Hot Rod (G1)/toys
From MediaWiki
Hot Rod is a bot of many toys!
Toys
Generation 1
- Hot Rod (Autobot Car, 1986)
- Japanese ID number: C-78
- Accessories: 2 Photon Lasers
- Hot Rod transforms into a red, orange and yellow futuristic race car. He is armed with two "Photon Laser" weapons, each with their own distinct sculpt, which fit in both his fists; only one gun can be equipped in vehicle mode, in the port in his engine block. Upon his original release, Hot Rod had unpainted die-cast metal feet, while later editions of the figure used black plastic.
- Hot Rod was one of the first toys designed specifically for the Transformers toyline, as opposed to being an imported pre-existing toy. In further contrast to the common design process for Transformers toys, he (like most of the cast of The Transformers: The Movie) was created for animation first, and had his toy created based on Floro Dery's designs (though said animation designs would be further modified after the toy was completed). Before final production, Hot Rod was originally cast in a pinker plastic to match the color of his animation model (as seen in catalogs at the time, and the Sharkticon commercial), but oddly, he was changed to a less animation-accurate red before release. This change evidently came too late to modify the factory-applied stickers the toy bears: the small decals on either side of Hot Rod's vehicle mode feature a pink background that would have matched the toy's original color scheme. In another, even more baffling change, an extra plastic tab was added to Hot Rod's legs before final production to keep them from fully extending and revealing his sculpted knee detail.
- Hot Rod has been retooled, reissued and redecoed several times down the years; this article strives to list each distinct edition of the figure under its own heading.
- Rodimus Prime (Autobot Hero, 1986)
- Japanese ID number: C-77
- Accessories: Trailer/Mobile Defense Bay, Photon Eliminator, spoiler, 2 gun shields (left & right)
- Rodimus Prime was designed in much the same way as Hot Rod, albeit with much less articulation. Rodimus transforms from a robot and Mobile Defense Bay into a futuristic truck. The toy comes with a "Photon eliminator" rifle and two blast shields to attach to either side of his battle platform's cannon. (The yellow spoiler was also to be removed and replaced during transformation.) Like Hot Rod, there are materials variations; initial releases have metal toes and rubber tires, while latter shipments replaced both with black plastic.
- This mold was later redecoed as a lucky draw prize Primus.
- Hot Rod (Targetmaster, 1987)
- Accessories: Firebolt Targetmaster partner
- Hot Rod was re-released with his new Nebulan Targetmaster partner Firebolt a year after the original release. The toy was retooled to have larger pegholes in his fists and his engine block so the Targetmaster gun would fit. As the original large stickers applied to Hot Rod's thighs were frequently scraped away by the friction of moving his legs up and down during transformation, the Targetmaster version sported smaller decals that avoided this problem. Unlike the original figure, Targetmaster Hot Rod only ever featured black plastic feet.
- Not originally released in Japan, the Targetmaster version of Hot Rod was later reissued by Takara as part of their The Transformers Collection series in 2004 (see below).
- Hot Rodimus (2000)
- Japanese ID number: C-78
- Accessories: 2 Photon Lasers
- The original Hot Rod toy was reissued by Takara in later December 2000, as part of a small line of reissues that celebrated the fifteenth anniversary of the Transformers toyline in Japan. The figure was retro-retooled from the Targetmaster version of the toy to fill the enlarged holes back in so that they could once again snugly accommodate his Photon Lasers. This version of the figure also reinstates the die-cast metal feet of its earliest release, and finally recolors the stickers on either side of the vehicle mode so that they now feature an accurate red background to match to the rest of the figure. The toy's packaging featured a metallic golden sticker advertising the anniversary.
- This version of the Hot Rod mold was also used to create the simultaneously-available exclusives "Crystal Rodimus" (see below) and the evil clone, Black Rodimus.
- Crystal Rodimus (Autobot Car, 2001)
- Japanese ID number: C-78C
- Accessories: 2 Photon Lasers
- "Crystal Rodimus" uses the reissue Hot Rod mold, but cast almost entirely in translucent plastics. Limited to 1500 pieces and packaged in a monochrome blue version of Hot Rod's normal packaging, Crystal Rodimus was only available at Tokyo Toy Festival, with the joint purchase of the evil clone Black Rodimus.
- Rodimus Convoy (2001)
- Japanese ID number: C-77
- Accessories: Trailer/Mobile Defense Bay, Photon Eliminator, spoiler, 2 gun shields (left & right)
- The original Rodimus Prime toy was reissued by Takara in mid-December 2001. It featured no notable changes from the original Generation 1 release of the figure, but it did reinstate the rubber tires and metal feet that were phased out of the original toy's production run.
- Sons of Cybertron (2010)
- Accessories: Rocket engine/missile launcher, flame missile
- Released as part of TakaraTomy's Welcome to Transformers 2010 campaign, this redeco of Classics Rodimus is cast in translucent plastic and features the Henkei! Henkei! release's paint applications. He is packed with a similarly translucent Deluxe class Optimus Prime from the Classics "Ultimate Battle" pack and Universe (2008) Special Edition.
- This Classics/Henkei-based Sons of Cybertron set is a counterpart to TakaraTomy's Transformers Animated Sons of Cybertron set, which also features translucent versions of Deluxe (Animated) Optimus Prime and Rodimus.
- The Classics/Henkei Sons of Cybertron set was intended for the Japanese Chara Hobby 2010 festival, but was also initially offered as a raffle prize at the Cybertron Philippines, Toy Kingdom and SM Makati and Hasbro-partnered Autobot Alliance/Cybertron Con event that launched the Generations, Transformers (2010) and Power Core Combiners toylines in the Philippines.,[1] and was available for purchase at the Cybertron Con 2010 Shanghai convention as well as various online toy retailers.
