Robot Wars: The Fourth Wars/Heat P

The Fourth Wars - Heat P was one of the sixteen heats to determine the semi-finalists of Robot Wars: The Fourth Wars. The episode featuring Heat P was originally broadcast on January 26, 2001 on BBC Two.


 * Aside from heat winner Hypno-Disc, no robot in this heat entered Series 5, and only Terror Bull would return for later wars.
 * In order to maximise Hypno-Disc's attention, there was no aired recap of Raizer Blade or Crippler (predecessor of The Predator) prior to the first round appearance.
 * This was the second time that a competitor robot had to drop out and be replaced by a reserve robot, the first being Robot Wars: The Third Wars/Heat C.

Newcomers
Terror Bull From Ilkley in West Yorkshire
 * Weight: 80.3kg
 * Dimensions: 0.40m x 1.25m x 0.68m
 * Power: 750W motor
 * Weapons: Spiked horns & lifter
 * Team Members: John Fearnley & Ben Fearnley

V-Max From Romsey in Hampshire
 * Weight: 77.5kg
 * Dimensions: 0.35m x 0.70m x 1.00m
 * Power: 2 x 750W Industrial Motors
 * Weapons: Pneumatic Flipper
 * Team Members: Mick Pearce & Rich Drayson

Note: V-Max was a reserve robot, instated after Onslaught was forced to withdraw due to technical difficulties.

Veterans
Cerberus (seeded 18th) From London
 * Weight: 79.9kg
 * Dimensions: 0.53m x 1.5m x 0.80m
 * Power: Electric Motor
 * Weapons: Crushing jaw (this had to be removed to make the weight limit)
 * Team Members: Theo Kaccoufa, Alex Kaccoufa & Alex Wills

Hypno-Disc (seeded 2nd) From Banbury
 * Weight: 80.6kg
 * Dimensions: 0.47m x 1.22m x 0.74m
 * Power: 2 x 750W electric motors
 * Weapons: Horizontal spinning disc
 * Team Members: Dave Rose, Derek Rose & Ken Rose

The Predator From Manchester
 * Weight: 78.6kg
 * Dimensions: 1.00m x 1.30m x 0.75m
 * Power: 2 x wheelchair motors
 * Weapons: Lifter & pickaxe
 * Team Members: Barry Willetts, Christopher Willetts & Steven Willetts

Raizer Blade From Cambridge
 * Weight: 79.2kg
 * Dimensions: 0.50m x 1.50m x 0.75m
 * Power: 2 x 750W industrial motors
 * Weapons: Spike & lifter
 * Team Members: Paul Hart, Howard Andrews & Steve Scorcher

Eliminators
"Now, I'm not one to start a fight, but...let the wars begin!"

- Craig Charles

Hypno-Disc (2) vs Raizer Blade vs The Predator
"Raizer Blade immediately bisecting the two opponents, but its all about Hypno-Disc and the damage it can do."

- Jonathan Pearce

Hypno-Disc gained speed for its weapon, and then attacked The Predator twice in quick succession. The first blow dented the rear armour, and the second tore the sheet of aluminium loose. Raizer Blade then pushed Hypno-Disc into the side wall and blocked its attack on The Predator. Hypno-Disc retaliated by smashing into Raizer Blade, but both robots merely bounced off from the deflection, with no immediate damage observable on Raizer Blade. Hypno-Disc then struck The Predator with no major damage inflicted. "All eyes on the number two seeds, deflected there of the Raizer Blade, and not causing as much damage as we thought it might early on here."

- Jonathan Pearce

Driving over the flame pit, Hypno-Disc finally landed a significant blow by tearing into the exposed rear of The Predator. "And that's the first damage significantly we've seen! And The Predator's front is buckled...almost ripped off there."

- Jonathan Pearce

Hypno-Disc tore internals out of the sluggishly circling The Predator, before Raizer Blade charged in unexpectedly and nearly flipped Hypno-Disc onto its back. Hypno-Disc retaliated and tore a welt in Raizer Blade's side. Both of Hypno-Disc's opponents tried to dodge and escape, but Hypno-Disc easily caught and tore into Raizer Blade, sending it spinning in a circle. The Predator crashed into Raizer Blade, and Hypno-Disc bore swiftly down on them, tearing through both machines and knocking them both out. Hypno-Disc knocked The Predator aside, littering the floor with batteries and other internals. Hypno-Disc then smashed one of the batteries and cease was called. With the batteries destroyed and so much damage inflicted on The Predator, it was eliminated. "Hypno-Disc batters everything! The only saving grace for Raizer Blade is that it sustained less damage."

- Craig Charles

Qualified: Hypno-Disc & Raizer Blade

Cerberus (18) vs Terror Bull vs V-Max
The three robots each moved away from their starting positions, but it became clear that V-Max was the quickest of the three. The reserve robot was too hasty, however, and crashed into Matilda, and was forced to dodge Matilda's tusks. Terror Bull attempted to flip V-Max, but the delay and narrowness of the weapon meant that V-Max easily escaped. V-Max returned to the action, and as Cerberus pulled away from Matilda, it reversed onto V-Max's wedge and was flipped over. "V-Max backing away to have a run, against Cerberus - and toppling Cerberus, the number 18 seeds! Now can they right themselves, Cerberus? They talk a good battle, can they get back into this one?"

