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Clone pilot

2009-10-01T03:28:48Z

58.178.6.118:

{{factions|galacticrepublic}}
:''Clone Pilots are mass-produced [[Galactic Republic|Republic]] soldiers in [[Star Wars]].''

The '''Clone Pilots''' are (part of) the Republic's most elite military force, accompanied by their grounded cousins, the [[Clone Trooper]]s. They are key combatants in a large-scale military conflict known as the [[Clone Wars]]. War being a great motivation for technological innovation by [[Human|humans]], "morphing" is developed during the Clone Wars. <ref>Star Wars Transformers Clone Pilot ARC-170 Starfighter package</ref> This is the local term for the heretofore-unknown technology of [[transformation]], which at this time is known to be used by the Army of the Republic for four types of machines: their ARC-170 starfighters, airborne Gunships, Turbo Tanks and V-19 Torrent Starfighters.

They also pilot non-transforming vehicles. It is unknown if these are exclusively older weapons systems or if single-mode vehicles continue to have an irreplaceable role in combat.

Who are they cloned from? For some reason, we're not being told.

==Fiction==
===''Star Wars Transformers''===
Their Republic Gunships are in use sweeping across [[Geonosis]], blasting the Separatist forces with their armament of missiles. A Clone Pilot can land in the middle of a fierce battle between droids and clone troopers and convert the gunship into a heavily armed combat mecha that goes straight for [[Battle Droid|enemy droids]]. <ref>Star Wars Transformers Republic Gunship package</ref>

==Toys==
===Attacktix===
[[Image:Clonepilot1.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Mechs! We need mechs!]]
*'''Intergalactic Showdown''' (2006)
**''Attacktix ID number'':

: Faction:
: Class:
: Special:
: Point Cost:
: Base Speed:
: Attack Type:

{{charstubtoys}}

===Star Wars Transformers===
[[Image:SWTF-toy_CloneARC.JPG|right|thumb|250px]]
*'''Clone Pilot/ARC-170 Starfighter''' (2006)
**''Accessories:'' 2 missile launchers, 2 missiles, Clone Pilot figure

:The first transforming Clone Pilot toy turns from a [[ARC-170 Starfighter]] into a battle robot with wings sticking off its body here and there. The fighter has two missile launchers hanging off its wings that become handheld weapons in robot mode. The toy comes with a tiny pilot mini-figure that can be seated inside the craft in both modes.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2006/SWTF/ClonePilot/clonepilot.htm More information on Clone Pilot/ARC-170 Starfighter at TFU.info]''

{{-}}
[[Image:SWTF-toy_CloneARCver2.JPG|right|thumb|250px|The Seekers wish they could get someone this badass.]]
*'''Clone Pilot/ARC-170 Starfighter''' (2006)
**''Accessories:'' 2 missile launchers, 2 missiles, Clone Pilot figure

:A [[retool]] and [[redeco]] of the previous toy, with a new head mold and a new deco, replacing the maroon stripes with dark blue "tigershark" detailing and a grinning red mouth. The Clone Pilot accessory is also provided with new, matching colors.

{{-}}
[[Image:SWTF-toy_CloneGunship.JPG|right|thumb|250px|Hovering like some vast, predatory bird.]]
*'''Clone Pilot/Republic Gunship''' (2007)
**''Accessories:'' 2 missile launchers, 2 missiles, Clone Pilot figure

: The second ''Star Wars Transformers'' Clone Pilot toy transforms from a winged robot into a [[Republic Gunship]]. Like the ARC-170, it's armed with twin missile launchers in both modes and comes with a little pilot. The toy's head is sculpted from a shiny white plastic that doesn't mesh particularly well with the beige-ish color of the altmode.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2007/SWTF/ClonePilot/clonepilot.htm More information on Clone Pilot/Republic Gunship at TFU.info]''

{{-}}
[[Image:SWTF-toy_CloneGunshipver2.JPG|right|thumb|250px]]
*'''Clone Pilot/Republic Gunship''' (2007)
**''Accessories:'' 2 missile launchers, 2 missiles, Clone Pilot figure

:Like the ARC-170, the Republic Gunship toy was also given a new head and redecoed in blue, white and red.

{{-}}
===Crossovers===
*'''ARC-170 Starfighter to Clone Pilot''' (2008)
**''Accessories:'' 2 missile launchers, 2 missiles

:The ''Star Wars Transformers'' "tigershark" version of the ARC-170 toy was repackaged for the ''[[Crossovers]]'' toyline. The only difference between the two releases is that this version lacks a Clone Pilot mini-figure.

