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User:Slag124

2012-09-09T19:59:46Z

Slag124: New page: HI

Gold Plastic Syndrome

2012-09-08T00:39:48Z

Slag124: /* GPS misconceptions */

[[Image:Electrogoldplasticsyndrome.jpg|right|450px|thumb|Ouch.]]
'''Gold Plastic Syndrome''' (commonly shorthanded to '''GPS''') is fandom terminology used to describe the phenomenon of a toy's [[plastic]] decomposing and becoming brittle to the point of shattering or crumbling under minimal-stress conditions. In the most extreme cases, toys have been reported to spontaneously crumble to small bits without any applied force at all, even if they're fresh out of their [[Mint in sealed box|unopened package]].

This breakage is different from the relatively more common stress-fracture type of plastic breakage that can occur in some [[Toy|Transformers toys]]. The condition takes its name from the gold plastics of late Generation 1 through to ''Beast Wars'', that have proved the most prone to this sort of breakage. However, despite the name, Gold Plastic Syndrome has been known to affect other types of plastic—most of them noted for a pretty metallic swirl in the plastic.

==Notability==
GPS is widespread among toys made in the tail-end of [[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]], typically the second year of [[Pretender|Pretenders]] and even some European-market exclusives, ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'' and the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (toyline)|Beast Wars]]'' series, but examples have surfaced from lines as recent as [[Transformers: Universe (2003 toyline)|''Universe'' (2003)]]. Transformers toys are not the only ones to suffer from this; there have been reports of ''[[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]]'' and ''[[Visionaries]]'' toys' gold plastics also crumbling seemingly of their own accord.

The toys most likely to suffer from Gold Plastic Syndrome are those with gold or bronze plastics with a metallic swirl in the plastic. There are other known cases with different colours of plastic—though usually there is a tell-tale swirl.

==Cause of GPS==
Because this is not exactly an area of scientific notability there aren't any causal studies into Gold Plastic Syndrome that we know about. Basically, it is thought that certain plastics weren't mixed as well as others, possibly because of the metallic pigment or colouring, so they break down more quickly.

It's not much of a theory, really. Here's a more detailed attempt:

{{bigquote|The problem likely arises, as with many composites, when the bonding between the polymer and the dye/particles breaks down. This could occur do to a natural chemical/phase change of the plastic, due to oxidation, for example, or by another mechanism, say the forces incurred by the toy being played with, or more likely, due to some combination thereof. In any case, when the bonds between the particles and the polymers break down, you would get small voids in the plastic structure. If this occurs frequently enough, the structure would become effectively porous (that is, it would be filled with lots of tiny voids/cracks where the polymers and particles have come apart). With even a slight amount of force, some of these cracks/voids could expand, even slightly, to the point where they intersect another void and join, making an even bigger crack. Once a critical crack length is reached, the sample fractures.

So effectively, the plastic becomes more brittle, and this would also explain it "crumbling" as well as cracking.}}
:-Aernaroth suggests a cause for GPS [http://www.allspark.com/forums/index.php?s=&showtopic=57191&view=findpost&p=1174876 on the Allspark]

So what it amounts to is: "The plastic crumbles a'cause it ain't very good."

Hasbro have attributed it to "the amount of gold fleck included in the plastic", and have apparently reduced the amount in similar plastics of more recent vintage to prevent further occurrences.<ref name="hasbrogps">[http://www.transformerland.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3481 Hasbro Transformersland.com Q&A, August 2009:] "When we used gold metallic plastic in the past we discovered, along with many of you, that it becomes brittle over time. As we became aware of this situation, we took the necessary steps to reduce the amount of gold fleck included in the plastic to eliminate this issue. Ultimately, this should no longer be an issue due to these corrective steps that we have taken."</ref> Later Hasbro said that they believe they've "alleviated the issues associated with the 'gold' plastic issue" through "trial and error." <ref>http://www.toyark.com/news/transformers-toy-news-2/hasbro-transformers-june-2010-qna-2867/</ref>

All in all, the actual causes of Gold Plastic Syndrome aren't a very big deal to Transformers fans—it's really pretty academic. Of more concern is the RESULTS (i.e., crumbling like a soggy Tim Tam in a cup of coffee), and what to look out for. There's no cure here, no fix. If a toy has GPS, it '''will''' die.

==The Symptoms==
Gold Plastic Syndrome usually has a few clear signs. Knowing how to tell the difference between Gold Plastic Syndrome and normal plastic breakage is very important for a Transformers fan who is collecting vintage toys. It's the difference between giving up on that toy completely (since if it has GPS so will any other sample of the toy) and buying a new copy.
[[Image:GPSSkyquakescopeclose.jpg|300px|thumb|Nooo!]]
*GPS usually takes place in metallic-coloured plastics, most notably gold plastic and bronze plastic.
*GPS breaks are NOT accompanied by stress fractures. There is usually NOT any visible wear before the breakage. This is really important. Plastic breaks. This is a reality of toy collecting, plastic gets old and it breaks. Gold plastic syndrome is breakage without warning.
*GPS breaks often leave a powdery residue and shards of plastic (though not always), the result of the plastic actually physically crumbling. Take a look at the picture of Skyquake's scope—okay, the bits of his scope—to the right. You can actually see some of the left-over shards of plastic. Keep in mind this picture was taken years after the break actually occurred—these are new shards of plastic which came off these pieces of scope during the process of moving the parts around for photography. Plastic should '''not''' be that brittle or delicate.
*GPS breakages don't need to involve any excess stress or force on a toy—simply handling a toy can cause the breakage. Looking at it funny, sometimes does it. Spitting on it, maybe. Opening its box. ''Anything.'' If your toy breaks despite careful handling it's more likely to be GPS.
[[Image:SkyquakeGPSback.jpg|thumb|300px|Gleargh]]
*GPS breaks often have rough, uneven edges with no stress lines around them. This is important—usually when plastic snaps it snaps cleanly (as is common with clear plastic), or it bends first (leaving a torn-off piece, or clear stresses around the break). If a break is uneven, with different colours and textures in it, yet there are no stress fractures around the wound, and especially if it leaves a powdery residue as well, it's almost certainly a GPS break. Take a look at the photo of Skyquake to the right for a good example of the ragged break. Okay...not good. What's the other word that's LIKE "good", but not actually good? Oh yeah. Horrifying. A HORRIFYING example.
*GPS plastics will sometimes feel brittle to the touch, sometimes making cracking noises as they're handled.

A really easy test to tell if you have GPS breakage is this—if a piece breaks off, try snapping it again. If it's normal plastic breakage, the broken piece should bend or bow instead of just snapping like dry wood; there should be some give in the plastic, even if it's a brittle, clear plastic—so you should be able to glue it back into place, or at least get a replacement part. On the other hand, if the broken piece snaps like your grandmother's ankles in a rugby match, then you've almost definitely got Gold Plastic Syndrome.

==GPS misconceptions==
'''ALL GOLD PLASTIC WILL DIE!'''
:Not true. It's gold plastic from certain eras that will die. It's plastic from about 1989 (second year Pretenders are notorious for it) and through to about the end of ''Beast Wars''. As far as we know later toys do not suffer from GPS, due to a reduction in the amount of metallic flakes in similar, but more recent toys<ref name="hasbrogps" />. ''As far as we know.'' But just you wait...oh yes, just you wait. Toys with flexible nylon-based gold plastics, such as [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Superbase Optimus Prime's]] elbows, are not susceptible to GPS. (Although some would beg to differ...) ''Surpisingly'' [[Goldbug]] and [[Bumblebee]] do not suffer from this at all.

:Even on toys well known for GPS, some of their gold plastic is less prone to break. Gold plastic which is nice and thick is much less likely to snap than gold plastic which is thin. Gold plastic which is under constant stress—like that at a joint—is also more likely to break. That said, some really nice solid parts can shatter like eggshells if it's real GPS we're talkin' about.

'''MY TOY BROKE, IT MUST BE GOLD PLASTIC SYNDROME'''
:There are plenty of ways for plastic to break that aren't related to Gold Plastic Syndrome. Repeated stress on a plastic, dropping a toy, a toy with metal parts that damage the plastic parts, thin plastic, or simply the use of translucent plastic, which is more brittle. Just because a toy breaks doesn't mean it's Gold Plastic Syndrome. Look for the symptoms (listed above) and ask around before assuming that every single copy of this toy is destined to die a painful and horrible death.

'''ONLY GOLD PLASTIC GETS GOLD PLASTIC SYNDROME'''
:Not quite true. Observations suggest that it should probably called "Metallic Plastic Syndrome". It's those metallic plastics, most commonly the gold and bronze plastics used for almost ten years by Hasbro and Takara, from around 1989 to 1998. However, in theory, any colour of plastic could be susceptible, given time. Keep an eye on your Fire Convoy, kids; that pretty metallic swirl in his plastic isn't promising.

'''MY TOY IS DOOMED!'''
:Okay...not exactly a misconception. Your toy is probably doomed...but there is a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel.

:You see, the thickness of the plastic seems to affect GPS. Also, the amount of stress on it affects it. While some toys are known for breaking just by having their packages opened—guys like Randy, Roadblock and ''Generation 2'' Slingshot—others, like Skyquake and Pyro, can remain very strongly intact because the parts that are made of GPS plastics are large and thick and otherwise robust. GPS is an inconsistent process—eventually your toy '''will''' crumble, but there's no telling how long it will take. With delicate handling (read: almost none) you can maintain a GPS-afflicted toy in your collection for quite some time.

