Allegiance: Autobots
Function: Aerial Reconnaissance
Sub-group: Powerdasher, Weaponizer
Timeline: Generation 1
Look to the skies, and see me soar!
Profile:
Cromar, nicknamed "Skydasher", is the most attention seeking member of the Powerdasher unit. It's not enough that he's a rare flight-capable Autobot - when he soars past, he wants everyone to look up and say "is it a bird? Is it a plane? It's Cromar!" Part of this comes from Cromar's former occupation as a delivery bot under the Functionist Senate - because the flight class were heavily discriminated against - but part also comes from Cromar wanting to be a big shot like Optimus Prime, Grimlock, Prowl or Ultra Magnus. He's not lacking in skill or ability, but his constant selfish attention seeking means Cromar rarely acts in the interests of the greater good, instead usually focusing on his own selfish pursuits.Powers and Abilities:
Cromar is extremely fast in the air, easily capable of matching Decepticons like Skywarp or Thundercracker in terms of air speed. He is also capable of making incredibly precise movements in midair, making him an invaluable air support unit for the Autobot forces. This flight ability can be shared with other Autobots by way of Cromar's abilities as a Weaponizer.Cromar carries two Ion Pulse Blasters which can disable electrical systems and fuse circuits. These tend to be most effective against automated defence drones; when used on other Cybertronians these weapons stun opponents for a short amount of time and can also induce mode-lock, preventing transformation. Cromar's carries a pair of Gyro Blasters as sidearms which can induce vertigo and disorientation.
Weaknesses:
Cromar's constant attention seeking means few, even his fellow Powerdashers, can stand his company. He is prone to showing off, even in the heat of battle, which can endanger himself and those around him. Additionally Cromar's lightweight frame is not particularly durable, and parts can warp or shear off if Cromar makes a particularly sharp turn in midair.Supersonic jet mode (fan transformation):
VTOL mode (official transformation):
Weaponizer modes:
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Toys of Transformers Generation 1 Cromar
Transformers Generations Selects Cromar
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I love Cromar's head sculpt. Hasbro did a fantastic job on his head which brings the old design to life in a whole new way. Design wise, Cromar reuses the fun Sixgun mold, which is a solid toy and it works well with Cromar's colour layout. The alternate mode doesn't quite fit Cromar's Skydasher routes - but that's what fanmodes are for. Credit to Jesse Wittenrich for coming up with the supersonic jet configuration.
As with Zetar, I see the official and fan configurations representing different times in Cromar's life. In this case the official mode would be his pre-war courier bot roots, while his fan configuration is his wartime configuration where Cromar is starting to push his limits and see just what he can do.
More information on Transformers Generations Selects Cromar at TFW2005