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Secrets from Diaclone unearthed: Ratchet and Ironhide hidden gun post storage

The Ironhide/Ratchet mold has always been one of the stranger Autobot Cars. For one, it’s not an exotic or sporty car, and for two, his robot mode is… not standard. Aside from all this, though, it’s the only Autobot Car design that can store robot mode accessories.

The large circular socket in Ironhide/Ratchet’s belt buckle has always invited the chrome cannon from their battle platform. But, as it turns out, there is a place to store that pesky gun post as well… The indentation behind the front bumper of the van is not present to allow room for the barrel of the chrome gun – it actually is a storage place for the gun post, deeper into the vehicle than the chrome gun.

Ironhide1

The connecting tab of the gun post fits into a U-shaped gap, with the tab pointing toward the front of the vehicle. The fit is not particularly tight or secure, but the shorter end of the chrome gun overlaps it and keeps the free end of the gun post in place.

Ironhide2

This still doesn’t help us store the missiles, but it’s one less part rolling around when you display Ironhide or Ratchet in alt mode. I just can’t help but wonder why Takara so quickly abandoned the idea of weapon storage – it would not start become a standard until over 10 years later!

Published by Ben Meier

Ben started collecting plastic robots at the ripe old age of two. His life mission ever since has been to accumulate as many as possible.

One reply on “Secrets from Diaclone unearthed: Ratchet and Ironhide hidden gun post storage”

  1. Hi TFL!

    I enjoyed reading this blog and agree with the information. Both have to be 2 of the most unique G1 Transformer toys out there for their obscure designs and toy engineering back in the early days. It does seem like a miss opportunity to not include the weapon storage. Perhaps Takara/Hasbro thought it wouldn’t be a good idea to damage the chrome if you were to play around with them in alt mode and possibly scraping off chunks bit by bit. Otherwise the idea still would of been helpful to keep using and incorporating it with other Transformer vehicles released back then so we wouldn’t have to put the weapon accessories on the side or end up losing them.

    Good job on the blog!

    John

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