- "This is Robot Wars Revealed, where we discover the whole truth and nothing but the truth behind the scenes of Robot Wars. Where do the robots come from? Who makes them? And ultimately, how do you fix a bent camshaft, five minutes before you're due to fight in the no-man's land of the arena? Only one robot can survive, but as always, six are revved up and ready to go, and here they are!"
- — Philippa Forrester's introduction
Episode 4 of Robot Wars Revealed was originally aired on BBC Choice on 27 November 1998. It presented behind-the-scenes footage of Heat D of Robot Wars: The Second Wars, including video diaries of the Razer, Bodyhammer and Elvis teams preparing their robots for the main competition.
Robots Featured[]
Newcomers[]
 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Behemoth | ||
| Weight | 67.7kg | |
| Dimensions | 0.95 x 0.5 x 0.55m | |
| Speed | 5mph | |
| Turning Circle | 0m | |
| Ground Clearance | 15mm | |
| Power | 2 x 12V batteries | |
| Weapons | 1000kg front lifting shovel | |
| Notes | Weapon powered by 'sodastream' CO2 cylinder | |
| From: Hemel Hempstead | ||
| Team Members: Anthony Pritchard, Michael Pritchard & Edward Pritchard | ||
 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Inquisitor | ||
| Weight | 64.5kg | |
| Dimensions | 1.35 x 0.7 x 0.38m | |
| Speed | 15mph | |
| Turning Circle | 0.7m | |
| Ground Clearance | 5mm | |
| Power | 24V (5 batteries) | |
| Weapons | Chainsaw and rear mounted flail | |
| Notes | Gavin was placed 4th in a Mr Great Britain body-building competition | |
| From: Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire | ||
| Team Members: Keith Millward & Gavin Hatton | ||
 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Milly-Ann Bug | ||
| Weight | 53.0kg | |
| Dimensions | 1.4 x 0.62 x 0.40m | |
| Speed | 5mph | |
| Turning Circle | 0.7m | |
| Ground Clearance | 55mm | |
| Power | 6 x 12V batteries | |
| Weapons | Circular saw / wooden mandibles | |
| Notes | Head and torso independently driven | |
| From: Leeds | ||
| Team Members: Geoff Warren, Martin Dawson & Ben Weaver | ||
 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Razer | ||
| Weight | 78.8kg | |
| Dimensions | 1.15 x 0.7 x 0.8m | |
| Speed | 11mph | |
| Turning Circle | 0m | |
| Ground Clearance | 8-90mm | |
| Power | 2 x 12V batteries | |
| Weapons | 9 tonne piercing/crushing arm | |
| Notes | Driven by 2 x 12V golf caddy motors | |
| From: Bournemouth | ||
| Team Members: Simon Scott & Ian Lewis | ||
Veterans[]
 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bodyhammer (seeded 3rd) | ||
| Weight | 77.0kg | |
| Dimensions | 0.8 x 0.8 x 0.65m | |
| Speed | 15mph | |
| Turning Circle | 0m | |
| Ground Clearance | 5mm | |
| Power | 1 x 24V battery | |
| Weapons | 6" circular saw | |
| Notes | Robin and Andrew work in the nuclear power industry | |
| From: Gloucester | ||
| Team Members: Robin Herrick, David Gribble & Andrew Dayton-Lovett | ||
 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Elvis | ||
| Weight | 83.0kg | |
| Dimensions | 1.4 x 1.45 x 0.8m | |
| Speed | 10mph | |
| Turning Circle | 0m | |
| Ground Clearance | 10-140mm | |
| Power | 2 x 12V batteries | |
| Weapons | 50kg lifting flap and 12" diamond disc | |
| Notes | Pneumatically driven wheels and ground clearance (CO2) | |
| From: Enfield in Middlesex | ||
| Team Members: Neil Lamber & John Ebdon | ||
Content[]
Video Diaries[]
Razer[]
Razer crushes an old television set
The first diary from Team Razer began with a compilation of their robot piercing, crumpling and lifting a variety of objects using its hydraulically-powered beak. Among the items Razer was tested against were an old television set, a small tin, a stack of wooden drawers and a pocket calculator. This cut to a diary dated from 9 May 1998, the day in which Ian Lewis and Simon Scott received confirmation that they would be competing in Series 2.
Ian Lewis demonstrates the test rig for an 'electric' bicycle
Lewis gave a brief bio of himself which touched upon his and Scott's experience in building electric-powered machines, including motorised skateboards. A test rig based on an old lawnmower was wheeled out, which was used to propel Lewis and his bicycle up and down a nearby street at a speed of up to 9mph.
The cardboard mock-up for Razer's main chassis
The second set of clips began with Ian Lewis showing a cardboard mock-up of Razer's wedge-shaped chassis, before highlighting the challenges he and Simon Scott faced with bringing its total weight under the 79.4kg (approximately 12 and a half stone) heavyweight limit. Scott was shown sawing and drilling holes into a number of components, the latter directly contributing to the machine's distinctive appearance.
