Art Feather Bumblebee

Okay, so I had to at least get to this guy. I first found out about this figure on the TFW boards about eight months ago, but I must not have read everything carefully enough because I originally thought this was a kit that you could modify on to your existing Classics Bumblebee. So imagine my surprise when I receive the figure fully finished and packaged. I was all ready to make it an afternoon project, but I'm not complaining!



I've read a lot of negative stuff about this figure but I really like him a lot. Sure there are a lot of QC issues, but if you are like me and don't really play with your figures all that much then it really isn't an issue. The first thing I have to mention is that the front wheels don't move at all. There just isn't enough clearance for them to turn, but since I don't roll my figures around on the ground I don't really care. It would have been nice, but it isn't necessary. The second thing is that the figure is very loose and doesn't "lock down" in robot mode meaning the top of the car flips up easily. If you were to transform this figure back and forth a lot then it would probably fall apart after a while, but if you are displaying it on a shelf then it should be fine. This figure definitely isn't built for heavy duty wear, but it works just fine as a collector's figure. And it is definitely the best representation of a modern Bumblebee that has ever come out (which is ridiculous considering how many Bumblebees Hasbro has released).

Compared to the Classics Bumblebee this thing just shines in so many ways. It is larger, and definitely prettier.

The Spike that comes with the figure is actually a lot more accurate to the character than the one that comes with Masterpiece Optimus. But it is just a solid piece so it can't move or articulate like the Masterpiece figure can.

But because the figures are basically in scale with each other it begs the question: "Is this version of Bumblebee a Masterpiece scale figure?" Personally I think it is, but it also fits in with the Classics figures so it is a tough call as to where to place it. I don't know if Hasbro/Takara will ever convince Volkswagen to license their vehicle (although we did get Lamborghini, so who knows). Until that day, this figure can definitely be a Masterpiece Bumblebee.