Sixliner.jpg|right|thumb|300px|]]
*'''D-Go''' (Micromaster, 2002)
*'''Spark''' (Micromaster, 2002)
*'''Alan''' (Micromaster, 2002)
*'''Leaf''' (Micromaster, 2002)
*'''Joe''' (Micromaster, 2002)
*'''Night''' (Micromaster, 2002)

: In 2002, the entire Sixliner team was re-released as the first wave of the ''[[Micromaster Collection]]'', in individual boxes with a number visible to show which mold was inside each box. For this release, all of the decals from the original version were replaced with [[Paint operation|paint applications]], plus several new bits of deco were added. Sixliner could only be assembled by buying all six components individually, he was never offered as a complete set.

:The Liner Team is the only wave of ''Micromaster Collection'' to not have any form of "chase" variant.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2002/Cybertron/Sixliner/sixliner.htm More information on Micromaster Collection Sixliner at TFU.info]''

==Notes==
* Sixliner and Sixtrain being brothers comes from Sixtrain's original ''Operation Combination'' [[bio]]... and was completely ignored in the later ''Micromaster Collection'' story. That the combined modes are brothers raises some questions about the component robots... do they consider themselves the brothers of the entire rest of the other team? Or just of their counterparts/mold-partners?

* With the [[retcon]]ned shoehorning of ''Micromaster Collection'' into the same timeline as ''Return of Convoy''/''Operation Combination'', Sixliner being the "younger" brother of the two looks like a continuity error at first. But thanks entirely to ''Collection'' being incredibly vague about when ''exactly'' both of the train-teams were created, it doesn't have to be. The first part of the story says virtually nothing about the Liner Team themselves (they might have been the first wave of toys, but that doesn't mean they were the first to be created in-fiction), and though Sixtrain doesn't appear until the fourth chapter, nothing in the story prevents him from having been around and simply "off-camera" elsewhere the whole time.

* The Giga-Techvolt, Gripper and Wingard were not given names in the original ''Return of Convoy'' series.

[[Category:Autobots]]
[[Category:Combined forms]]
[[Category:Micromaster Collection]]
[[Category:Return of Convoy characters]]

Mold

2009-09-19T16:55:06Z

202.180.106.109: /* Issues with Reissues */ since his mold was recplaced by Windy for no apparent reason.

[[Image:Redeco.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Invasion of the Seeker Snatchers]]

A '''mold''' is a pre-cut metal shape into which plastic (or, sometimes, [[die-cast|die-cast metal]]) is injected to manufacture the parts for a given [[toy|''Transformers'' toy]]. Although Transformers toys are usually created from several molds for the various parts of their body (which is the reason why their parts are cast in more than one single plastic color), many fans also commonly use the term "mold" to refer to a toy's ''sculpt'', i.e. the entire body shape which can be [[redeco]]ed or [[retool]]ed into a new toy that is still based on the same sculpt. Fans also commonly refer to retools as "remolds".

==Types of molds==
===Plastic injection molds===
As part of the creation process of a new Transformers toy, [[Hasbro]] and [[Takara]] create one or more hand-sculpted hardcopy [[prototype]]s (also referred to as "gray models"). Once these prototypes have served their purpose (ie. proving that the transformation works as intended, all the individual parts have the necessary clearance and the sculpt looks visually as intended in both modes), the hardcopy (or, if there are multiples, at least one of them) will be disassembled. From all the individual parts, Hasbro and Takara will then cast plastic injection molds made out of steel, basically a "negative" counterpart to the toy parts. This mold consists of two or more parts, so it can be opened and the cast plastic parts removed.

To minimize development costs (the steel molds are reported to be by far the most expensive part of the development process of a new toy), Hasbro and Takara will try to include as many of the toy's parts in the same mold as possible. This, however, means that all the parts in one mold will end up in the same plastic color, which puts limits on the toy's plastic color layout. In other words, if a toy's hands, feet and head are cast from the same mold, the toy can't have black hands, blue feet and a red head—unless they are painted over, that is. This is particularly important to consider in the case of [[redeco]]s, since Hasbro has a maximum number of allowed [[paint operation]]s per [[size class]] to stay on budget. The larger a toy, the more plastic injection molds are used to create all the parts needed for assembling the toy. If the toy in question is very small, Hasbro and Takara will occasionally create parts of several simultaneously released toys (such as [[Micromaster]]s, [[Spy Changer]]s or [[Mini-Con]]s) from the same mold, which is referred to as [[gang-molding]]. This means, however, that creating parts of one toy will automatically also create the corresponding parts for the other toy(s), unless they are gated off.

The liquid plastic enters the mold through a large [[sprue]], is distributed to the mold cavities through smaller runners, and enters individual cavities through gates. Once the plastic has cooled down, the mold halves will be opened and the plastic parts removed. At this point, the parts are still connected by the plastic residue in the sprues, runners and gates, and have to trimmed off. If you see excess plastic on a part of Transformers toy that looks like it was connected to something at one point, this is the explanation. The excess plastic will then be recycled. The entire connected system of the toy parts, sprues, runners and gates is referred to as a "tree" (or, alternatively, as a "sprue" as well).

