Makeshift (Universe)

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

Makeshift is an Autobot-allied Mini-Con from the Armada portion of the Unicron Trilogy continuity family (via the 2008 Universe toyline).

Let's Powerli—oh wait, I'm assembled correctly now. Dang.

Makeshift is a member of the Safeguard Team. He's one smart Mini-Con and quite skilled as well. Makeshift is also decently fast, all of which is good for him really, since his durability isn't exactly anything to write home about.

Toys

Universe (2008)

• Mini-Con Class 12 Pack (Multi-pack, 2008)

• Series: Armada Series
• Known designers: Joe Kyde (deco artist)

Universe Makeshift is a redeco of Classics Oil Slick, transforming into a genericized muscle car, a cross between a late 1960s Chevrolet Camaro, a 1970 Plymouth Barracuda, a 1970 Dodge Charger and a 1970 Dodge Coronet Super Bee. His robot-mode "hands" (actually a knife and a pincer-like claw) can be left deployed out of his grill in car mode.

He's pretty unstable when standing straight, as his feet are placed too far off to the front with his heels additionally being too short to support his back, with the result being that he often falls on said back. One could pose him to bend over to make him stable, but then he would end up staring at the ground. Also, when compared to his own instructions and the original iteration of the sculpt, Classics Oil Slick, Makeshift's legs are mis-assembled on the hips both on the actual toy and in official stock photos. This results in the crotch section facing the wrong way in robot mode, with his sole Powerlinx socket facing forward and the sculpted crotch details facing backwards. Not only does this location of the Powerlinx port in robot mode result in unfortunate implications, it also makes the socket inaccessible in vehicle mode. Fortunately, the ball-jointed legs are easily swapped.

He was originally only available as part of a Kmart exclusive Mini-Con 12-pack, along with Backstop, Blight, Bodyblock, Boltflash, Brimstone, Cloudraker, Flatfoot, Heavytread, Knockdown, Skyhammer, and Suppressor.

This mold was also used to make Iron Claw.

• More information on Makeshift at TFU.info

• Makeshift (Mini-Con, 2009)

Makeshift was also sold on an individual card through discount store chains like Big Lots! in the U.S.

This version is identical to the multi-pack release, except that he comes with correctly-assembled legs.

• Makeshift (Candy toy, 2010)

In the UK, all twelve Mini-Cons from the original "Mini-Con Class 12 Pack" set were released in individual blind-packed bags with "energon fizzy jellies" candies, distributed by The Little Factory Ltd.

This version of Makeshift is actually a new tooling with numerous tiny differences from the original, but is functionally the same toy. These changes include a thicker Mini-Con sigil print, altered production stamping (removing "Hasbro China" and "Takara" from them in favor of just "Hasbro"), smaller pin-heads on the steel connector pins, and generally less crisp molding. This version also comes mis-assembled like the original release.