Episode 5 predictions.
Apollo - New to the heavyweight division, though the team did enter earlier series with featherweight and antweight robots. Looks like a very good flipper (they claim they can throw a 100kg robot 6 feet into the air), seems well armoured, could be a real threat.
Eruption - Despite Apollo's promise, I'm putting my faith in Eruption's tried and tested flipper, which boasts a superior 10 feet flipping power. Twice UK champion at Fighting Robotics Association events. I'm liking the new gripping claw and paint job, as despite the fact Eruption was always fun to watch, it was also quite boring to look at!
Kan-Opener - Claims to have the strongest crushing weapon in this series. A rebuild of the robot that, despite winning two Annihilator specials in Extreme 2 and Series 7, failed to get past round 1 of a main series in any of its three attempts.
PP3D - Built and captained by Gary Cairns, from the same team that previously entered with controversial Series 7 winners Typhoon 2 - so this is the closest thing we have to a Robot Wars reigning champion if you discount the live show awards. The weapon looks great, but the wheels look vulnerable...
Sabretooth - The team's previous two TV appearances didn't end well, but I have to say their new machine looks gorgeous.
Probably the nicest looking robot this series, and featuring some great weapons. Plastic armour though...
Storm 2 - And here's the robot that controversially lost to Typhoon 2 in Series 7. I hope they and PP3D survive their melees so we get to see a grudge match, though whether or not they'll reference stuff from the original run on TV is another thing. In addition to their battering ram speed and power, and the lifter they had in S7, they now have an interchangeable vertical flywheel.
Sweeney Todd - I though this looked quite impressive for an all-new machine from a team completely new to the sport... then I saw the weight. 45kg. Under S7 rules, this would be a middleweight. I wonder how high Apollo will be able to flip what is effectively half a robot?
Terror Turtle -
Usually found topping lists such as 'least effective S7 robot', with 0 wins and 4 losses to its name. The main robot looks unchanged, still sporting part-wood, part-fibreglass, part-aluminium, all fragile armour. They used the extra weight allowance on a weaponless minibot. Cannon fodder.
My prediction to win the heat: Eruption.