Possible Second Run of Transformers Studio Series Bumblebee

Another really nice list, William-James. Think I agree with almost everything in terms of pros and cons, just to varying degrees. Some things bother me more. Some things less. I think that me liking Prime as much as I do, really makes me the odd one out. After fixing Bee’s backpack, I’ve started to come around on the figure. He’s better than I first thought, but overall he’s still not great. Blackout continues to be, far and away, my personal favorite. I’m sincerely hoping we get a Grindor. I want more helicopters.

I’m curious to see what your top list will look like when the whole SS line is all wrapped up.

Am I the only one who had a Starscream with a floppy crotch?
Anyway, after a couple of Pledge Floor Finish everywhere it's not tight, but it's not floppy anymore.

-Kanrabat- wrote:Am I the only one who had a Starscream with a floppy crotch?
Anyway, after a couple of Pledge Floor Finish everywhere it's not tight, but it's not floppy anymore.

My Starscream was more than fine - it's (theoretically) got soft-snapping points because of the hinge's non-rounded shape, so it's not going anywhere on my copy. Glad to hear yours was mostly fixable at least!

Mine's left shoulder doesn't quite line up, though. That perpendicular panel on the wing that's supposed to sit right under the shoulder-block (does that make sense?) doesn't do it on that side, and instead sits behind that part and pushes it forward a bit. Totally unnoticeable unless I think about it or look at him from the top in robot mode, luckily.

william-james88 wrote:

Carnivius_Prime wrote:Ratchet I can't decide on. There's aspects of the smaller DotM figure I like more and aspects of this one I prefer too.

They seem about the same size to me, depending on the pose.



Have you placed them side to side youself?

Well yeah, it was one of the first things I did when I got SS Ratchet and so just took another photo now. The DOTM mold can't stand it's legs up totally straight in the hips or the knees either.



Hm didn't realise on the SS figure there are actual tabs in the shoulders to fix the wheel panel things in securely in robot mode. I thought they just folded in and that was that like on the old figure. Anyways I wanna do some painting on this figure. Nothing much, just add some to the head, foreharms and knees and inner thighs and such.


EDIT:

did some rough painting. Will clean it up later. Way overdid the silver on the..whatever you call the bit on the front of the vehicle hood. Will scrub that and redo that properly with drybrushing.

What has the world come too? Now all of a sudden everybody cares about Bumblebee. Dude even took pics from Chipotle lol. Isnt the same character we all crucified michael bay and hasbro for the last 10 years?

Rated X wrote:What has the world come too? Now all of a sudden everybody cares about Bumblebee lol. Dude even took pics from Chipotle lol. Isnt the same character we all crucified michael bay and hasbro for the last 10 years?

Um. No. I've always loved movie Bumblebee. Sure there's maybe too much merchandise of him but that ain't his fault.

Qwan wrote:

-Kanrabat- wrote:Am I the only one who had a Starscream with a floppy crotch?
Anyway, after a couple of Pledge Floor Finish everywhere it's not tight, but it's not floppy anymore.

My Starscream was more than fine - it's (theoretically) got soft-snapping points because of the hinge's non-rounded shape, so it's not going anywhere on my copy. Glad to hear yours was mostly fixable at least!

Mine's left shoulder doesn't quite line up, though. That perpendicular panel on the wing that's supposed to sit right under the shoulder-block (does that make sense?) doesn't do it on that side, and instead sits behind that part and pushes it forward a bit. Totally unnoticeable unless I think about it or look at him from the top in robot mode, luckily.

My starscream has the same issue but its not that bad. He is easily my favorite starscream, movie or otherwise.

beastwarsbrah wrote:

Qwan wrote:

-Kanrabat- wrote:Am I the only one who had a Starscream with a floppy crotch?
Anyway, after a couple of Pledge Floor Finish everywhere it's not tight, but it's not floppy anymore.

My Starscream was more than fine - it's (theoretically) got soft-snapping points because of the hinge's non-rounded shape, so it's not going anywhere on my copy. Glad to hear yours was mostly fixable at least!

Mine's left shoulder doesn't quite line up, though. That perpendicular panel on the wing that's supposed to sit right under the shoulder-block (does that make sense?) doesn't do it on that side, and instead sits behind that part and pushes it forward a bit. Totally unnoticeable unless I think about it or look at him from the top in robot mode, luckily.

My starscream has the same issue but its not that bad. He is easily my favorite starscream, movie or otherwise.

Mine is slightly loose in that area but only notice it when transforming. It stays in place in both modes just fine.

Carnivus, quick question, do you just paint straight onto the figure or do you prime it first?