{{-}}
*'''Republic Gunship to Clone Pilot''' (2008)
**''Accessories:'' 2 missile launchers, 2 missiles

:Just like the ARC-170, the "tigershark" Republic Gunship toy was re-released during ''Crossovers'' without its pilot figure.

{{-}}
[[Image:Crossovers-toy_CloneV19.JPG|right|thumb|250px]]
*'''Clone Pilot to V-19 Torrent Starfighter''' (2009)
**''Accessories:'' 2 missile launchers, 2 missiles

: The first new Clone Pilot mold under the ''Crossovers'' banner transforms into a three-winged [[V-19 Torrent Starfighter]]. This incarnation of the Clone Pilot is also armed with two missile launchers/handguns. While it doesn't come with a pilot figure, the cockpit still opens up to seat one.

{{-}}
*'''Clone Pilot to V-wing Starfighter''' (2009)
**''Accessories:'' 2 missiles

: A black, white and grey [[redeco]] of the [[Shock Trooper]] toy, transforming into a [[V-wing Starfighter]]. It has an [[Empire|Imperial]] emblem instead of a Republic one!

{{comingsoontoy}}

==Notes==
* Within the ''Star Wars'' universe, the blue and white "space whale" deco was originally only seen on Republic Gunships. The ''Star Wars Transformers'' line marked the first time it was applied to ARC-170 fighters and Clone Trooper armor. It was, of course, only a matter of time before versions of each came out for the normal [[Hasbro]] ''Star Wars'' toy line. ''Transformers'' has added to the main ''Star Wars'' [[canon]]. Awesome.
* Yes. This army builder has the most toys.

==Footnotes==
<references />

[[Category:Attacktix]]
[[Category:Clones]]
[[Category:Crossovers characters]]
[[Category:Galactic Republic]]
[[Category:Star Wars characters]]

Changing Gears

2009-09-22T09:31:17Z

58.178.6.118:

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=18
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=12
|image=ChangingGears Happy Gears.jpg
|caption=OMG! You guys! This is so awesome! Yay!
|title="Changing Gears"
|production code=#700-17
|airdate=[[September 23]], 1985
|written by=[[Larry Parr]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''In a plot to drain the Sun for power, the Decepticons capture and alter the grumpy Autobot Gears.'''

:''Japanese title:'' ソーラーエネルギーを盗め! (''Solar Energy o Nusume!'', "Steal the Solar Energy!")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Changegearsskywarp.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Photograph taken immediately post-stair-pushing.]]
The [[Decepticon]]s attack [[human]]s working in a gold mine and take them prisoner. Just as [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] is about to blast a human calling for help on a radio, [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] backhands him, saying that he wants the human to bring the [[Autobot]]s.

At the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] orders the Autobots to assemble at once, which they do with lots of hustle. The only exception is [[Gears (G1)|Gears]] who complains the whole way. Prime orders his troops to head out to the mine to engage their enemies.

When they arrive a battle ensues, but Megatron lets the miners get in the way. Unwilling to endanger humans, Prime orders the Autobots to hold their fire. Megatron uses this chance to get the drop on the Autobots, then takes Gears captive for purposes unknown and retreats.

[[Image:Changegearsinahole.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Team Rocket traps Gears in a hole in order to steal his Pikachu.]]

In [[Africa]], Megatron has Starscream zap Gears with the [[null-ray]], then takes out a special circuit from Gears's body. The Decepticon leader explains that this circuit is the final component he needs for his energy absorbing [[Solar Needle]], a solar collector which his Decepticons have constructed to harness energy from the heart of the [[Sun]]. With the circuit in place in the needle, the device activates and causes world-wide earthquakes. Unbeknownst to Megatron, the Solar Needle is flawed, causing a dangerous instability within the core of the Sun.

[[Image:Changegearstakeitout.jpg|left|200px|thumb|KALI MA! KALI MA!]]

The effect on Gears is profound as well. The removal of this component from Gears corrupts his personality, turning him from a surly grump into a happy-go-lucky, ultra-polite guy who'll do absolutely anything for anyone. This allows Megatron to manipulate and control him. Mentally, Gears still knows the Decepticons are evil and doesn't want to help them, but he's been rendered so "nice" that he can't refuse any request.

The Autobots blast through the jungle and start firing at the Solar Needle, but it;s protected by a [[force field]]. Prime concocts a dangerous plan to circumvent the field by jumping through the hole at the top where the Sun's energy is coming through. [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] and [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] say it’s too dangerous, but [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] drives past them, makes the attempt and shatters the force field.

