TFTM Premium Bumblebee

[SunnyDay77]

I was excited to get this "premium" version of one of my favorite TF molds of all time. However, I was greatly dissappointed, mainly because of built up expectations, but mostly because the QC on this figure is sorely lacking.

Alt Mode:
Of course, premium BB is an upgrade of sorts for the TFTM '08 CC BB. Initially looking at the car in vehicle mode in the package, I was confused as it looked exactly the same as regular ole BB. When I removed him and compared him in this mode to the original, I saw subtle differences. The yellow is a shade or so different, supposedly representing more of a metallic paint job. Unfortunately, it comes off looking matte and very dull compared to the original. It also suffers from extremely poor application, as there are scratches and paint bubbles, along with parts of the vehicle that clearly show black underneath. The windows are tinted a slightly lighter shade of blue. The wheels and rims are exactly the same. The only improvements over the original are the stripes having an additional outlines in black and yellow across the car, and details such as door handles, gas cap, and the rear license plate being present. Also, the chevy logo on the grill is gold instead of silver, which is weird.
http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/9333/1010047nz6.jpg
http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/7872/1010048eq3.jpg

In bot mode, the premium bee is an even further dissappointment. The robot parts, molded in black in the original, are now a grey that is very dull and plain. The torso area below the license plate is a lighter, duller blue. The yellow accents on the arms and legs are accented with the same light grey that composes the majority of the body. The biggest difference, however, is in the remold of the head. While the battle mask looks fantastic on stealth bee, it is painted horrible, overspray after overspray on this tiny area. I would prefer Hasbro either make this more detailed or make it so it would be easier, and cleaner to paint.
http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/2940/1010042tj8.jpg
http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/7809/1010043kh2.jpg
http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/6576/1010045fm2.jpg

All in all, this short review can be summed up in one sentence: there is nothing premium about premium bee. Save your money, but two stealths, and swap heads on one of them with an original 08 BB. You will be much happier. MUCH HAPPIER!

7 out of 10

[pscoop]

Bummer about the QC on yours. I hope they all aren't like that. I mostly just want that head.

Is that one on the front left a custom you did yourself? It looks nice.
http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/6576/1010045fm2.jpg

[SunnyDay77]

Bummer about the QC on yours. I hope they all aren't like that. I mostly just want that head.

Is that one on the front left a custom you did yourself? It looks nice.
http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/6576/1010045fm2.jpg

Yeah. I took some gold, silver and copper and made the black on my extra 08 CC BB look a little more "blaupunk" (sp?). I thought the coils and pipes, etc., that were natural on him needed that.

Thanks for the compliment, man! But seriously, after doing both reviews I looked again, and the paint on the stealth version is far better than the premium, so buy one of those and stick on there.

[Vangelus]

I'm amazed that Stealth BB's gray bits look more interesting than this flat gray on the Premium. o_O

Bummer about the paint apps, especially the helmet ones if Stealth BB got them right. I wonder if it's common or a rare case of bad spray.

[Smkscrn GT]

Well, Hasbro's notorious for bad paint apps. I didn't think Premium BB would be any different. Although, your's sounds pretty bad. I've got my Premium BB coming from BBTS. Hopefully, I'll get a decent one.

[SunnyDay77]

Well, Hasbro's notorious for bad paint apps. I didn't think Premium BB would be any different. Although, your's sounds pretty bad. I've got my Premium BB coming from BBTS. Hopefully, I'll get a decent one.

That's where I got mine. I hope yours is better; I think I may take a fine brush to it to touch it up.

Actually, after an afternoon of looking at it, the biggest flaw, to me, is the paint application on the head and doors. If it wasn't for that, I would be much happier.

And, yes, the darker grey on the stealth is way cooler than the dull, lighter grey on this one.

[Skywave]

I still don't have that BB mold, and was looking to get the premium BB along with the other premiums, but now I'm not sure :( Maybe I should look for the non premium '08 BB instead :confused:

That custom one looks awesome though, so shiny !

[Obvious Prime]

I bet your custom 'Bee feels like a GOLD BUG!

[Dolza_Khyron]

i'm actually to tell you the truth, very happy with my bumblebee, while mine too, has qc issues, mainly on the doors, being different colors then the rest, and the wheels not all touching the ground in car mode, i still love it, and i am actually happier having it then the original 08 bee, personally i think the head fits it more, making him look almost like, a bee, himself, in robot mode.

