Okay, so, using the info from the original Nebula California text... Going through the characters featured in Season 1 of the original G1 Transformers cartoon... Cross-referencing with specs given and/or implied.... And combing through Iron Wind Metals' BattleTech minis (both standard and online exclusives), I've come up with this:
[b]Syberian Faction Chassis Class/Type BattleMech Vehicle[/b]
Primus Optimal AutoBoP Leader (Wheeled/100) Grand Titan HQ Vehicle
Beetle Bee AutoBoP Beetle (Wheeled/35) Commando Rotunda
Wheeler Jack AutoBoP Jack (Wheeled/50?) Shadow Hawk? Rotunda
Jazzy (Streaker) AutoBoP Streaker (Wheeled/55?) Griffin Rotunda
Blue Streaker AutoBoP Streaker (Wheeled/55?) Griffin Rotunda
(Vee-)Brawny AutoBoP VeeMech (Wheeled/60) Wolverine Striker
Beetle Jumper AutoBoP Beetle (Wheeled/35) Commando Rotunda
Beetle Gear AutoBoP Beetle (Wheeled/35) Commando Light SRM
(Vee-)Hounder AutoBoP VeeMech (Wheeled/60) Wolverine Ibex Armored
Huffa Minor AutoBoP Leader (Wheeled/100) Grand Titan Thor SPHA
Ferro-Vee AutoBoP VeeMech (Wheeled/60) Wolverine MASH Vehicle
Sensor Ghost AutoBoP Ghost (Wheeled/40?) Assassin? Zephyros
Prowler (Streaker) AutoBoP Streaker (Wheeled/55?) Griffin Rotunda
(Vee-)Wrenchit AutoBoP VeeMech (Wheeled/60) Wolverine MASH Vehicle
Swiper Jack AutoBoP Jack (Wheeled/50?) Shadow Hawk? Rotunda
Sunny Streak(er) AutoBoP Streaker (Wheeled/55?) Griffin Rotunda
(Vee-)Trailer AutoBoP VeeMech (Wheeled/60) Wolverine Striker
Beetle Charger AutoBoP Beetle (Wheeled/35) Commando Light SRM
Hauler Crane AutoBoP Crane (Wheeled/75?) Grasshopper JI-100
Aero Fire AutoBoP* Seeker II (Aero/55?) Crusader Rusalka
Grimdark DynaBoG Grimdark (Bestial/100) Shiro White Flame
Grim-Slagger DynaBoG Grimdark (Bestial/100) Shiro Trebaruna
Grim-Slugger DynaBoG Grimdark (Bestial/100) Shiro Balius
Grim-Snarler DynaBoG Grimdark (Bestial/100) Shiro Trebaruna
Swooper DynaBoG Swooper (Aero/50?) Stinger LAM (Mk I) Stinger LAM (Mk I)
MechaTankus DemoCon Tankus (Tracked/100) Shootist Ajax
Shocker Tankus DemoCon Tankus (Tracked/100) Highlander Rommel
Star Seeker DemoCon Seeker (Aero/50) Phoenix Hawk MechBuster
Wave Sounder DemoCon Sounder (Wheeled/60) Prim. Thunderbolt Packrat LRPV
-Red Frenzy Drone DemoCon Grunt Drone (BA/2) Golem BA --
-Laserwing Drone DemoCon Flight Drone (Aero/1.5?) Aeshna (Micro) --
-Ravager Drone DemoCon Quad Drone (BA/1) Rottweiler BA --
-Blue Rumbler Drone DemoCon Grunt Drone (BA/2) Golem BA --
Sky Seeker DemoCon Seeker (Aero/50) Phoenix Hawk MechBuster
Thunder Seeker DemoCon Seeker (Aero/50) Phoenix Hawk MechBuster
Acid Seeker DemoCon Seeker (Aero/50) Phoenix Hawk MechBuster
Ion Seeker DemoCon Seeker (Aero/50) Phoenix Hawk MechBuster
Nova Seeker DemoCon Seeker (Aero/50) Phoenix Hawk MechBuster
Bit Seeker DemoCon Seeker (Aero/50) Phoenix Hawk MechBuster
Heat Seeker DemoCon Seeker (Aero/50) Phoenix Hawk MechBuster
Cell Seeker DemoCon Seeker (Aero/50) Phoenix Hawk MechBuster
Sun Seeker DemoCon Seeker (Aero/50) Phoenix Hawk MechBuster
Deflector (Triad) DemoCon Triad (Emplacement/20) Hankyu Oro Turret
Scrapper-D DemoCon Dozer (Wheeled/40?) Apollo Turhan
Crusher-D DemoCon Grinder (Tracked/45?) Beowulf Mithras
Hooker-D DemoCon Lifter (Wheeled/75?) Grasshopper JI-100
Hauler-D DemoCon Dozer (Wheeled/40?) Apollo Indra
