Autoborg Robot Warrior

Back when I was a kid, you could broadly divide robots into two types – the Transformers toys you wanted, and the offbrand Transformers-type toys that were available to buy here in the United Kingdom. I loved both.

While we were awash in the stories of the Transformers UK comic, Transformers Ladybird books, Transformers VHS cassette – the toys themselves were difficult to buy. The UK toy aisles were, however, awash with other companies’ robo-offerings – Grandstand’s Convertors, Bandai’s Robo Machine, Tek Toys’ Robo-Kats, MC Toys’ Moto-Bots, Tomy’s Super Alternators and many more. They seldom had any accompanying in-universe fiction, and sometimes not even a name! My imagination went into overdrive trying to shoehorn these pretenders into the official Hasbro Transformers universe, creating my own contrived space operas that justifed a steam train fighting an aircraft carrier.

“Mega Moto-Bot, my old friend! Optimus Prime needs you to urgently patrol this area which you may notice includes the Glasgow Transport Museum. Again.”

Now my play patterns have evolved beyond simply ragging toy vehicles around the floor shouting their names and making explosion sounds and into sophisticated adult wargaming, I thought I’d resurrect some of the netherspace of non-canonical robot warriors and sculpt a gawky 1980s robot chonk. Presenting Autoborg, Robot Warrior of the Far Future.


Autoborgs strive their struggle to battle the wicked armies of the Deceivibots!

Okay, I may have missed the point by not engineering him to transform – or sculpting an accompanying vehicle mode. But I feel his Popeye style forearms and spindly strut thighs really evoke the spirit of a transforming robot toy. I was tempted to paint him in big slabs of bright primary colours to get across the toyetic vibe, but instead chose a striking camouflage scheme which is instantly undermined by big slabs of purple that really contrast against the sandy yellow colour of the base. Generation 2 Megatron eat your heart out.

Statistically speaking, he’s camouflaged against 60% of enemies.

If you’d like to fight science fiction wargames with your own Autoborg, he’s up on my Cults3D.

Ninjabread out!

Curis

Curis has painted for Games Workshop, Forge World, Warlord Games, Mantic Games, Avatars of War, Wargames Foundry, Studio McVey and many others. He's won at Golden Demon and Salute. He publishes monthly painting tutorials on Patreon.

6 thoughts on “Autoborg Robot Warrior

  • December 22, 2022 at 4:14 pm
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    Brilliant painting there, that colour combination works so well, great post

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  • December 22, 2022 at 9:02 pm
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    That’s a lovely Autoborg!

    The funny thing is, in the first few years of the franchise, Transformers were just whatever transforming robots Hasbro could get from Japan, regardless of what company or toyline they came from (and even then they would release different robots in different regions) so it’s very possible that “Mega Motobot” and “Optimus Prime” could indeed have been colleagues back in their homeland. Maybe you were just bringing them back together. ;)

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  • December 23, 2022 at 2:05 am
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    Fantastic job, but this is unsettling. It does have a Transformers vibe indeed. But it also looks in the fashion of Rogue Trader era robots. All my beliefs are shaking right now.

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  • December 23, 2022 at 3:10 pm
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    First off, I will once again gush over how fantastic this paintjob is. I immediately knew where the color inspiration came from and you not only nailed it, but made it look better!

    As for the model itself… ITS UP FOR SALE! HELL YEAH! Getting it and printing it up ASAP! Thanks for making and sharing it with us Curis!

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    • February 20, 2023 at 8:19 pm
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      An excellent sculpt for a Rogue Trader game!

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  • December 26, 2022 at 1:09 pm
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    Fantastic – the robot looks great an the paint work is sublime. Well done!

    Reply

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