:Also remember that the evidence for Gold Plastic Syndrome is completely observational. There seems to be some evidence that different plastic batches were less affected, that some releases of the toys were less affected. You might luck out and get an Electro that never crumbles to dust, or you might be really unlucky and get multiple Electros, all of which break horribly. This page is a caution more than anything else. Know what you're getting into when you buy a toy known to be afflicted by GPS.

==Toys commonly associated with Gold Plastic Syndrome==
====Generation 1====
* [[Scorponok (G1)|BlackZarak]]
:Rather depressingly, BlackZarak's feet and shield tend to shatter. Since both parts have to be under stress to function as intended, this particularly expensive toy is almost never intact. The Black Roritchi repaint of [[Fasttrack (Scorponok)|Fasttrack]] included with him is almost ''entirely'' made of gold plastic. Good luck...
* [[Bristleback]]
:Bristleback on his own isn't in much danger, as he has a fairly minimal amount of moving parts. However, when combining with the other Monster Pretenders, sliding the Monstructor fist in place will usually be enough to create a large crack through his legs, sometimes even splitting them entirely.
* [[Roadblock (G1)|Roadblock]]
:The innermost robot has three peg holes, two in the fists and one on his back, that are particularly susceptible to cracking and shattering, leaving many a Roadblock hand-less.
* [[Skyhammer (G1)|Skyhammer]]
:One of the most notorious toys. The entire bottom of his large vehicle shell is made of gold plastic and it is very prone to breakage. Not to mention how much gold plastic is on his inner shell and his robot mode.
* [[Slog]]
:Slog is notable because his gimmick requires another toy (Birdbrain) to be inserted up inside his gold sections. His thin gold sides will crumble like a good fruit cake (just not as moist) if Birdbrain jostles around too much.
* [[Killbison]]
{{-}}
[[Image:GPSSkyquakescope.jpg|thumb|Well, crap.]]

====Generation 1-2 Transitional Phase====
* [[Skyquake (G1)|Skyquake]]
:Skyquake is another toy notable for having a gimmick which makes the whole thing worse. Skyquake actually has two colours of metallic plastic on him: One is a dark bronze, the other a light bronze. It is the light bronze plastic that is most likely to break. Unfortunately, the light bronze plastic also forms Skyquake's scope. You're supposed to put a Predator jet's scope slide into that part of him. But the union is not pleasant for the one on the receiving end. Take a look at the picture to the right. These are the parts left of Skyquake's scope after another Predator tried to unite with him. Actually...that's not even all the parts, that's just all that could be found.

:This is a gimmick which should never be used by modern collectors. Never, ever, ever, ever. Watch out for the movable panel on the back of his head, too, as it's the same light bronze plastic.

* [[Pyro (G1)|Pyro]]
:Although he can be something of a trouper in comparison to other victims on this page, Pyro's waist can break very easily if not handled with care.
{{-}}
====Generation 2====
* [[Electro]]
[[Image:Electrobrokenknee.jpg|thumb|Oh, God, my knee! MY KNEEEEEEE!!]]

:There's a reason that Electro sits up at the top of this page. Poor guy just can't catch a break.

:Wait...actually, no. That's the entire problem. The poor guy totally ''can'' catch a break. All the time. Because he is designed to die.

* [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]]
:Slingshot is infamous for being made almost entirely of gold plastic, and he has been reported to come apart straight out of the package.<ref>http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/msg/2b8b3dec846e5479?hl=en</ref> Worse, he's known for being another toy whose gimmick will destroy him. Slingshot's head is a post which is designed to plug into [[Silverbolt_(G1)|Silverbolt]] (or any other Scramble City leader), so that Slingshot can form an arm or a leg. Doing this will destroy your Slingshot.
{{-}}

====Beast Wars====
* [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]
[[Image:Goldplasticgrimlock.jpg|thumb|He's hopping mad! ... Okay, fine. YOU do better.]]
:Take a look at the picture to the right. Grimlock's gold plastic can break pretty damned hard. The fact that he uses a gold plastic ball joint for his hips is not really a good thing. Common breakages include the insides of his legs (where his chest pegs into them in beast mode) and his mutant face (which is very thin).
* [[Randy (BWN)|Randy]]
:Poor Randy. This is one of the legendary Gold Plastic Syndrome toys. Imagine, if you will, a toy with an entirely spring-loaded transformation made entirely out of gold plastic. Ouch, right? Well, don't worry. You'll never have to see what a mess that could be, because this toy will shatter into a million pieces the moment you open it. Ouch.
{{-}}
[[Image:Brownplasticsyndrome.jpg|thumb|The one picture for the wiki you never want to be able to make.]]
* [[Megatron (BW)|''Transmetal'' Megatron]]
:He'll snap at the waist, the shoulders, the ... well, anything that's made of that brown plastic. This is technically Brown Plastic Syndrome, but regardless of what you call it this toy will end in sadness. The Japanese ''Metals'' version uses black instead of the brown, so it seems to be immune. The fragility of the waist may be due to GPS, a [[design flaw]], or a combination of both.
* [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]]
:Despite having a dangerously large amount of bronze plastic, Magnaboss Silverbolt IS fairly stable. The main breakage point is where his tail connects to his body. As well, [[Skywarp (BWII)|Skywarp]], his Japanese counterpart, is just as likely to suffer from this. That said, just...be careful, okay? Be careful.
* [[Soundwave (BW)|Soundwave]]
:His entire fraggin' body is composed of gold plastic, so it's a crap shoot. The places on his body where the sides hinge open as part of his transformation are the first to go, however.
* [[Torca]]
:His legs, tail hinge and sides are prone to Gold Plastic Syndrome.
{{-}}

====Beast Machines====
*[[Snarl (BM)|Snarl]]
:Snarl is an atrocious example of a victim to Gold Plastic Syndrome, it seems that the longer the figures are left in sealed packages, the more brittle they are upon opening said packages... Where all manner of extremities will simply snap off, most easily among these being the ankles.
{{-}}

====Universe (2003)/Cybertron====
*[[Megabolt]]
:Having limbs cast primarily in gold plastic is not a good thing. Fracture points include his forearms, the holes that lock his arms in place in crawling head mode, lower legs near the knees, and his head.

*[[Transformers: Armada (toyline)| Armada]] [[Optimus Prime (Armada) |Optimus Prime]]
: Having gold plastic joints is never a good idea especially when it is the arm and needs to bend both ways for transformation.

*[[Micromaster]] [[Superion (Universe)|Superion]] (initially a [[KB Toys]] [[exclusive]] ''[[Transformers: Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'' release in the USA, later also available at CVS Pharmacy stores; mass-retail ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'' release in Europe), released in 2006, suffers from this as of 2010, particularly the peg that connects [[Ro-Tor (Universe)|Ro-Tor]] to Superion's torso piece.<ref name="tfwsuper">[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-toy-discussion/300674-warning-universe-micromaster-superion-suffers-gold-plastic-syndrome.html TFW2005 thread about Micromaster Superion suffering from Gold Plastic Syndrome, with multiple reports,</ref>
{{-}}

====Star Wars: Transformers====
* [[Millennium Falcon]] / [[Han Solo]] & [[Chewbacca]]
:Particularly, the Chewbacca half suffers from GPS. His legs can lock up and ultimately snap off. His upper arms are also said to fall victim as well. <ref>http://www.seibertron.com/toys/gallery.php?id=2481&size=0&start=101</ref>
{{-}}

====Other notable instances====
* [[Serpentor]]
:While not a Transformer, he is also known to suffer from this problem—especially through his hips, given the leg construction found on G.I. Joe toys of the era.

==Toys often mistaken for having GPS==

A number of toys have gold parts that easily break not due to the plastic used, but due to structural problems with the part designs themselves.

* [[Predator (subgroup)|Predator]] [[missile]] launchers
:The Predator launcher pegs are notorious for breaking off, but this is due to their size. Those pegs are ''tiny''; many other weapons with a similar peg have the same problem. However, the Predator launchers are worse off, as they are also used by larger figures like Skyquake. Also, the "false" trigger is known to break off, as it doesn't have a hinge, relying on the plastic to bend. (The actual trigger is a small, black, internal piece.) If the Predator launchers actually had GPS, the strength of the spring would cause them literally to explode.

* [[Thunder Clash]]
:Thunder Clash's gold feet are often broken due to the design of the ratcheting transformation joint. The ratchets are so stiff that you're more likely to pry his feet apart before the ratchets budge. Like the Predator launchers, if this ''was'' due to GPS, Thunder Clash's launcher barrels would literally explode due to the very strong springs.

* ''[[Movie (toyline)|Movie]]'' [[Legends Class]] [[Scorponok (Movie)|Scorponok]]
:Legends Scorponok's tail stinger, originally soft and bendy, tends to harden after a while, and then becomes prone to breaking. While the stinger ''is'' made of a gold plastic type, the cause for this problem appears to be an inferior plasticizer rather than traditional Gold Plastic Syndrome.

==Etymology==
The term was coined in an [[alt.toys.transformers]] post made by user Sky Shadow in September 2002.<ref>http://groups.google.co.uk/group/alt.toys.transformers/msg/2b3d532961b2c2dc</ref> A post by [[Dave Edwards|Dave "Zobovor" Edwards]], meanwhile, made in June of the previous year,<ref>http://groups.google.co.uk/group/alt.toys.transformers/msg/6ed7e0f3586f37e4</ref> is the earliest identifiable acknowledgment of the widespread nature of the phenomenon within the Transformers fan community.

