Rattrap (BW)/toys

I'M DA GIANT RAT DAT MAKES ALL OF DA RULES!

You may not be able to depend on Rattrap's courage, but you can depend on him to have a lot of toys.

Toys

Beast Wars

Less cute than advertised.

• Rattrap (Basic Class, 1996/1997)

• Takara name: Rattle
• Takara ID number: C-5
• Takara release date: July ?? 1997
• Accessories: 2-part pistol
• Known designers: Yuichiro Hira (TakaraTomy), Masakatsu Saito (concept artist)

Part of the first wave of Beast Wars Basic toys, Rattrap transforms from a large rat to robot mode with a spring-action, one-step transformation activated by pulling up on the base of his tail. Transforming him back to rat mode, however, requires a bit more of a "hands-on" approach. His beast mode "shell" halves each hide a part of his handgun for beast-mode storage.

The initial Hasbro release of Rattrap came on a "rocky bubble" style card, which was quickly replaced with a "smooth bubble" style card in wave 2. Rattrap shipped on both styles of card, but the rocky-bubble version is rarer, and commands a higher price on the secondary market, if keeping toys in rare-ish packaging is your particular collecting "thing".

In Japan, "Rattle" was similarly released in the first wave of Takara's Beast Wars toyline in July 1997, and was basically identical to the Hasbro version. However, in January 1998, many first-wave toys were re-released with altered decoes to make them more show-like. For Rattrap, this mainly meant his robot mode head got a humongous glob of shiny copper paint (that didn't really match his copper plastic in tone). This copper was also used on his hands. His beast mode eyes were changed from yellow to red, and dark gray paint was added to his rat nose, although oddly the paint operations on his rodent teeth were dropped altogether.

This mold was also used to make Packrat.

• More information on Rattrap at TFU.info

Rocky Mountain hi-YAH!

• Iwayama no Taiketsu: Rattle VS Terrorsaurer (Vs pack, 1997 / 1998)

• ID number: VS-5
• Release date: July ??, 1997 / January ??, 1998
• Accessories: 2-part pistol

In Japan, Rattrap was available both separately and in a "Rocky Mountain Showdown" (岩山の対決) two-pack with the Predacon Terrorsaur.

Two variants of the set exist: the original releases and the 1998 redeco versions. The toys are identical to their individual releases.

• Gold Rattle (Multi-pack "Lucky Draw", 1998)

• Accessories: 2-part pistol

A one-of-a-kind, all-gold-chromed version of Rattrap was awarded in Japan for a TV Magazine contest, as part of a set of gold Beast Wars toys of the original five Maximal show-characters.

The actual dates and rules of this contest are currently unknown.

• More information at Soundwaves Oblivion

Find one without a chrome shedding problem, win a prize! (Hasbro version)

(Takara version)

• Rattrap (Deluxe Transmetal, 1998)

• Takara name: Metals Rattle
• Takara ID number: C-43
• Takara release date: September ?? 1999
• Accessories: Tail-whip
• Known designers: Daniel Sanfilippo (deco artist), Masakatsu Saito (concept artist)

Part of the second wave of Hasbro Deluxe Transmetals, Rattrap transforms from semi-organic robot to a robotic rat. He has a third "beast-vehicle" form, folding his hind feet up into the extending rear wheels, flipping up his front legs, and pulling out a pair of exhaust pipes (eyuw, the smell!). His beast mode tail becomes a whip for robot mode. There is a minor variant to this toy: about midway through the production run, a small "catch" was added to the neck's swivel joint to lock his robot head in place in robot mode. This retooled version was then used for all subsequent releases of the toy.

Despite the show's portrayal, his hubcaps are not removable (well, not in a way that won't break the toy), he does not have a handgun, and his back kibble does not rotate 180 degrees.

This release is one of several toys notorious for severe chrome-flaking issues. Later redecoes -including the Takara release below- do not seem to have this problem (at least, not anywhere as bad or widespread).

