Takara Tomy MP-45 Bumblebee 2.0

Discussion in 'Transformers News and Rumors' started by TTemploy, Feb 4, 2019.

  1. Jhund

    Jhund Screws>Pins

    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2017
    Posts:
    4,063
    News Credits:
    32
    Trophy Points:
    232
    Likes:
    +29,399
    Instagram:
    ... ootb . Someone missed my r thigh back 72B868D7-E994-47F8-B237-950673F4B44E.jpeg
     
    • Like Like x 1
  2. oku

    oku Chill.

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2009
    Posts:
    10,328
    News Credits:
    42
    Trophy Points:
    362
    Location:
    CA 91754
    Likes:
    +30,814
    • Like Like x 1
  3. Digger

    Digger Banned

    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2017
    Posts:
    17,074
    News Credits:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    302
    Location:
    Queensland, Australia
    Likes:
    +20,039
    Well. That’s certainly odd.
     
  4. Jhund

    Jhund Screws>Pins

    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2017
    Posts:
    4,063
    News Credits:
    32
    Trophy Points:
    232
    Likes:
    +29,399
    Instagram:
    Rightly odd one out
     
  5. opoptimus

    opoptimus SUN WUKONG, not Son Goku.

    Joined:
    Apr 12, 2009
    Posts:
    435
    News Credits:
    13
    Trophy Points:
    182
    Location:
    Melbourne, VIC
    Likes:
    +2,382
    Okay my first impressions weren't so good.

    -I lucked out in the paint department upon first inspection, but after the first transformation to 'bot mode I'm already having scrapes on the inside of one of the forearms due to them having to squeeze through the roof piece (and also me following TT's instructions religiously. In hindsight that step in the instructions is definitely not the best way to do it).

    -Then minor issues like everybody else: loose right hip and various tolerance issues. For example the main shoulder joint is much tighter than the yellow POM secondary/transformation joint so you always end up moving the secondary joint when trying to pose it. The loose joints are less of a problem here due to the lightweight of the whole thing, but it just takes away that nice tactile feel you get when handling a lot of official Masterpiece figures.

    - The backpack lacks clear locking points. It kinda reminds of Tracks. It's okay cause the rod piece the fake tire cover is one does push to make it a bit more secure. It feels very.. Kobayashi...

    -Transformed back to alt mode and it needed a lot of massaging the panels together, and then there's still gaps that I just couldn't get rid of. So this is a transformation that requires very precise positioning of parts and I have a feeling all the tolerances that were out during production already made it near impossible to have everything fit together perfectly.

    I agree with a couple comments in this thread, that Vietnam has not had a good track record with fully painted figures at all. With all the sub-par paint finish, paint chipping and tolerance issues involved with painted parts, it's become evident that the Vietnamese factories just haven't got it down pat yet. I will bring up Soul of Chogokin again, cause one thing that's consistent with the SOC line is the beautiful paint finish; their paint still chips where transformation is involved, but it's much more durable. TT being in the game for this long should really sort this out at the production level.

    - The Spike figure is more solid in the joints compared to the one that came with Prime, but he's still a pain in the ass to stand and pose.

    Now onto the good. Plenty of praises have been sung about the accuracy to the source material so I won't harp on it. I believe if TT and all the 3p wannabe companies made non-transforming action figures, TT would DESTROY the competition and it won't even be close. That's how good I think TT is in terms of sculpting and capturing the essence of a character. It's not something a hobby modeler or two can compete with, and rightfully so too.

    The engineering. If we look closely and break it down, TT set out to do not only one, but three things with Bumblebee 2.0:
    -G1 cartoon accurate in both modes, which alone is already an engineering feat in and of itself. The use of mass and volume to compact the 'bot mode down into a tiny penny racer is absolutely amazing.

    -Opening doors, which adds another dimension to the figure's display value. And this necessitates the foot engineering to incorporate the whole door, otherwise we could've easily had cleaner feet imho.

    -Spike being able to sit inside. It's quite incredible that TT made space available in a car mode this compact. If weren't for this feature, the arms could've maybe folded in a different way which allows the backpack to collapse in a much cleaner way imo.

    So to me the biggest two gripes people have this figure design wise, the backpack and feet, are both compromises necessitated by design choices. TT set out to do these things and they've done it. Maybe they were over ambitious with this project, but personally I can only applaud the effort, and their constant drive to giving collectors something new and different with every new design.

    I didn't realize how iconic G1 Bee was to me until I have this little guy in hand. So I'm sure it'll grow on me.
     
    Last edited: Dec 8, 2019
    • Like Like x 8
  6. timcourtois

    timcourtois Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2012
    Posts:
    1,687
    Trophy Points:
    232
    Likes:
    +1,195
    Re: the scrape on your arm: check the pins that hold the backpack together that sit right next to the arms in vehicle mode. One of my pins was protruding a bit in a way that could have scratched that part of the arm. Someone else had the same issue as well.

