Robot Wars: The First Wars/Heat B

The First Wars - Heat B was one of six heats which determined the Grand Finalists of Robot Wars: The First Wars. The episode featuring Heat B was originally broadcast on February 27, 1998 on BBC2.

Competing robots
Uglybot
 * Weight: 71.9kg
 * Dimensions: 160 x 100 x 80 cm
 * Ground clearance: 8cm
 * Power: 2 x electric wheelchair motors
 * Weapons: 7" cutting disc
 * Team members: Paul Shearwood, Colin Faulkner

Scrapper
 * Weight: 76.5kg
 * Dimensions: 110 x 80 x 50 cm
 * Ground clearance: 10cm
 * Power: 12v/24v motors
 * Weapons: 7" & 9" saw blades
 * Team members: Mike Smith, Mike Rickard, Ken Toogood, Alvin Orton, Charles Lavery

Recyclopse
 * Weight: 79.5kg
 * Dimensions: 90 x 90 x 45 cm
 * Ground clearance: zero
 * Power: 24v industrial motor
 * Weapons: Pneumatic steel tongue
 * Team members: Rex Garrod, Simon West

Detonator
 * Weight: 52.5kg
 * Dimensions: 125 x 90 x 45 cm
 * Ground clearance: 2.5cm
 * Power: Petrol lawnmower engine
 * Weapons: Steel spikes
 * Team members: David Crosby, Vicky Allgood, Claire Greenaway

Mortis
 * Weight: 78.4kg
 * Dimensions: 135 x 78 x 38 cm
 * Ground clearance: 5cm
 * Power: 2 x 12v wheelchair motors
 * Weapons: Japanese axe blade
 * Team members: Rob Knight, Chris Sorsby, Arthur Chillcot

Leighbot
 * Weight: 69kg
 * Dimensions: 160 x 35 x 70 cm
 * Ground clearance: 4cm
 * Power: 2 x 24v wheelchair motors
 * Weapons: Rear angle grinder & extendable lance
 * Team members: Robin Williams, Eileen Hobbs, Tony Schofield, Chris Maylon

Gauntlet
1. Recyclopse - Completed - Recyclopse drove straight to the end zone on the far side with little defence from the house robots.

2. Leighbot - Completed - Leighbot was slower over the first ramp but it used an innovative fan to see through the smoke and made it to the end zone.

3. Mortis - 7.40m - Mortis got half way down the far side route but Sgt. Bash blocked it and Shunt dug its axe in and pinned Mortis until the end of the round.

4. Scrapper - 7.40m - Scrapper tried to take on the ramp but couldn't get up so it went for the maze where Sgt. Bash and Shunt blocked it from either side and forced it into the railings.

5. Detonator - 7.00m - Detonator got one of its spikes impaled on the turntable and couldn't get off it. When Shunt finally nudged it free it drove in the wrong direction until it was turned around by Shunt, but it could only manage to drive into the railings.

6. Uglybot - 1.65m - Uglybot got stuck on the railings at the start and Shunt prevented it from going any further.

Eliminated: Uglybot

Trial (British Bulldog)
1. Mortis - Completed - Mortis spectacularly made it to the end zone almost immediately.

2. Scrapper - Completed - Scrapper made it to the end zone going backwards but went through nevertheless.

3. Leighbot - Completed - Leighbot was shoved around by Shunt and Dead Metal but patience paid off and it slowly made it to the end zone.

4. Recyclopse - Halfway - Recyclopse drove into a pyramid and lost its chain, but it was still able to flip Matilda.

5. Detonator - Went backwards - Detonator had problems with its batteries which meant it never even got started.

Eliminated: Detonator

Semi-Finals

 * Recyclopse vs Scrapper

The two robots sized each other up before Recyclopse drove towards the PPZ and was attacked by Dead Metal. Recyclopse ran away from danger and rammed straight into Scrapper before flipping it onto its side.

Winner: Recyclopse


 * Mortis vs Leighbot

Leighbot's very inneffective weaponry had no effect on its opponent as Mortis's axe chopped relentlessly into Leighbot's armour. Mortis then used its wedge shape to get underneath Leighbot and flipped it over.

Winner: Mortis

Final
Mortis vs Recyclopse

Mortis had broken its axe in the previous battle so the robot was modified to work as a battering ram. Mortis drove into the PPZ and got impaled on a spike leaving it open to attack by Matilda. However, Mortis escaped and launched some aggressive attacks on Recyclopse and came close to tipping it over. The battle ended with Recyclopse stranded on top of Mortis in the PPZ with Mortis taking further damage from the axe of Shunt. The decision went to the judges who gave it to Recyclopse, much to the dismay of the livid Mortis team.

Winner: Recyclopse

 