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== Trivia ==
 
== Trivia ==
  +
*By the pattern of [[Seeding|seeds]], this heat should have taken place in place of [[Robot Wars: The Fourth Wars/Heat F|Heat F]]. It is unknown whether the seeds were deliberately swapped, or the episodes were shot as depicted and simply broadcast in different order.
 
*Heat M was the only exception to the [[Sir Chromalot]] tradition of losing in Round 2 of Heat D to the eventual heat winner, due to Sir Chromalot being seeded and losing to the heat runner-up.
 
*Heat M was the only exception to the [[Sir Chromalot]] tradition of losing in Round 2 of Heat D to the eventual heat winner, due to Sir Chromalot being seeded and losing to the heat runner-up.
*The [[Seeding|seeds]] of Heat M and [[Robot Wars: The Fourth Wars/Heat F|Heat F]] were swapped out of the regular pattern.
 
*:This was presumably done to re-spark the rivalry between [[Team Chaos]] and [[Gemini|Team Mace]].
 
 
*This was the only heat in Series 4 in which all six of the robots would return at least once.
 
*This was the only heat in Series 4 in which all six of the robots would return at least once.
 
* The kill cam footage of Humphrey and Scorpion in the Eliminators would go on to be used in the new titles introduced in [[Robot Wars Extreme: Series 1]].
 
* The kill cam footage of Humphrey and Scorpion in the Eliminators would go on to be used in the new titles introduced in [[Robot Wars Extreme: Series 1]].

Revision as of 10:06, 15 January 2020

"Now, in trying to get fit, I recently joined an aerobics class. And I thought I looked pretty good in a leotard until someone asked if I’d come as an Easter Egg. So, I went to the steps class instead, which was a tragedy! I even got thrown out of a sauna. Well, if they put hot coals in the corner, I’m bound to have a barbecue, aren’t I? Ah well, maybe I should leave all the exertions to the robots."
— Craig Charles' introduction

Heat M of Robot Wars: The Fourth Wars was the thirteenth of sixteen heats which determined the semi-finalists of Robot Wars: The Fourth Wars. The episode featuring Heat M was originally broadcast on January 5, 2001 on BBC Two. The broadcast managed to attract 4.1 million viewers, an increase of 910,000 viewers when compared with the previous episode. According to BARB, this meant it ranked eighth in the top thirty highest rated BBC 2 broadcasts during 1-7 January 2001.

Competing Robots

Newcomers

Humphrey
Humphrey
Weight 79.8kg
Dimensions 0.30 x 1.30 x 1.10m
Clearance 0.05m
Power 2 x 24 Volt motors
Weapons Lifting arm and spikes
Notes Incorporates table leg
From: Newark in Nottinghamshire
Team Members: Mick Kerfoot, Helen Kerfoot & Robert Holmes
Reactor
Reactor
Weight 80kg
Dimensions 0.80 x 1.30 x 0.80m
Clearance 0.05m
Power 2 x Wheelchair motors
Weapons Front flipper
Notes Custom built wheels
From: Birstall in Leicestershire
Team Members: Russell Orton, Daniel Orton & Martin Crouch
Scorpion
Scorpion
Weight 76.2kg
Dimensions 0.80 x 1.40 x 0.70m
Clearance 0.05m
Power 2 x Wheelchair motors
Weapons Chainsaw and 2 cutting discs
Notes Built on dining room table
From: Nutley in East Sussex
Team Members: Geoff Smith & John Bell

Veterans

Sirchromalot tall
Sir Chromalot (seeded 27th)
Weight 80kg
Dimensions 0.50 x 0.65 x 0.22m
Clearance 0.02m
Power 4 x Drill motors
Weapons 18" Drill and cobalt cutter
Notes Self-righting mechanism
From: South Ockendon in Essex
Team Members: Steve Merrill & David Whitehead
Thesteelavenger
The Steel Avenger
Weight 79.6kg
Dimensions 0.70 x 1.20 x 0.63m
Clearance 0.05m
Power 2 x Electric motors
Weapons Pneumatic axe
Notes Metal & polycarbonate shell
From: Colchester
Team Members: John Willoughby, Kevin Cockerill & Tony Bates
Wildthing4
Wild Thing (seeded 11th)
Weight 76.4kg
Dimensions 0.46 x 0.76 x 0.92m
Clearance 0.02m
Power 2 x Electric motors
Weapons Lifting arm and lance
Notes Integral self-righting mechanism
From: Aldershot in Hampshire
Team Members: Nick Adams, Isabelle Adams & Jake Adams

