MPM-07 Bumbleebee

Discussion in 'Transformers Feedback & Reviews' started by Heat Guy, Oct 5, 2018.

  1. Nefud

    Nefud Well-Known Member

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    How did you even get this pose? I can’t get mine to swivel at the thigh like that. I like this figure more than most people but the lack of a real thigh swivel is killing any fun I would have posing it.
     
  2. bellpeppers

    bellpeppers A Meat Popsicle

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    He has thigh swivel- right where the black and gray meet.

    1ED140E7-727A-4B40-8A81-F83DC4D722BC.jpeg
     
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  3. wildfly

    wildfly Fermenting pork tube.

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    20% off and no danger of HLJ selling you a KO. Shipping from Japan isn't as bad as you might think.
    Customs, that depends what country you live in.

    Transformers Masterpiece MPM-7 Bumblebee
     
  4. The Mad Demobot

    The Mad Demobot Well-Known Member

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    Thank goodness I took that deal because it was worth the wait. He looks great! Though anyone know the trick to fold his wings back to give the illusion of his current look?
    [​IMG]

    Exhibit A:
    [​IMG]
     
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  5. Shmoptimus Prime

    Shmoptimus Prime Za Warudo!

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    That's my pic. You just gotta angle the little bottom door wings farther from the body so they can allow the wheel wells to fold towards the middle. Sorry I don't have a pic and mine is in beetle mode right now I hope that made sense.
     
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  6. The Mad Demobot

    The Mad Demobot Well-Known Member

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    Mind posting the back view? I haven't put him in in his VW beetle mode since I'm basically cheating the RB mode a bit and it's hard to move the wheel wells backwards.
     
  7. Shmoptimus Prime

    Shmoptimus Prime Za Warudo!

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    I would, but my MPM Bee is permanently in VW mode since I got the 3A figure. I'll try and see if I can dig up some pics of the back from when I first got him.
     
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  8. The Mad Demobot

    The Mad Demobot Well-Known Member

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    Would like to see those if possible for reference.
     
  9. Shin Densetsu

    Shin Densetsu I WILL DESTROY YOU Content Contributor Veteran

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    Wasn't planning to get this initially but for a sale price, what the hell. Only transformed once so far. Initial impressions:
    • Aside from the inconsistent orange airbrush paint, I like the colors, dig the blue windows.
    • Ankle tilt is great and the finger articulation gives this thing a lot of personality, moreso in person.
    • There are double jointed knee joints but neither will go beyond 90 without moving the knee itself a few clicks downwards(hard to explain). Basically even if you have double knee joints, both are hindered and when moved a few clicks to clear the legs, you'll still be hard pressed to get the knee bend you want. At full bend, the knee is too high for this figure to kneel comfortably. Maybe a sacrifice for transformation.
    • Wish the ankles could move front to back.
    • Arm gun integration is GREAT. I'm all for this instead of arm swapping.
    • Wish the battle mask was retractable but otherwise it looks good. Wish the lenses were blue like the windows...odd that they aren't.
    • Basically, poseability in robot mode is great for the arms, could've been better for the legs(thigh swivel/knee bends are hindered).
    • Transformation: the instruction sheet is hard to decipher due to CAD lines being all close together, the sheet being black and white aside from color highlights and grey and ultimately I relied on intuition and sheer guesswork. There was a couple times where I was like ....where the fuck...... ultimately it came together with minimal gaps but there's quite a few interlocking tabs that will leave you really guessing where exactly you are supposed to press parts in. Maybe this will become easier and even fun over time. I've had MP figures that weren't hard to transform, just time consuming. This one? It's confusing at times and the instructions won't help. Just know in car mode that some hinges are meant to fold all the way and there are a few interlocking pegs and even squares(at an angle).
    • Hefty for its size with more diecast than I thought.
    • Ultimately this figure only further reinforces my thoughts that either the MPM figures were rushed, produced with too much of a budgetary restriction compared to Takara-led MP's and/or designed by newer designers. It's a good effort, has much potential, just lacks the polish I expect. The inaccuracies due to being based on concept art that wasn't finalized isn't what brings the figure down. It's the overengineering(you'll see going to car mode) and hindered leg articulation that bring it down some points for me. For now I'd probably give it a 7/10.
     
