Here's my first attempt at customizing. I saw how lots of people turned Skids into Ironhide, but it never sat well with me for Ironhide being a minivan. It just wasn't "tough" enough. But I picked up a Skids along the way and just held onto him. I found a knockoff white Hound on eBay and thought he'd make an awesome Ratchet - until I got him and upon the first transformation the legs $%^&*ing snapped off. Unfixable, I tossed the body but kept the head. Then Alt Optimus came out and there was a tough looking alt form. So I picked up 2 of them and held onto them until I had enough knowledge about painting and customizing (and enough free-time to attempt it) to do them right. I used Skids head for Ironhide and the white Hound head for Ratchet. Ironhide was easy. The gold trim down the side and on the hood was pin-striping I picked up at a local model shop. Not a whole lot of paint work, but it was my first attempt and got me familiar with all the pieces and how they fit together - excellent knowledge for when I started Ratchet. Ratchet was a pain as I tried to paint him in the winter and had to wait for warm enough days to do it - not an easy task in Cleveland, Ohio. At one point, Ratchet was 100% disassembled in labeled zip-lock bags, as I painted each limb one at a time. I used Krylon Fusion paint for most of Ratchet, and the smaller pieces just some white, red, and black model paint. Red stripe down the side was just like the gold for Ironhide. The grey piece on his forehead is actually part of an expired credit card that I painted. Works pretty well, I think. The lights/sired was from a 1/25 scale EMS model van. And of course, Repro-labels for the autobot symbols and stickers. I'd love to transform them and show you how they look, but I'm terrified the paint would chip or something else would happen to make them f.u.b.a.r. so for now, they remain in robot mode.
Very nice work!!...that white on Ratchet looks great!...you get big props just for that alone Looking forward to seeing more from you
I never tire of seeing this mould redone. Very nice work! I love the gold trim on Ironhide. If you prepped both of them properly and used Krylon on them, then chipping *should* be minor, especially if you laid it on in thin coats, and let it cure at least 7 days before transforming them.
Your white on Ratchet looks great! However, I don't care for this mold as Ratchet. That's my opinion, though. This is yours and in your collection. If it makes ya happy, all the more awesome! Ironhide looks nice, and I never tire seeing this mold used for Ironhide. I really enjoy what you did for the details. He looks nice! That's a shame about that white Hound. You could have sent it to me Keep up the great work
Thanks for the comments! They've been complete for awhile so I might try to give them a transform. I'll post pics if I'm successful. I had that white Hound out of the box for a total of 3 minutes when the legs snapped off and I got a little hot under the collar and he met with a brutal if not premature demise. Really, only the head was salvageable
They both look pretty darn good man. I like the modded Hound head for Ratchet, not sure if I have seen that done before.
I've had my Ironhide done for a while as well, except I need to find a KP Convoy tailgate or try matching paint. Both prove equally difficult. As for the Hound salvage, you'd be surprised! This guy here came from a salvage job, to the point I had to resculpt some parts due to original damage (got it from a donor to my thread linked in my sig): Detritus - Alternators - Binaltech Customs - TFW2005.COM Yeah, I forgot to mention that. Major props indeed!
thats ratchet paint job is insanely awesome, so clean these are incredible you have talent please keep em coming
Nice work. This is the first time I have seen this mold used for Ratchet. I did a Alternators version of these two for myself as well but I used Scion mold for Ratchet. I still need to finish Ratchet but have not picked up the supplies at the model shop.
Nice work. I'm working on these two, as well. Not a huge fan of the SRT as Ratchet, as others have mentioned, but it's all about what tickles your pickle, man! I'm doing a Ram-As-Ironhide mod (altered transformation), and I really like that gold striping. Do you have a brand name for it, or some left over? I'd love to do it on mine. Nice work!
Wow! Someone noticed that! Good eyes! Thanks! Yeah, I do have a lot left. Didn't really need all that much. PM me your address and I'll drop it in the mail. I'll send you the red too, if you want it.
...and just WHAT is wrong with THIS mold as Ratchet ?!?! ( just kidding SQ7 ) But seriously BT...GREAT work on these two. Now I'm thinking of going back and re-doing the head on my Ratchet...(that just doesn't sound right)......I got lazy when doing mine and just stuck a repainted Prowl head on there. This mold is great for so many characters...just play around with the shoulder/door assembly & the front bumpers and you'd be amazed how many different looks you can get from this fig. So far I've done Ratchet, Ironhide, and Trailbreaker from this mold and have a Hoist in the works. Keep up the great work.