Eliminators

Wild Thing (11) vs The Steel Avenger vs Humphrey

"...and this [the axe] will come down on you with the force of Dawn French in a pair of stilettos."
Julia Reed on The Steel Avenger

Wild Thing was the quickest robot to start, bumping into Humphrey after manoeuvring around the arena flipper before spinning away. Humphrey bashed into the Steel Avenger as Wild Thing came on the attack again before having second thoughts and darted away from Humphrey. The Steel Avenger went up Wild Thing's wedge, as Wild Thing raised the lifting arm, essentially clamping The Steel Avenger in place, but The Steel Avenger got away and drove over a flame jet.

WildThingSteelAvenger

Wild Thing rams The Steel Avenger

Meanwhile, Wild Thing took on Humphrey, pushing Humphrey a bit before backing away and taking on The Steel Avenger who had circled Wild Thing, trying to bring the axe into play. In a good drive, Wild Thing pushed The Steel Avenger into Matilda, who flipped The Steel Avenger against the arena wall. Wild Thing backed onto the fringe of the CPZ but quickly escaped.

Steel Avenger Arena Wall

Steel Avenger on the arena wall

"...but Wild Thing followed up, which means also that Matilda can have a go at the Wild Thing."
Jonathan Pearce as Wild Thing drives onto the edge of the CPZ

The Steel Avenger fell off the arena wall, and landed on its side with insufficient space to self-right, but Matilda thankfully flipped it back onto its wheels. The Steel Avenger slammed into the arena wall, before reversing away, and driving past Matilda who flipped the feather duster off with her tusks.

"I think Matilda...has shaken her tail feathers!"
— Jonathan Pearce

Meanwhile, Humphrey was sitting, static by the arena wall, slowly lifting it's weapon up and down. The Steel Avenger came in with a ramming and axing attack on Humphrey, though this part was cut out. Wild Thing had then spiked the back of The Steel Avenger with its lance. The Steel Avenger fired its srimech in an attempt to get away. Sir Killalot threatened to come out of his CPZ, and the two robots scarpered to the middle of the arena. Humphrey suddenly started moving in the one wheel again.

HumphreyM

Humphrey tries to show signs of life

"It seemed to me that Humphrey was immobilised, this is the Wild Thing, chasing down the Steel Avenger here. Steel Avenger getting away. I think the Humphrey...oh no, they're ok, Humphrey's ok."
— Jonathan Pearce describes the action of the battle
Wild, steel

The two lock horns

Wild Thing impaled the polycarbonate side armour of the Steel Avenger with its lance, before pushing The Steel Avenger into the arena wall. The Steel Avenger fired its srimech arms again, and the two separated. Humphrey started moving again, but drove straight into the claws of Dead Metal. Wild Thing and The Steel Avenger were still tussling, and were dangerously close to Matilda's CPZ. Matilda tried flipping Wild Thing over, but it escaped.

"If it goes to the judges, Wild Thing have done enough, I don't think it'll go to the judges, because Humphrey, they've gone haven't they?"
— Jonathan Pearce confirms Humphrey's immobilization.
Humphrey attacked

Humphrey is set upon by the House Robots

Dead Metal sliced into Humphrey's lifter, before the rest of the House Robots came in to attack. The Steel Avenger broke free from Wild Thing again and collided into Dead Metal, before retreating. Sergeant Bash gripped onto the front of Humphrey before dragging it onto the floor flipper. The Steel Avenger swung its axe at the oncoming Wild Thing, but was narrowly off target, and Wild Thing then pushed The Steel Avenger into Sir Killalot. The two escaped towards the arena centre, and Humphrey was flipped by the Floor Flipper.

Humphreyflies

Humphrey flies

The House Robots came along again, and Sir Killalot picked Humphrey up, doing his usual trick of spinning on the spot holding the defeated Humphrey aloft. Cease was called as Humphrey was still being held by Sir Killalot.

Qualified: The Steel Avenger & Wild Thing

Sir Chromalot (27) vs Scorpion vs Reactor

Before the battle, the Sir Chromalot team had entered the Robot Wars studio in a huge container lorry, with cheerleaders (called The Chromettes) and a fake newspaper stated that 'The Class act returns.'

