Toy Review - Generations WFC Bumblebee

[griffin]

Toy Review - Cybertronian Bumblebee

Series - Generations
Sub-line - (War For Cybertron)
Size - Deluxe
New/remould/redeco - New
Wave - 1
Released here - June 2010
Approximate Retail Price - $25-30
Approximate Size -
Allegiance - Autobot
Alt-mode - Cybertronian Car
Main Features/Gimmicks -
Main Colours - Yellow, black
Main Accessories -


http://www.toycollectors.com.au/tftoys/gen03.jpg

[Deceptic_Optic]

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m205/de3dz/IMG_3281.jpg

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m205/de3dz/IMG_3282.jpg

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m205/de3dz/IMG_3283.jpg

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m205/de3dz/IMG_3284.jpg

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m205/de3dz/IMG_3285.jpg

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m205/de3dz/IMG_3269.jpg

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m205/de3dz/IMG_3271.jpg

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m205/de3dz/IMG_3263.jpg

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m205/de3dz/IMG_3264.jpg

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m205/de3dz/IMG_3265.jpg

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m205/de3dz/IMG_3266.jpg

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m205/de3dz/IMG_3267.jpg

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

So want a Cliffjumper remold.

[jaydisc]

How's the yellow matching in person? I've found you can't really trust cameras with that, although I think it looks pretty good considering.

[k.wong23]

Feminine characteristics put me off this figure. Thank-you for the review and clear photos though guys.

[griffin]

Gee, it has a bit of a backpack to it, doesn't it?

[Stompy]

Jay, the yellow matching is ok. At certain angles it almost looks the same but the yellow used for the standard plastic is shiny. But the yellow is a closer match in tone than say Universe Sunstreaker. I certainly like the effort put into matching it as close as they can.

My thoughts on this figure...

Bot mode is a mixed bag. The thin spindly legs coupled with a rounded torso and kibbly arms make for a weird "bug" looking Bumblebee. The huge rounded back helos in making him look like a yellow ladybug. The blaster weapon can store underneath the back kibble and the ratcheted blades on his arms are a nice touch, if something I didn't really expect for Bumblebee's character. The thighs are very thin with a slightly wider legs and feet. Although I adore the design of the feet having the wheel there. Articulation is great but I feel the knee and waist-to-leg joint will eventually become really loose. But time will tell.

Conversion is a doozy. While a smidge simpler than WfC Prime it falls a little into Shellformer territory. The pinpoint accuracy needed to place all the panels and parts inside can be quite tricky. I needed to emply the "cup-the-panels-into-both-hands-and-gently-squeeze" fixer to get everything to just all fit into place. Inelegant but its so tricky to aligng perfectly. Although the results are brilliant.

The alt mode is Tron sleek. Looking at it makes you feel like it will leave light streaks as you move it. The rounded design belies its G1 heritage while keeping it modern. The wheels move and thats it for playability in this mode. It is an attractive looking mode. As above the yellows area close match. Still noticeably different but very close.

[STL]

Pretty much completely agree with everything with Stompy said except I'd be more savage on the robot mode. It looks fat to say the least. The legs accentuate the fatness of hte chest. The wheel panels cover the swords add to this bulkiness that is sorely juxtaposed by skinny legs. The hand sculpt can also look out of place in certain poses because it makes him look like a disfigured/disable bot.

The stowing of the weapons is probably the biggest plus though. Love the way its done. And yes, the lower leg panels are great pieces of innovation.

Alt mode is great, awesome actually, but getting it right is a pain in the tushie.

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

Looks like I may be getting my wish after all - the instructions supposedly use Cliffjumper's head. (http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/war-for-cybertron-cliffjumper-lineart-used-in-bumblebees-instructions/18787/)
Can anyone confirm this?

[Stompy]

The scans is the same as the one I got. It is markedly different to Bumblebee's. I think it's a given a repaint to Cliffjumper with ANY Bumblebee mold will happen.

