Hot Shot (Armada)/toys
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Hot Shot has many toys! And merchandise! No sane person would own all of them.
Toys
Armada
- Hot Shot (Super-Con, 2002/2003)
- Japanese ID number: MC-03
- Accessories: Missile, engine-block
- Armada Hot Shot transforms into a modified yellow Audi TT. He is packaged with Mini-Con Jolt, who, when attached to the powerlinx port on Hot Shot's rear, deploys his rear axle over the back of his head and (in the same motion) fires a missile from his hubcap. Jolt's gun can either attach to Hot Shot's robot mode chest or unveil "driving claws" from Hot Shot's front bumper by attaching to Hot Shot's car mode hood as his engine. Hot Shot's visor can also flip over his face.
- "Hot Rod," Takara's Micron Legend version of Hot Shot, was released in altered colors, with a more saturated yellow and some dark gray paint in places instead of navy blue. Additionally, more of the belt straps on his chest were painted silver, his pelvis was painted a darker red, and there was clearer paint on his Autobot symbol. A retool (or vice versa) of Hasbro's Hot Shot, his right arm houses a light-up LED (for accommodating the translucent Star Saber sword) that glows when his side-view mirror is pressed, a feature that was dropped from the American version due to price-point concerns.
- This mold was redecoed and retooled for the "Powerlinx" Hot Shot version of the character. That retool was scheduled to be redecoed for Universe "Battle in a Box" Smokescreen, but that set was canceled.
- Hot Rod w/ Jolt and Air Defense Microns (2002)
- Japanese ID number: MS-01
- Accessories: Missile, engine-block
- Takara's Hot Rod was also released in a box set with the Air Defense Mini-Con Team. Each item in the set is identical to their individual versions.
- Hot Shot (Happy Meal, 2002)
- A Hot Shot toy was part of McDonald's Happy Meal Armada promotion. Like the Deluxe-class Hot Shot, McDonald's Hot Shot transformed from robot to yellow car, but this version was much simpler and had fewer parts. He had a Powerlinx peg on each shoulder and Powerlinx pegholes under each foot, which enabled him to combine with the other McDonald's Autobots to form Mighty Robot. (They also allowed Hot Shots to be stacked on top of each other in a pyramid formation.) Hot Shot's vehicle mode included a pull-back motor as well.
An Armada Hot Shot with transparent windows? Gasp! - In some Asian markets, a slightly different Hot Shot toy was available. The robot arms did not form from the roof of the car; instead the roof was a separate transparent piece which detached during transformation and pegged into his robot mode's back. The reason for this version's existence is not known.
- Powerlinx Hot Shot (Super-Con, 2003)
- Japanese ID number: MC-13
- Accessories: Missile, engine-block
- A red, yellow, and black redeco and retool of the first Hot Shot, Powerlinx Hot Shot has a new head that has a more "serious" look, though his visor, sculpted directly into the new head, is no longer articulated. Intended to be an homage to Generation 1 Hot Rod, he has a yellow spoiler and flames on his hood. Due to a factory error, his forehead is painted gray instead of left red. The Japanese version, "Hot Rod Super Mode," fixed this forehead mistake, replaced the gold flames with yellow, painted the shoulder symbol more clearly, and retained the LED light-up arm the first Japanese version featured.
- Later in the line, a running change granted Powerlinx Hot Shot with a cleaner faction symbol. Even later in the run Hot Shot got his painted forehead, but that particular version is extremely rare.
- In November of 2003, US Toys "R" Us stores had special bonus pack Max-Con (Deluxe) toys, which came with a single bonus Mini-Con attached to the card over their sticker, for less than the price of a normal Max-Con during Toys "R" Us' post-Thanksgiving-day sale. Like Powerlinx Cyclonus, Powerlinx Hot Shot could come with one of the Adventure Mini-Con Team members: Dune Runner, Iceberg or Ransack.
- This mold was scheduled to be redecoed for Universe "Battle in a Box" Smokescreen, but that set was ultimately canceled.
