MediaWiki - User contributions [en]

Toy Fair 1986

2011-03-05T15:22:20Z

24.7.107.149: /* Differences */

'''[[Toy Fair]] [[1986]]''' was held in [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]]. It's likely that the event was more geared towards retailers than the press. The notion of catering to communities of [[fandom|adult fans and collectors]] would probably have seemed fanciful at the time, and there certainly was no online fanbase (or for that matter, much of an online anything).

Below are scans from [[Hasbro]]'s pre-Toy Fair 1986 catalog, which also included pages on ''[[My Little Pony]]'', ''Hasbro Softies'', and ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]]''. Many of the toys seen in the images are not final. Some don't even appear to be transformable. The reason for this is that the catalog was thrown together quickly to convince rival company Mattel that Hasbro had dropped plans to make ''Jem'', a would-be competitor for Mattel's ''Barbie''. And so to combat corporate espionage, Hasbro produced a very limited number of pre-Toy Fair catalogs, sans Jem, with what toy samples they had available at the time.<ref>http://www.allspark.com/forums/index.php?s=&showtopic=67034&view=findpost&p=1473392</ref>

==Gallery==
<center>
<gallery>
Image:ToyFair1986-cover.jpg
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Image:ToyFair1986-TFpage01a.jpg
Image:ToyFair1986-TFpage02.jpg
Image:ToyFair1986-TFpage03.jpg
Image:ToyFair1986-TFpage04.jpg
Image:ToyFair1986-TFpage05.jpg
Image:ToyFair1986-TFpage06a.jpg
Image:ToyFair1986-TFpage07.jpg
Image:ToyFair1986-TFpage08.jpg
Image:ToyFair1986-TFpage09a.jpg
</gallery>
</center>

==Differences==
'''Page 1 (Minibots)'''
*[[Hubcap (G1)|Hubcap]] and [[Tailgate]] have switched color schemes.
*"Hub Cap" here is actually just a white [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] with a red face. Note the head and spoiler.
*[[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] has a slightly different face.
*[[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] has different color highlights.
*[[Outback|Outback's]] face is red rather than silver.

'''Page 2 (Tapes)'''
*The insane stickers are pulled randomly from other 1984-85 figures.
*Eject and Rewind have no hands whatsoever. It actually looks like the sculpted parts on the sides may have been intended as hands at the time.
*Ramhorn has a slightly different head.
*Steeljaw's sticker looks completely original.
*This is exactly the page shown on Hasbro's Transformer Checklist website page around 2007.

'''Page 3 (Combiners)'''
*Given the handpainted nature of these, all the colors are slightly different from finals.
*[[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] has real shoulders instead of elbow...ders! LAME!
*Swindle has a separated windshield as opposed to a single glass pane like on the final version.
*[[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] has a rounded turret, which we've seen on a set of [[Combaticon (G1)|animation models]] before. No, the twin cannon is not actually pivoting, but appears to be propped up behind back of tank out of sight.
*Brawl is particularly unfinished, having a head that is basically a block with a visor. He's got the gun that [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]]'s final version does.
*Blast-Off appears to have a peculiar radar dish styled handgun instead of his usual one with the ammo clip off the side.
*[[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] has a different handgun, or one that attaches in a slightly different way.
*The front of Vortex's helicopter mode is much more rounded, explaining some things about the character model.
*[[Groove (G1)|Groove]] is largely lacking details on his chest piece and waist.
*[[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] seems to be a handmade mockup. He has Tracks' head and is lacking the joint in the hood of the car.
*[[Blades (G1)|Blades]] has a very long stalk under the rotors for some reason.
*Blades is also holding Swindle's handgun.
*Groove and [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] are both carrying Aerialbot weapons.
*First Aid has red windows rather than blue.
*More odd stickers on the Aerialbots, probably pulled from older sticker sheets.

'''Page 4 (Combiner Leaders)'''
*[[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] and [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] are handmade mockups lacking most detailing whereas [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] and [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] look much closer to finished.
*Hot Spot has Perceptor's head but painted black, and a mockup body with no combination sockets.
*Hot Spot has [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]]'s ladder.
*Onslaught is also missing combiner sockets, has a much larger chestplate, and a much thinner, shorter rifle.
*Onslaught's head is actually Inferno's, painted black and shaved down some on the sides and top.
*[[Superion (G1)|Superion]]'s colors are vastly different.
*[[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]]'s head is actually just Devastator's.

'''Page 5 (Ultra Magnus)'''
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] has additional stickers. These may or may not be drawn from other figures like the mockups.

'''Page 6 (Battle"springers")'''
*Recycled stickers again, obvious color changes.
*Again, handmade mockups so there are lots of details lacking. Those heads are HUGE.
*Despite both being black, they are actually entirely different mockups. The gray section on which the heads are mounted is the best way to tell them apart.

