- "So far through to our second Semi-Final, a Splinter proved too sore a point for Eric. And in the last show, two veterans of Robot Wars, Stinger and Bulldog Breed 2 fought it out in their Heat Final. The victory message, you have to spin to win, bulldog in the bin. Let's shatter steel. Crush Kevlar and tatter tin. Let Robot Wars begin!"
- — Jonathan Pearce's introduction
Heat K of Robot Wars: The Fourth Wars (also referred to in recaps as Heat 11) was the eleventh of sixteen heats which determined the semi-finalists of Robot Wars: The Fourth Wars. The episode featuring Heat K was originally broadcast on 15 December 2000 on BBC Two. The broadcast managed to attract 2.71 million viewers, a decrease of 710,000 viewers when compared with the previous episode. According to BARB, this meant it ranked nineteenth in the top thirty highest rated BBC Two broadcasts during 11-17 December 2000.
- "Y'know, I've been keeping up with some environmental issues and I've learnt that in ten years time, the sea will have flooded half of Britain...which is good, because I've always wanted to live by the sea. And did you know that every year, manufacturers destroy a forest the size of Belgium. Why not just destroy Belgium? Thankfully, the one thing the world doesn't have less of is roboteers, even if they do let off some pretty obnoxious gasses."
- — Craig Charles' introduction
Competing Robots[]
Newcomers[]
 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tiberius | ||
| Weight | 79.9kg/176lbs | |
| Dimensions | 0.70 x 1.12 x 0.81m/28' x 44' x 32' | |
| Clearance | 0.08m | |
| Power | 2 x 750 Watt motors | |
| Weapons | Jack powered armour piercer/Armor piercing spike | |
| Notes | Gears from motorbike | |
| From: Brighton | ||
| Team Members: Sam Smith, Simon Coulthard & John Coulthard | ||
 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Little Fly | ||
| Weight | 79.8kg/176lbs | |
| Dimensions | 0.50 x 1.20 x 0.90m/20' x 47' x 35' | |
| Clearance | 0.05m | |
| Power | 2 x Wheelchair motors | |
| Weapons | Lawnmower blade | |
| Notes | Aluminium shell | |
| From: Dover | ||
| Team Members: Andy Hosking, John Woodward & Richard Woodward | ||
Veterans[]
 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Evil Weevil (seeded 12th) | ||
| Weight | 80.2kg/176lbs | |
| Dimensions | 0.30 x 1.10 x 0.70m/12' x 43' x 28' | |
| Clearance | 0.02m | |
| Power | 2 x Electric motors | |
| Weapons | Spikes + sledgehammer | |
| Notes | Base is from a security van | |
| From: Cardiff | ||
| Team Members: Kevin Pritchard, Mark Mellor & Ashley Evans | ||
 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Weld-Dor 2 (seeded 28th) | ||
| Weight | 80.4kg/177lbs | |
| Dimensions | 0.35 x 1.20 x 0.95m/14' x 47' x 37' | |
| Clearance | 0.08m | |
| Power | 2 x Electric motors | |
| Weapons | Pneumatic hammer + ram/flipper | |
| Notes | Can flip & self right | |
| From: Belfast | ||
| Team Members: Phelim Lundy, David Lundy & Damian Kilgallon | ||
 | ||
|---|---|---|
| MouseTrap | ||
| Weight | 77.3kg/170lbs | |
| Dimensions | 0.25 x 1.40 x 0.70m/10' x 55' x 28' | |
| Clearance | 0.02m | |
| Power | 2 x 24 Volt motors/Electric motors | |
| Weapons | Pneumatic mouse trap | |
| Notes | Chassis used to be a desk | |
| From: Oxford and Bristol | ||
| Team Members: Jason Launchbury & Stan Launchbury | ||
 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sump Thing | ||
| Weight | 79.6kg/175lbs | |
| Dimensions | 0.51 x 1.04 x 0.95m/20' x 41' x 38' | |
| Clearance | 0.08m | |
| Power | 2 x Electric motors | |
| Weapons | Pickaxe, spike & wedge | |
| Notes | 2 years to build | |
| From: Leicester | ||
| Team Members: Richard Dig, Jon Lort & Geoff Germainey | ||
Eliminators[]
- "Our valiant underdogs this time, Craig. Sumpthing and MouseTrap have fought before. Little Fly and Tiberius, our newcomers. Our seeds, Weld-Dor at number twenty-eight, and Evil Weevil as high as number twelve."
