Erector (G1)

2018-11-08T22:55:11Z

Mr bean: /* Generation 1 */

{{factions|autobot|decepticon}}
{{disambig2|the Autobot from Generation 1|the Autobot from Animated|Erector (Animated)}}
:''Erector (giggle) is an [[Autobot]] [[Micromaster]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''
[[File:G1Erector MTMTE.jpg|right|upright=1.4|thumb|Maybe I should form a support group with [[Heave]] and [[Discharge (OC)|Discharge]].]]
'''Erector''' is horrified by the destruction of war, and goes out of his way to construct battle plans that minimize loss of life and collateral damage. Indeed, he will sometimes put himself at risk to save beautiful buildings or scenery. As a result, his fellow Autobots respect his reticence, not least because of his immense durability and strength. They also admire the cunning plans he uses to trap Decepticons without gunfire (many of them involving his trailer's hydraulic crane, which can throw 'Cons into the next county). As a construction engineer, he specializes in fortifications.<ref>''[[Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' #2</ref>

{{bigquote|Everyone loses if there's nothing to win.|The only thing Erector ever said for 27 years|from his [[bio]] quote.}}

==Fiction==
===''Transformers Comic-Magazin''===
When the Decepticons attempted to take control of a submarine transporting plutonium rods, Erector and his mini-base were one of the Autobots assets transported to the scene using a cargo ship. {{storylink|Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 13|The Energon Trap}}

===''Zone'' story pages===
When the ocean-covered world of [[Wall]] was attacked by [[King Poseidon|Aquatic General King Poseidon]] and [[Trypticon (G1)|Saurian General Trypticon]], [[Star Saber (Victory)|Victory Saber]] charged into battle, but was quickly overwhelmed. Luckily, the four commanders, [[Overload (G1)|Overload]], Erector (chuckle), [[Missile Bull]], and [[Skywave]] arrived to save him. Commanding the [[Off Road Patrol|Off Road]], [[Jet Patrol Team|Jet]], and [[Race Car Patrol]] Teams, they arrived in time to save the drowning citizens of Wall, rescue Victory Saber, and beat back the [[Decepticon]]s. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Zone (story page)|Zone Part 3}}

===''Mini Mayhem!''===
Erector and [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] were walking along when they came across Grimlock, Jazz, and Shockwave, discussing the upcoming nomination for the [[2011]] [[Transformers Hall of Fame|Hall of Fame]]. The trio mistook Erector for Bumblebee, and so spared him any ridicule, but verbally tore into Waspinator. After insisting that the Predacon would never stand a chance against them, Grimlock and the others walked off, taking "Bumblebee" with them. {{storylink|Mini Mayhem!}}

===''Hall of Fame'' bio===
Once a member of the [[Constructicon (disambiguation)|Constructicon]]s, Erector was rejected in favor of [[Hook (disambiguation)|Hook]] because he wasn't green. After helping win the battle of [[Tyger Pax]] through the power of being a superlative bullet magnet, Erector became known as the top Autobot engineer, designing the [[Armada Laserbeak Surveillance System]] and the [[Real Gear Quick Action Weaponry]]. {{storylink|Transformers Hall of Fame}}

{{note|Many of the early Hall of Fame entries were skewed towards the new [[Aligned continuity family|Aligned continuity]]. Erector's bio seemed to lean this way as well, but as there is no such established character as Aligned Erector yet in any fiction, the entry has been placed here. Where it finally belongs is open to debate.}}

===''Wings Universe''===
[[File:ErectorHaulerVsConstrcuticonsPanel.jpg|right|thumb|"Ya Yellow Bellied Runt!".]]
Erector and [[Hauler]] were part of an Autobot taskforce who ambushed the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]]s at [[Elevation Recostalus]] and succeeded in neutralizing the Decepticon team. {{storylink|Transformers I.Q.#issue 45|Transformers I.Q. last issue review}}
{{-}}

===''Regeneration One''===
[[File:Clar macro jungle war to end all wars.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1]]
After twenty-one years of peace, the resurrected Decepticon [[Scorponok (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Scorponok]] returned to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and infected most of the Autobots with a [[Gene Key]] that turned them into Decepticons. Having undergone this process, Erector assisted Scorponok and [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] in creating a planet-scale version of the Gene Key in the [[Sonic Canyons]]. {{storylink|Natural Selection, Part Four}} Having recovered, Erector joined the [[Construction Patrol]] and [[Quickmix (G1)|Quickmix]] in building the [[Nebulos|Nebulan]] end of the [[space bridge]] network in the [[Clar Macro-jungle]]. This probably didn't end well, thanks to the [[Dark Matrix (G1)|Dark Matrix]] creature tainting [[Fortress Maximus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Fortress Maximus]] and taking control of the space bridge network. {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 1}}
{{-}}

