Wrecker Hook [RobotMasters]

@robfromzonebase Wrecker Hook [Transformers Robot Masters] #zonebase #transformers #robotmasters #wreckerhook #decepticons ♬ Trick Or treat - Nekromantix

I've been reorganizing my storage space recently, which has had me looking through a lot of my older toys. Like last week, it's inspired me to talk about one of note here.

I've mentioned Transformers RobotMasters on more than one occasion here. It was a line Takara put out in the mid-2000s that featured a mixture of older and newer molds as Transformers characters from multiple timelines, with both new and old characters gathered together to battle.

The line was announced shortly before OTFCC 2004, and several dealers had the first wave in stock. I was quite enamored with it myself, and the bulk of my convention buying was that first wave, aside from only getting the DVD version of Convoy over the standard release.

Over its time, I managed to get the bulk of the line, and RobotMasters is still one of the higher points in Transformers for me.

One of the returning characters in the line is Wrecker Hook, who we in the States know as Tow-Line.

Instead of the good-natured Autobot we're all used to, Wrecker Hook has lost his memory and is now sided with the Decepticons!

During this time, he actually becomes a better mechanic and finds friendship with Decepticon Wingstun.

Aside from the allegiance change, the biggest change is his deco. Instead of the bright green tow truck last seen in Transformers Car Robots/Robots in Disguise, Wrecker Hook now sports a completely badass black and red color scheme decked out in rockabilly flames!

In addition to his trademark "Aiming Shot," which is formed from his truck mode's grill, he also has the "Boost Hammer" weapon, which is a translucent green morning star type melee weapon.

Several RobotMasters weapons would come with additional weapons like this that could be combined together to form new weapons, similar to the ones in Transformers SuperLink/Energon, which was being released at the time.

All things considered, Wrecker Hook went through a lot of positive changes after joining the Decepticons.

I'm not sure how he went back to the Autobots, but he's his old self again in the Legends World manga.

Wrecker Hook uses the same toy mold as Wrecker Hook/Tow-Line did before in Car Robots/Robots in Disguise. Itself is a reuse of the mold used for Hoist and Hubcap in Transformers Machine Wars.

The mold was originally developed for Transformers Generation 2 and went unused until Machine Wars.

Originally sold as a Basic Class, a size class that sadly no longer exists, it's a smaller toy that features a pleasant amount of articulation for the time and auto-transforms.

By moving the tow truck's hook, Wrecker Hook's body will fold into itself as his chest moves out to form the truck cab. Make sure his arms and legs go into place properly, and then snap the hook into its spot to lock him in place.

The rifle folds up into the front of the truck and forms the grill, while you can either sit the Boost Hammer to the side or plug it into his fist in the bed area.

The flame deco really pops more in truck mode than you'd think, leading to an old nickname I gave it back in the day:

"Satan's Tow Truck."

Compared to today's toys, he probably seems pretty simplistic. Maybe comparable to a Cyber Changer from Transformers Cyberworld, if a bit bigger and with nicer paint.

But to be honest, I can't say a single bad thing about him.

I love this toy.

He looks amazing, and I find him endlessly fun.

RobotMasters was a particularly great Transformers line that had fun new toy molds and managed to make great older ones even better.

How can you not love that?

Tow-Line (Buzzworthy Bumblebee/Deluxe Class)

Robots in Disguise/Car Robots has always been a bright spot for me in my Transformers fandom. It was the gateway from my beloved beast era back to vehicular bots. As much as I loved beast era, it was time for a change and RID was just right. It still had beast warriors, but the overall direction was back to cars and jets. It didn't hurt that the designs were super slick and the cartoon was entertaining as hell. There was a lot of repaints in the line and the original Tow-Line was just that, a repaint of the Machine Wars Hubcap/Hoist mold. A really solid toy that didn't get a lot of attention like most of Machine Wars at the time. 

In the show, Tow-Line was a charming character who lived out the role of his tow truck alt mode of a little too much. His infamous "No parking means no parking" catchphrase was forever cemented in fans minds. Later he got an 'evil' repaint in Robot Masters that has on and off been one of my user pics ever since. I was really surprised when Tow-Line got an update in Legacy: Evolution under the Buzzworthy Bumblebee banner. What's now referred to by Hasbro as Robots in Disguise 2001 doesn't get a lot of love unfairly and of all the bots, Tow-Line isn't the one you'd think would get a new toy. Like his original toy, Tow-Line is a repaint of an existing mold. This time of Scraphook from Legacy: Evolution, a toy I've not yet found, so this was my first experience with the mold.

Tow-Line turns into a Mad Max sort of tow truck. This is in line with all the other new Junkions in Legacy: Evolution and a direction I quite like. However it is odd on Tow-Line as he's normally just a regular old tow truck. It makes me REALLY wish for a repaint based on his Robot Masters toy though. The spiky, post apocalyptic design plays oddly well with Tow-Line's trademark bright colors. It just works somehow as does the new faithful recreation of the classic toy head. They did a really good job with a toy that's a mix old old and new.

These new Junkions can separate into parts and connect to other bots similar to the Weaponizers from Siege. For once giving the Evo-Fusion blurb an actually good example. Unlike the Weaponizers though, the toys doesn't part form as transformation doesn't require disassembly. You might find yourself pulling off a piece by accident like I did though. Various parts can be attached or held as weapons. This leads to blasters from parts of his hood that resemble the original toys gun and a spiky spare tire that could work as the Boost Hammer from the Robot Masters toy. Maybe. I really like this toy, it's fairly articulated and transforms pleasantly. Mine has a bit of loose joints. Not sure if that's the mold or I just got a random floppy one. Stop laughing. Either way, it's hard not to love a Tow-Line update. Especially when it's a good one.

Send (Wrecker) Hook

 

Robotmasters was a neat Transformers line from the mid-2000's that I have a lot of love for. A mixture of new and old toy molds in fantastic decos in a Transformers multiversal showdown in the Blastizone (a suburb here on Planet Zone). It was pure robot anarchy and I loved it. Wrecker-Hook was one of the early stand outs. Outside of Japan we know him as Tow-Line. He was a lovable character in Robots in Disguise that took his tow truck alt mode a little too seriously.

However by 2004 he had somehow lost his memory and became a Decepticon! During this time Wrecker-Hook became a capable mechanic who can fix almost anything. He got a visible upgrade as well. From the green and purple as an Autobot to black and red with gnarly flames as a Decepticon! Wrecker-Hook seemingly improved himself as a bad guy. Even made himself a new friend in Wingstun!