Toy Review - Age of Extinction High Octane Bumblebee

[GoktimusPrime]

High Octane Bumblebee
Series - Age of Extinction
Sub-line - Generations
Size/class - Deluxe
New/remould/redeco - New
Wave - 1
Released here - May 17, 2014
Approximate Retail Price - $30
Approximate Size - 13cm
Allegiance - Autobot
Alt-mode - 1967 Chevrolet Camaro
Main Features/Gimmicks - firing missile from arm-mounted launcher
Main Colours - black w/ amber highlights
Main Accessories - missile

Images
Stock image


Appearance
Alt mode is a modified 1967 Camaro. Mostly black with amber highlights, including "SS" on the bonnet pinstripes and clear transparent windows. Wheels are all black (no hubcap paints). The robot mode reveals more amber and gunmetal grey.

Transformation
The legs transform in a similar way as previous Deluxe Movieverse Bumblebee toys. Part of the bonnet opens up into two panels to allow the head to protrude, doors swing out, front wheel sections swing back, arms swing out and the rear window panel flips over the roof panel. The front grill section of the vehicle splits into two and clips into a square hole in the solar plexus to lock into position. The missile launcher is permanently attached to Bumblebee's right arm, which kinda gives him a Megatron look.

Pros
+ 17 points of articulation
+ Vehicle mode has a fairly consistent looking colour scheme with both the painted and unpainted vehicle kibble parts.
+ The missile transforms into the drive shaft of the vehicle (a rather interesting way of incorporating it into the alt mode ).
+ Chest panels can be a bit fiddly to get into place, but they lock in nice and tightly.
+ Robot mode is quite lithe for a transformable figure, giving him a more sleek looking robot form than previous Deluxe figures.
+ The amber/cadmium yellow looks nicer IRL than in some photos which make it look like a lighter shade of yellow.
+ The torso gap in the stock image is due to the roof panel being transformed incorrectly. When transformed correctly, the gap is much smaller and less noticeable; also allowing for a more solid robot mode.

Cons
- Armpit joints don't lock in.
- Shoulder and elbow joints are incredibly tight, although the loose armpit points can serve as de facto shoulder joints.
- Bonnet panels open up then don't have anywhere else to go in robot mode.
- Robot mode really needs more paint apps.
- Autobot insignia is only visible in vehicle mode, not in robot mode (it should be the other way around).

Overall
It's actually a better and more solid toy than what I'd expected. I'm not a huge fan of the open hands -- much prefer regular fists. The way that they've tried to make the robot mode sleek is commendable, however the lack of paint apps coupled with the oversized Elvis collar in robot mode doesn't create a good look. TF1 Deluxe 70s Bumblebee is a better toy as far as being a "beat up" Camaro is concerned, although Age of Extinction High Octane Bumblebee at least has transparent windows. The best toy of the AoE Wave 1 Deluxes IMO, but still not worth paying full retail for.

[Sinnertwin]

That alt mode...

[GoktimusPrime]

More pics.

[i_amtrunks]

Interesting that they went back to the older camaro model, seeing as he trans-scanning was such a highlight of the original.

Guess it is a good way to flood the shelves with few different types of Bumblebees.

[kurdt_the_goat]

Loose armpit joints! That is so going to become the next "loose shoulder joint"!
Seriously though, nice review, it looks better than i thought it would, but i would prefer some more paint apps on the legs to break up the yellow.

[GoktimusPrime]

...more pics before going to sleep...

[Bidoofdude]

...more pics before going to sleep...

That's a load of bees.

[GoktimusPrime]

I started off comparing Deluxe Bumblebees from each of the live action films - 2 from TF1 (old & new Camaro), ROTF, DoTM, AoE. Then I chucked in G1 Bumblebee to be "defended" by the Movie 'Bees, and then went and did comparisons between different black/dark Bumblebees.

Btw, you know that you can reduce the size of Photobucket linked images by just adding th_ in front of the file name, right?
e.g.:

I reduced this by changing aoe_bumblebee08_zps5fbabe6b.jpg to th_aoe_bumblebee08_zps5fbabe6b.jpg
It just makes it easier to view the thread without 're-flooding' it with the same images all over again.

[Autocon]

What is that black g1 bee?

[BigTransformerTrev]

Loving the alt-mode! Very tough looking and love the muscle car look! Quite like the transformation process as well.

The robot mode - meh - not particularly impressive. Interesting to see if he has an arm-mounted cannon in this form in the movie that matches the toy. Thats before he upgrades of course so they can sell us yet more different versions of Bbee