Review #86: Old & New - Ironhide
(with a bonus looks at Universe Ratchet, Unite
Warriors First Aid & Combiner Wars Trailbreaker)
-- Ultra Prime Review Series #4 --
( -- Sky Reign Review Series #1 -- )
After a lengthy delay and a bit of a detour, let us get back to talking about the Autobot team made up of Combiner Wars Stunticon repaints! Today, we look at the last of the limb-bots, Ironhide. Now, it has been a while, so if you need to review, here are links to the first three parts: Sunstreaker, Mirage, and Prowl.
Like the previous reviews in this series, in addition to the Combiner Wars figure, we are looking at an earlier Ironhide, namely 2008's Universe Ironhide. |
Universe Ironhide has always been something of a mixed bag, in that the vehicle is a mess of panel lines. You always expect some on a Transformer. Even Masterpiece figures have to have a way to transform. But this vehicle mode takes it to an extreme. Still, if one does their best to ignore that, it's not an awful looking vehicle mode for Ironhide.
The Combiner Wars version, on the other hand, is a pickup truck. Not an unprecedented vehicle for Ironhide to be. His representation in the live action films, for example, was such a truck. But while I don't mind some reimagining in my Classics style figures, it is hard to deny that panel lines or no, the older figure feels more like Ironhide in vehicle mode.
The Combiner Wars version, on the other hand, is a pickup truck. Not an unprecedented vehicle for Ironhide to be. His representation in the live action films, for example, was such a truck. But while I don't mind some reimagining in my Classics style figures, it is hard to deny that panel lines or no, the older figure feels more like Ironhide in vehicle mode.
Universe Ironhide sports a Reprolabels faction symbol on his hood. There was a faction symbol there already, but the Reprolabels one looked better. His deco features a license plate reading, "OREGON" for some reason. Here's hoping Ironhide doesn't die of dysentery.
The Combiner Wars version featured here is completely stock. Much like the previously featured figures in this series of reviews, there are some nice looking labels available for him, but I haven't yet had the opportunity to procure them. So perhaps we'll have a separate review featuring them at a later date.
The Combiner Wars version featured here is completely stock. Much like the previously featured figures in this series of reviews, there are some nice looking labels available for him, but I haven't yet had the opportunity to procure them. So perhaps we'll have a separate review featuring them at a later date.
The Universe version of Ironhide features completely hidden weapons storage. The Combiner Wars version, on the other hand, follows the standard Combiner Wars practice of, "Let's just slap these giant weapons on the side of this otherwise innocuous vehicle and hope no one notices!" Combiner Wars Ironhide features an axe that can be tabbed into either side of his vehicle mode, and his hand-foot-gun thing can attach to a tab in the bed of the truck. I'm almost sad that the hand-foot-gun thing isn't red, because the way it fills out the back of the vehicle, one could almost pretend that Ironhide was the van or SUV that he is supposed to be.
|
Moving on to robot mode, we see how the panels on the Universe version come apart to unfold to form the robot mode. He really touches all of the bases one expects from an Ironhide. That isn't to say he doesn't have a few issues, which we will be getting onto shortly, but at the very least he at least looks the part. If you know anything about 80's Transformers, and you look at this toy, you'll think to yourself, "Ah, Ironhide!"
The Combiner Wars version, on the other hand... well, it looks like they took a pre-existing robot, colored him like Ironhide, and put Ironhide's head on him. A slightly tubby belly? Nope. A single wide window across his chest? Nope. Yet this guy is supposed to be Ironhide. |
Articulation is pretty good on the Universe version. Head swivels. Shoulders rotate 360° and can be raised outward. A transformation joint can be utilized to give the shoulder some forwards/backwards swivel as well. The elbows bend, and then there is a swivel below the elbow. Alas, that isn't the most useful joint, as those swivels really need to be above the elbow, but it isn't completely useless. The wrists can swivel, and can also bend downwards.The waist rotates, the hips can rotate forward, backwards, and outwards, the knees bend, and the ankles are quite expressive.
