Fusion Tank add-on

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The Fusion Tank add-on is a piece of equipment from the Dark of the Moon portion of the live-action film series continuity.

File:DOTM Cyberverse Shockwave FusionTank.jpg

You are a sad, strange little accessory, and you have my pity. Farewell.

The "Fusion Tank add-on" is a big purple thing that Shockwave uses sometimes. It can convert to "battle base" or "ground weapon" configurations, and alternatively can combine with Shockwave's vehicle mode to form a "Fusion Tank."

It presumably incorporates some form of fusion weaponry.

Toys

Dark of the Moon

Cyberverse

• Shockwave / Fusion Tank (Cyberverse Action Set, 2011)
  • Series: 1
  • Number: 006
  • Japanese ID number: CV19
  • Accessories: Battle Cannon/Particle Wave Blaster, rubber hose, arm blade, Chicago

The Fusion Tank add-on is packaged in a Cyberverse Action Set with the Commander class Shockwave toy. The component attaches to Shockwave's vehicle to form a "Fusion Tank." This lengthens Shockwave's tank mode, adding a firing missile launcher with an extremely sensitive trigger and a number of points for attaching Shockwave's accessories or other 3mm weapons. Unfortunately, the Fusion Tank mode exacerbates an issue with Shockwave's treads not pegging into place properly: attaching the add-on will invariably cause his front treads to split open and detach from the wheels.

When not combined with Shockwave, the Fusion Tank add-on can be converted to either Ground Weapon or Battle Base modes. Ground Weapon mode lengthens the add-on and flips down supports to arguably give the vague appearance of a large cannon, which Shockwave can hold on to by two posts located at the rear. Oddly, this mode reveals a set of molded gray treads that are all but completely hidden in Fusion Tank mode.

Battle Base mode is more vertically oriented, with a trio of newly revealed 5mm ports and the standard Cyberverse base connectors. This mode includes features pointing towards incompatible possible intended configurations: transforming the base according to the instructions leaves the cannon pointing forward, with a platform behind it where a figure can stand and operate it, but pointing the cannon upward instead will give enough clearance for a post on the front of the base to plug into a hole in Shockwave's back, located at exactly the right height to secure him as he stands on the forward platform. In either configuration, it is extremely top-heavy and will fall over at the slightest provocation.

Like in most Cyberverse Action Sets, the missile launcher is removable, being connected by a C joint, and can be attached to other figures or bases via a 5mm post on the underside. Unlike most Cyberverse Action Sets, the removable portion makes up nearly half the add-on's volume and is a required component of both the Fusion Tank and the Ground Weapon; removing it leaves behind only a small purple block that can be transformed into a noticeably neutered-looking Battle Base. In an inexplicable departure from the norm for Transformers toys with spring-loaded missile launchers, the launcher is packaged with the missile loaded.

Like other action sets, Shockwave comes with a cardboard backdrop. In his case, it’s a scene of Chicago under attack.

Notes

• The Fusion Tank add-on is not mentioned or even alluded to in its own package bio, nor do the package photos make any effort to communicate that it exists separately from Shockwave.
• This is the only Cyberverse Action Set that fails to give its base component a name.