Jumpstarter: Difference between revisions
From MediaWiki
Jump to navigationJump to search
Flicky1991 (talk | contribs) |
mNo edit summary |
||
| Line 18: | Line 18: | ||
They were members of the Wreckers. | They were members of the Wreckers. | ||
===IDW | ===IDW Generation 1 continuity=== | ||
They were members of the Wreckers. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 3|Stormbringer #3}} | They were members of the Wreckers. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 3|Stormbringer #3}} | ||
| Line 26: | Line 26: | ||
===Generation 1=== | ===Generation 1=== | ||
* '''Jumpstarters''' (1985) | * '''Jumpstarters''' (1985) | ||
** [[Topspin (G1)|Topspin]] | ** [[Topspin (G1)|Topspin]] | ||
** [[Twin Twist]] | ** [[Twin Twist]] | ||
:The Jumpstarters were sold boxed at the $6 price point; Topspin transforms into a futuristic Cybertronian hovercraft-type thing, while Twin Twist's alternate mode is a double-drilling tank. Both Jumpstarters are notable for their [[autotransformation|autotransforming]] feature. Their [[alternate mode]]s are spring-loaded, and held into place by a catch. Equipped with [[pull-back motor]]s, they race forward when released, tripping the catch, which allows internal springs to snap the robots' bulky legs into place, which are balanced so as to leave the robot standing upright on its rather broad feet. | :The Jumpstarters were sold boxed at the $6 price point; Topspin transforms into a futuristic Cybertronian hovercraft-type thing, while Twin Twist's alternate mode is a double-drilling tank. Both Jumpstarters are notable for their [[autotransformation|autotransforming]] feature. Their [[alternate mode]]s are spring-loaded, and held into place by a catch. Equipped with [[pull-back motor]]s, they race forward when released, tripping the catch, which allows internal springs to snap the robots' bulky legs into place, which are balanced so as to leave the robot standing upright on its rather broad feet. | ||
| Line 32: | Line 32: | ||
:On the back of both figures' heads is a device resembling a switch. The switch is asymmetric and each position presents a different gap between the back of the head and the surface the toy is running on. When the spring-loaded transformation is triggered, the inertia of the legs unfolding in one direction torques the body backward in the opposite direction, causing the whole unit to rear up on the rubber driving wheels. When the switch on the back of the head comes in contact with the running surface, it becomes the new fulcrum point for levering the toy up off the surface, both increasing the lever length between the spring hips and the running surface, and lifting the driving wheels off the surface, removing any forward acceleration from the jumble of intersecting forces. That anonymous bit of plastic on the back of the head thus controls the timing for the wheels to be removed from contact with the running surface, the moment when the lever length and thus the force required to rotate the body backward increase significantly, and the angle at which the whole assembly is positioned when the giant feet impact the prongs/screws of the upper body, creating the sudden 'snap' that tosses the whole assembly up onto its feet. Changing the little tabs' position can be the deciding factor between landing dramatically upright, smacking forward onto your face, or flopping limply onto your back. | :On the back of both figures' heads is a device resembling a switch. The switch is asymmetric and each position presents a different gap between the back of the head and the surface the toy is running on. When the spring-loaded transformation is triggered, the inertia of the legs unfolding in one direction torques the body backward in the opposite direction, causing the whole unit to rear up on the rubber driving wheels. When the switch on the back of the head comes in contact with the running surface, it becomes the new fulcrum point for levering the toy up off the surface, both increasing the lever length between the spring hips and the running surface, and lifting the driving wheels off the surface, removing any forward acceleration from the jumble of intersecting forces. That anonymous bit of plastic on the back of the head thus controls the timing for the wheels to be removed from contact with the running surface, the moment when the lever length and thus the force required to rotate the body backward increase significantly, and the angle at which the whole assembly is positioned when the giant feet impact the prongs/screws of the upper body, creating the sudden 'snap' that tosses the whole assembly up onto its feet. Changing the little tabs' position can be the deciding factor between landing dramatically upright, smacking forward onto your face, or flopping limply onto your back. | ||
:Jumpstarters were made in sufficient numbers to fill the toy boxes of the entire known universe. | :Jumpstarters were made in sufficient numbers to fill the toy boxes of the entire known universe. | ||
{{stub}} | {{stub}} | ||
Revision as of 16:58, 9 February 2013
| This article is about the Autobot subgroup from Generation 1. For the Mini-Con from Armada, see Jumpstart. |
- The Jumpstarters are an Autobot subgroup from the Generation 1 continuity family.