Sir chrom revealed

The cheerleaders reveal Sir Chromalot

The battle started, and it was clear that Sir Chromalot was the fastest of the three, spinning on the spot before attacking Scorpion. The two clashed, and Sir Chromalot pushed Scorpion back. Reactor came into the fray, but Sir Chromalot kept its attention on Scorpion. Sir Chromalot pierced Scorpion's fiberglass shell, and slammed it into Reactor.

"...and you just saw the little drill, of Sir Chromalot, and it's not as good as Sir Killalot's, I'm sorry boys."
— Jonathan Pearce shoots down Sir Chromalot's claim.
Reactchromscorp

The three clash together

Sir Chromalot had Scorpion impaled, but a shove from Reactor freed the latter, and as Sir Chromalot darted around the side wall flame throwers, Reactor bumped into the back of Scorpion. Reactor turned away, as Sir Chromalot shunted through both robots. Sir Chromalot rammed into Scorpion again, except with the cobalt cutter this time. It pierced, but Scorpion got away, and drove near Dead Metal's CPZ.

Sir chrom reactor scorpion again

Reactor takes on Sir Chromalot

Scorpion reversed very slowly into Sir Chromalot, trying to get the cutting disc into play, but to no avail. Scorpion bumped past Sir Chromalot, and something flew off from one of the trio together.

"Ooh something's come off one of them there, I'm not too sure from whence that came."
— Jonathan Pearce as a piece flies off out of the melee.

Reactor was trying to get its lifting plate beneath Sir Chromalot by shoving it around. Both robots drove near Dead Metal, who threatened to come out and attack, but the two escaped. In a good shove, Reactor got underneath Scorpion, but it was now clear that its lifter had failed to work, and so pushed him across the arena and into the wall, but Scorpion escaped quickly afterwards. Sir Chromalot slammed into Scorpion again, as Reactor circled round, trying to find a good place to attack. Reactor shoved into Scorpion from the side, using its front plate and steep framework to tip Scorpion over.

"I don't think the cutting discs can get into play! And Reactor topples Scorpion immediately."
— Jonathan Pearce as Reactor tips Scorpion over
Reactor flips Scorpion

Reactor topples Scorpion over

Sergeant Bash came in to attack Scorpion, but Reactor had gotten itself wedged underneath an arena side spike by its own charge. Sergeant Bash tried to free them, as Matilda bean to come in on Scorpion. Finally Reactor escaped, and Sergeant Bash focused on Scorpion again. Sergeant Bash pushed Scorpion, before reversing away. Sir Killalot came in on Scorpion, and Sergeant Bash gripped its tail.

Scorp killcam

The kill cam as Scorpion is grabbed by Sergeant Bash

Sergeant Bash continued its grip of Scorpion's tail, dragging it backwards, crushing the fiberglass shell and snapping the end of the tail off. The rest of the House Robots began to attack the eliminated Scorpion, with Dead Metal attacking the bottom of the chassis, causing a huge shower of sparks. Dead Metal let go so Sir Killalot could attack.

Scorpion vs Sir Killalot

Sir Killalot picks up Scorpion

Sir Killalot lifted Scorpion into the air, before holding the flammable fiberglass Scorpion over the side wall flame thrower.

"Jeff Smith and John Bell, they'd also like to thank John's wife Pip, she let them design and build Scorpion on the dining room table. She had to delay cooking cheese on toast, instead, she has Scorpion rarebit."
— Jonathan Pearce as Scorpion is held aloft and burnt.

The pit descended as Sir Killalot spun Scorpion around in the air. Sir Killalot stopped spinning, and Scorpion's tail continued burning.

Qualified: Reactor & Sir Chromalot

Semi-Finals

Wild Thing (11) vs Reactor

Wild Thing sped off its starting position into the relatively sluggish Reactor. Wild Thing caught Reactor side on, and got in underneath with the wedge. The lifting arm raised, keeping Reactor in position as Wild Thing shoved it forwards.

Wildthingshuntsreactor

Wild Thing shunts Reactor

Wild Thing kept pushing Reactor, until Reactor's lifter at the front dug into the arena floor, so Wild Thing relented and drove away, lowering the lifting arm before coming back on the attack at the rear of Reactor, using its incredible manoeuvrability to get around. Wild Thing got its lifting arm underneath the wheel of Reactor, but couldn't flip, so it just shoved Reactor into the arena sidewall at speed. Wild Thing reversed onto the CPZ edge, but got away.