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  10. Shin Densetsu

    Shin Densetsu I WILL DESTROY YOU Content Contributor Veteran

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    Had more time to fiddle with it. Transforming back to robot mode is a lot easier than going to car. The backpack compresses very nicely on this, I think it wasn't folded as much when I initially removed it from its packaging. Now that I have it compressed better, it doesn't get in the way of the waist swivel much.

    I dig the weapon and mask storage in robot mode, integrates into the silhouette well.
     
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  11. closetrat

    closetrat Well-Known Member

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  12. Fallout

    Fallout Banned

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    picked up this cheap little guy from ross. he's really cute n feels like a special toy, uf only for how unique he is as a merger of the movie n g1 designs. he poses really well, has all the major articulation, a lot of character n some great accessories. all i could use is more wrist articulation n better tolerances for alt mode. n for the bumper to actually be the bumper on the chest in robot mode. same w the hood chest.

    great toy tho. cute n fun to pose. if g1 optimus represents the old age of tf's, mpm7 captures the 2007-2020 era in one toy. that's special.
     
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  13. Erland

    Erland Well-Known Member

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    Got mine the other day at Ross. It's a nice solid figure. I don't have many complaints other than the non faded panel on his arms/doors and no storage for the weapons in car mode other than on his bumper. It's nice transformation and really enjoyable.
     
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  14. Philister

    Philister Teutonicons Rising!

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    [​IMG]

    Prelude: Bumblebee became the face of the Transformers live-action movie franchise ever since he first appeared as a radio-talking Camaro, but after five movies the whole thing became a bit stale. So Bumblebee was taken back to the roots in a movie set in the 1980s, where the Bee once again took his original vehicle form of a classic Volkswagen Beetle. Apparently Volkswagen’s decision not to lend their likenesses to war toys was revisited after a few billion box office dollars. Anyway, we are now looking at the Masterpiece Movie Series Bumblebee in his VW Beetle form. Let’s say go!

    Robot Mode: MPM Bumblebee follows more or less the same design as Studio Series Bumblebee, meaning he’s got the headlights of the VW Beetle as nipples, wings consisting of doors and wheels, and a backpack consisting of the hood and car roof. Of course MPM Bee is a good deal larger than his Studio Series cousin, roughly Voyager-sized. Along with the larger size comes a far more impressive amount of detailing, which I hope the pictures give a good impression of. MPM Bee looks really, really good, no complaints on that front.

    Being partially metal, Bumblebee feels solid and has a very grounded stance, which allows him to pull off all sorts of poses. Articulation is excellent, so no complaints here, either. In terms of weapons Bee comes fully loaded. He has a blade to attach to one arm, a blaster for the other arm, a battle mask, and can lift up his chest panels to show (sculpted) missile launchers underneath. I especially like the blaster, which has an opening where the robot’s hand basically slides in, thereby giving a very convincing illusion of the blaster “growing” out of the arm. Very nicely done. The blade and blaster can be stored on the back when they’re not needed.

    Overall Bee is just a beautiful looking robot, is all I can say. Just about the only bad thing I can think of is that he’s got a bit of kibble on his back, but that could hardly have been avoided. I’m not usually a fan of Movie-style Bumblebees, but this one here just looks great. Two thumbs up for the robot mode.

    Alternate Mode: Bumblebee transforms into an 80s vintage Volkswagen Beetle. And let me just put this out there: he is not quite screen-accurate, because you cannot see the robot’s head underneath. No visible head syndrome. I hope you can live with that. That aside, you end up with a great-looking VW Beetle car. The blaster and blade can be stored on the back end if you want, but it doesn’t really look all that great. Better to leave them aside, imagine them vanishing into subspace or something. No gimmicks or anything, just a great-looking car. So no complaints here, either.

