Bot a Day: Daily Drawings

The last of the six Constructor Squad Decepticons are Knockout (left) and Grit (right), who together combine to form a backhoe truck. They were part of the Micromaster Combiner series, released in1990.   

The next installment of the Decepticon Constructor Squad consists of Sledge (left) and Hammer (right) who together make an earth mover-type dump truck. These were available in 1990. 

Beginning the last of the Micromaster Combiner Squads, the six-pack of Decepticon construction vehicles known as the Constructor Squad. Surprisingly no relation to the Constructicons, there are more than few familiar forms in this set. First up is Stonecruncher (left) and Excavator (right), who together combine to form a big crane truck. The Constructor Squad was available in 1990. 

Completing the Astro Squad sextet of Autobot Micromaster Combiners are Moonrock (left) and Missile Master (right) who together combine to form a rocket-transporting truck. They were available in a six pack with the rest of their team in 1990. This drawing is from 2017.

  The next paired Micromaster Combiners from the Autobot Astro Squad are Phaser (left) and Blast Master (right) who together combine to form a space shuttle. They were available in the Astro Squad six-pack in 1990. This drawing is from 2017.

Starting off the Astro Squad, a team of six Autobot Micromaster Combiners. Like the other combiner teams, each 'bot forms half a vehicle that can be mixed and matched madlib style with other Micromaster Combiners. These are the pairs that make proper vehicle configurations, all space exploration-themed. First up are Barrage (left) and Heave (right), who together form an eight-wheeled lunar rover type vehicle with a rotating radar dish. The Astro Squad was available in 1990. 

These puffy-armed bots are the last of the Autobot Metro Squad, Micromasters with a (supposedly) urban theme. One the left is Power Run, and the right is Strikedown, and together they combine to form a hovercraft. You know, the kind they have in cities? Not those small country town hovercrafts. Big city hovercraft. The Metro Squad was available in 1990. .  

The next teammates in the Metro Squad are Slide (left) and Oiler (right), who combine to form a fuel tanker truck. This pair was part of a six-pack of Autobots released in 1990.    

 Starting off the Autobot Metro Squad, a team of six Micromaster Combiners united by a vague "city vehicles" theme. First up is Roadburner (left) and Wheel Blaze (right), who together form a long-bodied fire truck with a cherry-picker lift. This set was available in 1990.

The last two members of the Decepticon Battle Squad are depicted here. On the left is Fireshot and on the right is Vanquish. Together they form an SR-71 Blackbird jet (Fireshot is the front half; Vanquish the aft). They whole set of these six Micromaster Combiners were available in 1990. 

The next pair coming from the Decepticon Battle Squad are Direct Hit (left) and Power Punch (right). Together they combine to form a long truck hauling an artillery cannon on its bed. These were available in 1990. 

  Introducing Micromaster Combiner Squads -- different from Patrols, Stations and Transports. They were sold as six packs. Their principal gimmick is that each Micromaster was only   half  a vehicle. They naturally paired with another teammate to combine and form a proper vehicle, but they could mixed madlib-style, so you'd end up with incongruous vehicular combinations both within a squad, and across all squads. An individual Combiner isn't much fun, turning as he does into either just the front or back of a vehicle. So, I've opted to draw these Squads two at a time with the 'naturally' paired robots sharing a drawing. First up, we're going through the Battle Squad, a Decepticon team of military vehicles with radar-scattering black paintjobs. Here are Meltdown (left) and Halftrack (right), who together form a half-track anti-aircraft truck. They were available in 1990.

The last of the Micromaster Patrol four-packs is the Autobot Hot Rod Patrol. Their members include, from left to right, Hubs (a '41 Willys Coupe), Trip-Up (a supercharged '66 Mustang) team leader Big Daddy (a 1957 Chevy Bel Air) and Greaser (a chopped '34 Ford Deuce Coupe). They were available as a set in 1990. 

  The Autobot Monster Truck Patrol was a four-pack available in 1990. It consists of: - Heavy Tread (left), a nitro-burning tractor-pull funny car - Big Hauler (center back), the team leader, who turns into a tricked out semi truck cab - Hydraulic (center front) a Ford Bronco monster truck and - Slow Poke (right) a vintage pickup / tow truck

The Autobot Military Patrol is a Micromaster team of four released together in 1990. The team consists of: - Dropshot (left), who turns into an armored personnel character - Bombshock (center front) who turns into a Leopard 2 tank - Tracer (center back) who turns into an AH-64 Apache attack helicopter - Growl (right) who turns into an FMC XR311 combat support vehicle.

The Air Patrol is an Autobot Micromaster team sold as a four-pack in 1990. It consists of Blaze Master, who turns into a Sikorsky MH-53 Pave Low helicopter (top left); Sky High (top right), who turns into a tiny Concorde SST jet; Eagle Eye (center front), the team leader who turns into an F/A-18C Hornet interceptor jet; and Tread Bolt (bottom left) who turns into a stealth bomber.  

