Rubsign

2011-01-09T12:44:55Z

91.110.223.182:

[[Image:Rubsign.gif|right|304px|thumb|Wax on, wax off.]]
A '''rubsign''' is a small pre-applied heat-sensitive sticker. Rubbing the sticker reveals a hidden symbol.

:''Japanese name:'' '''Secret Emblem''' (シークレットエンプレム)

==Operating principles==
[[Image:Rubsign inactive.png|left|37px|]]Demons make the color change. Anybody who tells you otherwise is a witch, and should be burned, burned at the stake. Death to the evildoers!
''Ahem''. 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 [[Insignia|faction symbol]]s appear. [[wikipedia:Mood_ring|Mood rings]] work by the same principle, but have more bogus magical properties.

==Generation 1==
The [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[Mini-spy|Mini-spies]] were the first toys to debut with rubsigns. They came packaged with [[Mini Vehicle]]s in early 1985. The faction of Mini-spy remained hidden until someone opened up the package and rubbed the rubsign, revealing an Autobot or Decepticon [[insignia]].

Beginning in the second year of [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]], all Transformers featured a rubsign that revealed an Autobot or Decepticon insignia in addition to other standard insignia [[sticker]]s. The purpose of these rubsigns 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 GoBots]] and other competitors.

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.

[[Image:Fastlane.png|left|37px|]]
[[Image:Pounce.png|right|37px|]]
[[Image:Cloudraker.png|left|37px|]]
[[Image:Wingspan.png|right|37px|]]
The [[Clone (subgroup)|Clones]] had special rubsigns that revealed their personal insignia. The rubsign could be activated so their true identity could be revealed without having to transform them (or, you know, [[Kibble|rotate them slightly]]).
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==Beast Wars==
Rubsigns would not appear again on ''Transformers'' toys until the second year of ''[[Beast Wars (franchise)|Beast Wars]]'' product in 1997, called "[[hidden Energon chips]]". They continued through the next year's [[Fuzor]]s and [[Transmetal]]s, but were replaced by the time of the [[Transmetal 2|Transmetal 2]]s (and in the ''[[Beast Wars Neo (franchise)|Beast Wars Neo]]'' new-mold toys) with "[[spark crystal]]s".

==Classics==
Rubsigns reintroduced to the ''Transformers'' line in 2006 with the [[Classics (2006)|Classics]] series. They are also on most of the [[Generation 1 reissues]] from both Takara and Hasbro.

==Reveal the Shield==
Rubsigns were used as part of a Hasbro promotion for the [[Transformers (2010 toyline)|2010 toyline]], called "[[Reveal the Shield]]". The toy packaging directed people to "Press to reveal Autobot or Decepticon allegiance."

==Fiction==
===Generation 1===
====Generation 1 toy commercials====
[[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] and [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] let a yellow Mini-spy into the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]. They then got suspicious and rubbed his rubsign revealing him to be a Decepticon. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1}}

====Marvel Comics continuity====
=====Condor-Verlag Transformers Comic-Magazin=====
{{TransformersComicMagazin}}
Needlenose, [[Darkwing]] and [[Dreadwind]] were hiding in an airbase in Nevada, before revealing their liquid crystal Decepticon insignia and flying off.{{storylink|Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 6#Transformers in the Battle for Peace: A Big Day for Powermaster Optimus Prime|A Big Day for Powermaster Optimus Prime}}

====Dreamwave continuity====
[[Image:Rubsign Smokescreen.JPG|left|180px|thumb|]]
[[Dreamwave Productions]], famous for their re-launching Transformers comics and generally toy-accurate artwork, featured a few [[posters]] of Transformers featuring a rubsign.

Rubsigns were way of disguising [[Autobot]] [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]]'s faction symbol (which had been outlawed). {{storylink|War and Peace}}
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====IDW continuity====
[[Image:Rubsign Soundwave.JPG|right|180px|thumb|RUBSIGN DEPLOY. OPERATION: TOY NOSTALGIA]]
[[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] used a rubsign to gain access to the illegal gladiatorial games. {{storylink|Megatron Origin}}
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===''Animated''===
The [[Decepticon]] [[Lockdown (Animated)|Lockdown]] appears to sport a rubsign, probably to indicate that he's just in it for the parts and hunts he gets out of it. {{storylink|The Thrill of the Hunt}} After being 'dishonorably discharged' and sent to the Stockade, [[Wasp]] has been seen wearing a rubsign, probably to indicate he's not with the Autobots anymore. When he was reformatted into Waspinator, he completely changed sides and sported a Decepticon insignia. {{storylink|Predacons Rising}}
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==Notes==
* The original patent for the ''[[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]]'' rubsigns is shared by [[Henry Orenstein]] and [[George Dunsay]].
* A variation on the rubsigns were also used in the spin-off [[Hasbro]]/[[TakaraTomy|Takara]] toy line ''[[Beastformer|Battle Beasts]]''.

==See also==
*[[Pre Rub]]

==External link==
* [http://www.google.com/patents?id=RxA6AAAAEBAJ&dq=us+patent++4674985 The original patent for the Transformers rubsigns on Google Patents]
* [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]]

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Rubsign