The Combiner Wars version has pretty standard articulation for a Combiner Wars figure. The head is on a ball joint, offering a full swivel and a little bit of wiggle. Shoulders are on ball joints. There is a swivel above the elbow and a bend at the elbow. The waist rotates, the hips are on ball joints, there's an upper leg swivel, and the knees bend.
Since Combiner Wars almost universally just tacks the weapons on to the vehicle mode for storage, it is no surprise to see what weapons he is wielding in robot mode. But now we finally get to look at what the Universe version is sporting. He has a weapon that does not get held in his hand, but rather his whole hand slides up inside of it and it clips on to his forearm just above his wrist. The weapon is double sided as well, so that if you push his hand up into one side of it, a multi-barreled cannon is revealed but if you push his hand up into the other side, a clear blue blade pops out.
Now that we're almost done talking about the figures, let's back way the heck up as I point out a neat little tidbit about the Universe version's transformation. In vehicle mode, his rear window was clear. This is the window that becomes his chest in robot mode, yet you see that is it not clear now. Rather, there is a silver panel with some cool molded detailing and an Autobot symbol just inside the window. This panel automatically pops into place as you fold up the rear bumper in the course of transformation. I know I don't normally gush about specifics of the transformation process, but this is just one of those little bits that comes around once in a while, even if you are an experienced Transformers transformer, and makes you think, "Hmm, that's neat."
On the other hand, there is a few things with the Universe version that aren't so neat. As we saw in vehicle mode, he is a mess of panel lines. In transition to robot mode, his backpack is a bit unwieldy. Also, his head doesn't quite come out as far as it should, giving him kind of a permanent slightly downward stare. I dunno... There is just so much about this figure that is almost perfect, but just off ever so slightly, making him not quite good.
So, bottom line time... Which one is the better Ironhide? Well, I can't help but think back to my Prowl review. On one hand, the Universe version looks more what one would expect from Ironhide. On the other hand, the Universe version has some issues, and the Combiner Wars version, while perhaps missing some things one might think of as iconic for the character, is objectively a better toy. But it is not quite as extreme here for me as it was with Prowl. Does Universe Ironhide have some issues? Yes, but not as bad as Prowl's. Is the Combiner Wars version a better toy even if it is missing some of what makes Ironhide Ironhide? Yes, but he feels like he's missing more than Prowl was.
So in the end... well, I still feel that the Universe one is better. At least for me. Even if he still doesn't feel like the perfect Ironhide, of the modern, non-Masterpiece options we have, he is the better one. Do I hate the Combiner Wars version though? No. But he will not be my main Ironhide.
Now, there is something that some of you may be wondering throughout this review thus far. "Hold on," your brains say. "This Combiner Wars Ironhide is a pickup truck. But... this team was supposed to all be Stunticon repaints, wasn't it? And there're no pickups on the Stunticons! What gives?"
Well, dear reader, think back to my reviews of the Unite Warriors Aerialbots, or even farther back to before Combiner Wars figures started coming out, but we had first heard of them. Remember how Hasbro originally replaced Slingshot with some new guy named Alpha Bravo, who was a helicopter on a team of jets? Well, Hasbro also did something similar with the Stunticons, dropping one of the four sports car limbs from Menasor and giving him a shiny new member who was a pickup truck.
Now, like with the Aerialbots, Takara was having none of it and just duplicated a mold in the group (with a new head to give him a little bit of individuality) to give the Stunticons a more G1 line-up, and Hasbro eventually gave the missing original member a limited release. But when it came to the Autobot repaints of the Stunticons, Hasbro went with the new pickup truck member of the team. And so Ironhide was born. But previous reviews in this series have compared the figures with their Stunticon equivalents, including the corresponding member of the Fansproject team that I own... so how will that work here? Let's give it a go, shall we?
