Nacelle (G1)

This article is about the Generation 1 Decepticon. For the Aligned Decepticon, see Nacelle (WFC){{#switch:{{#sub:Nacelle (WFC)|-1}} != .= ?= .

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Nacelle is a Decepticon Seeker from the Generation 1 continuity family.
He'll shoot you until he's red in the face. And missile launchers.

If you want a Decepticon well-versed in the arts of combat and, well, deception, you should probably call Starscream. Or Soundwave, or someone like that. If, however, you want a Decepticon eager to prove his worth, Nacelle is the guy you should call. Sure, he may not be as good at flying as most of those other guys, and his not-inconsiderable knowledge of Cybertron's history may cause him to get a bit muddled-up once in a while, but at heart, Nacelle just wants to prove he's just as good as some of those more famous Decepticons.

{{#if:Nacelle, bio card quote|
Blasting you is as cathartic as streamlining one's fuselage.
{{#if:Nacelle, bio card quote|

—Nacelle, bio card quote{{#if:|, {{{3}}}}}

}}

}}

Fiction

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Generation 1 cartoon continuity

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The Transformers cartoon

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There. Behind Hotlink's leg.

Nacelle was one of the Decepticon jets on Cybertron four million years ago. He was part of a Decepticon patrol that accosted Autobots Wheeljack and Bumblebee when they came near. The two were able to escape the Decepticons' attacks and plow through the patrol. More than Meets the Eye, Part 1

Wings Universe

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Wings Universe is based on the Generation 1 cartoon, but deviates from it in cosmetic ways and continuity points.

Nacelle was part of Starscream's science group HYDRA, working alongside Bitstream and Hotlink. As an Aerodynamics Engineer, he was assigned as the role of lab assistant to Shockwave where he engineered the wing designs used for the second wave of Earth-bound Seekers. He would eventually integrate one of these prototypes into his own body replacing his standard issue wings with a design containing high powered turbines. Nacelle's profile card

During Jhiaxus's invasion of Cybertron, Nacelle stood by at the ready on Earth as part of a joint team of Autobots and Decepticons, awaiting Obsidian's signal for their time to fight back. Once the signal came, they teleported to Cybertron and started beating on some drones. Once Eagle Eye spotted Jhiaxus on the battlefield, Nacelle and his allies attempted to converge on the enemy’s coordinates, only to be blocked off by Jhiaxus's clone army. Nacelle led Serpentor and Krok to an old sealed-off passage to circumvent the enemy forces. Though the tunnel turned out to be much too small for their use as it was, thanks to Gatoraider, it proved useful nonetheless. He arrived a little late to the battle against Jhiaxus himself, only to find himself staring down Hubcap's gun barrel. Thankfully, Jhiaxus ordered Hubcap to stand down before Nacelle got turned into one of Hubcap's gruesome architecture projects. He was shoved out of the way when Megaplex enacted his vengeance against Jhiaxus, killing the Cybertronian leader. Nacelle then helped restrain Megaplex. A Common Foe

TransTech

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Nacelle was one of many offworlders in Axiom Nexus's Under City. Nacelle was part of a crowd in Seeker-Shinai that C-81 attempted to disperse through intimidation. Unfortunately, all the Seekers present were too stunned to see a "Megatron" in Axiom Nexus to budge. Cybertron's Most Wanted

2019 IDW continuity

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Too much iron in your blood.