==Fiction==
===Transformers Animated===
At some point during the great war, a vaccine for Gold Plastic Syndrome was developed by [[Red Alert (Animated)|Red Alert]]. {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|The AllSpark Almanac II}}

==External links==
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcjAUN5Ssj8 Demonstration of Gold Plastic Syndrome in effect at Youtube]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Animated]]
[[Category:Diseases]]
[[Category:Toys]]

Gold Plastic Syndrome

2012-09-08T00:38:12Z

Slag124: /* GPS misconceptions */

[[Image:Electrogoldplasticsyndrome.jpg|right|450px|thumb|Ouch.]]
'''Gold Plastic Syndrome''' (commonly shorthanded to '''GPS''') is fandom terminology used to describe the phenomenon of a toy's [[plastic]] decomposing and becoming brittle to the point of shattering or crumbling under minimal-stress conditions. In the most extreme cases, toys have been reported to spontaneously crumble to small bits without any applied force at all, even if they're fresh out of their [[Mint in sealed box|unopened package]].

This breakage is different from the relatively more common stress-fracture type of plastic breakage that can occur in some [[Toy|Transformers toys]]. The condition takes its name from the gold plastics of late Generation 1 through to ''Beast Wars'', that have proved the most prone to this sort of breakage. However, despite the name, Gold Plastic Syndrome has been known to affect other types of plastic—most of them noted for a pretty metallic swirl in the plastic.

==Notability==
GPS is widespread among toys made in the tail-end of [[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]], typically the second year of [[Pretender|Pretenders]] and even some European-market exclusives, ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'' and the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (toyline)|Beast Wars]]'' series, but examples have surfaced from lines as recent as [[Transformers: Universe (2003 toyline)|''Universe'' (2003)]]. Transformers toys are not the only ones to suffer from this; there have been reports of ''[[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]]'' and ''[[Visionaries]]'' toys' gold plastics also crumbling seemingly of their own accord.

The toys most likely to suffer from Gold Plastic Syndrome are those with gold or bronze plastics with a metallic swirl in the plastic. There are other known cases with different colours of plastic—though usually there is a tell-tale swirl.

==Cause of GPS==
Because this is not exactly an area of scientific notability there aren't any causal studies into Gold Plastic Syndrome that we know about. Basically, it is thought that certain plastics weren't mixed as well as others, possibly because of the metallic pigment or colouring, so they break down more quickly.

It's not much of a theory, really. Here's a more detailed attempt:

{{bigquote|The problem likely arises, as with many composites, when the bonding between the polymer and the dye/particles breaks down. This could occur do to a natural chemical/phase change of the plastic, due to oxidation, for example, or by another mechanism, say the forces incurred by the toy being played with, or more likely, due to some combination thereof. In any case, when the bonds between the particles and the polymers break down, you would get small voids in the plastic structure. If this occurs frequently enough, the structure would become effectively porous (that is, it would be filled with lots of tiny voids/cracks where the polymers and particles have come apart). With even a slight amount of force, some of these cracks/voids could expand, even slightly, to the point where they intersect another void and join, making an even bigger crack. Once a critical crack length is reached, the sample fractures.

So effectively, the plastic becomes more brittle, and this would also explain it "crumbling" as well as cracking.}}
:-Aernaroth suggests a cause for GPS [http://www.allspark.com/forums/index.php?s=&showtopic=57191&view=findpost&p=1174876 on the Allspark]

So what it amounts to is: "The plastic crumbles a'cause it ain't very good."

Hasbro have attributed it to "the amount of gold fleck included in the plastic", and have apparently reduced the amount in similar plastics of more recent vintage to prevent further occurrences.<ref name="hasbrogps">[http://www.transformerland.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3481 Hasbro Transformersland.com Q&A, August 2009:] "When we used gold metallic plastic in the past we discovered, along with many of you, that it becomes brittle over time. As we became aware of this situation, we took the necessary steps to reduce the amount of gold fleck included in the plastic to eliminate this issue. Ultimately, this should no longer be an issue due to these corrective steps that we have taken."</ref> Later Hasbro said that they believe they've "alleviated the issues associated with the 'gold' plastic issue" through "trial and error." <ref>http://www.toyark.com/news/transformers-toy-news-2/hasbro-transformers-june-2010-qna-2867/</ref>

All in all, the actual causes of Gold Plastic Syndrome aren't a very big deal to Transformers fans—it's really pretty academic. Of more concern is the RESULTS (i.e., crumbling like a soggy Tim Tam in a cup of coffee), and what to look out for. There's no cure here, no fix. If a toy has GPS, it '''will''' die.

==The Symptoms==
Gold Plastic Syndrome usually has a few clear signs. Knowing how to tell the difference between Gold Plastic Syndrome and normal plastic breakage is very important for a Transformers fan who is collecting vintage toys. It's the difference between giving up on that toy completely (since if it has GPS so will any other sample of the toy) and buying a new copy.
[[Image:GPSSkyquakescopeclose.jpg|300px|thumb|Nooo!]]
*GPS usually takes place in metallic-coloured plastics, most notably gold plastic and bronze plastic.
*GPS breaks are NOT accompanied by stress fractures. There is usually NOT any visible wear before the breakage. This is really important. Plastic breaks. This is a reality of toy collecting, plastic gets old and it breaks. Gold plastic syndrome is breakage without warning.
*GPS breaks often leave a powdery residue and shards of plastic (though not always), the result of the plastic actually physically crumbling. Take a look at the picture of Skyquake's scope—okay, the bits of his scope—to the right. You can actually see some of the left-over shards of plastic. Keep in mind this picture was taken years after the break actually occurred—these are new shards of plastic which came off these pieces of scope during the process of moving the parts around for photography. Plastic should '''not''' be that brittle or delicate.
*GPS breakages don't need to involve any excess stress or force on a toy—simply handling a toy can cause the breakage. Looking at it funny, sometimes does it. Spitting on it, maybe. Opening its box. ''Anything.'' If your toy breaks despite careful handling it's more likely to be GPS.
[[Image:SkyquakeGPSback.jpg|thumb|300px|Gleargh]]
*GPS breaks often have rough, uneven edges with no stress lines around them. This is important—usually when plastic snaps it snaps cleanly (as is common with clear plastic), or it bends first (leaving a torn-off piece, or clear stresses around the break). If a break is uneven, with different colours and textures in it, yet there are no stress fractures around the wound, and especially if it leaves a powdery residue as well, it's almost certainly a GPS break. Take a look at the photo of Skyquake to the right for a good example of the ragged break. Okay...not good. What's the other word that's LIKE "good", but not actually good? Oh yeah. Horrifying. A HORRIFYING example.
*GPS plastics will sometimes feel brittle to the touch, sometimes making cracking noises as they're handled.

A really easy test to tell if you have GPS breakage is this—if a piece breaks off, try snapping it again. If it's normal plastic breakage, the broken piece should bend or bow instead of just snapping like dry wood; there should be some give in the plastic, even if it's a brittle, clear plastic—so you should be able to glue it back into place, or at least get a replacement part. On the other hand, if the broken piece snaps like your grandmother's ankles in a rugby match, then you've almost definitely got Gold Plastic Syndrome.

==GPS misconceptions==
'''ALL GOLD PLASTIC WILL DIE!'''
:Not true. It's gold plastic from certain eras that will die. It's plastic from about 1989 (second year Pretenders are notorious for it) and through to about the end of ''Beast Wars''. As far as we know later toys do not suffer from GPS, due to a reduction in the amount of metallic flakes in similar, but more recent toys<ref name="hasbrogps" />. ''As far as we know.'' But just you wait...oh yes, just you wait. Toys with flexible nylon-based gold plastics, such as [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Superbase Optimus Prime's]] elbows, are not susceptible to GPS. (Although some would beg to differ...) ''Surpisingly'' [[Goldbug]]and [[Bumblebee]] do not suffer from this at all.

:Even on toys well known for GPS, some of their gold plastic is less prone to break. Gold plastic which is nice and thick is much less likely to snap than gold plastic which is thin. Gold plastic which is under constant stress—like that at a joint—is also more likely to break. That said, some really nice solid parts can shatter like eggshells if it's real GPS we're talkin' about.

'''MY TOY BROKE, IT MUST BE GOLD PLASTIC SYNDROME'''
:There are plenty of ways for plastic to break that aren't related to Gold Plastic Syndrome. Repeated stress on a plastic, dropping a toy, a toy with metal parts that damage the plastic parts, thin plastic, or simply the use of translucent plastic, which is more brittle. Just because a toy breaks doesn't mean it's Gold Plastic Syndrome. Look for the symptoms (listed above) and ask around before assuming that every single copy of this toy is destined to die a painful and horrible death.

'''ONLY GOLD PLASTIC GETS GOLD PLASTIC SYNDROME'''
:Not quite true. Observations suggest that it should probably called "Metallic Plastic Syndrome". It's those metallic plastics, most commonly the gold and bronze plastics used for almost ten years by Hasbro and Takara, from around 1989 to 1998. However, in theory, any colour of plastic could be susceptible, given time. Keep an eye on your Fire Convoy, kids; that pretty metallic swirl in his plastic isn't promising.

'''MY TOY IS DOOMED!'''
:Okay...not exactly a misconception. Your toy is probably doomed...but there is a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel.

:You see, the thickness of the plastic seems to affect GPS. Also, the amount of stress on it affects it. While some toys are known for breaking just by having their packages opened—guys like Randy, Roadblock and ''Generation 2'' Slingshot—others, like Skyquake and Pyro, can remain very strongly intact because the parts that are made of GPS plastics are large and thick and otherwise robust. GPS is an inconsistent process—eventually your toy '''will''' crumble, but there's no telling how long it will take. With delicate handling (read: almost none) you can maintain a GPS-afflicted toy in your collection for quite some time.

