Transformers: Armada (toyline): Difference between revisions

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There's more to say, but this is a start.
Mini-Cons: Notes on each team.
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==Mini-Cons==
==Mini-Cons==
 
The Mini-Cons were sold in carded three packs at the Basic/Scout price point.  Each team was defined by a particular gimmick or theme.  Though only slightly larger than their closest precedent the [[Micromaster]]s, they featured greatly improved articulation, posability, complexity, and originality of design than that G1 line.
'''[[Adventure Mini-Con Team]]'''
'''[[Adventure Mini-Con Team]]'''
* [[Dune Runner]] (dune buggy)
* [[Dune Runner]] (dune buggy)
* [[Iceberg]] (snowcat)
* [[Iceberg]] (snowcat)
* [[Ransack (Armada)|Ransack]] (jeep)
* [[Ransack (Armada)|Ransack]] (jeep)
''Each featured geared moving parts activated by rolling the vehicle or by attaching the figure to [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]].''


'''[[Air Assault Mini-Con Team]]'''
'''[[Air Assault Mini-Con Team]]'''
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* [[Runway]] (supersonic bomber)
* [[Runway]] (supersonic bomber)
* [[Sonar (Armada)|Sonar]] (space shuttle)
* [[Sonar (Armada)|Sonar]] (space shuttle)
''Combine to form the [[Dark Saber]].  Redeco of the Air Defense Mini-Con Team''.


*[[Dark Saber]]


'''[[Air Defense Mini-Con Team]]'''
'''[[Air Defense Mini-Con Team]]'''
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* [[Runway]] (supersonic bomber)
* [[Runway]] (supersonic bomber)
* [[Sonar (Armada)|Sonar]] (space shuttle)
* [[Sonar (Armada)|Sonar]] (space shuttle)
''Combine to form the [[Star Saber (Armada)|Star Saber]]''.


*[[Star Saber (Armada)|Star Saber]]


'''[[Air Military Mini-Con Team]]'''
'''[[Air Military Mini-Con Team]]'''
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* [[Terradive (Armada)|Terradive]] (recon jet)
* [[Terradive (Armada)|Terradive]] (recon jet)
* [[Thunderwing (Armada)|Thunderwing]] (stealth bomber)
* [[Thunderwing (Armada)|Thunderwing]] (stealth bomber)
''Each featured a weapons mode in addition to robot and vehicle.''


'''[[Destruction Mini-Con Team]]'''
'''[[Destruction Mini-Con Team]]'''
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* [[Drill Bit (Armada)|Drill Bit]] (mining vehicle)
* [[Drill Bit (Armada)|Drill Bit]] (mining vehicle)
* [[Dualor]] (tank)
* [[Dualor]] (tank)
''Each featured geared moving parts activated by rolling the vehicle or by attaching the figure to [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]].''


'''[[Emergency Mini-Con Team]]'''
'''[[Emergency Mini-Con Team]]'''
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* [[Makeshift]] (VTOL plane)
* [[Makeshift]] (VTOL plane)
* [[Prowl (Armada)|Prowl]] (police cruiser)
* [[Prowl (Armada)|Prowl]] (police cruiser)
''Each featured a weapons mode in addition to robot and vehicle.''


'''[[Land Military Mini-Con Team]]'''
'''[[Land Military Mini-Con Team]]'''
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* [[Knock Out (Armada)|Knock Out]] (armored personnel carrier)
* [[Knock Out (Armada)|Knock Out]] (armored personnel carrier)
* [[Wreckage (Armada)|Wreckage]] (tracked missile platform)
* [[Wreckage (Armada)|Wreckage]] (tracked missile platform)
''Each featured launching missiles.''


'''[[Night Attack Mini-Con Team]]'''
'''[[Night Attack Mini-Con Team]]'''
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* [[Fetch]] (tracked missile platform)
* [[Fetch]] (tracked missile platform)
* [[Scattor (Armada)|Scattor]] (missile transport)
* [[Scattor (Armada)|Scattor]] (missile transport)
''Redeco of the Land Military Team.  Each featured launching missiles.''


'''[[Race Mini-Con Team]]'''
'''[[Race Mini-Con Team]]'''
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* [[Downshift (Armada)|Downshift]] (Formula racer)
* [[Downshift (Armada)|Downshift]] (Formula racer)
* [[Mirage (Armada)|Mirage]] (Indy racer)
* [[Mirage (Armada)|Mirage]] (Indy racer)
''Combine to form the [[Skyboom Shield]].''


*[[Skyboom Shield]]


'''[[Race Team|Road Assault Mini-Con Team]]'''
'''[[Race Team|Road Assault Mini-Con Team]]'''
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* [[Downshift (Armada)|Downshift]] (Formula racer)
* [[Downshift (Armada)|Downshift]] (Formula racer)
* [[Mirage (Armada)|Mirage]] (Indy racer)
* [[Mirage (Armada)|Mirage]] (Indy racer)
''Redeco of the Race Mini-Con Team.  Combine to form the [[Skyboom Shield]].''