Nacelle, Red Wing, and Hooligan were part of the Seeker team sent to cover Cyclonus when the Decepticons recruited the old warrior to assassinate Pyra Magna. However, Pyra had brought her Companions with her; when Red Wing saw that Pyra had unleashed Windcharger on them, he shouted for Nacelle to retreat. Nacelle had no idea who he was talking about, and as a result Windcharger used his magnetic powers to rend Nacelle's body, leaving him alive but badly injured. We Are Not Meant To Be Darkness

Having evidently limped back to Decepticon HQ, Nacelle lambasted Red Wing as a coward to Wingstun. Sea of Rust I

Games

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Transformers: Battle Tactics

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Nacelle participated in battles against a variety of opponents, both Autobots and Decepticons. Sometimes there were many of him! He was a promotional Rare character available via the Space Bridge. Transformers: Battle Tactics

Toys

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Timelines

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Captain Cybertron
  • Nacelle (TFSS 3.0, 2015)
  • TFSS3 number: 2
  • Accessories: Left & right launchers, 2 missiles
Timelines Nacelle was the second toy to be revealed for the Transformers Collectors' Club Figure Subscription Service 3.0, and is yet another redeco/retool of the Classics Deluxe Class Starscream mold, this time in primarily navy blue, red and white, using the BotCon 2007 Thrust tooling's wings with the mold's original head.
Nacelle features two instances of misassembly: his tailfins are swapped, and the connectors for his wings are attached backwards. The latter defect puts a tremendous amount of stress on the tiny peg and can cause his wings to snap off at said peg if care is not taken during transformation.
Nacelle's toy appeared differently when first revealed at BotCon 2014. His face was white (instead of red) and the muzzles on his launchers were blue (instead of red).
{{#if:Classics|Classics mold:|}} Seeker

{{#if:*Hasbro:

  • Fun Publications:
  • TakaraTomy:
  • Million Publishing:

Henkei! Henkei! Starscream Ghost Version||-

style="text-align:{{{align}}};"|}}|
  • Hasbro:
  • Fun Publications:
  • TakaraTomy:
  • Million Publishing:

Henkei! Henkei! Starscream Ghost Version|}} {{#if:||-

{{{designer}}}|}}

Legacy

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Hell in Nacelle
Legacy Nacelle is a redeco of War for Cybertron: Siege Starscream, transforming into a Cybertronian "tetrajet" based on the Seekers' appearance in "More than Meets the Eye, Part 1". He includes two rifles which can mount on his upper arms or under the wings in jet mode (or in any other 5 mm port, really). As part of the Siege C.O.M.B.A.T. System, he has 5 mm ports on his biceps, forearms, shins, under his feet (vehicle-mode thrusters), and wings. The 3 mm pegs on his shins, forearms, left bicep, and the tips of his rifles can accommodate Fire Blast effects (sold separately).
There were widespread reports of Nacelles growing mold on them, appearing as a white splotchy or filmy substance; some displayed it straight out of the box, others had it visibly grow on afterwards. A little warm water and soap will take care of it.
He was part of the Amazon exclusive Pre-Cybertronian War Collection; the use of the Cybertronian jet toy is based on his appearance in the 2019 IDW Transformers comics. Nacelle was put up for preorder on July 21, 2023. He was reissued in 2025 at multiple online dealers.
The top inner box-tabs are each adorned with an insignia: Ascenticon on the left, and the Senate on the right, respectively.
{{#if:Siege|Siege mold:|}} Starscream

{{#if:Version 1:

Version 2:

style="text-align:{{{align}}};"|}}|

Version 1:

Version 2:

{{#if:||-

{{{designer}}}|}}

Notes

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Origins

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 {{#if:(Thrust early packaging art and toy prototype)|
(Thrust early packaging art and toy prototype)
}}
(Welcoming committee fan-colored model sheets; Nacelle at far right)

Nacelle formally debuted in 2014 as a result of Transformers Collectors' Club operator Fun Publications amalgamating disparate obscure elements from 30 years of Seeker lore. It's a bit complicated:

The 1984 cartoon series premiere "More than Meets the Eye, Part 1" introduced now-fan-favorite armies of generic Decepticon jets in Starscream's body-type, notably including a "welcoming committee" (fan-colored model sheet at lower right), with the fourth dark-blue member barely visible in the background. Meanwhile, 1985 saw the debut of the "Coneheads", the second-most-prominent Seeker trio, known for their distinctive wings. Over the years, fans would discover that the Coneheads underwent several revisions in their toy designs, with the most notable preliminary form employing recycled 1984 Seeker bodies with the 1985 wing molding. In the case of Thrust, the prototype toy had Thundercracker's blue torso, and it received dedicated package art (at upper right).

