The Energon Pub

News Credits: 1 · by **Hobbitjedi** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 2:45 am

My Encore Ratchets, yes plural, arrived today. Big deal for me as Ratchet was my first Transformer and I missed out on the last reissue. Anyway, I thought I'd show some pics of him with the cardboard head attached for those wondering what is looks like and how it compares to the Reprolabels sticker. I do like it, though I wonder about its longevity, even as a display piece.

: Ratchet with his cardboard head.; EncoreRatchet1.jpg (139.34 KiB) Viewed 2602 times

: Ratchet with Revoltech Prime for size comparison. Placement of the head makes the arms look too low on the body. Then again, the seat where the face sticker goes is too low for the windshield.; EncoreRatchet2.jpg (139.44 KiB) Viewed 2600 times

: You can see how the cardboard head sits between the red "seat" where the face sticker is normally placed and the black plastic of the frame that connects the arms to the body.; EncoreRatchet3.jpg (148.64 KiB) Viewed 2583 times

: The head is removed from the bottom flap on the right side of the box as you face the front.; EncoreRatchet4.jpg (65.21 KiB) Viewed 2573 times

News Credits: 7 · by **shortround** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 3:06 am

Hum not sure about it but it is cool to see what it looks like thanks hobbitjedi

by **Auto Bot** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 3:27 am

Aha! I finally see this cardboard head version.

Nice one. Although it makes the arms look really low.

I think it's possible to produce a head sculp instead. And plug it into the seats the same way.

Why not, Hasbro?

News Credits: 668 · by **Autobot032** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 3:34 am

My goodness, that's one stupid looking idea. Takara couldn't have ponied up for a fold down plastic head that would fit in the seat for vehicle mode?

Geez.

News Credits: 10 · by **Lapse Of Reason** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 3:54 am

Thanks for the pic. I agree that a plastic head piece would have been so much better, and worth me buying the figure since I already have a nice G1 Ratchet.

News Credits: 3 · by **FracturedKoi** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 4:02 am

I've been wondering, and perhaps you can answer me, does the Encore version come with all the classic stickers, including the original one for his "head"?

News Credits: 2 · by **Frostic_Prime** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 6:10 am

Wow, first off I've always hated this mold since my brother had it in the 80's. It always looked like it as half way through transformation, or was meant to be an armor for someone to combine into. (sorry to biatch) Lastlt...okay I understand that Takara/Tomy/Hasballs or w.e is trying to make an effort, but come on-sideways it looks like a hologram! What the balls?

Sorry, good thing about it: the cardboard picture is quite accurate.

by **olokin** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 6:47 am

I was curious how the reissue Ratchet would look like. NOw that I have seen it, it only made glaring the fact how badly Ratchet/Ironhide need new modern molds.

News Credits: 2 · by **Frostic_Prime** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 6:51 am

Sorry but I just checked it out again and...

WHAT IN THE BLUE BALLS IS THAT PIECE OF BUTT?

News Credits: 5 · by **REMINATOR** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 11:02 am

In a way I like it even though it's only a cardboard. Now that I owned one, it didn't really look as horrible like I used to think back in the 80s.

As for the sticker comment, yes it does come with the original sticker (including the original face sticker).

I'm debating where to put Ironhide last autobot insignia sticker. Usually this last sticker is reserved on the back of his van, but now it's taken by autobot rubsign. Hm, to put or not put.

by **Auto Bot** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 12:15 pm

Ratchet looks more and more like a pile of tiny boxes stacked up on each other.

A new mold is a must for this brave warrior.

News Credits: 8 · by **Liege Evilmus** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 12:41 pm

A littlle retooling and these figures could be real awesome. Raise the arms give a real head...

I know it'll never happen though, and if it did then we'd all complain about why they changed the origional mold.

Still that head is a fairly decent stand in piece.

by **Auto Bot** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 1:09 pm

Liege Evilmus wrote:A littlle retooling and these figures could be real awesome. Raise the arms give a real head...

I know it'll never happen though, and if it did then we'd all complain about why they changed the origional mold.

Still that head is a fairly decent stand in piece.

This is a job for... Kitbasher Man!