:Also remember that the evidence for Gold Plastic Syndrome is completely observational. There seems to be some evidence that different plastic batches were less affected, that some releases of the toys were less affected. You might luck out and get an Electro that never crumbles to dust, or you might be really unlucky and get multiple Electros, all of which break horribly. This page is a caution more than anything else. Know what you're getting into when you buy a toy known to be afflicted by GPS.

==Toys commonly associated with Gold Plastic Syndrome==
====Generation 1====
* [[Scorponok (G1)|BlackZarak]]
:Rather depressingly, BlackZarak's feet and shield tend to shatter. Since both parts have to be under stress to function as intended, this particularly expensive toy is almost never intact. The Black Roritchi repaint of [[Fasttrack (Scorponok)|Fasttrack]] included with him is almost ''entirely'' made of gold plastic. Good luck...
* [[Bristleback]]
:Bristleback on his own isn't in much danger, as he has a fairly minimal amount of moving parts. However, when combining with the other Monster Pretenders, sliding the Monstructor fist in place will usually be enough to create a large crack through his legs, sometimes even splitting them entirely.
* [[Roadblock (G1)|Roadblock]]
:The innermost robot has three peg holes, two in the fists and one on his back, that are particularly susceptible to cracking and shattering, leaving many a Roadblock hand-less.
* [[Skyhammer (G1)|Skyhammer]]
:One of the most notorious toys. The entire bottom of his large vehicle shell is made of gold plastic and it is very prone to breakage. Not to mention how much gold plastic is on his inner shell and his robot mode.
* [[Slog]]
:Slog is notable because his gimmick requires another toy (Birdbrain) to be inserted up inside his gold sections. His thin gold sides will crumble like a good fruit cake (just not as moist) if Birdbrain jostles around too much.
* [[Killbison]]
{{-}}
[[Image:GPSSkyquakescope.jpg|thumb|Well, crap.]]

====Generation 1-2 Transitional Phase====
* [[Skyquake (G1)|Skyquake]]
:Skyquake is another toy notable for having a gimmick which makes the whole thing worse. Skyquake actually has two colours of metallic plastic on him: One is a dark bronze, the other a light bronze. It is the light bronze plastic that is most likely to break. Unfortunately, the light bronze plastic also forms Skyquake's scope. You're supposed to put a Predator jet's scope slide into that part of him. But the union is not pleasant for the one on the receiving end. Take a look at the picture to the right. These are the parts left of Skyquake's scope after another Predator tried to unite with him. Actually...that's not even all the parts, that's just all that could be found.

:This is a gimmick which should never be used by modern collectors. Never, ever, ever, ever. Watch out for the movable panel on the back of his head, too, as it's the same light bronze plastic.

* [[Pyro (G1)|Pyro]]
:Although he can be something of a trouper in comparison to other victims on this page, Pyro's waist can break very easily if not handled with care.
{{-}}
====Generation 2====
* [[Electro]]
[[Image:Electrobrokenknee.jpg|thumb|Oh, God, my knee! MY KNEEEEEEE!!]]

:There's a reason that Electro sits up at the top of this page. Poor guy just can't catch a break.

:Wait...actually, no. That's the entire problem. The poor guy totally ''can'' catch a break. All the time. Because he is designed to die.

* [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]]
:Slingshot is infamous for being made almost entirely of gold plastic, and he has been reported to come apart straight out of the package.<ref>http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/msg/2b8b3dec846e5479?hl=en</ref> Worse, he's known for being another toy whose gimmick will destroy him. Slingshot's head is a post which is designed to plug into [[Silverbolt_(G1)|Silverbolt]] (or any other Scramble City leader), so that Slingshot can form an arm or a leg. Doing this will destroy your Slingshot.
{{-}}

====Beast Wars====
* [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]
[[Image:Goldplasticgrimlock.jpg|thumb|He's hopping mad! ... Okay, fine. YOU do better.]]
:Take a look at the picture to the right. Grimlock's gold plastic can break pretty damned hard. The fact that he uses a gold plastic ball joint for his hips is not really a good thing. Common breakages include the insides of his legs (where his chest pegs into them in beast mode) and his mutant face (which is very thin).
* [[Randy (BWN)|Randy]]
:Poor Randy. This is one of the legendary Gold Plastic Syndrome toys. Imagine, if you will, a toy with an entirely spring-loaded transformation made entirely out of gold plastic. Ouch, right? Well, don't worry. You'll never have to see what a mess that could be, because this toy will shatter into a million pieces the moment you open it. Ouch.
{{-}}
[[Image:Brownplasticsyndrome.jpg|thumb|The one picture for the wiki you never want to be able to make.]]
* [[Megatron (BW)|''Transmetal'' Megatron]]
:He'll snap at the waist, the shoulders, the ... well, anything that's made of that brown plastic. This is technically Brown Plastic Syndrome, but regardless of what you call it this toy will end in sadness. The Japanese ''Metals'' version uses black instead of the brown, so it seems to be immune. The fragility of the waist may be due to GPS, a [[design flaw]], or a combination of both.
* [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]]
:Despite having a dangerously large amount of bronze plastic, Magnaboss Silverbolt IS fairly stable. The main breakage point is where his tail connects to his body. As well, [[Skywarp (BWII)|Skywarp]], his Japanese counterpart, is just as likely to suffer from this. That said, just...be careful, okay? Be careful.
* [[Soundwave (BW)|Soundwave]]
:His entire fraggin' body is composed of gold plastic, so it's a crap shoot. The places on his body where the sides hinge open as part of his transformation are the first to go, however.
* [[Torca]]
:His legs, tail hinge and sides are prone to Gold Plastic Syndrome.
{{-}}

====Beast Machines====
*[[Snarl (BM)|Snarl]]
:Snarl is an atrocious example of a victim to Gold Plastic Syndrome, it seems that the longer the figures are left in sealed packages, the more brittle they are upon opening said packages... Where all manner of extremities will simply snap off, most easily among these being the ankles.
{{-}}

====Universe (2003)/Cybertron====
*[[Megabolt]]
:Having limbs cast primarily in gold plastic is not a good thing. Fracture points include his forearms, the holes that lock his arms in place in crawling head mode, lower legs near the knees, and his head.

*[[Transformers: Armada (toyline)| Armada]] [[Optimus Prime (Armada) |Optimus Prime]]
: Having gold plastic joints is never a good idea especially when it is the arm and needs to bend both ways for transformation.

*[[Micromaster]] [[Superion (Universe)|Superion]] (initially a [[KB Toys]] [[exclusive]] ''[[Transformers: Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'' release in the USA, later also available at CVS Pharmacy stores; mass-retail ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'' release in Europe), released in 2006, suffers from this as of 2010, particularly the peg that connects [[Ro-Tor (Universe)|Ro-Tor]] to Superion's torso piece.<ref name="tfwsuper">[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-toy-discussion/300674-warning-universe-micromaster-superion-suffers-gold-plastic-syndrome.html TFW2005 thread about Micromaster Superion suffering from Gold Plastic Syndrome, with multiple reports,</ref>
{{-}}

====Star Wars: Transformers====
* [[Millennium Falcon]] / [[Han Solo]] & [[Chewbacca]]
:Particularly, the Chewbacca half suffers from GPS. His legs can lock up and ultimately snap off. His upper arms are also said to fall victim as well. <ref>http://www.seibertron.com/toys/gallery.php?id=2481&size=0&start=101</ref>
{{-}}

====Other notable instances====
* [[Serpentor]]
:While not a Transformer, he is also known to suffer from this problem—especially through his hips, given the leg construction found on G.I. Joe toys of the era.

==Toys often mistaken for having GPS==

A number of toys have gold parts that easily break not due to the plastic used, but due to structural problems with the part designs themselves.

* [[Predator (subgroup)|Predator]] [[missile]] launchers
:The Predator launcher pegs are notorious for breaking off, but this is due to their size. Those pegs are ''tiny''; many other weapons with a similar peg have the same problem. However, the Predator launchers are worse off, as they are also used by larger figures like Skyquake. Also, the "false" trigger is known to break off, as it doesn't have a hinge, relying on the plastic to bend. (The actual trigger is a small, black, internal piece.) If the Predator launchers actually had GPS, the strength of the spring would cause them literally to explode.

* [[Thunder Clash]]
:Thunder Clash's gold feet are often broken due to the design of the ratcheting transformation joint. The ratchets are so stiff that you're more likely to pry his feet apart before the ratchets budge. Like the Predator launchers, if this ''was'' due to GPS, Thunder Clash's launcher barrels would literally explode due to the very strong springs.

* ''[[Movie (toyline)|Movie]]'' [[Legends Class]] [[Scorponok (Movie)|Scorponok]]
:Legends Scorponok's tail stinger, originally soft and bendy, tends to harden after a while, and then becomes prone to breaking. While the stinger ''is'' made of a gold plastic type, the cause for this problem appears to be an inferior plasticizer rather than traditional Gold Plastic Syndrome.

==Etymology==
The term was coined in an [[alt.toys.transformers]] post made by user Sky Shadow in September 2002.<ref>http://groups.google.co.uk/group/alt.toys.transformers/msg/2b3d532961b2c2dc</ref> A post by [[Dave Edwards|Dave "Zobovor" Edwards]], meanwhile, made in June of the previous year,<ref>http://groups.google.co.uk/group/alt.toys.transformers/msg/6ed7e0f3586f37e4</ref> is the earliest identifiable acknowledgment of the widespread nature of the phenomenon within the Transformers fan community.