In 2010, the Aligned continuity novel Transformers: Exodus introduced many new Seeker names (sans illustration), including a trio named Nacelle, Bitstream, and Hotlink. For BotCon 2013, whose story was set in the Wings Universe continuity, Fun Publications attempted to give these names to longstanding Generation 1 cartoon characters, with the name "Nacelle" intended for the purple welcoming committee member. However, a series of mix-ups regarding an inaccurately-decoed Sunstorm instead led the purple guy being named Hotlink (and also spawned Red Wing). The next year, as part of the Transformers Figure Subscription Service 3.0 to close out Wings Universe, Fun Publications produced a figure named Nacelle based on the prototype Generation 1 Thrust design. The accompanying bio card nodded to the Generation 1 cartoon background character with a premise that Nacelle rebuilt his own body, justifying the difference in design. Concurrently, Nacelle's dedicated toy appeared in the comic story "A Common Foe".

Incidentally, Nacelle would go on to briefly appear in the 2019-2022 IDW comics with the Siege Starscream body-type broadly inspired by the Generation 1 cartoon tetrajets, albeit in his Fun Publication-based color scheme, which would then go on to receive a toy in the Legacy: Evolution toyline.

<ref>{{#if: "Nacelle" is because of Hotlink and Bitstream last year. The three were a group in the novel, so when making another unnamed Seeker it made sense to actually finish one of the Seeker subgroups. |""Nacelle" is because of Hotlink and Bitstream last year. The three were a group in the novel, so when making another unnamed Seeker it made sense to actually finish one of the Seeker subgroups."—|}}{{#if: https://web.archive.org/web/20160404223811/http://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/113309-tfss-30-discussion-thread-official-nacelle-pic-pg-43/page-16#entry2678452 |Jesse Wittenrich|Jesse Wittenrich}}{{#if: The Allspark |, The Allspark|}}{{#if: |, ""|}}{{#if: 2014 |, 2014{{#if: 09 |/{{#switch:{{#len:09}}|1=009|09}}{{#if: 09|/{{#switch:{{#len:09}}|1=009|09}}|}}}}|}}{{#if: https://web.archive.org/web/20160404223811/http://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/113309-tfss-30-discussion-thread-official-nacelle-pic-pg-43/page-16#entry2678452 ||}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://web.archive.org/web/20160404223811/http://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/113309-tfss-30-discussion-thread-official-nacelle-pic-pg-43/page-16#entry2678452%7C7%7C11}}%7Cweb.archive= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://web.archive.org/web/20160404223811/http://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/113309-tfss-30-discussion-thread-official-nacelle-pic-pg-43/page-16#entry2678452%7C8%7C11}}%7Cweb.archive= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://web.archive.org/web/20160404223811/http://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/113309-tfss-30-discussion-thread-official-nacelle-pic-pg-43/page-16#entry2678452%7C7%7C10}}%7Carchive.is= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://web.archive.org/web/20160404223811/http://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/113309-tfss-30-discussion-thread-official-nacelle-pic-pg-43/page-16#entry2678452%7C8%7C10}}%7Carchive.is= (archive link)|}}{{#if: | (dead link)}}
