Bot a Day: Daily Drawings

The next Micron Booster is a design I've drawn several times before; now he's Effect, and turns into a multi-engine bomber plane and a six-barreled hand cannon that can be used by larger bots. His design was also used by Gunbarrel , Sky Lynx , and another Gunbarrel . This incarnation was available in 2004 in a blind box package available only at Lawson stores in Japan.

Released at retail in 2004 is a three-pack of Autobot Whirl and two pack-in Mini-Cons. Whirl is a character that dates back to 1985, and this new incarnation is a redeco of a 1992 toy, Rotorstorm, that turns into a high-tech helicopter. Since Rotorstorm was never designed to interact with Mini-Cons, the Armada-era redecoes don't really power up the larger toy like they typically would. Gunbarrel (top) turns into a multi-engined cargo plane, while Makeshift is a tilt-rotor helicopter. 

 Sky Lynx completes the Sky Attack Mini-Con Team, who was not sold as a trio but rather split apart in 'versus' packaging, paired with an Autobot-aligned Mini-Con to battle. In Sky Lynx's case, he came with Thunderblast . Sky Lynx is a redeco of Gunbarrel , who was released in Armada. He turns into a military cargo plane, as well as a weapons mode that can be affixed to larger Decepticons with Mini-Con connection points. 

With three competing wingspans, I knew I wouldn't be able to easily fit all three members of the Air Military Mini-Con team into frame, so I cut some corners. In front, closest to us, is Terradive, who turns into an SR-71 Blackbird stealth plane. Tucked behind him is Thunderwing, who turns into a flying wing bomber. Gunbarrel is the furthest back, a multi-engine cargo plane. These three also have "weapons" modes that allow them to be wielded in the hands of larger Transformers.   

Hyakurai is a redeco of the frequently used Armada  Gunbarrel design , released as part of Galaxy Force.  Hyakurai turns into a cargo plane with big drum-like engines slung from wide wings. Hyakurai was available exclusively at select stores as a promotional giveaway in Japan in 2005. 

Combusta is another in the line of Legends of the Microns DVD/comic pack in figures available exclusively in Japan in 2003. She is a redeco of an existing Mini-Con design, turning into a multi-engine bomber of indeterminate make. She also has a weapons mode, turning into a multi-barrel gun that can be wielded by larger bots. This design is shared by Gunbarrel, Sky Lynx and Effect.