    Remarks: While Bumblebee from the Bumblebee movie was clearly still more or less the same Bee we’d seen in the five previous live-action movies, he regained a level of cuteness and relatability not seen since the original 2007 movie. His friendship with human girl Charlie is one of the best human-Transformer friendships in the franchise’s 35+ year history. Which is why this figure is the only Masterpiece Movie series figure I was ever interested in and it did not disappoint.

    Sure, it’s a Bumblebee and we’ve been positively drowned in Bumblebee figures during the last decade (over 200 by my count), but to me it’s the best Movie-styled Bumblebee yet and well worth getting, even if you are seriously Bee-fatigued. I got Bee as a birthday present from my beloved wife, which just adds a few more bonus points. So bottom line: unless you are utterly and completely opposed to all things Bumbleee, this is one figure worth checking out.

    Rating: A


    Source: Transformers-Universe.com!
     
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  15. Snake_eyes1975

    Snake_eyes1975 Well-Known Member

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    I always enjoy your thorough reviews, Philister.
     
  16. convoy84

    convoy84 misses you like the deserts miss the rain.

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    I’ve been immensely disappointed by the way both MPM and Studio Series BeetleBee look, because their designs were finalized before the movie’s design was. I get that you need to have stuff out in time for the movie, but c’mon. There’s a difference in quality between the toys that came out leading up to the movie, like these, and the ones that came after, like Optimus, Car!Dropkick, and Jet!Shatter.
     
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  17. World of Depth

    World of Depth 3D chronicler

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    Re: transformation to alt mode…(this is late in the game, but anyway) I was planning to sell this figure, cuz I didn't like how the alt mode never quite tabbed together neatly & flush—one side panel or another always seemed sunken or raised. But I messed around with it a bit and found a detail that, at least for me/my copy, makes a big difference!

    Much better:
    1.JPG 2.JPG 3.JPG

    The key being how the fists fit, and the details aren't in the instructions. They should fit like this:

    5.JPG

    To position the fists correctly before tucking them away: 1) move the thumb out of the way, 2) fold the fingers in, 3) bend the wrist down as far as it will go, and 4) rotate the thumb back toward the forearm as far as it will go, and bend the end of the thumb in. If you do this, the fist will fit precisely in a cutaway—you can see the shape of the finger in the cutaway here:

    6.JPG

    And don't forget about slotting the forearm over that tiny grey nub near the wheel.
    If you push the arms and fists down with this configuration, the fists rest at a slight angle:

    4.jpg
    Anyway, if anyone always had problems with alt mode like I did, hope this helps you enjoy the figure more :) 
     
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  18. Mr.Deflok

    Mr.Deflok Well-Known Member

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    I have been messing with this lately and still love it. The back is completely inaccurate and I will be getting TE02, but I won't be getting rid of this. It's a fun toy which is well made.
     
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  19. Moos Crew

    Moos Crew I make stuff

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    Anyone else with the back window (Right side) not tabbing in and find a fix for it?
     
  20. 0ptimus__Prime

    0ptimus__Prime Autobot Commander

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    So I wasn’t expecting to find this guy at Target, but figured why not. After not doing anything but mostly generations figures for the past decade... DAMN that Transformation is involved! I’m talking ROTF Leader Optimus kind of involved. Oddly enough it’s just the rear portion of the car that gives me the most trouble.

    Pros:
    • For $79.99 you get a lot of bang for your buck. The figure doesn’t feel cheap and is fairly solid for its size. At no point was afraid of things snapping. Definitely staying in Robot mode after trying to transform him once and back
    • A fair amount of accessories to give plenty of different display options

    Cons:
    • A lot of great engineering ideas but doesn’t seem intuitive enough? The back half of the car seems be “to wiggle stuff around until by some miracle it aligns and fits!”
    • May just be my copy but there’s a small paint smudge or chip in the paint on his hood. Not anything majorly distracting, just annoying for the price I paid.


    Overall I give it a 8/10. Not perfect but it’s close enough to the final model to be worth adding to your collection
     
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