Voodoo Robots Salus (Ratchet) and Animus (Ironhide)

Discussion in 'Transformers 3rd Party Discussion' started by daimchoc, May 27, 2015.

  1. Straight Edge

    Straight Edge A Legend In My Own Central Processor

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    I wouldn't bet money on it. This was their only release, which failed to capture the fanbase, took years to get the repaint out, and has not been followed up with in any way. This is a more successful, but still ill-timed/received, version of Omnigonix.
     
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  2. Digger

    Digger Banned

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    I mean Omnigonix was at least shit, these boys had some cool shit going on.
     
  3. mcart

    mcart I'm not fat, it's Prime Armor

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    I feel bad for Omnigonix the idea was good but the final product was, I'll be polite,.very sub par.

    I do find amusing that the scuttlebutt at the time was that Keith had sabotaged the product so he could release his own Sunstreaker... Several years and an official later still nothing from Keith.

    Anyways, these guys, yeah, they could have been great. Wonder about these one and done companies, I mean they obviously invest a lot into learning how to make transforming toys. I'm sure that they don't just leave that behind, I'm sure we'll see Voodoo again under another name.
     
  4. Digger

    Digger Banned

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    That’s what I wonder about them most. They’re not a big type of entity like musicians and they don’t just update their status on where they’re at and there’s no journalism to go and see them. Like how people assume mech ideas went into MMC, but who specifically and how did that merger operate? In an ideal world there’d be a full 3P catalogue recording space which collects all information on companies and any connections with them.
     
  5. fschuler

    fschuler Post Count Inflated With Hot Air TFW2005 Supporter

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    Another member turned me on to the Toy Dojo BF sale for Animus and I decided to go ahead and get one. I’m OCD when it comes to Ironhide figures, and Animus was one of the few I still didn’t have. He showed up a couple days ago. I think the alt mode is about perfect and is pretty solid. The large flap that hangs off of the bottom is my only gripe. The transformation isn’t bad, but the lower leg tabs should be more secure. The plastics feel a bit flimsy, but they don’t feel like they’re going to break. My biggest issue with the figure is the backpack. Like, no effort was made to stabilize it. It would have been a simple matter, I think, for them to take advantage of the various tabs/structures protruding from the rear of the torso to help hold the backpack in place. I’m going to need to come up with some kind of insert piece to help stabilize it. Overall, though, I’m happy with him. He wouldn’t be an Ironhide toy without a healthy dose of derp, after all...lol.
     
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  6. darkeros

    darkeros Well-Known Member

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    I got mine from toy dojo today. I have waited 5 years for this figure. Best box art I 've ever saw.

    [​IMG]
     
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  7. Sepster

    Sepster Well-Known Member

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    I was able to pick up Salus when he was originally released but remember the long wait between getting him and the time Animus was finally released, so I feel you. Congrats on getting him, I still use the two of them in my MP display.
     
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  8. fschuler

    fschuler Post Count Inflated With Hot Air TFW2005 Supporter

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    They did a better job on his face sculpt than on Animus...haha...
     
  9. Thundercracker Blue

    Thundercracker Blue Well-Known Member

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    I hadn’t messed around with Animus in a couple months... BADDFD8E-F5FD-4A91-9F65-32F5830677F2.jpeg

    To me he is an almost perfect MP Ironhide. He fits with the MP-10/carbot aesthetic, which strikes a harmonious balance between real-world detailing and G1 toon accuracy. He has some original design flourishes, he articulates very well, he feels good in hand, transformation is a breeze, and he scales perfectly with the other season 1-2 MP Autobots. I think he looks miles better than the official MP version: he’s barrel-chested, while the MP version is pot-bellied. I’m completely content with this guy.

