Wait??? Are we talking about MP-30 Ratchet here, or about MP-9 Rodimus? You people are confusing me now.

 

I was talking about mp-9, neither of my mp vans have.. exploded.. yet.

 

Both of my Van Bros are still intact.

 

To TFsources defense, they did respond back and are looking into researching a replacement part for me. Hopefully it works out, but if I do in fact get a replacement, I will not be playing with him much. He is tight all over. Which is strange, because Ironhide moves like butter.

 

TFsource got back with me and have mailed me a replacement part. It should be easy to replace.

I've heard other people have not so pleasant experiences with them, but I have to give them a shout out. Its a good thing I have Wheeljack and Perceptor, otherwise, Ratchet may not get repaired  

 

My vanbros are fine but they don't feel like a premium figure like my FT-Willis.

 

If anyone is willing to part ways with the dino/ekg chest display piece for MP Ironhide and or MP Ratchet, send me a PM.

 

I just picked up MP-30 and immediately went to work cutting the red crosses apart from the red squares. It's a nice figure but I can see how paint chipping may be an issue.

I have a question regarding the red crosses on G1 Ratchet: Is the cross on the roof in his ambulance mode animation accurate? Why does some pics of the G1 toy seem to have this roof red cross why others don't?

 

The cross on his roof appeared in some scenes but not others, just like all the other crosse on him. As for the g1 toy, there were two versions available, one with the cross and one without. I believe one is significantly rarer than the other but I'm not sure which is which.

 

For those that may not have seen it in the 3P forum, Nonnef is offering an Ratchet/Ironhide mold hip kibble kit. It allows the hip skirts to move off the hips the way it probably should have from the factory. I picked up two sets.

 

Just in case anyone is looking for pre-cut sticker sheet including the traditional red cross shoulder logos.
Labels for MP-30 Ratchet

 

that mod is ugly

 

Long story short, this was a running change in the figure itself. Earlier figures had the crosses. Later figures did not. It turns out that the symbol is trademarked by the Red Cross, and they're pretty deliberate about protecting that trademark. Specifically, it seems that they don't like it being used on toys that have connotations of war.

This is also why more modern Ratchets don't use crosses (at least, not without camouflage, as is the case with the MP figure), often opting for EKG symbols or something similar to suggest an ambulance.

 

Which mod? Removing the hip skirts? To each his own I gues. I think it's a massive improvement as those hip skirts are a massively ugly eyesore on a an otherwise pretty decent figure.

 

I disagree but each there own

 

With that mod I think it goes from "That looks funny" to another type of "That looks funny". That being said, for $7 a kit...it might be better than the from the factory "looks funny". If you know what I mean.

 

The hip skirts are clearly wrong when compared to the G1 source. But without them the MP figure is really badly proportioned.

Clearly it would have been easy enough for Takara to put the hips of the back, but they made a call that it looked better with them.

Comparing the sunbow model to the MP figure there isn't anything obvious that is wrong with the MP figure. Maybe the diamond crotch isn't quite wide enough, maybe this is just on of those cases where 2D converted to 3D doesn't work very well.

 

Yeah agree. No disrespect intended to the creators or people up for that, but other than being able to say it looks technically more toon accurate, that mod looks worse in every other way and from every angle, imho! Horrible.

I know they are not 'supposed' to be there if you strictly follow the animation model, but panels on hips is hardly an unusual and terrible look for a Transformer! A much better look than spindly little arms sprouting out of his hips, the previously well tucked away tyres hanging out visible from all angles, and doors very awkwardly stuck on his back! Like you say, his overall proportions and balance factor in the hip panels being there. Removing them accentuates the narrow crotch making him look like he has on some speedos a few sizes too small.

Never did understand the fuss about these hip panels personally. It's not like other MPs dont have various doors, wheels, other vehicle bits hanging off, sticking out or otherwise visible that aren't 'supposed' to be there. Ah well each to their own and good to have options!  

 

Where are there guides for where to put these?

 

Unfortunately it didn't come with a guide. Furthermore I wasn't aware that these are dry rub labels when what I really wanted were peel in paste labels.
There is a better label set from Toyhax/Reprolabels. I highly prefer it over the one I posted earlier. Check it out.
Labels for MP-30 Ratchet
The link shows the guide for these.