Transform Jr
- Rodimus Convoy (1986)
- Japanese ID number: C-77
- Accessories: Photon eliminator, cardboard trailer
- Transform Jr Rodimus Prime is a downsized version of the standard toy, far less simplified than most figures in the Jr line (on account of how simple the regular toy is in the first place). Made of only red and yellow plastic, he is armed with his Photon Eliminator, and comes with a non-transforming version of his trailer made partially out of cardboard. He also came packaged with a small die-cast metal figurine of Metroplex.
Return of Convoy
- Star Convoy w/ Hot Rodimus (Autobot, 1991/2005)
- Japanese ID number: C-372
- Available only with Star Convoy, Hot Rod's Micromaster form is a simplified version of his original toy, transforming into the same futuristic race car. Like all Micromasters, he features a notch in the base of his feet that allows him to peg inside Star Convoy's chest and stand on his base mode's rotating turret.
- In 2005, Star Convoy was re-released with several deco changes; in Hot Rod's case, his stickers were replaced with paint applications.
Choro-Q
- Rodimus Convoy TV Version (2001)
- Japanese ID number: Q/05
- Accessories: Photon Eliminator rifle
- Transforming super deformed version of Rodimus Convoy containing a pull back motor. He came with a small version of his Photon Eliminator rifle that can be held in his hand or attached to the top of the truck when in Choro-Q (vehicle) mode.
- Rodimus Convoy Metallic Version (2001)
- Japanese ID number: Q/06
- Accessories: Photon Eliminator rifle
- This metallic version featured metallic flake paint for the body and gold paint for the wings on Rodimus's back. Otherwise, the toy is the same.
Commemorative Series
- Rodimus Major (2002)
- Accessories: 2 Photon Lasers
- Hasbro's first and, to date, only reissue of the Hot Rod toy used the re-modified mold from Takara's 2001 edition, with smaller peg-holes for his Photon Lasers, and die-cast metal feet. As part of the first wave of "Commemorative Series" figures, Hot Rod had to undergo a name change due to Hasbro's inability to trademark his old name, but the "Major" suffix failed to stick and was only ever used on this edition of the toy.
- This version of the mold removes the pins in his arms and instead the arms stay in via very small pegs. This is likely due to the part being prone to breakage. Subsequent uses of this mold also shared this retool.
- Rodimus Prime (2004)
- Accessories: Trailer/Mobile Defense Bay, Photon Eliminator, spoiler, 2 gun shields (left & right)
- Part of the seventh wave of the Commemorative Series, Hasbro's reissue of Rodimus Prime was identical to Takara's 2001 reissue of the figure, featuring metal feet and rubber tires, and no other notable changes from the original figure. The toy did, however, feature an assembly error that saw a portion of the chest being assembled backwards.
The Transformers Collection
- Hot Rodimus (2004)
- Japanese ID number: 13
- Accessories: 2 Photon Lasers, Firebolt Targetmaster partner
- The most recent reissue of Hot Rod followed the trend begun by earlier reissues of Optimus Prime and Megatron, and offered the most "complete" version of the toy available by including all the accessories that had come with the different releases of the figure through the years. His peg holes were modified for the third time, enlarged once again to accommodate Firebolt, and his Photon Lasers' pegs were similarly widened to fit comfortably in the newly-sized ports. Additionally, this version of Hot Rod replaced the factory-applied stickers on his chest and sides with tampographs, completely redesigning the flame design on the latter decals. His chest decoration was modified to resemble the cartoon coloration more accurately. It is quite surprising though that the set still retained the original Hot Rodimus decal sheet, especially the non corrected longer thigh decals (which tended to get scrapped when transformed into vehicle mode).
- This set included a Tech Spec card that retroactively gave the Targetmaster version of Hot Rod the Japanese ID number "C-110", as the toy had never been released in Japan before this point.
Smallest Transforming Transformers
- Hot Rodimus (2004/2006)
- Accessories: 2 Photon Lasers
- Initially intended for release in the cancelled third wave of Takara's Smallest Transforming Transformers line of diminutive Transformers figures, Hot Rod eventually saw the light of day as the 1-in-24 shortpacked "chase" figure in wave "2.5" of the series, which was already of comparatively limited availability. He came with tiny versions of his original Photon Lasers (which were attached to a plastic sprue and had to be removed by the buyer), and was blindpacked like all Smallest Transforming figures.
- Hot Rod was later made available again as a Toys"R"Us exclusive in 2006, in a unique monochrome red box, available only with purchase of Hybrid Style Optimus Prime.
Classics (2006)
- Rodimus (Deluxe, 2006)
- Accessories: Rocket engine/missile launcher, flame missile
- Classics Rodimus is a sleeker, more streamlined version of the original, now transforming into a heavily-altered Dome Zero. His rear-mounted thruster engine becomes a hand-held weapon in robot mode, launching a spring-loaded missile, or can remain attached to his back to become some kind of jet pack. His left arm also hides a flip-out "comm unit" that is clearly supposed to be the buzzsaw he used for a brief period in the Movie. As with all Classics toys, Rodimus has a heat-sensitive rubsign.
- In a twist of delicious buttery fandom irony, Classics Rodimus has elements that were introduced in Energon Rodimus, making him a somewhat backwards-homage. His face also appears to take visual cues from how he was drawn by Derek Yaniger in the Generation 2 comic book.
