Definitely inferior to the FE, but unless we get some sort of announcement regarding a possible FE release in the US before I see him in stores I'll be picking him up. Not a bad representation, and I'd probably love him if the FE didn't exist.

 

Essentially it's a combination of the original release schedule being thrown off and the budget for each size class changing between the time the First Editions and the RiD figures were designed. The FE figures were originally intended for release a while ago alongside the DotM toy line, but slow sales of DotM toys meant that retailers didn't want to order another line of TFs when they already had the DotM line and Generations toys sitting around. HasTak tried selling them to other stores, but there simply weren't enough corporate buyers to justify producing a full run of the FE toys for the US. Luckily for other regions, the DotM toys were selling better abroad.

This meant the FE figures got delayed into oblivion in the US while managing to get out in other markets. In a better economy and with more time to change their plans, HasTak probably would have just released the FE figures under the RiD label. Unfortunately, the production of toys happens over a year before they're actually released, so there wasn't time to stop the assembly lines for RiD and switch them over to making more FE figures.

Not only that, but the rising cost of oil (which is used to make the plastic of the figures) and the poor state of the economy in the US meant that HasTak had to reduce the parts and materials budget for figures at each price point. The RiD line simply didn't have a big enough budget to fit making more FE figures even if the schedule had been better.

It was a combination of factors all working against the FE figures getting released in the US, with attempts to fix the situation getting immediately blocked by unforeseen problems.

 

i like him...but that side profile reminds me of a Fat Joe song..."lean back, lean back, lean back, lean back"

 

he looks better than the photos we had seen before suggested. I wouldnt mind having him

 

So pretty much the review is the same for every RiD that has an FE counterpart (aside from debatably RC and definitely Vehicron [not like it got a wide release anyways]):

It's a good sub for FE but FE is better.

 

The First-Edition version is a lot better, there's no denying that, but for what it's worth along with the MUCH cheaper price point I think ima have to hunt this guy down when he hits retail. Hell, at least it'll be around £60+ cheaper than the FE version! Can't complain about that. And the stupid mech-tech weapon looks like it's easily modifiable to lop off the disco-ball of death and have a much more accurate weapon thankfully  
Did I mention he has a poseable jaw?! EPIC WIN!!!

Also, the new RID Voyager Starscream doesn't look half bad either. As with Bulky, with a lick of paint and a few minor modifications these guys will look a hell of a lot better. Though Screamers scale is completely off which is making me somewhat hesitant about picking him up :/
At the end of the day though, the price is what's going to make my mind up about these figures, and seeing as they're both far cheaper in comparison to their FE counterparts, I think I’ll end up getting these cheaper RID versions either way...

 

So far, massively disappointed with these "powerizers"
I don't get the point of a weapon with a mode that you can't lock into place.
STUPID!!!!!!!!!!

 

I don't buy all of your argument, SOME of the RiD figures arguably have much more plastic than their FE counterparts. RiD Prime, Starscream, Cliffjumper, and Megatron and good examples of this. While some RiD figures are smaller and more *oil-nomic* the placement of the HUGE mechtech crap weapons makes up for the less plastic on the figures.

It also doesn't make good economic sense to invest in almost 2 different molds for 2 waves of figures.

 

If the FE never came out, then i'd be fine with this.. and i WILL be fine w/ this!!!

comparing prices from FE to RID, RID bulkhead is more than enough for my collection~

I have both FE and RID Prime figures and to be honest, the FE might look better but i actually like the RID figure better.
RID Bulkhead looks like a great figure, cant wait to get it.

 

Thanks for the review man.  

I tried to force myself into objectivity while looking at these pictures. I ignored comparisons to the FE version and tried to gauge it solely on what I saw.

It still looks like crap. That chest is all wrong. The shoulders are too narrow. The discolored jaw detracts from the head. The weapon is just hideous. The arms themselves look bad.

I am SO glad I ordered the Takara FE Bulkhead for $65 shipped as soon as the first pictures arrived of this slag.

Get the right one people.

 

The dude speaks the truth man. Numbers don't lie weigh the figures! Even with the weapons. They weigh less their older counterparts. I've been weighing my toys for a while now and they keep getting lighter and lighter. The first movie toys are almost twice as heavy as the last DOTM releases. The same has happened in the Classics/Generations line, the deludes weigh about 1/3 less than what they use to from around 120 grams to around 80 to 90 grams.

 

huhhhh, mmmmm.........its almost enough to make me want him, but not quite

btw guys, the jet vehicon is officially happening  

 

PROOOOOF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And I TOLD YOU ALL it wouldn't be horrible!

 

If I had never known the FE version existed I might think this looks okay.

But I think that FE Bumblebee and FE Bulkhead are clearly superior figures to the RID line.

 

feel the same way despite all the hate. sometimes I feel like this community is way too nitpicky about things and will pass up a great toy because of some accuracy or scale issues.

FE bulk looks like perfection, but it'll also cost you for that. for $20 am I willing to take a shot that this guy is going to be a really fun toy? hell yes.

 

Well Size and Weight are 2 different things, but I will accept your weight story. You can have a larger figure just not weigh as much, just depends on the quality and creative use of the plastic you have. However if the Fe's do indeed weigh more then yes either more plastic, higher quality plastic, or more screws went into them. I yield.

 

this, even if i could get one for the price i paid for the FE, i'd still pass and go for the FE at current prices,

 

Yeah, I was actually into it until I saw that side profile shot. Maybe there's a way to configure all of that junk so it doesn't look so bad. Even still the FE just looks better in every way to me and I'm glad I have one.

That said, I'm a whore for Bulky so I will buy this RiD version the second I see it.

 

The side view looks horrible but other than being inaccurate to bulkhead, he looks like a fun toy. although I'm just going to stick with my FE.

 

When were jeticons confirmed?