{{#if: You mean the darker blue one? The bio does say that Nacelle didn't get his new wings until after the Nemesis left Cybertron... |"You mean the darker blue one? The bio does say that Nacelle didn't get his new wings until after the Nemesis left Cybertron..."—|}}{{#if: https://web.archive.org/web/20160404223811/http://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/113309-tfss-30-discussion-thread-official-nacelle-pic-pg-43/page-16#entry2678464 |Jesse Wittenrich|Jesse Wittenrich}}{{#if: The Allspark |, The Allspark|}}{{#if: |, ""|}}{{#if: 2014 |, 2014{{#if: 09 |/{{#switch:{{#len:09}}|1=009|09}}{{#if: 09|/{{#switch:{{#len:09}}|1=009|09}}|}}}}|}}{{#if: https://web.archive.org/web/20160404223811/http://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/113309-tfss-30-discussion-thread-official-nacelle-pic-pg-43/page-16#entry2678464 ||}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://web.archive.org/web/20160404223811/http://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/113309-tfss-30-discussion-thread-official-nacelle-pic-pg-43/page-16#entry2678464%7C7%7C11}}%7Cweb.archive= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://web.archive.org/web/20160404223811/http://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/113309-tfss-30-discussion-thread-official-nacelle-pic-pg-43/page-16#entry2678464%7C8%7C11}}%7Cweb.archive= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://web.archive.org/web/20160404223811/http://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/113309-tfss-30-discussion-thread-official-nacelle-pic-pg-43/page-16#entry2678464%7C7%7C10}}%7Carchive.is= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://web.archive.org/web/20160404223811/http://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/113309-tfss-30-discussion-thread-official-nacelle-pic-pg-43/page-16#entry2678464%7C8%7C10}}%7Carchive.is= (archive link)|}}{{#if: | (dead link)}}</ref> <ref name="bc13seekers">{{#if: |""—|}}{{#if: https://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/156054-generations-selects-brown-box-revealed-pg-7/page-9#entry3834842 |Jesse Wittenrich|Jesse Wittenrich}}{{#if: The Allspark |, The Allspark|}}{{#if: |, ""|}}{{#if: 2019 |, 2019{{#if: 01 |/{{#switch:{{#len:01}}|1=001|01}}{{#if: 15|/{{#switch:{{#len:15}}|1=015|15}}|}}}}|}}{{#if: https://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/156054-generations-selects-brown-box-revealed-pg-7/page-9#entry3834842 ||}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/156054-generations-selects-brown-box-revealed-pg-7/page-9#entry3834842%7C7%7C11}}%7Cweb.archive= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/156054-generations-selects-brown-box-revealed-pg-7/page-9#entry3834842%7C8%7C11}}%7Cweb.archive= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/156054-generations-selects-brown-box-revealed-pg-7/page-9#entry3834842%7C7%7C10}}%7Carchive.is= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/156054-generations-selects-brown-box-revealed-pg-7/page-9#entry3834842%7C8%7C10}}%7Carchive.is= (archive link)|}}{{#if: yes | (dead link)}}</ref> <ref name="whois">{{#if: You're still wondering who Red Wing is though, aren't you? It goes back to BotCon 2013 and the 3-pack of Decepticon Rainmakers. The final figures in the pack were named Bitstream, Hotlink, and Sunstorm |"You're still wondering who Red Wing is though, aren't you? It goes back to BotCon 2013 and the 3-pack of Decepticon Rainmakers. The final figures in the pack were named Bitstream, Hotlink, and Sunstorm"—|}}{{#if: https://twitter.com/JesseWittenrich/status/1096941004433879040 |Jesse Wittenrich|Jesse Wittenrich}}{{#if: Twitter |, Twitter|}}{{#if: |, ""|}}{{#if: 2019 |, 2019{{#if: 02 |/{{#switch:{{#len:02}}|1=002|02}}{{#if: 17|/{{#switch:{{#len:17}}|1=017|17}}|}}}}|}}{{#if: https://twitter.com/JesseWittenrich/status/1096941004433879040 ||}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://twitter.com/JesseWittenrich/status/1096941004433879040%7C7%7C11}}%7Cweb.archive= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://twitter.com/JesseWittenrich/status/1096941004433879040%7C8%7C11}}%7Cweb.archive= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://twitter.com/JesseWittenrich/status/1096941004433879040%7C7%7C10}}%7Carchive.is= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://twitter.com/JesseWittenrich/status/1096941004433879040%7C8%7C10}}%7Carchive.is= (archive link)|}}{{#if: | (dead link)}}
