Post by cybernaut on Apr 13, 2008 1:43:50 GMT 8
TftM Fast Action Battlers Plasma Punch Bumblebee
Foreword
This is a very, very late review. I had the pics up and prepped by November last year, but I just couldn't find the time to write up the review.
Anyways...
Of all the FAB's that were released, only a few appealed to me. I found some just downright awesome (FAB Prime...), some just plain hideous (FAB Barricade...), but for the most part, just middle of the line "kiddie" versions of the movie characters.
I was looking forward to getting a BBee FAB, just to add to my small FAB line-up. Good thing he popped up at the malls, so I was able to snag him at SRP during the November restock.
Bio:
BUMBLEBEE is the first on the ground wherever the AUTOBOTS go. Scouting out the battlefield and spying on the DECEPTICONS are his specialties. Totally fearless, and super sneaky, bad guys never notice BUMBLEBEE until they feel the power of his Plasma Punch!
Tech Specs:
Strength: 6
Intelligence: 8
Speed: 6
Endurance: 5
Rank: 5
Courage: 10
Fireblast: 3
Skill: 9
Respectable specs for Bumblebee's character EXCEPT for the discrepancy of his bio with his Fireblast rating... I mean, how in Cybertron are the "bad guys" going to notice the "power" of his Plasma Punch if it's a puny 3?!?
Packaging
BBee comes carded in a wraparound plastic bubble, with packaging design in the vein of the TFTM toys, but "kiddie-fied". He comes with a simple instruction sheet and a long, dark blue projectile.
FAB BBee in packaging. Front (left), Back (right)
FAB BBee out of packaging. Also shown is the projectile (lower left) and instruction sheet (lower right)
Robot Mode
FAB Bumblebee comes packged in robot mode so I'll start here...
Standing just a few mm's short of 16cm, BBee has 9 points of articulation (shoulders, elbows, left wrist, hips, and knees...), comes with a blue projectile, and has a spring-loaded waist.
FAB BBee, Front (left) and Right side (right)
FAB BBee, Back (left) and Left side(right)
Honestly, the FAB simplification process has not been very kind to Bumblebee...
He looks different from the movie CG model, and more like something that belongs to the traditional, cartoon-based TF's. He's got smallish arms, skinny thighs, a wide upper body and blocky lower legs. Most notable, he does not have the "wings" formed from the Camaro doors, since they're now on his shoulder's / torso as the attachment point for his arms. The basic parts layout remains the same though. The sculpted detail is nice, but overshadowed by the chunky, plain upper body and large lower legs. There's some paint apps on the lower arms to highlight the car / armor parts there, as well as on the thighs. Black highlights are painted on the lower legs.
Close-up of FAB BBee head...
FAB BBee has essentially half a head, since a large part of the back of his head is part of the Camaro hood resulting in him having no neck whatsoever. In keeping with then FAB aesthetics, the head is oversized, though the paint apps and details are passable.
FAB BBee (left), Deluxe 08 BBee (right). FAB Bee is fat...
FAB proportions are always distorted in places, such as large heads, funky hands, etc. In comparison with the regular Deluxe 08 BBee, the proportion differences are very noticeable, as well as the design compromises done. Notice the panels which rotate downward to simulate movie Bumblebee's grill chest. The BBee thigh fenders are moulded details in the FAB...
FAB Bee is reasonably articulated, but a lot of moulded parts get in the way. The doors on the shoulders restrict the ball joints, almost making them rotators. The doors dont lock on to anything in the upper body, instead relying on the tightness of the hinges, giving a tendency for the arms to flop from time to time. The lack of head articulation, coupled with the awkward limbs and joints make for a limited number of poses.
FAB BBee in action poses. Patented kick test passed too! (far right)
FAB Bee has basically no right hand... Why?
Because it's permanently this:
FAB BBee's Plasma Cannon, with missile attached.
It's a strange weapon too. Instead of pressing a button to launch the missile, you rotate the blue barrel of the gun clockwise to trigger the firing mechanism. The missile is moulded into a fireball of sorts.
Bee has also the same gimmick that other FAB's have, the spring-loaded waist. You twist the upper torso at the waist to the right and when you let go, the spring loaded waist snaps back simulating a "robo punch"... Or in this case, the "Plasma Punch"...
2008 Concept Camaro Mode
As everyone knows by now, Bumblebee turns into a Chevrolet Concept Camaro. This is FAB Bee's stronger mode, albeit distorted and chunky. There are visible door hinges on the side, and visible robot feet from the rear. The details are okay, with the trademark painted black racing stripes, painted grill, head lights, tail lights and Chevy emblems. There's a tampographed red Autobot symbol on the hood, though I think black would've been better, since it clashes with the rest of the color scheme.
FAB BBee, Concept Camaro mode.
FAB Bee, Camaro mode in various angles
One thing to note is that, contrary to the instructions, there's no proper way to store the projectile when in alt mode. I've fiddled with the toy long enough to know that the missile doesn't snap on to anything in the vehicle's underside, no lock, peg or latch between the legs, ala Deluxe 08 Bee. You just jam the missile between the legs and into the cavity inside and hope it doesn't fall out. It's so lame...
FAB BBee (left) with Deluxe-class 08 BBee (right)
Top view comparison between FAB BBee (left) and Deluxe-class 08 BBee (right)
Interestingly, FAB BBee turns into a larger Camaro than the regular 08 Deluxe Bee, despite the simpler transformation scheme. But while the Deluxe toy is a solid mass of folded-up parts, the FAB Bee is a hollow shell from the hood back... He's not exactly a shell-former, but there is a noticeable void inside the Camaro.
Conclusion
Overall, this is probably the weakest of the five FAB's that I have. The compromised robot and alternate modes severely affect my enjoyment of the toy and a design oversights, such as the awkward head and lame missile storage, keep him from getting a higher score in my book. Completists and Bumblebee fans might like this, but for the rest, while there are worse FAB's out there, there are also a lot better FAB's that I can recommend.
My Score
out of Three Bumblebee heads out of Five
Afterword
FAB Group shot after the photo shoot! Picture, picture!
Jya na!
keeping the site active as a place to dump info for easier backtracking. 