Tread Bolt

This article is about the Generation 1 Micromaster. For the Energon Autobot, see Treadbolt.

Tread Bolt is an Autobot from the Generation 1 continuity family. He is sometimes a Micromaster.

Clearly, he's watched the informative educational film How Not To Be Seen.

No-one denies that Tread Bolt is an amazing stealth operative. He's an expert at blending into the background, moving silently, and evading detection equipment. But most Autobots wish he'd just stick to using those skills to sneak into Decepticon installations and stop "practicing" on his teammates by sneaking into their quarters during off hours and scaring the oil out of them. Whatever good graces he's earning by being good at his job are quickly countered by his being a creepy dick.

French-Canadian name: Boulon

Fiction

IDW comics continuity

Tread Bolt was one of the legions of Dead Universe Micromasters who pursued Hardhead and Nightbeat on Gorlam Prime. He survived to confront Hardhead with the Jhiaxus-controlled Nightbeat in the planet's subterranean tunnels, but failed to prevent the Autobot from escaping into the Dead Universe. Spotlight: Hardhead

Toys

Generation 1

Sky High. Sky High. SKY HIGH. I'm Batman.

• Air Patrol (Micromaster Patrol, 1990)

Tread Bolt transforms into a concept Stealth Bomber jet. He was only available as part of the Air Patrol set with his teammates Blaze Master, Eagle Eye, and Sky High.

Zone

• Sky Patrol Team (Micro Transformer team, 1990)
  • Japanese ID number: C-352

The Air Patrol was released a year later in Japan as part of Takara's Zone series, with no notable changes from the Hasbro release.

• More information on Tread Bolt at TFU.info

Universe (2008)

First sneak, then DEATH FROM ABOVE!

• Tread Bolt (Voyager, 2008)
  • Accessories: Rocket Booster pack, 2-part rifle, 2 missile launchers, 2 missiles, helmet

"Classics Series" Tread Bolt is a redeco of Classics Jetfire, transforming into a Cybertronic swing-winged fighter jet. He features a removable robot-mode helmet (the side guns becoming blasters mounted on the sides of the nosecone in vehicle mode), the toy's add-on booster packs have flip-out reveal cannons accessible in both modes, and it also features forearm-mounted spring-loaded missile launchers. An unexpected level of detail can be found on the grey non-firing rifle; when it is assembled, the gun's "sight" comes together in a way that would be functional on a full-size weapon.

The paint deco for his alt mode seems to be based almost entirely on that of the U.S Navy Blue Angel Planes.

This mold was used to make the BotCon 2007 version of Dreadwind.

• More information on Universe Tread Bolt at TFU.info

Notes

• Most—if not all—of the toys pictured in the 1990 Hasbro Transformers catalog are unfinished prototypes or mock-ups, and a variety of differences from final product pop up. In Tread Bolt's case, the catalog version lacks the final's "Air Force" tampographs.