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Scale

2007-09-15T16:45:35Z

74.12.15.136:

[[Image:OptimusSnakeEyes.jpg|right|thumb|300px|And the truck's ''how'' big...?]]
'''Scale''' in the ''Transformers'' multiverse is, to put not too fine a point on it, screwed.

Virtually no generation, era, franchise, fiction, toyline or other incarnation of ''Transformers'' has presented scale in a consistent, logical or easily-believable fashion (Save perhaps, [[Alternators]], but we all know where [[Kiss Players|having a scale consistent with a young girl leads]]). Most fans would agree that one needs to either ignore it or accept it, lest they be tempted to actually explain away these problems and in the process undoubtedly fanwank themselves into oblivion.

However, this does not mean that the chronic scale problems of ''Transformers'' do not merit description.

== Scale within toylines ==
As is generally well known, the early [[Generation 1 (toyline)|Generation 1 toyline]], especially the entire pre-[[Transformers: The Movie|Movie]] lines, were created from repackaged and [[redeco]]ed toys from several different Japanese transforming toylines. The crucial point being that they came from ''different'' toylines. All characters (well, virtually all; see below) ''should'' be in correct scale to each other as they all are supposed to represent real-world altmodes that can pass for correctly-scaled vehicles etc. However, since the ''[[Diaclone]]'' toys were not designed to be part of the same line as ''[[Microman]]'' toys, scale issue arise. While ''Diaclone'' figures such as [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] and [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] are more-or-less in correct scale to each other, many of the [[Mini Vehicle]]s from the ''New Microman'' line are clearly far too small by comparison. Even aside from the deformed [[penny-racer]] style proportions, even a comparatively small car such as a [[Bumblebee (G1)|Volkswagen]] is disproportionately tiny when compared to a [[Jazz (G1)|Porsche]] that should be in the same scale. The disparity becomes all the more obvious with other [[minibot]]s such as [[Warpath]] and [[Seaspray]] whose [[altmode]]s would suggest that they should be many times their actual size.

[[Image:DiacloneScale.jpg|left|thumb|400px|That little guy --who comes from the same toyline as all those vehicles-- is supposed to be a normal-sized human. Yyyeah.]]

Another glaring scale problem comes in the form of the [[Seeker]]s, who turn into F-15 Eagles which, in real life, are 63.8 ft (19.44 m) long. Clearly not in scale with the Autobot cars then...

Neither, for that matter, are the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]], despite also coming from the ''[[Diaclone]]'' line. Even ''more'' out-of-scale are the other ''Diaclone''-born combiner team the [[Trainbot]]s who, as the name implies, have train engine altmodes, considerably larger than cars and most construction equipment, yet their toys are among the smallest of the original ''Diaclone'' releases.

Even toys specifically designed to interact with each other often suffer from this problem. The [[Combaticon]]s, for instance, are wildly out of scale to each other--[[Blast Off]]'s space shuttle mode should be the largest by far, and [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] should be significantly smaller than the others. Among the aforementioned Constructicons, [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]], like most dumptrucks in ''Transformers'', is actually one of those gigantic [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Liebherr_t282_1.jpg "earth-mover" mining trucks], which would make him significantly bigger than his teammates.

Other scale problems come from characters who transform into the same (or very similar) altforms but whose toys are very different sizes. For example [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] transforms into and F-15 Eagle, but his toy is half the size of [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]'s. In reality they should be an identical size (in fact, [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]], transforming into a Concorde passenger jet should in fact be one of the largest G1 Transformers with an Earth altmode). The same can be said for [[Breakdown]], who, having a Lamborghini Countach altmode, should be in scale with [[Sunstreaker]]. This also goes for the other [[Stunticon]]s and all the Special Teams/[[Scramble City]]-type combiners with Earth-based altmodes, whose toys are all out of scale to earlier waves. By the same token, Warpath should be roughly the same size as [[Blitzwing]].

Speaking of Blitzwing, [[Triple Changer|Triple-Changers]] create a whole new set of problems. [[Octane]] transforms from a roughly 60-foot tanker truck into a 200-foot plus jumbo jet. [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] transforms from an Earth jet into an entire ''aircraft carrier'', presumably sized to carry quite a few Earth jets. More recent series, such as [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave's]] ''[[More Than Meets The Eye]]'', suggest that this is possible due to a variety of sliding panels, essentially making the transformations akin to incredibly elaborate origami. You heard right; origami Transformers. Yup.

Also, from an in-universe logic perspective, the characters with role-play altmodes such as [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]], [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] or [[Laserbeak (Armada)|Armada Laserbeak]] are scaled to be human(well, kid)-scale. Although [[size changing]] is obviously not possible for real toys (or at least, that's what [[Takara]] ''wants'' us to think...), this human-scaling makes in some cases for inordinately large robot modes, e.g. [[Blaster]].

Most post-[[The Transformers: The Movie (1986)|Movie]] G1 characters (and, for that matter, most post-G1 ''lines'') are difficult to accurately scale, as they generally transform into "futuristic" or "Cybertonian" vehicles for which there are no real-world specifications, or indeed don't transform into vehicles at all. Therefore the scale of characters such as [[Hot Rod]] or [[Leobreaker]] are fairly arbitrary and can at best be estimated by their relative size to more scale-friendly characters within the same fictions, although most animation is highly inconsistent in this regard (see below). Nevertheless, if one presumes that most vehicle altmodes are intended to house human passengers, comparisons of toys such as [[Chromedome]] and [[Lightspeed (Technobot)|Lightspeed]] suggest a scale disparity similar to other combiners.