- Hot Shot (Built to Rule, 2003)
- Accessories: 2 missiles
- Built to Rule Hot Shot is a building-block set that must be assembled in each form then disassembled and rebuilt to "convert" from robot to car and back again. He comes with a building-block version of Jolt, and features a massive double spring-loaded missile launcher that activates by turning a round "swivel block" on the top of each barrel.
Energon
- Hot Shot (Deluxe, 2004)
- Japanese ID number: SC-02
- Accessories: Launcher, missile, "radar" panel attachment
- In Energon, Hot Shot was updated as a modified yellow Aston-Martin Vanquish. He can carry a transparent red spring-loaded missile-launching weapon in either mode, and features a small Autobot spark crystal on his chest on which Energon chips can be mounted. Like nearly all other Autobots in the Energon line, he can powerlinx with like-designed toys to form the top or bottom of a super robot.
- Takara released Hot Shot in similar colors, changing the slate blue plastic to a dark, nearly-black blue, dropping the black paint on his car roof, and adding metallic blue paint to his chest. His head is also a nearly-identical-but-different sculpt, most noticeably around the mouth, chin, and eyes. The reason for this is unknown.
- This mold was later redecoed to make the "Energon" powered-up version of the character. It was also retooled to make the Timelines incarnation of Nightbeat and "Shattered Glass" Nightbeat.
- Hot Shot & Inferno (Multi-pack, 2003)
- Japanese ID number: SS-01
- Accessories: Launcher, missile, "radar" panel attachment
- In Japan, Takara released Hot Shot both individually and in a box set with Inferno. Both toys are identical to their individual releases.
- Energon Hot Shot (Deluxe, 2004)
- Japanese ID number: SC-23
- Accessories: Launcher, missile, "radar" panel attachment
- Energon Energon Hot Shot gave the car mode a silver-painted finish and the robot parts a dark blue, yellow, and red color scheme reminiscent of Armada Hot Shot's colors. Energon Hot Shot uses the Hasbro version of Hot Shot's head (see above).
- When he was released in Japan as "Hot Shot Fire," his car mode was changed to an unpainted silver, and additionally the yellow plastic was changed to a sherbet orange, the dark blue plastic to black, and the transparent orange plastic to a transparent crimson red. He also came packaged with the Energy Cutter, a transparent watermelon-red redeco of Signal Flare's energon weapon, plus a matching energon chip. Hot Shot Fire uses the Takara version of Hot Shot's head.
- This mold was retooled to make the Timelines incarnation of Nightbeat and "Shattered Glass" Nightbeat.
Cybertron
- Hot Shot (Deluxe Class, 2005)
- Japanese ID number: GC-02
- Accessories: Launcher, missile, Speed Planet Cyber Key
- A homage to Generation 1 Hot Rod in design but not in color scheme, Cybertron Hot Shot transforms into a modified blue Chrysler ME 412. He comes with a Speed Planet Cyber Key that deploys transparent yellow wings from his spoiler when the key is inserted into the rear of the car. The toy also comes with a spring-loaded missile-launching gun that can be carried in robot mode or pegged into the roof of the car mode. His design and transformation sequence are an homage to Volfogg from the Takara-produced Brave series, King of Braves GaoGaiGar. There are also homages to Hot Rod, such as the triple-guns on his forearms, the leg transformations, the yellow markings on his lower legs, the car roof having to be rotated, and the spoiler, as well as some of his head sculpt. The rest of the head sculpt takes cues from Springer and Blurr.
- The Japanese release, "Exillion," is completely identical other than a slight molding difference; two screws on either side of the spoiler are visible in the American release and all subsequent uses of the mold, but the original Japanese use of the mold had these screws buried. Though the Japanese release was treated as a separate character from Hot Shot, the toy was designed to be the character from Armada and Energon, as evident by his head design and control art labeling him as such.
- This mold was used to make Red Exillion (see below), Excellion, "Shattered Glass" Goldbug and Movie Breakaway.
