Hoist (G1)


 * Hoist is an Autobot from the Generation 1 continuity family.



If Ratchet is the Autobot's chief surgeon, then Hoist is their family doctor. Everyone reports to Hoist for routine check-ups and maintenance, no exceptions! A jovial, friendly robot, the up-beat Hoist enjoys his job and it shows. He speaks with a cultured British-sounding accent and can usually be found playing "Dr. Watson" to his friend Grapple's troubled artist in his off-hours.


 * Preliminary name: Winch


 * Italian name: Buffalo
 * Hungarian name: Csörlő
 * French-Canadian name: Treuil

Animated continuity

 * Voice actor: Michael Chain (US), Kōki Kataoka (Japan)



During a spot of gosh and bother with some frightfully rambunctious ruffians, Hoist and Warpath were transported backwards in time to medieval England, and they hadn't the foggiest idea of how to return home, or how to take a brief respite for their exhausted energy supplies.

Following that misadventure, Hoist and some of his fellow Autobots chums were cast in a dubiously-written and directed motion picture. Our boy was repeatedly referred to as "Moist". Certainly not fit for viewing by Her Majesty.



He also drove the lorry Huffer once. And he was jolly-well crossed at the ghastly traffic jam. The scene made him seem to be able to shrink into the size of a human.

Marvel Comics continuity
Hoist was one of a group of Autobots who allowed their brainwave patterns to be encoded on crystals and stored aboard the Ark in case more warriors were needed. Despite the fact that the Ark did come under attack during that mission, these warriors were not taken out of storage until after the Ark crash-landed on Earth and spent four million years collecting dust before reawakening in 1984. However, once the Autobots got their act together, Hoist and his crystal-stored friends were reactivated and sent with Bumblebee on a training mission.

''Later, Hoist was sent to Alaska to track the Constructicons. While sneaking up on their base, he fell into an old snow-covered mineshaft, and became wedged in place, requiring rescue. But when Jazz came to his aid, he's shot in the head, and Hoist has to wrangle his brain-damaged teammate to safety while being hunted by the Constructicons.''

When an Underbase-powered Starscream announced that he would "destroy the cities of New York, Tokyo, and Buenos Aires," Hoist was among the allied Autobot/Decepticon teams sent ahead to New York City. As Starscream approached, Goldbug led a team of Autobots which included Hoist, and the entire team was destroyed with a "single wave of Starscream's hand"! Oops.

Generation 1

 * Hoist (Autobot, 1985/2001/2003)
 * Japanese ID number: 46
 * Accessories: Left & right fists, left & right "Radar Panels", "Full Spectrum Multi-Sensor", 2 "Twin Blasters", 2 missiles




 * A retool of 1984's Trailbreaker featuring a new head and an orange towing apparatus to replace Trailbreaker's canopy, Hoist transforms into a green Toyota Hi-Lux pickup. The truck has blue tinted windows and black and yellow caution decals running the length of the body side.  In robot mode Hoist is mostly green with chrome legs and orange trim.  The toy comes equipped with two plug in fists, but Hoist is usually depicted with one hand and one weapon.  The spring-launchers in his forearms were severely neutered for all US releases of the toy.


 * In Mexico, Hoist retained the original Trailbreaker head, but cast in green plastic. Weird.


 * Hoist was re-issued in Japan in 2001 as part of some damn one-day convention deal. He was later re-re-issued in 2003 by Hasbro as part of the Toys 'R' Us exclusive Commemorative Series.

Machine Wars

 * Hoist (Basic, 1997)
 * Accessories: Grill/rifle




 * A mold originally designed for --but never released in-- Generation 2, Machine Wars Hoist is a redeco of Machine Wars Hubcap, transforming into a Kenworth W900 wrecker truck. He is a "flipchanger", meaning most of his transformation sequence is completed after activating one lever (in his case, his towing hook). His rifle is made up of his front grill and bumper.


 * Oddly, Hoist's colours appear to be based upon Trailbreaker's original toy.


 * This mold was also used to make Robots in Disguise Tow-Line and Robot Masters Wrecker Hook.

Universe

 * Hoist (Spy Changer, 2003)


 * Universe Hoist is a redeco of the Robots in Disguise Spychanger version of X-Brawn, transforming into a Mercedes-Benz ML320 SUV. He features through-axle wheels to allow for super-fast rolling on smooth surfaces.


 * Originally a Kay-Bee stores exclusive, the first release of this toy (and the others in the assortment) did not have any sub-line designation at all, but later releases for other chains, most notably "budget" chains like Family Dollar, marked them as Universe product.


 * Hoist (Spy Changer, 2006)
 * Accessories: Rifle


 * This version of Hoist is identical to the last Kay-Bee exclusive redeco of  Robots In Disguise Ironhide, transforming into a translucent blue Ford F150 Flareside pickup truck. He was available only on an individual card from discount chains like The Dollar Store.

Trivia

 * Like all of the other 1984~1985 Autobot "cars", the first Hoist toy was originally from the Japanese Diaclone toyline as a piloted mecha. The "4WD Hi-Lux Wrecker-type" came in two different color schemes: red with black kneecaps and yellow wrecker-rig, or in blue with red kneecaps and yellow rig, which was available in a two-pack with the Diaclone toy that would become Crosscut. Yes, the green-and-orange coloration was made up specifically for Transformers.