First, vehicle modes:
Since Combiner Wars almost universally just tacks the weapons on to the vehicle mode for storage, it is no surprise to see what weapons he is wielding in robot mode. But now we finally get to look at what the Universe version is sporting. He has a weapon that does not get held in his hand, but rather his whole hand slides up inside of it and it clips on to his forearm just above his wrist. The weapon is double sided as well, so that if you push his hand up into one side of it, a multi-barreled cannon is revealed but if you push his hand up into the other side, a clear blue blade pops out.
Now that we're almost done talking about the figures, let's back way the heck up as I point out a neat little tidbit about the Universe version's transformation. In vehicle mode, his rear window was clear. This is the window that becomes his chest in robot mode, yet you see that is it not clear now. Rather, there is a silver panel with some cool molded detailing and an Autobot symbol just inside the window. This panel automatically pops into place as you fold up the rear bumper in the course of transformation. I know I don't normally gush about specifics of the transformation process, but this is just one of those little bits that comes around once in a while, even if you are an experienced Transformers transformer, and makes you think, "Hmm, that's neat."
On the other hand, there is a few things with the Universe version that aren't so neat. As we saw in vehicle mode, he is a mess of panel lines. In transition to robot mode, his backpack is a bit unwieldy. Also, his head doesn't quite come out as far as it should, giving him kind of a permanent slightly downward stare. I dunno... There is just so much about this figure that is almost perfect, but just off ever so slightly, making him not quite good.
So, bottom line time... Which one is the better Ironhide? Well, I can't help but think back to my Prowl review. On one hand, the Universe version looks more what one would expect from Ironhide. On the other hand, the Universe version has some issues, and the Combiner Wars version, while perhaps missing some things one might think of as iconic for the character, is objectively a better toy. But it is not quite as extreme here for me as it was with Prowl. Does Universe Ironhide have some issues? Yes, but not as bad as Prowl's. Is the Combiner Wars version a better toy even if it is missing some of what makes Ironhide Ironhide? Yes, but he feels like he's missing more than Prowl was.
So in the end... well, I still feel that the Universe one is better. At least for me. Even if he still doesn't feel like the perfect Ironhide, of the modern, non-Masterpiece options we have, he is the better one. Do I hate the Combiner Wars version though? No. But he will not be my main Ironhide.
Now, there is something that some of you may be wondering throughout this review thus far. "Hold on," your brains say. "This Combiner Wars Ironhide is a pickup truck. But... this team was supposed to all be Stunticon repaints, wasn't it? And there're no pickups on the Stunticons! What gives?"
Well, dear reader, think back to my reviews of the Unite Warriors Aerialbots, or even farther back to before Combiner Wars figures started coming out, but we had first heard of them. Remember how Hasbro originally replaced Slingshot with some new guy named Alpha Bravo, who was a helicopter on a team of jets? Well, Hasbro also did something similar with the Stunticons, dropping one of the four sports car limbs from Menasor and giving him a shiny new member who was a pickup truck.
Now, like with the Aerialbots, Takara was having none of it and just duplicated a mold in the group (with a new head to give him a little bit of individuality) to give the Stunticons a more G1 line-up, and Hasbro eventually gave the missing original member a limited release. But when it came to the Autobot repaints of the Stunticons, Hasbro went with the new pickup truck member of the team. And so Ironhide was born. But previous reviews in this series have compared the figures with their Stunticon equivalents, including the corresponding member of the Fansproject team that I own... so how will that work here? Let's give it a go, shall we?
First, vehicle modes:
Then the robot modes:
So basically, Ironhide has no direct connection to Wildrider, but if Wildrider had a friend who was a pickup truck, and that friend was kind of creepy in a Single White Female kind of way and started dressing like Wildrider and trying to be him, Ironhide could be a relative of that creepy friend.
Now... shall we take a look at a few mold mates of Ironhide and Ironhide?
First, there is the obvious repaint, since they shared a mold in the G1 days. Universe Ironhide was also used the following year to make a figure of Rachet.
Now... shall we take a look at a few mold mates of Ironhide and Ironhide?
First, there is the obvious repaint, since they shared a mold in the G1 days. Universe Ironhide was also used the following year to make a figure of Rachet.
