This wisecracking rat isn’t the bravest Maximal, but Rattrap can practically sneak into anywhere.
Rattrap is a basic Maximal figure, originally released in the first wave of Beast Wars action figures in 1996. This 2021 reissue looks incredibly close to the original, despite requiring new molds to be created for the figure. The fur on the rat appears to be slightly more defined in the 2022 reissue, as well as black paint used on the eyes to replace the original yellow eyes and a lighter shade of pink used on the feet.
The Beast Wars basic line introduced a new transforming feature for the Transformers toys. By pulling Rattrap’s tail up, he quickly snaps from Beast Mode to Robot Mode.
Scouring city streets for Predacon enemies, Rattrap maintains his strength by feeding on grunge and grime and any wretched refuse he may encounter along the way. A top-notch soldier, his fellow Maximals rely on his reconnaissance reports to locate enemy outposts. They respect him…but they wouldn’t dare to share his meals!
Rattrap formed part of the first wave of reissues from Beast Wars, being released alongside Scorponok, Cheetor, Optimus Primal and Megatron. Both Cheetor and Rattrap are identified as Deluxe figures and priced similarly despite the differences in size and features. This trend of categorising Basic and Deluxe figures continued with Terrorsaur and Retrax. Rattrap originally retailed at $44 at Big W, the official retailer of Beast Wars in Australia. As a kid, I remember Rattrap being a figure that was easy to find and always in stock. It was interesting seeing the shelves fill up with unsold figures again as an adult until the price was reduced to $13.
Read more about Rattrap on the Transformers Wiki.
Beast Mode
In Beast Mode we get a rat. Small, sneaky and hard to pin down. Rattrap is designed to get into small places and create havoc. In the original toyline, Rattrap is one of the basic figures. The basic figures were the smallest and in the line of reissues, there’s only one other basic figure available at the time of writing to compare it with, the Predacon Terrosaur. Both basic figures have the same gimmick, a one action flip transformation. For Rattrap that means flipping his tail up to transform into Robot Mode.
The only points for articulation in Beast Mode are the tail, and the four feet can swivel. Beast Mode suffers from large gaps allowing the instant transformation.
It’s hard to really compare the rat from the CGI Beast Wars cartoon to this figure. In the cartoon, Rattrap had very humanoid movements that certainly help communicate his character. The figure looks stocky in comparison but the determined expression on the face with teeth barred give this rat some attitude.
Robot Mode
Once Rattrap transforms, he has a lot more articulation in the legs and arms with ball joints at the shoulders, hips, elbows and knees. The abundance of ball joints and rat body hanging off Rattrap’s back do make this figure difficult to position. On each half of the rat’s inner body is a piece of the blaster to be assembled. Near Rattrap’s shoulders you can also clearly see the spring mechanism that allows him to transform as well as the large metal rods holding the rat together. All the Beast Wars figures however aren’t shy exposing springs, screw holes and a few rough edges. It’s easy to appreciate this toy line is meant to be used and played with. They’re not perfect representations of the characters or perfect models.