'''Page 7 (Autobot Cars)'''
*While [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]]'s body is the same, his face and helmet are different. Both are shorter than the final, and his face is unfinished.
*Blurr's head is mounted differently. It has a very large, square black section underneath it, as opposed to the thin hinge the final has. It's possible that the helmet originally rotated to cover the face, as opposed to the whole head pivoting.
*[[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] is, of course, on the pinker side of red, and has clear (or rather, extremely light blue) windows. Also, his legs are extended farther than is possible on the final version (without opening it up and cutting some added plastic stops, that is), as shown by the little tapering going on above the red knee sections. His face is also unfinished. The designers likely sanded down and puttied over the existing sculpt and redid it whenever an updated character model came in. Note that the color seen here matches Hot Rod's character model as well as the flame stickers that remained on the sides of the final toy.
*[[Kup (G1)|Kup]] has some color differences and lack of paint, as well as a different, pudgier face with a thinner nose. The stickers appear to be very rough versions.
*Kup's legs also come together in a slightly different way, as the belt buckle is split three ways, whereas it is untouched on the final.
*Kup's arms are also flipped around, with the inner arm facing outwards. Granted, that's likely just a mistake on their part, since screw holes should not be facing us.
*He might, ''might'' have rubber tires in the back, but it's really hard to tell. In any case, they're different tires than what either final version has.

'''Page 8 (Decepticon Jets)'''
*Scourge and Cyclonus have swapped names.
*[[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] looks like his face has also been puttied over and resculpted at least once. He has a very pronounced "angry" brow. Not much unfinished here. Missing fist holes. Different landing gear wheels as seen on the sides of his legs. Also, the catalog labels him "Cyclonus" which is the catalog's mistake.
*[[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] has a different, silver head. Strangely, he's got stickers on his shoulders, but they've been painted over, and his shoulder stickers as we know them are on his forearms. The face looks the same, but the helmet is shaped differently. It appears to have originally been a separate piece on the silver plastic sprue, along with the face. The hands are slightly smaller as well. This prototype was also pictured in a 1986 European pack-in catalog.

'''Page 9 (Galvatron)'''
*Possibly the single earliest model in the catalog, all three of [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]'s modes are non-transforming models, as the screwholes and joints are all missing. Poor guy.
*The obvious stuff is the color change on the particle cannon from smoke to sparkly orange, the giant handgun, and the colored fists.
*It's hard to tell exactly how Galvatron is carrying his cannon. He may very well be holding it, or there's a hole on the upper arm we can't see.
*The placeholder stickers on top of the cannon mode are pretty amusing, since they're basically saying, "SCULPT VENT PART HERE". Looks like something else was there before, but was carved off pretty quickly before painting.
*The mockups are all missing the circle on the sound effects button.
*The cannon barrel has three etched rings on it, as well as a different kind of, er, swervy divots between the start of the barrel and the rest of it.
*He has eyes with hilarious goofy pupils. Note that the description makes no note of light-up eyes, so that function was likely not implemented yet.

==Transformers Fan Community Charity Drive==
On [[February 23]], [[2010]], an auction for the above pre-Toy Fair catalog was spotted on [[eBay]]. Paying the required $500 would have been overkill for one person, but it was suggested that if multiple fans donated $5 each, the catalog could be bought and shared with everyone. [http://www.allspark.com/ The Allspark] (a Transformers fan message board) orchestrated this drive and very quickly reached the required monetary amount.

In fact, the Allspark raised more money than was needed. It was therefore suggested that instead of returning the surplus donations, the excess funds would be donated to [http://www.lifespan.org/hch/ Hasbro Children's Hospital]. The drive continued, but this time with the goal of raising $2000. Ultimately, the charity drive raised $2340. The names of the contributors are listed below.

