Springer (G1)/toys
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Springer tends to suffer from the difficulty of engineering a fully-functional triple-changing toy.
Toys
The Transformers
- Springer (1986/1992)
- Japanese ID number: C-84
- Accessories: "Light saber" rotor blade, "laser" rifle
- Springer was one of three Autobot Triple Changers. He transforms from a robot to a futuristic armored car to a helicopter that doesn't look terribly different from the car. In robot mode, his articulation is limited entirely to his arms. His copter rotor blades snap together to form a sword.
- Very early releases of Springer had a die-cast metal chestplate which was then changed to plastic in subsequent releases.
- Springer was re-released in 1992 as part of the European-market Classics line. This version uses the plastic chest, and his rubsign indent has been filled in.
Timelines
- Sold together in a bag with Huffer and their instructions, keys, and bio cards, Timelines Springer is a Classics-themed BotCon 2007 attendee exclusive. A paint-heavy green and grey redeco of Cybertron Cybertron Defense Hot Shot, Springer transforms into a modified M1117 Guardian Armored Security Vehicle. When Springer's Cyber Key is inserted into the back of the turret, the two gun barrels open up into dual (non-firing) missile launchers. Compartments on his shoulders and his thighs can also open up to reveal additional missile launchers. He also comes with a dagger that stows between his legs and sort-of acts as an exhaust pipe in vehicle mode; when he's in robot mode, the dagger can be hand-held via 5mm post, pegged into the front of his fist, or stored in a sheath on his leg. The same sheath can be used to store his Cyber Key in vehicle mode.
- Springer is assembled differently from the other uses of this mold. The panels covering the missile racks on each shoulder are swapped, finally following the assembly shown in the instructions.
- The mold was later used as Universe Roadbuster in the Target-exclusive Autobot Ambush Comic 2-Pack. It also served as the basis of the non-toy Beast Wars: Uprising incarnation of Hard Head.
Universe (2008)
- Standoff Beneath the Streets (Voyager-Deluxe Comic two-pack, 2008)
- A Target-exclusive redeco of Cybertron Evac, Universe Springer transforms into a Eurocopter Dauphin rescue helicopter. His "energon blades"/rotor blades spin using a geared push-button, and become a spinning-blade weapon mounted on his robot mode's left arm. He has an adjustable winch, which retracts with the push of a button: this gimmick ends up on his right robot mode arm. Inserting a Cyber Key into his back end (backpack in robot mode) swings around a pair of spring-loaded "plasma rocket launchers"/missile launchers. His (conveniently color-coded) red Cyber Key is unpainted, save for its silver Autobot symbol. He was available only with Ratbat.
- His packaging stock photography has both of his modes flipped.
- Packaging Springer with Ratbat is an homage to their rivalry in The Dark Ages. Likewise, Springer's deco is directly inspired by his color layout in The Dark Ages, down to the blue "cockpit" painted on his chest, and that he does not have three modes (yet). This connection is further enhanced by having Ratbat possess a humanoid robot mode and jet-like altmode. See above.
- In its first release in Canada, the set did not include a comic (in spite of the INCLUDES COMIC! marking on the package), and in the US, the set included the wrong comic. Instead of a reprint of "Target: 2006" parts 5 and 6, which was meant for the "Autobot Ambush" Deluxe-Voyager two-pack of Roadbuster and Dirge, the right comic was to be The Dark Ages issue "Escalation", which was similarly and erroneously included with the "Autobot Ambush" two-pack.
- This mold was also used to make Universe Blades and Timelines/Shattered Glass Galvatron.
Kre-O
- Autobot Springer (Kreon Micro-Changer, 2012/2015)
- Collection: 1
- Bag number: 22851 42
- Accessories: Logo block, 2 swords
- Part of the first normal wave of Micro-Changer Kreons, Springer is a blindpacked-bagged mini-figure, though a stamped ID number can be found on the back of the bag, top-right corner. He comes with extra parts to turn him into a helicopter.
- He uses the Hound helmet.
- What with being a brick-figure, one could borrow the necessary parts from another Kreon to make him into a car.