    I was able to get the pin pushed in pretty easily.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  7. Jhund

    Jhund Screws>Pins

    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2017
    Posts:
    4,063
    News Credits:
    32
    Trophy Points:
    232
    Likes:
    +29,399
    Instagram:
    Well they are sending that piece and screw over so.... BD704E3A-BEB1-4BA3-B903-2A644BA3E308.jpeg 6A13A4E8-51FF-4E04-B452-0119B1D2E72D.jpeg
    P.S managed the seperate the eyes and the face apart and got rid of his right eye funk 94D72267-C018-4D78-95B8-5DF08CBB0486.jpeg
     
    Last edited: Dec 8, 2019
    • Like Like x 15
  8. Jhund

    Jhund Screws>Pins

    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2017
    Posts:
    4,063
    News Credits:
    32
    Trophy Points:
    232
    Likes:
    +29,399
    Instagram:
    Oh you son of a bee I was wondering why I can’t tab it in 80D32A49-ACF0-445A-9C14-654F45CB2850.jpeg
     
    • Like Like x 1
  9. AndreyOfDoom

    AndreyOfDoom maximize

    Joined:
    Aug 9, 2004
    Posts:
    2,653
    News Credits:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    312
    Likes:
    +1,950
    Mine came later than most from amazon JP and was A return! Double taped on one side with different tape. Opened him and the tray was double tape too.

    I can see why somebody would return him with the loose joints and tiny size but my copy actually holds together well and has good paint.
     
  10. TylerB

    TylerB Chrome and Gold

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2008
    Posts:
    1,969
    Trophy Points:
    287
    Location:
    Space Coast, FL
    Likes:
    +2,396
    I got mine pretty early AmazonJP and it was doubled tape. Pretty sure the double tape has something to do with the delay.
     
    • Like Like x 2
  11. Jarrod

    Jarrod Semi-retired Builder

    Joined:
    Jul 19, 2004
    Posts:
    3,822
    News Credits:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    312
    Location:
    Orlando, FL
    Likes:
    +9,744
    I'm not seeing what's wrong here?

    Yep, both of mine, and my friend's one were double taped.
     
    • Like Like x 2
  12. ambitron

    ambitron Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2011
    Posts:
    5,127
    News Credits:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    287
    Likes:
    +8,858
    How did you manage to separate the eyes from this face? They seem glued so I was afraid of breaking them (it would be nice to touch up the eyes on one copy).
     
  13. Jhund

    Jhund Screws>Pins

    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2017
    Posts:
    4,063
    News Credits:
    32
    Trophy Points:
    232
    Likes:
    +29,399
    Instagram:
    Red circled part is assembled upside down 51090BE0-D791-4E58-9E16-3F0A6B1D6902.jpeg here’s emgo’s for reference 2CA38FA0-DEF4-4C56-A383-7100C5991D7A.png

    might be loosely glued on mine , propped/pushed it off with a toothpick while using the head connection as a hold
     
    • Like Like x 3
  14. IwatchTV

    IwatchTV Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2018
    Posts:
    367
    Trophy Points:
    142
    Location:
    Llanfyllin, Wales
    Likes:
    +1,454
    I love this figure. Despite its flaws.

    Breakfast club anyone?

    20191208_181249.jpg


    EDIT - DAMN! Just managed to snap the trigger protector attempting to fit his gun in. Time to get the super glue out.

    20191208_182941.jpg
     
    Last edited: Dec 8, 2019
    • Like Like x 12
  15. timcourtois

    timcourtois Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2012
    Posts:
    1,687
    Trophy Points:
    232
    Likes:
    +1,195
    I could be misunderstanding, but I'm not seeing where it's assembled upside down. Are you aware that the post slides in and out as part of transformation?
     
  16. ambitron

    ambitron Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2011
    Posts:
    5,127
    News Credits:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    287
    Likes:
    +8,858
    Thanks. Did you push the toothpick against the actual eyes? Isn't the head connection attached to the eyes? My open-mouthed face comes apart sometimes when you take the face off, but I can't see how to separate the eyes on the other faces.
     
  17. ambitron

    ambitron Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2011
    Posts:
    5,127
    News Credits:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    287
    Likes:
    +8,858
    Does anyone know a good way of getting this pin out without damaging the figure?

    bonnet-pin.jpg

    (And getting it back in again!)

    I got a replacement for a bad copy from Amazon. A good copy has a bit of a mark on the hood, though, so in an ideal world I'd be able to swap out the hood on the two copies. Knocking that pin out looks hugely tricky, though. I've knocked out pins before, but it's always been on more solid pieces against a block of wood. With the thin hood piece and all of the delicate pieces around it, I've no idea how to get to this piece without doing a lot of damage. It would be difficult getting a soldering iron in there to heat it up without doing a lot of damage too.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  18. Jhund

    Jhund Screws>Pins

    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2017
    Posts:
    4,063
    News Credits:
    32
    Trophy Points:
    232
    Likes:
    +29,399
    Instagram:
    the hinge/stopper for the sliding that’s connected from the windscreen is upside down. The hinge joint that’s connected by translucent plastic. So I can’t slide it far enough to tab in for secure.

    right behind the mouth 70E4D17C-7052-409A-9D50-FADDA8BC85D8.jpeg 14E0240C-F9EB-46DE-962B-69CC379E054F.jpeg
     
    Last edited: Dec 8, 2019
    • Like Like x 2
  19. ambitron

    ambitron Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2011
    Posts:
    5,127
    News Credits:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    287
    Likes:
    +8,858
    Thanks. That doesn't work on mine - it seems to be glued tight.
     
  20. oku

    oku Chill.

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2009
    Posts:
    10,328
    News Credits:
    42
    Trophy Points:
    362
    Location:
    CA 91754
    Likes:
    +30,814
    Where did you buy your copy?