==Contributors==
{|cellspacing="5" cellpadding="0" width="100%"
|-valign="top"
|
*Alan Wilkinson
*[[User:Abates|Alden Bates]]
*An Allspark Lurker
*[[User:Andrusi|Andrusi]]
*Anthony Oster
*Asquian
*[[User:Autobus Prime|Autobus Prime]]
*[[User:Awa64|awa64]]
*Axaday
*Bainreese
*Bass XO
*[[Bill Forster]]
*Bill Heaston/Fangwing
*Bleargh001
*Blindmouse
*BlitzwingHaz
*Blue Fuel
*Bonebot
*Boss Borot
*BraveMax
*Brett Goldman/Deathy G1
*Brett Sommers
*[[User:Kilby|Brian Kilby]] (Radio Free Cybertron)
*Brian Orms
*Buster D
*BWBM (Tformers)
*Caboose/Alex Cooley
*Camron King/TM Silverclaw
*Chaotic Descent
*Cheetimus Primal/M.W. Roberts, Jr.
*ChessPieceFace
*[[User:Chip|Chip]]
*Chris Carolan/Terminal Hipster
*Christine Love
*Christopher Cerny
*[[User:Chris McFeely|Chris McFeely]]
|
*Chug
*Ciaran Fitzgerald/Sprocket
*Counterpunch
*CreatureSH
*DanHibiki
*Daniel Sayre/Mr Blud
*[[User:LBD_Nytetrayn|David Oxford/LBD "Nytetrayn"]]
*[[David Willis]]/[[User:ItsWalky|Walky]]
*Daytonus
*Detective Fork
*[[User:Detour|Detour]]
*Dilbertron
*Donocropolis
*[[Kris Carter|Drivaaar]]
*Edwin
*Emeraldbeacon
*Engledogg
*Eric Wilson
*[[User:Esser-Z|Esser-Z]]
*Fair Playthings
*Fenrir
*[[User:FortMax|FortMax]]
*Fullstrength Motleypuss
*Gabriel Owens
*Galen Rafferty/Galenraff
*Geoffrey Sproule
*Gothsaurus
*Graham Weaver
*Greg Kuhn/Kalidor
*[[Greg Sepelak]]/[[User:M Sipher|M Sipher]]
*Gryphman
*HellCat
*InfiniteCron/ Mark Valencia
|
*[[User:Interrobang|Interrobang]]
*Jason DuBose/Onyx Minor
*Jeff Willoughby/Magick
*Jeremy Carmichael/J Gargoyle220
*Jerry Blaise/Big Show
*[[Jesse Wittenrich|Jesse Wittenrich/NightViper]]
*[[User:Jeysie|Jeysie]]
*[[User:Jimsorenson|Jim]] [[Jim Sorenson|Sorenson]]
*Jose Negron
*[[User:Spectre|Justin Severson/Spectre]]
*Kevin Sigmund
*Kurai Z
*Logan Rogan
*Luke Thompson
*[[Mark Baker-Wright|Mark Baker-Wright/G.B. Blackrock]]
*[[User:DrSpengler|Mark Pellegrini/DrSpengler]]
*Master Fwiffo
*Matt Hume
*[[User:Monzo|Matt Karpowich/Monzo]]
*[[User:Primal Rage|Mathew Ignash]]
*Michael Ivey/General Tekno
*[[User:Might Gaine|Might Gaine]]
*Mike Estipona/Lastmaximal
*Mikeatron
*Mkall (Seibertron)
*Mouse_Pad
*Msol
*mx-01 archon
*Newsy891
*[http://www.allspark.com/forums/index.php?showuser=246 Nic Woodward/tec]
*[[User:Ennby|Nicolas I./Nightblade]]
*Noah Carroll/Defunct
*Owen Brownell/Robogeek1973
*Paladin
|
*Phil Barker/Daith
*[[Phil Zeman]] (ASM)
*Pyre
*Quicky
*[[User:Poweredconvoy|Randy Para/Powered Convoy]]
*Ray Kremer
*Razorclaw0000 (Seibertron)
*Redjack Ryan
*Robert Chambers/Agent X
*Robert Petrimoulx
*RockinRobin
*Sam Helbling/shellspark
*Sara Franks-Allen
*[http://ssjmihoshi.deviantart.com/ Sara Rude]
*Sean Curry/Dake
*Sebastien Blouin/Devcon
*Shawn Chellis
*Silverwynde & Defensis Prime
*Simon Dick
*Solarstorm/Nicholas Sampone III
*Solarstorm's kids, Laurita and Victoria Sampone
*Solidgoomba
*[[User:MCRG|Spark]]
*Specimen-17
*Stackups Immy
*Steve Kushnir/Soundwave9
*Strangefour
*Sunlink (TFW2005)
*[[User:Swift|Swift]] & Quez
*T16skyhopp (TFW2005)
*Tentakil
*[[User:Lonegamer78|Tiffany T. Wong/Lonegamer]]
*[[User:Tigerpaw28|Tigerpaw28]]
*Tom Rutzler/Fenix Twilight
*[http://callmewingus.deviantart.com Wingus/Ralph Caston II]

*Wolfboy
|}

==External links==
*[http://www.allspark.com The AllSpark]
*[http://www.allspark.com/content/view/6756/20/ "Transformers Fan Community Charity Drive, Organized by Allspark.com and TFwiki.net"]
*[http://www.lifespan.org/hch/ Hasbro Children's Hospital]
*[http://gijoe.wikia.com/wiki/Toy_Fair_1986 G.I. Joe catalog pages at Joepedia]

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Toy Fair]]
[[Category:Fandom]]

Hubcap (G1)

2011-03-05T15:15:32Z

24.7.107.149: /* Notes */

{{factions|autobot|autobotg2}}
{{disambig3|Hubcap}}
:''Hubcap is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''
[[Image:Hubcapg1.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Orange face and experimental dog energies not included.]]
Everybody likes '''Hubcap'''. He's friendly, always has a clever joke or compliment ready, and is generally a nice, fun, affable bot to be around. On the other hand nobody actually ''trusts'' Hubcap. It's not his devotion to the [[Autobot]] cause that's the concern (mostly), but his ulterior motives for his friendship and jokes and the like. He is at his core a con artist, and everyone's a bit on their guard around him. Some think he's this way to cover for deficiencies or to stay in a position well above his actual aptitude level... or maybe he just likes tricking people. He doesn't seem to have made many enemies with his tricks and scams, though; quite the opposite. So perhaps it is all mostly harmless.