- — Jonathan Pearce reviewing the competitors in the heat
Evil Weevil (12) vs MouseTrap vs Tiberius[]
The robots come together
Tiberius pierces MouseTrap
MouseTrap brought its weapon into play straight away, but couldn't make any contact with Tiberius. Evil Weevil then slid underneath Tiberius and forced it backwards. MouseTrap drove at the back of Evil Weevil and slammed down the weapon again, and from the attack, it appeared to get stuck. Evil Weevil sat motionless as Tiberius drove at the side of MouseTrap and plunged its piercing spike into the shell of MouseTrap.
- "It hasn't moved and this is a surprise and a shock. The number twelve seeds from Llantarnam School - Evil Weevil immobilised."
- — Jonathan Pearce
Evil Weevil, immobilised due to a dead battery
Refbot pushes MouseTrap around after separating it and Tiberius
Evil Weevil was still not moving, so Dead Metal and Shunt closed in. Meanwhile, MouseTrap was stuck on Refbot - who separated MouseTrap and Tiberius - before Refbot managed to shake MouseTrap off of him.
- "MouseTrap in the clutches of the Refbot. What is going on there? Referee's not supposed to do that!"
- — Jonathan Pearce
Sgt. Bash torches Evil Weevil
Evil Weevil is flipped by the Floor Flipper
Dead Metal and Sgt. Bash carried out their punishment on Evil Weevil, while Tiberius pinned MouseTrap in the CPZ. Sgt. Bash pushed Evil Weevil onto the Floor Flipper, and some of the plating flew off the rear of the machine as it landed.
- "Well we lose a seed as MouseTrap and Tiberius go into Round 2."
- — Craig Charles
After the battle, it was discovered that of the six available, the battery that was selected by the Evil Weevil team was only partially charged, and therefore died early on in the battle.
Qualified: MouseTrap & Tiberius
Weld-Dor 2 (28) vs Sump Thing vs Little Fly[]
- "Well good to see them back fly away to fight another day. All that brings us onto our next battle. Weld-Dor, Sumpthing against Little Fly."
- — Jonathan Pearce
Little Fly gets its lawnmower blade stuck in Weld-Dor
Sump Thing slams down on Little Fly
Weld-Dor 2 pursued Little Fly, whose weapon caused minor damage to the side of Weld-Dor 2 before getting lodged in the side of it. Sump Thing slammed its pickaxe down onto Little Fly's blade, causing minor sparks. Weld-Dor 2 then got underneath the front of Little Fly, but couldn't force it back, before all three robots slammed into each other.
- "Oh, slam! Likes dodgems in a fairground."
- — Jonathan Pearce
Little Fly drives Weld-Dor 2 onto the flame pit
Weld-Dor 2 is immobilised
Little Fly's blade was stuck in Weld-Dor 2 again, before it came unstuck. Little Fly suddenly came to a halt, so Sump Thing came in on a drive, before Little Fly started to move again. Sump Thing then focused its attacks on Weld-Dor 2, slamming the axe down continuously.
- "All the aggression from Sump Thing, and Richard Dig - to give him his full name - is doing splendidly here."
- — Jonathan Pearce
Sump Thing strikes Weld-Dor 2
Weld-Dor is pitted by Sir Killalot
Weld-Dor 2 moved Little Fly close to a CPZ, and Little Fly stopped moving again for a short period. Weld-Dor 2 drove at Sump Thing, edging it towards the Flame Pit, before the two clashed again; Sump Thing managed to force Weld-Dor 2 around, and then axed it, appearing to catch the interior. Weld-Dor 2 suddenly stopped after this and was immobilised.
- "Weld-Dor, has it stopped I wonder? Sumpthing is certainly still active, but that was the penetrating blow of the axe of Sump Thing. And I just wonder - Weld-Dor, I think has been immobilised by that blow!"
- — Jonathan Pearce
The House Robots closed in, with Sgt. Bash and Shunt penetrating the shell of Weld-Dor 2, before Sir Killalot grabbed Weld-Dor 2 and dumped it into the Pit.
