The Energon Pub

I am really on the fence about these two, alt modes are great for the nostalgia but the bots mods are absolutely AWFUL.

Anyone else getting these? I want to complete my G1 lineup but man these guys look like glorified machine gun turrets.

Looking for some opinions to sway me either way.

Pros - alt modes, price

Cons - ass bot modes

Do what I did, get the reprolabel upgrade set:

Definitely adds some character to them, I really dont know why they didnt do new face casts for that part of the bot.

They would be selling like crazy if that 'face panel' was replaced by an actual head. I cant imagine it would interfere with the transformation.

I'd buy it, cause an original isn't exactly common. Besides, it's the sucky toys that're worth money.

I liked Ironhide's character so i'm getting him. It'll be a bonus if he's displayed in alt mode in the box (in fact i think all the encores are) then i'll just leave him misb and admire the alt mode with the box art.

not to keen on ratchet coz his character in the cartoon wasn't interesting and its the same mold so i'm leaving him out.

I'll probably get the two of them and do the reprolabel update. I've wanted these two ever since I was little, so to me these are must haves.

If they're still available when I've got all my current wants, I'll be getting em.


Their characters deserve MPs they are so iconic.

To tell you the truth, I would want them in the redesigned Classics line rather then a strait re-issue. Yes, the Repo Labels for them are awesome. But they can't hide the cruddy design.

I guess for $30 a shot, they are worth getting simply as a piece of history.

Wish they had reissued them with a face mold though. It wouldnt be a first, bumblebee was reissued by takara with a more cartoon accurate face.

I preordered them from BBTS because I'll want to get them eventually and the price will be at least double before I get around to getting them.

I just took a second look at their gallery, I cant do it. They are just too ugly, it isnt Ironhide or Ratchet as far as I am concerned. The lack of faces looks totally ridiculous, I dont know how Takara can expect people to like these even 20 + years later.

Crap then crap now, I am going to pass.

With molded heads, these could have been great reissues, as it is, I think they are easily the weakest of the encore line. Probably the weakest of any Takara or Hasbro reissue.

Sid Burn wrote:I just took a second look at their gallery, I cant do it. They are just too ugly, it isnt Ironhide or Ratchet as far as I am concerned. The lack of faces looks totally ridiculous, I dont know how Takara can expect people to like these even 20 + years later.

Crap then crap now, I am going to pass.

With molded heads, these could have been great reissues, as it is, I think they are easily the weakest of the encore line. Probably the weakest of any Takara or Hasbro reissue.

They are, unfortunately, some of the weakest figures in the G1 toy line. It would not be so bad if the mold was used for some kind of mindless drone character in the show or comics. Both Ratchet and Ironhide were major characters, though, and they really got shafted in the toy line. Interestingly enough, the first few issues of the comics depicted them with heads behind the windshield. After a few issues, the figures were drawn more like their cartoon counterparts. Even the comic artists could not stand the ugly bot design!

they're a must buy for old schoolers like myself. it's simple, i'm getting them because it's g1 ironhide and g1 ratchet, case closed. i guess maybe the younger guys just look at the actual figure and how it looks and the older guys 25+ look at the nostalgia more. yes, the bot modes are atrocious but it really doesn't bother me at all.

Kimmer wrote:they're a must buy for old schoolers like myself. it's simple, i'm getting them because it's g1 ironhide and g1 ratchet, case closed. i guess maybe the younger guys just look at the actual figure and how it looks and the older guys 25+ look at the nostalgia more. yes, the bot modes are atrocious but it really doesn't bother at all.

Just to make sure we are on the same page, I am the same age bracket as you. I grew up with G1, I have a wide G1 collection, but ugly is ugly. If you can transform these molds and say to me "look its ironhide and ratchet" I will have to laugh at you. Sure TECHNICALLY they are the toy representations of these beloved characters but in bot mode, they may as well be machine gun turrets for minicons.

Lapse of reason is correct, Ironhide and Ratchet got shafted in the G1 toyline. But even with all that going against these molds, if Takara had taken some time and molded faces on those souless plates, I would have been happy to pick them up.

As it is, my G1 collection will be without these icons, they will be reissued again, hopefully the way they should have been.