No-one doubts that he's got ''very'' good audio receptors, though, capable of picking up incredibly weak signals, which is why he's part of the Autobot communications hub. One can only guess as to what he might ''do'' with all he hears in that position, though.

:''French-Canadian name:'' '''Virevolto'''

==Fiction==
===''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' comic===
[[Image:FSRLTFmanga8_Minibots.jpg|left|200px|thumb|]]
Hubcap was part of a group who arrived to back up [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]], who was defending a [[Murdered puppy|dog]] that had been cruelly experimented on by the [[Decepticon]]s from being hunted and captured by the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]]. He and the other [[Mini Vehicle|Minibots]] [[Minibot combiner|combined]] with Powerglide in their vehicle modes thanks to the [[Decepticon super science|experimental energies]] within the dog, and spinning furiously, smashed through [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]]'s chest and out the other side in a flying drill attack.

No, seriously. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 8|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #8}}
{{-}}

===Dreamwave comics continuity===
[[Image:BlackSunshine Autobot training failures.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Hubcap and his buddies weren't 1984 enough to beat the training drones.]]
Hubcap was among the group of new recruits seen failing to take on the [[auto-combatant]] training drones on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] after [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]'s rule was toppled. {{storylink|Black Sunshine}}

{{-}}
===IDW comics continuity===
[[Image:MegsOrigin4 Hubcap.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Actually doing his job!]]
Hubcap was among the mourners at [[Bumper (G1)|Bumper]] and [[Fastback (G1)|Fastback]]'s funeral at the Security Services HQ in [[Kaon]], appropriately standing next to [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] and [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]]. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 3|Megatron Origin #3}} He later served at an Autobot communications post, trying to radio through to [[Iacon (city-state)|Iacon]] for reinforcements during Megatron's "everything burns" offensive. In the end, the area was so devastated that Hubcap and the Autobots only requested evacuation from the area instead of new troops, leaving Kaon under Decepticon control. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 4|Megatron Origin #4}} After the fall of [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]], Hubcap was on the list of soldiers being trained by the newly risen [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]. {{storylink|Old Ways}}

Later on, he was listed as a potential candidate for a mission that was ultimately given to [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]]. {{storylink|Spotlight: Wheelie}}
{{-}}
===''TransTech''===
[[Image:Axiomnexusgonetoofar.jpg|thumb|right|200|]]
After a routine [[space bridge]] accident, Hubcap and his best mech [[Jackpot]] ended up in the trans-dimensional processing hub of [[TransTech]] Cybertron. They were released into [[Axiom Nexus]] proper after being properly [[identification bolt|cataloged and tagged]] to wait until their exit visas came through. Their tour guide [[Scattorshot (Cybertron)|Scattorshot]], an Autobot from the [[Unicron Trilogy|Aurex]] [[universal stream]] cluster, explained the deal with the TransTechs, but Hubcap didn't get much further than "I hate quantum." The whole TransTech v. Offworlder system put Hubcap on edge, but Jackpot convinced him to live a little and mix it up with the locals.

While looking for someone to float them a line of credit, the two Autobots visited a local bank, only to be quickly escorted to the curb after Hubcap began loudly explaining all the ways the basic contract was designed to screw over the lendee long-term. Mixing their needs for adventure and profit, Hubcap and Jackpot journeyed to the relatively unpoliced Zone 6, and hit the scene at [[The Blue Deployer]]. Hubcap was initially annoyed at the low-level jamming field in the tavern that threw a blanket over his special senses, but soon perked right up when he saw the gambling tables. Hubcap got on a winning streak in his game, squaring off against a local Decepticon named [[Gutcruncher (G1)|Gutcruncher]], and bet it all on what he thought was an unbeatable hand in [[fullstasis]]. Unfortunately for their coin-purse, Jackpot wandered over at that moment and his luck-warping field (combined with the natural observer's bias when dealing with quantum mechanics) sent Gutcruncher's hand into superposition, costing Hubcap everything or, as he put it, "''fifty-slagging-three-slagging-thousand slagging credits!''"