===''TransTech''===
[[Cragun's List]] was presumably founded by a version of Erector. {{storylink|Rook - Axiom Nexus News: Investigative Journalist|Rook - Axiom Nexus News, 2015/10/01}}

===''Beast Wars: Uprising''===
Having survived the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]], Erector returned to the front lines in the 24th century to combat the [[Resistance]] when the [[Grand Uprising]] began. His new position in the [[Builder of Cybertron|Builder]] military saw him leading the [[74th Division]] from [[Tesarus (polity)|Tesarus]]. Erector's forces clashed repeatedly with [[Steel Jaw]]'s [[Pack]], and soon the two leaders developed a grudging but healthy respect for the other's tactical acumen.

As the war drew to a close, Erector — already dissatisfied with their shrinking territory and the useless [[Cyberdroid]] recruits the [[Builder Assembly]] kept foisting on him — tried to buoy morale amongst his increasingly demoralized soldiers as they prepared fortifications for the next battle. They were caught unaware by the Pack, who, on [[Lio Convoy]]'s orders, had gone in for a suicidal frontal assault against the 74th to capture and open the road to [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]]. The [[Dark Skies Patrol]] managed to seize the Resistance's artillery batteries, and Erector ordered a retaliatory bombardment. Ultimately, the 74th Division fell that day; Erector himself was slain by the stealthy [[Maximal]] [[Snarl (BW)|Diablo]] as the tattered but triumphant Pack overran their foes and seized the city. {{storylink|Derailment}}
{{--}}

==Commercials==
[[File:Erector-commercial.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.67|He knows his place.]]
Erector was included in an army of Micromaster Autobots who swarmed and overwhelmed a [[Zarak Maximus|Giant Decepticon Soldier]]. He was also part of a vast Micromaster city/society that could fit in the palm of [[Powermaster]] [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]'s hand. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Micromaster transports|Micromaster transports commercial}}
{{--}}

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
[[File:G1-toy Erector.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|If you experience an Erector lasting more than three hours, contact your doctor immediately.]]
*'''Erector''' (Micromaster Transport, [[1989]])
**''Accessories'': Crane trailer
:Erector transforms into a yellow and gray semi cab pulling a relatively huge [[Crane|crane trailer]]. Being asymmetrical, the cab does not resemble traditional semi cabs, instead looking like the front end of a (one-piece) mobile crane, such as [http://www.kato-works.co.jp/eng/products/allterr/r01.html this Kato model].

:Despite their small size, yes that was a joke, Erector and his trailer have lots of sculpted detailing; e.g., he has windshield wipers 1/8th" (3.2mm) long. For [[paint operation]]s, by contrast, he's limited to orange paint on his face, windshield, and side window (the trailer has none whatsoever). His fifth wheel hitch nominally allows the cab to turn as it tows the trailer (out of the box, it's too tight a fit for this). The crane itself can be removed from the trailer, and connected directly to Erector's hitch.

:Erector's transformation, as for most Micromasters, is trivial: flip his conjoined legs around, fold up his head, and you're done. His only articulation is at his (oddly-placed) hips, and shoulders. His crane trailer transforms into a battle station, with a main gun, and a smaller double-barreled gun that Erector can man (though he can't grasp the handles). He can man it either standing (there's a peg for his feet), or sitting (there's a circular indentation that fits the hitch on his calves).