In vehicle mode, color aside he is identical to Ironhide except for the addition of the light bar. You may recognize the light bar, as it is the same one that was featured on Universe Prowl and Generations Red Alert. In robot mode, meanwhile, Ratchet sports a new head.
|
I don't usually like ripping figures apart and tossing pieces aside, but for my own use, I do tend to remove what are the vehicle mode's rear wheels when transforming these figures to robot mode. It tends to clean the backpack up a bit, and also allows for the robot's head to come out a little better. In the two photos directly above this paragraph, the one on the left has the figures as stock, and the one on the right has the wheels removed.
Ironhide has been even further modified, with some internal plastic cut away to make his head pop up even more so that it actually comes fully up. (Ratchet's head still points down slightly even with the wheels removed, even if not as bad as it would otherwise.) But the modifications really make Ironhide's crotch more, er, prominent... so I decided not to make such permanant modifications to Ratchet, and just leave him in a state of a happy middle ground.
Ironhide has been even further modified, with some internal plastic cut away to make his head pop up even more so that it actually comes fully up. (Ratchet's head still points down slightly even with the wheels removed, even if not as bad as it would otherwise.) But the modifications really make Ironhide's crotch more, er, prominent... so I decided not to make such permanant modifications to Ratchet, and just leave him in a state of a happy middle ground.
With one exception, other uses of this mold were various other releases of Ironhide or Ratchet. The exception was a BotCon exclusive figure of Shattered Glass Soundwave. (For those not as knowledgeable about obscure Transformers lore, Shattered Glass is the Transformers equivalent of Star Trek's Mirror Universe.) I don't own this figure myself, but it apears here via images swiped from TFWiki.net.
|
So that just about covers the Universe Ironhide mold. Shall we take a peak into what else might have come from the Combiner Wars version?
A little exposition first. I started this series of reviews in January of 2016. It's now November of 2017. So it's been almost two bloody years! Now, during Prowl's review, I censored another figure sharing the Combiner Wars version's mold so as not to spoil any surprises in soon to be upcoming reviews. Now... two freaking years have passed! So I figure, eh... at this point, who cares about spoilers? Let's just consider such things as a sneak preview, shall we? And thus, one of the figures we are looking at today is a major retool of Combiner Wars Offroad (and thus, Ironhide) in the form of the Protectobot First Aid. Along with him we will be seeing a more minor retool in the form of a Combiner Wars Trailbreaker.
A little exposition first. I started this series of reviews in January of 2016. It's now November of 2017. So it's been almost two bloody years! Now, during Prowl's review, I censored another figure sharing the Combiner Wars version's mold so as not to spoil any surprises in soon to be upcoming reviews. Now... two freaking years have passed! So I figure, eh... at this point, who cares about spoilers? Let's just consider such things as a sneak preview, shall we? And thus, one of the figures we are looking at today is a major retool of Combiner Wars Offroad (and thus, Ironhide) in the form of the Protectobot First Aid. Along with him we will be seeing a more minor retool in the form of a Combiner Wars Trailbreaker.
First Aid is an ambulance who is more of a van or SUV type vehicle. It's a shame that the light bar is so integral to the mold, as without it, I would almost think that this vehicle would also make a better Ironhide! (Of course, the impossible to remove light bar didn't stop some of the reuses of Prowl...) The First Aid here is the Takara version. Mold-wise he is identical to Hasbro's, but his coloring is quite different. Someday when I review the Protectobots, perhaps I'll do a bit of comparisons with the aid of images swiped from elsewhere. For now, we'll stick with the First Aid I personally have.
First Aid obviously has a much different back end than Ironhide or Trailbreaker, but his hand-foot-gun thingy can still store similarly. Here, it just takes on a roof-mounted appearance. My Defensor, which I hope I shall get around to reviewing for you someday, has a similar upgrade set to the one that my Superion has, so while I'm sure I still have them somewhere, I didn't have their original hand-foot-gun thingies immediately handy when taking these photos. So for the photo to the left, I borrowed Trailbreaker's. Trailbreaker's does feature some molding differences, but they aren't visible in that photo, so it works!