- Very early specimens of Rodimus came with short stubs on his forearms that don't really connect at all to the hip panels, resulting in a somewhat unstable vehicle mode. The stubs can also be seen on the official Hasbro stock photos for the figure.[2] This was quickly amended by a running change that saw the stubs enlarged into actual pegs that connect much more securely to the hip panels. (Some reports also indicate the existence of "transitional" versions with a stub on one arm and a full peg on the other.)
- The modified pegs were used for every subsequent use of the sculpt, which include the evil "Shattered Glass" Rodimus, Gentei! Gentei! Wildrider and Timelines Side Burn.
Titanium Series
- Rodimus Prime (6-inch Cybertron Heroes, 2007)
- Accessories: Photon Eliminator rifle
- Titanium Cybertron Heroes Rodimus Prime is a mostly die-cast metal transforming toy based loosely upon the original Generation 1 Rodimus Prime toy. He features much greater articulation and bulkier body proportions.
- Unlike the original toy which separated into a robot and a battle station, the entire vehicle mode of the 6-inch Titanium version transforms into the robot mode. As with Classics Rodimus, Titanium Rodimus Prime takes some visual cues from the Energon version of the character in addition to the original toy and the animation model... and the actual Classics Rodimus toy, such as the engine-block dickie.
Kiss Players
- Hot Rodimus X SyaoSyao (2006)
- Accessories: Engine/tonfa weapons, fishing rod/Exhaust Eliminator, ShaoShao Li figurine with steamer
- Kiss Players Hot Rodimus is a retool and redeco of the Alternators Mirage toy, transforming into a red Ford GT. His engine becomes a pair of pistols that double as tonfa weapons, and his fishing rod can be taken apart and reassembled to create a triple-barreled arm-mounted blaster reminiscent of the original Hot Rod's exhaust pipe weapons. His new head sculpt includes a retractable visor patterned after the one used in the movie.
- The toy also included a PVC figurine of the character's "Kiss Player" partner Shaoshao Li and a bamboo dumpling steamer, as well as a CD including episodes 11-20 of the Kiss Players radio drama and the exclusive 10-minute audio adventure, "A Big Catch Tonight?!".
- For a short time, Takara had contemplated releasing a Hot Rodimus (Hot Rod) toy as the next Binaltech release after Ginrai, but that plan became obsolete when Takara decided to cancel the Binaltech line as a mass retail line altogether. Instead, Hot Rodimus also ended up as part of the Kiss Players line, after "Ginrai" had previously become Kiss Players Convoy.
Alternators
- Rodimus (2007)
- Accessories: Engine/tonfa weapons
- Alternators Rodimus is an exclusive figure, released at the San Diego Comic-Con and Hasbro Toy Shop in July 2007. It is a repaint of Kiss Players Hot Rodimus, which itself is a retool of Alternators Mirage. The figure uses the same head mold introduced in the Kiss Players figure, retaining the original's visor gimmick. The deco has been altered by changing the side striping from white to yellow, while the stripes over the hood, roof and trunk have been eliminated altogether, replaced by a Hot Rod-style flame graphic on the hood and front guards. Most of the Kiss Player deco remains in robot mode, including the yellow hands and flame graphics on the forearms; however, the license plates (located at the knees in robot mode) have been changed to read "TOO HOT".
- Rodimus's weapons are the dual pistols/tonfa seen with both Mirage and Hot Rodimus, however his Kiss Player counterpart's fishing rod/eliminator and dumpling steamer weapons were not included in the Alternators release. They left the girl out too.
Henkei! Henkei!
- Hot Rodimus (Deluxe, 2008)
- Japanese ID number: C-05
- Accessories: Rocket engine/missile launcher, flame missile
- In 2008, Classics Rodimus was released in Japan as part of the Henkei! Henkei! Transformers line by TakaraTomy. Now called Hot Rodimus, he features several significant deco differences, such as a large orange and yellow flame tampograph on his hood to better resemble the Generation 1 cartoon model's appearance. The other flame tampographs have also been redesigned, his forehead crest is a more subtle colour to distance itself from the Energon Rodimus homage Hasbro introduced. The only other addition in terms of deco is orange paint on the cuffs of his lower arms. Curiously eschewing the slavish accuracy to the original cartoon's animation models that shaped the coloration of most other Henkei! Henkei! figures, Hot Rodimus is not rendered in Hot Rod's classic magenta cartoon color scheme, featuring instead a shade of red that is even darker than that used by the Classics version, as well as a lighter shade of orange. The clear violet on the Classics version is clear blue on the Hot Rodimus. All Henkei! Henkei! toys feature a somewhat randomly vacuum-metallized part somewhere upon them, his headlights are painted chrome gold paint, while his entire spoiler is vacuum-metallized gold.
- A re-release of the figure in the Fall of 2011 featured a significantly lighter shade of red roof than the original version.
Universe (2008)
- Rodimus (Legends Class, 2008)
- Legends Class Rodimus transforms into a generic sports car with a giant rice-tastic spoiler. This toy's design was the basis for Hot Rod's look in the Wings of Honor comic book.
- This mold was redecoed into Revenge of the Fallen Smokescreen and Dark of the Moon Rodimus.
- Challenge at Cybertron (Deluxe Class figure 3-pack, 2010)
- Accessories: Rocket engine/missile launcher, flame missile
- A redeco of Classics Rodimus was released in the "Challenge at Cybertron" multi-pack along with redecoes of Cyclonus and Galvatron. This version of Rodimus, like the Henkei! Henkei! figure, is intended to be accurate to the cartoon's colors, though it attempts the idea much more literally, to the point of having solid blue rather than translucent windows.
