Product Description

Vanity is not a fault from which RESCUE RATCHET typically suffers. He is more concerned with saving the lives of his fellow AUTOBOTS® than with what they think about him. Hes never paid much attention to the decorations adorning his vehicle mode. However, after discovering the tendency for human rescue vehicles to be decorated in certain ways, he started paying more attention to his appearance. His new paint job helps him fit in, and allows him to help more humans than ever before. Plus, these new decorations just seem more natural somehow. AUTOBOT robot-to-vehicle figure features an AUTOMORPH forearm cannon and a hidden axe in robot mode, and a roof rack that converts to a shield or combat stretcher in Hummer H2-mode!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #72534 in Toys & Games
• Brand: Hasbro
• Model: 81119
• Released on: 2007-06-02
• Dimensions: .0" h x .0" w x .0" l, .66 pounds

Features

• AUTOBOT robot-to-vehicle figure features an AUTOMORPH forearm cannon and a hidden axe in robot mode, and a roof rack that converts to a shield or combat stretcher in Hummer H2-mode!
• Vanity is not a fault from which RESCUE RATCHET typically suffers. He is more concerned with saving the lives of his fellow AUTOBOTS® than with what they think about him
• He’s never paid much attention to the decorations adorning his vehicle mode however, after discovering the tendency for human rescue vehicles to be decorated in certain ways, he started paying more attention to his appearance
• His new paint job helps him fit in, and allows him to help more humans than ever before
• Plus, these new decorations just seem more natural somehow

From the Manufacturer
Vanity is not a fault from which RESCUE RATCHET typically suffers. He is more concerned with saving the lives of his fellow AUTOBOTS® than with what they think about him. He’s never paid much attention to the decorations adorning his vehicle mode. However, after discovering the tendency for human rescue vehicles to be decorated in certain ways, he started paying more attention to his appearance. His new paint job helps him fit in, and allows him to help more humans than ever before. Plus, these new decorations just seem more natural somehow. AUTOBOT robot-to-vehicle figure features an AUTOMORPH forearm cannon and a hidden axe in robot mode, and a roof rack that converts to a shield or combat stretcher in Hummer H2-mode!

Customer Reviews

One of the Best Movie Figures
This is easily one of the best movie version Transformer figures.



First, the durability is well above most of the other figures. After some figures with poor durability and design (Blackout, Brawl, Bumblebee), I've been very impressed with this figure. If there's only one toy to get a kid, this one probably has the best chance of survival.



Second, the transformation is relatively straightforward. Unlike some of the others, whose transformations rival the complexity of the more mature "Alternators" line, this one seems well suited for kids.



Finally, this is a very posable figure. It'll easily stand securely upright, even in odd poses. The articulation and balance are excellent.



All I can really criticize is the nasty green color and the looseness of the roof rack attachment. There's also the blocky "preschool toy" feel of the design, but that's part of what I think makes it so durable and suited for kids. But those are minor points.

Nice Transformer, although hastily made...
Transformers toys usually have been designed for children. Some of us grew up with them and still enjoy them... I'm 31 and I'm still hooked!

I don't have many TF toys, but I focus on imports like Masterpiece (Optimus, Starscream and Megatron), Binaltech + a lot of Yamato Macross Valkyries (OK, these last are not TF... except for Jetfire).
So, I'm offering an adult collector's point of view.


I feel that the TF Movie line of toys was very hastily made and that they focused in trying to make them look good (and they all look great in both modes -Starscream's fighter jet mode aside), but:

1. All TF Movie toys offer limited poseability or articulation points COMPARED to other transformers lines (the recent "Classics" line or older lines like Robots in Disguise, Beast Wars, etc.).
For example, other TF lines in the past used a lot of ball joints that offer more poseability than swivel joints.

Ball joints are practically gone in most of the TF Movie line of toys, so they offer limited, "good enough" poseability that, although not not on par with older TF lines, is still way better than Gen 1.


2. Designs -especially robots, are NOT exactly the same as the ones seen in the movie.
Most of the details are based on not-final sketches (Ironhide's and Ratchet's chest for example), or else the final versions were too difficult to translate as a toy.

Ratchet's chest in the toy version has the front end of a Hummer vehicle turned upside down. In the movie, the chest has the front of the car upside (the car's hood is on top part of the chest, not below), but only the fenders turned upside down. I've been trying to figure how to make it work in a toy, and I've still not found a way.


3. Paint applications are quite poor in Hasbro's Transformers line, relying mostly in the color of the molded plastic. As a result, the toys end up looking... like toys.
Case: Hasbro Alternator Smokescreen versus Takara Binaltech Smokescreen (same mold, same deco, same character). Hasbro's toy is molded in a blue plastic that doesn't match the areas painted in metallic blue. Takara uses some metal parts and the whole toy is painted with the same metallic blue paint that makes it look like a die-cast scaled car. Also, Takara's plastic is more "rigid"... it just feels better quality... but is also more expensive.

Paint applications are a weird move to save pennies for Hasbro, since they go through a lot of work in fine-detailing the molds.

In Ratchet, yellow-green paint applications on the doors and one arm don't match the rest of the toy. The head is painted remarkably simply. Dry-brushing or paint-washing some areas will greatly enhance the molded detail.


Ratchet's Pros:
- Very good design in vehicle mode and robot mode
- Sturdy and stable in both modes (except some parts)
- Quite good adaptation of the robot and vehicle modes

Ratchet's Cons:
- Complicated transformation. Not suited for a small child.
- Some pieces seem easy to break (the top rack, front and back bumpers)
- Automorph mechanism in most/all TF Movie toys is easy to break
- You call "that" a weapon??


FINAL THOUGHTS
Ratchet and the whole TF Movie line of toys are a mix of toys designed for kids and also for an older audience, looking for a medium price point in mass market distribution.
They could be better, but they would also be more expensive...

Are they worth getting?
Well, they ARE Transformers after all, and they do look great in the movie! That's enough reason for me!

My favorite Transformer!
I am six years old. I really like this Transformer. He is really cool! He is easier to transform than some of the other ones. He stands up better than most of the others ones also. He is pretty awesome.