Sid Burn wrote:

Kimmer wrote:they're a must buy for old schoolers like myself. it's simple, i'm getting them because it's g1 ironhide and g1 ratchet, case closed. i guess maybe the younger guys just look at the actual figure and how it looks and the older guys 25+ look at the nostalgia more. yes, the bot modes are atrocious but it really doesn't bother at all.

Just to make sure we are on the same page, I am the same age bracket as you. I grew up with G1, I have a wide G1 collection, but ugly is ugly. If you can transform these molds and say to me "look its ironhide and ratchet" I will have to laugh at you. Sure TECHNICALLY they are the toy representations of these beloved characters but in bot mode, they may as well be machine gun turrets for minicons.

Lapse of reason is correct, Ironhide and Ratchet got shafted in the G1 toyline. But even with all that against these molds, if Takara had taken some time and molded faces on those souless plates, I would have been happy to pick them up.

Same here. 33 years old. G1 Transformers hit meet at just the right age. Even then I remember being disappointed that these figures did not look like the ones on the show, but I still enjoyed playing with them. Funny how it really didn't bother me as much then as it does now. That being said, I have the G1 originals in excellent shape but I might sell them off, buy the reissues and keep the difference I make off of them.

Lapse Of Reason wrote:Same here. 33 years old. G1 Transformers hit meet at just the right age. Even then I remember being disappointed that these figures did not look like the ones on the show, but I still enjoyed playing with them. Funny how it really didn't bother me as much then as it does now. That being said, I have the G1 originals in excellent shape but I might sell them off, buy the reissues and keep the difference I make off of them.

I had them in my cart from TFsource today, I was about to click the payment toggle... and I changed my mind. I might pick them up at a discount but I just cant get over how bad they look.

I think I will spend my money on an e-hobby Twincast instead.
I went through the same dilemma with Star Convoy, I like the IDEA of him, but I can get over how awful he looks.

I never had ironhide and ratchet as a kid, but even if I did I think I would have trouble paying $65 for the pair today.

there's no doubt the bot modes are terrible. i never said they weren't. all i'm saying is that i can look pass that and since right now i don't have a g1 ironhide or ratchet, this is a great chance to get them both misb for a good price.

I say yay, but there's no denying their robot molds are just damn awful. For me it's about the nostalgia; I've preordered mine from hlj, and I'm getting a reprolabels set for certain. Still, these two need a classics or Masterpiece release so bad it isn't funny.

I don't mind them, after all, they weren't made for the Transformers line originally. They're a must to display in vehicle mode, at the least, with all the other G1 'bots.

This reissue gives me a chance to get a decent looking Ironhide, and Ratchet for a good price.

Sid Burn wrote:I guess for $30 a shot, they are worth getting simply as a piece of history.

You can also read about history on Wikipedia

Besides, history is over-rated.

It Is Him wrote:

Sid Burn wrote:I guess for $30 a shot, they are worth getting simply as a piece of history.

You can also read about history on Wikipedia

Besides, history is over-rated.

Heh QFT. I have decided to pass on these, G1 or not, there isnt any excuse for TF icons being reissued without faces.

One other note here, it looks like from the pictures we've seen that Encore Ratchet will not have any on the red crosses on the vehicle form. There had been some legal issues in the past with the Red Cross about using them.

You can still get the crosses of course in the Reprolabel set. It still has all 3.

Here's mine after the Reprolabel makeover, with crosses:



Came out damn good.

I'm debating myself whether or not to get these. I currently have them on preorder at HLJ and plan on getting the reprolabel upgrades so that they can at least have toon accurate faces.

I just hate the fact that I have to buy the whole upgrade set just for those two face stickers, what the hell am I going to do with the rest of the stickers.

For me, these are a no brainer. Everytime I see them, I laugh at the thought of poor kids in the 80s getting home all excited with their new Ironhide toy, only to find out, it looks nothing like the 'toon wen they transform it.

The WTF look must have been priceless.

Bonger wrote:For me, these are a no brainer. Everytime I see them, I laugh at the thought of poor kids in the 80s getting home all excited with their new Ironhide toy, only to find out, it looks nothing like the 'toon wen they transform it.

The WTF look must have been priceless.

You delightfully cruel person!