- The set was exclusively released in South-East Asian markets by Hasbro Malaysia, but the included version of Rodimus was later released in the "gold box" Transformers line as a two-pack with the Cyclonus from the set.
Masterpiece
- Rodimus Convoy (2011)
- Japanese ID number: MP-9
- Accessories: Trailer/Mobile Defense Bay, Photon Eliminator/Photon Lasers Alpha & Beta, Matrix of Leadership, buzzsaw, welding torch
- The central feature of TakaraTomy's Masterpiece incarnation of good ol' Roddy is its ability to transform from Hot Rod to Rodimus Prime in both robot and vehicle modes. Extensions in the figure's hips give Rodimus some slight extra height over Hot Rod, while a spring-loaded pop-out second face, revealed when the figure's helmet is tilted back, gives him his older, lined features; this face is somewhat narrower than Hot Rod's, combining with a slight elevation of the back-mounted spoiler to further create the illusion of a larger figure. Contrary to expectations, creating Rodimus Prime's vehicle mode does not simply involve slotting Hot Rod's car mode into the larger trailer section; in fact, Hot Rod fits into the trailer backwards, and an entirely new vehicle-front—featuring Rodimus's shorter hood and smaller canopy and lacking an exposed engine block—fips out from beneath the trailer and wraps around his rear end. Both vehicles feature opening canopies, though only Hot Rod has any sculpted interior detail of note. As with most Masterpiece figures, the toy attempts to reproduce Hot Rod's cartoon appearance as faithfully as possible; consequently, this is the first toy to actually render Hot Rod in his cartoon-accurate magenta coloration. Of course, there was no way to make the figure switch to burgundy for Rodimus mode, but in compensation, the front of the cab features the two tone coloration Rodimus Prime featured in the animation.
- As with his original toy, Rodimus Prime's trailer opens up into the Mobile Defense Bay, now through a spring-loaded transformation activated by pressing a button on the trailer's roof. Furthering his armament, the figure comes with Hot Rod's two twin Photon Lasers, which can combine and extend through a spring-loaded automorph-style process into Rodimus Prime's larger Photon Eliminator. The guns can store within his trailer, and mount on any one of six different ports in Defense Bay mode for additional firepower. Like the original Hot Rod toy, a single Photon Laser can mount in the vehicle mode's engine block. The Transformers: The Movie is the source of inspiration for the rest of his additional gadgets and features, including a built-in version of the retractable visor from the Lookout Mountain scene, (dropped over the figure's eyes by rotating the circular "ears" on its helmet), the buzzsaw he used in battle on Quintessa, and the welding torch he used to repair Kup. Both saw and torch store inside his trailer while not in use, and attach to universal clips which rotate out of his forearms. Lastly, and naturally, he also comes with a Matrix of Leadership accessory which stores within his chest, much smaller than the one included with Masterpiece Optimus Prime, to the extent that Rodimus cannot even hold it by its handles. He can, however, grip Prime's Matrix in his hands.
- Unfortunately, Masterpiece Rodimus has suffered from numerous quality control issues, which vary from figure to figure. Commonly reported problems include fragile leg panels which break off with ease, the inability of the figure to hold its guns due to shallow peg-holes which conflict with the bending angle of his hands, the springs within the figure's ankles becoming unwound, and the spoiler/backpack assembly refusing to clip into place. Mostly infamously, the slot on the trailer into which the spoiler slips is extremely narrow as a consequence of its interior being painted; as a result, paint is invariably scraped off the inside and leaves disfiguring marks on the spoiler when the figure is transformed to Rodimus Prime vehicle mode. A second production run, done shortly after Hasbro's release of the figure in a different deco (see below), amended these issues and also featured some slight changes in paint colors, although the forked chest tab not quite locking properly still seems to be an issue. Some of the second production run retain the original elbows from the first production run while the others feature the retooled elbows from the Hasbro version. The second release also features the retooled crotch plate from the Hasbro release.
- In addition to the Hasbro version, this figure was also redecoed into Black Rodimus Convoy.
Transformers (2010)
- Battle in Space (Deluxe figure 2-pack, 2010)
- Accessories: Rocket engine/missile launcher, flame missile
- This release of the Classics Rodimus is a modified version from the Asia market-exclusive "Challenge at Cybertron" 3-pack, replacing Rodimus' Autobot sigil with a heat-sensitive rubsign. The only other change from the "Challenge at Cybertron" version is the contrast between the chest flame and the orange backdrop is greater, making the flame deco stand out more. The set also comes with a similarly modified Universe Cyclonus (with Nightstick) from the "Challenge at Cybertron" set, the Autobot Matrix of Leadership accessory from the 2002 New Year Special Convoy reissue of Generation 1 Optimus Prime, and "Rodimus vs. Cyclonus", a new comic book created specifically for this set by IDW Publishing.
- Masterpiece Rodimus Prime (2011)
- Accessories: Photon Eliminator/Photon Lasers Alpha & Beta, small Matrix of Leadership, large Matrix of Leadership, buzzsaw, welding torch, Offshoot
- The Hasbro version of Masterpiece Rodimus Prime is a Toys"R"Us exclusive. Redecoed from the Takara version to appear more like the original toy, this version omits the trailer preventing him from transforming into Rodimus Prime's futuristic truck mode. He does however include Offshoot, a Targetmaster figure, as well as all the other accessories from the Takara release.
