Robot Wars: The Constructor's Guide

Robot Wars: The Constructor's Guide (erroneously captioned as The Constructors Guide on-screen) was a bonus featurette that appeared at the end of the original UK VHS release of Robot Wars: The First Great War, serving as a robot building guide presented by Craig Charles. The majority of the featurette was filmed at the now-closed BBC Visual Effects Department on Kendal Avenue in West London, with additional footage filmed in the workshops of featured roboteers.

Synopsis[]

RWCGintro — Charles introducing the featurette

"Welcome to the BBC's Visual Effects department, rumoured to be the birthplace of Matilda, Sergeant Bash, Shunt, Dead Metal and Sir Killalot. There is no better place on Earth to introduce you to the art of building robots. Come with me."

— Craig Charles introduces The Constructor's Guide, outside the design workshop of the BBC Visual Effects department

Set mostly within the BBC's Visual Effects department on Kendal Avenue, Park Royal in West London, itself the birthplace of the House Robots, The Constructor's Guide looked at the various stages of constructing combat robots. Whilst not, as explained by Charles, a definitive guide to building robots, the featurette offered aspiring roboteers tips and advice from Technical Consultants Derek Foxwell and Mat Irvine, as well as some of the roboteers who competed in The Second Wars. Explanations of robot components (such as radio control equipment, motors, batteries, failsafes, etc.) and the Robot Wars rules were also given, the latter for guidance.

"This is not a definitive guide to building a robot, but what we can do is take you through the various stages of construction. We can talk to the roboteers themselves and give you some advice on what does and doesn't work. For instance, cornflake packets - notoriously bad robots. Okay, you wanna build a robot, what do you have to do? Well, if like me, you don't know one servo from another, then don't even think about starting. But if you already got a half-decent grasp of electronics, engineering and radio-control modelling, then you're already on the way to being a roboteer. Anyway, before we go into detail, let's start at the beginning."

— Craig Charles

Segments[]

What is a Robot?[]

RWCGrobotfoxwell — Derek Foxwell talking Craig Charles through the essentials of fighting robots

"Well, we all know what robots look like in science-fiction films. We've all seen my mate Kryten, for instance. But in the terms of Robot Wars, what do we actually mean by a robot?"

— Craig Charles

Charles introduced the segment and interviewed Derek Foxwell about the basic principles of a robot. Foxwell explained that a robot can be any "radio-controlled fighting vehicle", even speculating that they could be autonomous, depending on the skills and available facilities of a roboteer. An incoming data graphic scrolled across the screen at this point describing autonomous robots as those that use artificial intelligence to control themselves. Foxwell also estimated that a robot could be built in as little as one week, but that anything between one week and three months was the average build period. As Charles asked about costs, Foxwell said that those able to scavenge in scrapyards could pick up parts for very little cost, for as little as £100-150.

RWCGrobotirvine — Mat Irvine listed the key weight classes for Robot Wars

Charles then spoke to Mat Irvine, who talked about the various weight classes run in the first two UK series. Irvine identified heavyweights as the most common and "biggest" class given their ability to fight and damage one another but also listed the smaller recognised weight categories - featherweight, lightweight, and middleweight. At this point, a second incoming data graphic scrolled across the screen outlining these classes and their respective weight limits. Irvine noted that even a featherweight could be effective in combat, introducing First Wars competitor Demolisher - presented by Foxwell - as "one we made earlier" and also as the reigning featherweight champion. Irvine also explained that in reality, Demolisher was a modified radio-controlled car. He presented an unmodified example as a comparison before explaining that taking one of these and applying a metal shell meant a featherweight could be built for as little as £50. Charles passed a comment on how this would be "money well spent" and how affordable this method could be, before leading into the next segment by noting the creativity and ingenuity Robot Wars had inspired, but that this should not be at the expense of appropriate health and safety.

Health and Safety[]

"Well, Robot Wars is all about creativity, ingenuity and teamwork. It's not about chopping your fingers off. So, put your chainsaw down and listen up."