There has only been one notable exception to all of this scale weirdness; the ''[[Alternators]]'' toyline, where every item is a 1:24-scale representation of a real car model, and thus remain in near-perfect scale with each other.

One last interesting case, related to the aforementioned Triple Changer difficulty, is when the toy is not in scale ''with itself''. For example, 20th Anniversary Optimus Prime has wheels which are proportionally too small for a Freightliner truck, while similarly his rear section onto which a trailer would be hitched is much too thick. These out-of-proportion vehicle parts were necessary to give to his robot mode better robot proportions.

== Scale within fictions ==
[[Image:TeenyCliff.jpg|left|thumb|Cliffjumper is one ****ing tiny car. Or Hound is a ****ing huge Jeep.]]

Scale issues abound within fictions, especially the [[Generation 1 (cartoon)|G1 cartoon]]. A lot can be attributed to animation errors, or even "lazy animation". For example, in the episode "Make Tracks", [[Hoist]], who is depicted as one of the larger Autobots in robot mode, is shown riding inside [[Huffer]], a Minibot whose truck mode is usually depicted as being smaller than Optimus Prime's. So either Huffer is extremely large in that scene, or Hoist is the size of a human.

[[Size changing]] is rarely depicted on screen outside of characters such as [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] and [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], but is rather implied (or, one could argue in many cases, inferred) in the following method: a character such as [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] transforms in-frame from robot to shuttle with no visible expansion of size relative to his surroundings. Cut. In the following shot his fellow Decepticons are shown running into frame, suddenly tiny in stature so that they can board the shuttle. Although Astrotrain has not been shown to actually grow (in the way Megatron is usually seen to perceptibly shrink in-shot), one infers that it is more likely that Astrotrain has expanded rather than all his confederates have individually shrunk. The same goes for [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] and other "transport" characters.

Some scale problems appear to be arbitrary, for example Optimus Prime (and, indeed, most Transformers in general) is routinely shown as being throughly gargantuan, equal to several stories in hight and capable of cradling humans in the palm of one hand. In reality, Prime would probably be about 25-30 feet tall, at best. Conversely, [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] is sometimes shown as being only a few feet taller than an average human, where in reality he would be around 10-15 feet tall. And those pesky [[Seeker]]s remain a walking scale problem; in reality they would be amongst the largest Transformers of all and would ''tower'' over their Autobot adversaries, whereas the animation generally depicts character such as [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] and [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] as being approximately the same height.

In most cases, the [[Generation 1 (cartoon)|G1 cartoon]] adopts approximations of the toy scale (with all its inherent problems) when depicting the characters in robot modes; Prime, Megatron and Soundwave are generally animated at the same height, Seekers and Autobot cars slightly shorter (although not ''as'' much shorter and unevenly so as the actual toys are), and [[Minibot]]s are given a smaller stature again. However, these depictions were ''far'' from consistent.

Some fans interpret these discrepancies to also be the result of [[size changing]], but this is debatable. If virtually all characters used mass-shifting (or whatever) to gain or drop just a few feet for no apparent reason (other than to make the animation more plausible), the technology would seem pointlessly mundane. Furthermore there is no strong evidence in the series to indicate that size changing truly is so widespread as opposed to the animation having a particular style to it that favors emphasizing the hugeness of the Cybertronians.

It is worth noting that the [[Transformers (2007)|live-action movie]] has taken great pains to avoid size-changing and out-of-scale issues among characters with Earth-based alternate modes. This is sometimes reflected in the choice of vehicle ([[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] is a long-nosed truck cab in order to offer more mass to make a taller robot mode out of) or the design of their robot modes. [[Image:DreamwaveCover6.jpg|right|thumb|200px|...since when is a sedan 9 stories tall?]] For example, [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]]'s robot mode is nearly as wide as it is tall, with shorter, digitigrade-style legs, so the massive jet-former won't end up twice as tall as Optimus. In the case of [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]], his huge alternate mode simply results in a huge, hulking, towering robot mode.

All that said, size-changing technology clearly exists in ''some'' form in the movie continuity, as [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] somehow shrinks the [[All Spark]] down to a manageable size and mass. Thus far, there's no evidence this trick can be applied to anything except the All Spark.

=== Combiner scale ===
[[Combiner]] characters are often depicted as far larger than the sum of their parts. Characters such as [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] and [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] are frequently shown being as tall as large buildings, sometimes even the size of small skyscrapers. When one thinks that their individual limbs are composed of mere cars and construction vehicles, this becomes patently absurd. Logically, this can only be accounted for by serious [[size changing|size-change-o-rama]] and yet, again, no clear depiction of this process actually taking place is ever shown in the case of combiners.

[[Superion (G1)|Superion]], however, actually ''would'' be fairly massive, if one considers the much larger real-world size of his component parts.
{{-}}

== Show scale vs. toy scale ==

Some characters have great discrepancies between their cartoon scale and their toy scale. "Giant" characters such as [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] are, even aside from any [[size changing]] for transport purposes, clearly not in the same scale in toy form as they are depicted on screen. [[Mini-Cassettes|Cassette characters]] such as [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]]'s toys are roughly the same height as most [[Minibot]]s, while in the show they are usually portrayed as human-sized (which is odd, considering that Soundwave is capable of expanding to massive size).

