XPost: alt.toys.transformers   
   From: thorne@underbase.org   
      
   (Trimmed: rec.toys.action-figures,   
   rec.arts.sf.starwars.collecting.misc)   
      
   On Sun, 10 Jun 2007, "maxmike!!"  wrote:   
   >Just for fun...an explanation of the Star Wars Transformers toys   
   >The History of the Transformable Starfighter in the Star Wars Universe   
   >[...]   
      
   As a big SF-tech fan, I'm very impressed with this rationalization of   
   the tech's development across 20 years, and why it was never actually   
   seen in the movies.   
      
   However, extending the explanation to the _Millenium Falcon_ is a bit   
   strained.  I can imagine Luke adapting an X-Wing and snowspeeder on   
   his own, between missions, but something as big as a light freighter?   
      
   "Okay, Han, first we chop the hull into pieces.  Then we line the   
   edges with clamps and atmospheric forcefields.  Then we add waveguides   
   for the RCF."   
      
   "Kid, I'm still hyperventilating at 'chop the hull into pieces.'"   
      
   I notice that you don't attempt to explain the transformable Death   
   Star.  Although it *would* fit with the so-called Tarkin Doctrine that   
   justified the DS in the first place -- Behold, unruly populace!   
   Behold the hideously gigantic dark-masked humanoid figure in low   
   orbit!   
      
   >The critical component of the AT-TF program was the development of the   
   >repulsorlift coordination field (RCF)-a droid-controlled web of repulsor   
   >beams capable of disassembling the components of a standard Republic   
   >starfighter and reassembling it into a fully functional mobile ground   
   >platform   
      
   Which neatly removes the need for all manner of hinges and other   
   transformation mechanics.  But not the need for specialized "muscles"   
   in the robot mode -- although the RCF could be extended to that   
   purpose, as a sort of marionette system.   
      
   >(this is one reason why so-called "transformables" always have   
   >outsized R2-styled droid units).   
      
   And the ones that don't have visible astromechs... well, they're   
   internal, obviously. :)   
      
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