[[Image:Changegearsmegatrontriumphs.jpg|right|200px|thumb|"Now i claim your sun!"]]

The 'Bots battle. Megatron gets the drop on Prime and orders the Autobots to surrender or he'll shoot their leader. Prime orders them to fight on, but the Autobots capitulate. Prime asks for one last request, which Megatron allows. The chief Autobot turns and asks Gears to do him a favor now. Gears obliges and shoots a component of the needle. Inspired by his change of heart, the Autobots fight back against the 'Cons, who retreat.

[[Image:Changinggearsautogroup.jpg|left|200px|thumb|"You heard Jeff Probst, now get off the island."]]

Prime orders Wheeljack and Ratchet to deactivate the device, but they argue over the correct solution. Out of time and with the Sun about to explode, Optimus just grabs at a wire inside the device and pulls. The needle shuts down and the Sun returns to normal.

Prime removes Gears's circuit card from the needle and hands it back to him, but [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] interrupts, saying that the rest of the Autobots like the new Gears over the old. Gears isn’t too happy about that, so Optimus returns the card and the surly, cranky hypochondriac is back. The Autobots roll on back to headquarters, leaving Gears to complain to himself.
{{-}}

==Featured Characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (9)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (10)
*[[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (11)
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (12)
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (13)
*[[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (14)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (15)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (16)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (17)
*[[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (18)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (19)
*[[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (20)
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (21)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (22)
*[[Bluestreak]] (23)

|c2=
*[[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (2)
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (3)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (4)
*[[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (5)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (6)
*[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (7)
*[[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (8)

|c3=
*Miners (1)
}}

==Quotes==
[[Image:ChangingGears Gears Bee acrobatics.jpg|thumb|250px|right|This act is illegal in 23 states and the District of Columbia.]]

'''Ironhide:''' "Action first, Gears; maintenance later." 
'''Gears:''' "Easy for you to say. Your pulleys don't squeak!" 
'''Bumblebee:''' "Your ''squeaking''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s not the problem—[''does a forward flip over Gears'']—it's your ''squawking!''"

"Go ding your diodes and get defunct Megatron. I’m not helping you do zilch."
:—Cranky, gutsy '''Gears'''

"Megatron is behind this. I’d bet my titanium torsion bars on it."
:—That's probably a safe bet, '''Optimus Prime'''

"I should be very angry at you Megatron. You ''are'' an evil son of a [[retrorat]], but for some reason, I just can't get too upset."
:—Cheery, nice '''Gears'''

"I should have destroyed you when I had the chance, but Megatron can't save you now!" 
"Heheheh, I really hate to disappoint you Starscream, but you better look behind you!" 
"Do you seriously expect me to fall for such a stupid trick?"
:—'''Starscream''' refuses to be distracted by '''Gears''' warning of an impending charge from Bumblebee.

"How can I help you, Megatron, heh heh, you rotten hunk of scrap?"
:—'''Gears''', piling on the flattery.

"What did you do to Gears, you monster? You turned him...''nice!''"
:—'''Ironhide''', at Gear's sudden change in personality.

"All right, now let's blast that Solar Needle and roll out." 
"I suppose you want me to do that." 
"Be my guest."
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Gears''', grumpy once again.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
* Skywarp and Thundercracker are both missing their wing emblems as they dive to fire on the miners.
* The gold car ''explodes'' when it gets shot by a laser beam. Maybe what the miners really struck was TNT.
* Ravage is ''tiny'' when he tackles the trapped miner, not more than 4 feet long.
* Megatron's Decepticon symbol is a medium gray instead of purple when he bashes Starscream aside.
* Sunstreaker and Trailbreaker run past Gears twice in successive shots.
* The size and shape of the corridor that Gears is walking through changes radically between shots; it's much smaller when Ironhide chastises him. In the same shot, the corridor floor is sliding underneath both Autobots much faster than the pace of their walk.
* The shot of Prime transforming to roll out for the gold mine is recycled as the Autobots leave for Africa. This is not an error in and of itself; however, Cliffjumper being colored yellow is!
* Lots of Autobots come and go throughout the episode. The core Autobot cast is pretty consistent (Prime, Hound, Cliffjumper, Gears, Ratchet, Jazz, Wheeljack, Sunstreaker, Bumblebee, Ironhide and Trailbreaker; this is, for example, the group that gathers to look down on the Solar Needle, and again after the Decepticons retreat.) But several Autobots just show up for one or two shots, infrequently enough that it's not clear if they should have been shown or not:
** Mirage is seen driving away from Autobot Headquarters (twice due to recycled animation), dodging rocks the second time, and again jumping over the crevasse. He's never seen in robot mode.
** Bluestreak shows up alongside Brawn for a single shot at the mine. Later, Bluestreak is seen at Autobot HQ dodging boulders.
** Huffer's distinctive profile can be seen at the end of the Autobot convoy as they roll out first time.
** Sideswipe can be seen in the Autobot convoy just before they start blasting the jungle, and very briefly as the Autobots charge toward the Solar Needle.
* Ratchet's vehicle mode is missing some red detailing as he rolls out behind Hound.
* Despite Prime's warnings about not endangering the humans, the three miners are almost completely out of the Autobots' line of fire. Additionally, the Autobots make no attempt to move ''themselves'' out of the way.
* Megatron's transformation sequence is about half over by the time the corresponding transformation noise begins.
* Megatron reaches behind him to pull out his secondary gun. Given the angle of the shot, he pretty much has to have pulled it out of his...ahem...exhaust port.
* The running light housings on Prime's chest are white instead of red as he order the Autobots to "look sharp". The same error repeats later, as he reacts to the falling boulders outside Autobot Headquarters.