[[Hot Rod|Rodimus Prime]] and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] are usually shown to be of a fairly similar height (although Magnus is much bulkier), whereas there is a considerable difference between the size of their toys. By the same token, Rodimus is always depicted as being an equal stature to his opposing leader [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], whereas the toy Galvatron is instead the same size as Magnus. Optimus Prime is also usually shown as only a head or so shorter than Magnus (if that), which gets very strange when you realise that a recolour of Prime's toy forms but a small part of Magnus' robot mode.

[[Image:ShrinkingHeavy.jpg|left|thumb|250px|I lost thirty tons, thanks to the Jump-Cut! Thank you, Jump-Cut!]]

[[Metroplex (Cybertron)|''Cybertron'' Metroplex]] and the other citizens of [[Gigantion]] are depicted as gargantuan in animation, whereas the toys are merely among the normal boxed size-classes. (Although, the Japanese [[Galaxy Force]] release, dubbed "Megalo Convoy", included an exclusive [[redeco]] of the [[Legends of Cybertron]] [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] to indicate the "correct" scale.) Within the animation, though, this causes problems with their Mini-Con partners, who are depicted as human-sized in robot mode by themselves, but when directly interacting with their larger partners, retain their size in relation to the toy... meaning some temporarily-gigantic Mini-Cons!

{{-}}

== Pretender scale ==

The G1 concept of [[Pretender|Pretenders]] had some interesting scale issues. In the [[Generation 1 (Marvel Comics)|original comic]] the pretenders appeared fairly literally as their toy counterparts; normal-sized robots inside humanoid shells. The logical result of this was that the [[Autobot]] Pretenders were depicted as giant-sized humans. Which ain't much of a disguise. By comparison, the [[Decepticon]]s merely look like garden-variety giant [[Saban]] monsters. In one issue of the comic Cloudburst transformed into jet mode, and his shell, as well as Landmine, who was inside his shell, boarded him. It was difficult to tell if Cloudburst was supposed to have grown in size, or if his shell and Landmine had shrunk to fit inside.

In the U.S. toy commercials Classic Pretenders Grimlock, Bumblebee and Jazz were depicted as small enough to fit in Powermaster Optimus Prime's hand, so it is assumed they were human sized.

Although the [[Generation 1 (cartoon)|original American cartoon]] did not feature any [[Pretender|Pretenders]], the Japanese-only continuity did, in their series ''[[Masterforce (cartoon)|Super-God Masterforce]]''. Here the Pretenders were not shells so much as ill-defined wholistic transformations which involved [[size changing]], allowing the large Autobots to achieve human size and convincingly pass themselves off as such. The Decepticons, by comparison chose to retain their gigantic proportions when in Pretender-mode.

Although never depicted in any of their actual fiction, [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave's]] ''[[More Than Meets The Eye]]'' profile book included a description of their continuity's take on the Pretender concept. Something of a fusion of the above two, it described a physical shell that utilizes [[size changing|shrinking]] technology to achieve the ''[[Masterforce (cartoon)|Masterforce]]''-like capacity to pass the wearer off as a real human (or other bipedal lifeform of choice). Intriguingly, the profile also obliquely implies that such Pretender technology would/could later lead to the development of the synthetic faux-organic beast-mode tech of the [[Beast Era]].

== Mini-Con scale ==
The [[Mini-Con]]s of the [[Unicron Trilogy]] are small robots who stand approximately the same height as a human. However, they almost all transform into vehicles (of either Earth or Cybertronian design) which are clearly modeled to include cockpits etc. for carrying passengers, and yet they are obviously too small to accommodate humans (the only exceptions being [[Grindor (Armada)|Grindor]], [[Sureshock]] and [[High Wire]], who become small one-man vehicles... well, ''[[Energon (franchise)|Energon]]'' Grindor doesn't). Who then these smaller-than-human passengers could possibly be is something of a mystery, setting aside the posibility that the mini-cons simply scan "normal" vehicle modes and resize them to fit their smaller bodies.

In the [[Cybertron (cartoon)|''Cybertron'' cartoon]], the [[Recon Mini-Con Team]] retain their slightly-larger-than-human robot modes, but their alternate modes are large enough to contain a human passenger.

== Micromaster scale ==
By the same token as Mini-Cons, [[Micromaster]]s are depicted as being roughly human-sized, and yet virtually all turn into real (albeit generic) earth vehicles that are patently incapable of fitting human passangers inside them.

The Marvel comic series featured some of them size-changing to vehicles that definitely ''were'' to human scale (as humans got in them), but this wasn't applied consistently (it also brings up the question of how much energy the downsizing really saves if they have to change their mass every time they transform).

The more recent [[Dreamwave]] miniseries ''[[Micromasters]]'' hinted at some kind of explanation, indicating that the Micromasters were Transformers scaled down to fit a smaller race of humans, but that is pretty much bollocks, as it still doesn't explain the scale problems within the line itself, that appear because all Micromasters are of a more or less same height in robot-mode, but transform into all manner of vehicles. For example a "downsized" human (as indicated by Dreamwave) that would be small enough to fit into [[Bombshock]]s altmode (a tank) would still be significantly too big to fit into [[Groundshaker]]s altmode (a fighter jet), whereas he would be way to small to man [[Countdown]]s altmode (a mooncar).

Furthermore, some Micromaster bases transformed into vehicle altmodes much larger than their operators, creating a further scale headache. However, there is no indication in any fiction that the Micromasters were, unlike the rest of G1, even ''supposed'' to have any accurate scale, even compared to each other. What, therefore, was the point of their "realistic" altmodes (other than to sell cute mini-toys) is anyone's guess.