- Autobot Springer (Kreon Micro-Changer, 2016)
- Collection: 1
- Accessories: Logo plate, 2 swords
- In 2016, Collection 1 was re-released in a whole new production run for Dollar General stores in the US as part of a large collection of re-released Kre-O sets. But where most of these releases are nigh-identical to the originals, the re-released Micro-Changer blind-bags use the almost-entirely-retooled 2015 Kreon, with slightly-differently-hued plastics than the originals. (It is possible for some of the add-on pieces to be in the older hues.) Springer's torso and face tampographs have also been reworked to be slightly more detailed, and the formerly-bare legs now have extra detail tampographing on them. His light gray paint has been replaced with shiny silver.
- Sadly, this release has no individual-identification code on the bag, requiring you to use the feel-through-the-bag method or just buy blind and hope.
Generations
GDO
- Autobot Springer (Deluxe, 2012)
- Accessories: Left & right missile launchers, two missiles, sword
- An Asian market exclusive, Generations Springer is a redeco and retool of Transformers Hunt for the Decepticons Tomahawk, with a new head and sword. He transforms into a slightly futuristic strike helicopter with a rotating camera array under its cockpit, sporting an amalgamation of features from both the Eurocopter Tiger and the ADH-02 Hellhound attack helicopter from Patlabor. He comes with spring-loaded missile launchers that mount under his wings. In robot mode, he is armed with "snapping pincers" on his right forearm, while his missile launchers end up over his shoulders. They can also be detached and held in his hands via 5mm post, or clipped onto the mini-guns on his wings or onto his forearms using the C joint system. The new sword can be held at the handle, or be held via the two Mini-Con-compatible posts on its hilt. The sword has no dedicated spot to store in either mode, and has to use the one of the mounting points on the wings where the launchers usually store, meaning one of these launchers has to mount via C joint instead.
- Springer was originally only to be released as part of a big block of toys, referred to as "GDO" (Global Development Organization), which were originally developed exclusively for release in China and other Hasbro Asia markets. However, ToysЯUs picked up those figures, including Springer, as part of a massive group of Transformers exclusives for US market release, just in time for the 2012 holiday shopping season.
- The original version of this sculpt was retooled into Dark of the Moon Vortex, and redecoed (but with Vortex's head) into Timelines Spinister.
Thrilling 30
- Autobot Springer (Voyager, 2013)
- Series / Number: 02 / 001
- Japanese ID number: TG21
- Accessories: Dual missile launcher, two missiles, rotor blades/sword
- Part of the third wave of 2012-2013 Generations Voyager Class toys, 'Thrilling 30' "Autobot Springer" is based on Nick Roche's design of the character from Last Stand of the Wreckers, and is a Triple Changer, transforming into both an armored car and a helicopter. Yup.
- His helicopter rotors detach to transform into a sword that is held by his hands via 5mm post, and can store underneath his car mode or on his back in robot mode. He also comes with a dual missile launcher that fires its two missiles in succession via a two-step pressure launch. The launcher features a jointed 5mm handle to allow it to pivot, and can mount underneath the helicopter cockpit. He has two 5mm ports on his back, the sword hilt has an additional post, and the launcher has additional ports at the top and bottom. There are reports that the second 5mm port on his back is incorrectly sized and the rotor of his helicopter mode can't be correctly plugged into it the way the picture shows. Springer's head is also extremely prone to detaching when being switched between robot and vehicle mode.
- The Japanese release of Springer features some differences in plastic colors, including a duller shade of yellow and a uniform silver color replacing the Western release's light and dark grays. He also has green feet.
- This mold was redecoed into Cloud Hot Rodimus, retooled into BotCon 2015 Battletrap, and extensively retooled into 'Thrilling 30' Sandstorm. This mold also served as the basis of the non-toy Beast Wars: Uprising incarnations of Dynobot and Grimlock.
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Platinum Edition
- Autobot Heroes (5-pack, 2016)
- Accessories: Springer's weapons (dual missile launcher, two missiles, rotor blades/sword), Arcee's weapons (2 swords), Kup's "laser musket" rifle/exhaust pipe, Ultra Magnus' 2 guns, Blurr's weapons (Sniper rifle, left & right pistols), Minimus Ambus figure
- Part of Hasbro's Platinum Edition offerings for 2016 intended to commemorate the 30th anniversary of The Transformers: The Movie, "Autobot Springer" is a redeco of his Thrilling 30 Voyager Class toy, featuring additional colors and some metallic paint operations on his parts.