==Fiction==
===Transformers Animated===
At some point during the great war, a vaccine for Gold Plastic Syndrome was developed by [[Red Alert (Animated)|Red Alert]]. {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|The AllSpark Almanac II}}

==External links==
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcjAUN5Ssj8 Demonstration of Gold Plastic Syndrome in effect at Youtube]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Animated]]
[[Category:Diseases]]
[[Category:Toys]]

Combiner

2012-09-08T00:35:47Z

Slag124: /* Not combiners */

[[Image:studioox_combiners_whatif.jpg|right|400px|thumb|Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.]]
A '''combiner''' is a group of Transformers that assemble and combine their bodies into a single machine, or that composite machine itself. Most combiners form a larger Super Robot with its own unique personality (a character in its own right), but other varieties of combiner exist, forming vehicles, weapons, or other items. Combiners tend to be considerably larger and more powerful than the average Transformer, equivalent to strategic-grade weapons.

There are a number of combiner-related terms that can be easy to mix up, partially because some of them are used interchangeably. Additionally, most of them have no formal definition and thus may be used differently by different fans. Consequently, most of the discussion which follows should not be taken as the word of [[Primus]], but as a rough description of common usage.

==Terms for combiners==
[[Image:Combiner logo.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Worst...logo...ever.]]
'''Combiner''': As above, a member of a group of Transformers who assemble into a composite form. Also refers to that composite form itself. This is the most general term for all combining Transformers. "Combiner" is the most common term for combining Transformers that has been used by Hasbro in an official capacity, starting with the ''[[Micromaster]] Combiners'' from 1990 (with the exception of the more limited "special teams" and a recent official use of the term "gestalt"), having even appeared with its own logo on ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (franchise)|Robots in Disguise]]'' toy packaging.

[[Image:DevastatorDissectionDreamwave.jpg|right|250px|thumb|What, no Terror Claws? No Cranium Regulation Unit? What kind of lame dissection is this?!]]
'''Gestalt''': Fan-terminology for a certain class of combiners—generally used only for "big robot" combiners with emergent personalities. The term is nebulously defined, such that some fans would consider a two-member combiner such as [[Squawkbox]] a gestalt, but other fans would not. This is probably the fandom's second most frequently-used term for combining Transformers. Its use in Transfandom is derived from the principle of [[wikipedia:gestalt_psychology|gestalt psychology]], which is sometimes simplified to mean "greater/different than the sum of its parts," though a few fans consider this term pretentious and obtuse. The term remained firmly in realm of [[fanon]] for years, although it did appear in some ''[[Transformers: Energon (franchise)|Energon]]'' design sketches implying that Hasbro designers used the term occasionally, until in 2007 "gestalt" [[Canonizing|made its first official appearance]], in the bio of the ''[[Titanium Series]]'' [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] toy, once more in 2007's "[[Spotlight: Optimus Prime]]" referring to [[Monstructor (G1)|Monstructor]], and again in 2009 in the "[[First (and Second) in Flight]]" comic where [[Perceptor (Animated)|Perceptor]] describes [[Jetfire (Animated)|Jetfire's]] & [[Jetstorm (Animated)|Jetstorm's]] combination into [[Safeguard (Animated)|Safeguard]] as a sort of "gestalt powerlink".

'''Scramble City combiner''': A specific type of [[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]] giant gestalt that follows the five-member design featured in the Japanese [[Scramble City (toyline)|''Scramble City'' toyline]]. The team leader is larger than the other members and forms the main body of the combiner, while the others are smaller and form the limbs. The limbs are interchangeable, although there is always a generally-accepted “normal” formation. Further, the limbs are interchangeable from one Scramble City-style combiner to another, making for a large number of bizarre combinations. (See [[Abomenaticus]], [[Cybertron Super Scramble]], [[Comperian]], [[Destron Super Scramble]], and [[Scramble 7]].) Limbs are also able to attach to and augment Metroplex & Metrotitan (see "Notes" below). Note that this term is purely descriptive rather than being a proper name.

'''Special Team''': A synonym for Scramble City-style combiner. When the ''Scramble City'' toys were marketed in Europe they were referred to as Special Teams, and the term even appeared in the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|UK comic book]] series. The term was used in some marketing materials in the US, such as packing lists for the toy [[Case|case assortments]], but never appeared in US fiction until the [[Transformers: The Ultimate Guide|''Ultimate Guide'']] was published in 2004. It was also used as the name for a [[Target]] [[exclusive]] five-pack of [[redeco]]s of ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'' [[Legends Class|Legends]] toys released under the ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'' banner, "Special Team Leaders". Ironically, none of these toys were actually ''combiners''—the term simply referred to the ''characters'', since the redecos were [[homage]]s to the leaders of ''Generation 1'' combiner times, four of which were Scramble City-style combiners.

'''Super Robot''': A robot which is formed through the combination of two or more Transformers. Powered-up robot modes composed of only one Transformer who combines with some of their own accessories are often also referred to as Super Robots, such as [[Powermaster]] [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] or the incarnations of Prime from ''Robots in Disguise'' and all three ''[[Unicron Trilogy]]'' series. It is probably safe to informally refer to any such mode as a Super Robot (thus including, say, G1 [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] and ''Energon'' [[Landmine (Energon)|Landmine]]). Note that this means Super Robots are not always combiners and do not have to have their own personality. Rather, Super Robot and combiner are two different categories of Transformer which ''sometimes'' overlap. A one-robot Super Robot may also be referred to as that robot's [[Super Mode]].

'''Fusilateral quintrocombiner''': Coined by [[Simon Furman]] in [[Swarm (issue)|issue 9]] of the [[Transformers: Generation 2 (Marvel)|''Generation 2'' comic]] to refer to the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]]. It presumably is meant to refer to all the Scramble City-style teams except possibly the Seacons, as their combined forms consist of six robots (not five, so they could possibly be fusilateral hexocombiners I guess...). It may also apply to the Predacons, but it doesn't matter because nobody uses this term anyway.

'''Amalgam model''': Yet another obscure term for combiners first used by Simon Furman via [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] in the "[[Devastation Derby!]]" story in the UK comic books.

==Types of combiner==
As mentioned above, most combiners form a super robot. However, there are many other types of combining in the Transformers multiverse.

In the ''Energon'' franchise, most of the Autobot characters were able to combine with each other in pairs much like ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory (franchise)|Victory]]'''s [[Multiforce]]. These combined forms can probably be considered Super Robots. The combined form was simply controlled by whichever Autobot was "on top". Make whatever jokes you will.

''Generation 1'' contains many examples of combined [[Alternate mode|alternate modes]], including [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]], [[Dreadwing (G1)|Dreadwing]], [[Big Powered]], the [[Triple Combination Battlestar Attack|Battlestar]], and the [[Targetmaster|Double Targetmasters]].

The [[Micromaster Combiner|Micromaster Combiners]] are made up of Transformers whose altmodes combine into vehicles, with one partner being the front and another the rear. The combined forms do not have specific names. Thanks to the generic peg-and-socket connection method used, any two Micromaster combiners can be linked (though some such as the dump truck/space shuttle combo may attract comment). These altmode combiners should not be confused with the Micromaster "Sixcombiners", six-robot teams who combine to form a Super Robot.

The [[Unicron Trilogy]]'s [[Mini-Con|Mini-Cons]] brought to the fiction combined weapon modes, like the [[Star Saber (Armada)|Star Saber]] & [[Vorpal Saber]] swords, [[Requiem Blaster (Armada)|Requiem Blaster]] cannon, and [[Skyboom (Armada)|Skyboom Shield]].

The [[Power Core Combiners]] use a different type of combining method. Instead of using 5 robots, the combined final robot is formed by one "Commander" type robot, and 4 different drones that form the arms and legs.

==Not combiners==
Not all cases of multiple things attaching to each other are combiners. As mentioned above, many Super Robots—which are formed through a conglomeration of parts—are not combiners. [[Landmine (Energon)|''Energon'' Landmine]], for example.

A similar case can be found in [[multi-component Transformer|Transformers who have two or more "components" which combine into a single entity]]. [[Sky Lynx (G1)|G1 Sky Lynx]] has lynx and dino-bird components, [[Omega Supreme (G1)|G1 Omega Supreme]] has tank, base, and rocket components, and [[Magmatron]] has three dinosaur components. However, all of these components are considered to be "part of" the overall Transformer, even through they can act independently. The [[Duocon]]s are another case of this sort. All of these examples are ''not'' combiners because there is only ''one'' Transformer involved in each of them, regardless of how many bodies that Transformer may simultaneously operate. Such robots are occasionally referred to as "Reverse Combiners" within the fandom.

(Confusing things further are the comics which treated Sky Lynx and the Duocons as triple changers, able to transform between the combined mode and the ones for individual components without any parts separating off.)

Sometimes a smaller Transformer will attach to and enhance a larger Transformer in some way. This is the case when Mini-Cons powerlink with bulks, as well as with [[Binary bonding|binary-bonded]] partners like [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]], [[Powermaster]]s/[[Godmaster]]s, [[Kiss Player]]s and [[Breastforce]] (haha)members. Although these examples do include more than one Transformer (or a Transformer and a fleshling), they are not considered "combiners". The simplest justification for this is that, in these cases, the "combined" form is almost exactly the same in appearance as the non-combined form.

And sometimes [[Beast (G1)|things just combine for no real reason at all. Just deal with it. We hate it, oh God yes, but there it is. We're sorry.]]