== Citybots ==
[[Image:EarlyGalvatronTVMagazine1.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Okay, if you were ever ''this'' big in the cartoon, THEN we might be able to call you a city.]]

The characters [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]], [[Trypticon]], [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] and [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] each have altmodes which are described as a "city" (with Fort Max being supposedly the biggest of the 4). However, the scale at which they could plausibly house enough humans, ''let alone'' Transformers to be in any way reasonably defined as a "city" would suggest a robot-mode scale that would make [[Hojoni|Godzilla]] look like a gecko. No fiction to date, not even the very large depictions in the Japanese ''[[Headmasters (cartoon)|Headmasters]]'' cartoon, even ''begins'' to approximate the size that a true "citybot" would logically become. In reality, the grossly-undersized depiction of [[Unicron]] (see below) would probably be closer to the scale of an actual transformed city. Which is ironic, as in Season 3 of the [[Generation 1 (cartoon)|G1 cartoon]] Unicron requires citybot eyes to replace his own shattered ones. That's right, citybot eyes fit a ''planet''bot. Explain that one...

Rare examples which even suggest such a realistic city scale include occasional Japanese promotional art (e.g. see right).

Furthermore, there is virtually no way to reconcile the "city" altmodes of the actual toys with any believable use of the term. Using windows as even a vague scale, they would hardly qualify as a city ''block''. The cartoon episode ''[[Thief in the Night]]'' makes some headway in explaining this via an establishing shot that shows Metroplex to be only a small smaller sub-section of the "actual" Autobot City, although this was not repeated. It seems that in Transformer terms, "city" is better read as "large building".

Although little fiction to date has significantly featured the Headmaster leaders fulfilling their "city" roles, they have in the Japanese-exclusive cartoons been employed in their tertiary modes as massive starships capable of transporting and housing many normal-sized transformers. Conversely, the Marvel [[Generation 1 (comic)|G1 comic]] depicted Fort Max and Scorpy as merely "large-standard" size characters, of an equal height to Powermaster Optimus Prime and, in some UK issues, even the same as Rodimus Prime (to be fair, Powermaster Prime was often drawn "undersized" in the comics). Parts of ''[[Time Wars]]'' were notable in this department for featuring characters as diverse as [[Goldbug]], Fortress Maximus and [[Blaster]] as all being the ''exact'' same height.

== Planets ==
[[Image:Cybertronplanet.jpg|left|thumb|Those are some mondo gigantically big buildings...and a mondo gigantically big gash.]]

Scale when it comes to planets is almost so fraught it's actively painful. The logic problems of describing citybots as "cities" is a thousand times worse if [[Unicron]] is supposed to have a planet-sized altmode, and that Cybertron is in turn supposed to be in scale with him. Although different fictions have compared both [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]/[[Primus]] and Unicron to drastically different Sol-system planets, the fact remains that they are supposed to be ''planets'', and yet across most fictions they are shown in such insane scale-relation to characters that it would suggest they are barely the size of a very, very small moon (or a space station).

To start with, [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] itself was depicted throughout G1 as having buildings visible from space. Although this was clearly intended to make it immediately obvious that the planet was entirely technological in nature, it actually makes no sense whatsoever, as such structures would have to be the size of small continents to actually be visible from such a distance. If the buildings were in fact supposed to be Transformers-scale skyscrapers (or even 2000 A.D. style mega-bocks), Cybertron would therefore be barely a fraction the size of Earth's [[Moon (moon)|Moon]]. By comparison, the rather [http://www.starwars.com/databank/location/coruscant/index.html Coruscant]-like orbit-views of Cybertron in the ''[[Beast Machines (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'' cartoon may be less distinctive or recognizably "Cybertronian", but are ''far'' more believable.

[[Image:UnicronEatsGalvyMmmm.jpg|right|thumb|400px|Either Galvy is humungo, or Lithone is ''tiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnyyyyy!!!'']]

Unicron, however, is a much more extreme problem. If one presumes that no obvious [[size changing]] occurs during his transformation (and really, why would he want to become ''smaller''?), he would be so massive that any shot that features even a ''part'' of his body, let alone the whole thing, would be of such a scale that no normal Transformer, however massive, would even be visible in the same frame. His depiction in the ''[[The Transformers: The Movie (1986)|The Transformers: The Movie]]'' in which he directly interacts with normal-sized Cybertronian characters is blatantly absurd (regardless of how totally phat it looks). Shots such as the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] fleeing his grasping hand, a starship penetrating his eye or ''especially'' picking up Galvatron between his thumb and forefinger before swallowing him (or, similarly in the comic, impaling [[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]] on his fingernail before crunching him between his teeth) bend any concept of plausible scale beyond breaking point. If Unicron is the size of a planet, his hands would be the size of continents. This would make Galvatron the size of Great Britain.

There is no possible explanation for any of this. Just go with it.

The depiction of Unicron's scale in ''[[Armada]]'' was (very debatably) a slight improvement, at least in as much as the concept of physical interaction (or much bodily movement for that matter) with such tiny beings was not even attempted, preferring instead to communicate with normal Transformers by possessing [[Sideways|another body]] in their own scale. Nevertheless, shots featuring [[Thrust (Armada)|Thrust]] and [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] standing on his neck region are still ''farcically'' out of scale.

== ''Beast Era'' scale ==
[[Image:RattrapLOVEScheetor.jpg|thumb|250px|right|I'm tellin' ya, ''all'' da rats in Brooklyn are dis big!]]
In the ''[[Beast Era]]'' scale is not such a large issue, although it certainly does crop up in less obvious (depending on your point of view) ways.

