Details
Autocrusher (1998)
Part of the third wave of Beast Wars II products in the Japanese Beast Wars toyline, Autocrusher is a redeco and slight retool of Generation 2 Deluxe-sized Roadblock, transforming into a payloader with lifting shovel. In vehicle mode, Autocrusher can store all four of his “Auto Missiles” (two on either rear wheel well).
In robot mode, he has a spring-loaded missile launcher in his right arm that is able to fire one of his Auto Missiles. His left arm features his spring-activated “Spin Saw” blade, with the trigger in his elbow. As do all of the Autorollers, Autocrusher has an auto-transforming gimmick activated by rolling his rear wheels; roll forward to go to robot mode, and back to vehicle mode. A switch on his back end separates the gears of the gimmick, allowing him to roll freely in either mode.
The only piece of retooling featured on Autocrusher is a raised, square-shaped frame on his chest, just slightly visible above his shovel when in robot mode. It appears this would’ve been used for a rubsign, though the final toy never received one.
Sonokong also released this figure in their Beast-War toyline as Auto Crasher (but rendered “Autoslasher” in Korean). Aside from the difference in packaging, the Korean release of the figure is identical to the Takara releases. In place of the bio cards of the Takara releases, Auto Crasher comes with two “Jan-ken-pon” cards. One has an image reflecting the one on the box, with scissors and the number two die roll, and the other with rock and the number three die roll, with an almost-beach-like background.
This mold was also intended to be used for “Sgt. Hound” in Generation 2, but was canceled. Beast-War Auto Crasher was later reissued in the Korean Car Bot toyline, reassigned as an Autobot and renamed Scoutslasher.
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