The Energon Pub

I've purchased two different Target DotM Ratchet's now to make sure that this isn't an issue with a particular piece I bought.

Check these out:



The part highlighted below will absolutely not "seal" up like the original or even the Premium version (shown in pics). It's as if the triangle part has been re-cut. Yes, I'm transforming it correctly, the new Target one just doesn't pull together like other versions of this toy. I don't know if this was in this state for the HftD version.



So, I suppose sometimes those rumors of mold degradation are true.

And the fault is on both pieces? Dang, but is expected after... *counts* 5 uses? Misaligning parts is stage one, any mold details that aren't as clear?

Which is good, since I thought that mold was bad when it first came out, transformation is fun but the bot mode is shite.
I want a new Voyager Ratchet mold.

That's what happens when demand is so high for a figure. Hasbro must keep pumping them out day and night, it puts so much pressure on the star of a toy line.

i want to get this repaint. i only have one version of the mold. the first movie one is ok, but with this repaint i would give him the deluxe ratchets weapon. and bam! ratchet finally has a decent gun. so if not all of the ratchets are like this then yeah i will get it.

I like that mold but, dude, you actually bought that?

I am so not surprised here. So many reuses in so short a time.

RK_Striker_JK_5 wrote:I am so not surprised here. So many reuses in so short a time.

Only 5 times in like 4 years:

Ratchet
Premium Series
Rescue Ratchet
RotF Ratchet
Night Ops Ratchet

Still, more than I'd have liked.

Rijie wrote:I like that mold but, dude, you actually bought that?

I like Ratchet and Ironhide.

I think we're going to see many more complaints of this nature as time goes on. They'll reuse the molds until there's hardly anything left of them.

Though, it does make me wonder...

I know they made the DOTM figures smaller to accommodate the Mechtech weaponry and keep the prices low, but what if they're making new molds of existing figures, such as Ironhide and Ratchet because the originals are degrading so badly?

This might explain why we're seeing a new Voyager Class Optimus, and redeco of the Battle Blades figure. I mean, they could've just retooled the "abs" on the original Voyager and the Battle Blades, but they went with a brand new figure, top to bottom for this movie.

I'm betting those molds are falling apart as we speak.

Autobot032 wrote:I think we're going to see many more complaints of this nature as time goes on. They'll reuse the molds until there's hardly anything left of them.

Though, it does make me wonder...

I know they made the DOTM figures smaller to accommodate the Mechtech weaponry and keep the prices low, but what if they're making new molds of existing figures, such as Ironhide and Ratchet because the originals are degrading so badly?

This might explain why we're seeing a new Voyager Class Optimus, and redeco of the Battle Blades figure. I mean, they could've just retooled the "abs" on the original Voyager and the Battle Blades, but they went with a brand new figure, top to bottom for this movie.

I'm betting those molds are falling apart as we speak.

I have a simpler explanation for that: repaint fatigue. Even a parent should know when they've seen a mold before in different colors. Look at Bumblebee: within 1 year he already has 3 molds in the same size class!

Sorry, Ratchet, you're my favorite Autobot, but your Voyager mold almost sucks in robot mode.

On topic, I don't know what's up with that triangle. Maybe mistransform? Or it's a fault on Hasbro's side.

DISCHARGE wrote:That's what happens when demand is so high for a figure. Hasbro must keep pumping them out day and night, it puts so much pressure on the star of a toy line.

Do you think more or less people wanted toys of Ratchet based on his appearance in the movies than did toys of Wilrow Hood after seeing Empire Strikes Back?

Gyrotron wrote:On topic, I don't know what's up with that triangle. Maybe mistransform?

Very clearly, I stated that was not the case.

craggy wrote:

DISCHARGE wrote:That's what happens when demand is so high for a figure. Hasbro must keep pumping them out day and night, it puts so much pressure on the star of a toy line.

Do you think more or less people wanted toys of Ratchet based on his appearance in the movies than did toys of Wilrow Hood after seeing Empire Strikes Back?

My opinion of Ratchet in the movies is that he is nearly nonexistent. He does almost nothing to progress the storyline and despite being in the general command of Optimus he's not even a necessary component. That's the movies though and they are full of plot holes anyway.
The proliferation of his toys on the scale that they have done is perplexing on a degree that they are mass producing them to purposely wear the mold out, to get the most for the money they paid for it. Fine, but once that level has been reached it's time to hang it up. Stop making the voyager level and stick with the deluxe. I only bought one at the voyager class, HFTD, because I like the color scheme and thought I would want at least one of him at that class size, i never even opened it.

I'm sorry, I like Star Wars, but have no clue who or what a Wilrow Hood is.

Counterpunch wrote:

Rijie wrote:I like that mold but, dude, you actually bought that?

I like Ratchet and Ironhide.

Ha, now I feel guilty for inducing shame.

Just ignore my friendly ball-busting.

DISCHARGE wrote:
I'm sorry, I like Star Wars, but have no clue who or what a Wilrow Hood is.

PRECISELY the point. There's only about 3 Autobots who are in any way memorable in the first film. and that number only goes up because the bloody Twins are so annoying in the 2nd.

Dead Metal wrote:Which is good, since I thought that mold was bad when it first came out, transformation is fun but the bot mode is shite.
I want a new Voyager Ratchet mold.

Agreed, it's pretty bad, but yet we are cursed to get only Deluxes, aaagh! >_<

No idea what's with the angle, but seeing as it's the new one, looks like what people say about this "mold-deterioration" is true.

I'm not so sure that's specifically "mold wear".

Well, let me say first that I'm a Manufacturing Engineer in an automotive factory and we work with molded components in our processes. We don't MAKE those parts, but there are problems occasionally with the parts supplied to us, so therefore we know a little about the manufacturing process and some of the problems that come with it.


With mold wear (or lack of mold cleaning) you would see a loss of detail, poor surface finish, and possibly have more flash on the pieces. That looks like a different issue.

I'm guessing they mold the pieces first, then put them into some kind of jig to drill the holes. Perhaps something went wrong in that process? Also, it could just be a complete "mis-mold" where something went wrong in the molding process and the shape of the piece is all screwed up (not necessarily attributable to the mold). OR, it might be a combination of both - molded wrong first, causing problems in subsequent processes. It's really difficult to say exactly.

If someone knows more about the manufacturing process, please correct me!


Oh, one more thing, CP. Are you sure it's not mistransformed?

Man this iss bad

I'm happy with premium Ratchet from back in '07. The only way I'd buy another Ratchet figure is if they released a Leader class in the original green colors.

Lapse Of Reason wrote:I'm happy with premium Ratchet from back in '07. The only way I'd buy another Ratchet figure is if they released a Leader class in the original green colors.

i agree

Hmmm, a mystery indeed.

I'll buy one.

Just picked this guy up, same problem. Looks like that upper part with the long thin section is molded wrong. Doesn't bother me too much, he'll be in robot mode mostly.

It's only a decent mold, I am still holding out hope they will product a new Voy mold like they did w/ Ironhide.