Rubsign

2008-03-21T22:53:04Z

70.55.141.81: /* Operating principles */

[[Image:Rubsign.gif|thumb|right|300px|Wax on, wax off.]]

A '''rubsign''' was a small heat-sensitive sticker that came pre-applied to [[Generation 1]] toys beginning in the line's second year, 1985. They would reveal an [[Autobot]] or [[Decepticon]] [[faction symbols|faction symbol]] upon being rubbed. The [[Mini Spies]] were the first toys to feature rubsigns. The purpose of the rubsign addition was to help consumers distinguish genuine [[toy|Transformers toys]] from the many [[knockoff]]s their success inspired (off-brand versions of the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]], [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]], and his [[Mini Cassette|cassettes]] were particularly common in 84/85), as well as the [[Tonka Go-Bots]] and other competitors. A variation on the rubsigns were also used in the spin-off [[Hasbro]]/[[Takara]] toy line ''[[Battle Beasts]]''.

By 1988, rubsigns were dropped from the line (presumably as most of the competition had been long-buried), even though several toys from that year still had molded spots for them. They would not appear again on ''Transformers'' toys until the second year of ''[[Beast Wars]]'' product in 1997, called "hidden [[energon chip]]s". They continued through the next year's [[Fuzors]] and [[Transmetal]]s, but were replaced by the time of the Transmetal 2s (and in the ''[[Beast Wars Neo]]'' new-mold toys) with "[[spark crystal]]s".

Rubsigns recently were re-re-introduced to the ''Transformers'' line in 2006 with the [[Classics (2006)|Classics]] series. They are also on most of the Generation 1 [[reissue]]s from both [[Takara]] and [[Hasbro]].

===Operating principles===
The working part of a rubsign is a layer of Mylar plastic which contains thermochromic liquid crystals. At different temperatures, the liquid crystals' molecular structure changes, reflecting different wavelengths of light, and making a visible [[faction symbols|faction symbol]] appear. Mood rings work by the same principle.

===In fiction===
Generally being a somewhat goofy marketing [[gimmick]], rubsigns were generally ignored in Transformers fictional media... until fairly recently. [[Dreamwave Productions]], famous for their re-launching Transformers comics and generally toy-accurate artwork, featured a few posters of Transformers featuring a rubsign, and in their ''[[War and Peace]]'' series, it even appeared as a way of disguising [[Autobot]] [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]]'s faction symbol (which had been outlawed). {{storylink|War and Peace}} The current holders of the Transformers comic franchise, [[IDW Publishing]], picked up on the idea and featured [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] using a rubsign to gain access to the illegal gladiatorial games. {{storylink|Megatron Origin}}

In addition, the [[Decepticon]] [[Lockdown]] appears to sport a rubsign on the new ''[[Transformers Animated]]'' cartoon. {{storylink|The Thrill of the Hunt}}

==External link==
* [http://www.ewh.ieee.org/soc/cpmt/presentations/cpmt0201b.pdf Paper on the uses of liquid crystal thermography, apparently but not actually written by G1 Perceptor.]

[[Category: Classics]]
[[Category: Generation 1]]
[[Category: Toys]]
[[Category:Gimmicks]]<div id="wikia-credits"><br /><br /><small>From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</small></div>

Rubsign

2008-03-21T22:52:37Z

70.55.141.81: /* Operating principles */

[[Image:Rubsign.gif|thumb|right|300px|Wax on, wax off.]]

A '''rubsign''' was a small heat-sensitive sticker that came pre-applied to [[Generation 1]] toys beginning in the line's second year, 1985. They would reveal an [[Autobot]] or [[Decepticon]] [[faction symbols|faction symbol]] upon being rubbed. The [[Mini Spies]] were the first toys to feature rubsigns. The purpose of the rubsign addition was to help consumers distinguish genuine [[toy|Transformers toys]] from the many [[knockoff]]s their success inspired (off-brand versions of the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]], [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]], and his [[Mini Cassette|cassettes]] were particularly common in 84/85), as well as the [[Tonka Go-Bots]] and other competitors. A variation on the rubsigns were also used in the spin-off [[Hasbro]]/[[Takara]] toy line ''[[Battle Beasts]]''.

By 1988, rubsigns were dropped from the line (presumably as most of the competition had been long-buried), even though several toys from that year still had molded spots for them. They would not appear again on ''Transformers'' toys until the second year of ''[[Beast Wars]]'' product in 1997, called "hidden [[energon chip]]s". They continued through the next year's [[Fuzors]] and [[Transmetal]]s, but were replaced by the time of the Transmetal 2s (and in the ''[[Beast Wars Neo]]'' new-mold toys) with "[[spark crystal]]s".

Rubsigns recently were re-re-introduced to the ''Transformers'' line in 2006 with the [[Classics (2006)|Classics]] series. They are also on most of the Generation 1 [[reissue]]s from both [[Takara]] and [[Hasbro]].

===Operating principles===
The working part of a rubsign is a layer of Mylar plastic which contains thermochromic liquid crystals. At different temperatures, the liquid crystals' molecular structure changes, reflecting different wavelengths of light, and making a visible [[faction symbols|faction symbol]] appear. Mood rings work by the same principle, but have more bogus magical properties.

===In fiction===
Generally being a somewhat goofy marketing [[gimmick]], rubsigns were generally ignored in Transformers fictional media... until fairly recently. [[Dreamwave Productions]], famous for their re-launching Transformers comics and generally toy-accurate artwork, featured a few posters of Transformers featuring a rubsign, and in their ''[[War and Peace]]'' series, it even appeared as a way of disguising [[Autobot]] [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]]'s faction symbol (which had been outlawed). {{storylink|War and Peace}} The current holders of the Transformers comic franchise, [[IDW Publishing]], picked up on the idea and featured [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] using a rubsign to gain access to the illegal gladiatorial games. {{storylink|Megatron Origin}}

In addition, the [[Decepticon]] [[Lockdown]] appears to sport a rubsign on the new ''[[Transformers Animated]]'' cartoon. {{storylink|The Thrill of the Hunt}}

==External link==
* [http://www.ewh.ieee.org/soc/cpmt/presentations/cpmt0201b.pdf Paper on the uses of liquid crystal thermography, apparently but not actually written by G1 Perceptor.]

[[Category: Classics]]
[[Category: Generation 1]]
[[Category: Toys]]
[[Category:Gimmicks]]<div id="wikia-credits"><br /><br /><small>From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</small></div>

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Rubsign

Rubsign