Red Horn (Zoid)

The Red Horn (also written as Redhorn) is a type of Zoid, a race of mechanical lifeforms from the fictional "Zoids" universe.Zoids
Zoid_name = Red Horn
ImageName = Redhornmodel.jpg
Caption = "New American Release" Red Horn ref|Saberwyn1
Model_number = EZ-004
Faction = Zenebas/Guylos
Zoid_type = Styracosaurus
Crew = 3
Weight = 94
Length = 20.8
Height = 7.6
Speed = 130 km/h, 65 knots
Weapons = Crasher Horn, Smash-Up Tail, 80 mm Surface-to-Air Double Barrelled Beam Cannon, Anti-Zoid 3-Barrelled Linear Cannon, SSM-Pod, TEZ 20 mm Linear Laser Gun (2), AEZ 20 mm Beam Gun (2), High Pressure concentrated Sulfuric Acid Powder Cannon
Equipment = All-Weather 3D Radar Antenna (4), Composite Sensor Unit, Infra-Red Laser Searcher

Overview

The Red Horn is a Styracosaurus-type Zoid, created by the Zenebas Empire. It was used by both the Zenebas and Guylos empires during the various wars on Zi.

The Red Horn was the first large Zoid to be produced by the Zenebas Empire. It was created to oppose the Gojulas and other large Helic Republic-created Zoids. The Red Horn, while relatively slow compared to later designs, possessed sufficient speed for the era of its creation, and boasted a considerable arsenal of weapons. The Red Horn’s weaponry allows it to bombard enemies from a distance, while its horn allows it to engage them in melee combat.

The Zoid is heavily armoured, and is resistant to the weapons commonly mounted on smaller Zoids. The Red Horn also boasts a considerable sensor array, with a sophisticated radar system mounted in the four “horns” that form its crown. The Zoid is also amphibious and, despite its bulk and seemingly clumsy design, rather adept at operating in rough-terrain and mountain combat conditions.

Battle Story appearances

The Red Horn was the first large Zoid deployed by the Zenebas Empire, first appearing in ZAC 2029. The Zoid was designed in response to the advancements in Zoid technology made by the Helic Republic; it was superior to the Mammoth and Bigasaur and the equal of the Gordos. Only the Gojulas was superior to it, and even then the Red Horn could defeat it by keeping out of range of the larger Zoid's weapons.

A potent machine, the Redhorn was used to spearhead assaults as well as serving as an artillery platform. Its extensive sensory and communications system also made it a premier command unit. Many Zenebas aces gained their early combat experience in the machine, particularly Gambino, the leader of one of the Empires’ elite units. The Red Horn served with the Zenebas Empire right up until its fall in ZAC 2049. The Guylos Empire acquired the design from Zenebas refugees, and modified the design to develop the Dark Horn.

After the Meteor Strike of ZAC 2056, the Guylos Empire lost the ability to create the Dark Horn. To compensate for this loss, they reverse-engineered the Dark Horn design, returning to the Red Horn. The new Red Horn served with the Guylos Empire, and was used to spearhead their landings on the Western Continent in ZAC 2099. Even though the Red Horn was one of the oldest designs in service, it remained effective against its Helic opponents.

To further supplement their capabilities, the Empire developed a new weapon for the Red Horn; the CP-03 Beam Gattling Cannon. Based on the Dark Horn's Hybrid Vulcan but using conventional power sources, the weapon substantially enhanced the Red Horn's firepower and capabilities.

Late in the war, the Republic captured several Red Horns and pressed them into their depleted ranks. These Zoids were nicknamed "Green Horns" because of their colour scheme.

Media appearances

Anime

Chaotic Century and Guardian Force

The Red Horn first appeared in ""; a Red Horn piloted by Rosso was the first large Zoid that Van ever fought. Later in the series, Red Horns frequently appeared as standard Zoids of the Guylos Empire’s armies.

Despite their heavy arsenals and armour, Red Horns proved to be rather incapable against other Zoids, specifically those piloted by the heroes. Often, weaker Zoids would be able to effortlessly dispatch them; a case of the Stormtrooper effect in action. This becomes especially obvious in "".

New Century Zero

Red Horns also appeared in "", usually as miscellaneous Zoids in battles. None were piloted by major characters.

Fuzors

Several Red Horns appeared in "". The most notable was one piloted by Gregor the Impaler, one of the best pilots in the Zi-Fighter Championship. Oddly enough, Gregor’s Zoid (and all other Red Horns in Fuzors) had glowing green, Dark Horn-style powerplants and eyes.

Comics and Manga

UK Zoids Comic

In the UK Zoids comic, Redhorn the Terrible was the leader of the Red Mutant army. Redhorn lead the initial wave of Zoids who invaded Zoidstar, aiming to wipe out the Blue Zoids. Redhorn was responsible for converting Mammoth the Destroyer over to the Red Zoid cause, as well as creating the Terrareds and Tarantulons.

Redhorn’s archenemy was Zoidzilla, however, he also saw Krark as a rival for his rule. Possibly his most dangerous enemy was his own lieutenant, Mammoth. Redhorn was lured by Mammoth into a trap, where he was apparently destroyed by Zoidzilla and Krark. However, unbeknownst to all, his android Mindrider survived. Mammoth used this as an opportunity to take control of the Red Mutant army.