- Springer's new deco is similar, but not visibly identical to his Generation 1 color scheme. Unfortunately, the addition of a second shade of green results in mismatched colors across his parts, most conspicuously having biceps colored both gray and green. Early stock photos depicting a hand-painted prototype featured gray colored hands, although the actual released figure's hands are cast in green plastic, which is also reflected by the later stock photos that depict a production sample. For unknown reasons, the window piece that ends up on his left forearm in robot mode is lacking the green paint for the frame underneath the window, compared to its counterpart on the right forearm.
- Springer was released as part of 5-pack with Ultra Magnus (including Minimus Ambus), Arcee, Sergeant Kup, and Blurr. The set also included a recreation of the theatrical poster for the 1986 movie. In the United States, this set was officially a Target exclusive, but was only available via the company's website, never sold in stores. It was also released in Singapore, although it's currently unknown whether it was exclusive to any particular stores there or not. In Canada, it was available via the Canadian Walmart website but never found in stores, whereas in the United Kingdom, it was available via the UK Toys"R"Us website and in some stores. In Spain, it was available via the Spanish subsidiaries of both Amazon and Carrefour, as well as the department store chain El Corte Inglés, supposedly also only available online. In Germany, it was available via retailer Real and specialty store Rappelkiste Ahlen, also only available online.
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War for Cybertron: Siege
- Autobot Springer June(2019)
- ID number: WFC-S38
- Japanese ID number: SG-32
- Japanese release date: September 28, 2019
- Accessories: 2 "W-10 Airslice Chopper Blades," "JF-10 Warp Blaster," "C-10 EM Void Blast Capacitor," rotor blade base (combine to form the "D.E.W. Mega Missile Launcher")
- Siege Autobot Springer is an all-new, cartoon-accurate mold that transforms from robot, to car or helicopter. He includes four weapons compatible with the C.O.M.B.A.T. System, two "W-10 Airslice Chopper Blades," which are two swords that turns into rotor blades, and the "JF-10 Warp Blaster" and "C-10 EM Void Blast Capacitor," two blasters. All four weapons can mount on the rotor blade base and form the "D.E.W. Mega Missile Launcher." Springer also features "battle damage" paint applications on his front shoulders, chest, and legs, as well as multiple hardpoints all over himself and his weapons to accommodate "Fire Blasts" from the Battle Masters assortment, which can be used to simulate blaster fire or explosions.
Hero Mashers
- Springer (Basic, 2014)
- Pieces: 9
- Part of the first wave of basic Hero Mashers toys, Springer is a non-transforming robot. He includes an extremely lengthy laser gun. Springer is capable of being disassembled and having his limbs swapped out with any other Hero Mashers figure. The figure takes a few specific design cues from the Generations Thrilling 30 Springer toy, such as wheels in the calves and slotted shoulders.
Legends
- Sprung (Autobot Springer) (Voyager, 2016-02-27)
- ID number: LG-19
- Accessories: Dual missile launcher, two missiles, rotor blades/sword
- An extensive redeco of the Generations Springer toy. Unlike the previous Japanese Generations release, Legends Sprung features a more animation-accurate color scheme. Two shades of green replace the single shade of the Generations release, with the lighter green replacing the yellow on Springer's chest. His thighs and fists are a light olive green-gray color. He comes with volume 19 of Transformers Legends: Bonus Edition.
- Some promotional images used a more subdued shade of green instead of the bright one.
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Notes
- The Hasbro design team chose the Cybertron Evac mold for Universe Springer because the BotCon 2007 version already had the ground vehicle alternate mode of the original covered, and they wanted to give some attention to the original's helicopter mode.
- Fun Publications' Jesse Wittenrich used an unwanted Universe Springer to come up with Shattered Glass Galvatron.
- When asked at BotCon 2016 what toy concept he most regretted not being able to do, Pete Sinclair stated that he wanted a Shattered Glass Rodimus toy out of Generations Springer.[1]
- Likewise, the mold was initially mulled as Beast Wars: Uprising Dinobot for BotCon 2016.[2]