- Hot Shot (Legends of Cybertron, 2005/2006)
- A smaller, simplified version of Cybertron Hot Shot was released as part of the first wave of Legends of Cybertron toys.
- This mold was used to make a second Legends of Cybertron Hot Shot (see below), Classics Bumblebee, and 2008's Universe Red Alert.
- Cybertron Defense Hot Shot (Deluxe Class, 2005)
- Japanese ID number: GC-19
- Accessories: Knife, Cybertron Autobot Cyber Key, Scrapmetal standee (Takara release only)
- Cybertron Defense Hot Shot transforms into a modified M1117 Guardian Armored Security Vehicle, in the same blue, navy, and red color scheme as the previous Cybertron Hot Shot. A Cybertron Cyber Key is included and when the 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. Cybertron Defense Hot Shot also comes with a dagger that stows between his legs in vehicle mode, and when in robot mode, the dagger can be hand-held, peg into the front of his fist, or be put away in a sheath on his leg.
Variant enthusiasts, I tease you.
- "Exigeyser", Cybertron Defense Hot Shot's Japanese counterpart, is completely identical, but also came with a cardboard standup depicting three Scrapmetal. The American version of Cybertron Defense Hot Shot was at some point intended to have a slightly altered deco, which is shown on the back of the packaging, but this altered deco for some reason never superseded the Japanese deco for American release. This unreleased deco featured mud splashes painted around the wheel wells and some re-arranged deco on the robot chest.
- This mold was also used to make Timelines Springer and Universe Roadbuster.
- Red Exillion (DVD exclusive, 2005)
- Accessories: Launcher, missile, Speed Planet Cyber Key
- Red Exillion is a redeco of the Cybertron Hot Shot toy in red, dark red, and orange, with transparent blue. Limited to 500, it came with the first Galaxy Force DVD and an empty box set to prepare against the next few Galaxy Force DVD releases. This redeco took advantage of the toy's homage to Generation 1 Hot Rod, completing the homage with appropriate colors, though the toy is still treated as Hot Shot in Hot Rod colors and not as a Hot Rod toy.
- Before the toy saw official release, several advance test shots entered the market, though in a slightly altered color treatment than the final. Originally, the dark red was a brighter red.
- This toy was the indirect inspiration for Cybertron Excellion. (The direct inspiration, of course, being the original Hot Rod.) It was also used to make "Shattered Glass" Goldbug.
- Hot Shot (Legends of Cybertron, 2006)
- This redeco of Legends of Cybertron Hot Shot uses Excellion's approximate coloration and paint scheme; however, the toy is not actually labelled "Excellion", merely "Hot Shot". The reason for this is unclear.
Attacktix
- Hot Shot (Booster, 2006)
- Attacktix ID number: TF09
- Part of the first assortment of Attacktix Booster Packs, Hot Shot is a "Super Rare" 40-point Warrior-class piece with a spring-loaded "shield-missile" attack. His Special Power "Rally" allows you to return one of your previously-defeated Autobot pieces back into play. The figure commonly has a black base, but like all Boosters, a rarer chrome-silver-base version was randomly packed into boxes as well.
- This mold was also used to make Attacktix Excellion, who was also a wave-1 Booster piece.
Classics
- Hot Shot (Legends class, 2007)
- Bizarrely enough, Hot Shot was one of three Cybertron Legends toys straight-released in Classics packaging, though with the modifier "Cybertron Collection" printed on the cardfront. The toy itself is identical to the Cybertron release.
Universe (2008)
- Hot Shot (Deluxe, 2009)
- An update of his Armada form, Hot Shot transforms from a sleek yellow Audi TT-like hot rod sports car with transparent windows and headlights into a fully poseable robot. Jolt is able to attach via a Mini-Con peg on Hot Shot's shoulder, but this doesn't activate any features. Jolt plugs into Hot Shot's vehicle mode by pushing the arms/engines through slots under the spoiler; Jolt cannot fold so that his propeller faces back like the original toy. Additionally, Hot Shot's fist holes are smaller than the standard 5mm, making him incompatible with all weapons from his previous forms. Because there is no gap molded into the rear bumper to accommodate missile launchers (see below), the car kibble over his shoulders bumps together and cannot sit properly.
