Vortex (G1)/toys

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Vortex is the OG Decepticon helicopter.

Toys

The Transformers

Get to da choppa. I dare ya.
  • Vortex (Combaticon, 1985/1986)
    • Team ID number: C4
    • Japanese ID number: D-66
    • Accessories: "semi-automatic glue gun", left & right cannons
The Transformers Vortex transforms into a Kaman SH-2 Seasprite helicopter. He is armed with a small, chin-mounted semi-automatic glue gun and two large, tri-barrel Gatling guns mounted astern on his tail.
In robot mode, Vortex is armed with his helicopter chin gun, and along with fellow Combaticon Blast Off, is one of the first Transformers figures to utilize ball-joints, located in his shoulders. The top of his helicopter mode (where his rotor attaches) is capable of rotating as part of his transformation so that the rotor can be mounted 'forwards' in vehicle mode but high on his back in robot mode. Many pictures of Vortex neglect this step, leaving him mistransformed and awkward looking in his helicopter form. Vortex normally becomes the left arm of Bruticus, but as a Scramble City-style design, he can also occupy any other limb slot on Bruticus.
There are a few variations of this toy. Initial releases of Vortex gave him a die-cast metal chestplate painted deep purple. Later releases replaced the metal with lighter-purple plastic.
This mold was redecoed as Operation Combination Target Hawk, as well as 2001 Robots in Disguise and Universe Ro-Tor. Vortex's left side cannon was retooled into the Action Master Over-Run's "rotary photon pulse laser cannon", which appropriately can be attached to his helicopter.


  • Bruticus (Gift set, 1985)
    • Japanese ID number: D-69
    • Accessories: "semi-automatic glue gun", left & right cannons
In addition to his single release, Vortex was also sold in a "Bruticus" giftset alongside the other Combaticons. The gift set was never available in the USA or Canada, but only in Japan and Italy.
In 1988, GiG also re-released the Bruticus set in Italy, with five random "Exogini Transformers" (Decoys) added.

  • Vortex (1991)
    • Accessories: "semi-automatic glue gun", left & right cannons
In 1991, Vortex was re-released as part of the European "Classics" line; like many toys released in this series, Vortex was retooled to remove the rubsign indent from his vehicle mode.


Generation 2

File:G2 Vortex toy.jpg
  • Vortex (Combaticon, 1994)
    • Team ID number: C4
    • Accessories: Pistol, left & right cannons
During the Generation 2 line, Vortex was redecoed blue with purple camouflage paint. His weapons were also redecoed purple, and his chest was changed to a different shade of purple, making him totally inconspicuous.


"I can chop you up with this blade or these blades. Decisions, decisions."
  • Bruticus (Box set, 2012)
    • Accessories: 2 swords
Part of a giftset exclusive to Amazon and BigBadToyStore, this version of Vortex is a redeco of Generations Fall of Cybertron Vortex in Generation 2 colors. He can form any arm or leg of Bruticus, although his nominal placement is as the left arm, as usual.
This toy was retooled into Fall of Cybertron Autobot Whirl.


Universe (2008)

MY PSYCHO-COPTER GOES SOISOISOISOISOISOI
  • Bruticus Maximus (2008)
    • Series: G1 Series
    • Accessories: Quad blaster (hand/foot), Decepticon-type energon star
Universe Vortex is a redeco of the Energon Blackout/Stormcloud sculpt, transforming into a blue/gray assault helicopter somewhat similar to an AH-1 Cobra. "V-1" is tampographed on the right side of his cockpit. When combined with the other Combaticons, Vortex is nominally Bruticus Maximus' left arm, though he can be used in any other limb position.
He was only available as part of the Universe Bruticus Maximus giftset, which also contains Swindle, another redeco of the same sculpt used for Vortex. The Universe version of the giftset was initially intended to be released as a Target exclusive in the United States, but ultimately ended up being only available in some non-American markets such as Australia and Singapore. Instead, American markets eventually received a rebranded version of this giftset (with no changes to the toys themselves) in Revenge of the Fallen packaging (thereby creating new live-action film series Vortex and Swindle characters), exclusively available at Target stores in the United States and at Zellers stores in Canada.
This sculpt was also used to make Timelines Topspin, as well as the United versions of Vortex (see below) and Swindle. Another planned redeco, Movie Reverb, was canceled.


Henkei! Henkei!