- Every plastic color is changed and many painted details are added, changed, and downright omitted from the TakaraTomy version in an effort to make him appear more toy accurate. The light gray plastic is a more metallic darker gray, the magenta is now maroon, the orange is a darker shade, and the clear blue window is a darker blue. Other changes include the hip joints and rear end, which are now black instead of magenta, the boots, which are now maroon instead of gray, and the feet, which are now black (to mimic the plastic toe variation rather than the metal toe variation from the original figure). His accessories have also changed in plastic color, with his welding tool now being maroon instead of gray, his buzz saw being smoky transparent blue instead of smoky colorless transparent plastic, and the Photon Lasers being cast in a different color. Notable paint omissions include the arm cuffs, collar, brake-lights, headlights, and the rear exhaust. His head also lacks the cartoon specific coloration, instead leaving it mostly unpainted like the original figure. Paint operation differences include the fins of the spoiler being a more subdued glossy yellow and the flame detail on his chest being a new pattern (different from the TakaraTomy version). His paint additions include the waist, which is entirely painted over rather than letting some of the transparency show through, and the center portion of the spoiler, which is now painted over yellow instead of unpainted orange plastic. His Autobot symbol is a different size and without any additional outline color, and his Photon Lasers feature some additional painted details as well. Additional details mimicking the original toy's stickers are now also present on the shins and he includes an optional sticker sheet featuring stickers similar to the original arm stickers of the Hot Rod toy, with stickers of both the Autobot and Decepticon insignias as well. Another difference is the rims, which are unchromed, showing the gray plastic underneath. In fact, the only things remaining the same are the chrome exhaust and the color of the rubber tires.
- This version of Rodimus features the same Matrix of Leadership included with the TakaraTomy version (minus the silver and gold chrome, replaced with unpainted gray and gold painted sections), but also an additional new mold matrix similar to the one included with the original Masterpiece Optimus.
- The Hasbro version of Rodimus featured retooled elbow joints that, when separated, make it difficult for him to hold a pose with his arms. The crotch plate was retooled on its underside to help prevent it from hitting the ground while in car mode.
- Hasbro's Rodimus, sadly, will eventually tear itself apart due to overly powerful springs putting constant pressure on peculiarly weak plastic. The arms have a disheartening tendency to spontaneously break at either pinned section of the shoulder joint, while the upper ratchet in the knee has a high likelihood of shattering, either rendering him only durable enough to transform a few scant times. Just pose him once and back away slowly...
Chronicle
- Hot Rodimus (EZ Collection, 2011)
- Chronicle Hot Rodimus is redeco of the Universe Legends Class Rodimus. Like other Chronicle Legends toys, he is sold in a blindpacked box.
United
- Autobot Set (3-pack, 2011)
- Accessories: Rocket engine/missile launcher, flame missile
- Dubbed "Hot Rod Blue Clear Version", this redeco of the oft-used Classics Rodimus mold is cast in transparent blue plastics, emulating the scene in The Transformers: The Movie where Hot Rod catches the Matrix of Leadership to keep it from hitting the floor after a dying Optimus Prime dropped it. Of interest is the fact that all the plastic parts are translucent, even the usually "softer"/unpaintable/never-clear nylon parts - a trend not seen on any other "clear" toys produced before.
- This version was only available in an e-HOBBY exclusive 3-pack with a battle-damaged Kup and Scrapheap. Preorders for the set were opened on December 13 of 2010 and closed on January 11 of 2011, and shipped in April.
- This figure was available with a Hot Rod pin and Macrocosmic Seekers booklet directly from e-HOBBY, he was also released in Asian countries outside of Japan without said pin and booklet.
- Rodimus Prime (Deluxe, January 2012)
- ID number: UN-23
- Accessories: Rocket engine/missile launcher, flame missile
- Released in early 2012 as part of the United toy line, this marks the first retool of the Classics Rodimus mold. To help the mold fit the character of Rodimus Prime, TakaraTomy chose a color scheme that homaged his original Generation 1 cartoon color scheme and altered the mold to improve compatibility with Mini-Cons released around the same time. This release features new Generation One toy-inspired flame decos on the car's hood and sides, several sections (notably the roof and the area around the headlights) painted a sparkly dark maroon color (to mimic the two toned coloration of the front of Rodimus Prime's truck mode in the animation), as well as a white face and hands and an orange hood. TakaraTomy also retooled the toy's engine block to add a 5mm peg and added a 5mm hole underneath the toy's right hand to allow the toy to use the recent Arms Micron Mini-Cons.
- Both the maroon and orange plastic of the figure vary from any other release. Also notable is this is the first version of this mold to have the spoiler molded in an entirely different plastic color than the thighs (a good number of the other versions of this mold paint the spoiler a different color to achieve a certain look).
Merchandise
Generation 1
- Decipher the Decepticons Sweepstakes prize (1986)
- 5 motorized Hot Rod go-carts were advertised as the grand prizes for the Decipher the Decepticon promotional contest. Sadly, no images of these rarities have surfaced on the Internet to date. If you know where we can find one we will give you a baby. A real baby.
Transformers Choco
- Hot Rodimus (1986)
- Released as part of Kabaya's line of Transformers Choco candy toys, this version of Hot Rod is a small, transformable model kit, cast in solid red plastic. As with all the Transformers Choco figures, he came with "Chocolate Dots", small candies similar to M&Ms.
- Rodimus Convoy (1986)
- Transformers Choco Rodimus Prime was also a small, solid-red transforming model kit packaged with Chocolate Dots. Its trailer, however, was a solid removable piece, which did not open into a battle station like the larger figure.