— Craig Charles

RWCGcassiuspin — Rex Garrod demonstrating Cassius' safety pin

The segment began with Simon Scott from Team Razer talking about the dangers of robot building, but that good-quality goggles and ear protection had been very useful during the building of Razer. This then cut to Rex Garrod from Team Cassius who also emphasised the need for appropriate safety precautions and equipment at all times when maintaining and operating combat robots. Garrod used his speaking piece to highlight the steel locking pin for Cassius' flipping arm, which was used to prevent the weapon from accidentally firing when not in use. Garrod stressed the "really dangerous" nature of combat robots, warning that robots were not toys and that the consequences of someone getting hit by Cassius' flipper can be "fatal." Garrod also commented that it could be difficult at times to make people realise just how dangerous combat robots could be. As such, he refused to operate his robot's pneumatic weaponry when demonstrating it at local school and college events due to the potential risks, opting instead to show his audience video footage of Cassius in action.

Razer failsafe — Razer's failsafe unit (top, bottom-right) and microswitch (bottom)

Following this, a second Team Razer segment focused on failsafe systems, reiterating that these were an essential item, and also showing the device installed on their eponymous machine. Scott highlighted both the failsafe unit - costing £15 - and microswitch components, the functions of which were then described by Ian Lewis. Lewis emphasised the microswitch - operating from the robot's cam mechanism and linked to Razer's speed controller - as being especially important, allowing Razer to become immobilised if it lost its radio signal. A clip of Razer pinning and crushing down on Inquisitor in its Arena Semi-Final was shown to illustrate Razer's power, as Lewis noted how the failsafe shuts off the machine once the transmitter signal is lost and, in his words, doesn't go off and squeeze somebody.

"...the microswitch shuts the whole system down. It's linked up to the speed controllers and it cuts the supply voltage to them and stops the machine clearing off under its own steam. As soon as it loses the signal from the transmitter, as soon as that's lost... the machine shuts down completely dead."

— Ian Lewis explains the microswitch used as part of Razer's failsafe setup

Rules and Regulations[]

"Rules and regulations govern every aspect of Robot Wars. Many of them are concerned with health and safety issues - what weapons you can have, what weapons you can't, weight limits and so on. For instance, you might like to arm your robot with a dirty great flamethrower like Sgt. Bash, but for your own safety, you can't. A full set of the rules and regulations will be issued to you on joining the Robot Wars Club and completing the necessary application forms. But in case you want to know what you're letting yourself in for, here's uh... a brief summary."

— Craig Charles

In this segment, Charles - wearing a welding helmet and tinkering with the radio-controlled car from earlier - explained how Robot Wars is governed by strict rules and guidelines, with many focusing on health and safety concerns, using the prohibition on fire-based weapons as an example. Charles then mentioned that those who joined the Robot Wars Club and completed the application forms would recieve the full set of rules and regulations, before reading through a brief summary of specific guidelines as they appeared on screen for the viewer to read, while previously seen footage from robots being designed played behind the text.

Safety Restrictions

All explosives, corrosives, flames and pyrotechnics are prohibited

Untethered projectiles are prohibited

Compressed gas is limited to 1000 PSI

Hydraulic fluid is limited to 3000 PSI

Other Restrictions
The following materials and practices are prohibited

Radio jamming

Electronic weaponry - stun guns, Tesla coils, etc.

Liquid weaponry - water, oil, glue, etc.

Gas-based weaponry - expandable foam, neon, etc.

Power

Fuel or Electric

Fuel capacity limited to the lesser of 8oz (fluid ounces) or 6 minutes operating time

Fuel tanks must be adequately protected against penetration

Charles then advised that all robots would be checked for safety and compliance to these rules before being allowed to compete, as well as informing viewers that the organisers could disqualify any entry for non-compliance at their discretion. Charles also noted that these rules and regulations were subject to change and that failure to adhere to any revisions of the guidelines could also result in disqualification, before advising that competitors should not start building their robot until being requested to by the organisers and having received the safety guidelines.

"Robots will be inspected for safety and reliability before being allowed to compete. Tethers, blades, arms, levers, air cylinders and all other mechanical parts and weaponry must be strong and secure. The organisers reserve the right to disqualify any entry at their discretion. And please note, all rules and guidelines are subject to change - contestants who fail to adhere to rules and guidelines may be subject to disqualification. And please remember, do not start building a robot until you have been officially asked to by us."

— Craig Charles

Design[]

"So, now you know the rules. You're ready to build your very own galvanized gladiator. And it goes without saying, that you're gonna be very careful, aren't ya? Yes you are, missus. Before you start tinkering with the lawnmower, it's time to put pen to paper."

— Craig Charles

Razer design sketches — Design sketches of Razer

Charles transitioned from the Rules and Regulations segment into the Design portion of the video by standing at a drawing board and talking about designing the robot before starting to build it.