* The animation doesn't really do such a great job of demonstrating that ''all'' the Autobots have been taken out of the fight, but that's about the only conclusion, since ''nobody'' makes any effort to combat the Decepticons after the "energized boulders" incident.
* The electrified cage holding Gears just vanishes after Starscream gives him the [[null ray]] treatment.
* After Bumblebee says "Solar flares!", a quick shot shows the sun with the Solar Needle beam streaking into it, along with a locust-like energy sound effect. If the noise is audible when we're looking at the beam, shouldn't it be heard pretty much all the time everywhere on Earth?
* In the frequently-recycled shot of the destabilizing sun, some of the solar flares are flying past the camera. Given that they have blue sky behind them, that would mean Earth just got vaporized! In the same shot, the Solar Needle's energy beam is nowhere in sight.
* The shot of Starscream, Megatron, and Gears gaping at the newly-activated Solar Needle is recycled after the first commercial break. The next shot has them all in different places and poses.
* Jazz and Sunstreaker's weapons can ''vaporize'' trees? Whoa.
* The gray portion of Gears's chest is abnormally large as he says "I love being a slave!"
* The chunk of earth that breaks loose, endangering Bumblebee, is nowhere in sight in the previous shot.
* Wheeljack gets the "wrong" transformation noise as he returns to car mode after saving Bumblebee from falling into the crevasse.
* Cliffjumper has the wrong voice as he says "Let's stop gabbin' and start blasting!" It sounds like Don Messick.
* Multiple Autobots fire on the Solar Needle, but only one laser beam is shown hitting or getting reflected.
* Ironhide's mouth isn't moving as he declares that "It's a reflective energy shield!" Prime is waving his arm like he should be the one speaking.
* Cliffjumper is shown flying toward the center of the Solar Needle, where he's supposed to be going, but the next shot has him hitting one of the peripheral energy beams instead. (As Cliffjumper flies off after the impact, Megatron appears to be standing there waiting to catch him!)
* The Autobots leap downwards into the Solar Needle's periphery, but it's not really clear where they're leaping ''from''.
* When Starscream says the line "Oh, no, you don't. Your circuit stays right here," the voice saying the line is Skywarp's. The subsequent lines make it clear that this was supposed to be Starscream.
* Starscream's gun barrel has no interior as he aims it at Gears; it's just solid, uniform gray.
* As Soundwave ejects Ravage to attack Bumblebee, Laserbeak's cassette mode is shown (due to the scene being recycled from the previous shot of Laserbeak ejecting.)
* Starscream's shoulder intakes are light gray instead of red when Megatron says that time is running out for Prime.
* Starscream's laser beams aren't quite properly animated to glow as he shoots at Gears repeatedly.
* Megatron's elbow is gray instead of red as he threatens to destroy the universe.
* The boulder that smashes the jungle floor after Megatron retreats appears to have just fallen out of the sky; there's no hill or cliff visible at all.
* Wheeljack's "ears" aren't flashing as he celebrates with the other Autobots, nor as he laughs with them at Gears's threat.
* Trailbreaker has a light gray fist as he and the others listen to Gears complain. It should either be a light gray gun-arm or a black fist.

===Continuity errors===
[[Image:ChangingGears Prime Sun being zapped.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Prime's standing outside Autobot HQ, and the bottom of that beam of energy is in Africa. Totally buying that.]]