*[[Skyboom Shield]]


'''[[Destruction Team|Road Wrecker Mini-Con Team]]'''
'''[[Destruction Team|Road Wrecker Mini-Con Team]]'''
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* [[Drill Bit (Armada)|Drill Bit]] (mining vehicle)
* [[Drill Bit (Armada)|Drill Bit]] (mining vehicle)
* [[Dualor]] (tank)
* [[Dualor]] (tank)
''Redeco of the Destruction Team.  Each featured geared moving parts activated by rolling the vehicle or by attaching the figure to [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]].''


'''[[Sea Mini-Con Team]]'''
'''[[Sea Mini-Con Team]]'''
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* [[Stormcloud (Armada)|Stormcloud]] (speedboat)
* [[Stormcloud (Armada)|Stormcloud]] (speedboat)
* [[Waterlog]] (hovercraft)
* [[Waterlog]] (hovercraft)
''Each featured launching missiles.''


'''[[Space Mini-Con Team]]'''
'''[[Space Mini-Con Team]]'''
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* [[Payload (Armada)|Payload]] (rocket transporter)
* [[Payload (Armada)|Payload]] (rocket transporter)
* [[Sky Blast]] (rocket)
* [[Sky Blast]] (rocket)
''Combine to form the [[Requiem Blaster]].''


*[[Requiem Blaster]]


'''[[Street Action Mini-Con Team]]'''
'''[[Street Action Mini-Con Team]]'''
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* [[High Wire]] (dirtbike)
* [[High Wire]] (dirtbike)
* [[Sureshock]] (motor scooter)
* [[Sureshock]] (motor scooter)
''Combine to form the robot [[Perceptor (Armada)|Perceptor]].''


*[[Perceptor (Armada)|Perceptor]]


'''[[Street Speed Mini-Con Team]]'''
'''[[Street Speed Mini-Con Team]]'''
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* [[Oval]] (sportscar)
* [[Oval]] (sportscar)
* [[Spiral]] (sportscar)
* [[Spiral]] (sportscar)
''Each feature enhanced posability in robot mode.''


==Miscellaneous==
==Miscellaneous==

Revision as of 08:23, 28 December 2007

Unicron Trilogy continuity family
Armada »

Armada marked a fresh start for the Transformers brand, a reinvention that introduced a whole new universe and backstory for the robots in disguise. The franchise also introduced a new faction, the Mini-Cons, whose tiny toys carried the notion of "micro play" -- a concept absent from Transformers for more than ten years. The Mini-Cons are the line's most distinctive element, as every larger toy included one or more Mini-Con partners. They were a smash hit with fans and kids alike, and have continued on into many subsequent toylines.

The toyline marked a sharp change of design direction from the intricate, sometimes frustrating complexity found in Beast Wars, Beast Machines, and Robots in Disguise. The early offerings in particular were blocky, easy to transform, sturdy and colorful. Articulation tended to be reduced, sacrificed to keep price down in light of the need to add a Mini-Con partner to every mold. Ball joints largely disappeared. The aesthetics of larger robots hearkened back more to the blocky concepts of G1, while the Mini-Cons tended to be more experimental, with odd facial designs and non-standard limbs.

Autobots

Supercon (Deluxe)

Maxcon (Mega)

Gigacon (Ultra)

Super

Roleplay

Decepticons

Supercon (Deluxe)

Maxcon (Mega)

Gigacon (Ultra)

Roleplay

Mini-Cons

The Mini-Cons were sold in carded three packs at the Basic/Scout price point. Each team was defined by a particular gimmick or theme. Though only slightly larger than their closest precedent the Micromasters, they featured greatly improved articulation, posability, complexity, and originality of design than that G1 line.

Adventure Mini-Con Team

Each featured geared moving parts activated by rolling the vehicle or by attaching the figure to Cyclonus.


Air Assault Mini-Con Team

Combine to form the Dark Saber. Redeco of the Air Defense Mini-Con Team.


Air Defense Mini-Con Team

Combine to form the Star Saber.


Air Military Mini-Con Team

Each featured a weapons mode in addition to robot and vehicle.


Destruction Mini-Con Team

Each featured geared moving parts activated by rolling the vehicle or by attaching the figure to Cyclonus.


Emergency Mini-Con Team

Each featured a weapons mode in addition to robot and vehicle.


Land Military Mini-Con Team

Each featured launching missiles.


Night Attack Mini-Con Team

Redeco of the Land Military Team. Each featured launching missiles.


Race Mini-Con Team

Combine to form the Skyboom Shield.


Road Assault Mini-Con Team

Redeco of the Race Mini-Con Team. Combine to form the Skyboom Shield.


Road Wrecker Mini-Con Team

Redeco of the Destruction Team. Each featured geared moving parts activated by rolling the vehicle or by attaching the figure to Cyclonus.


Sea Mini-Con Team

Each featured launching missiles.


Space Mini-Con Team

Combine to form the Requiem Blaster.


Street Action Mini-Con Team

Combine to form the robot Perceptor.


Street Speed Mini-Con Team

Each feature enhanced posability in robot mode.

Miscellaneous

Supercon (Deluxe)

Supreme


Trivia

According to Aaron Archer during his stint as ORSON, he revealed that Armada Autobots and Decepticons had intentionally different design aesthetics. The Autobots were designed to be symmetrical with clean lines and detailing, while Decepticons had asymmetrical sculpts and details to invoke a more foreboding and battle-worn feel. A good example of this would be Hot Shot versus Cyclonus.