- "Weld-Dor came all the way from Belfast. They've gotta turn around and go back again. They go out."
- — Craig Charles
After the battle, it was revealed that Little Fly had in fact severed a battery cable, rendering a dented Weld-Dor immobile, instead of Sump Thing who was previously thought responsible for Weld-Dor 2's demise.
Qualified: Sump Thing & Little Fly
Semi-Finals[]
- "And don't forget Craig. The seeds have gone, so we've got Sumpthing the brawler against the MouseTrap weapon. And you got Little Fly with the agriculture lawnmower blade against the armour piercing weapon of Tiberius from Brighton."
- — Jonathan Pearce recapping the semi-finals and reminding that the two seeds have gone out
Tiberius vs Little Fly[]
Tiberius grabs hold of Little Fly
Tiberius pins Little Fly between it and Sgt. Bash
Tiberius started aggressively, forcing Little Fly backwards. Little Fly managed to get a couple of glancing hits onto Tiberius with its blade, before Tiberius forced Little Fly against the arena wall and then into Sgt. Bash, who clawed it.
- "Tiberius has set Little Fly up for destruction here."
- — Jonathan Pearce as Sgt. Bash damages Little Fly
Tiberius rams Little Fly into the wall, but gets stuck
Shunt axes Tiberius
Little Fly backed away, but Tiberius quickly came onto the attack to shove Little Fly around again. Little Fly's blade continued to be impotent, and Tiberius then drove Little Fly across the arena and into the arena wall, with one of the Arena Spikes stabbing the back of Little Fly. Refbot split the two robots up; Little Fly moved away, but Tiberius was stuck in forward gear and was wedged in on the Arena Spike.
- "There's something wrong there! I think the gears are stuck!"
- — Jonathan Pearce
Sir Killalot picks Tiberius up with its lance
The immobile Tiberius is pitted by the House Robots
Shunt came in and axed Tiberius, before Sir Killalot lifted Tiberius up and took it towards the Pit. The House Robot nearly drove in itself, before it dropped Tiberius, with the shape of Tiberius leaving it beached over the Pit. Matilda flipped Tiberius onto its side and further into the Pit before a final little nudge from Shunt saw them engulfed in a puff of smoke.
- "Well, Tiberius will rule no longer!"
- — Craig Charles
Winner: Little Fly
Sump Thing vs MouseTrap[]
- "Sump Thing, scrapyard chique, what's next? Gorgeous Grunge? Classic Crustic?"
- — Jonathan Pearce, prior to the start of the match
MouseTrap pins down Sump Thing's axe
MouseTrap and Sump Thing lock horns
MouseTrap drove at Sump Thing, with Sump Thing missing with an axe blow as it reversed away. Sump Thing then flew over the top of MouseTrap, with MouseTrap missing with a swing of its weapon. Sump Thing came in and axed MouseTrap, before MouseTrap impeded another swing from Sump Thing by trapping the pick axe with its own weapon.
- "And it has pinned Sump Thing's weaponry down! A great slam of the mousetrap."
- — Jonathan Pearce
Sump Thing attacks the motionless Mousetrap
Sump Thing immobilises itself
MouseTrap bowled Sump Thing against the arena wall before Sump Thing came in with a strong drive of its own. MouseTrap tried to force Sump Thing in towards Dead Metal but nearly went in itself. MouseTrap slammed down with the trap weapon once more, before misfiring with its next attack, in which the weapon got stuck. MouseTrap suddenly stopped, so Sump Thing charged in again with its axe, repeatedly hitting MouseTrap. Eventually, MouseTrap began to move again, but only for a brief moment, as it came to a halt again, next to the arena wall.
- "Is everything okay with the MouseTrap controls for Jason Launchbury?"
- — Jonathan Pearce
Sir Killalot throws Sump Thing
Sump Thing is pitted by Dead Metal
Sump Thing slammed in once more, and MouseTrap starting limping back into the action. Sump Thing lunged at the struggling robot, but MouseTrap managed to move out of the way; Sump Thing ran into the arena wall, snapping the chain, and leaving the wheels with no traction, meaning it was beached on its own fork.