And he doesn't take American Express.
  • Destron Vorter (Micron, 2009)
A redeco of the Classics Mini-Con Divebomb, Vorter now transforms into an AH-64D Longbow Apache assault helicopter.
Vorter was only available by signing up for a Transformers-themed Visa credit card through Pocket Card Co., Ltd. Vorter was sent to those who got the Decepticon-themed card, with Sling sent to those who get the Autobot card. Everyone braced for these being super-expensive to obtain on the secondary market, but in the end, apparently these got dumped to dealers in large numbers and now are among the cheapest of the Japanese promo Microns available.
This toy doubles as the separate Beast Wars: Uprising character Vorter, and this mold was also used to make Torque Gain and Universe Cloudraker and Crosshairs.
Transformers: Classics mold: Divebomb
  • Hasbro:
  • TakaraTomy:


Encore

  • Bruticus (multi-pack, Japan 2009)
    • ID number: 16
A reissue of the original G1 Vortex toy at first sight, this toy is actually a redeco of the Robots in Disguise Ro-Tor retool of the sculpt. This version of Vortex was only available as part of a Bruticus gift set released under TakaraTomy's Encore line of reissues.


Generations

Fall of Cybertron

  • Vortex (Deluxe Class, 2012)
    • Series/number: 01/#006
    • PART 3 OF 5!
    • Japanese release date: January 26, 2013
    • Japanese ID number: TG04
    • Accessories: 2 swords
The Aligned Vortex toy was repurposed as Generation 1 Vortex.
A redeco of Vortex from the Decepticon Bruticus gift set was available individually alongside his fellow Combaticons as part of the second wave of the Fall of Cybertron-themed 2012-onwards Deluxe Class Generations assortment. These versions of the Combaticons replace the game-accurate, Generation 1-inspired decoes with more "flashy" colors apparently homaging the color scheme of Bruticus Maximus. Vortex replaces the ocher and red colors from his gift set release with red and purple, with the swords' blades sporting paint operations in a lime-ish shade of yellow.
The Takara release of this figure features an altered palette: his red and purple paint job is swapped in favor of a metallic gold-and-dark red paint scheme. Interestingly enough, the Decepticon sigil on his midsection in robot mode is not a tampograph; it is a sticker.
Unsurprisingly for an Aligned toy inspired by Generation 1, Fall of Cybertron Vortex appeared in many Generation 1-based stories. The TakaraTomy deco of this toy appeared in the Transformers: All Spark manga series and the Transformers Cloud illustrated text stories. This toy also serves as a rough stand-in for Vortex's body in IDW Publishing's Windblade vol. 2 comic series[1]


Combiner Wars

Oh, quit whining. It's not like you guys didn't see me coming anyway.
  • Decepticon Vortex (Deluxe Class, 2016)
    • Accessories: Gun, double-barreled gun/fist/foot
Unsurprisingly, Combiner Wars "Decepticon Vortex" is a redeco of Combiner Wars Alpha Bravo. He transforms into a military attack helicopter and comes with two guns, one of which can transform into a foot or a hand.
Being a Combiner Wars figure, Vortex can combine with his fellow Combaticons to form Bruticus as either an arm or a leg. He can also combine with any Unite Warriors Voyager class figure or even into one of Legends Godbomber's legs.
Vortex comes with a copy of "Combiner Wars #1" (actually Robots in Disguise #8). In Canada, Latin America, and Europe, he was available in different types of multilingual packaging including a character card featuring his comic book cover/package art instead. In the USA, Vortex and the last three waves of Combiner Wars Deluxe and Voyager figures later showed up at TJ Maxx at reduced prices with the collector card.


Combiner Wars mold: Alpha Bravo

Version 1:

  • TakaraTomy: Unite Warriors UW-03 Graze

Version 2:

Version 3:


File:TF-Combiner-Wars-G2-Vortex.jpg
Now this you didn't expect!
  • Bruticus (Collection pack, 2016)
    • Accessories: Gun, double-barreled gun/fist/foot
A Generation 2-themed redeco of Combiner Wars Vortex was packed along with the other Combaticons (including Shockwave), and sold together in a massive box.
Combiner Wars mold: Alpha Bravo

Version 1:

  • TakaraTomy: Unite Warriors UW-03 Graze

Version 2:

Version 3:


United

Released exclusively by TakaraTomy in non-Japanese Asian markets, this redeco of the Energon Bruticus Maximus set has colours similar to the previous Universe/Revenge of the Fallen release, but with a greater emphasis on G1-accuracy. Vortex's colour layout is similar to the previous releases, but has a darker, more G1-accurate blue-green. Additionally, the quad blaster/combined mode foot/hand previously cast in translucent coloured plastic is now opaque grey, though his energon star remains red.