"A ground clearance of 5 millimetres only on Reactor, but that's the Achilles heel, Wild Thing attacking in the rear of Reactor and dumping it onto the arena side wall."
— Jonathan Pearce

Wild Thing pushed into Reactor again, but this time Reactor drove further forwards driving into Dead Metal's CPZ whereas Wild Thing spun around and retreated.

Reactor dead metal cpz

Reactor drives into Dead Metal

Wild Thing span on the spot as Reactor escaped Dead Metal. Wild Thing then pushed into Reactor, this time shoving it into Dead Metal's CPZ. Reactor very cumbersomely managed to escape Dead Metal's pincers but was nearly caught. Wild Thing pushed into the side of Reactor this time, but it couldn't get much purchase.

"A little bit like soap in the shower, through your hands and away."
— Jonathan describes Reactor

Wild Thing got around the back of Reactor again, shoving it across the whole arena, lifting the wheels off the ground so Reactor couldn't get any traction at all. Wild Thing got completely underneath Reactor, and shoved it into the sidewall and Sergeant Bash's CPZ.

Wild Thing vs Reactor

Wild Thing pushes Reactor in Sergeant Bash's CPZ

Sergeant Bash was unable to grab Reactor, and it got away again. Reactor was moving very slowly, and Wild Thing went across the flames, getting underneath the side of Reactor. Wild Thing pushed Reactor again, in a charge all the way across the arena, but this time into Sir Killalot.

Reactorsirk

Reactor is pushed into Sir Killalot

Wild Thing continued pressurizing, shoving Reactor into Sir Killalot's claw, which crumpled the wooden wheel. Reactor spun its wheels, trying to retreat away, but it didn't get enough traction, and Sir Killalot held it in place. Dead Metal then came in on Reactor, but went away after Killalot let it go. Reactor sluggish as ever, drove into the centre of the arena, where Wild Thing was. Wild Thing spun into Reactor, but drove away.

"...and I wonder if, at this stage, Russell Orton, young Daniel and Martin Crouch are just thinking look lets stay out of trouble and live to fight another day, because Wild Thing very much on top here."
— Jonathan Pearce on Reactor's tactics

Wild Thing pushed Reactor into the arena wall, before retreating and then coming back on the attack again. Wild Thing puhed Reactor back into Sir Killalot, and nearly got caught themselves, but got away in time. Reactor was now moving very, very slowly, and so Wild Thing took advantage by pushing Reactor into Dead Metal. Wild Thing slammed in again and again relentlessly, to stop Reactor from getting away from Dead Metal.

DeadMetalReactor

Dead Metal slices into Reactor

Wild Thing spun victoriously, as Reactor struggled to move away from near Dead Metals CPZ after being let go by the House Robot. Dead Metal attacked again, this time in the back of Reactor, causing sparks, but no visible damage. Wild Thing then pushed into Sergeant Bash, trying to attack the house robot.

Wildthingsergeant

Wild Thing goes after Sergeant Bash

The clock began to tick down with Reactor just about still moving, Wild Thing went back after them. Wild Thing went on one final shove, pushing Reactor into the arena side wall, before Cease was called.

"Well the judges have made their decision, remember it's style, control, aggression and damage, and they've gone for, are you nervous, are you nervous, they've gone for Wild Thing!"
— Craig Charles announces the results

Winner: Wild Thing

Sir Chromalot (27) vs The Steel Avenger

Sir Chromalot axed

The Steel Avenger finally hits Sir Chromalot

Sir Chromalot pitted

Sir Chromalot is pitted

Sir Chromalot's cheerleaders were allowed to give a short choreographed performance in the arena, prior to this battle.

When combat began, The Steel Avenger started by bouncing off Sir Chromalot before shoving it into the arena wall spike. The Steel Avenger then turned and attacked with the axe, but only made a glancing blow as Sir Chromalot easily moved out of its path. Whilst another attempt to push the round machine, The Steel Avenger was picked up on Sir Chromalot's front spike, and spun halfway round the body of Sir Chromalot before driving away, and resumed pushing, causing Sir Chromalot's decorative flag to fall off. The Steel Avenger then followed up with another inaccurate axing attempt. Despite being overpowered, Sir Chromalot tried to cause damage with the drills. But these were equally ineffective on The Steel Avenger, who eventually used its front battering ram blade to bend the drills, rendering them useless. The Steel Avenger kept moving in on Sir Chromolot, and continued to launch a small flurry of axe blows, albeit unsuccessfully.