Transformers Gum
- Rodimus Convoy (1986)
- Accessories: Trailer/Mobile Defense Bay, Photon Eliminator, spoiler, left and right blast shields
- Rodimus Prime also had a presence in Kabaya's line of larger Transformers Gum model kits. Released as part of the line's fifth wave, Rodimus is molded in red, silver and black plastic, lacking in paint applications but featuring stickers for detail. Like many other Transformers Gum model kits, Rodimus is very much a downsized version of the regular toy, featuring all its accessories, features and (lack of) articulation. As the name suggests, rather than chocolate, Rodimus came with a stick of gum.
- Hot Rodimus (2011)
- ID number: 1
- Released in the fourth wave of the revived Transformers Gum series in 2011, this transforming model kit of Hot Rod is made from red, orange and black plastic, and decorated with quite a few stickers to add his familiar details. Taking its cues from Masterpiece Rodimus Convoy, the figure features an alternate Rodimus Prime head (well, a head with an alternate sticker), and can combine with his fully-transformable Mobile Defense Bay to form Rodimus's vehicle mode. The Defense Bay is assembled by collecting several additional parts available with the three different kits in the wave; its base comes with Inferno, its sides and Rodimus's Photon Eliminator come with Hot Rod himself, and its central turret comes with Victory Leo. The vehicle mode replicates the approach used by the Masterpiece figure, with Hot Rod slotting into the trailer backwards, and an alternate piece featuring Rodimus's shorter hood flips up from underneath the trailer and clips over the car's rear end.
- Rodimus Convoy (2011)
- This is the pieced together Rodimus Prime from the Transformers Gum series in 2011, with its parts from across the wave.
Transformers Milk Caramel
- Rodimus Convoy (1986)
- A small glow-in-the-dark rubber figurine of Rodimus—known in Japan as a keshigomu—was released as part of Kabaya's Transformers 2010-themed assortment of Transformers Milk Caramel candy toys. Rodimus came with chocolate-covered caramel candies, and was available in red, yellow, blue and green.
Transformers Ramune
- Rodimus Convoy (1986)
- Another keshigomu of Rodimums Rodimus Prime was available in the Transformers Ramune line by Kabaya, scaled to be reminiscent of the earlier line of figures that had been imported by Hasbro as Decoys. Like the other figures in this series, Rodimus came with fizzy "Ramune" candy, and was available in red, blue and yellow.
Forms Robo
- Rodimus Convoy (1987)
- Rodimus was also part of the small Japanese-exclusive Forms Robo collection of larger "Decoy"-style figures, with this version of the character standing at around twice the height of a regular Decoy. Like the other figures in this wave, Rodimus was packaged in an individual baggie and was available in red, blue, green and yellow.
Seven
- Rodimus Convoy vs Galvatron (multi-pack, 1986)
- One of several vinyl action figures produced by the Takara subsidiary Seven, Rodimus Prime was sold in a two-pack with a similar figure of Galvatron on a blister card. He featured articulation in his shoulders.
- Cybertron Leader Set (multi-pack, 1987)
- The Rodimus Prime figurine was also later made available in a two-pack with the Transform Jr Chromedome figure. The set also came with a small die-cast metal figurine of Metroplex.
Talkformers
- Rodimus Convoy (1986)
- Japanese ID number: T-01
- This vinyl figurine of Rodimus Prime was one of two entries in the Talkformers line. Featuring only two points of articulation in the shoulders, it spoke four pullstring-activated Japanese phrases, spoken by Rodimus's Japanese voice actor, Hiroya Ishimaru.
MC Axis
- Rodimus Convoy (Super Hybrid Model, 1987)
- Japanese ID number: H-01
- Rodimus Prime was one of three non-transforming Super Hybrid Model vinyl figurines created in 1987 by Japanese collectables company MC Axis. Standing at about eight inches tall and featuring articulation in the head and neck, Rodimus and his fellows (Galvatron and Arcee) were based on their Studio OX character models, featuring much more anime-styled proportions and detailing.
- For reasons unknown, the retail release of Rodimus and the other Super Hybrid Model figures was canceled. While Galvatron was eventually released as an exclusive at BotCon Japan 1997, Rodimus and Arcee have never been officially released, though they do occasionally pop up on the secondary market, commanding prices in excess of $600.
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- Hot Rod (model kit, 1996)
- Accessories: Matrix of Leadership, buzzsaw, welding torch, alternate head, alternate hands-holding-Matrix
- This Japanese "garage kit", an unpainted resin model, was made by MC Axis and came with a comic strip starring Hot Rod. It included several interchangeable parts based on Hot Rod's antics in The Transformers: The Movie, including an alternate head featuring the telescopic visor from the Lookout Mountain scene, the welding torch he used to repair Kup and the buzzsaw from his battles on Quintessa, and two versions of the Matrix of Leadership—one standard, fairly useless one, since his clenched fists are unable to hold it, and one sculpted with a pair of alternate hands holding its handles, allowing Roddy to hoist it aloft.
- The kit is not known for its exceptional quality control - numerous unsightly air bubbles in the plastic are not an uncommon thing to encounter.
Parody Deformed
- Rodimus Convoy (1990)
- Accessories: Photon Eliminator
- A small white and red, non-transforming super deformed model kit of Rodimus Prime was available as part of Kabaya's "Parody Deformed" line of candy toys. The first figure of the third wave (the eleventh figure overall), he came with a "Transformers PD Type" comic about himself, "Take A Stand!! Rodimus Convoy", and more gum.
- Rodimus Convoy's Photon Eliminator (1990)
- The first toy released in the fifth and final wave of the Parody Deformed line (and the twenty-first toy overall), this model kit replica of Rodimus's Photon Eliminator comes with a number of small plastic BBs, which it can shoot via a spring-loaded firing mechanism. It came with a "PD Type" comic centering on it, and yet more gum.