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1989/Autobot/Erector/erector.htm More information on Erector at TFU.info]''

===Zone===
*'''Cragun''' (Micro TF DX, [[1990]])
**''Accessories'': Crane trailer
:Erector was sold without changes a year later in Japan as "Cragun".
{{--}}

==Notes==
*According to [[Hasbro]] designer [[Joe Kyde]]'s [http://replay.waybackmachine.org/20090101122334/http://www.hasbro.com/transformers/default.cfm?page=News/Item&newsid=4EC7EA7D-D56F-E112-46AC70D02754072E design notes on Hasbro's Transformers website], the original [[Mudflap (Movie)|Movie Mudflap]] (not [[Mudflap (ROTF)|the twin]]) was initially going to use the unreleased [[Landslide (Decepticon)|Landslide]] deco, with the name "Sawtooth". It was decided that Landslide's deco wasn't realistic enough for the Movie toyline, so a new deco based on Erector was chosen. The names Sawtooth and Erector were unavailable, so he got stuck being Mudflap. We . Were. Robbed.
*His Japanese name, "Cragun", apparently comes from his trailer, which is a "crane-gun".
*Erector's nigh-nonexistent fictional appearances are augmented by his presence on the cover of [[Transformers: More than Meets the Eye#Issue .232|''More than Meets the Eye'' #2]]. He's in the upper-right corner, and appears to be about the size of [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]'s head.
*In a ''[[Lil Formers]]'' strip included in "[[Spotlight: Wheelie]]", [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] reveals that Erector is 7660<sup>th</sup> in the line of succession to be [[Prime (rank)|Prime]], just after [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]], but before [[Chip Chase]]. So, one huge bot-killing spree would give us an Erectimus Prime.
*As the word "Erector" in the domain of toys is ''thoroughly'' [[trademark]]ed by {{w|Meccano Ltd}} for [[Erector set]] construction toys—they even own it [http://tarr.uspto.gov/servlet/tarr?regser=serial&entry=77878820 specifically for toy robots!]—the only chance of seeing it on a ''Transformers'' toy again would be if Meccano Ltd were to suddenly go out of business.
*As a [[Transformers Hall of Fame]] nominee, Erector's name was rendered as "Autobot Erector". This was something of an empty gesture, as putting "Autobot" in front of his name wouldn't actually allow Hasbro to use that trademark in the field of toys. (Granted, a write-up on a webpage isn't actually something that you can trademark...)
*Erector's Hall of Fame candidacy came about from a push by various Transformers message boards, starting with TFW2005. Though some board admins reported that many of Erector's Hall of Fame votes came from new users who signed up just to vote for him, the campaign nonetheless attracted a lot of followers. These dedicated fans even had badges produced and handed out for free at BotCon, business cards, vinyl banners, and an online store for Erector apparel, which donated all of its profits to charity. There were mixed feelings about Erector's candidacy, and when Erector fans carried a series of banners into the Hall of Fame auditorium, there was a lot of booing in response.
*His bio quote, above, is no longer technically the ''only'' thing he's ever said. His Hall of Fame nominee quote was, "Wait, what is this? Why am I here?"
*Due to Erector's near-total lack of fictional appearances, [[Hasbro]] had to take a different approach to Erector's Hall of Fame nomination video than has been used for other characters. The video is more analogous to the videos for human inductees, featuring a series of interviews, and describes a long history of instances of Erector almost, but not quite, turning up in later incarnations of the brand. Visuals include a ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'' redeco of his toy in colors reminiscent of the [[Seacon (G1)|Seacons]], a ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars]]'' version with a beaver [[alternate mode]],<ref>http://eric-j.deviantart.com/art/Erector-RobotMode-BW-449339288</ref> an ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Animated]]'' [[Erector (Animated)|Erector]] who would have formed the "pants" of an ''Animated'' [[Devastator (Animated)|Devastator]], a [[Movie (franchise)|movie]] Erector design, and an Erector-based ''[[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron]]'' cover. There was also a ''[[Transformers: Prime (franchise)|Prime]]''-styled Erector designed by [[Jagex]]. All of this was, of course, completely fictional and invented for the video. Following the video, [[Aaron Archer]] noted that doing this was fun once, but asked the fandom to please not do a similar thing again.
*Since Erector was nominated for the Hall of Fame, this page has expanded to nearly triple its previous size, thus proving there's always ''something'' to say about ''anything''.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Cragun''' (クレーガン ''Kurēgan'')
*''French:'' '''Éregon'''
*''Italian:'' '''Tractor'''

==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Beast Wars: Uprising Autobots]]
[[Category:Constructicons]]
[[Category:Engineers]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Decepticons]]
[[Category:Micromasters]]
[[Category:Regeneration One Autobots]]
[[Category:TransTech Autobots]]
[[Category:Turncoats]]
[[Category:Wings Universe Autobots]]
[[Category:Zone Autobots]]

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Erector (G1)