Initially, Hasbro and Takara will create [[prototype|test shots]] from the molds to test the toolings, spot and fix flaws, see if the toys cast from the molds still look and work like they are supposed to as compared to the hardcopies and perform [[for safety reasons|safety testing]]. Once the molds have been given clearance, mass production can begin.

===Die-cast metal molds===
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==Multiple uses of a mold==
Since the creation of molds is the most expensive part of the development process of a toy, Hasbro and Takara will try to use an already-created mold as many times as possible to recoup the development costs. In other words, the same molds already used for a toy will used again to create another toy that is then released under a different name. There are several possible ways to have the "new" toy differ from the original toy.

===Redecos===
{{main|Redeco}}
The easiest way to get a "new" toy out of an existing molding is to [[redeco]] it. This is achieved in two different ways.

*The plastic colors for the individual mold trees are changed, thus giving the new toy a different overall plastic color layout

*The "new" toy is given different [[paint operation]]s than the original version, thus changing its appearance further. As noted above, however, a maximum number of allowed paint operations required to stay on budget puts a limit on the extent of possible changes to the toy through paint operations. Therefore, the plastic color layout is usually carefully chosen so the amount of paint operations can stay as low as possible.

In some cases, a redeco may also be given a new, permanently attached [[accessory]] such as an emergency-vehicle light bar.

===Retools===
{{main|Retool}}
In addition to redecos (which are merely a cosmetic change), a toy can also be physically altered in order to visually differentiate it further from the original release. Such alterations are collectively referred to as [[retool]]s, but can actually be achieved in three different ways:

*The actual tooling is permanently altered, thus making the "new" toy out of the existing molds, but with changes to them. Since those modifications to the molds are hard to undo, this method is usually limited to changes that objectively improve the toy.

*One or more new molds can be cast for the altered parts of the new toy, retaining the basic shape of those parts but with physical changes to the details. This is achieved more or less in the same way as the original molds were created, and the new molds are then used instead of the existing molds for the parts that are replaced on the new toy. In extreme but rare cases, the new toolings will be so thorough as to change the toy's transformation mechanics, as happened with [[Pipes]] and [[Crumplezone (Cybertron)|Dark Crumplezone]].

*A "retool" might be planned in advance, and thus the "new" parts and the parts they will eventually replace are cast from the same mold, thereby ending up on the same "tree". The unused parts are then discarded or recycled. Therefore, this method is usually limited to cases where only a small number of parts are replaced, such as different head sculpts.

==Issues with Reissues==
Toy molds are mysterious things. As mentioned above, the larger a toy is, the more molds are required to create all the numerous parts required to assemble the complete toy. Even a ''Scout Class'' (formerly "Basic") ''Transformers'' figure requires at least two or three separate molds, one for each plastic color. If some ill fate should befall one or all of those molds, the toy may be lost forever. The older a mold is, the more likely this is to happen at some point.

===Lost molds===
Molds can be lost when [[Hasbro]] or [[TakaraTomy]] (or any other toy company) sells, closes down, or otherwise abandons a plant or factory. The molds may be sold as excess inventory as part of a warehouse deal. Sometimes, they simply get misplaced in the supply chain between factory and warehouse. Occasionally, molds are outright destroyed in order to prevent piracy. Whatever cruel fate befalls a set of molds, once they're gone, they're gone for good.

In some cases, Hasbro/TakaraTomy may actually still ''have'' a mold, which may or may not still be in a usable condition, but due to the sheer ''number'' of molds created over the years, in addition to the number of different factories and warehouses employed by the two companies over the years, they may be misplaced somewhere deep inside a warehouse. And since the molds are not necessarily marked with bright labels that say "TRANSFORMERS GENERATION 1 1989 PRETENDER BUMBLEBEE INNER ROBOT TORSO AND FEET" in large letters, they're hard to track down once they have vanished off the radar.

Known lost/stolen molds are:
*''[[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]]'' [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]
*''Generation 1'' [[Slag (G1)|Slag]]
*''Generation 1'' [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]]
*''Generation 1'' [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]]
*''Generation 1'' [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]]
*''Generation 1'' [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]]
* Most if not all of the ''[[Beast Wars (toyline)|Beast Wars]]'' basics
Molds rumored to be lost:
*''Generation 1'' [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker ]]
*''Generation 1'' [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons ]]
*''Return of Convoy'' [[Joe (ROC)|Joe]]

===Broken molds===
Despite their impressive size and heft, molds can break and thereby be rendered useless.
Known broken molds are:
*''Generation 1'' [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]]

As an aside, [[Fun Publications]] faced some consternation from [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] fans after the molds for a promised convention exclusive were accidentally broken before production of the toys was complete.

