Turbomasters

Turbomasters were an Australian, Canadian, and European exclusive range of Transformers toys, released in 1992 as part of their final year of products for the original franchise. A subgroup of the Autobots, there were six Turbomasters: Thunder Clash, Rotorstorm, Boss, Hurricane, Flash, and Scorch. They all had the gimmick of missile launchers which became their engines or turbines when in vehicle mode. Their rivals were the Decepticon Predators. A seventh Turbomaster called Hyperdrive was designed but never released.
Members
Thunder Clash - Function: Commander-in-chief. Thunder Clash is the leader of the Turbomasters and commands the respect of the Autobots, and the loathing of the Predators. He possesses a sharp and keen strategic mind, able to counter the abilities the Predators possess. The only airborne member of the Turbomasters, Rotorstorm transforms into a helicopter. Possesses a "dodge" ability that allows him to guide his grounded comrades. After Thunder Clash, Boss is the sub-commander of the Turbomasters. Overcautious and a bit hyperactive, Boss leads with courage and cunning, possessing a combat strategy that allows him to outsmart the most cunning of Decepticons. He can reach a top speed of over 245 mph and is armed with a powerful hand-held defender rifle. A brilliant analyst, he focuses on defense, planning to the smallest details. He transforms into a white "Le Mans" style racecar. Hurricane was sold as Checker Road as part of the Japanese Operation Combination toyline. Flash is the fastest and most ambitious of the Turbomasters, who despite his dare-devil antics he usually gets the job done. Flash was sold as Spin Road as part of the Japanese Operation Combination toyline. Scorch enjoys teamwork and is one of the Autobots most loyal soldiers, forms the rearguard for the Turbomasters. He was called "Turbomaster" for his Botcon 2010 toy. Scorch was sold as Fire Road as part of the Japanese Operation Combination toyline. The small size of the missiles also presented problems, and any uses of the toy molds in the US have seen them altered so that the launchers where either neutered or made to fire larger missiles.
The Turbomasters all have design similarities. The four smaller Turbomasters—Boss, Scorch, Flash and Hurricane—all had silver faces and came with three yellow missiles alongside their missile launcher. and was planned to be used for Transformers: Universe Menasor before being cancelled.
* Rotorstorm was reused for Machine Wars Sandstorm and for Transformers: Universe Whirl.<ref name="Rotorstorm"/>
A seventh Turbomaster named Hyperdrive was intended for release in 1992, however it never progressed beyond the conceptual stage. It is theorised that it may have been a prototype for Thunder Clash, or that it was cancelled due to either costs or the similarity between the prototype design and that of Thunder Clash.<ref name="Obscure"/> Hyperdrive was described as the "pinnacle" of the 1992 Transformer releases and may have been considerably large compared to the rest of the line.<ref name="Obscure"/>
Japan
While the Turbomaster molds were released in Japan, their names and personalities were changed. As part of Operation Combination, the last of the Japanese series of the original Transformers continuity, the four smaller Turbomasters—Boss, Hurricane, Flash, and Scorch—who were renamed Mach Road, Checker Road, Spin Road, and Fire Road—formed the Autobot elite "Road Corps", who each had a personal rival in the Decepticon's "Jet Corps" (based upon the Turbomasters' rivals the Predators).
The two larger Turbomasters toys—Thunder Clash and Rotorstorm—did not feature in Operation Combination, the European versions were imported and sold with Japanese language stickers placed on them.<ref name="Obscure"/>

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