The Autobot Construction Patrol is a team of four Micromasters sold as a set in 1990. They included: On the left, Neutro, the bulldozer.  In the center foreground, Takedown, the team leader, who turns into a cement mixer truck. In the center background, Crumble, who turns into a crane truck.  And on the right, Groundpounder, an earth mover. 

Now starting the last year of Generation One toys in the US -- 1990. This final series is divided into two basic toy categories: Micromasters and Action Masters, the final hurrah of the brand's initial six-year run. Because there were so many Micromasters produced and the year is running out of days, I opted to do group all the patrol characters into single drawings. So first up is the Race Track Patrol, a four-pack of Decepticon sports cars.  On the left is Ground Hog, who turns into a tricked out Dodge Shelby Charger funny car.  In the center front is Barricade, who turns into a Formula-1 Ligier JS31 race car. Behind him is Motorhead, who turns into a 1987 Callaway BK2 Corvette. Motorhead is not molded with a Lemmy-style mustache, but I just had to what with the name. On the right is Roller Force, who turns into a Baja offroad buggy.  This drawing is from 2017.

The last and largest of the Autobot Micromaster Bases from its launch year is Countdown, who turns into a moon rover. His launch base is a rather elaborate playset that turns from a rocket launchpad to a battle station loaded with play features. All the Micromaster Bases can connect to one another, allowing for the creation of a sprawling Micromaster-scaled city. Countdown was released in 1989. It marks the last drawing of the 1989 toys, meaning the final year of Generation One toys starts with tomorrow's drawing.

Groundshaker is an Autobot Micromaster that turns into a stealth jet, but the source of his name comes from the armored fighting vehicle he pilots while in robot mode. The ATV transforms into an artillery emplacement / base, complete with a landing pad for his jet mode. He was available in 1989. 

Skyhopper was one of several Micromaster Bases available in 1989, the inaugural year of the Micromaster brand. The Bases differ from the Stations in that they are all vehicles that the Micromaster can "drive" in robot mode, which then turns into some sort of battle station or outpost. In this case, Decepticon Skyhopper can fly in an attack helicopter that turns into a base. Skyhopper himself turns into Dassault Rafale fighter jet. 

The second half of the Off Road Patrol of Autobot Micromasters included Tote (on the left here), who turn into a van, and Powertrain (right) the team leader who turns into a semi-truck. The whole quartet was available in 1989. This drawing is from 2017.  

Starting off the Off Road Patrol, a rugged set of trucks slinging muck for the Autobot cause. The four-pack of Micromasters included these two: on the left is Highjump, a camper truck with a roof-mounted winch. On the right, Mudslinger, the monster truck. These were available in 1989. This drawing is from 2017.  

Here's the second half of the Autobot Race Car Patrol of Micromasters. On the left is Tailspin, who turns into a Porsche 962 race car. On the right is Swindler, who turns into a DeLorean DMC-12. The four-pack was available in 1989. This drawing is from 2017.

Here's the first half of the Race Car Patrol, a quartet of Autobot Micromasters. Here is Free Wheeler, on the left, who turns into a bright yellow Lamborghini Countach. On the right is Roadhandler, the team leader, who turns into an orange-red Pontiac Firebird. They were available in 1989.   

The second half of the Autobot Rescue Patrol consists of Red Hot, a fire engine (on the left) and Fixit, the team leader, who turns into an ambulance (on the right). The four pack was available in 1989.

The Micromaster Patrol four-packs continue, now with the Autobot Rescue Patrol, a quartet of civic duty vehicles. This first batch consists of Seawatch, on the left below, who turns into a hydrofoil. Next to him, on the right, is Stakeout who turns into a Ford Taurus police car. These were available in 1989. This drawing is from 2017.

The second half of the Decepticon Micromaster Sports Car Patrol includes Hyperdrive, on the left, who turns into a Mitsubishi X2S concept car. Next to him on the right is Road Hugger, who turns into a Ferrari 408 Integrale concept car. This four-pack was available in 1989. 

The next Micromaster Patrol in the series is the Decepticon Sports Car Patrol, released in 1989. The first half of this four-pack includes team leader Blackjack (left) who turns into a 1988 Ford Probe GT Sports Turbo. Next to him is Detour (right) who turns into a Chevrolet concept sports car. 

Completing the Decepticon Air Strike Patrol that was started yesterday, here's Whisper in the foreground, who turns into a black and purple stealth fighter. Behind him is Tailwind, who turns into an A-10 Thunderbolt II (and was redecoed to be   Hot House ). The Air Strike Patrol was part of the 1989 assortment of toys. This drawing is from 2017.