An inside look at Razer's right-hand internals
The third sequence, filmed nine days before the competition began, showed Ian Lewis working on and explaining the stacked speed controller and circuit board arrangement behind Razer's front-right wheel. Smoke was spotted pouring from the machine shortly after, which Lewis reported to Simon Scott via a late evening phone call. The cause was traced to a potentiometer ('pot') controlling Razer's steering and forward/reverse movement, which 'fizzled' when Lewis mistakenly put the full 24V current through it. Needless to say, a test planned for the night was aborted.
Bodyhammer[]
- "The Bodyhammer team refused to let us peek under their armour-plated shell – something to do, they say, with secret components. But from this sneak preview, I think it's all a bluff!"
- — Philippa Forrester
Bodyhammer's internals prior to The First Wars
A decidedly hazardous motor test by Team Cold Fusion
Team Cold Fusion's diary – actually dating back from Bodyhammer's creation for The First Wars[1] - showed an inside look at the robot's base chassis, wheels and internals. This was followed by a highly hazardous motor test, which involved placing the end of a piece of loose electrical wire onto another, to generate a current and forward movement from the motor.
- "Testing the motors for your robot should be a controlled experiment. Do I even need to say "don't try this at home?" The team assured me, though, that it was all safe..."
- — Philippa Forrester's disclaimer over Bodyhammer's motor test
Elvis[]
Four weeks prior to filming, a still-unpainted Elvis had its shell fitted and pneumatic lifter tested. Various clips of the lifter in action were shown, with test loads including bricks, metal blocks, and John Ebdon, whose stance compelled Neil Lambeth to comment that it formed 'an easy way to do press-ups'.
Interviews[]
Anthony Pritchard demonstrates Behemoth's battery hatch
Ian Lewis and Simon Scott of Team Razer revealed their inspiration from watching The First Wars. Meanwhile, Anthony Pritchard explained Behemoth's workings and easy-to-maintain construction, including its pneumatic scoop, aluminium sheeting sourced from fairgrounds and donated 12V wheelchair batteries. Robin Herrick, on the other hand, remained largely secretive about Bodyhammer's design, only revealing its tough steel shell and two-wheel drive system with independent steering.
Gauntlet[]
The segment opened with Glen Collins instructing the competing drivers on the protocol for The Gauntlet. As in Episode 1, emphasis was made on the back wall being the contestants' finish line, though this was again largely ignored in much of the main televised footage. Anthony and Michael Pritchard were both hopeful that Behemoth would clear the breeze block wall on the centre route, while the Milly-Ann Bug team remained nervous about the 'unpredictable' nature of competing as first-time entrants.
Team Orange Peel aimed for a better run that what cemented Elvis' elimination from The First Wars. Following this, they demonstrated the adjustable ground clearance system of the newer Series 2 version, enabling the entire chassis of Elvis to lift at up to five inches off the floor. Highlights of Elvis and Behemoth's runs were shown, the latter successfully completing the course with only its name sign burnt by Sergeant Bash. Elvis, on the other hand, struggled to get beyond the wall of breeze blocks, which Neil Lambeth admitted was down to poor control on his and his team's part. Milly-Ann Bug also endured a difficult run where it was pinned and superficially damaged by Shunt, also suffering from overheating electronics where two components fused together and fell off its circuit board.
Next to be shown in competition were Bodyhammer and Inquisitor. While Inquisitor navigated the right-hand route to complete the course with minimal damage, Bodyhammer's 2mm ground clearance caused it to get stranded on the Ramrig on the same route. Ironically, Andrew Dayton-Lovett revealed beforehand that the Cold Fusion team had avoided the centre route for the same reason.
- "Got the wheels off the ground on the edge of the ramp, and when the wheels are off the ground, you can't go! There's no damage to it at all apart from the few scratches on the paintwork, but... without wheels, don't drive! Simple as that!"
- — Andrew Deyton-Lovett breaks down Bodyhammer's demise in The Gauntlet
Razer is wheeled into the Gauntlet arena
Finally, Razer entered the arena as a 'series favourite', with Simon Scott revealing to the cameraman that his team would employ 'surprise' tactics against the House Robots and go down the right-hand route. This it succeeded in doing despite brushing the Ramrig grinders at one point, completing the course while pushing Shunt back into the end zone. Ian Lewis revealed that Razer briefly encountered interference passing through the Ramrig which caused stability issues, but ultimately managed to regain full control. Towards the end, Simon Scott revealed that good timing allowed him to sink Razer's beak through one of Shunt's wheelguards as it was in the process of pushing the House Robot.
Trial (Football)[]
Lynne Short provides new Kevlar hair for the Rossums Raiders
On the morning of the Football Trial, Geoff Warren was content with the repairs carried out to Milly-Ann Bug, with the team also testing, repainting and giving their machine a new 'hair-do'. Robot Wars make-up artist Lynne Short appeared in a clip where she provided the Rossums Raiders with a fresh batch of Kevlar hair.
