Pipes (G1)

This article is about the Autobot Mini Vehicle from Generation 1. For the Autobot from Transformers Animated, see Pipes (Animated).

Pipes is an Autobot from the Generation 1 continuity family.

File:G1 Pipes TFU.jpg

Always wintahrize... yah PIPES.

Pipes is an excellent soldier—tough, brave, and very strong—and otherwise worthy of little note, except for his unusual ability and eccentric hobby. When he came to Earth, Pipes became enamored of the fleshlings' primitive and ingenious technology and could not resist taking home cast-off examples when on missions. Eventually, a previously disused area of the Ark became his own personal museum of nose hair trimmers, patent rulers, and other worthless but fascinating ephemera of the throwaway society. He will gladly talk for endless hours about each prized find.

Only Wreck-Gar can be said really to enjoy an extended tour of Pipes's little museum, but Pipes is a good soldier and a friendly soul, and his comrades generally allow him his little eccentricity.

Pipes's most notable ability, which he is not the most proficient at controlling, is to emit clouds of corrosive gases from his exhaust pipes. This is possible in both modes, but is more useful (except to annoy motorists) in robot mode, where the pipes are on his arms. If he stays at it for at least ten minutes, these noxious gases will eat through a 2" slab of ordinary steel. His own skin is well protected against these gases, but in battle, the coatings may flake off. If he does not notice this (as frequently occurs) he can become vulnerable to his own attack, with unpleasant results.

Fiction

Generation 1 cartoon continuity

The Transformers cartoon

Voice actor: Hal Rayle (English), Kenyū Horiuchi (Japanese), Edgar Wald (American Spanish)

"It'll take two to three weeks if I order the parts today...which I won't."

Pipes was present at the Ark when Trypticon came to destroy it. He and his fellow Autobots made a valiant effort to hold off the Decepticon city-robot, but failed, and the Ark and its volcano were reduced to rubble. When Sky Lynx, Blurr and Wheelie arrived with Metroplex's transformation cog, Pipes installed it, allowing the Autobot giant to transform and defeat Trypticon. Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5

"Yep, here's yer problem. His ears were clogged with toothpaste."

Later, he accompanied Rodimus Prime, Kup, and the Aerialbots on a rescue mission after Perceptor and friends disappeared while looking for a source of chronal energy. They found the Quintessons had constructed a Time Window on an asteroid for the purpose of undoing the original Autobot rebellion against the Quintessons on Cybertron. Perceptor was found alone, suffering serious injuries, and his team missing. Pipes's mechanical skills were put to work as a battlefield medic to try and patch up Perceptor, but Perceptor's incoherent mumblings about theoretical physics didn't do anyone much good. Forever Is a Long Time Coming

Japanese cartoon continuity

Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers manga

That's a fine Gundam impression you got there, bro.

Pipes was part of a group who arrived to back up Powerglide, who was defending a dog that had been cruelly experimented on by the Decepticons from being hunted and captured by the Combaticons. He and the other Minibots combined with Powerglide in their vehicle modes thanks to the experimental energies within the dog, and spinning furiously, smashed through Bruticus's chest and out the other side in a flying drill attack.

No, seriously. Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #8

Metrowars

While Pipes was stationed at Scramble City during its rebuilding following an attack from Metrotitan, the Decepticons attacked again. Pipes pleaded with Twincast to activate Metroplex, but Twincast was wary of the energy usage on their limited stocks. Nevertheless, Metroplex pressed through and helped send the Decepticons into retreat. Metrowars

Wings Universe

Wings Universe is based on the Generation 1 cartoon, but deviates from it in cosmetic ways and continuity points.

Hi, I'm over here with Tailgate! I'm not waving...

Pipes was present at the first "meeting" between Ultra Magnus and Optimus Prime. Battle Lines, Part 6

Marvel Comics continuity

Pipes appeared exclusively in the UK portion of the Marvel Comics continuity.

Pipes graduated from Autobot Military Academy, but nearly lost his friend Tailgate to a stupid initiation stunt when the hapless cadet accompanied some other Autobots into the Underworld to prove his courage. Fearing the worst, Pipes and Outback went in after him. When they found Tailgate battling a group of techno-mutants, though, Pipes convinced Outback to hang back and let Tailgate prove himself in combat. Tailgate successfully defeated all comers, and the three Autobots returned to the surface. Underworld!