{{#if: Sunstorm, though, wasn't always his name. You see in 2013, Fun Publications were beginning a partnership with eHobby in Japan. During the development of the BotCon exclusives (and Sunstorm) it was discovered that eHobby were seeking (get it?) to make their own Sunstorm. |"Sunstorm, though, wasn't always his name. You see in 2013, Fun Publications were beginning a partnership with eHobby in Japan. During the development of the BotCon exclusives (and Sunstorm) it was discovered that eHobby were seeking (get it?) to make their own Sunstorm."—|}}{{#if: https://twitter.com/JesseWittenrich/status/1096941010209464320 |Jesse Wittenrich|Jesse Wittenrich}}{{#if: Twitter |, Twitter|}}{{#if: |, ""|}}{{#if: 2019 |, 2019{{#if: 02 |/{{#switch:{{#len:02}}|1=002|02}}{{#if: 17|/{{#switch:{{#len:17}}|1=017|17}}|}}}}|}}{{#if: https://twitter.com/JesseWittenrich/status/1096941010209464320 ||}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://twitter.com/JesseWittenrich/status/1096941010209464320%7C7%7C11}}%7Cweb.archive= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://twitter.com/JesseWittenrich/status/1096941010209464320%7C8%7C11}}%7Cweb.archive= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://twitter.com/JesseWittenrich/status/1096941010209464320%7C7%7C10}}%7Carchive.is= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://twitter.com/JesseWittenrich/status/1096941010209464320%7C8%7C10}}%7Carchive.is= (archive link)|}}{{#if: | (dead link)}}
{{#if: The BotCon Sunstreaker was then changed to "Orange Seeker Jet" to allow eHobby to proceed with their plans. Everything seemed fine and on-track once again. |"The BotCon Sunstreaker was then changed to "Orange Seeker Jet" to allow eHobby to proceed with their plans. Everything seemed fine and on-track once again."—|}}{{#if: https://twitter.com/JesseWittenrich/status/1096941016203100160 |Jesse Wittenrich|Jesse Wittenrich}}{{#if: Twitter |, Twitter|}}{{#if: |, ""|}}{{#if: 2019 |, 2019{{#if: 02 |/{{#switch:{{#len:02}}|1=002|02}}{{#if: 17|/{{#switch:{{#len:17}}|1=017|17}}|}}}}|}}{{#if: https://twitter.com/JesseWittenrich/status/1096941016203100160 ||}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://twitter.com/JesseWittenrich/status/1096941016203100160%7C7%7C11}}%7Cweb.archive= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://twitter.com/JesseWittenrich/status/1096941016203100160%7C8%7C11}}%7Cweb.archive= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://twitter.com/JesseWittenrich/status/1096941016203100160%7C7%7C10}}%7Carchive.is= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://twitter.com/JesseWittenrich/status/1096941016203100160%7C8%7C10}}%7Carchive.is= (archive link)|}}{{#if: | (dead link)}}
{{#if: The BotCon toys were renamed Bitstream (teal), Nacelle (purple), and Hotlink (Orange). In homage to the trio of Seeker jets mentioned in the Aligned novels by Alex Irvine. EHobby then approached Takara with their proposal for Sunstorm... |"The BotCon toys were renamed Bitstream (teal), Nacelle (purple), and Hotlink (Orange). In homage to the trio of Seeker jets mentioned in the Aligned novels by Alex Irvine. EHobby then approached Takara with their proposal for Sunstorm..."