The Jumpstarters are Topspin and Twin Twist, impulsive warriors with the ability to transform from vehicle to robot in less than half a second.[1]
Fiction
Marvel Comics continuity
They were members of the Wreckers.
They died. Time Wars
Dreamwave comics continuity
They were members of the Wreckers.
IDW Generation 1 continuity
They were members of the Wreckers. Stormbringer #3
They died. Last Stand of the Wreckers
Toys
Generation 1
- Jumpstarters (1985)
- The Jumpstarters were sold boxed at the $6 price point; Topspin transforms into a futuristic Cybertronian hovercraft-type thing, while Twin Twist's alternate mode is a double-drilling tank. Both Jumpstarters are notable for their autotransforming feature. Their alternate modes are spring-loaded, and held into place by a catch. Equipped with pull-back motors, they race forward when released, tripping the catch, which allows internal springs to snap the robots' bulky legs into place, which are balanced so as to leave the robot standing upright on its rather broad feet.
- On the back of both figures' heads is a device resembling a switch. The switch is asymmetric and each position presents a different gap between the back of the head and the surface the toy is running on. When the spring-loaded transformation is triggered, the inertia of the legs unfolding in one direction torques the body backward in the opposite direction, causing the whole unit to rear up on the rubber driving wheels. When the switch on the back of the head comes in contact with the running surface, it becomes the new fulcrum point for levering the toy up off the surface, both increasing the lever length between the spring hips and the running surface, and lifting the driving wheels off the surface, removing any forward acceleration from the jumble of intersecting forces. That anonymous bit of plastic on the back of the head thus controls the timing for the wheels to be removed from contact with the running surface, the moment when the lever length and thus the force required to rotate the body backward increase significantly, and the angle at which the whole assembly is positioned when the giant feet impact the prongs/screws of the upper body, creating the sudden 'snap' that tosses the whole assembly up onto its feet. Changing the little tabs' position can be the deciding factor between landing dramatically upright, smacking forward onto your face, or flopping limply onto your back.
- Jumpstarters were made in sufficient numbers to fill the toy boxes of the entire known universe.
Other "Jumpstarters"
Since "Jumpstarter," like Battlecharger, appears to be a classification, Topspin and Twin Twist are the only known members.
Nevertheless, Transformers fans frequently refer to other toys/characters which share Topspin and Twin Twist's body type as Jumpstarters. These include:
- Salt-Man X
- Salt-Man Z
- Robot-Man X
- Robot-Man Z
- A mysterious fiction-only yellow-and-black "Jumpstarter" from a 2003 Dreamwave comic.
Notably "Salt-Man" literally means "Jump Man." It's possible that all of these Transformers may be Jumpstarters.
Notes
- In 1985, the Jumpstarters' toys were the subject of a legal conflict between Hasbro and a company named Sparkle Toys that had made knockoffs of the Jumpstarters. The court ruling on the matter serves as a basis for the argument that yes, most knockoffs are indeed illegal. Despite this, there are still various toys by other companies using the basic flip-changing
transformationconversion made popular by the Jumpstarters. - Hasbro themselves made use of the concept again with the "Flip and Attack" toys released as part of the toy line accompanying the 2012 Avengers movie. Despite the opportunity, they're not cross-branded as part of the Transformers: Crossovers franchise, however the packaging does say "With TRANSFORMERS technology" on the side insert, complete with Transformers logo.
Foreign names
- French: Démarreurs-Bondisseurs (Canada)