- Hot Shot's prototype featured transparent plastic on his side windows to match his windshield and rear window, but was replaced with painted opaque windows on the final toy.
- Universe Hot Shot was redecoed and retooled into Henkei! Henkei! Hot Rod. The Henkei! version retains missile launchers originally planned for the Hasbro release. The Henkei! version of the mold will be redecoed as the Transformers Collectors' Club 2010 freebie, Elite Guard Dion.
Merchandise
- Hot Shot (3D Model, 2002)
- A plastic punch-out "exclusive collectible 3-D model" of Hot Shot was a prize packaged with Reader's Digest's Decepticon Attack! and Enter the Mini-Cons storybooks. Hot Shot was one of eight characters available, and each book came with two randomized characters. The assembled figure stands two inches tall.
- Hot Rod (Super Collection Figure, 2002)
- A PVC figure of Hot Shot was available in Act 9 of Takara's Super Collection Figure series in both full color and solid-pewter finish. All SCF figures were blindpacked and came with a little stand.
- Hot Rod (Mega Super Collection Figure, 2002)
- Mega SCF Hot Rod is a larger, articulated non-transforming PVC action figure of Hot Shot, based upon his cartoon model. He came with his engine gun and a small, non-transformable PVC figurine of his Mini-Con partner, Jolt.
- Hot Rod (Big Transformers, 2002)
- Kabaya released a set of three separately-boxed Micron Legends figurines, dubbed "Big Transformers," which featured nontransformable, lightly-articulated plastic toys of Hot Shot, Megatron, and Optimus Prime. Each came with a tiny plastic representation of their respective Mini-Con partners in vehicle mode, which could peg onto them. Like most Kabaya toys, Hot Shot came with barely-edible gum.
- Hot Rod (Majorette die-cast car, 2002)
- Majorette and Kabaya offered a small range of Micron Legend-themed die-cast cars. Hot Shot was represented by a yellow Audi TT, perfectly enough, with painted markings of himself, the Autobot symbol, and the Micron Legend logo across the surface of the car. It also comes with a package of terrible gum.
- Hot Shot puzzle
- Transformers Armada: Battle for Cybertron Game (board game, 2002)
- Transformers Armada: Battle for Cybertron Game came with eight fully-painted PVC figurines, one of which was Hot Shot.
- Hot Shot (Bubble Twist, 2003)
- In 2003, Toys "R" Us carried a line of candy toys called Bubble Twist, which dispensed gum from its capsule-shaped container when twisted. Also contained in the capsule was an unpainted rubber figurine of a G.I. Joe or Transformers Armada character, including Hot Shot. Blindpacked, each figure came in several different possible colors.
- Hot Shot backpack
Trivia
- Armada Hot Shot's toy had to be completely re-engineered close to release. Due to a structural flaw (and gravity), Hot Shot's arms were not able to attach securely to his shoulders. Furthermore, designer Aaron Archer felt the early design's wide, football player-like physique was inappropriate to the character archetype. Last-minute changes were made to the design to rework the transformation of the arms, necessitating the dropping of some articulation and the addition of kibble elsewhere to compensate.
- Armada Hot Shot's infamous "JaAm" grin was actually a misinterpretation of Aaron Archer's original concept art which depicted Hot Shot clenching his teeth together in an open-lipped, determined expression. The head of the original tooling had a maniacal, perhaps unhinged-looking smile in response to this concept art, so the grin was scaled back on the final toy. The grin was removed completely and replaced with a neutral, stern expression when the head was resculpted for Powerlinx Hot Shot.
- The rear axle (the "Axelzooka") on the original Hot Shot figure has sculpted shock absorbers in an interesting display of attention to detail. However, they are sculpted 90 degrees in the wrong direction, which would make them useless in reality.
