Tailpipe (DOTM)

The name or term "Tailpipe" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Tailpipe (disambiguation).

Tailpipe is an Autobot from the Dark of the Moon portion of the movie continuity family.

I was a senior editor on the wiki. I knew who was supposed to be in this continuity. There was a Tailgate, but no Tailpipe.

Tailpipe and Pinpointer have been partners for years, accustomed to roughing it. Tailpipe typically uses Pinpointer by squeezing his handle tightly and firing bursts with precision. Having found a third member for their group in the form of the human Sergeant Noble, a seasoned man of experience, they make a formidable threesome within the untamed wilderness.

Fiction

Ask Vector Prime

Sergeant Jasper Nolazco's love of international travel made him the perfect partner for Tailpipe as they tracked down Decepticons across the globe. Ask Vector Prime

Toys

Dark of the Moon

• Sergeant Noble / Tailpipe & Pinpointer (Human Alliance Basic, 2011)
  • Japanese ID number: DA25

• Known designers: Andrew Scribner (deco artist)

Part of the second wave of Basic-class Dark of the Moon Human Alliance toys, Tailpipe transforms into a generic and slightly oversized motorcycle, which has two c-joint bars on the back of the bike for weapons mounting. In his hoverbike / weapon mode, the wheels swing out to the front and three curved blades fold out from each of them, with the same geared mechanism as that of Animated Prowl's shuriken. He can be held in this mode by any MechTech-compatible figure using a 5mm post on his, er, tailpipe. The tailpipe post can also act as a kickstand in vehicle mode. Interestingly the 5mm post on the tailpipe is actually a 3mm peg with a cap on it to make it 5mm. Be careful not to lose it in another bots hand.

His Targetmaster-like partner, Pinpointer, transforms from a motorcycle backbox / gun turret to a robot mode or a handgun mode, the latter of which has a 5mm post to allow Tailpipe and other MechTech-compatible figures to wield him. On earlier releases of this figure set, the tabs that connect Pinpointer to Tailpipe in vehicle mode were extremely tight and could be almost impossible to fix in place, but this was fixed in later releases.

The wheel assembly kinda hangs loose on his back, but the multiple hinges allow you to position it in a variety of different ways, and the shuriken blades are still deployable in this mode.

His four-eyed headsculpt is designed to resemble the motorcycle headlight display, but it also looks a lot like Sam Fisher-esque night vision goggles. Tilting it up reveals his actual sculpted face.

Due to the inclusion of Pinpointer, Tailpipe is somewhat smaller than the other Basic Human Alliance figures. He also lacks the C joint accessories these figures usually have.

He also comes with his human partner Sergeant Noble.

• More information on Tailpipe at TFU.info

Notes

Foreign names

• Japanese: Tailpipe (テールパイプ Tērupaipu)