=== Real world scale ===
Although the Beast Warriors all seem to exist quite happily in their own relative scale, their scale in relation to the real-world animals they have adopted as [[altmode]]s is more problematic. While the "giant insect" characters such as [[Waspinator]] and [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] are obviously not in real world scale, when considered carefully virtually none of the characters actually are. The only characters who have been clearly depicted interacting with real members of their adopted species are [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] and [[Tigatron]], who (to take the former example) is seen attempting to interact with other cheetahs in ''[[Beast Wars, Part 1]]'', who react in fright. Cheetor was shown here to be in the same scale as real cheetahs, which effectively makes him the measuring stick for all other characters. [[Rattrap]] is therefore obviously a monstrously huge rat, about the size of a large dog, [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] is a rather small rhinoceros, and [[Optimus Primal]] is probably a roughly normal-sized gorilla. However, [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] is therefore a positively dwarfish specimen of a ''Tyrannosaurus rex,'' possibly closer to a [[Wikipedia: Nanotyrannus|Nanotyrannus]].

The ''[[Beast Wars]]'' writers once noted that first-season Rattrap was five feet (1.5 metres) tall, and that the other characters can be scaled around that. This would make Rattrap one of the few Transformers who are ''shorter'' than the average adult human in robot mode.

In their few interactions with (adult) protohumans, the Cybertronian characters seem between twice and three times the average height of protohumans. Considering human ancestors really were smaller than modern humans, this scale issue is not as extreme as it may appear, but the point deserves addressing. Oddly enough, the smaller Beast Warriors still seem to interact with Autobot-scale computers and spacecraft quite happily, as seen in "Nemesis Part Two, where the remaining Maximals take control of an Autobot Shuttle and fly it home.

=== Scale relative to G1 ===
[[Image:Beastwarriors scale.jpg|thumb|left|Beast Megatron's size vs. Optimus Prime in America... and Japan. I guess the Blastizone adds on a few tons to [[Beast Era]] characters]]

[[Size changing]] appears to be a thing of the past by the Beast Era, as the majority of the Cybertronian race seems to have considerably downgraded in size, apparently due to the [[Maximal Upgrade]] Program (although this is of course a backwards rationalization, since the show's basic premise requires the characters to transform into (vaguely) normal-sized animals, compared to the G1 characters transforming into large vehicles etc.). When entering the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], the Beast Warriors are very small compared to the dormant G1 characters, especially [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]. They are roughly the size humans should be (but usually weren't) depicted in relation to these characters.

On the other hand ''[[Robot Masters]]'' depicted G1 and BW characters like [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Optimus Primal]] as being exactly the same size. Yup. It's possible that passage through the [[Blasty Zone]] may somehow [[Wikipedia:Boom tube#Later Additions to the Concept|account for this discrepancy]],
{{-}}

=== Toy scale vs. cartoon scale ===
[[Image:Beastwarsmaxgroup.jpg|right|thumb|350px|Pick the Ultra-class figure. (Am I the only one who noticed Airazor groping Optimus's leg?)]]

The first season's cast of ''[[Beast Wars |Beast Wars]]'' characters were not designed in the same relative scale to each other as depicted in the toyline, although from Season 2 onwards the scales (and general appearance) of the cartoon became much more consistent with the toys.

For example, of the Season 1 Maximal crew, [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]], Cheetor, [[Tigatron (BW)|Tigatron]] and Rhinox are all from the same deluxe [[size class]], while [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] and Rattrap are considerably smaller basics. Optimus Primal, an ultra, stands at virtually twice the size of the deluxes. In the show, Dinobot is the tallest, followed by Rhinox and a slightly shorter Optimus Primal, shorter again is Tigatron, while shorter still is Cheetor (despite being an identical mold) and Airazor, while Rattrap is marginally the shortest, but by no means to such a degree as his toy would suggest.

The ''[[Beast Machines (toyline)|Beast Machines]]''' toyline was far worse in terms of scale discrepancies with its cartoon, with the tallest character [[Silverbolt (Fuzor)|Silverbolt]] becoming the shortest ([[micro-continuity|show-featured]]) Maximal toy, and similarly the diminutive [[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]] was enlarged to a massive ultra-class. And, sadly, the most show-accurate toy in the line (well, ''sorta'' in the line...) "Air Attack [[Optimus Primal]]" was rendered as an enormous supreme figure, completely incompatible with the other toys.

==External links==
*[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/msg/6db411e03e75a342?dmode=source Estimated "real-life" heights for several Transformers, derived from the size of their alt-modes, archived from alt.toys.transformers on groups.google.com]

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[[Category: Things that don't exist]]<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>

Ratchet (Movie)

2007-09-13T23:51:39Z

74.12.15.136:

{{disambig3|Ratchet}}

:''Ratchet is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Movie (franchise)|Movie]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:Movie_Ratchet_promorender.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Unleash your inner [[Constructicon]]!]]

'''Ratchet''', the Autobots' medic, is probably the bravest of them all. He'll risk his life to pull any wounded comrade from the battlefield. Indeed, he did not join [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]]'s team to be a soldier; rather, he's there to save lives, and thinks Prime is the best chance the universe has for peace.