Simon Scott began the segment by showing some of the initial design sketches for Razer, describing how he and Ian Lewis had spent many evenings thinking of designs centred on weaponry that would have destroyed the robots they had seen in the previous series. Scott mentioned that he and Lewis had considered angle grinders, but they would not have provided the "mass destruction" he was after, instead wanting something that could give other robots "a good chewing."

Scott mentioned that Razer was actually designed with the weapon in mind before considering how that could be mobilised. Ian Lewis commented how robots were often designed with mobility first and then used any remaining weight allowance to add a weapon onto that. Lewis maintained that doing the latter would have meant that Razer wouldn't have come about due to the weight constraints.

Mortis builders guide — Arthur Chilcott explaining the importance of design in Mortis' entry

Arthur Chilcott of Random Violence Technologies also stressed the importance of a robot's design, estimating that of the 3,000 hours spent on Mortis, of which around 1,000 of those were on the design. He noted how it was "desperately important" for components and designs to work correctly first time when entering a robot into competition. Chilcott also mentioned that the design of Mortis was based on the materials available to him and his team by scouring catalogues of suppliers, rather than drawing something and then looking for what could be used for construction.

In the final clip, Rex Garrod discussed how Cassius was first built as a "really rough prototype" made of plywood sheet that the motors and wheels were fixed on to. Garrod felt that it was important to build a physical "mockup" before making any design drawings, the arrangement providing him with a better idea of the robot's planned design parameters and internal layout. Garrod noted that in his experience of building prototypes, something he did for a living, designing a robot on paper first did not provide the same clarity as a model would.

Radio Control[]

"Of course, you might have designed a future Robot Wars champion on paper, but a basic understanding of radio-control technology is essential if you're gonna bring it to life. And don't get me wrong, autonomous robots capable of doing their own dirty work are allowed on Robot Wars. But for the moment, let's stick with one of these."

— Craig Charles, as he shows a transmitter to the audience

RWCGradiocontrol — Derek Foxwell explaining radio control equipment

Charles transitioned from the Design segment into the Radio Control portion of the guide by talking about the importance of knowing how to bring a robot to life with radio-control technology. He did acknowledge that using autonomous technology was permitted within the rules, but suggested that for most, using radio control was preferable, showing a transmitter to prove his point. Charles was then shown with Derek Foxwell asking about controllers, transmitters, radio frequencies and crystals. To make the segment as easy to understand for viewers who were not up to speed with radio control terminology, Charles humorously suggested that Foxwell treat him as if he was "absolutely ignorant" and to tell him what these terms meant.

Foxwell, showing a basic transmitter, outlined the frequency of 40MHz - the only band the organisers can allow - and the interchangeable crystals used in these transmitters. During this, an incoming data graphic scrolled across the screen highlighting the 40MHz frequency along with additional frequencies of 27MHz and 35MHz, both of which the organisers strongly advised against using. Foxwell also noted that, in the official regulations, it is strongly recommended that roboteers bring spare crystals with them to avoid "clashes" with other frequencies.

After Charles asked where this equipment was available from, Foxwell mentioned that radio controllers are available off-the-shelf from most good hobby shops, ranging from £100-150.

Robot Components[]

"Of course, radio-control gear is pretty useless, unless you got something to actually control. And that something is obviously your robot. Now, it's not unusual for robots to end life scattered into a thousand pieces across the arena floor, but they start out life as two pieces: the body and the chassis. Now, of course, the body protects the robot, but it's what's inside that ultimately counts. So, let's have a peek under the bonnet."

— Craig Charles

Charles transitioned from the Radio Control segment to the Speed Controllers portion of the guide by noting that a competitor actually needed something to use the radio control equipment with - namely, a robot. He said that while it was not unusual for a robot to be destroyed in the arena, they most commonly started as two separate parts - the body and the chassis. Armed with a spanner and demonstrating on a large model car, Charles outlined the basic differences between these two components. As Charles struggled to open the bonnet of the model car, Mat Irvine then took over for the segment itself discussing each component in detail.

Speed Controllers[]

RWCGspeedcontrol — Ian Lewis showing Razer's speed controller configuration

Irvine explained how electrical power from the battery ran through to the speed controllers, and how they supported the motors supplying power to the independently-driven wheels. Irvine also noted how heavy batteries would give a robot a low centre of gravity. During this, an incoming data graphic scrolled across the screen explaining that new club members, upon completing the required entry forms, would receive a list of suppliers and recommended manufacturers for robot components.