Anyone up to the task? ;;)

by **SpacerAM2** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 1:54 pm

I never had either Ratchet or Ironhide but the robot mode plain stinks. All I like from it is the armed sled and the altmode. A plastic remold head in front of the chair would of been an improvement. Well they both need serious improvement anyway. Don't know if I should wait. I'm reluctant paying 30 bucks for each then shipping. I wish Hasbro releases them here. But with Hasbro it is less likely. But they did release Soundwave last year. Took them over three years after Takaras release. :???:

by **SpacerAM2** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 3:19 pm

How can I load up pics? I was more confortable with the older features. Can't see it on any of the upper buttons anywhere. :???:

by **thedistinctroom** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 4:24 pm

Wow thanks for those pictures! It's interesting to see just how all that cardboard gets placed in there. I think if I get an Encore Ratchet or Ironhide, I will leave the faces on the box.

by **Foallen** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 5:25 pm

It actually looks ok for just a cardboard cut out. Better than I might have expected.

Nice as a preview for me. I'm intending to pick up Ironhide and Ratchet tomorrow if I can find them... That will complete Transformers 84-86 for me, minus a couple mail-ins.

News Credits: 1 · by **Hobbitjedi** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 8:03 pm

Another item of note is that the red line running around Ratchet in van mode and the white on his hands are painted on this time around instead of being stickers as they were on the original.

I never minded Ratchet's look as a kid. He was a different looking kind of bot to be sure, but the play value was enhanced with the attack platform that I usually thought of as a repair bay area. Still, it would be interesting to see a sculpted head setup to sit in the seat. The cardboard head certainly isn't going to convince anyone on the fence about this figure.

As for the question about posting pictures in the new forums, it's under the Save, Preview, Submit buttons on the Upload Attachment tab.

: Botcon Ratchet was certainly a nice update for the figure. Here's hoping the Universe line allows Ratchet and Ironhide both a great sculpt and a release of these characters for the masses to enjoy.; EncoreRatchet5.jpg (118 KiB) Viewed 1439 times

News Credits: 5 · by **REMINATOR** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 8:22 pm

Hobbitjedi wrote:Another item of note is that the red line running around Ratchet in van mode and the white on his hands are painted on this time around instead of being stickers as they were on the original.

Ah, that's good to know. It's good that the red line and hand are painted. I guess, this is also applied to Ironhide as well. I don't have the original, so I can't compare the two.

by **SpacerAM2** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 9:57 pm

Thanks Hobbitjedi! Now here's a pic that I have found.

by **Grahf** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 1:41 am

While it does look better than the original, it doesn't warrant a purchase to me. I have alwasys disliked this mold, so you can call me a little biased. I remember countless times passing them over and getting a few go bots instead.

As for the cardboard head, is it at least a decent durablity? It just seems like lazziness on Takara's part to me. Sculpt a new, accuate head, verses printing off hundreds at a time with a printing press.

News Credits: 1 · by **Ninja Sixshot** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 2:02 am

at least i know what he looks like now

by **Auto Bot** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 5:36 am

SpacerAM2 wrote:How can I load up pics? I was more confortable with the older features. Can't see it on any of the upper buttons anywhere.

Under the [Save] [Preview] [Submit] buttons, you'll find [Options] and [Upload attachment] tabs.

Click on the [Upload attachment] tab.

News Credits: 2 · by **Patrick Bateman** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 6:19 am

Auto Bot wrote:Aha! I finally see this cardboard head version.

Nice one. Although it makes the arms look really low.

I think it's possible to produce a head sculp instead. And plug it into the seats the same way.

Why not, Hasbro?

^What AB said. I´ll keep the cardboard head and just put on the Reprolabels face.

News Credits: 668 · by **Autobot032** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 9:51 am

Patrick Bateman wrote:
Auto Bot wrote:Aha! I finally see this cardboard head version.

Nice one. Although it makes the arms look really low.

I think it's possible to produce a head sculp instead. And plug it into the seats the same way.

Why not, Hasbro?

^What AB said. I´ll keep the cardboard head and just put on the Reprolabels face.

I still say they could permanently modify the mold and put a plastic head on a panel attached by a hinge and allow it fold down for vehicle mode, pop up for robot. But...that would actually be a great idea, and we just can't have that on certain things, even though we've spent good money.