For the Japanese Beast Wars Metals release of "Metals Rattle", the toy was given a large number of deco changes that, while individually minor, add up to a considerably different-looking, arguably more show-accurate toy (at least in robot mode). The most immediately noticeable is that the "RATTRAP" tampograph on his beast mode back was changed to "CYBERTRON" with the Maximal faction symbol. However, his entire color scheme has been slightly altered: his gray-tan plastics and are now more blueish-gray, the champagne-silver paint is now more cold silver, his brown base turned into a very dark pearlescent maroonish-purple, the chrome was given a much more maroon tone, and the bright orange changed to a darker, redder shade. (This version has the neck-catch tooling, in case you were wondering, which you weren't, but we're telling you anyway.)

• More information on Transmetal Rattrap at TFU.info

• Senkō no Taiketsu: Metals Rattle VS Metals Terrorsaurer (VS pack, 1999)

• ID number: VS-43
• Release date: September ?? 1999
• Accessories: Tail-whip

In Japan, Transmetal Rattrap was available both as an individual and in a "Flash Showdown" (閃光の対決) VS pack with Transmetal Terrorsaur. Both toys are identical to their individual releases.

Yoink!

• Rattrap (Deluxe Transmetal, 1999)

• Accessories: Tail-whip

The first store-exclusive Transformer in the Beast Wars line, Transmetal Rattrap was given a deep blue color scheme.

He was only available as a Walmart exclusive, even having the Walmart logo emblazoned on the bubble as part of the design.

This toy was later repurposed as a Transmetal form for Packrat.

• More information on Walmart Rattrap at TFU.info

Rattrap Cheesepants

• Metals Rattle Special Version (Deluxe, 1999)

• Accessories: Tail-whip

In Japan, the Deluxe Transmetal Rattrap toy was given a white and orange deco and packed in with a 500-piece Beast Wars Metals jigsaw puzzle from Central Hobby.

Oddly, this toy uses the Hasbro "RATTRAP" tampograph on the rat mode back rather than the Takara "CYBERTRON" and symbol mark. This is likely due to the fact it was released long before Metals was released in Japan, and thus Takara hadn't made that decision yet.

This toy was repurposed as the Shattered Glass version of Rattrap and as Labrat.

• More information on puzzle Rattrap at TFU.info

Redrat! Redraaaat!

• Rattrap (Deluxe Transmetal, 2000)

• Accessories: Tail-whip

As part of the first wave of 2000's "Fox Kids" Transmetals series, this version of Rattrap was one of the last releases in the original retail Beast Wars line. The toy got a more primary red color scheme, with bright gray robot bits and deep blue/purplish chrome.

This toy was released in Japan as part of a JafCon convention exclusive set (without changes) along with the "Fox Kids" Transmetals versions of Airazor and Cheetor.

• More information on Fox Kids Rattrap at TFU.info

Beast Machines

Oh no. A mime.

• Rattrap (Happy Meal toy, 2000)

Part of the Beast Machines McDonald's Happy Meal promotion, this simple toy of Rattrap transforms into a technorganic rat, albeit one with wheels instead of hindlegs. This does make his legless, wheeled robot mode a fair bit more show-accurate.

He features a light-piping section on his back that in theory illuminates the Maximal spark on his stomach, but as pretty much the entirety of his non-rat-head torso is made of the same transparent plastic, the effect is somewhat... diffused.

Being made of softer plastic and having no removable parts, he is very suitable for the younger set.

• More information on Beast Machines Rattrap (Mcdonald's) at TFU.info

Ever want to know what the children would look like?

• Rattrap (Little Red Rooster Meal toy, 2001)

The McDonald's Happy Meal Rattrap was also released in Australia through the Red Rooster restaurant rai—uh, chain. Like the other three toys in the promotion, it came in four color schemes: the original colors (with opaques replacing the transparents), a reversed red-with-green, a deep blue with very light blue, and a light blue with deep blue.

These versions of the mold were retooled from the original, removing almost all arm articulation (and a step in the transformation), plugging up the light piping, and reducing the number of parts and plastic colours used by the toy. Oddly, even though Little Red Rooster Meal Rattrap no longer has light piping, he has red paint on his back to simulate the red circle of translucent plastic on the original's back.

• More information on Red Rooster Red Rattrap at TFU.info
• More information on Red Rooster Deep Blue Rattrap at TFU.info
• More information on Red Rooster Light Blue Rattrap at TFU.info

Oh shit, a rat!

