- "Family team, the Duhys have compressed air spikes to protect, attack and right the robot if it's flipped. The front end raises and lowers, just like expectations, I guess. Neat and trim this one, though."
- — Jonathan Pearce introduces Flipper
Flipper was a competitor robot which appeared exclusively in Series 3 of Robot Wars. It was initially not selected to compete, but was instated as a reserve after The Parthian Shot withdrew. Despite showing good speed in its only battle, it lost against Ultor after becoming immobilised.
Design[]
The team with Flipper in the Pits
The Essex-based robot was a plain box wedge, with a small axe. The axe was claimed to be able to act as a small flipping arm like Cassius, but it was never seen in this capacity, although it could adjust its ground clearance at the front like Cassius.
Flipper also featured compressed air spikes used for protecting the robot, self-righting and attacking opponents, with the main spike on the top of the robot that could extend, pushing Flipper back onto its wheels.
Etymology[]
Due to Flipper's rather dolphin-like appearance, it is possible it was named after the famous film dolphin, rather than being named after its weaponry.
Robot History[]
Series 3[]
In Heat D of the Third Wars, Flipper was drawn up against fellow newcomer Ultor in its first round battle.
Ultor axes Flipper
Flipper loses mobility
Flipper is punished by the House Robots after Ultor gets flipped by the arena spike
Flipper is assaulted by the House Robots
The robots dodged each other for a while, before Flipper reversed over and glanced off its opponent. Ultor chased Flipper, axing the Essex machine once but causing no apparent damage. However, soon afterwards, Flipper broke down. Ultor nudged it near the pit of oblivion. Flipper was then attacked by Shunt, Dead Metal and Sgt. Bash, before being deemed officially immobilised, eliminating it from the competition. Shunt then punched holes into Flipper's top, and a piece of armour was then sliced apart by Dead Metal, before cease was called.
- "Literally hanging on by a metallic sliver"
- — Jonathan Pearce exaggerating the damage done to Flipper by Dead Metal
Results[]
| FLIPPER - RESULTS | ||
| Series 3 | ||
| The Third Wars - UK Championship Heat, Round 1 | ||
| Heat D, Round 1 | vs. Ultor | Lost |
Wins/Losses[]
- Wins: 0
- Losses: 1
Series Record[]
Flipper in the arena
| Series | Flipper Series Record |
|---|---|
| The First Wars | Did not enter |
| The Second Wars | Did not enter |
| The Third Wars | Heat, Round 1 |
| The Fourth Wars | Did not enter |
| The Fifth Wars | Did not enter |
| The Sixth Wars | Did not enter |
| The Seventh Wars | Did not enter |
| Series 8 | Did not enter |
| Series 9 | Did not enter |
| Series 10 | Did not enter |
Trivia[]
"Flipper" in The Pits; note the team members and partially-completed base of The Parthian Shot
- During Philippa Forrester's walk around The Pits at the beginning of Heat D, Flipper was the only competitor not to appear in the sequence as it was initially present as a reserve entry. The footage for its 'introduction' actually showed a partially-assembled (but otherwise unmentioned) Parthian Shot, with an accompanying caption and image of Flipper being added in post-production.