* Would the miners really find an entire truckload of gold on their ''first strike''?
* "Energized those boulders"? Uh...really?
* Gears's personality is "modulated" by a circuit in his ''chest''?
* How can the sun be up in North America and Africa at the same time?
* The Autobots somehow '''drove''' from their base in the Western United States to the '''"geographic center of Africa"''' in '''"slightly less than 2 Earth hours"'''. After traveling through at least eight time zones, it appears to be roughly the '''same time of day''' as when the Autobots left their base.

[[Image:ChangingGears jungleclearing.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Seriously. No roots, stumps, stray rocks, or ''anything''.]]

* "Jazz! Sunstreaker! Laser us a road!" Prime apparently changes his mind on the flagrant destruction of flora some time between this episode and "[[Microbots]]", where he prevents Brawn from blasting a path through a South American jungle.
* Despite Ratchet's assertion that "no one could survive up there", Cliffjumper disrupts the energy shield with little more than a slight hangover to show for it.
* Even with Prime disarmed, is Megatron pointing his cannon at Prime such a huge threat that the Autobots really have to surrender? He points that thing at Prime all the time!
* Gears produces two completely different guns from his arm: the one he pulls out when Prime is about to hit the pylon is round, while the one he pulls out to shoot the Solar Needle is square and has fins. In both cases, his fist slides out of his wrist ''holding the gun''. How does that even work??
* Does Gears ''really'' tip the odds that heavily in the Autobots' favor?
* What are these "battle stations" Megatron keeps ordering everyone to man? None of his troops do anything of the sort, probably because there are no "stations" anywhere in sight.
* Throughout the latter half of the episode, Optimus Prime and Megatron argue that the Solar Needle may/may not destroy the universe. While the Sun's exploding would obliterate our solar system, it couldn't destroy the universe in its entirety, unless the Solar Needle is some of the most advanced technology ever wielded by the Decepticons.

===Transformers references===
* Gears's parts list: unlubed cable relays, squeaky pulleys (twice!), a cramped chronometer, a vibrating sequential camshaft, a trembling gyroscope, and besides that—
* Yes, yes, we know, [[Solar Needle]], [[Solar harvester]] in ''[[Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'', blah blah, we ''promise'' you that ''IT IS NOT AN ACTUAL REFERENCE.''

===Trivia===
* This episode features a ''ton'' of recycled shots: the Autobots leaving HQ; Megatron aiming his cannon at Prime (complete with a pan over to the Autobots); the unstable sun; Megatron & co. gaping at the Solar Needle. Soundwave ejecting Laserbeak/Ravage is used at least four times, and the shot is copied almost line-for-line from "[[Transport to Oblivion]]". And of course, there's the ol' stock Optimus Prime transformation sequence.
[[Image:G1 ChangingGears Ratchet karate.jpg|thumb|right|250px|"Notice that the stiffest tree is most easily cracked, while the bamboo or willow survives by bending with the wind."]]
* Gears's special circuit board looks like an audio cassette tape. Whether it can [[Mini-Cassette|transform]] is not yet known.
* Cameo locations: Pisa, [[Italy]]; Paris, [[France]]; [[New York City]] (or rather, Liberty Island, home of the [[Statue of Liberty]]).
* Gears uses the same hook-shaped welding tip that Brawn used to free Huffer, way back in "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 2]]".
* When Megatron throws Optimus into the energy beam, Prime's [[ion blaster]] disintegrates (in a blink-and-you-miss-it bit of animation) and he remains weaponless for the rest of the episode. Wow, chalk one up for continuity.
* In another nice bit of continuity, the Solar Needle sphere that nearly crushes Wheeljack is still laying there broken when the Autobots prepare to blow up the Needle.
* Ratchet has the moves in this episode. First he Bruce-Lee-kicks Thundercracker. Then he kicks a boulder to knock a falling pylon in order to make it miss Wheeljack. While awesome, the latter move totally breaks the laws of physics.
* Man, the Decepticons really get their tails whipped in this episode, huh? First the Autobots capture nearly all of them, then they get beaten so bad that they just up and flee without even getting the order from Megatron.
* Trailbreaker ''is'' joking about not giving Gears back his circuit card, right? There's definitely not enough time for the Autobots actually to take that vote!
* At the end of the episode, Optimus Prime's trailer just randomly drives itself out of the jungle and connects to his truck mode. Seriously, where does that thing go when he's in robot mode?

==External links==
* [http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/changing_gears.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]