The Energon Pub

A friend of mine sent me some info on Encore Ratchet and Ironhide, and promised me a substantial discount. Happily I clicked on the pics he sent me... and remember in a heart beat why I never ever bought Ratchet and Ironhide.

First to refresh your memories, this is what they look like:

Here's Ironhide...



And here's Ratchet...


Now, I ask myself, WTF is it? It looks like nothing! Granted we knew that both of them in alt mode being mostly hollow would make the toys damned difficult to pull off, but what we got was a bot mode that looked like absolute rubbish. Even when I was 10 years old I knew it was crapola and passed even though I loved the cartoon characters.

They obviously didn't want to fill up the storage compartment with robot parts, but to come up with this is no compromise.

However...!

Knowing what I know now about the idiocy of some people who take the promo photos wrong, tell me this: are the bot modes simply mistransformed, in which case can someone post a pic of the correct look? Or are they truly as rubbish as they look like in the above pics?

Yes, they're crap toys. Get yourself an Energon Towline if you want a modern (and actually good) homage. The Botcon Ratchet and Ironhide remolds/repaints of Towline are even better.

We all know what they look like. And they aren't mistransformed. There's no head for them unlike the cartoon. You have to remember that they were using molds that were from another toyline.

As for an encore Ratchet and Ironhide, I'd really have your "friend" check his sources. There's been nothing regarding further encores outside the four already released.

Roadbuster wrote:We all know what they look like. And they aren't mistransformed. There's no head for them unlike the cartoon. You have to remember that they were using molds that were from another toyline.

As for an encore Ratchet and Ironhide, I'd really have your "friend" check his sources. There's been nothing regarding further encores outside the four already released.

What are you talking about? The encore rachet and ironhide can be found already at BBTS.

Roadbuster wrote:We all know what they look like. And they aren't mistransformed. There's no head for them unlike the cartoon. You have to remember that they were using molds that were from another toyline.

As for an encore Ratchet and Ironhide, I'd really have your "friend" check his sources. There's been nothing regarding further encores outside the four already released.

Actually, please click the link below Roadbuster.

http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/menu.aspx?menu=1357

And, well, Ironhide and Ratchet are not for everyone. However, there was a sticker that went on them to represent a face, if that is any consolation. But they are more than a toy. They represent an era. They are one of the first of the first TFs ever. IMO, for that reason alone, these are a must have and I will be more than happy to add these to my collection. Also, the robot modes may not look like the cartoon, however, the alt modes are perfect. We do also need to remember that these came before the cartoon, so there was no Ironhide or Ratchet in existance at the time of their design to adhere to.

Lol they look crap.

Ratchet was one of the first TF I ever owned back in 1984.

The Reprolabel upgrade stickers help immensely, here's mine:


They're not for everyone but I like them.

Raymond101 wrote:Lol they look crap.

But...but...ah forget it. They're cool in my book. Thats all that matters.

However, I think one day you will come to regret having typed these words and not bought these at this great price.

Raymond101 wrote:Lol they look crap.

Well said Ray lol

iron maniac wrote:Ratchet was one of the first TF I ever owned back in 1984.

The Reprolabel upgrade stickers help immensely, here's mine:


They're not for everyone but I like them.

You know what would be cooler than that cool looking label? A custom head.

Bonger wrote:

Raymond101 wrote:Lol they look crap.

But...but...ah forget it. They're cool in my book. Thats all that matters.

However, I think one day you will come to regret having typed these words and not bought these at this great price.

Seriously - the only regret I have with this hobby is not starting it when the Cybertron line was around.

No offence but I'd throw these toys in the bin if I had them. Either that or I'd give them to you.

Toyotus Superion wrote:You know what would be cooler than that cool looking label? A custom head.

I actually saw a pic of someone's kitbash that did just that. The head popped up somehow above the window to look like the cartoon version. Looked pretty decent to me. Anyone else remember it? I can't seem to find the pics now.

Raymond101 wrote:

Bonger wrote:

Raymond101 wrote:Lol they look crap.

But...but...ah forget it. They're cool in my book. Thats all that matters.

However, I think one day you will come to regret having typed these words and not bought these at this great price.

Seriously - the only regret I have with this hobby is not starting it when the Cybertron line was around.

No offence but I'd throw these toys in the bin if I had them. Either that or I'd give them to you.

