Ironhide and Autobot Ratchet [Swapticons]

The Summer of Swapticons continues with probably the most obvious set: Ironhide and Ratchet!

Ironhide and Ratchet almost always share toy molds, so having a toy where the two combine to form an alt mode makes a lot of sense. Normally Ironhide becomes a red van while Ratchet becomes a white ambulance. As a Swapticons set, they both form a white ambulance because synergy is important when you're a team.

I've always been a little attached to Ratchet thanks to his starring role in the early issues of the Marvel Transformers comic. At the time those issues were on newsstands, I was staying at my Grandmother's house while my parents handled the arrangements for our relocation across states. I must have reread those issues a million times and, despite being a cartoon guy, I always think of comic Ratchet cooking hot dogs with his laser scalpel.

I wish I had a story about Ironhide... but I just enjoy him for him.

His southern drawl. Being a good old soldier boy. He's an enjoyable character who's been around since the beginning, but I don't really have something that endears him to me the way Ratchet does. With as many characters as Transformers has, I can't be attached to them all.

But I do like Ironhide.

How couldn't someone?

Admittedly, First Aid would have worked pretty well in Ironhide's place... but Ironhide is the obvious choice.

They're both your standard Swapticons: chonky, silly, with a tiny bit of articulation in the arms and impossible to hate. They're also not as flashy as some of the other Swapticons we've looked at during the Summer of Swapticons... and that's a good thing.

You need standard bearers, and these two are cornerstones of Transformers.

Gamer Edition Ironhide [Studio Series/Voyager Class]

Along with the Age of the Primes deluxes I had been talking about, I had grabbed some Studio Series that I had meant to post about a little while back and just completely forgot about. Admittedly, I don't cover every toy I buy, but like to get a good range in. Gamer Edition Ironhide joins the other War for Cybertron figures in Studio Series. As you'd expect he's a repaint and retool of Ratchet, whose toy I liked a lot.

It's probably no surprise then that I'm fond of Ironhide as well, but we should get into the differences first. I do admit, this version makes me think of the Doomslayer (the newer incarnation of the Doom Guy) and that flavors my opinion some. You all know I love to play Doom. It's funny, the similarities to games like Gears of War was an early criticism of the War for Cybertron games within the Transformers fan base. I guess opinions may vary.

In robot mode, the obvious difference is in the colors and new head sculpt. There's also some other new parts that may not be as instantly recognizable. He's got new shoulders, chest, and a new EMP shotgun weapon. I didn't notices the shoulders at first, but they are indeed different. That feels like a little extra effort that could have probably been skipped, but... Whose going to complain about extra effort? Like Rathcet, Ironhide's right forearm can be removed to attach his gun to match the game appearances. He can also just hold it, which I'm more of a fan of. If you so choose to use the gimmick, the arm can store in his robot backpack as can the gun. The axe is the same as before and can be held by both hands. Ironhide looks pretty sharp in robot mode and is very well articulated wielding his weapons in any badass pose you'd want to put him in.

Transformation is my only complaint with this toy. While I don't remember any trouble with Ratchet, Ironhide gave me a little. Those new shoulders combined with some new vehicle mode back panels proved to be a little too fiddly for my liking. There is some panel forming which may not be everyone's cup of tea, but when done well, I generally don't take any issue. The new parts didn't seem to work as smooth as the existing parts did with Ratchet. Considering these parts are usually included at design time, I'm thinking it's possibly a symptom of mold usage. He transforms the same as Ratchet, it just didn't seem to fit into place as well. That was frustrating.

Once transformed, vehicle mode looks great! While I normally like Ratchet more than Ironhide, this Cybertronian Tactical vehicle seems like a better fit for Ironhide and it looks great in his colors. Like I mentioned above, there's new vehicle mode back panels that I honestly didn't notice initially like the shoulders. Once again, I'm not complaining about the extra effort that went into the toy even though they gave me a little trouble in the transform. Thanks to the new robot mode chest, the vehicles bumper is also slightly different. It's just a neat looking alt mode that looks even better in these colors. The EMP Shotgun can store on the backside, while the axe forms a cannon of sorts on the roof. If you didn't get those back panels just right, the axe won't connect right. Be sure everything clicks into place. Ironnhide looks great in both modes, and despite some annoyance during transformation, I really like this toy. It just looks awesome, you know?

Ironhide [Galaxy Version 05-One]

I've been mentioning how much the blending of Blokees and Transformers One visual styles remind me of Megaman X, and I think Ironhide just might be my best example. Just look at him, he literally looks like Megaman X. Equipped with Rising Fire, maybe. It's a good look. To be fair, I've been comparing Ironhide to Megaman ever since his old SCF toy. I'm not saying he always looks like him, but in some instances he does. That being said, we've got another fantastic Blokees kit from this series with the new sturdier builds.

You know, I really liked Transformers One, but these have really reawakened my fandom for it. TF One was such a good movie, it's good to bask in it some more. Blokees are quickly becoming one of my current favorite TF things to do and this series has been specifically fun. Good times. This is Ironhide in his miner body without a Cog, and it looks pretty great. I appreciate how the characters are getting toys of both forms as they spend most of the movie without Cogs and it's actually a pretty big plot point.