Gutcruncher liked the cut of Hubcap's metal, and offered him a business opportunity to meet for later than night. Hubcap and Jackpot were in agreement to ''Never Trust a Decepticon'' when The Blue Deployer's patron, [[Cryotek (TransTech)|Cryotek]], interjected his opinion. He convinced the duo to take Gutcruncher up on his offer and see what their options were. A few hours later, Hubcap and Jackpot found themselves with mezzanine-level seats to the start of a war—Gutcruncher was rallying all the [[offworlder]] gangs and unions to strike back at the TransTechs and seize their transcendent technology for themselves. And, as the universe attempted to prove any situation could always get worse, a photon charge suddenly went off directly behind the duo, atomizing Gutcruncher's skull and leaving every crooked crankshaft and gear-spitting gang member in Axiom Nexus gunning for their heads.

Hubcap and Jackpot led their pursuers on a merry chase, but could find no help at The Blue Deployer or from their own dopplegangers in the Nexus. Finally, they were caught by agents of the [[Security Administration]] and hauled in to the cops. Hubcap tried to explain to [[Cheetor (TransTech)|Commander Cheetor]] that his [[Tech Spec|tech-spec]]s just didn't allow this level of violence, but Cheetor was already way ahead of them: ''obviously'' they didn't do it, but ''obviously'' the gangs weren't going to stop and listen to a reasoned explanation. He was planning to hold them indefinitely, so Hubcap set off his engines to create a smokescreen long enough for them to escape. Still lacking anything that resembled a cunning plan, Hubcap and Jackpot continued running around the back alleys of Axiom Nexus, occasionally out-maneuvering the [[Malignus (G1)|Malignus]] gang with sonic decoys and lucky electrocutions.
[[Image:BlackShadowHubcap_GoneTooFar.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Can't we talk about this? I'm good at *erkk* talking...]]
This might have gone on for ages if the REAL killer hadn't tracked them down. [[Black Shadow]], one of Cryotek's employees, had been responsible for the execution of Gutcruncher, and was planning to add two more kills to his record. After all, icing the two Autobots not only prevented them from clearing their names and implicating him, it also gave him a shot at a second payday once he collected the bounty placed on their heads by Gutcruncher's second, [[Dirge (Timelines)|Dirge]]. The Autobots let him keep monologuing until they were ready to make a break for it. Unfortunately, Black Shadow was a [[Pretender]] ([[Crossformer]], really), and splitting up did little to improve their odds. Hubcap tried to outrun the flying Decepticon by hitching a ride on a passing jet-mode Transformer. He used a high-pitched whine from his audio systems to pretend he was equipped with an [[Exponential Generator|exponential generator]], forcing his unwilling carrier to participate in the getaway. The next part of his plan was a bit dangerous, deliberately amplifying his voice and identifying himself to draw out the Malignus and Gutcruncher's lackeys. It worked, and just as Black Shadow was going to choke the life out of him and / or hand him over to Dirge and the Malignus for something even worse, Hubcap activated his internal playback and broadcasted Blackie's gloating confession for all to hear. After then tricking Black Shadow into identifying his guns as the murder weapons, the jury was in—the assembled gangs tore the assassin limb from limb.

Although they had successfully cleared their names, Commander Cheetor had deemed the two Autobots "undesirables" and fasttracked their exit visas as soon as possible, sending them on their way back to their own universe. Hubcap and Jackpot ended up crash-materializing atop a Decepticon named [[Killzone]], who was rampaging through a primitive civilization. A short talk with the locals revealed the planet was polluted with a certain kind of [[energon cube|squarish rock that glows and explodes when you hit it]]. As they arranged to contact the Autobot army for pick-up, Hubcap began negotiating with [[Yurgeth]] to remove all those nasty rocks...free of charge, of course. {{storylink|Gone Too Far}}

===Timelines: Wings of Honor continuity===
Hubcap was among the reinforcements sent to Switzerland from [[Autobot City]] via the Geneva [[Space Bridge]] nexus in 2010. He assisted [[Pyro]]'s Autobots against the Decepticon Syndicate, and was exposed to [[forestonite]] gas that gave him unknown new super-powers. {{storylink|Generation 2: Redux}}
{{-}}

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
[[Image:G1-toy Hubcap.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Not yellow Cliffjumper, dammit.]]

*'''Hubcap''' (Mini-Vehicle, 1986)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''C-57'''

: Released in the third year of the [[The Transformers (toyline)|original toy line]] in the US (second year in Japan), Hubcap is a [[retool]]ing of the [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] "penny-racer"-proportioned Porsche 924 Turbo sports car mold, giving him a new robot-mode head and "no spoiler". (His seeming lack of a spoiler is actually scale-accurate to the spoiler found on the real Porsche 924 and 944.) He is sometimes mistaken for the variant yellow Cliffjumper, and even occasionally for [[Bumper (G1)|Bumper]], who has a similar transformation, but an entirely different mold for his car parts and robot head.