Well, since I almost completely skipped everything from the 90's till the reissues, classics, alts, etc of recent years, I think we would work well together.

That is, if I ever find anything over here other than darn movie toys.

Bonger wrote:

Raymond101 wrote:

Bonger wrote:

Raymond101 wrote:Lol they look crap.

But...but...ah forget it. They're cool in my book. Thats all that matters.

However, I think one day you will come to regret having typed these words and not bought these at this great price.

Seriously - the only regret I have with this hobby is not starting it when the Cybertron line was around.

No offence but I'd throw these toys in the bin if I had them. Either that or I'd give them to you.

Well, since I almost completely skipped everything from the 90's till the reissues, classics, alts, etc of recent years, I think we would work well together.

You skipped all that!? By choice or because you werent collecting them anymore? Thats horrible either way. Classics and Alts are some of the most incredible TF.

Yeah they do suck big time. If only the encore series of toys would fix some of flaws in certain figure like ironhide/rachet that would be cool.

Toyotus Superion wrote:

Bonger wrote:

Raymond101 wrote:

Bonger wrote:

Raymond101 wrote:Lol they look crap.

But...but...ah forget it. They're cool in my book. Thats all that matters.

However, I think one day you will come to regret having typed these words and not bought these at this great price.

Seriously - the only regret I have with this hobby is not starting it when the Cybertron line was around.

No offence but I'd throw these toys in the bin if I had them. Either that or I'd give them to you.

Well, since I almost completely skipped everything from the 90's till the reissues, classics, alts, etc of recent years, I think we would work well together.

You skipped all that!? By choice or because you werent collecting them anymore? Thats horrible either way. Classics and Alts are some of the most incredible TF.

I think you misread my post. I skipped everything from G2 until the alts, Classics, etc. Basically I skipped Beast Wars, and most of the Unicron Trilogy. And it was by choice. I was still buying amything G1 related I could get my grubby paws on.

shortround wrote:Yeah they do suck big time. If only the encore series of toys would fix some of flaws in certain figure like ironhide/rachet that would be cool.

Yeah. The TFC line would probably have thrown in a real head to put over the stickered "seat"

Bonger wrote:
However, there was a sticker that went on them to represent a face, if that is any consolation. But they are more than a toy.

Hahaha you're pulling my leg right?

iron maniac wrote:Ratchet was one of the first TF I ever owned back in 1984.

The Reprolabel upgrade stickers help immensely, here's mine:


They're not for everyone but I like them.

Oops.. apparently not! Hilarious! I think I might buy one after all, and I'm not joking

Patrick Bateman wrote:

shortround wrote:Yeah they do suck big time. If only the encore series of toys would fix some of flaws in certain figure like ironhide/rachet that would be cool.

Yeah. The TFC line would probably have thrown in a real head to put over the stickered "seat"

Mmm, I dont know about that. That really would not be in the spirit of the Encore line. If you're gonna throw in a real head, might as well redesign the whole thing and release it in the Universe line.

I'm glad they are doing these as the first tiem around, these were limited ehobby reissues that have become very hard to find.

The G1 fandom really wins bigtime on these 2.

BTW, anyone remember how much the TRU Reissue Magnus retailed for?

shortround wrote:Yeah they do suck big time. If only the encore series of toys would fix some of flaws in certain figure like ironhide/rachet that would be cool.

Hmmm... well I guess the point of the encore is, like some other posters have said, to recreate an era. The only problem is if i buy one that I like I might be tempted to buy more... that I can't afford! I was just looking at encore Ultra Magnus this evening. I guess that I have been spoilt by the toy line of more modern times. Looking at UM's transformation and how ill proportioned he is with the battle armour on, I really just can't justfiy spending the cash. I'd also forgotten how small Soundwave really was. Just can't bring myself to spend SGD$40 on him.

I love the vintage look and the battle platform.

iron maniac wrote:Ratchet was one of the first TF I ever owned back in 1984.

They're not for everyone but I like them.

Damn that is a vast improvement. Much better than that moustached sticker it came with. Made me laugh when I saw that as a kid. The original box art on the G1 boxes were also odd since it showed the actual toy and not the show character. Was this done on other G1 toys with their box art? Just Ironhide and Ratchet come to mind.

it was what the toy looked like ive never seen 1 with the cartoon look rlly