I posted this at the Allspark just before it went down, but I thought some here might find it interesting, too. I was working on a fic using molds from the Unicron Trilogy, and one of the story elements I wanted to use was the size disparity between the typical autobot and the typical decepticon.

To get an idea of what the sizes would actually be, I found reference dimensions for the real world inspiration for the alt modes, and backed out the estimated robot mode height based on the scale. I don't own many of the toys listed and had to rely mostly on online photos, so there are potentially some pretty large error bars on the estimated heights, but it did give me a rough idea of the relative heights of the different bots.


Autobots

Red Alert [Cybertron] - 12 ft - Dodge Magnum
Downshift [Cybertron] - 12.5 ft - 1971 Plymouth Hemi Barracuda
Crosswise [Cybertron] - 13 ft - Bugatti Veyron
Hot Shot [Cybertron] - 14.5 ft - Chrysler ME 412
Landmine [Cybertron] - 20 ft - John Deere 6 cu. yd 4WD Loader (Loose)
Armorhide [Cybertron] - 25 ft - Volvo FH

CD Hot Shot [Cybertron] - 18 ft - M-706
CD Scattorshot [Cybertron] - 30 ft - M1A1 Chassis
CD Red Alert [Cybertron] - 30 ft - Scud Missile (Loose)

Evac - 35 ft - HH-65A Dolphin
Skyshadow [Energon] - 60 ft - A-10
Storm Jet [Energon] - 80 ft - Scaled to Skyshadow
Superion Maximus [Energon] - 90 ft - Scaled to Skyshadow
Jetfire [Cybertron] - 165 ft - C-5 (Loose)

Wing Saber [Cybertron] - 50 ft - A-10
Optimus Prime (Super Mode) [Cybertron] - 60 ft - Scaled to Wing Saber


Decepticons

Hardtop [Cybertron] - 13 ft - Chenowth Fast Attack Vehicle
Kickback [Energon] - 32 ft - German Gepard
Barricade [Energon] - 45 ft - Scaled to Kickback
Bruticus Maximus [Energon] - 55 ft - Scaled to Kickback, assuming 4 identical limbs
Thundercracker [Cybertron] - 50 ft - Su-35 Flanker
Tidal Wave [Armada] - 2000 ft - USS Nimitz class aircraft carrier


After doing this, there were a few things that surprised me. I knew that whenever you include aircraft, it throws off the scale, but I didn't realize that it would make Thundercraker almost the same size as Bruticus. Also, its interesting that the Cybertron Defense team toys are acually pretty close to being in scale with each other; there may be some other examples of this, but thats something that is hard to tell without having the toys in hand.

If anyone has any better references for the alt modes, or a better idea on the height on any of them (listed or not), I could use the input. Feedback or criticism is always welcome.

 

Man, thanks for those pics. I never realized Cyb Hot Shot was a real car. Awesome!

 

I have to give credit where credit is due on that. I was able to find the military references on my own, but I got the car identifications mostly from reviews and the message boards.

 

I didn't realize these alt modes were all so closely based on real-world vehicles. Pretty cool. I don't have anything to help you research any further, sorry, but I'll definitely check back to see any progress you've made.

 

Tidal Wave should be bigger than 2000ft, that's just his arm length

 

QFT  

And they say size/mass shifting is just a stupid G1 thing.  

 

lol

 

Don't you have to imagine his Minicon is the size of Thundercracker and scale up from there?  

 

me too! kewl!

 

CD Red Alert isn't based on a SCUD launcher or indeed, any real-world mobile ballistic missile launcher.

The main inspiration for its design is the Russian BTR-80 APC, mixed in with elements of a German APC whose name escapes me. Hasbro/Takara just slapped a giant missile on top.


CD Scattorshot does not use an M1 Abrams chassis, given its the wrong shape and configuration. In fact, the sloped front hull and plated side skirts suggests it is based off an Isreali Merkava 3 or 4 with a generic MLRS launcher on top.

 

Sounds about right for the Armada video game, as I remember.

 

I have no idea how anyone figures out what real-life military machines TFs are based on, but I am highly impressed! Keep up the good work!

 

Thanks for those references; they certainly match better than what I have. I went with the M1 for Scattorshot because it's the only one I know that uses the blade syle mine plow, but you're right that the chassis looks like the Merkava. Luckily, the M1 and Merkava have a similar length, so the change doesn't significantly impact the height of the robot. On the other hand, changing Red Alert to the BTR-80 downsizes him from ~30 to ~18-19 ft tall in robot mode. I prefer Red Alert taller, so I may assume that the chassis was scaled up to act as a TEL for a balistic missile, but that is a willful suspension of disbelief issue.

As for Tidal Wave, I used 1100 ft for the length of the aircraft and it seemed that Tidal Wave was about 2 arm lengths tall, so I figured the height was about 2000 ft.

Also, if anyone has any good vehicle references for Mudflap or Constructicon Maximus I'd appreciate it; constuction vehicles are an area where I have little knowledge.

 

Naw - Mini-Cons don't work to scale like that. Ramjet turns into a teeny-tiny little jet that a human could probably swing their leg over to ride on the back of.

 

Never take TF vehicle designs at face value - most of the time they're a combination of several similar vehicles so they don't get sued   The mine plow itself, well most tanks can be fitted with a mine plow if needed.

Oddly enough, in the cartoon CD Hot Shot's vehicle mode is huge.

 

ok if you want to know the alt modes you can use this database http://www.seibertron.com/database/list.php?f_series_id=32&f_cartoon=1

at the top where is has the voice actors name, it has the alt mode only if it based on a realistic alt mode.

 

That database isn't useful given in some of the entries the author/s wasn't even sure what their vehicle modes are, let alone the names of them

'4 Wheeled Armored Gunner Truck?' 'Missile Launcher Battery Tank?' What the hell?

This isn't surprising given most TF fans generally aren't well versed in military vehicles.

 

I did'nt think those were 'Mine Plows' on Scattorshot, I've seen in a TV show once that the army used some kind of vehicle with a spinning barrel extended in the front that whips the ground to clear mines using chains

those things on Scattorshot looks more like they're used to clear brush, barbed wires and other obstacles. they're way too close to the vehicle for plowing explosives

 

I agree completely; there are very few alt modes that completely correspond to a real world vehicle. We're straying a little bit from my original intent to get an idea of sizes (take Jetfire, clearly not a C-5, but it was useful as a reference), but it is interesting to try to find the design influences. One of the things I like about Cybertron is the variety of international influences for the vehicle modes; it's nice to have a flanker instead of an F-15 for a change.

As for the mine plow, I know that the M1's mine plow was built in Israel, but I can't find any references that indicate it's used there; everything I can find with the Merkava seems to be using the roller style instead. I'm typically better versed in aircraft than land vehicles, so it's pretty likely that I just haven't run across the right info.

Oh, and Seibertron.com seems to be pretty good with cars, but not great with military or construction.

 

The device you're talking about is definitely for mine clearing, but there is a blade style mine plow as well. Here is the best reference that I've found for what I think was the inspiration for Scattorshot's front end: Mine Plow