: In 1986, he was made available as a mail-away item (incorrectly labeled as Cliffjumper) in the "[[Digital Doom on the Highway to Destruction]]" and "[[The Autobots Are Under Attack!]]" fliers packed with most boxed ''Transformers'' toys. He cost $3.50 and one [[Robot Point]]. The instruction booklet to mail-away Hubcap (sometimes bundled with [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] and [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]]) also incorrectly refers to him as "Cliffjumper".

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1986/Autobot/Hubcap/hubcap.htm More information on Hubcap at TFU.info]''
{{--}}

===Generation 2===
[[Image:G2-toy Hubcap.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Really not Cliffjumper.]]
*'''Hubcap''' (Mini-Vehicle, 1993)

:Hubcap was re-released as part of the first batch of ''[[Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'' toys in the US, this time in shiny chrome red. There's speculation that this was because [[Hasbro]] had intended to release Cliffjumper instead but didn't have the mold, but it seems more likely it was simply to keep him from looking too much like his assortment partner [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys|Bumblebee]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1993/Autobot/HubCap/hubcap.htm More information on Generation 2 Hubcap at TFU.info]''
{{--}}

==Notes==
[[Image:ToyFair1986-TFpage01a.jpg|thumb|250px|Hubcap before discovering spray on tan.]]
* In the pre-[[Toy Fair 1986]] catalog, Hubcap (actually just a redecoed [[Cliffjumper (G1)#toys|Cliffjumper]]) is featured with a white car body, a black chest/torso, and a red face. Fellow 1986 [[Mini Vehicle]] [[Tailgate]] appears in Hubcap's final colors, though. The white "Hubcap" would eventually become the basis for the non-toy character [[Rest-Q]].
*Also in the pre-Toy Fair 1986 catalog, Hubcap's photo shows him mistransformed: his arms are not extended, making him look like his only limbs are his legs.
* Despite his availability with the rest of the '86 Mini-Vehicle assortment, Hubcap was omitted completely from the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|original cartoon]]. No [[character model]] was drawn up for him, and he was similarly absent from the [[Marvel Comics]] ''[[Transformers Universe (Marvel comic)|Transformers Universe]]'' bio series, despite having a full-length bio written by [[Bob Budiansky]]. The reason for this omission is unknown.
* Speaking of that full-length bio, it notes that Hubcap's phosphorescent windscreen acts as a television monitor.<ref>http://boltax.blogspot.com/2010/12/extended-bios.html Hubcap's full bio at "Disciples of Boltax"</ref> This is ''awesome''.
* In [[Fun Publications]]' stories, his personality and mannerisms are based on comedian-magician [[Wikipedia:Penn Jillette|Penn Jillette]].

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Communications specialists]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Generation 2 Autobots]]
[[Category:Mail order items]]
[[Category:Mini Vehicles]]
[[Category:TransTech Autobots]]

Wheelie (ROTF)

2011-03-04T23:38:53Z

24.7.107.149: /* Notes */

{{factions|decepticonfilm|autobotfilm}}
{{disambig3|Wheelie}}
:''Wheelie is an Autobot and a Decepticon from the [[Revenge of the Fallen (franchise)|Revenge of the Fallen]] portion of the [[live-action film series|live-action film]] [[continuity family]]. He is sometimes known as '''Wheels'''.''
[[Image:ROTFWheelie.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Whaddaya lookin' at, [[Bonecrusher (dog)|slobberpuss]]?!]]
'''Wheelie''' is a sneaky little salvage and scrap [[drone]]<ref>Hasbro's online [http://www.hasbro.com/transformers/en_US/discover/TRANSFORMERS-Glossary.cfm Transformers glossary].</ref>, always underfoot when you least expect it. As a reconnaissance specialist, he's equipped to the teeth with mid-range surveillance equipment. But his real asset is stealth, tooling along unseen and unsuspected while he accomplishes his mission. Unfortunately for his mission, he often bites off more than he can chew—and ends up being the one chewed on!

Although he does seem to have a bit of a "mouth" on him, Wheelie isn't really a ''bad'' sort: a loving home and a little strict discipline could whip him into shape. Allow disgruntlement with the Autobots to grow, however, and he may get ''mean''...

{{quote|Easy, [[Mikaela Banes|Warrior Goddess]], I'm just a little salvage scrap drone.|Wheelie, shortly after earning the nickname "Blinky"|''[[Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]''}}

:''German name:'' '''Wheeler''' (movie dub only)
==Fiction==
===Titan Magazines===

[[Image:Titan5_Wheeliparatrooper.jpg|thumb|left|150px|"Are you sure this'll take my ''weeeiiiggggh-'' '''*KRNCH*''']]

During the Decepticon plot to frame [[Mudflap (ROTF)|Mudflap]] and [[Skids (ROTF)|Skids]], Wheelie was parachuted onto their prison convoy by [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]]. Once there, he swiftly freed the twins and offered them a place in the Decepticons before he made good his escape.