[GoktimusPrime]

yeah but the key thing is whether or not they'll give the Cliffjumper repaint a retool (esp the head). Cos a lot of the time Hasbro get lazy and just paint Bumblebee red and call it Cliffjumper - where Cliffjumper really deserves his own head. Animated Activators and Alternity Cliffjumper are win because they have retooled heady goodness. :)

[griffin]

Retools like this are already pre-planned and included in the mould tree, so at the factory, the workers just have to be sure to use the correct head and throw away the other one (or the mould tree can have the plastic directed to one head or the other).

[kup]

This is more of a general comment about the WFC toys:

Although they both have very complex engineering for a deluxe toy, It seems that for both toys, their alt mode is dependent on holding together by the plastic tabs of the interlocking 'shell' pieces. There is a lot of pressure going into this tabs and it seems that if one breaks, the whole alt mode will become hugely unstable so be careful.

Otherwise I am very happy with both toys.

[jaydisc]

I'm pretty much in agreeance with most. I'm ok with robot mode. I love alt mode. The first transformation was downright brutal and the feet are awesome.

[blade prime]

Yeah the alt mode rocks, the robot mode looks tuby tho

[Vector Prime]

Hmm... what can I say...

Positives, the paint job I'm a fan of... the alt mode looks pretty cool... and umm... that's about it.

The negatives... the transformation... the tubby belly look... the skinny legs... the size/scale

It had the potential to be something totally awesome, but it's only turned out average.

5 out of 10 (barely)

[5FDP]

Hmm... what can I say...

Positives, the paint job I'm a fan of... the alt mode looks pretty cool... and umm... that's about it.

The negatives... the transformation... the tubby belly look... the skinny legs... the size/scale

It had the potential to be something totally awesome, but it's only turned out average.

5 out of 10 (barely)

You're a hard marker :p

[ComicGuy89]

Wow, I am very much looking forward to finding this toy at mass retail and I must say I don't find much wrong from the photos aesthetically. In fact, the only thing that keeps me on the fence is his quality control and stability.

For you guys who already have him, do you think his alt mode holds up decently? Are there any serious QC problems with him so far? Thanks!

[STL]

Wow, I am very much looking forward to finding this toy at mass retail and I must say I don't find much wrong from the photos aesthetically. In fact, the only thing that keeps me on the fence is his quality control and stability.

For you guys who already have him, do you think his alt mode holds up decently? Are there any serious QC problems with him so far? Thanks!

I think the alt mode holds up very well. It's a solid toy and I haven't had any problems with 3-4 transformations. It's just getting the panels in place that is the problem. I think he's great and solid all around, my larger problems are with his visual aesthetic in robot mode and that he's rather fiddly to transform.

[ComicGuy89]

Alright, thanks. I'm still considering whether to get it, but thanks to your points, the Bee would probably be forefront on my list of Generation deluxes.

[GoktimusPrime]

Shellformer much. The transformation itself isn't inherently difficult - but as STL said, it's getting the panels exactly right that's the tricky part.

I don't find the transformation to be as fun as Optimus Prime... bit too shellformerish for my taste. The alt mode doesn't look as good as I'd expected, but the robot mode does look nice. The legs don't bother me. :)

[reillyd]

Shellformer much. The transformation itself isn't inherently difficult - but as STL said, it's getting the panels exactly right that's the tricky part.

I wish I had your abilities then Goktimus. The instructions didn't show clearly one of the steps with the feet/wheels, and it was only from a youtube review including the step by step transformation I was able to get it fixed.

Bumblebee is such an awesome character, and the vehicle form so cool that I know many kids are going to buy it and be disappointed by the transformation steps. This is one of the few ones I'm going to buy two of, to save the effort of transformation.

Optimus is by far easier to transform, even though they have the same difficulty level reported on packaging.

[Golden Phoenix]

Most of the problems with Bumblebee are forgivable.
The Bulk on his arms and the scrawniness elsewhere is kind of accurate to the game, it is a little off, but not by much. It is just that it is off in that the limbs a scrawnier then they should be while the bulk is bulkier. It makes it more apparent. Had it just been one and not the other it would have been alright.