==Fiction==
===Generation 1===
====Marvel comics continuity====
=====Combiner teams=====
{{noteukonly}}
The [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]]s were designed and built by [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] as the first combiner team. They were given life through [[Matrix of Leadership|Creation Matrix]] energy stored in [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]]'s head. The Constructicons had considerable difficulty coordinating together as Devastator in their first mission. {{storylink|The Next Best Thing to Being There!}}

Optimus Prime assigned a secret project to the architect [[Grapple]]. {{storylink|Rock and Roll-Out!}}

''The [[Special Teams]] were first conceived within [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]]'s mind shortly after the human had relinquished control of the Creation Matrix to Optimus Prime. Shockwave was able to view this data remotely and prepare for their development.'' {{storylink|Second Generation!}}

Grapple's project was finished and revealed as [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]], who was able to combine his rocket and tank modules into one mighty robot. This form of combination was considered inadequate next to the combination of the six Constructicon warriors, so the Autobots decided to learn learn how to utilize the more advanced technology. They staged an attack on a Decepticon coal mining base which drew out the Constructions. When they combined, [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] was there recording their transformation pattern. {{storylink|Command Performances!}} They used this information to construct the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbot]]s. Unfortunately, they were forced to go on their first mission with only [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt's]] personality programming completed, leaving the rest of the team, and [[Superion (G1)|Superion]], rather indifferent towards [[human]] casualties. {{storylink|Aerialbots over America!}} After their first mission proved a failure, Optimus Prime had [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] wipe their memory, and started reprogramming them with the Creation Matrix. However, [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]], who had gotten a lift to the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] on Silverbolt's plane mode, had injected Optimus Prime with a [[cerebro-shell]] with which [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] was able to steal energy from the Creation Matrix and bring his newly-built combiner team, the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]] to life. {{storylink|Heavy Traffic!}} The [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobot]]s and [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticon]]s next combiner teams to become part of their faction's Earth-bound crew. {{storylink|Afterdeath!}}

{{note|The exact origin of the Protectobots and Combaticons is not revealed.}}

''The combining [[Predacon (G1)|Predacon]]s were summoned to Earth from Cybertron by Megatron.'' {{storylink|Prey!}} The Predacons were ''again'' summoned to Earth by Shockwave. {{storylink|Gone but Not Forgotten!}} The [[Technobot (G1)|Technobot]]s were part of [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]]'s crew and the [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcon]]s were part of [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]'s crew on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. They had the ability to combine. {{storylink|The Transformers: Headmasters|Headmasters}} ''The [[Seacon (G1)|Seacon]]s were combiners that were summoned from Cybertron to Earth by Shockwave.'' {{storylink|Enemy Action!}} They later came under the command of [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]]. {{storylink|Club Con!}}

{{note|It is not revealed how the Combiner technology that was developed on Earth was found among these Cybertron based crews. Some of the Decepticons on Cybertron were in contact with Earth Decepticons, so perhaps the technology was passed along and the Cybertron Autobots stole it from the Cybertron Decepticons. Or the Cybertron Transformers just developed the technology independently.}}

=====Other combiners=====
[[Darkwing]] and [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] combine to form [[Dreadwing (G1)|Dreadwing]]. {{storylink|People Power!}} They appear to keep their individual personalities in their combined mode instead of merging their minds.

====Cartoon continuity====
On Cybertron, the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]] were existing Transformers who were brainwashed by [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] to become Decepticons. Megatron also adapted them with the ability to combine into [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] to challenge [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]. Omega Supreme pursued the Constructicons for millions of years. {{storylink|The Secret of Omega Supreme}} In 1984, the Constructicons were (re?)created on [[Earth]] with the ability to combine to bolster the Decepticons' strength. {{storylink|Heavy Metal War}}

{{note|For more on the conflicting origin of the Constructicons, see [[Constructicon (G1)#Origin inconsistency|here]].}}

The [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticon]]s and [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbot]]s were built from scratch and given personality by [[Vector Sigma]]. They were designed with the ability to combine. {{storylink|The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2}}

[[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] installed the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticon]]s [[personality component]]s into junked military vehicles. This brought the vehicles to life with the ability to combine. {{storylink|Starscream's Brigade}}

The [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobot]]s became part of the Autobot forces on Earth and were able to combine. {{storylink|The Revenge of Bruticus}}

Years later, the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacon]]s originated as combiners under the command of the [[Quintesson]]s. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5}} The combinable [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcon]]s were part of [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]'s troops. An intellectually enhanced [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] created the [[Technobot (G1)|Technobot]]s with the ability to combine. {{storylink|Grimlock's New Brain}}

====Dreamwave comics continuity====
Experiments in combining were conducted both before and during the early phase of the civil war, in a process known as [[mass intellect]]. However, the combined forms suffered in that the stronger minds tended to drown out the weaker ones. Following the failure of the planetary engine turbines, the Constructicons turned their attention to the mass intellect process. They eventually developed a hyper vortex processor that managed to preserve the individuals minds in the combined whole. Testing the process on themselves, the Constructicons combined into Devastator. While the Constructicons were able to preserve their minds, Devastator was hampered by the need of all six Constructicons to agree on a course of action, which was usually destroy the Autobots. As a result, the combined intellects of the Constructicons did not translate to Devastator, who instead suffered serious mental disabilities. Despite this, Devastator's destructive capabilities greatly pleased Megatron, and he ordered the Constructicons to continue their experiments. {{storylink|Transformers: The Ultimate Guide}}
{{stub}}

====IDW comics continuity====
[[Monstructor (G1)|Monstructor]] was the first combiner and was designed through experimentation by [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]]. Unfortunately, in this first prototype, the merging process led to insanity. The team was captured by the Autobots {{storylink|Spotlight: Optimus Prime}} and placed into the custody of [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] while [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] and the [[Technobot (G1)|Technobot]] studied them with the goal of rehabilitating them. The technology stymied Jetfire, who estimated it would take a lot more study before progress could be made. He didn't get the chance, however, since the [[Pretender Monster|Monstructor Six]] were soon captured by the [[Decepticon Secret Service]]. {{storylink|Spotlight: Arcee}} Monstructor was then captured by unidentified minions of [[Nova Prime|Nemesis Prime]] {{storylink|Spotlight: Hardhead}} and used to guard the [[Nega-Core]] on Rotan. He was engaged in combat by the Decepticon Secret Service and [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] while the Autobots sneaked around him. {{storylink|Spotlight: Sideswipe}}

One year later, the Decepticons have the combiner [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] as part of their army. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 2}}

Two years after that, [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] modified the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]] to be able to form [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] under [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod's]] nose and attempted to use the Combiner to kill [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]], any other Autobots as were in reach, and steal a space ship Hot Rod's Autobots and the Decepticons with Swindle had both been working on to get off Earth. {{storylink|Enemies of the System}}

===Robots in Disguise===
Robots in Disguise loves combiners. In fact, the majority of the cast combine in one way or another.

=====One-robot combiners=====
*In the television show, [[Megatron (RID)|Megatron/Galvatron]] was able to transform into his hand mode and then combine with his ship, the ''[[Megastar]]''.
*[[Optimus Prime (RID)|Optimus Prime]] is able to combine with his "base" to form a super robot.

=====Two-robot combiners=====
*[[Optimus Prime (RID)| Optimus Prime]] is capable of combining with his [[Relatives| brother]] [[Ultra Magnus (RID)| Ultra Magnus]] to form [[Omega Prime]].

=====Three-robot combiners=====
*[[Team Bullet Train]], consisting of [[Midnight Express (RID)|Midnight Express]], [[Railspike (RID)|Railspike]] and [[Rapid Run (RID)|Rapid Run]], combine into [[Rail Racer (RID)|Rail Racer]].
*[[Fortress Maximus (RID)|Fortress Maximus]] is technically a three robot combination, [[Cerebros (RID)|Cerebros]] and [[Emissary]] combine together to form Fortress Maximus' head, which connects to the body.

=====Four-robot combiners=====
*The [[Build Team]], [[Wedge]], [[Grimlock (RID)|Grimlock]], [[Heavy Load (RID)|Heavy Load]] and [[Hightower (RID)|Hightower]], can combine into the robot [[Landfill (RID)|Landfill]].

=====Five-robot combiners=====
*The combined form of the [[Commandos]] is a being named [[Ruination (RID)| Ruination]]. This combiner is controlled almost entirely by [[Mega-Octane]], in order to be a more effective, coordinated being than most other combiners.

{{stub}}

===Armada===
[[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] could combine with his trailer to form a Super Mode robot. With this ability at his disposal, he beat the tar out of every Decepticon at least once. Then a new magic mushroom appeared: [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]]. During a battle with the Decepticons, the Autobots were totally getting slagged by [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]]'s new tactician [[Thrust (Armada)|Thrust]] and his 'henchman' [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]]. Right when it seemed hopeless, a space shuttle fell from the sky and combined with Optimus to form Jet Optimus. Needless to say, Megatron was rather surprised. The Decepticons kept trying to beat the Autobots and miserably failed each time, frequently due to this new team-up, which also helped the Autobots survive and win [[the Unicron Battles]]. A third magic mushroom appeared late on in the series literally out of nowhere. Prime's new 'shroom, named [[Overload (Armada)|Overload]], formed a large pair of cannons on top of Super Optimus's shoulders. Overload's additional firepower, combined with the already impressive firepower of the Requiem Blaster, enabled Optimus to destroy the being known as [[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]].

The Decepticons were not without their own combiner; Tidal Wave was able to combine with Megatron to form additional armor and a back-mounted rocket pack. The only practical upshot of this is that Megatron could now fly, which came in handy from time to time.

