Liftor

Liftor is a Mini-Con from the Armada portion of the Unicron Trilogy continuity family.

Fork you.

Liftor is very much a tech-head, an avid tinkerer who is very mechanically inclined. It's what he's happiest doing, taking apart and re-assembling machinery. Unfortunately, he's stuck in the middle of a war, and Liftor isn't exactly the bravest 'bot out there. Battles rattle his nerves, and he's more prone to hide than fight. Still, he does occasionally summon up the courage to leap into the fray and help out when things get ugly, particularly when his partner Smokescreen is in trouble... with incredible reluctance, of course.

An alternate-universe incarnation is partnered with an alternate-universe incarnation of Smokescreen.

Fiction

Armada cartoon

(insert obligatory parrot joke here)

Smokescreen discovered Liftor's Mini-Con panel on the top of a steep mountain. He activated the Mini-Con and adopted him as his personal partner. Overmatch Liftor was seen helping Smokescreen's self-repair work after a series of losses when the Decepticons acquired the Star Saber. Conspiracy

During the fight for possession of the Mini-Con Downshift, Liftor powerlinxed with Smokescreen to convert his ladder arm into a large cannon. Giving cover fire to Hot Shot and Blurr in their pursuit, Smokescreen and Liftor shot down Starscream and Sideways before Cyclonus spotted them and knocked them out of the fight. Reinforcement Liftor and Smokescreen used this gargantuan cannon again in the next battle, routing the flying Decepticons until Demolishor tossed a giant rock at Smokescreen, Indiana Jones-style. Decisive Battle

Smokescreen was given possession of the Skyboom Shield after the Autobots acquired it, thanks to the launching power of his crane-arm which could quickly relocate the shield on the battlefield. Liftor powerlinxed with Smokescreen to fire the Skyboom Shield to Optimus Prime during one of their battles. Tactician Later on, when the Autobots first battled Tidal Wave, Liftor was seen powerlinxed to Smokescreen's cannon. Even their long-range firepower didn't have the distance to reach the flying Decepticon warship, though. Awakening

Liftor was present at the team meeting when the Autobots decided what to do with the Mini-Cons who formed the Requiem Blaster. Runaway

After Optimus Prime's death, Liftor was one of a group of Mini-Cons who confronted the angst-ridden Hot Shot, forcing the young 'bot to try to come to terms with the loss of his leader. Remorse

Dreamwave Armada comics

When the Mini-Cons were activated on Earth, Liftor took refuge in the middle of a junkyard. As Rollbar did not return from a search for radio equipment, Liftor, Longarm, and Jolt went looking and discovered him in a trash compactor. Liftor turned the machine off while the others pulled their friend out, and they returned to their makeshift base. There, they managed to get a TV working, and spotted other Mini-Cons being chased by Megatron on the news. They made their way to the confrontation between the Autobots and the Decepticons. Liftor initially thought their coming there was crazy, but soon joined the fray, jumping down with Longarm to smash in Demolishor's eye. He then powerlixed with Smokescreen and helped chase away the Decepticons. Armada #5

Liftor later joined the other Mini-Cons and assembled on Earth for transport to Cybertron in an attempt to defeat Unicron. While the Autobots and Decepticons kept Unicron distracted, the Mini-Cons of this reality joined their power with those of Over-Run's universe, delivering an almighty blast that severely damaged the Chaos Bringer and forced him into retreat. The End

Panini Armada comic

In the early days of the Decepticons' hunt for Mini-Cons, Liftor was among the Mini-Cons who supported Dualor's plan to lure Megatron into a trap. Counter-Strike!

After the Mini-Cons' escape from Cybertron, Liftor ended up on Earth's moon, where he was later reactivated by a probe sent by Sparkplug. He soon found Smokescreen, who was losing a battle with Demolishor, and happily power-linked with him. Liftor's power boost allowed Smokescreen to punch Demolishor out of the way and force the Decepticons into a retreat. Between Two Worlds!

Toys

Armada

• Smokescreen with Liftor (Deluxe, 2003)
  • Japanese ID number: MC-04

Packaged only with the larger Autobot Smokescreen, Liftor transforms into a Cybertronic heavy-lifting vehicle that looks like something out of Mad Max. His forklift/ram-scoop assembly is jointed to lift up in vehicle mode. In robot mode, Liftor has a surprising amount of articulation for a Mini-Con, with shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, and even a neck joint, putting him on par with most of his line's Deluxe figures (and better than some).

• More information on Liftor at TFU.info

• Grap w/ Race Micron (Multi-pack, 2003)
  • Japanese ID number: MS-04

In Japan, the Smokescreen/Liftor pairing was available both as a normal set, and in a multi-pack with the Race Mini-Con Team. All toys were identical to their normal releases.

• Grap Super Mode (Deluxe, 2003)
  • Japanese ID number: MC-11

In Japan, the Mini-Con Refute was treated as a new-body "Spark" upgrade of Liftor. He transforms into a Cybertronic vehicle with a large forward gripper claw. A gear-wheel system moves the gripper-clamp when rolled along in vehicle mode, or when attached to the gearing system on the underside of the Armada Cyclonus mold (in theory, at least). This toy uses the retooled version with the shorter "fins" on the vehicle mode back end. He is largely identical to the Hasbro Refute toy, except for his shiny silver-plastic tires.

This mold was also used to make Grip-Lock.

• More information on Spark Lift (well, Refute) at TFU.info

Built to Rule

• Smokescreen with Liftor (Built to Rule, 2003)

As part of the smaller-sized Built to Rule sets, BTR Liftor could be rebuilt from a brick that resembles the original toy's vehicle mode to a brick that has the original toy's robot-mode head. Naturally, he came with Smokescreen.

• More information on Built to Rule Liftor at TFU.info

Universe (2003)

• Smokescreen with Liftor vs. Ransack with Refute (Battle in a Box, 2004)

For Universe, Liftor was redecoed with a predominately black and yellow scheme. He was available in a "market six" Battle in a Box multi-pack with his partner Smokescreen and the Decepticons Ransack and Refute.

• More information on Universe Liftor at TFU.info

Notes

• Strangely enough, despite being a made-up non-word, there actually was a previous transforming robot toy by the name of Liftor. A late 1980's Robot Racer figure was the first to use the "Liftor" name. Of course, given that this Liftor was only available at one chain of gas stations in the United Kingdom over fifteen years earlier suggests the whole thing was probably a giant coincidence.

Foreign names

• Japanese: Lift (リフト Rifuto)
• Korean: Lift (리프트 Ripeuteu)