    My version’s backpack stays in place pretty well. Not rock solid, but it doesn’t ever come undone on its own or with movement/posing. Plus, I really dig the way it looks: 041A1978-446A-4675-B90D-FA78672E30CB.jpeg
    The way the wheels sit together like some kind of jetpack/engine/generator, the way they displace that flap - it just looks robotic in a way that really appeals to me. And the complexity and size of it (not too big, not too flat) really fill him out and give visual balance to his torso. It makes him look tough and burly, like an athletic lineman.
     

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  10. fschuler

    fschuler Post Count Inflated With Hot Air TFW2005 Supporter

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    Oh no doubt it doesn’t look bad at all. Mines just kinda loose. I can get it compacted in there...it just doesn’t take much to knock it out of whack. Maybe there’s a screw or something I can tighten to make it hold position a little better.
     
  11. MrOrange645

    MrOrange645 Well-Known Member

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    I just received Animus/Ironhide yesterday. Lucked out and got him for $40 off eBay, and I can definitely say he was worth it. I would've paid twice that amount for him. Which is why I went ahead and purchased Salus/Ratchet off ToyDojo.

    I'm not sure if they changed or updated the hip design, but mine doesn't suffer from the issue of the wide a-frame stance. My hips seem to be friction joints, not ratchets, capable of standing with any width of leg spread. Curious to see if Salus is the same way.

    I typically prefer the slavish toon style bots, such as MP-44 or TE-01, MP-47, or FT-10 Phoenix. I understand the appeal of the more realistic carbot like MP-10, but growing up watching Transformers, I always wanted the exact bot I saw on the screen.

    That being said, I absolutely LOVE Animus, despite it being more carbot and less slavishly too. He stands proudly between MP47 and TE01 on my shelf. I think in many ways he's more toon-accurate than the official TT Ironhide MP figure, and IMO is the beat MP sized Ironhide for anyone's G1 collection. At least until Fanstoys makes one, which would probably be $250-$300. But for the price, Animus is absolutely brilliant.

    20210625_144440~2.jpg 20210625_144451~2.jpg 20210625_144425.jpg
     
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  12. KevinSig

    KevinSig Well-Known Member

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    I found it’s also a question of making sure everything is folded up just right. I followed the instructions on mine & found it floppy. However after messing around, found how to get it more secure. I’d pay closer attention to matching that pic.

    having no tabs or marks makes it really hard to find the best position based off instructions
     
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  13. MrOrange645

    MrOrange645 Well-Known Member

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  14. UtahRobotInDisguise

    UtahRobotInDisguise Herald of Utahcron

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  15. echotransformer

    echotransformer Well-Known Member

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    Kicking myself for not getting an Animus back in the day. I did at least get a Salus and did the hip mod.
     
  16. Code 777

    Code 777 Eclectic Collector

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    This thread has inspired me. Just went on eBay and picked up the pair. I've never been thrilled with the way the Takara MP Ironhide & Ratchet looked, and these guys seem like they'll do the job nicely.
     
  17. Todd

    Todd Well-Known Member

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    526830A3-1043-47E3-8D19-D4EF80E2A045.jpeg Big fan of this mold. MPs with hip kits are better but this one still deserves love. A-stance ratchets are wide and the plastic is a little thin but overall I like it!
     
  18. MrOrange645

    MrOrange645 Well-Known Member

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    Can you point me to how to do the hip mod? The hips on Ironhide are awesome, but my Ratchet Def suffers from the wide A stance.
     
  19. echotransformer

    echotransformer Well-Known Member

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    Gah! I can't seem to find it on Youtube anymore...not even in my history! Basically the suggestion is to cut the little ratchet pieces off the hips. I didn't want to do a permanent mod, so I made a set of hips via Shapeways so I could 3D print them. They work great. It does require a bit of disassembly and custom screws, to get the best results if I recall correctly. Let me know if you need more info...but there are at least some breadcrumbs...I'll try to take pics at some point soon.
     
  20. echotransformer

    echotransformer Well-Known Member

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    Have they arrived yet? Reliable seller? Link please? ;)