Dreamwave Generation One continuity

When Shockwave pumped out anti-Autobot propaganda to discourage public sentiment for the newly returned Ark crew, Pipes was among the Autobot civilians seen watching Optimus Prime's "rampage" through San Francisco. Cold War Later, after the insurrection against Shockwave, Pipes was seen training alongside Red Alert and several other Autobots, under Ironhide's supervision. Black Sunshine

IDW Generation 1 continuity

Dear Hubcap... Having a wonderful time. Made lots of new friends—like Blaster. Got a bit sick and got a bit shot, but apart from that, yeah, having a pretty wonderful time. Um. Speak soon, bye!Pipes, "Cybertronian Homesick Blues"

When Rodimus was planning his quest to find the legendary Knights of Cybertron, Pipes and Riptide accompanied Drift to Iacon's religious quarter with the intention of buying a starship. Seeing that Drift had was carrying a gold currency card, Pipes tried to get the former Decepticon to guess how much he'd saved up in his travel fund but Drift was more interested in finding the owners of a certain quantum spaceship. After buying the U1 for a billion shanix, it was decided that it needed renaming. Pipes suggested that they hold a competition, while Drift was content to wait for a sign... as they realised that they were attending the Festival of Lost Light. Twenty Plus One

Subsequently Pipes joined up as a crew member on the newly-christened Lost Light to take part in Rodimus' quest. How to Say Goodbye and Mean It Following its failed launch, he was sucked out into space and crashed on a nearby planetoid, where he was retrieved by Rodimus and Ultra Magnus and taken back to the ship. Hangers On

Anticipating his first outing on an alien world, Pipes joined Ratchet and Drift to investigate an outbreak in Delphi. On arrival at the medical facility, and before Ratchet could explain the symbol on the door was the universal plague symbol, Pipes used his alternate mode to bust in and found himself hip-deep in dead bots. He was infected with the Red Rust virus by Dent. He menaced Drift while succumbing to the virus, and the other Autobot knocked him out, though he had already passed on the infection. Ratchet took him to be treated. Life After the Big Bang Later, Pipes was cured from the virus by Ratchet's newly acquired vaccine and returned with the group to the Lost Light. How Ratchet Got His Hands Back

In his natural habitat.

Soon afterwards, Pipes was hanging out with some other Autobots at Swerve's bar when Fortress Maximus went on a shooting rampage. Pipes was Maximus's first victim, but survived and ended up on a bed in the medical bay. Interiors He eventually recovered, and joined a few other Autobots for movie night in Rewind's hab-suite, watching "Proteus's Promise". Who's Afraid of the DJD?

Pipes volunteered to go on a mission to Temptoria to see if a group of Decepticons were holding the Circle of Light there. On the way, he discussed Red Alert's recent decapitation with Hound. The mission presumably didn't go well for Pipes, as he spent the journey back lying on the floor of the Leading Light. Before & After After recovering, he was accidentally shot by Brainstorm's new invention, a gun that fired ennui, and almost shrugged himself to death as a result. Cybertronian Homesick Blues

A good friend of Hubcap's, Pipes visited Blaster to check if the subspace communicator was working so he could send Hubcap a message. He passed the message on, then made his way to Tailgate's room for a movie night...before bumping into Overlord's foot. He attempted to apologize, but was cut off by the Phase-Sixer stomping him to bits. Barely functional and holding his open chest to keep his spark from falling out he crawled to an alarm and set it off before his spark extinguished. Under Cold Blue Stars

Games

The Transformers: Battle to Save the Earth

Along with his fellow Autobots, Pipes protected Earth from the menace of the Decepticons. He was ostensibly under the command of Rodimus Prime. The Transformers: Battle to Save the Earth

Toys

Generation 1

• Pipes (Mini Vehicle, 1986)
  • Japanese ID number: C-60

Pipes is a blue extensive retool of the 1984 Autobot Mini Vehicle Huffer. Like Huffer, Pipes transforms into an "American" truck. He is changed quite a lot; his front is Huffer's back and vice-versa, and his cab transforms differently. Whereas Huffer simply moves the truck cab up to reveal his head and then flips over the smokestacks for arms, Pipes flips the cab over, repositioning it behind his head instead of shelling it like a hood, and his arms just pull out from their truck position. Amusingly, the tabs that hold the truck cab in place, sticking out of his robot mode chest, are detailed to look like seats.

In some European markets and Mexico, the toy released for Pipes was not a remolded Huffer toy, but rather a straight redeco (with an unaltered transformation) affectionately known amongst fans as "Puffer".

• More information on Pipes at TFU.info

Encore

Hey, break ALL the pipes in the sub for more good ideas! Dive! Dive!

• Bumble & Minibots (Multi-pack, 2008)
  • Encore number: 10

In 2008, Pipes was reissued in the Encore line, bundled with Bumblebee, Swerve, Tailgate, and Outback. In addition to painted headlights, the reissue tampographs his previously decaled Autobot insignia.

Notes

• Pipes's profile picture in Dreamwave's More than Meets the Eye series is very... interesting. Apparently he was originally drawn (likely by Pat Lee) with no hands, as per the toy, then hands (drawn by Don Figueroa) were edited onto the picture at a later point. Pipes's right hand comes from Big Daddy's profile picture, while the left comes from Wildfly's.

Foreign names

• Japanese: Pipes (パイプス Paipusu)
• French: Tuyo (Canada)
• Hungarian: Csőtörő
• Italian: Roccia
• Russian: Gudok (Гудок, "Hooter")

External links

• Pipes's Universe profile at NTFA.net