• Rattrap (Mega Class, 2001)

• Accessories: Tail-whip
• Known designers: Tim Bradley (concept artist)

Rattrap was the last release in the Beast Machines toyline before the change to the Battle for the Spark packaging, not appearing on shelves until long after the rest of his Season 1 compatriots. Reportedly, Rattrap was delayed for redesign purposes. This did result in a toy closer to his show design than theirs, however.

This sizable Rattrap transforms into a large technorganic rat. In beast mode, turning his tail moves his head and ears. In robot mode, he has a flip-down visor and moving jaw. For show-accuracy, his robot legs can fold up so he can use his wheels for locomotion instead. Said wheels also have a trio of flip-out blades. His multi-jointed beast tail becomes a hand-held whip.

He possesses an orange spark crystal, concealed within his body, making it visible only in mid-transformation.

• More information on Beast Machines Rattrap (Mega) at TFU.info

Beast Wars Returns

• Rattle (Mega, 2004)

• ID number: BR-03
• Release date: November 18, 2004
• Accessories: Tail-whip

"Rattle" was released in the first wave of Takara's Beast Wars Returns line, seemingly with no notable differences from the Hasbro version aside from packaging.

Like the entire rest of this line, he was sold only in Toys"R"Us stores in Japan.

Beast Wars 10th Anniversary

• Rattrap (Deluxe Class, 2006)

• Accessories: Tail-whip
• Known designers: Marcelo Matere (packaging artist)

Part of the second wave of Hasbro's Beast Wars 10th Anniversary product, the original Transmetal Rattrap toy was given a slight deco modification for better show accuracy: mainly casting his tan-ish parts in a brighter, more neutral gray. He also gains Maximal sigil on his chest, ironically a less show accurate change.

He came with the right arm to the "build-a-bot" Trans-Mutate, plus a DVD of the episode "A Better Mousetrap", an episode that features Rattrap in his original organic body.

On that note, Rattrap is the only 10th Anniversary figure that is redeco'd from their Transmetal form rather than the organic original, because the original Basic figure's mold was either lost or otherwise unfit for use (which would come into play again later...).

• More information on 10th Anniversary Rattrap at TFU.info

Timelines

Mmmm, cheese wheel.

• Dawn of Future's Past (Multi-pack, 2006)

• Accessories: Blaster, "Golden Disk Key"
• Known designers: Joe Moore (concept artist)^[1]

Timelines "Axalon Rattrap" is a redeco of Cybertron Scout Class Ransack, transforming into a Cybertronic motorcycle. Plugging a Cyber Planet Key—or in this set's case, a "Golden Disk Key"—into the rear portion of his bike mode flips out a pair of non-firing guns. This assembly detaches to form a hand-held blaster in robot mode.

This is thus far the only version of the Cybertron Ransack mold to have the "correct" rear wheel assembly position.

Rattrap came in a boxed five-pack with "Axalon" versions of Optimus Primal, Cheetor, Rhinox, and "Darksyde" Dinobot. This set was also made available as a bagged set in more limited numbers.

This mold was also the model for non-toy character Quickslinger, and the "Theft of the Golden Disk" video incarnation of Tarantulas.

• Design notes on Axalon Rattrap from Joe Moore on Twitter
• More information on Axalon Rattrap at TFU.info

Generations

At long last, I can finally move my legs!

• Rattrap (Deluxe Class, 2014)

• Series / Number: 02 / #017
• Accessories: 2 blasters, demolition charge
• Known designers: Tomoya Miyake (TakaraTomy), Emiliano Santalucia (concept artist)

Part of the ninth wave of 2012-onwards Generations: Thrilling 30 Deluxe Class toys, Rattrap is based on his appearance in the first season of the Beast Wars cartoon, transforming into an organic rat. He has two blasters which can combine to form a larger rifle, and his left forearm opens to reveal a demolition charge. The blaster can be stored securely in a slot between the robot's back and the backpack to simulate Rattrap reaching behind his head to draw it. Additionally, he is jointed so that he can be standing upright in rat mode, much like he did in the television show, and extra fur-textured plastic is placed at the back of his neck so that it can close up the gap when his rat head is facing downwards. His tail is rubberized with a wire running through it, allowing it to be posed.