—|}}{{#if: https://twitter.com/JesseWittenrich/status/1096941019759869952 |Jesse Wittenrich|Jesse Wittenrich}}{{#if: Twitter |, Twitter|}}{{#if: |, ""|}}{{#if: 2019 |, 2019{{#if: 02 |/{{#switch:{{#len:02}}|1=002|02}}{{#if: 17|/{{#switch:{{#len:17}}|1=017|17}}|}}}}|}}{{#if: https://twitter.com/JesseWittenrich/status/1096941019759869952 ||}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://twitter.com/JesseWittenrich/status/1096941019759869952%7C7%7C11}}%7Cweb.archive= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://twitter.com/JesseWittenrich/status/1096941019759869952%7C8%7C11}}%7Cweb.archive= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://twitter.com/JesseWittenrich/status/1096941019759869952%7C7%7C10}}%7Carchive.is= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://twitter.com/JesseWittenrich/status/1096941019759869952%7C8%7C10}}%7Carchive.is= (archive link)|}}{{#if: | (dead link)}}
{{#if: Takara, though, declined to allow eHobby to continue. Their reason was that Hasbro were planning to make their own Sunstorm. Fun Publications and eHobby both assumed this meant some kind of release of the WFC (the video game) Starscream mold since those toys were just released. |"Takara, though, declined to allow eHobby to continue. Their reason was that Hasbro were planning to make their own Sunstorm. Fun Publications and eHobby both assumed this meant some kind of release of the WFC (the video game) Starscream mold since those toys were just released."—|}}{{#if: https://twitter.com/JesseWittenrich/status/1096941021215236096 |Jesse Wittenrich|Jesse Wittenrich}}{{#if: Twitter |, Twitter|}}{{#if: |, ""|}}{{#if: 2019 |, 2019{{#if: 02 |/{{#switch:{{#len:02}}|1=002|02}}{{#if: 17|/{{#switch:{{#len:17}}|1=017|17}}|}}}}|}}{{#if: https://twitter.com/JesseWittenrich/status/1096941021215236096 ||}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://twitter.com/JesseWittenrich/status/1096941021215236096%7C7%7C11}}%7Cweb.archive= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://twitter.com/JesseWittenrich/status/1096941021215236096%7C8%7C11}}%7Cweb.archive= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://twitter.com/JesseWittenrich/status/1096941021215236096%7C7%7C10}}%7Carchive.is= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://twitter.com/JesseWittenrich/status/1096941021215236096%7C8%7C10}}%7Carchive.is= (archive link)|}}{{#if: | (dead link)}}
{{#if: As it became evident that no WFC Sunstorm was to be made, and that Takara could very well have been referring to the BotCon figure itself, Fun Publications change the convention print materials to make the Rainmakers into Bitstream (teal), Hotlink (purple) & then, yes, Sunstorm. |"As it became evident that no WFC Sunstorm was to be made, and that Takara could very well have been referring to the BotCon figure itself, Fun Publications change the convention print materials to make the Rainmakers into Bitstream (teal), Hotlink (purple) & then, yes, Sunstorm."—|}}{{#if: https://twitter.com/JesseWittenrich/status/1096941022507139078 |Jesse Wittenrich|Jesse Wittenrich}}{{#if: Twitter |, Twitter|}}{{#if: |, ""|}}{{#if: 2019 |, 2019{{#if: 02 |/{{#switch:{{#len:02}}|1=002|02}}{{#if: 17|/{{#switch:{{#len:17}}|1=017|17}}|}}}}|}}{{#if: https://twitter.com/JesseWittenrich/status/1096941022507139078 ||}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://twitter.com/JesseWittenrich/status/1096941022507139078%7C7%7C11}}%7Cweb.archive= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://twitter.com/JesseWittenrich/status/1096941022507139078%7C8%7C11}}%7Cweb.archive= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://twitter.com/JesseWittenrich/status/1096941022507139078%7C7%7C10}}%7Carchive.is= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://twitter.com/JesseWittenrich/status/1096941022507139078%7C8%7C10}}%7Carchive.is= (archive link)|}}{{#if: | (dead link)}}</ref>

References

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