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Transformers
Energon Transformers
Rapid Run (11/2003) |
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Energon
& Superlink |
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Decepticon
Rapid Run
Release
Date : 11/2003
Price
Point : Deluxe (9.99)
Transformation
Level : 3
Electronic
Sounds : None
Accessories
: Missile x2
Hyper
Power : Mini-cons
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Tech-Spec
Card
Note:
Some Energon toys came with Fleer Collectible Card instead of the
Tech-spec Card.
Rapid
Run Spec.
Strength
: 5
Intelligence
: 6
Speed
: 7
Endurance
: 5
Rank
: 5
Courage
: 8
Fire blast
: 6
Skill
: 8
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Decepticon
Rapid Run |
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Transformers
Superlink
Energon
Rapid Run was not yet released as Superlink toys by Takara.
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Transformers
Energon Rapid Run was released in November of 2004 as one of the initial
wave of Energon toys. Rapid Run was repaint of Armada Sideways and was
one of the five repaint of Armada toys used to fill out the early
assortments. (The other four were Ultra Magnus, Treadbolt, Tidal Wave
and Unicron). Rapid Run was used to fill out the early wave of
"Deluxe" size (9.99 price point) assortment and as such the
toys were only ship with the first wave of Energon toys. However, Rapid
Run were not hard to find and the toys were widely distributed unlike
Energon Ultra Magnus. Like the other early Energon repaints of Armada
toys, Rapid Run packaging still used pictures of Armada Sideway along
(with his Mini-cons - Rook and Crosswise.) Armada Sideways was purple
futuristic motorcycle who look like Thrust from Beast Machines (I was
told that the color scheme was based on the bike belongs to one of
Takara toy designer). For Energon the color was changed to yellow with
black strips (According to Ben Yee, this was a homage to Buzzsaw from
Beast Wars). The two Mini-Cons were also repainted into new color scheme
to better match Rapid Run. |
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In Armada, Sideways was one of the unique
characters with split affiliations and the toy had one of the more
unique design features of the Armada toys. Sideways' Mini-cons -
Crosswise and Rook could formed new head for Sideways and depends on the
Mini-Cons his chest affiliation would switched (Crosswise turn him into
Autobot while Rook turn him into a Decepticon). Sideways true loyalty,
however, was with neither factions as he was an agent of Unicron. While
Sideways was sold as Autobot in Armada line up. For Energon this was a
reverse and Rapid Run was sold as Decepticon though the toys still had the
faction switching gimmicks. (Rapid Run was probably one of
the double agent type Transformers that can hide his true
allegiance) Crosswise was renamed to Autobot Nightcruz and Rook
was changed to Decepticon Nightscream. (I am not sure why Autobot
Mini-con would be running around with a Decepticon may be this will get
explain when DW decides to do Energon character books). |
Energon
Rapid Run in vehicle mode.
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Rapid
Run transport mode
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In
robot mode, Rapid Run transformed into mostly yellow and black robot. The new black and
yellow with clear green "Energon" parts however was much
better suit the toys than the bright purple used for Sideways. When I
first saw this toy at Comic-Con a few years ago I thought he was a very
nice looking Transformers (with the exception of the purple color
scheme, of course), however, when I got the actual toy of Sideways, I
was very disappointed due mostly to the poor articulations and poor
paint job. Sideways / Rapid Run robot design reminded me of the New
Microman transforming bike - Micro Ridor. If you look at Micro
Ridor robot mode you can see some resemblance to Sideways /
Rapid Run toy. Rapid Run was one of the few repaints by Hasbro that made
the toy actually look better than the first version. My personal recommendation is to get this toy if you want to have complete Energon
collection or if you do not have Sideways already. (Or if you are one of
the few who really like Sideways mold). I have to admit that I really
grew fond of the Energon version of this toy as the new color scheme
really help the toy appearance in both robot and vehicle mode.
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L-R:
Nightcruz and Nightscream. Below Nightcruz/Nightscream combine mode.
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Being
repaint Armada toys, Energon Rapid Run do not have the new Hyper Mode but
rather the toy kept the same Mini-con Powerlinx gimmick from the Armada
series. Rapid Run (Sideways) had one of the more unique Mini-cons -
Transformers interaction feature. Aside from having not just one but two
Mini-Cons for power-up mode, Rapid Run's two Mini-Cons also had very unique alternate
mode. Instead of transforming into vehicle, Nightcruz and Nightscream each
could transformed into alternate heads for Rapid Run. Since Nightcruz is an
Autobot and Nightscream is a Decepticon you would think they would
"convert" Rapid Run into their respective factions, however this was
not the case, instead of revealing the Autobot symbol when Nightcruz became
head mode for Rapid Run, the toy instead reveal Decepticon symbol and the opposite
was true for Nightscream. I am not sure if this was factory error but the
change actually occurred back during the Armada run of Sideways toy.
Originally Crosswise (Nightcruz) activate the Autobot symbol and Rook
(Nightscream) activate the Decepticon, but for some reason this was reversed
during the latter production of Sideways. It seem this change was kept for
Rapid Run production. Beside the head modes, the two Mini-cons also can combine together to form one bigger Mini-con
robot. The bigger robot became "rider" for the bike mode of Rapid
Run. There were also third mode (though a bit weak) in which the two Mini-cons
form weapon platform for Rapid Run that also activated the
"Powerlinx" missiles firing feature. (Rapid Run came with two clear
green missiles). Below
- Rapid Run Powerlinx mode
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