The Torso chubbiness probably comes down to engineering reasons. He is a little wider than he should be in robot mode but it is because he needs it for vehicle mode. The shell is probably the same.
Do this though, hold him with your hand in between the shell and the robot in robot mode. The torso looks much better without it. I suspect the bulk of the shell makes the torso appear bigger. If it had folded in half behind the body, again it would be in much better scale. Ah the limits of what you can do with plastic
The need for precision when transforming to vehicle mode is a pain, but again it is just the way it is. Animated Jazz had the same problem, but it wasn't a negative against the toy. It was just part of the engineering it needed.

I think what lets this toy down the most are the little things that are the way they are for no reason. The head could have come out a little more. Swords could have been bigger. The hands just look silly. Nobody liked the Animated Lockdown hands the first time they ain't going to like it a second, it looks silly. Ruins poses. The only pose I find that really works with the hands is this sort of "WTF is this?" pose, otherwise you gotta sort of hide them.
http://www.majhost.com/gallery/jimmey-11/Transformers/10062010074.jpghttp://www.majhost.com/gallery/jimmey-11/Transformers/10062010076.jpg
I know it is picky, but for all the forgiving and letting things slide, the hands just have no excuse. They could have been straighter. They just stick out like a saw thumb. It is minor, but it just ends up being the straw that breaks the camels back.

Most of the other complaints are caused by mostly necessary evils. He ends up like most movie toys. The vehicle is solid, but that is expected for what is pretty much a shell-former and it is a shame about the shell-forming. But if you take away the shell on his back and straighten the hands then he has a pretty good robot mode.

[STL]

Great points on the hands, GP. I probably didn't emphasise that enough. He -does- look like a retard with those hands

[Lint]

Universe Ironhide is a walk in the park compared to this guy. I still cant get the front and back halves of the tronmobile to clip together nicely. However my biggest gripe is how large he is compared to other deluxes. Classics BB scaled well. This guy just looks a tad too large. If WFC megatron is scaled anything like prime is, he and BB can never credibly sit in the same frame together.



The only pose I find that really works with the hands is this sort of "WTF is this?" pose, otherwise you gotta sort of hide them.


Wrong (http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showpost.php?p=172340&postcount=1085) :p

[Golden Phoenix]

Wrong (http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showpost.php?p=172340&postcount=1085) :p

Touché
But none look like he is going to kick your a.....never mind. Bumblebee wouldn't anyway

[Lint]

Touché
But none look like he is going to kick your a.....never mind. Bumblebee wouldn't anyway

Challenge accepted!

After much fiddling this is about as close to kickass I could get :rolleyes:

http://i50.tinypic.com/mh4jgg.jpg


I'll let you pass the verdict

[Golden Phoenix]

Challenge accepted!

After much fiddling this is about as close to kickass I could get :rolleyes:

http://i50.tinypic.com/mh4jgg.jpg


I'll let you pass the verdict

Decent. The hands still look silly. Back hand more than the front. It is kinda like he is going to cover his eyes or something

[PascTF]

I like it. A bit hard to put together in vehicle mode, but once it's done, it's nice and tight. I have no problem with the look in robot mode. I like how the backpack compresses and locks into position with the sliding hinge.

[i_amtrunks]

I didnt find the transformation too difficult, I found the instructions to be more confusing than helpful, so I ignored them and did it on my own. Can be a challenge to lock everything into place, and certainly a more difficult transformation than Prime, but still not alternator level.

Good looking toy, the yellows match fairly well, and the legs aren't that thin.

Pretty good toy, and certainly different enough from most Bumblebee toys of late!

[Robzy]

I didnt find the transformation too difficult, I found the instructions to be more confusing than helpful, so I ignored them and did it on my own. Can be a challenge to lock everything into place, and certainly a more difficult transformation than Prime, but still not alternator levelQFT!

I really like the vehicle mode!! Bot mode is okay, but not as good as that awesome cyber-car! :cool:

[SharkyMcShark]

Tetsuwan Convoy and some of the other WA lads pushed me over the line on this one yesterday, and I'm quite glad. It's a neat little figure. Proportionally slightly odd but you know, whatever.

[The Scream Man]

i wish he was a little smaller (And WFC Prime was bigger) but otherwise i like him a lot. Getting him togetehr tight is tricky, but otherwise cool! :)

[Tallestblue]

I'm referring to this guy as "Tron Mode Bumblebee" 'cos everyone knows that Cybertronian BB is some sort of flying wing thingy.
He's neat with some good gimmicks but all it does is highlight the fact that WFC Optimus should have been a larger size.