"Down comes the axe, missed! Down comes the axe, missed! Down comes... no."
— Jonathan Pearce as The Steel Avenger is initially unsuccessful in its attacks

With the pit of oblivion now descending, The Steel Avenger lined up for an attack whilst staying clear of Dead Metal's CPZ, and finally managed to land a proper blow on the body of Sir Chromalot with its axe (although throughout the unedited battle, several more successful axe blows from The Steel Avenger went unaired on television, presumably due to time constraints). Immediately after, The Steel Avenger backed into the CPZ, but it quickly escaped before Dead Metal could grab a hold with its pincers. However, the axe blow seemed to cause damage as Sir Chromalot appeared to slow down severely after the blow, allowing The Steel Avenger to ram the still robot a couple of times, by driving forward and reversing, before pushing it down the open pit, one of the few instances of a win via the pit in Series 4.

Winner: The Steel Avenger

Final

Wild Thing (11) vs The Steel Avenger

Wild Thing vs Steel Avenger

Wild Thing topples The Steel Avenger.

Wild Thing started forward, and The Steel Avenger though slow off the mark evaded a frontal assault. Wild Thing then proceeded by trying to pierce the side of The Steel Avenger with the lance, but it was not effective. At the same time as trying to use the lance to cause damage Wild Thing was pushing The Steel Avenger, at one point towards Sir Killalot's CPZ, before The Steel Avenger moved away from trouble. After a couple of failed lance attacks, Wild Thing's arm was lowered so the front would be a better wedge. Wild Thing continued to shove and lift the silver machine, and The Steel Avenger failed to hit its foe with the axe while it was pushed askew. The Steel Avenger then backed round, met Wild Thing up front and raised slightly on its wedge, fired the axe a second time and managed to hit the rear of Wild Thing's wedge. Then both robots went on chasing and bumping each other around the arena, with Wild Thing being the most domineering.

Eventually, Wild Thing charged at The Steel Avenger, getting the steep wedge underneath it and tipping it over onto the edge of the pit panel. Upon toppling, The Steel Avenger had the tip of its axe blade dug into the arena floor, and its left scrimech side cone was not working properly, thus prevented itself from self-righting and Sir Killalot moved in, crushing the side panel and scrimech spike with its claw.

Steel Avenger piited

Wild Thing nudges The Steel Avenger down the pit

"The right side cone flicks out, there's nothing on the left, the axe can't lift The Steel Avenger..."
— Jonathan Pearce as The Steel Avenger fails to self-right

The pit opened right next to The Steel Avenger as it now partially self righted, leaving it in a perfect position to knock into the pit. The house robots backed off, allowing Wild Thing to come in and have it the last little shove on The Steel Avenger, sending it into the pit.

"Wild Thing! You make my heart sing. Wild Thing are through to the series semi-finals!"
— Craig Charles

Heat Winner: Wild Thing

"One of my favourite bands was The Doors, but we'll really light your fire, on Robot Wars!"
— Craig Charles' sign-off

Trials

"Well it seems there was more damage in that last battle than we thought, apparently one of the judges broke a nail. So while they go and get that sorted, lets enjoy some pinball."
Craig Charles
GeminiPinball

One of the twins clears the ramp

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 M, the Pinball featured Gemini.

Pinball Warrior Tournament - Gemini

Score: 255 points


Trivia

  • By the pattern of seeds, this heat should have taken place in place of Heat F. It is unknown whether the seeds were deliberately swapped, or the episodes were shot as depicted and simply broadcast in different order.
  • Heat M was the only exception to the Sir Chromalot tradition of losing in Round 2 of Heat D to the eventual heat winner, due to Sir Chromalot being seeded and losing to the heat runner-up.
  • This was the only heat in Series 4 in which all six of the robots would return at least once.
  • The kill cam footage of Humphrey and Scorpion in the Eliminators would go on to be used in the new titles introduced in Robot Wars Extreme: Series 1.
  • Despite being seeded eleventh, Wild Thing was never announced as a seed during the entire heat.
  • As Steel Avenger fought Team Reactor in Heat I of Series 7, this leaves Scorpion the only robot in this heat to never fight Steel Avenger at some point.