The three [[Mini-Con]] companions of the humans Rad, Alexis and Carlos could band together to form Perceptor. There were three other Mini-Con combiner teams who could form the [[Star Saber (Armada)|Star Saber]], the [[Skyboom (Armada)|Skyboom Shield]] and the [[Requiem Blaster (Armada)|Requiem Blaster]]. A fourth weapon existed as a dark clone of the Star Saber, wielded by the evil [[Nemesis Prime (Armada)|Nemesis Prime]].

===Energon===
During this period, one couldn't swing a dead cybercat without hitting a combiner, as every Autobot, save for the Omnicons, was capable of merging with another, or with an augmenting portion of his vehicle mode. Then the [[Bruticus Maximus (Energon)|three]] [[Constructicon Maximus|Maximus]] [[Superion Maximus|teams]] arrived, giving the Decepticons two five-part combiners and the Autobots one.
{{see|Spark of Combination}}

===Live-action film series===
Experimental combiner technology was developed by the Decepticons for combat advantage (yeah, that's right, the 'Cons do invent stuff themselves sometimes) and then used on the [[Constructicon (ROTF)|Constructicon]]s who are able to form [[Devastator (ROTF)|Devastator]]. Comfort was rather decidedly not on the top of the list of priorities and, as a result, the process is brutally painful to the Transformers involved, which also makes the combiners fuse in a very aggressive and painful manner (it's a vicious circle). The mental and physical torture involved leaves Devastator only interested in causing destruction.<ref>Devastator's [http://www.hasbro.com/transformers/en_US/discover/Battle-Bios.cfm Battle Bio] at Hasbro.com</ref>

[[Knock Out (ROTF)|Knock Out]] hopes to undergo the "combination retrofit" process.<ref>Knock Out's toy bio.</ref>

{{note|No details are given regarding this "combination retrofit" technology, but it is a possible factor in [[Skids (ROTF)|Skids]] and [[Mudflap (ROTF)|Mudflap]]'s ice cream truck mode.}}

Combiners are not limited to one combination scheme. Their final form may also vary.<ref>[http://unicron-events-interviews.blogspot.com/2009/10/hasbro-q-10212009.html Hasbro's answer to Unicron.com] as part of the [[Hasbro Q&A/October 2009#Unicron.com|October 2009 Q&A]].</ref>

===Aligned===
Combining was an ancient art on Cybertron, but [[Shockwave (Prime)|Shockwave]] took it further in his experiments, creating the uncontrollable [[Bruticus (Prime)|Bruticus Maximus]] when working at [[Crystal City]]. In [[Kaon]], he created the three combining [[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticon]]s and during the war he perfected his experiments with the [[Constructicon (WFC)|Constructicon]] [[Devastator (WFC)|Devastator]]s. In response, the Autobots created [[Defensor (Prime)|Defensor]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus}}

==Combiner list==
{{note|Due to the many uses of redecoes as new characters and convenience for reading, each mold is listed on its own line, with all different-character decoes/retools on the same line.}}
;Combiners with two members
*[[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Jet Optimus]]
*[[Mega-Dinobot]]
*[[Decibel]]
*[[Legout]]
*[[Slamdance (G1)]]
*[[Squawkbox]]
*[[Dreadwing (G1)]] / [[Darkwings]]
*[[Stormtrooper (Cybertronian)|Stormtrooper]]s
*[[Multiforce]] members
**[[Wingwaver]]
**[[Dashtacker]]
**[[Machtackle]] 
*[[Dreadwing (G2)]] / [[Formation Scream]] / [[Dreadwing (RID)]] / [[Gigant Sniper]]
*[[Powered Master|Powered Masters]]
**[[Sky Powered]]
**[[Land Powered]]
**[[Big Powered]] ''(actually consists of three members)''
*[[Powerlinx#Energon| Silver and Gold Powerlinx users]]
*[[Safeguard (Animated)]]
*[[Skids (ROTF)]] and [[Mudflap (ROTF)]] in ice cream truck mode

;Combiners formed by main bodies with power-up partners
:''See also: [[Super Mode]]''
*[[Ginrai|God Ginrai]]
*[[Star Saber (Victory)|Victory Saber]]
*[[Omega Prime]]
*The combined form of [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Wing Saber (Energon)|Wing Saber]]
*[[Optimus Supreme (Energon)]]
*[[Optimus Prime Super Modes#Live-action film series|Power Up Optimus Prime]] (''aka'' [[Optimus Prime Super Modes#Live-action film series|Jetpower Optimus Prime]])

{{note|Optimus Prime and Jetfire are not a combiner in the fiction — Optimus simply uses Jetfire's corpse as parts to enhance his strength and firepower.}}

;Combiners with three or more members (non-Scramble City-type)
*[[Devastator (G1)]]
*[[Devastator (ROTF)]]
*[[Predaking]]
*[[Raiden]]
*[[Monstructor (G1)]] / [[Dinoking]]
*[[Road Caesar]]
*[[Liokaiser]]
*[[Big Rescue Force]]
*[[Landcross (Victory)|Landcross]]
*[[Magnaboss]] / [[Magnaboss II]]
*[[MegaWing Galvatron]]
*[[Dark MegaWing Galvatron]]
*[[Prime Processing Unit]] {{storylink|Collect and Save}}
*[[Tripredacus]] / [[Tripledacus]]
*[[Rail Racer (RID)]]
*[[Landfill (RID)]] / [[Constructicon Devastator (Ultra)]]
*Unnamed [[Minibot combiner]] {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 8|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 8}}
*[[Beast (G1)|Beast]] {{storylink|The Beast Within|The Beast Within}}
*[[Insectrain]] {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 2}}
*[[Reedman]]
*"[[Deceptigod]]"

;Scramble City-type combiners
*[[Bruticus (G1)]] / [[Battle Gaia]] / [[Ruination (RID)|Ruination]]
*[[Defensor (G1)]] / [[Guard City]]
*[[Menasor (G1)]]
*[[Superion (G1)]]
*[[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]]
*[[Computron (G1)|Computron]]
*[[Piranacon (G1)|Piranacon]]<ref name="seacon">With extra "limb" robot used as weapon.</ref> / [[King Poseidon]]<ref name="seacon" /> / [[God Neptune]]
*[[Bruticus (Prime)]] / [[Ruination (Generations)]]

;Official mix-n-match Scramble City-type combiners
* [[Abomenaticus]]
* [[Comperian]]
* [[Cybertron Super Scramble]]
* [[Destron Super Scramble]]
* [[Scramble 7]]

;Micromaster-type combiners
*[[Micromaster Combiner]] Squads
**[[Barrage (Micromaster)|Barrage]] and [[Heave]]
**[[Blackout (G1)|Blackout]] and [[Spaceshot]]
**[[Blast Master]] and [[Phaser]]
**[[Direct-Hit (G1)|Direct-Hit]] and [[Power Punch (G1)|Power Punch]]
**[[Excavator (G1)|Excavator]] and [[Stonecruncher (G1)|Stonecruncher]] / [[Retro]] and [[Surge (G1)|Surge]]
**[[Fireshot (G1)|Fireshot]] and [[Vanquish (G1)|Vanquish]]
**[[Full-Barrel]] and [[Overflow]]
**[[Grit (G1)|Grit]] and [[Knockout (G1)|Knockout]]
**[[Half-Track (G1)|Half-Track]] and [[Meltdown (G1)|Meltdown]]
**[[Hammer (G1)|Hammer]] and [[Sledge (G1)|Sledge]] / [[Cement-Head]] and [[Terror-Tread]]
**[[Missile Master]] and [[Moonrock]]
**[[Oiler]] and [[Slide]]
**[[Power Run]] and [[Strikedown]]
**[[Roadburner]] and [[Wheel Blaze]]
*[[Sixliner]] / [[Sixtrain]]<ref>Sixtrain was redecoed and retooled from Sixliner.</ref> / [[Rail Racer (Universe)]]<ref>Universe Rail Racer uses the same deco as Takara's 2003 redecoed "reissue" of Sixtrain.</ref>
*[[Sixbuilder]] / [[Decepticon Sixbuilder]] / [[Constructicon Devastator (Micromaster)]]
*[[Sixturbo]] / [[Defensor (Universe)]]
*[[Sixwing|Sixwing / Berserker Sixwing / Destron Sixwing]] / [[Superion (Universe)]]

;Mini-Con combiners
*[[Perceptor (Armada)#Armada_3|Perceptor (Armada)]] / [[Perceptor (Universe)]]
*[[Perceptor (Armada)#Energon_3|Perceptor (Energon)]] / [[Heavy Metal (Energon)|Heavy Metal]] / [[Windcharger (Energon)]] / [[Perceptor (Armada)#Cybertron|Perceptor (Cybertron)]]
*[[Mirror]] / [[Nightcreeper]]
*[[Requiem Blaster (Armada)|Requiem Blaster]]
*[[Skyboom (Armada)]]
*[[Star Saber (Armada)]] / [[Vorpal Saber]] / [[Energon Saber]] / [[Cryo Saber]]

;Maximus-type combiners
*[[Bruticus Maximus (Energon)]] / [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus Maximus (G1)]] (Universe) / [[Bruticus Maximus (ROTF)]]
*[[Constructicon Maximus]] / [[Devastator (G1)|Constructicon Devastator (Classics)]]
*[[Superion Maximus]] / [[Superion (G1)]] (Universe) / [[Superion (ROTF)]]
*[[Nexus Prime]]

==Unused concepts==
[[Image:Generations Street Combiner.jpg|right|150px|thumb|He transforms into a traffic jam.]]
Combiners were a very popular idea during the Generation 1 toyline and as such there are loads of scrapped combiner designs that never got past the drawing board. Among them were:
*A Scramble City-style dinosaur combiner. The body is a T-Rex, while the limbs are a Pterodactyl (right arm), Ankylosaurus (left leg), Dimetrodon (left arm), and Styracosaurus (right leg)<ref>[[Transformers Generations Deluxe]], p22</ref>

