Talk:Mini-spy

2011-09-23T06:11:45Z

70.17.204.147: /* 4WD variants? */ new section

:DW's MtMtE lists them as 'Mini-Spies' w/ a hyphen (capitalization mine, I dunno.) -[[User:Derik|Derik]] 20:23, 24 May 2007 (UTC)

Also- were there not '''two'' kinds of sportscars for 4 types of Mini-Spies? -[[User:Derik|Derik]] 20:27, 24 May 2007 (UTC)

== Mazda type? ==

Was the "Mazda type" minispy ever explicitly named as such or is it just a fan-coined term? Because the original Takara toy was called FX-1 Type, and its altmode is actually an early 80s Toyota concept car, the [http://www.carstyling.ru/car.aspx?car_id=2194 FX-1], not a Mazda car. --[[User:Detour|Detour]] 06:14, 29 March 2008 (UTC)

== First to Have Rubsigns? ==
A question has come up on ATT asking if the Minicars packed with the Mini-Spies ''also'' had rubsigns. I'm reasonably confident that this was not the case (i.e., they still have traditional stickers at this point), but would appreciate evidence one way or the other.--[[User:G.B. Blackrock|G.B. Blackrock]] 00:31, 17 May 2009 (EDT)
:[http://www.geocities.com/soxerboxx4//janvariants2/redbumblebee.jpg This image] would seem to indicate that I was wrong. Do we know if there was more than one batch? Seems unlikely to me....--[[User:G.B. Blackrock|G.B. Blackrock]] 00:40, 17 May 2009 (EDT)
::That link is dead, but in [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5GGZ3we68 this commercial], Cliffjumper also has a rubsign. Should we remove the "first to have rubsigns" note? - [[User:Starfield|Starfield]] 11:48, 27 October 2010 (EDT)
:::They were the first to have them from their initial release, not added on to a rerelease. --[[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] 12:11, 27 October 2010 (EDT)
I just want to say I love the use of the rubsign as a faction symbol for this page. --[[User:Andrusi|Andrusi not logged in]], 11:21, 15 January 2010 (EST)

== 4WD variants? ==

see http://www.tfu.info/1985/Autobot/4wdType/4wdtype.htm
and http://www.tfu.info/1985/Decepticon/4wdType/4wdtype.htm

The spare tire makes the toy asymmetrical, and it looks like the blue ones were mirror images of the yellow and white ones? or did any of the blue ones have the spare tire on the right knee like the yellow and white, or any of the yellow/white ones have the spare tire on the left knee? or did TFU.info invert its photos for some reason? or was the spare tire a removable piece?

Mini-spy

2011-09-23T06:11:34Z

70.17.204.147: /* External links */

{{factions|{{factions/icons|custom=Rubsign inactive.png|cLink=Rubsign}}}}
{{disambig2|the good and evil spies from Generation 1|the evil informant from "Shattered Glass"|Mini Spy (SG)}}
:''Mini-spies are multi-factional [[Transformer]]s from the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''
[[Image:Minispy buggy.jpg|right|180px|thumb|"RUB MY BONNET!"]]
'''Mini-spies''' are very small Transformers, used by either faction as, well, spies. They are especially suited to this because their faction symbols are not visible without vigorous rubbing.

{{TOCclear}}
==Fiction==
===Dreamwave comics continuity===
[[Image:NightoftheCombaticons_frictionrifle.JPG|right|200px|thumb|Use heat to reveal faction symbol.]]
When planetary society on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] descended into all-consuming warfare, there were a good number of smaller Transformers who were, by their size and nature, simply not cut out to be warriors. Instead, these little robots were swept up into medical, administrative and especially espionage functions. Their proliferation in that role in particular led this smaller, simpler class of Transformer to be referred to mockingly as "Mini-spies" by their larger counterparts. Mini-spies are naturally unassuming and clever at disguising their factions, making them perfect spies for either side.

Their more sinister uses aside, it's the Mini-spies who keep Cybertron and what's left of its society running while the bigger Transformers run around blowing scrap up. {{storylink|More Than Meets The Eye (G1)|More Than Meets The Eye #4}}

[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] and [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] received care from three Mini-spies when they relaxed in their baths. {{storylink|Brothers' Burden}} The Mini-spies were with them too when they tried to close the entrance to [[Shockwave's Tower]] to keep [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] out. It failed; Optimus Prime may or may not have killed them. {{storylink|Countdown to Extinction (issue)|Countdown to Extinction}}

When the [[Battlecharger]]s infiltrated [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]'s secret laboratory, [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]] killed a Mini-spy with his [[friction rifle]]. {{storylink|Night of the Combaticons}}
{{-}}
==Commercial appearances==
[[Image:Mini-Spies_Commercial_Symbol_Reveal.jpg|left|200px|thumb|"Congratulations, Cliffjumper. It's a Decepticon!"]]
A Mini-spy once blithely drove into [[Autobot Headquarters]] and began messing around with [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]]. [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] and [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] rubbed the little robot's rubsign, revealing that he was a Decepticon. The spy fled, with the two Autobots in pursuit. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1|Mini-spies commercial}}
{{-}}

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
[[Image:Mini-spy toys.jpg|right|200px|thumb|The Blue 'Bot Group]]
* '''Mini-spy''' (1985)

: Mini-spy toys came packaged with [[Mini Vehicle]]s in early 1985. Mini-spies were the first toys to debut with [[rubsign]]s, and the only way to determine whether a given Mini-spy toy was an [[Autobot]] or [[Decepticon]] was by rubbing the rubsign. They also use a [[pull-back motor]] to zip along smooth surfaces. They're just packed with gimmicky goodness.

:There were four different Mini-spy molds, known by the unofficial names '''4WD Type''' (or '''Jeep Type'''), '''Buggy Type''', '''FX-1 Type''' (based on the [http://members.iinet.com.au/~stepho/concept.htm#fx-1 Toyota FX-1 concept car]), and '''Porsche Type''' (based on the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porsche_928 Porsche 928]). Each was available in blue, white or yellow plastic, and as either an Autobot or Decepticon, making for a total of 24 different combinations. Not only that, but each mold has a variation in its pull-back assembly: the seemingly more common version has an angled motor casing with 8-spoke rear hubcaps, while the other has a rounded casing with a much more complicated hubcap pattern. That's a whopping 48 Mini-spy variations!

:The [[pre-Transformer|pre-''Transformers'']] versions of the Mini-spies were part of a [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] toyline called ''Mecha Warriors'', and came in blue and red variations.<ref>[http://www.reocities.com/futuristgroup/vminibots.html Super Mega Minibot Rampage!]</ref>

{{-}}

==Notes==
* The FX-1 type is commonly called ''Mazda Type'' by fans (as seen in the picture above), in spite of being based on an [http://www.carstyling.ru/car.aspx?car_id=2194 old Toyota concept car,] right down to the FX-1 marking on the front grille. This is due in equal parts to the fact that the FX-1 is an ''incredibly'' obscure car, and that the FX-1 marking is so small, it's very easy to misinterpret it as saying "RX-7" instead.

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
* [http://www.tfu.info/subgroup/minispies.htm Mini-spies at TFU.info]
* [http://www.x-entertainment.com/articles/0620/ Foul mouthed but admirably thorough overview of the Mini-spy concept @ X-entertainment.com]

[[Category:Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Decepticons]]
[[Category:Spies]]

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