[SunnyDay77]

i'm actually to tell you the truth, very happy with my bumblebee, while mine too, has qc issues, mainly on the doors, being different colors then the rest, and the wheels not all touching the ground in car mode, i still love it, and i am actually happier having it then the original 08 bee, personally i think the head fits it more, making him look almost like, a bee, himself, in robot mode.

No doubt the head is full of win, but the paint. Lord the paint!! And my doors are different colors too!!!

[SydneyY]

Damn. I have one preordered :( Though it's coming from Japan (sold as Bumblebee Battle Mode) so there might be a hope that the paint apps will be better? But if not, I'm prepared. Thank you for sharing :)

[viper2391]

Then how come it was tagged as Premium?

[SunnyDay77]

Damn. I have one preordered :( Though it's coming from Japan (sold as Bumblebee Battle Mode) so there might be a hope that the paint apps will be better? But if not, I'm prepared. Thank you for sharing :)

I would imagine it would be better, as takara always seems to be, IMO. I hope so! I am thinking about buying the premium Takara version...let me know how you like it when you get it.

[MasterOfPuppets]

I think the grey looks a lot better than black. Ideally silver of a gunmetal is preferred, but the grey is more movie accurate (which is what they were shooting for) than black.

[Dolza_Khyron]

I would imagine it would be better, as takara always seems to be, IMO. I hope so! I am thinking about buying the premium Takara version...let me know how you like it when you get it.

i don't know about that, i seem to have more qc problems with takara transformers then hasbro transformers.

but, don't worry, the bumblebee, still looks great, even with qc problems, and looks much better in person, but just better in robot mode lol.

[Rodimus Pie]

I got mine from BBTS today, and I'm actually pleased, even after having paid $20. Sounds like I lucked out on the paint apps; everything is very well detailed. My only QC gripe would be that his "toe" joints are much looser than on regular BB, making balance trickier.

All in all though, I'm happy!

[Nevermore]

I'd like to see a comparison between Premium and Screen Battles Bumblebee.

[Snkbyt]

And, yes, the darker grey on the stealth is way cooler than the dull, lighter grey on this one.

Like the shade of the screen battles BB? Thats annoying since the stealth BB parts are an excellent and accurate gunmetal shade. Screen Battles BB's color is why I passed. I've been looking over the Regular BB I have and It looks like it would be pretty hard to swap those pieces to make him look right. Lots of pins to push out.

EDIT: Got Premium BB today. The gray parts are slightly lighter than the Stealth. Its OK. Not as odd looking as the Screen Battles.

The head is painted horribly. I swapped for the one on my stealth. Its not the same metallic yellow but you can barely tell.

[pscoop]

5th and last time I buy this mold. I like the paint and detail added and the new headsculpt. Should have made it this way the first time. I gave my old one to my son. Pretty much all there is too say about that one.

Has anyone else noticed since the slight change to the mold, that the front passenger wheel doesn't sit on the ground right? My Premium and Stealth BB have this issue as well as my Cliffjumper.

[TCracker]

Just got mine, I told myself never to get the BB mold but once I saw the paint app, I caved.

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e145/tzey/My%20TF%20Collections/IMG_3765.jpg

Noticed that the black stripes has an additional line to it.
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e145/tzey/My%20TF%20Collections/IMG_3766.jpg

Compared to Stealth BB, the 2 looks just as awesome. Bestt BB mold to date, but how I wished they make this thigh swivel so he can do more dynamic poses...oh well.....
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e145/tzey/My%20TF%20Collections/IMG_3769.jpg

[Tell_Story]

5th and last time I buy this mold. I like the paint and detail added and the new headsculpt. Should have made it this way the first time. I gave my old one to my son. Pretty much all there is too say about that one.

Has anyone else noticed since the slight change to the mold, that the front passenger wheel doesn't sit on the ground right? My Premium and Stealth BB have this issue as well as my Cliffjumper.

I have that slight problem with my regular concept BB. It's probably not aligned correctly

[Knightdramon]

Got this figure the other day, probably my favourite movie figure. I had the wheel problem on my first release 08 Bumblebee but not on this premium. All the joints are incredibly tight to the point I could not pop his wheels out from under the hood. Only loose joint was the waist but that's remedied.

Best release, in my opinion.

[Chaos Muffin]

Thanks for the review, now I don't have to open mine. Which is a plus since I like the shiny packaging. Or may open and add the premium yellow car parts to the other black robot body for a better premium

I almost passed on him, but remembering the Bumblebee craze not too long ago, when everyone was looking for one, I thought that owning one more bee would be kinda cool.
They do like nice lined up in car modes on the display