==Fiction==
===IDW ''Prime Directives'' prequel comic===

===''Ghosts of Yesterday'' prequel novel===

===''Transformers'' (2007 film)===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Robert Foxworth]] (English) [[Takeshi Watabe]] (Japan)

{{spoiler}}

Hearing [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee's]] call of assistance, Ratchet and the other Autobots under Optimus Prime's direct command came to Earth, with Ratchet crashing into a storefront. As emergency crews and bystanders observe the wreckage, Ratchet assumed the vehicle mode of a nearby Hummer H2 rescue vehicle and drove away.

Ratchet linked up with [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] and [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]], then made their way to a deserted ally to meet up with Optimus Prime, Bumblebee and their new [[Sam Witwicky|human]] [[Mikaela Banes|friends]]. After being introduced as the unit's medical officer, Ratchet remarked that his sensors have indicated that Sam's pheromone levels suggests he wants to mate with Mikaela. He also explained how Bumblebee's [[voicebox]] was damaged, and that he had been having trouble fixing it for some time.

Following Sam to his house, Ratchet and their other Autobots unwittingly caused much destruction to the Witwicky yard and stress to Sam when they attempted to help the boy look for his [[Archibald Witwicky|grandfather's]] glasses. After Sam told them to hide, Ratchet accidently backed into some powerlines, which shocked him enough to make him fall onto a greenhouse. Ratchet found the experience tingly, and Ironhide (possibly sarcastically) mused that it looked fun, but unfortunately this caused a neighborhood-wide blackout, making the search for the glasses much more difficult. Ratchet attempted to help by activating his powerful floodlights which only suceeded in making [[Ron Witwicky|Sam's]] [[Ron Witwicky|parents]] investigate his room. When Ironhide remarked that Sam's parents were annoying and requested Prime's permission to 'take them out', Ratchet nodded vigorously and points Ironhide's left cannon at the house.

[[Image:Movie_Ratchet_Ironhide_runSam.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Oh, that hurt!]]

Soon, Sam, Mikaela and his parents were captured by the mysterious [[Sector Seven]], Ratchet and the other Autobots totally outclassed the S7 agents by instantly disarming them of their weapons, then rescuing the boy and his girl. Their dramatic escape was to be short-lived when Bumblebee was captured while saving his human friends' lives. The next morning, the remaining Autobots gathered to discuss their options. Whether through intuition or some technological means, Ratchet announced that the Decepticons were preparing to make their move. Optimus Prime declared that he would fuse the [[All Spark]] with his own [[spark]], hopefully destroying it. Ratchet cautioned him against this action, as the raw power of the artifact would likely kill him. Prime replied that it was his own choice, and to save the humans from destruction and the mistakes of the Transformers, it was a sacrifice that he was willing to make. Inspired by his words, the Autobots headed to [[Hoover Dam]], before encountering Bumblebee leading a column of Sector Seven vehicles headed in the opposite direction.

As the large group arrived in [[Mission City]], it was attacked by [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]], with the explosion crippling Bumblebee. At the same time, [[Brawl (Movie)|Devastator]] attacked the surviving human soldiers, prompting Ratchet and Jazz to engage the large Decepticon. As Jazz destroyed one of Brawl's rocket pods, Ratchet used his buzzsaw to slice off the tank's left arm.

[[Image:Movie_Prime_Jazz_Ironhide_Ratchet_battleaftermath.jpg|thumb|right|300px|"We lost a great comrade today, we'll miss you, Blues." "His name was ''Jazz'', Prime." "Whatever."]]

[[William Lennox|Captain Lennox]] ordered Sam to take the All Spark to the rooftop of a nearby, run-down building so he could pass the cube to a military helicopter that would soon arrive. Ratchet and Ironhide volunteer themselves to protect Sam as he made his escape. Unfortunately, the villianous Starscream swooped down to block Sam's path, forcing the Autobots to engage him in a rather one-sided battle that saw the both of them knocked down.

After the defeat of Megatron and the destruction of the All Spark, Ratchet somberly informed Optimus Prime that he could not save the fallen Jazz. Later, as Optimus declared that Earth was their new home and that his team would be waiting for any surviving Autobots to gather there, Ratchet spent the remainder of the day observing Sam and Mikaela making out on the hood of Bumblebee's vehicle mode.

{{-}}

===Toy Tech Specs===

Ratchet, despite what he said previously, fixes Jazz up just fine. He also learns a little more about Earth and decides to change to a more typical "rescue" deco. The new look feels more natural to him.

==Toys==
===Transformers (2007)===
*'''Autobot Ratchet''' (Voyager, 2007)
:''Japanese ID number:'' '''MA-02'''

[[Image:Movie_Voyager_Ratchet_toy.jpg|thumb|right|250px|This green is both [[Neon|NEON]] and [[Playskool|PLAYSKOOL]].]]

:Voyager ''Movie'' Ratchet transforms into a [[wikipedia:Hummer_H2|AM General Hummer H2]], customised as a fire search and rescue vehicle. Mostly accurate to the prop vehicle (though the wheels are rather incorrect), Ratchet is missing some sculpted detailing for the rear doors and lights, as this is where his knee joints are situated. Ratchet is also missing significant amounts of paint applications, with unpainted wheels, emergency tools, and light details, as well as a underpainted face, resulting in a rather monochromatic toy.

:During transformation, unfolding his legs will activate his [[Automorph]]ing feature, which folds out his kneepads and feet, and 'bulges' out two small panels along his inner calves. In robot mode, Ratchet is bulkier than his CGI movie design, with larger, blockier limbs, evoking a more 'traditional' Transformers appearance. He features a reasonable amount of articulation, though his windshield halves and the rear brush guards may occassionally interfere with his arms and legs.