Mixer-D DemoCon Dozer (Wheeled/40?) Apollo Coolant Truck
Salvager-D DemoCon Grinder (Tracked/45?) Beowulf Zorya
Scrap Sector InterSectCon Sector (Bestial/60?) Quickdraw Stalking Spider
Bomb Sector InterSectCon Sector (Bestial/60?) Quickdraw Fire Scorpion
Kick Hopper InterSectCon Hopper (Bestial/40?) Spider Tarantula
*Reprogrammed from DemoCon
Some commentary:
* I came to realize at one point that not all 'Mech or vehicle modes would need to visually match, even though the rules recommended it. In some cases, after all, certain Transformers who were fundamentally similar in types (Megatron and Shockwave, for example) demanded the same features, but ended up with different looks in the end. It thus could be argued that they were actually variants of each other, if only in a cosmetic sense.
* Speaking of Megs and Shockwave, here they are tank Transformers. Even though their original G1 bodies both converted into guns, both have since received tank mode versions that aimed at giving their G1 bodies some agency of their own in alt modes. Same goes for how Soundwave got a wheeled vehicle mode despite originally being a tape deck.
* I am introducing battle armor drones here to cover the "tapes." They do not transform. I was not about to devise a set of transformation rules for BA-sized drones when they already have too many space/mass challenges to deal with. Just imagine they make the transformation sound as they deploy from their host and you still get most of the G1 feel anyway.
* As indicated by the question marks, I'm not as positive on some mini and tonnage recommendations, but I decided to fill in something just the same.
* In a few cases, I am basically retconning what was said in the CalNeb fluff when it comes to names and model types, which can be chalked up to IE not being as accurate as they could have been when simplifying their findings into a few blurbs. Examples include how some AutoMechs integrate their chassis types into their names, and others don't.
* Kitbashing to make the minis more G1-accurate is practically a must here, for obvious reasons. I went with forms that I felt were thematically similar in style and function, but we are still mapping one franchise over another in ways they were never meant to mix.
Conclusions:
* Leaving variants aside for the moment, we need the following all-new base chassis types:
>> Jack - A medium-weight Wheeled AutoMech likely derived from the Shadow Hawk ('Mech)/Rotunda (Vee). Perhaps 50 tons in mass. Covers the AutoMech versions of "Wheeljack" and "Sideswipe."
>> Streaker - A medium-weight Wheeled AutoMech likely derived from the Griffin ('Mech)/Rotunda (Vee). Perhaps 55 tons in mass. Covers the AutoMech versions of "Jazz," "Bluestreak," "Prowl," and "Sunstreaker."
>> VeeMech - Assumed to be a Wheeled AutoMech equal to the Ender class used by the DemoCons, so assumed to have a 60-ton mass, but likely derived from a different chassis--in this case, the Wolverine ('Mech)/Striker or MASH (Vee). Striker variants cover AutoMechs versions of "Brawn," and "Trailbreaker," while MASH variants cover AutoMech versions of "Ironhide," and "Ratchet." Still another vehicle form variant--this one derived from the armored Ibex--covers AutoMech version of "Hound."