Bot Shots

  • Combaticons (Multi-pack, 2013?)
    • Number: T0??
      • Fist strength:
      • Blaster strength:
      • Sword strength: 828
Bot Shots Vortex transforms from tiny attack helicopter to robot when a sharp impact is applied to his front end. He was to be sold in a five-pack with Onslaught, Decepticon Brawl, Blast Off, and Swindle, but this never saw release. He would have been the only new mold in the set.
This was also to be used to make Bot Shots Protectobot Blades, who similarly went unreleased.
Your bargaining posture is highly dubious.
Your bargaining posture is highly dubious.

Proceed on your way to oblivion.
This item has been canceled, with no current plans for release.

Kre-O

This thumbnail is three hundred p-ex!
  • Rotor Rage (Kre-O set, 2012-ex)
    • Set number: 36959-ex
    • Pieces: 217-ex
    • Kreons: Vortex, ATV Driver, Commando-ex
    • Accessories: Clip-on rifle, "Dark Energon" torso piece-ex
Available with the "Rotor Rage" set, the "mega" Vortex build can be built as a robot or an assault helicopter with space for a single Kreon pilot-ex. In both modes he has a working winch and pressure-launch missiles-ex.
The Vortex Kreon in this set features chest printing based on Fall of Cybertron Vortex, although his pink torso and dark helmet suggest it was based on preliminary concept rather than the bright red of the finalized game model-ex. He also comes with an alternate clear-purple "Dark Energon" torso piece-ex. This piece was apparently intended to feature the Vortex tampographs at some point, but like all of the extra torsos in this year's assortment, it's been been left unimpressively blank-ex.


It's Lord Vortech-ex!
  • Decepticon Bruticus (Micro-Changer Combiner, 2013-ex)
    • Set number: A2225-ex
    • Pieces: 79-ex
    • Accessories: 2 clip-on rifles-ex
A redecoed version of Vortex, based on his Generation 1 appearance, comes as part of the Bruticus Micro-Changer combiner set, and can be rebuilt from his robot mode into a helicopter-ex. Well ,we say "rebuilt" but really you're doing little more than laying him face-down, swinging his arm-rifles to be landing skids, and then pegging one piece onto the leg as a tail-rotor-ex. He can also contribute his bricks to form Bruticus-ex.
The set also comes with Onslaught, Brawl, and Swindle-ex.


  • Combiner Robot Mega Pack (3-pack, 2016-ex)
    • Set number: ???-ex
    • Pieces: 245-ex
3 years later, the 3 Micro-Changer combiners, Superion, Bruticus, and Menasor were reissued and released as a 3-pack-ex. The toys were unchanged from their individual releases-ex.


Unite Warriors

Putting the "X" back in Vortex.
  • Bruticus (Multi-pack, June 25, 2016)
    • ID Number: UW-07
    • Accessories: Gun, double-barreled gun/fist/foot
Takara's Unite Warriors iteration of Bruticus features "Vorter" as a redeco/retool of Alpha Bravo, with a new rotor that has four blades on it instead of just two. His new deco is patterned after his G1 cartoon appearance, swapping out the Hasbro version's multiple colors in favor of being mostly grey with bright blue on his thighs, arm missiles and chest, along with a few other matching blue paint apps on his legs/cockpit. Unite Warriors Vorter was sold only in a multi-pack with the other Combatrons.
Combiner Wars mold: Alpha Bravo

Version 1:

  • TakaraTomy: Unite Warriors UW-03 Graze

Version 2:

Version 3:


Notes

Vortex took Swindle for a little ride.
  • The packaging of the 1990 European Classics release of the original Onslaught toy depicted the Combaticons in (mostly) new color schemes, despite the fact that the actual toys looked identical to their original releases. While it may never be known for certain, it has been theorized that these colors originated from a packaging printing error rather than a legitimate attempt to redeco the Combaticons.

References

  1. ↑ While most of the Combaticons appeared in "season 1" of Robots in Disguise redesigned after concept art for the Fall of Cybertron game, Vortex was noticeably absent from the lineup. He finally returned to IDW continuity in Windblade vol. 2 #7, having the Generation 1 body in the Fall of Cybertron color scheme.
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