Thor (1995)

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Thor was a Californian robot, and the runners up of the 1995 Robot Wars UK Open Competition, held in London. There, it got to the final where it faced eventual champion The Master in a battle which was broadcast as part of the British Robot Wars, included in Heat D of Series 1, and the VHS release of Robot Wars: The First Great War.

Design
Thor featured a swinging arm with several spikes and teeth in the style of a hammer as its weapon, a cow-catcher like grille at the front protecting the front wheels that could steer the robot like a car and two wheels at the rear. The arm could also be fitted with a small wedge-shaped plate so that it could function as a flipper as well.

Series 1
"And now it's time to strap yourselves in and cry mercy, as we leave you with the ultimate robotic confrontation!"

- Craig Charles in Robot Wars: The First Great War

Thor was one of three US Robot Wars competitors, along with The Master and La Machine, to be invited to compete in the 1995 UK Open Competition. It fought in numerous battles alongside its fellow American compatriots, as well as future Stock Robots Grunt and Eubank the Mouse, with considerable success. Various clips of these battles were shown in the First Great War video release, while The Master's battle with Thor was also televised as part of the first British series of Robot Wars.

"We'll revisit the 1995 Robot Wars UK Championships in London, featuring two of the most powerful robots in the world today! The Master, built by Mark Setrakian, and Thor, designed by Shilling Robotics, both from America, and what a night it was!"

- Jonathan Pearce in Series 1, Heat D

The Master initially turned to face Thor using its lifting panel, but Thor made no aggressive movements, and The Master bumped into it, before continuing to circle around Thor. After a sustained period of hostility, The Master made the first move and drove up the surface of Thor, burying its circular saw through the armour of Thor, which could only flail its weapon at no target in defence. The Master's attack also caused Thor to start leaking fluids. The Master withdrew its saw, and bumped into Thor using its left wheel. After Thor retreated, The Master held off until it found the right moment to charge in with its saw, shearing a loose piece of armour from the top of Thor.

"And there, surely a killing blow! Smashing right to the heart of the hydraulic cabling!"

- Jonathan Pearce

While Thor pushed back, The Master brought its saw onto the top of it, causing damage while shearing the circular saw in the process, creating a shower of dust. The Master continued to grind away in spite of the damage, cutting into the top of Thor's weapon, and briefly throwing sparks. The Master almost managed to drive up the side of the retreating Thor, but The Master brought what remained of its saw onto the front of Thor, creating a gash, before finally sacrificing the remainder of its saw to cut into a front wheel of Thor. These last attacks had immobilised Thor, and The Master won the battle.

"And The Master is surely one of the most powerful robots in the world, and for me, the star of the 1995 UK London Robot Wars!"

- Jonathan Pearce

Results

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Outside Robot Wars
Thor competed in the 1995 US Robot Wars heavyweight championship where Thor defeated Merrimac and Cyberknight to reach the Heavyweight Final where it was armed with its flipper-plate add-on. Thor's opponent was The Master and Blendo, the latter of whom ended up withdrawing before the match. Thor managed to disable its opponent's weapon but lost after its The Master's spike punctured a hydraulic line, removing power to the motors and engulfing it in smoke. A battered but still functioning The Master took advantage and shoved Thor around the Arena and into the wall.