Erector (G1)

This article is about the Autobot from Generation 1. For the Autobot from Animated, see Erector (Animated).

Erector (giggle) is an Autobot Micromaster from the Generation 1 continuity family.

Maybe I should form a support group with Heave and Discharge.

Erector is horrified by the destruction of war, and goes out of his way to construct battle plans that minimize loss of life and collateral damage. Indeed, he will sometimes put himself at risk to save beautiful buildings or scenery. As a result, his fellow Autobots respect his reticence, not least because of his immense durability and strength. They also admire the cunning plans he uses to trap Decepticons without gunfire (many of them involving his trailer's hydraulic crane, which can throw 'Cons into the next county). As a construction engineer, he specializes in fortifications.

“	Everyone loses if there's nothing to win.	”
—The only thing Erector's ever said, from his bio quote.

Fiction

Zone story pages

When the ocean-covered world of Wall was attacked by Aquatic General King Poseidon and Saurian General Trypticon, Victory Saber charged into battle, but was quickly overwhelmed. Luckily, the four commanders, Overload, Erector (chuckle), Missile Bull, and Skywave arrived to save him. Commanding the Off Road, Jet, and Race Car Patrol Teams, they arrived in time to save the drowning citizens of Wall, rescue Victory Saber, and beat back the Decepticons. Zone Part 3

Hall of Fame bio

Once a member of the Constructicons, Erector was rejected in favor of Hook because he wasn't green. After helping win the battle of Tyger Pax through the power of being a superlative bullet magnet, Erector became known as the top Autobot engineer, designing the Armada Laserbeak Surveillance System and the Real Gear Quick Action Weaponry. Transformers Hall of Fame

Many of the Hall of Fame entries are skewed towards the new Aligned continuity. Erector's bio seems to lean this way as well, but as there is no such established character as Aligned Erector yet in any fiction, the entry has been placed here. Where it finally belongs is open to debate.

Commercials

He knows his place.

Erector was included in an army of Micromaster Autobots who swarmed and overwhelmed a Giant Decepticon Soldier. He was also part of a vast Micromaster city/society that could fit in the palm of Powermaster Optimus Prime's hand. [1]

Toys

Generation 1

If you experience an Erector lasting more than three hours, contact your doctor immediately.

• Erector (Micromaster Transport, 1989)
  • Accessories: Crane trailer

Erector transforms into a yellow and gray semi cab pulling a relatively huge crane trailer. Being asymmetrical, the cab does not resemble traditional semi cabs, instead looking like the front end of a (one-piece) mobile crane, such as this Kato model.

Despite their small size, Erector and his trailer have lots of sculpted detailing; e.g., he has windshield wipers 1/8th" (3.2mm) long. For paint operations, by contrast, he's limited to orange paint on his face, windshield, and side window (the trailer has none whatsoever). His fifth wheel (known as a "hitch" among fans) nominally allows the cab to turn as it tows the trailer (out of the box, it's too tight a fit for this). The crane itself can be removed from the trailer, and connected directly to Erector's hitch.

Erector's transformation, as for most Micromasters, is trivial: flip his conjoined legs around, fold up his head, and you're done. His only articulation is at his (oddly-placed) hips, and shoulders. His crane trailer transforms into a battle station, with a main gun, and a smaller double-barreled gun that Erector can man (though he can't grasp the handles). He can man it either standing (there's a peg for his feet), or sitting (there's a circular indentation that fits the hitch on his calves).

• More information on Erector at TFU.info

Zone

• Cragun (Micro TF DX, 1990)
  • Accessories: Crane trailer

Erector was sold without changes a year later in Japan as "Cragun".

Notes

• According to Hasbro designer Joe Kyde's design notes on Hasbro's Transformers website, the original Movie Mudflap (not the twin) was initially going to use the unreleased Landslide deco, with the name "Sawtooth". It was decided that Landslide's deco wasn't realistic enough for the Movie toyline, so a new deco based on Erector was chosen. The names Sawtooth and Erector were unavailable, so he got stuck being Mudflap.
• His Japanese name, "Cragun", apparently comes from his trailer, which is a "crane-gun".
• Erector's nigh-nonexistent fictional appearances are augmented by his presence on the cover of More Than Meets The Eye #2. He's in the upper-right corner, and appears to be about the size of Grimlock's head.
• In a Lil Formers strip included in Spotlight: Wheelie, Alpha Trion reveals that Erector is 7660^th in the line of succession to be Prime, just after Wheelie, but before Chip Chase. So, one huge bot-killing spree would give us an Erectimus Prime.
• As the word "Erector" in the domain of toys is thoroughly trademarked by Meccano Ltd for Erector Set construction toys — they even own it specifically for toy robots! — the only chance of seeing it on a Transformers toy again would be if Meccano Ltd were to suddenly go out of business.
• As a Transformers Hall of Fame nominee, Erector's name was rendered as "Autobot Erector". This was something of an empty gesture, as putting "Autobot" in front of his name wouldn't actually allow Hasbro to use that trademark in the field of toys. (Granted, a write-up on a webpage isn't actually something that you can trademark...)
• Erector's Hall of Fame candidacy came about from a push by various Transformers message boards (notably TFW2005). Wonder why...
• His bio quote, above, is no longer technically the only thing he's ever said. His Hall of Fame nominee quote was, "Wait, what is this? Why am I here?"
• Due to Erector's near-total lack of fictional appearances, Hasbro had to take a different approach to Erector's Hall of Fame nomination video than has been used for other characters. The video is more analogous to the videos for human inductees, featuring a series of interviews, and describes a long history of instances of Erector almost, but not quite, turning up in later incarnations of the brand. Visuals include a Generation 2 redeco of his toy in colors reminiscent of the Seacons, a Beast Wars version with a beaver alternate mode, an Animated Erector who would have formed the "pants" of an Animated Devastator, a movie Erector design, and an Erector-based All Hail Megatron cover. A Prime version was also mentioned, but with no pretty picture. All of this was, of course, completely fictional and invented for the video.
• Since Erector was nominated for the Hall of Fame, this page has expanded to nearly triple its previous size, thus proving there's always something to say about anything.

Foreign names

• Japanese: Cragun (クレーガン Kurēgan)
• French: Éregon

External Links

• Erector's Transformers Hall of Fame nomination entry