While like most Deluxe Class Generations toys he is tooled to have light-piped eyes, they have been painted over in red. He also suffers from a design flaw in which an overly tight transformation joint in the shins can crack the legs or cause stress marks. This can be fixed with careful trimming of the back of the joint.^[2]

He comes with a copy of the comic issue "Finest Hour", which places its pages massively out of order and does not actually feature Rattrap. Oops times two.

The stock photo on the back of the packaging depicts him with a large Maximal logo on his right robot mode leg that is not present on the actual toy.

Rattrap became a noticeable shelfwarmer long after his release. He was still found in plentiful numbers throughout future waves of the Thrilling 30 line, and could still be found while the following Combiner Wars toyline was in full swing.

This mold was redecoed into BotCon 2015 Packrat.

• More information on Generations Rattrap at TFU.info

Kre-O

• Kreon Souvenir Figure Set (Kreon Souvenir Figure Set, 2014)

• Accessories: Dual blaster, hardhat

Part of a BotCon "anniversary" set of Kreon Micro-Changers based on past convention-exclusive toys, "Kreon Rattrap" is based on the BotCon 2006 Rattrap figure. He can turn into a Cybertronian motorcycle mostly by taking everything off his torso and replacing them with brick parts. He also comes with an extra gray hardhat part that you can switch with his normal helmet if you want him to resemble the original toy more.

He was only available as part of a BotCon 2014 Kre-O six-pack, along with Breakdown, Fractyl, Gigatron, Landshark, and Shattered Glass Rodimus.

• More information on Rattrap at TFU.info

Legends

Just like the other one, but tanner.

• Rattle (Rattrap) (Deluxe, 2014)

• ID number: LG01
• Release date: October 25, 2014
• Accessories: 2 blasters, "bomb part"

Released in the first wave of TakaraTomy's Legends toyline, Rattle is a redeco of Generations Deluxe Class Rattrap with more yellow-tinted robot parts, slightly beiger fur and some new paint apps, such as red rat eyes and a painted-in mouth in robot mode.

He comes with a leaflet featuring a character profile, tech specs, and the Legends Bonus Edition Volume 1 mini-comic.

• Rattle (Rattrap) (Deluxe, 2016)

• ID number: LG-EX
• Release date: May 7, 2016
• Accessories: 2 blasters, "bomb part"

LG-EX Rattle is another redeco of Generations Rattrap, exclusive to Transformers Fes2016. It's almost identical to the first Legends Rattle, but with some slight color differences such as beige robot parts, black rat eyes, and a darker shade of brown in the fur.

His packaging features the confused sentence "rat to rattorp" instead of "rat to robot".

War for Cybertron: Kingdom

Rats! We're rats! We're dah rats!

• Rattrap (Core Class, 2020)

• Hasbro ID number: WFC-K2
• TakaraTomy ID number: KD-02
• TakaraTomy release date: March 27, 2021
• Accessories: "Fusion blaster"
• Known designers: John Warden (Hasbro), Ken Christiansen (concept artist)

Released in the first wave of Kingdom Core-class toys to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Beast Wars, Rattrap is a 3-inch-tall figure that transforms from a robot heavily accurate to his appearance in the first season of the Beast Wars cartoon into an organic rat significantly more realistic than any previous depiction of his rat mode, be they toy or media. However, his robot mode fists stick out in a very realistic unfortunate position in beast mode. Although Rattrap has a considerable amount of articulation in robot mode, he has little to none in rat mode, limited to the ankle joints of his hind legs.

He comes with a "fusion blaster" based on Rattrap's weapon from the cartoon, which can be tabbed onto his back in robot mode or either of his rat mode haunches.

The hinge assembly connecting Rattrap’s robot arms to his back kibble tends to be very loose, which can cause the entire arm assembly to swing down when attempting to pose the arms in robot mode.

His toy-reveal press release describes him as "a mini version of the iconic character to pose out with other RATTRAP toys at larger scales", though the toy is already meant to scale with other Kingdom toys, even if a bit small.