:The only Autobot to not feature a ranged weapon, Ratchet's right forearm unfolds into an axe (based upon a weapon concept study), and the removable rollbar/roof rack can either be mounted on his left arm as a shield, or stored on his back.

:Oddly, though Ratchet's thumbs are articulated, space is so restricted that they are all but useless. His left thumb can only move a millimeter due to his wrist armour getting in the way. His right thumb does have more space to move, but pushing it will invariably disengage the fold-out axe from his forearm.

{{-}}

*'''Autobot Ratchet''' (Legends, 2007)

:An inexpensive, small-scale version of Ratchet, he remains relatively faithful to his vehicle mode (though highly simplified), but transforms very differently due to his simplicity. In robot mode he has a faux truck-front chest that's more faithful to the CGI design than the Voyager toy's chest, but the rest of his robot mode is (understandably) inaccurate and limited in articulation.

:The original was the wrong shade of green. The quick redeco was somewhat more accurate.

*'''Rescue Ratchet''' (Voyager, 2007)

:An extensive [[redeco]] based in part of ''Generation 1'' [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet's]] Marvel comics appearance.

====Fast Action Battlers====
*'''Axe Attack Autobot Ratchet''' (2007)
:''Japanese ID number:'' '''QC-03'''

====Cyber Slammers====
*'''Autobot Ratchet''' (2007)

==Trivia==
*Acording to [[Meet the Autobots]] Ratchet has X-ray vision, which lets him see for miles.

*He also has the Autobot logo on his vehicle form, seen on both doors.

*In the Hardcover Movie Guide, it is noted that Ratchet can cannibalize his own parts for emergency treatment of a patient (though it doesn't say how he can replace them...). He can also tow up to 300 lbs over his own weight in vehicle form and his specialization isn't listed as being a medic, but in actually '''getting''' to the wounded.

*Ratchet's toy packaging proclaims he has an "Automorph Forearm Cannon". However, the toy obviously lacks this weapon. At the Hasbro Tour during Botcon 2007, an early resin prototype of Ratchet was displayed during a slideshow, with similar callouts. Presumably, the forearm cannon was attempted, but dropped due to either engineering issues or cost.

{{stub}}
[[Category: Autobots]]
[[Category: Legends of Cybertron]]
[[Category: Medics]]
[[Category: Movie characters]]
[[Category: Robot Heroes]]<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>

Ratchet (Movie)

2007-09-13T23:51:17Z

74.12.15.136:

{{disambig3|Ratchet}}

:''Ratchet is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Movie (franchise)|Movie]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:Movie_Ratchet_promorender.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Unleash your inner [[Constructicon!]]]]

'''Ratchet''', the Autobots' medic, is probably the bravest of them all. He'll risk his life to pull any wounded comrade from the battlefield. Indeed, he did not join [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]]'s team to be a soldier; rather, he's there to save lives, and thinks Prime is the best chance the universe has for peace.

==Fiction==
===IDW ''Prime Directives'' prequel comic===

===''Ghosts of Yesterday'' prequel novel===

===''Transformers'' (2007 film)===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Robert Foxworth]] (English) [[Takeshi Watabe]] (Japan)

{{spoiler}}

Hearing [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee's]] call of assistance, Ratchet and the other Autobots under Optimus Prime's direct command came to Earth, with Ratchet crashing into a storefront. As emergency crews and bystanders observe the wreckage, Ratchet assumed the vehicle mode of a nearby Hummer H2 rescue vehicle and drove away.

Ratchet linked up with [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] and [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]], then made their way to a deserted ally to meet up with Optimus Prime, Bumblebee and their new [[Sam Witwicky|human]] [[Mikaela Banes|friends]]. After being introduced as the unit's medical officer, Ratchet remarked that his sensors have indicated that Sam's pheromone levels suggests he wants to mate with Mikaela. He also explained how Bumblebee's [[voicebox]] was damaged, and that he had been having trouble fixing it for some time.

Following Sam to his house, Ratchet and their other Autobots unwittingly caused much destruction to the Witwicky yard and stress to Sam when they attempted to help the boy look for his [[Archibald Witwicky|grandfather's]] glasses. After Sam told them to hide, Ratchet accidently backed into some powerlines, which shocked him enough to make him fall onto a greenhouse. Ratchet found the experience tingly, and Ironhide (possibly sarcastically) mused that it looked fun, but unfortunately this caused a neighborhood-wide blackout, making the search for the glasses much more difficult. Ratchet attempted to help by activating his powerful floodlights which only suceeded in making [[Ron Witwicky|Sam's]] [[Ron Witwicky|parents]] investigate his room. When Ironhide remarked that Sam's parents were annoying and requested Prime's permission to 'take them out', Ratchet nodded vigorously and points Ironhide's left cannon at the house.

[[Image:Movie_Ratchet_Ironhide_runSam.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Oh, that hurt!]]

Soon, Sam, Mikaela and his parents were captured by the mysterious [[Sector Seven]], Ratchet and the other Autobots totally outclassed the S7 agents by instantly disarming them of their weapons, then rescuing the boy and his girl. Their dramatic escape was to be short-lived when Bumblebee was captured while saving his human friends' lives. The next morning, the remaining Autobots gathered to discuss their options. Whether through intuition or some technological means, Ratchet announced that the Decepticons were preparing to make their move. Optimus Prime declared that he would fuse the [[All Spark]] with his own [[spark]], hopefully destroying it. Ratchet cautioned him against this action, as the raw power of the artifact would likely kill him. Prime replied that it was his own choice, and to save the humans from destruction and the mistakes of the Transformers, it was a sacrifice that he was willing to make. Inspired by his words, the Autobots headed to [[Hoover Dam]], before encountering Bumblebee leading a column of Sector Seven vehicles headed in the opposite direction.