- "...can't get hold of the ball, we'll grab hold of a competitor and use them as the ball. Throw them in the goal! That might count!"
- — Simon Scott
The Football goal is put into position
An on-set appearance by Craig Charles
Clips of the Football arena being set up followed, including appearances by Craig Charles preceding his introduction from the main Heat D. Razer's modification – a metal bar mounted near the tip of its beak – was also discussed by its team members, of whom Ian Lewis suspected that Elvis would struggle because of its 'disc shaped' base.
- "No midfield build-up or anything – just straight into the box, and then you go!"
- — Stephen Carsey on Razer's swift qualification
The internal fire damage inflicted to Milly-Ann Bug's front dome
Highlights of the actual Trial ensued, with Razer and Behemoth becoming the first two qualifiers. Milly-Ann Bug's hair was singed by Sergeant Bash and required extinguishing by a firefighter. Next to score was Inquisitor, with Elvis also following suit despite Neil Lamber describing himself as 'useless' with its controls. Milly-Ann Bug was eliminated and the damage inflicted to it assessed. While the rear pod survived with only a sheared pin and a loosened drive chain, the front pod's electronics suffered sufficient fire damage for the entire robot to stop driving in reverse.
Arena Semi Finals[]
- "Nothing wrong with the unit. There's nothing to go wrong, it's too simple, really. They're the ones with the complex unit, so... hopefully we're gonna spill some coffee over their electrics! If you see a bit of smoke, you know what we've been doing!"
- — Keith Millward expresses a touch of humour towards Razer
Before their fight against Inquisitor, Team Razer revealed the crushing force of Razer's weapon in response to a question from Stephen Carsey. The Inquisitor team remained dubious about their machine's survival, with Keith Millward jokingly stating it would be repainted black and that they would employ a strategy involving coffee.
- "If we don't get [a] mechanical breakdown... if it runs, if it keeps going... yeah, we'll flatten 'em! There's absolutely no worries!"
- — Simon Scott unintentionally tempts fate
As expected, Razer pinned Inquisitor against the wall and crumpled its opponent's back end, breaking off the flail in the process. However, it lost drive and was left immobilised while Inquisitor escaped, leaving itself vulnerable to multiple attacks from the House Robots. The Inquisitor team were surprised, but equally relieved to survive with no further damage other than a few other missing electronics.
Upon being informed about Behemoth's draw against Elvis, Michael Pritchard remained confident about the Hemel Hempstead machine's chances while mentioning its opponent's grinding disc as a potential hazard. Behemoth also received a modification to its scoop mechanism, with the pressure regulator being adjusted to increase its strength. Meanwhile, John Ebdon described his team's situation as a 'panic stage', having spent the previous night rebuilding Elvis to try and rectify the steering issue it exhibited up to this point. A replacement cutting disc was also sourced to replace the original which was deemed ineffective.
A charred Elvis returns to The Pits
As Mat Irvine briefed the Elvis team on the PPZ rules, Neil Lamber revealed that he had obtained another transmitter with a different control layout, as well as tighten the robot's drive belts. Both were intended to keep Elvis driving straight, though the idea of having two transmitters control the robot remained untested. In practice, the changes failed to prevent Behemoth from dominating the Semi Final. Elvis was eventually set upon, damaged by the House Robots, and burnt upon being pushed onto the Flame Pit by Matilda. By contrast, Behemoth's only apparent issue was a depleted gas supply, as mentioned by Anthony Pritchard shortly before a partially-charred Elvis was wheeled back into The Pits.
Mat Irvine Segments[]
Mat Irvine with Inquisitor
Mat Irvine discusses Behemoth's design and weaponry
Starting off with Inquisitor, Mat Irvine mentioned its 'standard' electric drive system and rear flail. The flail and accompanying weapon chain were both retrieved from its Semi Final after being jammed under Matilda, to his apparent annoyance. Though ostensibly 'Heath Robinson and Meccano-ish' in appearance, Irvine credited Behemoth's scoop with its victory over Elvis while mentioning its Land Rover influence.
Final[]
- "I'm very confident that we'll fail!"
- — Keith Millward's self-defeating outlook on Inquisitor's Heat Final
Highlights of the Heat Final emphasised Behemoth's dominance over Inquisitor, ramming, lifting and pushing it into the House Robots. Sir Killalot initially ripped Inquisitor's flail off, before he and Dead Metal teamed up to turn it on its back. Keith Millward jokingly expressed that he wanted to see his team's machine fall into the pit - an action shown in the end credits for the main episode - while Team Make Robotics were satisfied to have repeated the same winning strategy they had used against Elvis. Finally, Anthony Pritchard presented to the camera a 'souvenir' shard of Dead Metal's saw, which broke apart as soon as Behemoth backed into it.
References[]
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