[1AZRAEL1]

True, but I remember Hasbro stating that they were only going to be Deluxes all through the Generations line.

Still, would have been nice to make Prime bigger.

But about BB, I like it. Though mine has a loose leg and my gun is destroyed (damn dog :p)

[LordCyrusOmega]

Was looking forward to a cliffjumper repaint until"


Feminine characteristics put me off this figure.

I can see where you're coming from and now i'm thinking Arcee repaint? Think it would work wellhb

[bowspearer]

Just scored this guy and I thought it was worth doing a review based on my first thoughts. The first thing which strikes me with this guy is the accuracy of the toy. It's obvious that Activision ahd Hasbro spend alot of time nailing down a design that would both work on screen and directly translate into a toy once it hit the mold making process.

In terms of weapons Bumblebee comes with a game accurate gun and retractable swords.

In terms of articulation, the figure is fairly well done, but there are issues around the shoulders, with the shoulder ball joint connecting at an angle, which limits the arm poses to some degree. The other issue is that he suffers from "G1 combiner leg syndrome" with the middle of the thighs swinging out on poses. Had the design team managed to lock down the legs somehow, this issue would have been avoided. Likewise the shoulder articulation appears to have been due to failures in the engineering process.

In terms of points of articulation for robot mode, the figure is very well articulated, with the arms having double elbow joints, swivelling biceps, rotating wrists and gijoe style hands.

The legs are equally well articulated with double swivel joints at the hips in place of a ball joint and swivel based knee articulation. Sadly the feet and ankles do not articulate. The heel does have a ball joint, but movement is made impossible due to the placement of the rear wheel.

All in all the robot mode is a great effort and I'd give it a 8/10.

Transformation:

As a G1 pre-earth homage, one word comes to mind in light of the minicar's transformation- ironic. If they ever do a MP G1 Bumblebee, I get the feeling it will play out like this.

The transformation is as follows:

Remove Bumblebee's gun and retract his swords.

Flip out the outside of the shins covering the wheels and rotate it and the feet 180 degrees.

Flip the feet up and twist them inwards 90 degrees.

Slide the wheels out and slide the legs up until the thigh piece clicks into the the shin piece.

Slide the backpack out, making sure not to catch the middle centre of the roof under the back of it.

Unclip the hips from the chest and flip the hips backwards slightly

Flip the head forward and invert the panel it sits on.

Rotate the shoulders inwards and rotate the arms so that they still flip forwards.

Flip up the roof of the car mode completely and slide it forward until it clicks into place.

Flip out Bumblebees front wheels from his forearms, swivel his forearms up to his biceps and move the arm section up and back and click it into place with the roof. Clip the front wheels into the front of the car.

Swing the legs out G1 combiner style and flip the whole section back, sliding posts on the back of Bumblebee's heels into corresponding holes on the roof. and clipping the legs into the rest of the shell of the car.

Stow Bumblebee's weapon behind his rear bumper bar.

Overall, a highly complex transformation, but one which can make him a fiddly shell-former in parts. 8/10

Car mode.
In this mode once again, the likeness to the game incarnation is uncanny, and the vehicle rolls well will adequate clearance. However there are some slight detractors in terms of the different shades of gold where gold paint has been used on black clear plastic rather than separate panels, and there is a sizeable gap between the roof piece and the chest piece in car mode.

All in all fairly well done, but slightly unpolished. 8/10

Overall.

It says alot about the figure when you have to actually go looking for detractors and nit pick. Certainly there are one or 2 articulation flaws with the figure that should have been better dealt with in the engineering stage, but that is almost holding this figure to the standards of a Masterpiece figure, which this figure does come rather close to.

If you don't have this figure yet, track it down. It's well worth the money spent on it.

8.5/10

[griffin]

(Moved post into existing review topic. If people have an older figure they want to review, please do a section search first to see if one already exists, or even check one of the stickied links listings (http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?t=9583). I want to encourage people to review/comment on their toys as much as possible, but just don't want to have this section get cluttered with multiple review topics.)