Of course being a Galaxy Version Blokees, Ironhide has the standard open and closed hands and a display base. He's also got that generic laser pistol that looks a lot like his G1 cartoon characters laser. While I'm used to most characters having personalized weapons, I do enjoy the generic guns from TF One. They're not bad looking and represent the uprising which included taking weapons from the look-alike Trackers. See, these Blokees are more than blind boxed models. They're a fun way to enjoy the world of Transformers.

Glittering Ironhide [Galaxy Version Defender/01 Shining Version]

In addition to the neat cab mode Blokees Optimus Prime I got at Toylanta is Glittering Ironhide! Two good pulls from a surprise con find! Glittering Ironhide is a translucent version of the classic Ironhide that just looks great. These new Defender Blokees are smaller than the normal Galaxy Version.

The smaller size combined with the signature Blokees style makes for a great little figure that's not to like. Ironhide is pleasantly articulated and has a laser rifle. You'd think assembling something so small would be frustrating, but I actually got the kit put together easily and in a lot less time than a standard Galaxy Version. Ironhide also came with a Megatron coin, there looked to be some variety in coins in the manual. I'm not sure if it's completely random or assigned for each kit. Certainly a neat little extra regardless. I'm obviously a fan of the Blokees Transformers and really look forward to getting more Defender types soon. These little guys have a lot of charm and character... and somehow feel extremely badass.

Ironhide [Galaxy Version 01 Roll Out]

Ironhide is another original cast member of the Transformers. The 'red van guy' who shares a base mold with Ratchet and was originally released as No. 2 Onebox Cherry Red Vanette in Diaclone and DK-2 in Diakorn. His colors were changed to red from black for The Transformers release, but he was back in black for his role in the live action movie series. That lead to an exclusive black version of the original Ironhide, something I've always found neat. Ironhide is a good ol' boy and an old soldier. These character traits are played more into depending on whomever is writing the adventure and sometimes doesn't seem any older or wiser than the others.

One thing I haven't expressed about Blokees that I like is their proportions. There's an almost Megaman X look to the figures once assembled and I feel it's really evident on Ironhide. It'd be undeniable in blue. Like other Blokees, Ironhide is very articulated and has closed and open hand options. A neat extra touch is an included blast effect that can be attached to his gun or other characters guns. It's a fun little extra. Ironhide is a simpler looking robot which results in a more basic looking toy. Thankfully the combination of red and black make for an interesting color scheme. It's hard not to like such a simple, yet fun little figure. Blokees are generally pleasant and these little AMK figures are fun to assemble with the Transformers channel on in the background.

Ironhide 86 24BB (Buzzworthy Bumblebee/Deluxe Class)

Nobody knows when it happened or who did it. Ironhide was found laying on his back. Mouth agape with a large wound signaling the arrival of his passing.

Don't look at me, but Hasbro thought to make a set of a dead Ironhide and Prowl in the Buzzworthy Bumblebee line. These are Studio Series 86 figures released under the Target exclusive banner meant to represent them during their deaths at the hands of the Decepticons during Transformers The Movie in 1986. Today we'll be looking at Ironhide... as you've probably figured out by now. Ironhide is a slight remold of the Earthrise Ironhide toy. Now with a uh... dying face and a wounded chest. While I don't have it pictured, the toys also come with blast effects that can be plugged into the wounds to replicate the laser shots that did the killing. Dang Hasbro, you took it to an extreme... and I dig it.

While it's not as great as the Voyager Studio Series Ironhide, this is still a solid figure. To be honest, I just like classic Ironhide. It's hard not to love that bright red on grey and that boxy robot body. They really took the Diaclone toy and improved on it with the Sunbow animation model. Ironhide of course transforms into a van. This time a van that's been shot up. His twin pistols can store on the roof like other of his toys of late. He has a decent amount of articulation and is an all around a good figure. The transformation is pretty easy, but not super simple. I like this toy and had the same opinion with DK-2 Guard whom shares the mold. It's hard not to like Ironhide and even harder to hate a good Ironhide figure. A dying version is unique and the blast effects are a great morbid bit of fun.

Ironhide in 1986 Missions

Studio Series 86 figures are really neat. They're updates of the classic G1 characters as they appeared in the 1986 movie. Like all Studio Series figures, they're a higher grade toy. Ironhide here is a voyager class toy that's way nicer than I thought he'd be. Going in, I was prepared for just another Ironhide... just bigger. Instead I got a very premium feeling figure that almost feels like the first draft of a Masterpiece Ironhide toy. He's surprisingly good, especially considering just how simple the toy looks.

Classic Ironhide is a pretty standard looking robot that turns into a boxy van. He's pretty plain. Who'd have thunk they'd given him so much articulation? You could probably roll him up into a ball. Considering this is a Studio Series toy, one could probably reenact some of his famous scenes from the 1986 movie. Shoots a gun or gets shot by a gun. Considering he's hardly in the movie and got a fairly accurate toy in Earthrise... I'm guessing somebody REALLY wanted to make this figure. I'm glad they did, because it's a really nice toy. If I had any complaints, I found the transformation to be a little tricky. Not particularly hard or anything, just fiddled with his parts more than I would have liked. Not enough to ruin it though. In my mind, this is probably the best toy of G1 Ironhide ever made. You heard me.