Prime Evil (also spelt as Primeevil) was a competitor robot which attempted to enter Series 5-6 of Robot Wars. It withdrew from the qualifiers in the former and failed to qualify for the latter after breaking down shortly before its qualifier battle. Prime Evil was also planned to enter Series 7, but it is unknown if its team attempted to qualify for that series.
Design[]
Prime Evil was a two-wheeled, triangular-shaped robot made out of steel girders, whose basic shape and bi-wedge design gave it a passing resemblance to Dominator 2. Its weapon was a dual-edged blade that could be fitted as a flipper, ramming spike, axe or crusher, and could double as a self-righting mechanism. The robot was powered by an 8hp, Briggs and Stratton four-stroke engine with a 'top secret' fuel injection system, while the robot's hydraulic motors and weapon/srimech ram were driven by an industrial hydraulic pump. While acknowledging the technical difficulties associated with internal combustion engines, Prime Evil's team chose this unusual drivetrain as they believed it would be more powerful, offer a better power-to-weight ratio, and allow for a longer range than conventional electric drive systems.
Qualification[]
Prime Evil was initially due to enter Series 5, but the team had technical problems and did not participate in the qualifiers. The team returned for Series 6 with their robot complete, but discovered that Prime Evil was 6kg overweight when they weighed it in.
- "Despite meeting the weight limit of 100Kg on the scales at home the 'bot appeared 6Kg over on the tiny bathroom scales provided at the weigh-in. Stripping a few bits a pieces, unfortunately largely armour, got it in though."
- — Prime Evil website[1]
They opted to remove some of Prime Evil's armour in order to bring it under the weight limit, and it was eventually cleared to fight Typhoon 2, Fluffy and Velociripper in its qualifier. However, Prime Evil suffered a technical problem right before the battle, and withdrew at the last minute, resulting in it failing to qualify for Series 6.
- "I think it was the last fight of the day, up against a large carbon-Kevlar disk robot, Fluffy from previous years and the last of an almost infinite number of RAF 'Typhoon' robots. All was well, the loading into the pen went fine, the engine started fine and all was go (thanks to Alan of Pussycat fame for his help). Unfortunately once the safety shutter is down the robot is inaccessable [sic] to the controller until after the battle and as Primeevil reved [sic] up to enter the arena I realised there was a problem. I had added the wrist piece from a latex glove as a makeshift spring return on the throttle for safety. The latex had gotten caught in the return spring for the choke at the choke valve was still shut, the engine running rich and not reving [sic] up. Pressure was right down and the motors moving in pulses as pressure was built up and then released. It was a slit [sic] second decision; run away to fight another day or get mauled, probably by Fluffy, which could otherwise probably have been given a good run. I pulled it out. Back in to the pen and retired."
- — Prime Evil website[2]
Series History[]
Series | Prime Evil Series Record |
---|---|
The First Wars | Did not enter |
The Second Wars | Did not enter |
The Third Wars | Did not enter |
The Fourth Wars | Did not enter |
The Fifth Wars | Withdrew from qualifiers |
The Sixth Wars | Failed to qualify |
The Seventh Wars | Unknown |
Series 8 | Did not enter |
Series 9 | Did not enter |
Series 10 | Did not enter |
Trivia[]
- The Prime Evil had help from fellow Scottish team Team Marionville, who allowed them to share their van to transport Prime Evil to and from the Series 6 qualifiers together with their robot Destructosaur[3].