Putting it back on Trailbreaker, with the hand-foot-gun thingy being the same color as the vehicle itself, we see how it can fool the eye slightly making it look at the very least like a pickup with an enclosed cab, which visually is a little closer to the type of vehicle Trailbreaker should be. Trailbreaker had an earlier Classics style figure in 2013, and either one seems to be a decent representation of the character in vehicle mode. |
Moving on to robot mode, each version has some definite differences beyond just swapping out the different heads.
First Aid has some obvious major differences, being a complete retool. Trailbreaker, on the other hand, has some surprises in his forearms. No one would have been upset if a new head had been all he received, but he also is sporting some new forearms, as well! His left arm is somewhat more hard edged. And his right arm does away with having a hand on it, instead ending with a cannon so as to further homage his G1 figure.
As mentioned, Trailbreaker's hand-foot-gun thingy also features some remolding, which is quite unusual in this line. Rather then having five distinct fingers, Trailbreaker's would have three claws. And the two non-thumb ones have been augmented with a generous amount of silver paint. The reasoning for this to have been done is rather mysterious, and nothing official has been said, but some people have thought that this was done so that the hand-foot-gun thingy can be jammed in behind his head to better homage some other parts of his G1 figure.
Now, looking at this directly from the front, it does kind of work. But the hand-foot-gun thingy is kind of just jammed in there with a bit of friction and a lot of hope. And the whole thing kind of starts to fall apart when looked at from angles other then from the front. The 2013 figure has a bit of a backpack, and the Combiner Wars version does too, but throwing the hand-foot-gun thingy in there just makes it ridiculous.
Overall, while the 2013 version is a bit small for a deluxe, it is still the better Trailbreaker overall. Still, the Combiner Wars version isn't a bad one, and is a cool figure to include in your collection. Especially if one is keen to exploit the combining gimmick.
Of course, there are a few additional figures using this mold that I don't have. Shall we take a quick peak thanks to the magic of images taken from other websites? Yes, we shall! (These images all come from TFWiki.net.)
First of all, one unfortunate omission from Combiner Wars is the lack of a regular retail release of Ratchet. Speculation is that Hasbro didn't want to release two white ambulances made from the same exact mold in quick succession in the same toy line. It makes sense, but it does lead to the unfortunate omission of Ratchet.
There are a few ways to get Ratchet, unfortunately both ways eluded me. One of the ways was via a Takara release. Like other Unite Warrior releases, it was a gift set of five figures. Unfortunately, I already had the Hasbro version of this combiner, who had Smokescreen as one of his limbs rather then Ratchet. If I had known what Takara was doing, I could have gotten their set and purchased Hasbro's Smokescreen separately. Alas, I was not about to buy a set of five figures that included four I already owned.
The other way to get Ratchet was as an extremely limited BotCon figure, who was part of a customization class which provided options to make either one of three different variations of Ratchet, or a different character named Medix.
Overall, while the 2013 version is a bit small for a deluxe, it is still the better Trailbreaker overall. Still, the Combiner Wars version isn't a bad one, and is a cool figure to include in your collection. Especially if one is keen to exploit the combining gimmick.
Of course, there are a few additional figures using this mold that I don't have. Shall we take a quick peak thanks to the magic of images taken from other websites? Yes, we shall! (These images all come from TFWiki.net.)
First of all, one unfortunate omission from Combiner Wars is the lack of a regular retail release of Ratchet. Speculation is that Hasbro didn't want to release two white ambulances made from the same exact mold in quick succession in the same toy line. It makes sense, but it does lead to the unfortunate omission of Ratchet.
There are a few ways to get Ratchet, unfortunately both ways eluded me. One of the ways was via a Takara release. Like other Unite Warrior releases, it was a gift set of five figures. Unfortunately, I already had the Hasbro version of this combiner, who had Smokescreen as one of his limbs rather then Ratchet. If I had known what Takara was doing, I could have gotten their set and purchased Hasbro's Smokescreen separately. Alas, I was not about to buy a set of five figures that included four I already owned.