*A decidedly goofy organic insect combiner composed of a stag beetle (right leg), another beetle (left leg), grasshopper (left arm), fly (right arm), and a cockroach body.<ref name="p99">[[Transformers Generations Deluxe]], p99</ref>

*A cybernetic beast combiner that did not form a robot, but rather a large cybernetic monster. It is formed from a cyber bat, mole, stag beetle, and a couple of fish things.<ref name="p99" />
*A fifteen (!) vehicle Micromaster combiner where the only attached parts not contained by the component robots were the large robot fists. This combiner consists of three uniformly colored teams (in a similar fashion to the vehicular Voltron of the same time period):
**Air team (blue)- two jets, two helicopters, a space shuttle.
**Construction team (green)- a hauler, a bulldozer, a steam shovel, a tank (don't ask), a missile carrier (don't ask).
**Street team (red)- two cars, a motorcycle, a formula racer, a jeep.<ref name="p108">[[Transformers Generations Deluxe]], p108</ref>
*Another, simpler dinosaur combiner composed of a Pterodactyl, a not-really-a-Stegosaurus, and a T-Rex with a very large head. The three combine into a dinosaur thing similar to [[Magmatron]]'s combined dino mode. It shares many visual characteristics with Tomy's relatively simple robot designs.<ref name="p108" />
[[Image:ClassicVehicombiner.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Either the smallest steamboat ever, or the largest car in existence.]]
*A five vehicle combiner (evidently not Scramble City-style in nature) composed of a steam engine (right arm), steam boat (torso), car (right leg), truck (left leg), and plane (left arm).
*A base consisting mostly of ramps and a hollow tower in the center that combined with 14 non-transforming cars and vans. Two vehicles make up each limb, with three crammed in the chest, two for feet, and one that slides into the tower's gun platform to form the head. The ramps would then act as an exoskeleton to contain all of the components.<ref name="p79">[[Transformers Generations 2009#Volume 2|Transformers Generations 2009 Vol. 2]], p79</ref>
*A robot formed from a truck cab and four cars with no robot modes that each have flip out weapon arrays. This may qualify more as a conventional "super robot" than a standard combiner, but we may never know.<ref name="p80">[[Transformers Generations 2009#Volume 2|Transformers Generations 2009 Vol. 2]], p80</ref>
*A "Duocon" (or rather, "Triocon", in this case) style robot formed by three cars. One car splits in half to form the arms, another splits for the legs, and a third folds in half to reveal the robot head and connect it all together.<ref name="p80">[[Transformers Generations 2009#Volume 2|Transformers Generations 2009 Vol. 2]], p80</ref>
*A Concorde jet that split into two robots, where the front portion's robot can pop out three wheels and a spare cockpit to give it a land mode. Presumably the larger rear robot could do the same.<ref name="p81">[[Transformers Generations 2009#Volume 2|Transformers Generations 2009 Vol. 2]], p81</ref>
*Two military convoy "trains", one good, one evil, of six vehicles each hooked together that combine along the lines of Devastator but with loads more guns. The robot core is formed by a tractor trailer that leads either convoy, the good one being long nosed, the evil one being flat, each with trailers that open up into small cannon platforms usable by the five smaller robots. Said trailers also become their respective combined form's handgun. The other five members each have a specific large weapon such as a missile rack or chaingun that they can also use in robot mode.<ref name="p83">[[Transformers Generations 2009#Volume 2|Transformers Generations 2009 Vol. 2]], p83</ref>

==Notes==
*[[Devastator (G1)|Generation 1 Devastator]] and [[Raiden]] are the only combiners from the [[Diaclone]] toyline.
*[[Scramble City (toyline)|Scramble City]]-type combiners were initially designed to be a sub-line of ''[[Diaclone]]'' called ''Jizai Gattai'' ("Free Combination"). This goes along with their ability to interact with and attach to [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] and [[Metrotitan (Zone)|Metrotitan]], the designs of which were also originally intended for the ''Diaclone'' line.
*Six of the seven released Generation 1 Scramble City-type combiners were apparently released in themed pairs, themes usually further reinforced by their team members' tech spec bios to some extent.
**Aerialbots (air vehicles) and Stunticons (ground vehicles)
**Protectobots (rescue vehicles) and Combaticons (offensive vehicles... and a space shuttle)
**Technobots (futuristic vehicles) and Terrorcons (fantastical beasts)
**The Seacons are the odd men out, but the above mentioned unreleased dinosaur Scramble City-style combiner may have been an intended adversary.
*In [[IDW Publishing|IDW]] comic continuity [[Squawkbox]] exists before Combiner technology has become available to either faction. This means that either Squawkbox is the core being and he's later split into [[Squawktalk]] and [[Beastbox (G1)|Beastbox]] or um... someone at IDW screwed up.

==Footnotes==
<references/>

[[Category:Combiners| ]]
[[Category:Fandom]]
[[Category:Gimmicks]]

Out of the Past

2012-08-31T22:36:58Z

Slag124: /* Trivia */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 43
|prev=Hurt
|next=New Recruit
|image=
|caption=
|title="Out of the Past"
|airdate=[[August 31]], [[2012]]
|written by=
|directed by=
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''Arcee and a friend uncover a feat of Decepticon engineering intending to destroy the Autobots.'''

==Synopsis==
{{comingsoon}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
|c2=
|c3=

}}

==Quotes==

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
===Continuity notes===
===Transformers references===
===Real-world references===
===Trivia===
[[Cliffjumper]] and [[Shockwave]] are in this episode!!!

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Talk:Cliffjumper (WFC)

2012-08-31T22:19:57Z

Slag124:

== I'm not supposed to die! ==
We need to work in a reference to this line from [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0419706/quotes Doom] somewhere. Tongue in cheek trivia note maybe? --[[User:Tigerpaw28|Tigerpaw28]] 01:40, 5 December 2010 (EST)

== United Cliffjumper ==

There's a dead deep link from Generations Cliffjumper to G1 Cliffjumper's page implying that Takara's version of WFC Cliffjumper is characterized as an incarnation of G1 Cliffjumper. Since there's no toy listing on G1 Cliffjumper's page, I'm really confused now. Is there evidence that Takara considers WFC as part of the G1 continuity? Or is this just completely "Takara makes everything part of G1" conjecture?--[[User:Nevermore|Nevermore]] 08:22, 8 December 2010 (EST)

== WFC Alt mode ==

I have checked both Cliffjumpers's and Bumblebee altmodes in the game (DS version) and I have noticed that their altmodes are slightly different. Clifjumper's is more square and angular resembling Animated Bumblebee, while Bumblebee's is rounder, lacking the extra angular details Cliffjumper has. Is it worth noting?-[[User:ACIDSTORM92|ACIDSTORM92]] 02:02, 7 February 2011 (EST)
:That could probably be slipped into the toy description, like pointing out that his toy's not accurate to his appearance in the game. --[[User:Abates|abates]] 02:40, 7 February 2011 (EST)
::Can I slip it in the "notes" section?-[[User:ACIDSTORM92|ACIDSTORM92]] 19:09, 11 February 2011 (EST)

== Main page is locked so I'll bring this up here ==

(an announcement that was actually very low-key,[1] but you know, fandoms)
I find the above line to be excessive, does every new page have to be full of obvious snark against fans? It used to be a little more subtle, but now the word "fandom" pops as much as "this troper" does on tvtropes and I hate to see any site become more like that place ugh. My gripe also goes with how some random dude posting something on some board=the entire opinion of the base.
:No, it's definitely true, and hardly "snarky" and "against fans". As one of those guys ''Totally Psyched'' at the idea of seeing The Rock voice Cliffjumper, I have to say it was indeed the fandom blowing it out of proportion because we're a fandom and we pay closer attention and spread out small announcements like that. --[[User:Detour|Detour]] 21:14, 28 February 2011 (EST)
::Indeed. I saw a LOT of boards go totally apeshit over Johnson's casting. And I can't say I blame them, I was stoked all to hell too. But, well, we, and I mean "we as a fandom", blew it out of proportion. We took that tiny tidbit and assumed more than the news snippets ever implied, built it up to an amazing degree. It's what fandoms do. In this case, it's a pretty harmless result, but still. --[[User:M Sipher|M Sipher]] 16:55, 1 March 2011 (EST)

== Not a Redeco? ==

Think we should mention somewhere that his Prime rendition isn't a redeco/edit of a Bumblebee? I was thinking something along the lines of: "A Cliffjumper that isn't a redeco of a Bumblebee? Blasphemy!" Anybody else thought of something similar? --[[User:Shade743|Shade743]] 13:51, 12 March 2011 (EST)
: The first Cliffjumper wasn't an anything of Bumblebee, either. --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 14:18, 12 March 2011 (EST)

==toy picture==

It's here http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/transformers-prime-39/transformers-prime-soundwave-wheeljack-and-cliffjumper-at-nycc-173564/
: We don't typically use in-person pics like that; wait for the clear stock photos. Although, on the subject of Cliff's toys, I'm wondering if we should list that apparently new mould one that we saw for the first time at NYCC, with the hammer-gun thing.

== Notes? ==

I think we should note somewhere that: This is not [[Cliffjumper (SG)|the first Cliffjumper to die and become a zombie]].[[Special:Contributions/71.255.168.14|71.255.168.14]] 17:38, 4 August 2012 (EDT)

== Out Of The Past==

Shouldn't we add that Cliffjumper is going to appear in this episode?- Ben