- "Down went the forks on the front, and they buckled underneath, and that means there's no traction for the great wheels. Sump Thing... Dig, you have dug yourself into oblivion here!"
- — Jonathan Pearce
The House Robots closed in; Sump Thing was plucked up by Sir Killalot before Dead Metal pitted Sump Thing. The Judges decided MouseTrap was still mobile but only just, so it went through, ending Sump Thing's impressive run.
Winner: MouseTrap
Final[]
Little Fly vs MouseTrap[]
Little Fly slashes the side of MouseTrap as it misses with the trap
Little Fly attempts to slash the weaponry of MouseTrap
Little Fly moved up the wedge of MouseTrap, with MouseTrap slamming its weapon down onto the blade of Little Fly. MouseTrap's weapon was jammed, and Little Fly came in, causing a shard to fly. MouseTrap's weapon finally fell back into place, but the robot itself came to a stop for a few seconds before it started to move again.
- "MouseTrap, again, just waiting... Come into my parlour said the MouseTrap to the Fly."
- — Jonathan Pearce
Little Fly mounts another attack
Little Fly trying to take out the spring on MouseTrap
Little Fly attacked the side of MouseTrap, causing its blade to stop moving, before MouseTrap fired its weapon, which clipped Little Fly. MouseTrap parked itself over the flame jet as its weapon slammed onto Little Fly. MouseTrap then forced Little Fly back, against the arena wall and threw its weapon down again. MouseTrap held its weapon there, so Refbot split the two up. Little Fly drove at the front of MouseTrap, with the lawnmower blade stopping against part of the trap mechanism. MouseTrap then drove Little Fly back, wedging it on part of the Pit. Little Fly got away, but MouseTrap drove at the back of Little Fly and pushed it into Matilda. The House Robot flicked Little Fly up, before it escaped.
- "In the CPZ, Little Fly; needs to get away from there."
- — Jonathan Pearce
MouseTrap gets underneath and rams Little Fly
Matilda flips Little Fly
With the clock ticking down, both robots began to limp slowly. Little Fly went in with one last half-hearted drive before 'Cease' was called. The Judges' decision went in favour of MouseTrap.
Heat Winner: MouseTrap
- "We've got our own rules, and we've got our own laws, but controversy reigns on Robot Wars!"
- — Craig Charles' sign-off
Trials[]
Banshee hits the target
During the Fourth Wars, alongside the main competition, a Pinball Warrior Tournament and Sumo Basho Competition were also held. Unlike the similar competitions of the Third Wars, these trials featured successful qualifiers for Series 4. In between the first and second rounds of each heat, a Pinball run took place, and two Sumo attempts took place in between Round 2 and the Heat Final in each of the first eight heats. For Heat K, the Pinball featured Banshee.
Pinball Warrior Tournament - Banshee[]
Score: 75 points
Trivia[]
- Heat K was the only ever heat to have both seeds fall in Round 1. Evil Weevil became the highest ever seed to lose in a first round battle.
- "The two seeds are out!"
- — Jonathan Pearce, after reading the Round 2 line-up
- Heat K was the only heat in Series 4 where none of the competitors competed in either the Trial Competitions or the Christmas specials.
- Heat K was also the only time in four attempts that Sumpthing managed to get past Round 1.
- Heat K was the only heat in Series 4 where none of the robots - including the side event competitors - ever competed in an Annihilator.
- Heat K was the only heat where all six competitors would feature in a Fantasy Fight in the Robot Wars Magazine.
- Heat K was the only heat in Series 4 where none of the robots - including the side event competitors - appeared in a video game or were made into a toy.
- Heat K presented MouseTrap with an opportunity for revenge on Evil Weevil who defeated its predecessor Triterobot in the previous series, and succeeded.
- This heat was the first appearance of Tiberius and its team captain Sam Smith who would later become part of Team Carbide in the rebooted series.
- Weld-Dor's status as a seed was not mentioned in its introduction.
- If Little Fly's Fantasy Fight against Evil Weevil and Milly-Ann Bug in the original Robot Wars Magazine is considered, then Little Fly fought every other robot in this heat.
- Along with Heat D, none of the competing robots in this heat competed in the Pinball Warrior or Sumo Basho.
[]
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