In-Hand Images: Takara Tomy Transformers Generations TG-19 Grimlock and TG-20 Ratbat

Superwheeljack wrote:The dino mode looks awesome, but why put red on the stomach area?

That's why:

Is that bat mode for Ratbat? That looks really cool

Anyone else see this when looking at Ratbat?

Superwheeljack wrote:Ratbat looks awesome.
Grimlock on the other hand...
The dino mode looks awesome, but why put red on the stomach area?

It's "game accurate."

And it looks awful.

I don't have a problem with the Grimlock, looks pretty good to me but then again I'm not a huge Grimlock fan. However I am a Scourge fan. I was resistant to the stealth bomber mode a few years ago but I have to admit it grew on me.

I understand the need to reuse molds from a cost perspective, really I do. But that being said I'm having a really hard time accepting the Scourge mold as Ratbat. And one gets the impression that this was planned that way from the beginning (obviously, given the "instructions" error). I'm sure the protocol at HasTak when a designer proposes a new mold idea is "Who else can we use this mold for?" But Scourge & Ratbat...c'mon that's a stretch. I see the need to ditch the cassette alt mode to update for modern times but there had to be something better than this. And give him a slightly different gun just for a changeup, instead of the Targetmaster replica gun. Though I do really like the color scheme and all but that's just not Ratbat to me.
The idea I've had is to remove one of the heads from my Scourge cannon fodder troops and paint it purple to match the Ratbat body to create a hypothetical "Royal Guard" Scourge. The idea being that after a temporary victory of Galvatron he would use these to guard citadals around Cybertron. Hell, I used two Skyshadows as smelting pool gaurds with red axes to stand behind my Straxus figure. I know...sacrilege right? LoL

G1 Legacy wrote::-?
I don't have a problem with the Grimlock, looks pretty good to me but then again I'm not a huge Grimlock fan. However I am a Scourge fan. I was resistant to the stealth bomber mode a few years ago but I have to admit it grew on me.

I understand the need to reuse molds from a cost perspective, really I do. But that being said I'm having a really hard time accepting the Scourge mold as Ratbat. And one gets the impression that this was planned that way from the beginning (obviously, given the "instructions" error).

Of course it was planned. Its sort of an in-joke now with Scourge and Ratbat.

Back in the Universe line we got this Ratbat out of Cybertron Sideways.



It was subsequently repainted as Scourge for the 2009 Botcon Set.



So of course the new Scourge mold is going to be used for Ratbat.

Also this is supposed to be Senator Ratbat in the comics, who had a robot mode before becoming Soundwave's scout as opposed to just Cassette Ratbat.



With that said, he looks awesome. I think the mold works pefectly for Ratbat.

And the colors are fantastic.

I kind of like Grimlock too, but I think the Platinum Series Grimlock is going to be the better and cheaper choice now.

Overcracker wrote:I kind of like Grimlock too, but I think the Platinum Series Grimlock is going to be the better and cheaper choice now.

If you're in for accuracy, not Platinum Grimlock; he's basically the Hasbro one but shinier. Plus, he's only available with the Platinum versions of the Fall of Cybertron Combaticons, who are basically their SDCC release. With them in the mix, you're looking around $100 or more.

So pretty much, compared to Platinum Grimlock, Takara's Grimlock is the better choice.

Normally, I've stayed clear of the United and Generations stuff out of Japan simply for the fact that their shinier paintjobs would look amazingly out of place with my North American retail figures, and in no way do I have the kinda scratch to shell out to replace all my current dudes with their shinier imported doppelgangers.

That said, Ratbat is a senator. So any shiny he brings to the table is pretty well par for the course. Looks like I'll have to pop on down to Ages Three and Up when they get theirs in, been looking for an excuse to get out that way again.

Still surprised Hasbro didn't announce Ratbat at BotCon this year.

Well it's paid for from BBTS, just waiting for it to ship. FYI the Takara figures don't stand out nearly as much as you think from their Hasbro counterparts.