War for Cybertron Trilogy

I don't know how parents could be mean enough to name their child after a fried rodent.

• Optimus Primal (Battle 2-pack, 2021)

• TakaraTomy ID number: WFC-19
• TakaraTomy release date: December 29, 2021
• Accessories: "Fusion blaster"

War for Cybertron Trilogy Rattrap is a minor redeco of the above Kingdom toy, with his gray-brown plastics now a slightly-darker shade, and his silver paint now in gunmetal. His rat-nose paint seems to be unchanged in shade, leading it to be far less subtle than on the normal release. The loose arm hinge assembly problem of the Kingdom version is fixed in this version of the mold.

He comes packaged with a similarly-marginally-redecoed Optimus Primal figure, promoting the Kingdom season of the War for Cybertron Trilogy cartoon on Netflix.

Vintage Beast Wars

• Rattrap ("Mega", 2021)

• Accessories: 2-part pistol

In celebration of the 25th anniversary of Beast Wars, the original 1996 Basic Class Rattrap was "reissued" in the first wave of the Walmart exclusive Vintage Beast Wars series. This toy is a completely new set of molds based on the originals, those having been lost or degraded to an unusable state. He retains the same accessories and functionality as the original toy, but has several small detail differences in the molding: most notably, the fur patterning is much sharper with deeper grooves than the original. He also has several color differences both overt and subtle, with black rat eyes instead of yellow, off-white teeth instead of bright white, pale-peach rat feet instead of ruddy-pink, and a more pale-brownish plastic for his robot bits and tail rather than copper-brown (the paint on his rat-rump is unchanged copper-brown though, so it doesn't quite match the tail).

Much like the Vintage G1 toys, Rattrap comes in a close recreation of his original packaging, Kenner logo and all, complete with a "rock bubble" blister card styled after the first-wave Beast Wars toys' releases. The back of the card does as much as it can to look like the original, but there are a lot of differences due to modern concessions, especially the need to have all the text in multiple languages. Also similar to Vintage G1, the time disparity since the original release (and likely the cost of completely re-creating the molds) has the toy set at quadruple the price of the toy's 1996 release, $20 versus $5, and at the same "Mega" size class/price as the deluxe class Cheetor figure.

This re-release sold poorly, resulting in unsold stock being sold at clearance as low as the original version's $5 price depending on the area.

Beast Wars Again

• Daizekkyō no Taiketsu (Multi-pack, 2024)

• ID number: BWVS-05
• Release date: January 27, 2024
• Accessories: Gun
• Known designers: Hisashi Yuki (TakaraTomy), Hidetsugu Yoshioka (packaging artist)

Released in the fifth wave of TakaraTomy's Beast Wars Again line, this version of Rattle is a redeco of Kingdom Rattrap in an attempt to make him in an even more cartoon-accurate deco, based on his appearance in the first season of the Beast Wars cartoon.

He was only available in the "Screaming Showdown" (大絶叫の対決) set, packed along with Terrorsaurer, in a box replicating the design of the original 1997 VS set. This set was originally planned for release on December 30th 2023, but was delayed.

Like the other Beast Wars Again sets, this set was made available to US buyers through Hasbro Pulse (with the website omitting the Beast Wars Again title).

Merchandise

Beast Wars Movie Coin

• Beast Wars Movie Coin (1997)

Released only in Japan, Rattrap was one of ten characters from Beast Wars to receive a movie coin.

• Rattrap Movie Coin at TFMuseum.com

Beast Wars magnet set

• Beast Wars magnet set (1997)

The original cast of ten from the Beast Wars cartoon was rendered in adorable super-deformed style for a set of magnets. Awwwww.

Beast Wars Transformers Mutating Card Game

His special move, as is his least favorite roller-coaster ride, is the Fiery Fist O' Pain.

• Beast Wars Transformers Mutating Card Game (1997)

Rattrap was one of the 24 beast warriors to receive a battle card representation for the Beast Wars card game.

