Transmetal II Ramulus
Series: Beast Wars (1998)
Size: Deluxe (circa 5 in)
Clan: Maximals
Function: Scout, Survivalist
Stat Average: 7.08 (for comparison Dinobot is 6.75, TM2 Dinobot is 7.44)
First Impressions
On the ‘card’ Ramulus is in a head-butt position in beast mode. Two twist ties, but they’re kind of hidden. Very striking. But then again, I’m a Tar Heel, and a little repainting and Ramulus is ready to mascot at a game. The back of the box shows the basics and deluxes for the Transmetals II series. Instructions are on the box, as is the description.
Beast Mode
Very flexible. Practically everything you touch can move, offering a variety of poses. My personal favorite is the ‘Wild America’ pose, but it really isn’t complete without something to butt heads against. The head really doesn’t move, a disappointment. (I shot of the horns and the head, as you do when you transform him, by accident trying to lift the head up) I just imagine being a Predacon hearing a thundering sound in the distance and see Ramulus charging down on him. Be careful with the front legs when posing them, they can slip every no and then. Visually, very appealing, the brown of the ram and the ‘Transmetal’ red and grey mixing very nicely. The spark is in his head. Lifting the face plate down will reveal it and a Maximal symbol. The horns are adjustable, but putting the down too far will interrupt the foreleg hip joint.
Transformation
Ramulus transforms in a way that is very similar. The hindlegs are the robot legs, they have peg to help Ramulus stand. Pull the forelegs back and pull out the robot arms carefully. Make sure they are all the way out or they will prevent you from pulling the torso and head down. Lift the ram’s head up, detach the horns to make the cannon. Pull the torso through, put the head up. The pegs of the torso fit in the holes on the hips, but don’t be concerned if they don’t work, the robot is steady enough without them.
Robot Mode
Armed with his double-slagmaker cannon, Ramulus is a formidable bot. If I wasn’t a fan of Ramulus before, I certainly am now. Wow. It just says “You want a piece of me?” Colors and chrome still work well. All the joints are still very poseable. Use the small peg on the cannon to put it in his hand. I have affected a pose, that Ramulus would use to show he had subdued a Predacon, the foot on body pose with the cannon lifted. But he is doing this with no Predacon under his foot. Incredible one legged balance. Those claws are great close range weapons.
Purchasing Advice
Beast Wars figures are not found in stores nowadays. Toys R’ Us still has some, but not Ramulus. Ramulus auctions on eBay don’t come up to much and being a Transmetal II that wasn’t on the show, he shouldn’t cost you too much. I’d say you spend anywhere from $6.00 to $11.00 depending on the metal of your fellow bidders. That’s not saying he can’t go higher.
The Final Word
I definitely recommend Ramulus to the Transformer collector, even to those who concentrate on show characters. He’s just awesome. Sandrock4012 out.
Reviewer | John Woodcock |
Date | September 14th 2001 |
Score | (9 out of 10) |
Reads | 13925 |
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