Tiptop

Tiptop is a Decepticon-allied Nebulan Targetmaster from the toyline portion of the Generation 1 continuity family.

Tiptop o' the world, ma!

Tiptop was a renowned strongman with the Traveling Three-Sphere Circus of Nebulos, until his own carelessness led to his downfall. He blamed others for his misfortune, however, and joined the Decepticons to get back at them.

Binary-bonded with Quake, Tiptop became a Targetmaster capable of transforming into a gyroscopic destabilizer that unbalances its targets. Tiptop can't stand Quake's other partner, the smarmy and shiftless Heater.

Toys

The Transformers

• Quake (Targetmaster, 1988)

• Known designers: Takashi Kunihiro (TakaraTomy), Masakatsu Saito (concept artist)

Released in the fifth year of the original Transformers toyline, Tiptop transforms from armored humanoid to a "gyroscopic destabilizer" cannon. In cannon mode, he can also form a "super weapon" by combining with his pack-in partner Heater or any other small Targetmaster gun (or really anything that uses 5 mm posts and holes).

He was only available packed in with the Decepticon Quake and the aforementioned Heater. No version of this mold-set was released in Japan.

• More information on Tiptop (with Quake & Heater) at TFU.info

Legacy

• G1 Universe Quake, G1 Universe Heater, G1 Universe Tiptop (Deluxe Class, 2024)

• TakaraTomy name: Quake & Heater & Tiptop (クエイク&ヒーター&ティップトップ)
• TakaraTomy ID number: TL-82
• TakaraTomy release date: 2025 January 25
• Known designers: Mark Maher (Hasbro), Tomoki Tatsumi (TakaraTomy)^[1]

Included with Legacy: United G1 Universe Quake, "G1 Universe Tiptop" functions just like his original figure, transforming into a blaster for Quake to wield, and can also combine with "G1 Universe Heater" to form a larger blaster. He retains both of the molded "accessories" of his original figure... and the complete lack of articulation of his original figure. The entire figure is coated in purple paint, including the flip-out barrel joint, leaving the figure very susceptible to paint chipping due to the friction between the painted joints. The painted joints also make it incredible easy to pop the barrel off of Tiptop entirely.

Tiptop was revealed by Preternia.com alongside Quake and Heater on June 11, with pre-orders going live the same day.

• Designer commentary on Legacy Tiptop from Mark Maher on Instagram

Notes

• Neither Tiptop nor Heater make an explicit appearance in the Marvel comic, but Quake's tank mode has an extra gun on his toy's Targetmaster hardpoint in US issues #75 and #80. In issue #80 the extra gun looks like a simplified Heater design and his main turret might be Tiptop. Whether or not these are genuine appearances of Quake's Targetmasters is unclear.

Foreign names

• Japanese: Tiptop (ティップトップ Tipputoppu)

References