The other way to get Ratchet was as an extremely limited BotCon figure, who was part of a customization class which provided options to make either one of three different variations of Ratchet, or a different character named Medix.
First Aid makes a really good Ratchet even in robot mode, much better than the Offroad version of the mold did as Ironhide. It makes me kind of sad that Ratchet was not an easily accessible option, as I would love to have one in my collection.
Medix is kind of an out-of-nowhere new character who was undoubtedly a fun way for the customization class to have an option to use the First Aid head that would have already been included with the mold anyways. |
Going back to the pickup truck version of this mold, and the original use of it as a new Stunticon, apparently early in the design process, rather than a new character named Offroad, it was planned to shoehorn a different G1 character into the Stunticons. The character they had intended to use was one named Rukus. G1 Rukus was a baja buggy, which while not a sports car, would seem to fit more into the stunt car theme then a pickup truck would, so it still makes me wonder who thought a pickup truck was a good idea. But whatever... at some point in the design process, the decision was made to make a new character named Offroad. So what of poor Ruckus? Well, the Transformers Collector's Club to the rescue, of course. He had to get a new name, Garbuge, but Ruckus got his release!
Meanwhile, Takara released a combiner in Unite Warriors who was a Galvatron who managed to use characters from across different continuities as his limbs. A few other G1 characters, an Armada character, and a Prime character all mashed together into a gestalt. The Offroad mold was used to make a character named Breakdown, which can certainly be confusing since there is a Breakdown in the Stunticons already! But this is not that Breakdown, but rather the one from Transformers Prime. Confused yet? Me, too! But let's at least appreciate the shiny toy, shall we?
Meanwhile, Takara released a combiner in Unite Warriors who was a Galvatron who managed to use characters from across different continuities as his limbs. A few other G1 characters, an Armada character, and a Prime character all mashed together into a gestalt. The Offroad mold was used to make a character named Breakdown, which can certainly be confusing since there is a Breakdown in the Stunticons already! But this is not that Breakdown, but rather the one from Transformers Prime. Confused yet? Me, too! But let's at least appreciate the shiny toy, shall we?
But enough about toys I don't own. Back to the toys I do! Universe Ironhide and Universe Ratchet are not perfect, but are still decent enough toys that they are welcome in my collection. That's not to say that I wouldn't be happy if something better comes along, but I'm not loosing sleep over waiting for that something better.
Combiner Wars Ironhide isn't that something better, but he isn't bad for what he is. He won't replace the Universe version in my collection, but he has managed to carve out his own place in my collection. Likewise, Combiner Wars Trailbreaker won't be replacing the earlier Generations version of the character that I have, but I am still happy to have him.
Then we have First Aid! And, well... I'll get around to reviewing the Protectobots properly one of these days, but for now I will say he's a fine update of the character.
Combiner Wars Ironhide isn't that something better, but he isn't bad for what he is. He won't replace the Universe version in my collection, but he has managed to carve out his own place in my collection. Likewise, Combiner Wars Trailbreaker won't be replacing the earlier Generations version of the character that I have, but I am still happy to have him.
Then we have First Aid! And, well... I'll get around to reviewing the Protectobots properly one of these days, but for now I will say he's a fine update of the character.
Above, the Ironhides and other figures being looked at today, all together, in vehicle mode. Below, Generations Trailbreaker gets swapped out for Fansproject's version of Wildrider for a robot mode photograph with a standard sized DVD case for size reference.
And now, to conclude things, a look at these toys in the context of the shelves I keep them on. Universe Ironhide, Universe Ratchet, and Generations Trailbreaker all live on the same shelf, my "Classics Style 1984 Autobot" shelf.
The Combiner Wars and Unite Warriors figures featured today, meanwhile, live on the same shelf as my Metroplex.|
Review added 24 November 2017 by Yotsuya. Comments are welcomed.