The functionality of speed controllers was concisely explained; their purpose was to maintain smooth power transitions as motors struggled to cope with frequent switches between being on or off. However, Irvine noted that, in instances where the motors stall, such as when fighting something as heavy as Sergeant Bash, or getting pushed into a corner by Sir Killalot, extra power drawn from the batteries could cause speed controllers to start getting hot. In this context, he added that speed controllers from a radio-controlled car would not be suitable for a heavyweight robot due to overheating. To counter this problem, he instead presented a more appropriate speed controller that was approximately the size of his hand.

Ian Lewis from Team Razer also commented on the necessary size of speed controllers, adding that it depended on the amount of power required by the chosen motors. Variants for radio-controlled cars were again discouraged from being used in heavyweight robots. In Razer's case, its large speed controllers and caddy motors were rated to a maximum of 100 amps, with a continuous draw of 50 amps in regular operation. Lewis did state, though, that Razer's motors only showed readings of 23 amps, so he was confident that the speed controllers would not burn out when in use. However, they still required cooling fans to prevent them from overheating, one of which was also presented by Lewis.

Arthur Chilcott discussed how important speed controllers were for a robot's mobility, in comparison to a purely switch-based control system. He noted that without speed controllers, a robot is likely to only be able to move in a straight line or only turn in sharp, 90-degree turns. As such, any robot would not be able to approach another in a smooth, controlled manner.

Motors[]

RWCGmotor — Derek Foxwell explaining various power options

On the robot Irvine used as the example in the previous segment, he explained how each wheel was powered by a separate motor. Derek Foxwell led this segment by talking about the main propulsion methods - the internal combustion, or petrol, engine and the electric motor. In Foxwell's opinion, both propulsion methods were excellent, but it depended very much on the type of robot being built as to which should be used. Noting that there were hundreds of different motors from various sources that could be used in a robot, Foxwell then discussed some of the more common motors available and their various pros and cons:

Motorcycle starter motors, commonly found in scrapyards, were powerful but "extremely difficult to reverse", so Foxwell recommended avoiding them.
Car starter motors, which also had a lot of power but would require a gearbox to allow a robot to move backwards.
Foxwell mentioned a 12V DC motor and how useful they could be for powering weapons.
Foxwell showed a starter motor from a model aeroplane, which was both cheap and powerful.
The Sinclair C5 motor was last to be shown; Foxwell commented on its popularity at the time as it was inexpensive and relatively efficient.

Arthur Chilcott showed off a 900W compound series wound motor used in Mortis' axe. Despite its age and weight of about 6½kg, the motor provided plenty of power which was the main trade-off that Random Violence Technologies had chosen to make in developing their machine's weaponry. Chilcott also commented on how this motor was around 2½kg heavier than those used by other teams at the time.

Rex Garrod talked through the compact 12V power motor for Cassius, which was run on 24V. Garrod said this was why Cassius was so powerful, and that running the motor in such a way allowed him to "cheat a little bit", explaining that the voltage was pulsed through the motor itself to stop it from overheating. Garrod also stressed that the motor would need to run for up to fifteen minutes before it was at risk of overheating, far longer than the five-minute timeframe of a conventional battle.

Simon Scott discussed how Razer was powered by electric 12V caddy motors, also uprated to 24V, as they were the only motors light enough given the weight of the weapon and chassis. Hydraulic and petrol motors had also been considered but ruled out due to the aforementioned weight constraints. Ian Lewis also noted how it made sense to continue with electric motors for the drive, as a similar "pump" motor was used in Razer's weapon system. Thus, it did not make sense for the team to adopt two different systems when everything could be used together as one system, and it eliminated the need to carry two different types of fuel onboard the robot. Two battery packs were used to power Razer's systems - voltages were 24V for drive and the standard 12V for the weapon "pump", which was wired to one of the batteries. Lewis described the setup as unorthodox but that it seemed to work to power Razer, although he also joked about the potential for the system to short-circuit.

Batteries[]

RWCGbattery — Foxwell and Irvine explaining the advantage of lead acid batteries

Mat Irvine and Derek Foxwell talked through two of the most prevalent battery types for electric-powered robots in the original series - NiCad and lead-acid. Irvine discussed how NiCad batteries already featured in radio control systems and transmitters, but would only be suitable for powering featherweight and lightweight robots by this early point in the show's run. For middleweight and heavyweight robots, Irvine recommended using lead-acid batteries. Foxwell explained that as the lead-acid batteries used in robots did not contain liquid, leakage cannot occur during simple collisions.