===Deterioration===
Molds can only be used so much before they begin to wear down and deteriorate. The mold is then unable to supply products of the same quality of the original release. This may result in toys where parts no longer fit together properly, joints are overly tight or overly loose, and sculpted detail appears "washed-out." Just compare the face of an original 1984 ''[[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]]'' [[Prowl (G1)#Toys|Prowl]] with a 2000-onwards reissue.

Molds specifically said to be worn out beyond a condition where further use is still viable include:
*Essentially all of the mass-released ''[[Armada (toyline)|Armada]]'' [[Mini-Con]] teams.
*The ''[[Robots in Disguise (toyline)|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Autobot Brothers]]: [[Prowl (RID)|Prowl]], [[Side Burn (RID)|Side Burn]], and [[X-Brawn]].

Molds that seem to be on their way out include:
*The ''[[Alternators]]'' Subaru Impreza mold in its various incarnations started to show major signs of deterioration with ''[[Alternators#Binaltech Asterisk|Binaltech Asterisk]]'' [[Red Alert (G1)|Alert]].
*The ''Generation 1'' [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]].
*The ''Generation 1'' [[Seacon (G1)|Seacons]] are considered by many to have been ''beyond'' this point already when the [[Transformers Collectors' Club]] released the ''[[Timelines (toyline)|Timelines]]'' versions.
*The ''[[Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'' [[Cyberjet|Cyberjets]].
*[[Legends Class|Legends]] of [[Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]] [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/toys|Optimus Prime]].
*''[[Classics (2006)|Classic]]'' Voyager [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Classics|Optimus Prime]].
*''Classics'' [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]].
*''[[Movie (toyline)|Movie]]'' Deluxe Class Concept Camaro [[Bumblebee (Movie)/toys|Bumblebee]].

It is unclear exactly how many uses a mold can take; some of the various Mini-Con teams were released over a half-dozen different times in the space of four years.

===Legal issues===
Several ''[[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]]'' Transformers toys were produced under license from companies other than [[TakaraTomy|Takara]], including [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]], [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]], [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] and the [[Whirl (G1)|Deluxe]] [[Roadbuster|Autobots]] and [[Insecticon (G1)|Deluxe Insecticons]]. While Hasbro still owns the ''characters'' represented by those toys, the rights to these molds eventually reverted to their original owners, some of whom have since gone bankrupt or been absorbed into other companies. In the case of Omega Supreme and Sky Lynx, the molds actually ended up in the possession of Tomy, which allowed Takara to release them as "reissues" in Japan following their merger with Tomy.

Similarly, while Hasbro owns the intellectual property pursuant to [[Tonka GoBots|Tonka's GoBots]] line, the actual toy molds themselves still belong to [[Bandai]], making any sort of reissue series extremely unlikely.

===Resurrection===
Sometimes, molds can be recut and repaired. One of the most famous examples is ''[[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]]'' [[Jazz (G1)/toys|Jazz]], whose face started out with a normal mouth in 1984, acquired a slightly detoriated grin with the 1993 ''[[Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'' release of the toy, and had degraded into an ugly grin with Takara's 2002 ''[[Transformers Collection]]'' and Hasbro's 2003 ''[[Commemorative Series]]'' reissues. Takara then fixed the face for the 2004 [[Ricochet (Headmasters)|Stepper/Ricochet]] reissue. The fixed head was subsequently also used for the 2007 ''[[Encore]]'' reissue.

''Generation 1'' [[Soundwave (G1)/toys|Soundwave]] is also rumored to have been "fixed" by Takara prior to the 2003 ''Transformers Collection'' reissue. However, the reissue is simply based on a [[retool]]ed running change [[variant]] of Takara's 1985 release of Soundwave. Whether the initial toolings used for the Hasbro and early Takara versions are genuinely "lost" or "damaged", or have been directly modified to make the variant back in 1985, is unclear.

In general, the process of restoring a mold is presumably very expensive, and as such seems uncommon.

It is also speculated that the original ''Generation 1'' [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|Optimus Prime]] mold is long gone, as most reissues share the toolings of the ''Generation 2'' mold. Considering the iconic nature of the character, however, it seems likely that Hasbro and Takara are willing to invest a lot of money into restoring and/or recasting the mold(s) whenever necessary. In fact, it's speculated that multiple molds existed for the toy as early as the 1980s.

Do not, however, confuse the recent trend towards high-quality [[Knockoff|bootlegs]] with reissues. Many of the current bootlegs of ''Generation 1'' toys are reverse-engineered from existing toys; instead of stealing or copying the original toy's mold, the bootleggers cut new molds based on the toys themselves—creating a copy of a copy. The same practice also holds true for the... less faithful bootlegs and knockoffs out there, generally speaking.

==See also==
*[[Gang-molding]]
*[[Sprue]]

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[[Category:Toys]]