Name: Ratchet
Allegiance: Autobots
Function: Medic
Timeline: Generation 1
You break it, I'll remake it.
Profile:
Ratchet is widely regarded to be one of the best - if not the best - medical minds on Cybertron. A dedicated healer, Ratchet has the delicate, skilful touch of a master surgeon, and a wide-ranging knowledge of the systems that together comprise Cybertronian biology. With the right materials he can fix anything from laser cores to transformation cogs to missile guidance systems; and after he’s fixed his patients’ bodies, his next step is to ensure they are kept in good spirits. “When’s the after party?” is one of his frequent quips after a successful session in theatre. Some Autobots find it hard to see past Ratchet’s coarse language and his sometimes abrasive and curmudgeonly attitude, but this belies Ratchet’s enormous compassion. Unlike many of the Autobots, Ratchet doesn’t distinguish between Autobots and Decepticons. If a life is in danger, Ratchet will work to preserve it – allegiance be damned. Before joining the Autobots, Ratchet pursued this belief by operating a field clinic where warriors on both sides were repaired. Some of the Autobots who know about this part of Ratchet’s past question if he’s truly committed to the Autobot cause – especially given the way he openly questions Optimus Prime's decisions on a regular basis. However, Optimus Prime knows Ratchet is as committed to the Autobots’ overall mission of safeguarding the freedom of all sentient beings as any wearing the Autobot badge, and he knows when Ratchet speaks, it is from a place of genuine compassion and concern to preserve life.
Ambulance mode:
Toys of Transformers Generation 1 Ratchet
Transformers Masterpiece Ratchet
There's no two ways about it - to me, this is a perfect representation of Ratchet from the original Transformers cartoon show. The modified Nissan vanette ambulance is perfectly represented here, and the robot mode transformation is nothing short of incredible. There is something magical about the way the boxy ambulance changes into the clean, sleek look of Ratchet's robot mode, with a minimum of vehicle mode parts exposed. To me, that is what defined the Masterpiece Transfomers line at its best.
A lot has been made about the one non-accurate elemenent of Ratchet's design - the two panels on his hips. They don't bother me at all, certainly not enough to invest in a kit to have them fold away. Really, with everything this toy manages to pull off, two small hip panels is hardly a deal-breaker. At least in my eyes. Granted, it does take away from the otherwise sleek look of the robot form, so if this is an issue for you, I do understand your position.
Ratchet was one of the first Masterpieces to really go all-out with accessories - he's got just about every medical tool he ever used in the original cartoon, which is really cool and gives him some fantastic options for display and posing.
More information on Transformers Masterpiece Ratchet at TFW2005
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Transformers Masterpiece toys in my collection.
Transformers Universe Ratchet
Henkei Ratchet (who was released with slight deco changes in the 2008 Universe line) is a decent toy held back by a few design issues. The design is very complicated and a little fiddly - there is a heavy reliance on panels with this figure. The most glaring issue with this toy, though, is the head. It flat out refuses to sit flush on Ratchet's neck, making it feel like Ratchet is always looking down. The result is a robot mode that feels a little like a hunchback, which is a pity since there are some nice features on this one. He's a rare pre-2019 release to have ankle tilts, and he has this really nice trick in the transformation where the mechanical details on the chest move out of sight in vehicle mode. The accessory is cool too, since it has two different display options.
With all that being said, on balance the Siege and Earthrise versions of this mold did the robot mode so much better - but as a vehicle, this Ratchet still looks better as an ambulance from Earth.