As the large group arrived in [[Mission City]], it was attacked by [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]], with the explosion crippling Bumblebee. At the same time, [[Brawl (Movie)|Devastator]] attacked the surviving human soldiers, prompting Ratchet and Jazz to engage the large Decepticon. As Jazz destroyed one of Brawl's rocket pods, Ratchet used his buzzsaw to slice off the tank's left arm.

[[Image:Movie_Prime_Jazz_Ironhide_Ratchet_battleaftermath.jpg|thumb|right|300px|"We lost a great comrade today, we'll miss you, Blues." "His name was ''Jazz'', Prime." "Whatever."]]

[[William Lennox|Captain Lennox]] ordered Sam to take the All Spark to the rooftop of a nearby, run-down building so he could pass the cube to a military helicopter that would soon arrive. Ratchet and Ironhide volunteer themselves to protect Sam as he made his escape. Unfortunately, the villianous Starscream swooped down to block Sam's path, forcing the Autobots to engage him in a rather one-sided battle that saw the both of them knocked down.

After the defeat of Megatron and the destruction of the All Spark, Ratchet somberly informed Optimus Prime that he could not save the fallen Jazz. Later, as Optimus declared that Earth was their new home and that his team would be waiting for any surviving Autobots to gather there, Ratchet spent the remainder of the day observing Sam and Mikaela making out on the hood of Bumblebee's vehicle mode.

{{-}}

===Toy Tech Specs===

Ratchet, despite what he said previously, fixes Jazz up just fine. He also learns a little more about Earth and decides to change to a more typical "rescue" deco. The new look feels more natural to him.

==Toys==
===Transformers (2007)===
*'''Autobot Ratchet''' (Voyager, 2007)
:''Japanese ID number:'' '''MA-02'''

[[Image:Movie_Voyager_Ratchet_toy.jpg|thumb|right|250px|This green is both [[Neon|NEON]] and [[Playskool|PLAYSKOOL]].]]

:Voyager ''Movie'' Ratchet transforms into a [[wikipedia:Hummer_H2|AM General Hummer H2]], customised as a fire search and rescue vehicle. Mostly accurate to the prop vehicle (though the wheels are rather incorrect), Ratchet is missing some sculpted detailing for the rear doors and lights, as this is where his knee joints are situated. Ratchet is also missing significant amounts of paint applications, with unpainted wheels, emergency tools, and light details, as well as a underpainted face, resulting in a rather monochromatic toy.

:During transformation, unfolding his legs will activate his [[Automorph]]ing feature, which folds out his kneepads and feet, and 'bulges' out two small panels along his inner calves. In robot mode, Ratchet is bulkier than his CGI movie design, with larger, blockier limbs, evoking a more 'traditional' Transformers appearance. He features a reasonable amount of articulation, though his windshield halves and the rear brush guards may occassionally interfere with his arms and legs.

:The only Autobot to not feature a ranged weapon, Ratchet's right forearm unfolds into an axe (based upon a weapon concept study), and the removable rollbar/roof rack can either be mounted on his left arm as a shield, or stored on his back.

:Oddly, though Ratchet's thumbs are articulated, space is so restricted that they are all but useless. His left thumb can only move a millimeter due to his wrist armour getting in the way. His right thumb does have more space to move, but pushing it will invariably disengage the fold-out axe from his forearm.

{{-}}

*'''Autobot Ratchet''' (Legends, 2007)

:An inexpensive, small-scale version of Ratchet, he remains relatively faithful to his vehicle mode (though highly simplified), but transforms very differently due to his simplicity. In robot mode he has a faux truck-front chest that's more faithful to the CGI design than the Voyager toy's chest, but the rest of his robot mode is (understandably) inaccurate and limited in articulation.

:The original was the wrong shade of green. The quick redeco was somewhat more accurate.

*'''Rescue Ratchet''' (Voyager, 2007)

:An extensive [[redeco]] based in part of ''Generation 1'' [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet's]] Marvel comics appearance.

====Fast Action Battlers====
*'''Axe Attack Autobot Ratchet''' (2007)
:''Japanese ID number:'' '''QC-03'''

====Cyber Slammers====
*'''Autobot Ratchet''' (2007)

==Trivia==
*Acording to [[Meet the Autobots]] Ratchet has X-ray vision, which lets him see for miles.

*He also has the Autobot logo on his vehicle form, seen on both doors.

*In the Hardcover Movie Guide, it is noted that Ratchet can cannibalize his own parts for emergency treatment of a patient (though it doesn't say how he can replace them...). He can also tow up to 300 lbs over his own weight in vehicle form and his specialization isn't listed as being a medic, but in actually '''getting''' to the wounded.

*Ratchet's toy packaging proclaims he has an "Automorph Forearm Cannon". However, the toy obviously lacks this weapon. At the Hasbro Tour during Botcon 2007, an early resin prototype of Ratchet was displayed during a slideshow, with similar callouts. Presumably, the forearm cannon was attempted, but dropped due to either engineering issues or cost.

{{stub}}
[[Category: Autobots]]
[[Category: Legends of Cybertron]]
[[Category: Medics]]
[[Category: Movie characters]]
[[Category: Robot Heroes]]<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>