Also, he totally [[:Image:Titan5_Wheeliethemurderer.jpg|murdered two people]]. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.6|Outlaw Blues}}

{{Note|The following is in Law and Disorder letters page continuity.}}

Ironhide really, really, ''really'' dislikes Wheelie. Optimus Prime stopped him using the guy as a 'target marker' {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.15|#15's Law and Disorder}} and he's asked the Decepticons to come collect (and torture) him. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.10|#10's Law and Disorder}}

{{-}}

===''Revenge of the Fallen'' film===
:Voice actor: [[Tom Kenny]] (English), [[Naoki Tatsuta]] (Japanese), [[Rainer Fritzsche]] (German), [[Luca Dal Fabbro]] (Italian), [[Sérgio Stern]] (Portuguese)
[[Image:Wheelie ROTF movie trailer.jpg|thumb|right|300px|No disassemble!]]

Disguised as a remote-controlled monster truck toy, Wheelie was ordered by [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]] to steal the [[AllSpark]] fragment that belonged to [[Mikaela Banes]]. Wheelie attempted to unlock the safe in her garage containing the fragment, but the noise he made in trying to avoid the various dangerous objects on the floor alerted her to his presence, so she picked him up with tongs and burnt out his left eye with a blowtorch. Mikaela then demanded to know what he was doing there, and Wheelie explained that he needed to bring the AllSpark shard to the Decepticons, or he'd be terminated, begging mercy of Mikaela, who he dubbed "Warrior Goddess". Despite his protests, Mikaela locked him inside a box, which she took to [[Princeton University]] when [[Sam Witwicky]] told her he had been having visions and breakdowns induced by the fragment. Although [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] later bisected Mikaela's car, Wheelie's box was undamaged and she retrieved and stored it in [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]]'s boot.

Wheelie was let out of the box at [[Seymour Simmons]]'s deli in [[New York City]]. Mikaela held him with a chain, but promised she would not hurt him if he promised to explain the [[Cyberglyphics]] Sam had been hallucinating about. Wheelie identified the symbols as the Language of the [[Dynasty of Primes|Primes]], and said that he couldn't read it. When he noticed the pictures of suspected Transformers, he identified them as the [[Seeker (ROTF)|Seekers]], saying they could read the language and he could tell them where to find them. Wheelie did, and he accompanied Mikaela, Sam, Simmons, [[Leo Spitz]], Bumblebee, [[Skids (ROTF)|Skids]] and [[Mudflap (ROTF)|Mudflap]] to find [[Jetfire (ROTF)|Jetfire]] at the Smithsonian. Wheelie told the humans that Jetfire was a living legend, like "chairman of the board" type, and instructed Sam to point the shard at the Blackbird.

[[Image:ROTF-Wheeliedryhumpsaleg.jpg|left|thumb|300px|This is the culmination of 25 years of Transformers fiction. You've come a long way, baby.]]
The surge of energon sent through Jetfire awoke the ancient Seeker, who was irritable and cantankerous, and Wheelie noted that Jetfire had not aged very well. As the larger Decepticon made his way outside, he inquired on the state of the civil war, and informed the group that he had defected years earlier. Wheelie was shocked by Jetfire's discussion of how he defected from the Decepticons to the Autobots, a thought which had never occurred to him, and decided he too would defect to Warrior Goddess, humping Mikaela's leg in joy. Sam objected, but Mikaela noted Wheelie was faithful, [[Alice|unlike]] her boyfriend. That did not stop Sam from punting Wheelie.

Wheelie was taken by Jetfire's [[space bridge]] to [[Jordan]], and from there he travelled with the humans and Autobots to the [[Pyramid]]s of [[Egypt]]. He was present in when Bumblebee was stopped by the Egyptian checkpoint officers. They arrived in Cairo, where he presumably decided to stay safely while everyone else searched for the [[Tomb of the Primes]]. {{storylink|Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}

{{Note|Wheelie is never seen again after entering the run-down building in Cairo with the human characters.}}

===''Revenge of the Fallen'' novelization===
In Egypt, Wheels stopped a police car by jumping onto its windscreen and smashing it, before Bumblebee and the Twins scared off the officers. After that he ripped off a wiper as a trophy, ran back to Mikaela and buried his face in her cleavage. Later, when the good guys had beaten the decepticons, Wheelie spun around Sam and Mikaela happily in vehicle mode. {{storylink|Revenge of the Fallen (novel)|Revenge of the Fallen}}
{{--}}

===Coloring books===
[[Image:Wheels rotfcoloringbook.jpg|thumb|Oh '''SNAP!''']]
{{-}}
{{charstubfiction}}

===Post-ROTF Titan Magazines===

[[Image:Titan20_WheelieIronhide.jpg|thumb|left|150px|The answer was "on page 4".]]