Super Collection Figure
- Rodimus Convoy (2002)
- A three-inch tall PVC figurine of Rodimus Prime was available in the second wave of Takara's Super Collection Figure line. Like all the figures in the "act", it was available as both a standard full color figure and a colorless translucent version, one of each of which was available in a standard case of twelve blindpacked figures.
- Rodimus Convoy with Matrix (2002)
- A rare chase figure of Rodimus Prime was also available in the second SCF act, molded in translucent colored plastic and holding the Matrix of Leadership in both hands, in the process of opening it.
- Rodimus Convoy with Matrix (2003)
- The Matrix-bearing Rodimus chase figure was re-released as a standard figure for the fourth Super Collection Figure wave, this time as both a standard, solid-color figure and a metallic silver "pewter" version, both available at one each per standard case of twelve. In eight out of every ten cases, the pewter figure came with the right leg of the wave's collectable Metroplex "build-a-figure".
- Hot Rodimus (2003)
- Hot Rod made his Super Collection Figure debut in the sixth wave of the series, sporting the telescopic visor he employed during on Lookout Mountain in The Transformers: The Movie. Hot Rod was available in both full-color and pewter versions, but the color figure sported the burgundy paint job of Rodimus Prime, rather than Hot Rod's lighter magenta. In eight out of every ten cases, the pewter Hot Rod came with the torso of the wave's Grand Maximus collectable figure.
Heroes of Cybertron
- Rodimus Prime (2003)
- When Hasbro released the Super Collection Figure line as Heroes of Cybertron, the original Rodimus Prime figure was released as part of the fourth wave, now featuring a light-piping gimmick in the character's eyes, accomplished by casting the figure in translucent blue plastic and then painting over it. Rather than come blindpacked like the SCF figure, Rodimus came on a blister card with a profile card included.
Mega Super Collection Figure
- Hot Rodimus (2002)
- Japanese ID number: Mega SCF-04
- Accessories: Left and right open hands, left and right fists, head w/ visor, Matrix of Leadership, buzzsaw, welding torch
- A five-inch tall, non-transforming highly-articulated PVC figure of Hot Rod was the fourth entry in Takara's Mega Super Collection Figure. Based closely on Hot Rod's cartoon character model (albeit sporting the character's red and orange toy color scheme, rather than the cartoon's magenta), Hot Rod came with numerous interchangeable accessories. In addition to the Matrix of Leadership and two sets of hands—two clenched fists and two open palms—he includes several gadgets seen in The Transformers: The Movie: the buzzsaw used in battle on Quintessa, the welding torch he used to repair Kup, and an alternate head featuring an open-mouthed expression and the telescopic visor he used on Lookout Mountain.
- Rodimus Convoy (2002)
- Japanese ID number: Mega SCF-06
- Accessories: Left and right open hands, left and right fists, pointing left hand, right hand w/ Photon Eliminator, Matrix of Leadership
- Rodimus Prime also made an appearance in the Mega Super Collection Figure line, standing a little taller than Hot Rod. He too features his red and orange toy-based coloration, instead of the burgundy shade featured in the cartoon. He shares both the Matrix and two sets of hands with Hot Rod, but rather than Hot Rod's other tools, comes instead with a third set of hands, one pointing, and one clutching his Photon Eliminator rifle.
MyClone
- Rodimus Convoy (2003)
- Japanese ID number: MTF007
- Accessories: Orange display stand
- Released in the second wave of the MyClone line of Transformers PVC figures, this adorable widdle Wodimus Pwime comes with a hexagonal orange display stand, which can link up with the identical stands included with other MyClone figures. His modular design allows his parts to be mixed and matched with those of any other MyClone figure.
Hard Hero
- Hotrod (2003)
- Number 7 in Hard Hero's main Transformers series, "Hotrod" is a six inches tall cold-cast porcelain bust. The bust was limited to 4000 pieces, with an additional 100 being specially signed by sculptor Jason Ray, and is a vanishingly rare example of a piece of Hot Rod merchandise that actually colors the character in his original magenta hue.
Generation 1 Figure-Collection
- Rodimus Convoy (2003)
- Japanese ID number: D-6
- Accessories: Display base
- At only one inch in height, this Rodimus "bottlecap" figurine (so named because its display base is the size of a bottlecap) was one of fourteen blindpacked figures available in Kabaya's Transformers Generation 1 Figure-Collection. The figure was rendered in a "retro" black and white color scheme, and came with a leaflet, personalized with cartoon screen captures.
Titanium Series
- Rodimus (3-inch Robot Masters, 2006)
- Accessories: Firebolt gun, Autobot insignia display base
- Titanium Rodimus is a 3 inch tall, non-transforming, die-cast metal figurine. He has limited articulation, localized in his head, shoulders and waist. His gun (which looks an awful lot like Firebolt) is also removable. Excitement! Like all the figures in the line, he came packaged with a clear plastic display base, sculpted in the shape of, and decorated with, his faction's insignia.
Metalverse Collection
- Hot Rodimus (Metalverse Collection MVC-01, 2007)
- Large, rather expensive PVC statue with a sculpted base released by Daiki Industry. Designed by Hirofumi Ichikawa and sculpted by Yuho Koike, it was originally conceived as a clock-statue (the clock would have gone in the nameplate/sigil section of the base) and proposed as a BotCon exclusive by Mr. Koike and Fumihiko Akiyama.
