03: SS-16 Ratchet (Dark of the Moon)
If you've checked this page before over the last few years you'll know that I have updated this custom multiple times as my camera quality and paint work have improved over time. Having worked on a few repaints of this mold over time, I decided to look through 4K footage of Dark of the Moon to see what I could add to Ratchet. Here's that update!
UPDATE: Now with the ability to make decals, I updated the simple line elements from the original custom with actual text and logos! We have the "Fire Department" text on the hood, "Search and Rescue" on the back, more accurate badges on the doors and back, and medical emblems on the sides and back window!
- Robot Mode -
Ratchet's DOTM appearance is a unique challenge for a number of reasons. The first of these is Ratchet's changing color scheme - several parts on Ratchet switch from light gray/silver in alt mode to green in robot mode. While I can't pull that off exactly, I was able to emulate as much as I could by painting some of the parts in robot mode (like the arm attachments to the body and parts of the shoulders) in green. The other difficulty is reference images. There were no CG renders of Ratchet released for DOTM, the only one we have is from the video game which does not have the full detail of the one on-screen. I was able to use screenshots to get pretty close, but the recent wave of 4K videos on Youtube has made finding details much easier!
The main things I added more recently to robot mode were the "FIRE" and "ENT" text on the legs (and the underlying sections were painted green), as well as the outer legs being repainted to be more accurate.
- Vehicle Mode -
For vehicle mode, I added the last details that were missing from prior versions. The red/yellow striping on the doors and rear, the white/blue medical symbols, the windshield wipers, chroming the headlights, the "E4" text on the back, as well as other smaller details. Like on Roadbuster and Leadfoot, I used yellow lines for the "Fire Department" text on the hood, and for the "Search and Rescue" text on the back, which have since been updated with decals!
Paint used:
Testor's Enamels
- Gloss sublime green
- flat dark gray (mixed for light gray)
- Flat white (mixed for light gray)
- Flat gunmetal (mixed w/ flat aluminum)
- Flat black
- Flat aluminum
- Gloss red
- Gloss tangerine
- Gloss yellow
Decoart acrylics:
- True blue
- Gunmetal
Other:
- Black paint pen
- Dark gray model wash
- Black Tamiya panel liner