RWCGmortisbattery — Arthur Chilcott comparing batteries

Arthur Chilcott and Ben Impey showed two of the small batteries used in Mortis - a total of six 5-amp types are used in place of a single bigger pack of comparable capacity. The main advantage of using smaller batteries was emphasised; they could be put into different places inside the robot while maintaining a similar power output.

Simon Scott also showed the larger sealed lead-acid battery used to power Razer that would typically be found in golf carts and wheelchairs, and Rex Garrod showed the special aircraft starter battery used inside Cassius. Garrod explained that the low internal resistance of these batteries allowed for them to "dump" a large amount of current in a short time. This resulted in faster acceleration - an advantage Garrod was satisfied with despite their higher cost.

Ian Lewis stressed the benefit of buying new batteries rather than hunting for them in rubbish tips and scrapyards, based on his initial experience trying to find second-hand examples. The main disadvantages of the latter were highlighted as depleted capacity, excessive heat and reduced functionality. The lead-acid type used in Razer was not particularly expensive - costing only £30 - and would provide plenty of power for the duration of the battle without overheating.

Bodywork[]

Charles began this segment by asking Mat Irvine about appropriate bodywork materials - for chassis and armour - to use when building a robot. Irvine noted how metal might seem "a logical choice", but mentioned how wood might also be useful. Among the potential advantages of wood from a build perspective included being easier to work with and easier to cut through. Irvine adds that wood could potentially jam cutting weapons such as a circular saw which gave it an advantage over metal. Composite fibre materials such as fibreglass and Kevlar were also mentioned; Irvine suggested that the former is ideal for more complex shapes, which can be moulded using resins.

Charles asked Foxwell about aesthetics and painting. Foxwell emphasised the need for Robot Wars to showcase "visually effective" machines; thus, he recommended that competing robots should "look very mean", while also being "nicely decorated" and "attractive" for competition.

Weapons[]

"So, the chassis' nice and strong, the motor's up and running. It looks beautiful, but what about the cutting-edge? What about the weapons?"

— Craig Charles

Irvine talked through four of the main weapon categories adopted by teams in the earlier UK Series - spikes, lifting devices, pick axes and rotating devices. An example of a pneumatic spike was manually demonstrated by Irvine, while a clip of G.B.H.'s victory over Talos in the Arena semi-final battle of Heat J showed the advantages of lifting devices, while Mortis' attacks on Matilda in its first Series 2 Gauntlet run illustrated the damage that could be caused by a pick axe. While no clips were shown to demonstrate the power of rotating devices, Irvine did state that popular examples were circular saws and chainsaws.

RWCGcassiusram — Rex Garrod demonstrating Cassius' weapon

Arthur Chilcott demonstrated the full motion of Mortis' axe - the weapon's third iteration - while noting it to be difficult to design, build and work properly. Keeping himself away from his machine's front end, Rex Garrod demonstrated both Cassius' pneumatic suspension and flipping arm. The suspension was lowered to allow Cassius to drop its front wedge shape to ground level, in turn enabling the whole robot to get underneath opponents more easily. Garrod noted here that the wedge was now so low to the ground that it would actually plane the surface of the arena floor if driven in this configuration. After demonstrating the weapon in action, Garrod explained that the flipping arm is purposefully power-restricted to prevent the robot from "destroying itself" with an unloaded flip, estimating that his demonstration was only 1/50th of the potential of the weapon. A clip from the Heat H final, where Cassius flicks Matilda onto her side, was shown as part of this sequence.

Concerning Razer, Simon Scott again reiterated how design and functionality were important for its crushing weapon. More footage of Razer's battle against Inquisitor was shown as Scott explained a few key functions and statistics, including a force of nine tonnes from the ram and an operating pressure of 3,000psi.

RWCGsodastream — Derek Foxwell explaining how SodaStream bottles can be used

Back in the Visual Effects workshop, Derek Foxwell showed off a SodaStream bottle, explaining its use in powering the pneumatic scoop on Behemoth. Footage of Behemoth firing the weapon during its first Gauntlet run was shown, as the simplicity of a pneumatic system was briefly addressed. Foxwell then showed a car starter motor and how it could be used to operate a pickaxe. A reference to the flywheel-driven weapon on Killertron led into footage of it striking Shunt during its Gauntlet run from Heat E.

"Other devices" mentioned by Foxwell included systems powered by hydraulics, though their "complicated" nature led him to advise less experienced competitors to avoid those in particular.

