Post by fenrir72 on Jan 28, 2010 10:40:10 GMT 8
Quote:: "The least likely can be the most dangerous"
The rant:
Who couldn't forget the first two transformers ever to be exposed to our young and innocent minds back in 1984? Remember.............Wheeljack and Bumble B scrounging for energon in the most hard to find places?
And boy was I disappointed when I first purchase my Bumble B because.................
he didn't look at all like his animated version
Ever since then it was a great mystery until the advent of the Internet where all the explanation about how Floro Dery "humanized" their faces etc.
Who wouldn't like Bumble B? He was cute, friendly, always clumsy(he sucked at espionage his current function) but had an X-factor that clicked with all of us (heck even now, in Bay's movie, Bumble B almost eclipse Optimus in screen time).
This review btw is based on the original 1985 G1 version (which also includes Takara's TFC edition and Encore)
Beginning from his design, this "fender bending beetle" to quote "Buster" Witwicky was based on one of Takara's pre TF line Microchange series. More in synch with Choro-Q (their wheels are compatible btw), all he lacks are the motorized pull back action.
Anyway back to the face design. It took Don Figueroa to "explain" that the original face is actually a "battle mask"that he puts on prior to battle (See War Within #6 and MTMTE#4 and #6)
Thankfully, Takara released the "anime" face sculpt back in 2004 for the TFC mini-bot set.
* Please note: I applied my own "blue" color optics, added black paint applications on the rear fender and reprolabels' recreation of Bumble B's chest patterns on his box pic.
Aside from that, he is virtually identical to his 1984 release (The 1984 and G2 chrome release btw had "Dunlop" rubber tires)
Also note that the two latest incarnation of Bumble B, his rub symbol is located on the back of the head with the propeller like pattern removed.
See the difference? (the TFC version is prone to paint chipping)
The latest version of the G1 Bumble B as presented in the Encore version, he looks more "realistic" in a sense that he's got chromed fenders, painted headlights and this time stamp graphed blue optics.
His autobot symbol too is stamped graphed.
Overall, even for his time, he was very high tech
. A very simple transformation sequence (why IDW changed his transform mode is beyond me 
) of a Volkwagon bug to a robot........priceless. One thing I noticed though, my G1 1985 version is as loose as heck. It was like that way back then when I purchased him so maybe the mold was already degrading(?)
Bumble B need not be high tech to enjoy. His design though simple is really well kid friendly. Maybe that's why we all love him. Maybe once I get Alternity Bumble I might change my mind .........get him now as in the Encore version(and don't throw away his other mini-bot colleagues, they also have feelings you know
)
Rating:
Fun factor: 5/5
Nostalgia: 5/5 (Rotf, eat your heart out!)
Fragility: 3/5 (arms are the weak point and his die-cast back paint is prone to chipping
Availability: Anime face version is really HTF, beware of K.O's of the 1984 version
The rant:
Who couldn't forget the first two transformers ever to be exposed to our young and innocent minds back in 1984? Remember.............Wheeljack and Bumble B scrounging for energon in the most hard to find places?
And boy was I disappointed when I first purchase my Bumble B because.................
he didn't look at all like his animated version
Ever since then it was a great mystery until the advent of the Internet where all the explanation about how Floro Dery "humanized" their faces etc.
Who wouldn't like Bumble B? He was cute, friendly, always clumsy(he sucked at espionage his current function) but had an X-factor that clicked with all of us (heck even now, in Bay's movie, Bumble B almost eclipse Optimus in screen time).
This review btw is based on the original 1985 G1 version (which also includes Takara's TFC edition and Encore)
Beginning from his design, this "fender bending beetle" to quote "Buster" Witwicky was based on one of Takara's pre TF line Microchange series. More in synch with Choro-Q (their wheels are compatible btw), all he lacks are the motorized pull back action.
Anyway back to the face design. It took Don Figueroa to "explain" that the original face is actually a "battle mask"that he puts on prior to battle (See War Within #6 and MTMTE#4 and #6)
Thankfully, Takara released the "anime" face sculpt back in 2004 for the TFC mini-bot set.
* Please note: I applied my own "blue" color optics, added black paint applications on the rear fender and reprolabels' recreation of Bumble B's chest patterns on his box pic.
Aside from that, he is virtually identical to his 1984 release (The 1984 and G2 chrome release btw had "Dunlop" rubber tires)
Also note that the two latest incarnation of Bumble B, his rub symbol is located on the back of the head with the propeller like pattern removed.
See the difference? (the TFC version is prone to paint chipping)
The latest version of the G1 Bumble B as presented in the Encore version, he looks more "realistic" in a sense that he's got chromed fenders, painted headlights and this time stamp graphed blue optics.
His autobot symbol too is stamped graphed.
Overall, even for his time, he was very high tech
. A very simple transformation sequence (why IDW changed his transform mode is beyond me 
) of a Volkwagon bug to a robot........priceless. One thing I noticed though, my G1 1985 version is as loose as heck. It was like that way back then when I purchased him so maybe the mold was already degrading(?)Bumble B need not be high tech to enjoy. His design though simple is really well kid friendly. Maybe that's why we all love him. Maybe once I get Alternity Bumble I might change my mind .........get him now as in the Encore version(and don't throw away his other mini-bot colleagues, they also have feelings you know
)Rating:
Fun factor: 5/5
Nostalgia: 5/5 (Rotf, eat your heart out!)
Fragility: 3/5 (arms are the weak point and his die-cast back paint is prone to chipping
Availability: Anime face version is really HTF, beware of K.O's of the 1984 version
keeping the site active as a place to dump info for easier backtracking. 