It had been a year and a half since his defection, and the Autobots ''still'' didn't trust Wheelie (Ironhide in particular making no secret of his contempt) and he knew it. When he volunteered to help hit a Decepticon command hub and was rebuffed, Wheelie tore into the Autobots for how they would never trust him and how they were still waiting for him to backstab them. Bitter and angry, Wheelie went off... to backstab them, warning [[Bludgeon (ROTF)|Bludgeon]] of the Autobot/NEST strike team so they could be ambushed.

But Bludgeon was being backstabbed too, as Wheelie disabled the command hub's security features and summoned in [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] to Earth. Megatron welcomed him back into the fold... {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.20|Divided Loyalties}}

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===''Dark of the Moon'' film===
{{comingsoon}}

==Toys==
===Revenge of the Fallen===
[[Image:Wheelie ROTF deluxe toy.jpg|thumb|right|300px|[http://www13.atpages.jp/pcwr/top15/log213.htm WHEEL•E]]]
*'''Autobot Wheelie''' (Deluxe, 2009)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''RA-09'''

: Wheelie transforms into a pretty generic "remote controlled" 4 wheel drive truck with oversized tires. his chest features a flip-around panel that shifts his allegiance from Decepticon to Autobot (and back). His eyes are on independent rotating swivels, giving him the ability to have somewhat different expressions.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2009/Autobot/Wheelie/wheelie.htm More information on Wheelie at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|Legends}}
[[Image:ROTF-toy Wheelie.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Now a toy that actually matches my size.]]
*'''Autobot Wheelie''' (Legends, 2009)

: Part of the fifth wave of [[Legends Class]] figures, Wheelie transforms into a generic "remote controlled" 4 wheel drive pickup truck with oversized tires.You can see his eyes in vehicle mode, right where his rear window should be, yeah.

{{--}}

==Notes==
[[Image:ROTFWheelieprop.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Sadly, you can't buy the big one in stores.]]
*The physical prop for Wheelie's vehicle mode used for the [[Revenge of the Fallen (film)|movie]]<ref name="udvarhazy">[http://www.flickr.com/photos/curlrup Various ROTF props and toys on display at the Udvar-Hazy Center], July/August 2009</ref> is a modified monster truck version of a Ford F-350 pick-up truck, specifically a customized Tamiya F-350 High Lift RC toy including a grille guard<ref name="highlift">[http://www.tamiyausa.com/product/item.php?product-id=58372 Tamiya USA's page for the F-350 High Lift]</ref>, with the body slightly shortened and mounted on an HPI Wheely King chassis<ref name="wheely">[http://www.hpieurope.com/kit-info.php?partNo=10831&lang=en HPI's page for the Wheely King]</ref>. Other modifications include the use of Integy Alloy TVP chassis plates<ref name="alloy">[http://www.integy.com/st_prod.html?p_prodid=4943&p_catid=114 Team Integrity's page for the Alloy TVP chassis plates.]</ref>, HPI Spike Truck Wheels<ref name="hpispike">[http://www.hpiracing.com/products/en/3082/ HPI page for the Spike Truck Wheels]</ref> and (possibly scratch-built) fender add-ons for the truck body itself. A prop for one of Wheelie's feet, complete with an attached tire, was also made.<ref name="udvarhazy"/>

*Wheelie does not have a fast-talking Brooklyn accent in the [[Revenge of the Fallen (novel)|novelization]] nor in the [[IDW Publishing|IDW]] [[Revenge of the Fallen (comic series)|comic adaptation]]. Instead, he talks more in a primitive [[The Transformers (cartoon)|''Generation 1'' cartoon]]/''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Animated]]'' [[Dinobot (disambiguation)|Dinobot]] fashion.

*Seeing Mikaela for the first time, Wheelie describes her as "hot" but "not too bright." Interesting that a sentient machine would find a human [[Transformer romance|sexually attractive]]. He, in fact, humps her leg later in the movie.

* In their audio commentary on the ''[[Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' DVD and Blu-ray release, screenwriters [[Roberto Orci]] and [[Alex Kurtzman]] refer to Wheelie by his early working name, "Wheels". [[Michael Bay]], meanwhile, calls him by his toys' name.

*Nelson confirmed that Wheelie will be back in ''[[Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon]]''. [[Titan Books|Titan Magazines]] and [[Hasbro UK]] may not have known this, since Wheelie defected back to the Decepticons - in a way that left an Autobot dead - in one issue!

*In the official novelization of the film, he is refferred to as Wheels.

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Dark of the Moon Autobots]]
[[Category:Drones]]
[[Category:Revenge of the Fallen Autobots]]
[[Category:Revenge of the Fallen Decepticons]]
[[Category:Spies]]
[[Category:Turncoats]]