>> Ghost - A unique Wheeled AutoMech likely derived from the Assassin ('Mech)/Zephyros or Swift Wind (Vee). Perhaps 40 tons in mass. Covers the AutoMech answer to "Mirage." (Assassin 'Mech form based on opinions voiced in this thread.)
>> Lifter - A rare Wheeled AutoMech likely derived from the Grasshopper ('Mech)/JI-100 Recovery Vehicle (Vee). Perhaps 75 tons in mass. Covers the AutoMech answer to "Hauler" (an Autobot seen only in the pilot series, who never transformed, but possibly morphed later on into "Grapple" of later seasons), and "Hook" (one of the Constructicons).
>> Seeker II - A unique Aerofighter AutoMech likely derived from the Crusader ('Mech)/Rusalka (Fighter). A 55-ton Seeker variant. Covers the AutoMech version of "Jetfire," who is basically a bigger Seeker (and whose original toy--an corresponding mini--were the up-armored form of the same Veritech the original P-Hawk was based on).
>> Swooper - A unique Aerofighter AutoMech derived from the Mark I form of the Stinger LAM ('Mech and Fighter forms). Likely 50 tons, as it is basically a DynaBoG ("Dinobot") version of the Seeker, and covers "Swoop."
>> Grunt Drone - humanoid battle armor-sized robotic drone, visually closest to the Golem in shape and size. Covers the "Rumble" and "Frenzy" cassette deployers. Likely 2 tons as well.
>> Flight Drone - Micro-Fighter robotic drone, visually closest to the Aeshna fighter (use the Micro-scale mini, of course). Covers "Laserbeak" cassette deployer. Likely 1.5-2 tons. No more than 3. Bust out the ultra-light Support Vehicle rules to make that one!
>> Quad Drone - quad battle armor-sized robotic drone, visually closest to the Rottweiler in shape and size. Covers "Ravage," and likely 1 ton.
>> Triad - Rare emplacement-type AutoMech, typically deployed in groups of 3, visually closest to the turret of an Oro heavy tank. Probably 20 tons in mass, and represents the three Decepticons who comprised "Reflector" (called "Refractor" these days, as I understand it).
>> Dozer - A Wheeled AutoMech type used as part of a special team of DemoCons collectively known as Contructors, visually most similar to the Apollo ('Mech), but with vehicle forms that vary individually by function (Turhan, Indra, and Coolant Truck in this case). Likely 40 tons in mass apiece, they respectively cover the Constructicons "Scrapper," "Long Haul," and "Mixmaster."
>> Grinder - A tracked AutoMech type that, with the aforementioned Dozers and a Lifter named "Hooker-D," rounds out the DemoCon Constructors. Visually similar to the Beowulf (a beefed-up Mongoose 'Mech, if you will), with vehicle forms akin to the Mithras and the Zorya light tanks. Likely 45 tons. Covers the Constructicons "Bonecrusher," and "Scavenger," respectively.
>> Sector - The most common chassis type among the InterSect Confederacy (allies of the DemoCons), these are Bestial AutoMechs derived from the Quickdraw ('Mech), with quad modes resembling the Stalking Spider and/or the Fire Scorpon. Coming in around 60 tons, they cover the Insecticons "Sharpnel" and "Bombshell"...or whatever they're being called these days.
>> Hopper - The next most common chassis among the ISC is another Bestial AutoMech derived from the Spider ('Mech), which fittingly resembles the Tarantula 'Mech in Quad mode. This 40-ish tonner covers the Insecticon "Kickback."
* Worth noting, perhaps, is that the DynaBoG and InterSect Confederacy are lower-tech than their corresponding allies, and thus should probably be using IndustrialMech components, like Grimdark does.
I'm getting the shakes now, so I'll call it a day here and leave this rambling post for you guys to discuss.
- Herb