Kabaya

• Rattle vs Terrorsaurer (candy toy, 1997)
  • ID number: 5

Part of Kabaya's Beast Wars Choco line of candy toys, this small soft-rubber figurine of Rattrap—known in Japan as a keshigomu—came in a set with a similar figure of Terrorsaur, along with a bio card and candy-covered chocolates. The figures were available in either translucent purple or smoky grey rubber.

DX indeed.

• Rattle (candy toy kit, 1997)
  • ID number: 3
  • Accessories: Gun

Part of a set of four Kabaya candy toys, the Beast Wars Gum version of Rattrap is an unpainted and unassembled plastic kit that "transforms"—that is to say, breaks down into its component parts and is rebuilt in a different configuration— from rat to robot mode. Although based closely on the original toy, it is much smaller (and cheaper, of course), featuring only a few sparse stickers for details. It is cast entirely in grayish-tan and pale yellow plastics, as are the other three toys in the set: Dinobot, Cheetor, and Terrorsaur.

• Rattle (candy toy, 1997)
  • ID number: 5

A tiny plastic Rattrap figurine molded onto an irregularly-shaped stand was released by Kabaya as part of the Beast Wars Ramune line. Labeled toy 5 of 6, the other characters in his wave were Dinobot, Cheetor, Megatron, Optimus Primal, and Rhinox. As always, terrible candy is included.

• Rattle (candy toy kit, 1999)
  • ID number: 2
  • Accessories: Tail-whip

Kabaya decided against producing transforming model kits to tie in with Beast Wars Metals, instead releasing the Metallic Beast Ramune kits: hollow non-transforming figures partially made of colorless, translucent plastic, inside which chromed plastic pieces were placed for that familiar shiny Transmetal look. Rattrap was one of the four characters released in this series, and was available with either blue or golden chrome parts, including a chromed version of his tail-whip weapon.

• Rattle (candy toy, 1999)

Like their earlier Beast Wars Ramune line, Kabaya's Metal Hero Ramune series consisted of non-transforming figures of the Beast Wars cast, now in their Transmetal bodies. Rattrap was one of seven figures available in the wave, cast as a hollow PVC figurine attached to a base.

First 4 Figures

"Is my gearbox hangin' out or somethin'?"

• Rattrap (2006 unreleased)

This was to be a 7-or-8-inch tall (or probably smaller) resin bust of Rattrap released as part of a Beast Wars tenth anniversary series by model company First 4 Figures. Rattrap is depicted from the waist and upwards with his arms akimbo and is mounted on a Maximal-branded pedestal. He is sculpted to be accurate to his Beast Wars cartoon design, including his shrunken rat leg backpack. Rattrap was first revealed to the public in unpainted prototype form at San Diego Comic-Con in 2006,^[3] though he'd previously been solicited by BigBadToyStore^[4][5] not long after his digital sculpt was shown to toy news sites at New York Toy Fair.^[6]

Mini busts in the planned Beast Wars line were designed to reflect the scale of the characters as seen in the cartoon–hence our guess at the Rattrap bust's shorter than average size–and each was set to be limited to 1,996 pieces, in a nod to the franchise's year of origin.^[6] Rattrap was likely intended to be the fourth release in the line, given his appearance at SDCC but lack of an official product listing at the First 4 Figures website. Unfortunately, he and the rest of the Beast Wars bust line were cancelled, with First 4 Figures citing a challenging marketplace and lack of retailer interest.

Proceed on your way to oblivion. This item has been canceled, with no current plans for release.

Robot Heroes

More creepy than cute.

• Rattrap & Megatron (Two-pack, 2008)

• Known designers: Bill Rawley (Hasbro), Marcelo Matere (concept artist)

Part of the "Beast Wars Series" label of Universe-branded Robot Heroes, Rattrap comes packaged with Megatron. Like most of the Robot Heroes line, his design is a mix between the toy and cartoon depictions, notably having a grayish rather than copper-colored head. He has the standard shoulders-and-neck articulation.

• More information on Robot Heroes Rattrap at TFU.info

Notes

• A proposed BotCon concept by Fun Publications was a redeco of Transmetal Rattrap into a beast form of Generation 1 Rodimus Prime, named either "Rodimus Primal" or "Rodimouse", to match Convobat and Ultra Mammoth.^[7]

References