Driving[]

"Well, your weapons are attached, your robot's looking mighty mean. But it's no good having a decent robot, unless you've got a decent robot driver."

— Craig Charles

Charles introduced this segment by asking Derek Foxwell about what makes a good robot driver. Foxwell simply replied "practice", and how an appealing robot could be undermined by improper driving skills.

Ian Lewis noted his own experience racing remote-controlled cars, but that controlling the larger and heavier Razer was not quite the same. He noted how robots can easily go forwards and backwards, as well as be able to spin on the spot, unlike radio-controlled cars. As such, to prepare for sudden and unexpected movements in competition, he emphasised the need to "practice big time" to get acclimatised and comfortable with controlling a fighting robot.

And Finally...[]

This segment gave personal advice from the featured roboteers regarding the experience of building robots.

Rex Garrod's main tip was for roboteers to make a "comfortable" workplace for themselves. Adequate lighting and heating were stressed as important features, along with a nearby radio for listening to music. Garrod felt that an ideal working area would have to be just as, if not more, homely and relaxing than a living room or lounge.

Ian Lewis warned of weight being a major "pitfall" for competitors. Not monitoring the robot's weight - within the confines of the class limits - could risk roboteers having to "rob" certain capabilities from their machines before competing. Simon Scott recommended weighing components as they are found and added, as failing to do so could result in less satisfactory robot designs and/or weaponry. Both then promoted the idea of designing the weapon first and how that should take precedence over other factors. A "really good" build was mentioned as potentially being in contention for accolades such as the Best Design Award; Razer's Series 2 trophy was used to illustrate Lewis and Scott's point.

Arthur Chilcott stressed planning as the most important part of the build process, above everything else. He recommended setting out plans for every aspect, so as to not spend excess money on parts which may not be useable.

Summary[]

This segment provided a summary of every subject that had been covered up to this point. Video diary footage submitted by competitors - including clips televised in Robot Wars Revealed - were played in the background as Craig Charles explained each of the given steps:

"Well, that's almost all we've got time for. Hopefully, this step-by-step guide to building your own metal monster has set you well and truly on the road to becoming a roboteer. But before we go and in traditional school teacher style, here's a brief summary. No talking at the back!"

— Craig Charles

1. Join Robot Wars Club - "Firstly, join the Robot Wars Club to receive necessary application forms, technical advice, health-and-safety guidelines, and rules and regulations."

2. Discuss and Design - "Secondly, before you start juggling with chainsaws and welding scrap metal together, give a lot of thought to the type of robot you want to build. Talk it through with your teammates and then, design your robot on paper."

3. Find Your Components - "Next, start collecting the necessary components - radio-control gear, batteries, speed controllers, motors, armour and weapons. Use your initiative - scour scrapyards, salvage materials and generally, scavenge. If you want to build a heavyweight robot, don't rely on off-the-shelf components normally used in radio-control modelling."

4. Build Safely - "Then, start building your robot, safely and carefully. If you're uncertain about some aspect of designing, constructing and operating a robot, don't even start. And if you're under the age of 18, you must involve a responsible adult."

5. Practice Driving - "Finally, once your robot is up and running, practice, practice, practice. Driving skills are very often forgotten, but are essential for victory in Robot Wars."

"So there you have it, an introduction to the noble sport of Robot Wars. If this A to Z of dos and don'ts to building your own mechanised warrior has inspired you, then, um... hey, why not give it a go?"

— Craig Charles

This was followed by a promotional piece for the Robot Wars Club, similar to what would normally be seen at the end of episodes of Robot Wars at the time, and also similar to the promotion from the end of The First Great War. Craig Charles invited viewers to join the Club and become a part of one of the world's fastest-growing sports, noting that viewers would receive the club magazine, badge, video and the application form for entry into the world of competitive robot combat. Viewers were advised that completing and returning the form would enable them to receive technical advice, rules, and regulations related to Robot Wars.

Rather than just being encouraged to apply through the post or call the hotline for more information, as would be seen on television and on The First Great War portion of the video, viewers were told that they could also now sign up via the official Robot Wars website, the web address being provided in place of the hotline number. Charles closed the segment by reminding viewers that building robots could be dangerous and that those under the age of eighteen should seek the help of a responsible adult when attempting to build a robot.

"So there you have it. Thanks for watching. And remember; join the Club, join the cause. Build a robot, for Robot Wars'"

— Craig Charles' sign-off