Tombstone/HEXBUG

As part of a range that was released in 2016 by HEXBUG,Tombstone is one of multiple robots in the RC Series and features a working weapon separate from the drive motors. The toy is easily identifiable as Tombstone as it has Tombstone's design and first spinning bar used in the tournament, but the spinning bar is red instead of silver, probably to avoid mistaking the toy's weapon for a real weapon. When the toy is activated or turned off, its drive wheels move back-and-forth briefly. Much like the previous BattleBots toys, Tombstone has panels that come off to represent damage, namely two rear panels held on with magnets and a top piece resting over the electronics. The included palm-sized remote allows the toy to be controlled with 1 of 4 possible channels. If you buy the toys separate from one another, or from the HEXBUG website, each one comes with their own special sticker that references the robot being replicated as a toy. If the toy is not in use for roughly 30 seconds to a minute, the toy shuts off automatically.

The prototype without its removable panels.

The prototype sealed in its mock packaging.

The finished toy.

A sticker included with the finished toy when ordered from the HEXBUG website.

Changes from the Prototype

When the toy was released, it had multiple differences compared to the original prototype.

1. The wheel that connected the pully to the weapon was changed from a bowl shape on the prototype to a more disc shape.

2. The back of the toy had translucent removable rear panels but the actual toy's removable panels are not translucent at all.

3. The red light inside the prototype toy was removed for the final release.

4. The blade on the prototype was orange but was changed to red for release.

5. The remote control that came with the prototype was orange and blueish but was changed to be gray for the final release of the toy.

6. The speed of the blade on the prototype is a bit slower than the speed on the blade for the final product.

Problems

1. Owners of the toy have found possible problems with the toy such as the toy not working or the magnetic rear pieces coming off on impacts that don't involve them.

• A solution may be to grind down the stubs of plastic embedded in the magents for the rear panels to make them flush with the magnets.

2. The nut that helps hold the blade into place can come off and become lost, which can cause the axle to come out and thus take the blade off, though this can be used for additional "damage" in matches.

• A dab of Loctite on the nut can prevent this if it becomes a hassle.

3. One or both rear panels can be knocked out of position in such a way that the toy's wheels do not touch the ground.

4. Be careful when driving the toy over a floor that transitions to carpet as the toy can get stuck over the edge separating the two surfaces.

• Taping over the edge where the two surfaces meet can reduce or elimiate this problem.

5. The top panel of the toy isn't held by anything and can easily come off on impact.

• While this intended to occur with the toy, if the piece is resting on the top of the toy, turning the toy in the opposite direction that the panel is facing can help put the piece back into place without the need to pause the match.

Tips for Use

1. Since the toy has no way to result in a KO, one way to rectify this is to remove the battery cover underneath the toy. This allows the batteries to fall out, giving the feel that the toy has been KO'd.

2. If the first tip seems too unconventional or you don't want to lose the batteries, you can make the fight last longer by adding a rule that disables the part if it is hit with the opposing toy's weapon (a wheel for example). However, since the wheels turn simultaneously, both wheels will have to be hit for this rule to knock the toy out.