Art Asylum
- Unicron Movie Statue (Diamond Select, 2007)
- This Diamond Select statue of Hot Rod and Unicron stands 8 ½” tall and was limited to 1,986 pieces (as in 1986, the year the original animated Transformers movie was released). Hot Rod stands in the center of the piece, holding the Matrix of Leadership aloft, as Unicron looms behind him. Despite this scene being based on the movie, Hot Rod is colored red like his toy instead of magenta.
- Rodimus Prime head bust (Diamond Select, 2008)
- After the Unicron diorama, Rodimus got a statue all to himself with this Art Asylum mini-bust. It was roughly five inches tall and limited to 1500 pieces.
Robot Heroes
- Rodimus Vs Insecticon (2007)
- Robot Heroes Rodimus is a two inch tall figure sculpted in super deformed style with articulation at the shoulders. Sporting the color scheme of, and details based on the stickers of, the original Generation 1 Hot Rod toy, he came in a two-pack with "Insecticon".
- Rodimus was also one of the Robot Heroes figures released in single-packed, blindpacked form in other countries such as Malaysia and the United Kingdom. Notably, for this release, the character card included with the figure actually used his original name, Hot Rod!
Revoltech
- Hot Rodimus (2008)
- Yamaguchi Series number: 047
- Accessories: Photon laser 1, Photon laser 2, 4 x hands (left & right gun holding hands, right pointing hand and thumbs-up right hand)
- A non-transforming but highly articulated Hot Rod action figure, Revoltech Hot Rodimus uses the Revoltech "revolver joints" for maximum poseability. It comes with his twin handguns, an extra head with deployed visor and a more neutral expression, a posing stand, and four extra hands (two hands for holding the guns, a pointing right hand, and a thumbs-up left hand).[3][4]
3D Battle-Card Game
- Hot Rod (2007)
- A 28-point "uncommon" character in the 3D Battle-Card Game's "Energon Wars" expansion, Hot Rod "transforms" into a red sports car that vaguely resembles a Ford GT 40. He uses the same parts layout as Movie Jazz, Smokescreen and Cliffjumper, along with fellow "Energon Wars" addition Armada Blurr.
Notes
- Miscommunication between Hasbro and Takara that neglected to mention the fact that Rodimus Prime was supposed to be the new Autobot leader and the upgrade of Hot Rod led to Takara creating the original prototype for the G1 Hot Rod toy in three times the final size, about as tall as Beast Machines Nightscream. When Hasbro corrected Takara about those details, Takara's designers were disappointed because they had to make Rodimus Prime's toy larger than Hot Rod's.[5]
- In an odd intra-Hasbro design move, Hot Rod's larger original handgun was remolded slightly and reused as the nosecone cannon on the Cobra Stellar Stiletto in 1988. Hey, Hot Rod was occupied with Firebolt at the time anyway, right?
- New Rodimus was the tentative name for an unused Rodimus Prime design revealed in the Japanese book Transformers Generations. Unlike his predecessors, he would have transformed into a fire engine. According to the caption in the book, New Rodimus would have come out after Star Convoy, and his transformation would involve splitting at the waist.
The idea for New Rodimus's transformation was eventually used by the Brave toy Duke Fire, which is also a fire engine that splits at the waist in order to transform. Unlike New Rodimus, however, Duke Fire is also composed of an ambulance that becomes his arms.
Some have speculated that New Rodimus was intended to become power-up parts to Star Convoy similar to how Godbomber and Victory Leo upgrade Ginrai and Star Saber, respectively. This is supported by several pieces of evidence:- Generation 1 Transformers made by Takara generally do not split apart as part of their transformation, and when they do, it is usually for the purpose of combining with another robot.
- Duke Fire, who inherited New Rodimus's transformation, combines with J-Decker, a robot similar in general shape to Star Convoy, to form a larger robot called Fire J-Decker.
- Fire J-Decker's chest piece (formed from Duke Fire's chest) successfully clips onto Star Convoy's chest (albeit not as securely as on J-Decker's chest).
- An image of a black Rodimus Prime toy appeared in Hyper Hobby magazine #38 in 2002. For years, it was thought that this was an unreleased Lucky Draw figure (which an unscrupulous Ebay seller reinforced by repeatedly calling it that in his auctions). However, it was eventually found — seven years later — when a Japanese speaker read the text of the magazine, that it was nothing more than a test shot that was intended to tease the release of the normal-colored reissue.
- One of the first concepts for Classics Rodimus was based around the Pagani Zonda super car, before the Dome Zero design was decided upon.
- Side Burn's powered up form has a color scheme which resembles Hot Rod's.
- Aside from the Energon namesake character, Hot Rod has also been homaged twice (or possibly thrice depending on how you look at it) in the Unicron Trilogy. For Armada, the "Powerlinx" upgrade of Hot Shot was given a very Hot-Rod-inspired deco. In Cybertron, Takara made a redeco of Hot Shot (well, "Exillion"), who already had some Hot Rod homage elements in his toy design, with Hot Rod deco as a DVD-pack-in exclusive. Hasbro then took this deco, altered it, and released it in the US line at mass retail as the new character Excellion.
References
- ↑ TFW2005.com reports on the Philippines Autobot Alliance/Cybertron Con event. June 18, 2010
- ↑ Hasbro stock photo for Classics Rodimus, depicting the short stubs on his forearms that were soon retooled into larger pegs.
- ↑ Photos of the set contents at Revoltech's official blog site.
- ↑ Large images of the figure and its accessories at the online store Amiami.
- ↑ Information provided by Fumihiko Akiyama, incorporated in essay about "Ten popular but incorrect rumors about Japanese Transformers" at TF Archive
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