- Jonathan Pearce

V-Max and Terror Bull scissored Cerberus, but when it became clear that Cerberus was immobile, both machines backed off and the House Robots closed in. Bash seized Cerberus and carried it over the flame pit. It was also sliced by Dead Metal, whilst V-Max and Terror Bull continued to fight. Cease was finally called when Bash pitted Cerberus. "The seeded robot in this heat, in this battle, out, Cerberus, and about to go down from whence it came, the very pit of hell."

- Jonathan Pearce

Qualified: Terror Bull & V-Max

Pinball Warrior Tournament
Heat P featured Killerhurtz's pinball attempt, scoring 235 points.

Hypno-Disc (2) vs V-Max
Hypno-Disc began spinning, but V-Max bravely attacked the side, hoping to flip before the disc spun up to speed. It pushed Hypno-Disc briefly, but part of the disc struck V-Max and knocked it away. This ultimately secured V-Max's loss, as Hypno-Disc finished speeding up and charged V-Max, shearing a side panel off. "Oh goodness me, the first attack leaves a shard of metal on the arena floor."

- Jonathan Pearce

The damage had also ruptured the flipper, and V-Max began venting gas from its side. The next attack was so violent that both machines were sent flying across the arena, V-Max crashing into Refbot and Hypno-Disc flying up onto Shunt's scoop, but driving away before it could take damage. V-Max then drove into the arena side spikes, and Hypno-Disc cleaved the other panel off V-Max. However, the valiant V-Max slid beneath Hypno-Disc and charged the length of the arena, slamming it into the wall. Hypno-Disc dealt several more blows to V-Max, clipping pieces off the shell. "And poor old Mick Pearce and Richard Drayson just want V-Max to come home in one piece. No chance of that, boys."

- Jonathan Pearce

Hypno-Disc then attacked the exposed internals, ripping out V-Max's battery and immobilising it. Shunt was the first robot to attack, but was quickly joined by Killalot and Bash, whilst Dead Metal stuck its pincer inside V-Max. "There is no life left in V-Minimum."

- Jonathan Pearce

Dead Metal placed V-Max on the floor flipper and it was thrown. Cease was called.

Winner: Hypno-Disc

Raizer Blade vs Terror Bull
The two robots rammed into each other, but as it had in the melee, Terror Bull's weapon failed to flip Raizer Blade. Terror Bull drove forward and back, whilst Raizer Blade could seemingly do not much more than drive in circles. However, Terror Bull drove over the flame pit and set its tail alight. It escaped, but drove back over the flames and continued to burn itself. It finally moved off, but broke down. Raizer Blade moved in and attempted to flip it, but failed to do so. It kept pushing at Terror Bull, with Terror Bull trying to retaliate as its flipper was still working. When Raizer Blade backed away, however, it became clear that Terror Bull could not move, and the House Robots closed in. "There is smoke from the rear end of the bull, I'm not too sure if that is from the tail only, or if Terror Bull is not so full of terror anymore, and is Terror-fied out there!"

- Jonathan Pearce

Bash pushed Raizer Blade out of the way, as it was suffering from mobility problems of its own, and Dead Metal sliced into Terror Bull. However, the small black robot put up a fight, breaking Dead Metal's protective "face" and coming close to tipping it over. Meanwhile, Shunt shoved Raizer Blade into Terror Bull and tried to attack it, but the tail got stuck on Dead Metal, who dragged it away from the CPZ. Terror Bull was finally placed on the floor flipper and thrown, leaving Raizer Blade to go through. "Terror Bull, turned into mincemeat. Raizer Blade through by the skin of their teeth!"

- Craig Charles

Winner: Raizer Blade

Raizer Blade's struggle
Raizer Blade was very lucky to defeat Terror Bull, as it was burnt out on one side. After the battle, it began repairs for the heat final that the team was prepared to lose. "Raizer Blade were brave and top sportsmen to continue in to final battle. Knowing his difficulties we agreed to be more stand-off-ish, in the time honoured robot wars 'Gentleman's Agreement'"

- Hypno-Disc website

In the test pits, problems with speed controllers became evident. Two changes did not solve the problem, and the team ended up using Dead Metal's. Although the robot would work initially, one would always burn out. Eventually, Raizer Blade was placed in the arena with a leaking hydraulic system, no gaskets and half a speed controller. "We're hoping to give them a good show, so we're here. If we get smashed to pieces, that's fine, but we'll give them a good show."

- Paul Hart

Battle
"This is a little bit like pitting the heavyweight boxing champion of the world up against my gran."

- Jonathan Pearce

Raizer Blade managed to move off the start, but made no offensive moves, and Hypno-Disc buffeted it from the side. Hypno-Disc spun up to full speed and knocked the spinning Raizer Blade out in one blow. Hypno-Disc then knocked Raizer Blade into the flame jets. "It's now a question of how much damage Hypno-Disc wants to cause, because as you can see, quite clearly, its all over for Raizer Blade"

- Jonathan Pearce

Hypno-Disc knocked a side panel off Raizer Blade, exposing the innards. Dead Metal and Killalot attacked, carrying it to the floor flipper. Raizer Blade was thrown and eliminated.

Heat Winner: Hypno-Disc