Sometime later, Redhorn found Red Scavenger, who recreated his Zoid out of the wreckage of the old one, making him more powerful than before. In the final issue of the Zoids comic, Redhorn destroyed Mammoth and reclaimed control of the Red Mutant army.

Zoids Web Comic

A Red Horn variant appears in TOMY’s Zoids Web Comic. The Greenhorn is a Republic-operated Zoid.

Models

Original Japanese Release

*Assembly required. (Snap-together, no glue needed. Scissors or X-acto knife recommended for trimming off excess plastic bits.)
*The model's colours are moulded into the plastic, and it does not need any paint.

The Red Horn kit comes on four frames (one of which is a weapons frame also shared with the Death Saurer, Dimetrodon and Sabre Tiger), along with a battery-powered motor, two different semi-transparent canopy covers, sixteen rubber caps, three small chromed pilot and label sheets. The Red Horn is moulded in maroon and black, with silver weapons, and smoke-coloured canopies.

The Red Horn’s construction isn’t overly complex or difficult, putting it roughly in the middle of the range for Zoid complexity. The Red Horn uses a pair of “AA” sized batteries for motion. Once activated, the Zoid walks forwards, its jaws chomping while one of the weapons on the back rotates. One of the other cannons can also be manually rotated and positioned.

Like several other Zoids of the time, the Red Horn could use a number of different optional weapons that were included in the Empire Customise Set. The Red Horn was released in 1983, and was produced up until about 1987.

Original European Release

The Red Horn was released in the UK and Europe in 1985-1987 under the name Redhorn the Terrible. The model is identical to the Japanese version, save for the packaging and English language instructions.

Robostrux

The Red Horn was released in the U.S. as a part of the "Robostrux" line, under the name Brutox. This version had a different colour scheme; the red parts were light blue, the grey was silver, the weapons were chrome silver, and the canopies red. There were no physical changes to the mould itself.

New Japanese Release

The Red Horn was re-released as one of the first wave of Zoids in the 1999 "New Japanese Release". The new Red Horn incorporated several changes from the original version. The red was a darker colour, the canopies were green, and the pilots are now a flat blue colour. The motor was changed to work off a single AA battery with no loss of performance. The battery lid was also modified to have a screw-down cover, rather than the clip-down one of the original.

TOMY also released an upgrade kit for the Red Horn, the CP-03 Beam Gatling Cannon. The cannon mounts on the Red Horn’s back, and is attached via a coiled spring to the motor, causing the cannon’s barrels to spin as the Zoid walks forwards. The CP-03 is copied from a frame included with the original Dark Horn.

The Red Horn has remained in production for the last few years. Within the line, there is a degree of colour variation, with some later production samples being closer in colour to the "Original Japanese Release" version. However, the mould has shown signs of wear, with a number of moulding errors occurring on newer versions.

New American Release

The Red Horn was re-released in North America by Hasbro in 2002. This version of the Red Horn is identical to the "New Japanese Release" version, save for being a slightly lighter shade of red and having different packaging.

Greenhorn

The Greenhorn was released in 2003 in Japan. It differs from the standard Red Horn in its colouration; the red and black parts are different shades of green and the canopies are orange. The Greenhorn is actually a Republic Zoid, and is believed to have been captured and modified by the Helic Republic.

Promotional photos and the associated webcomic originally showed the Greenhorn equipped with the Blade Liger's CP-12 Attack Booster upgrade. This was removed before the model went into production.

Clear Redhorn

The Clear Redhorn (unofficially nicknamed "Crystal" by fans) was only available as part of the Z points promotion in Japan. A total of 50 Z points were required to send off for the Clear Redhorn and only 200 were released. Unlike normal retail Zoids which came in boxes with images of the Zoid on them, the Clear Zoids came in a plain white box with just a label on the front stating what the contents were. The Clear Redhorn is made entirely out of clear plastic, only the motor, pilot and caps are coloured. Due to the brittle nature of the clear plastic, great care had to be taken when assembling the Zoid.

Museum Red Horn

A limited edition version of the Red Horn was released in 2005 as an exclusive to the Ueno Museum's 'Dinosaur Expo 2005'. This version of the Red Horn was primarily bone-white, with dark coffee coloured parts, gunmetal weapons and orange canopies. Additionally, the mould seems to have been repaired to a degree, with some of the parts fit issues on earlier versions corrected.

LB Redhorn

The LB Redhorn was the sixth Zoid in the "Legends Series", a subline of "Neo-Blox". Styled after the various Redhorns that have gone before it, the LB has been redesigned to be equal in size to other Neo-Blox Zoids.

The model comes on five frames along with three Neo-Blox modules, a clear canopy, a frame of connectors also included with several other Neo-Blox, and a chromed silver pilot. The colours are based on those of the "OJR" Redhorn.

Footnotes

# The weapons on this model are taken from a "New Pacific Release" Dark Horn. Red Horn weapons are moulded in the same dark red as the body of the Zoid.