ZeroWolf wrote:Carnivus, quick question, do you just paint straight onto the figure or do you prime it first?

test ones like these i just paint straight on and if i wanna do a better job later when i can afford better equipment and paints i scrub/wash it off and start over with priming and such. Most of the time i just do them to help give folks better ideas of how the figures could look. These are just for my personal collection anyways, no way will i ever be good enough to be a pro customiser and sell them like some of the great customisers. My various health issues just don't allow it (for example the anxiety making my wrists shake). Is just me tweaking lil bits of the figures so I'm happier with my purchase.

Bucky wrote:Another really nice list, William-James. Think I agree with almost everything in terms of pros and cons, just to varying degrees. Some things bother me more. Some things less. I think that me liking Prime as much as I do, really makes me the odd one out. After fixing Bee’s backpack, I’ve started to come around on the figure. He’s better than I first thought, but overall he’s still not great. Blackout continues to be, far and away, my personal favorite. I’m sincerely hoping we get a Grindor. I want more helicopters.

I’m curious to see what your top list will look like when the whole SS line is all wrapped up.

Thanks a bunch Bucky! And yeah, hopefully the Studio Series line lasts long enough that a top 5 would look different from this ranking.

Cheers!

Also, to Emerje, I do plan on making more line specific lists. So far, I think all I did was the best Prime, Combienr Wars and Animated toys. RID 2015 is next for line specific lists, then Cybertron.

Carnivius_Prime wrote:

ZeroWolf wrote:Carnivus, quick question, do you just paint straight onto the figure or do you prime it first?

test ones like these i just paint straight on and if i wanna do a better job later when i can afford better equipment and paints i scrub/wash it off and start over with priming and such. Most of the time i just do them to help give folks better ideas of how the figures could look. These are just for my personal collection anyways, no way will i ever be good enough to be a pro customiser and sell them like some of the great customisers. My various health issues just don't allow it (for example the anxiety making my wrists shake). Is just me tweaking lil bits of the figures so I'm happier with my purchase.

Thanks for the help

Well, no. I bought this figure with the same 'fixed' number code, but I still have the QC issues.

Rated X wrote:What has the world come too? Now all of a sudden everybody cares about Bumblebee. Dude even took pics from Chipotle lol. Isnt the same character we all crucified michael bay and hasbro for the last 10 years?

Even though I was a G1 kid, I started collecting only because of the Bay movies. And only after ROTF was well underway. I remembered HATING Movie Starscream's design... That is, until I needed some plastic crack and bought the Leader HFTD Starscream on Boxing Day for 40$CAN plus taxes. The rest is History.

Still waiting to see them in stores. The more pictures that get posted of Ratchet, the more I do want him. My lone Ratchet is the RotF Desert Tracker one, and I would like a Ratchet that is in his regular color scheme, though I could wait for the MPM, but SS Ratchet does look good.

Still stoked for Bee, hoping mine is good in the QC department. and considering I apparently got the only RiD Sideswipe to ever have his arms lock in place, maybe I'll get lucky here too

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:I apparently got the only RiD Sideswipe to ever have his arms lock in place

no joke though, its the first I hear that actualy exists

Carnivius_Prime wrote:

ZeroWolf wrote:Carnivus, quick question, do you just paint straight onto the figure or do you prime it first?

test ones like these i just paint straight on and if i wanna do a better job later when i can afford better equipment and paints i scrub/wash it off and start over with priming and such. Most of the time i just do them to help give folks better ideas of how the figures could look. These are just for my personal collection anyways, no way will i ever be good enough to be a pro customiser and sell them like some of the great customisers. My various health issues just don't allow it (for example the anxiety making my wrists shake). Is just me tweaking lil bits of the figures so I'm happier with my purchase.

Dude, I think you did a great job.

I wanna give painting figures a try when I get a chance. Its been a while since I made model planes and such. I admire the patience it took to do the detailing that you did on Ratchet's face. I have been thinking of doing that myself (hasbro should have done it in the first place).

Finally got Studio Series Blackout yesterday, and he's pretty cool! Robot mode has some flaws, like really limited articulation and those weird hands (which bug me more than I thought they would), but it's a huge improvement over the '07 voyager and still looks really nice. The flaws in robot mode are made up for by the vehicle mode, which is GORGEOUS! I'm a big fan of military alt. modes, and this one just looks incredible. I've noticed that his shoulders don't tab in to his torso like they're supposed to, is anyone else having that issue? Anyways, on to pictures.

(SS Bee is still great, btw. He might be edging out DOTM Bee as my favorite deluxe Bee)

And here he is with an off-colored and wildly out of scale movie 1 Decepticon cast:

How do you guys feel about a possible TLK repaint of Berserker in the Studio Series line to represent a new Crankcase toy? All Hasbro really needs to do is remove the red paint apps on the robot mode chest, forearms, and hands. Or is the original DotM deluxe class toy the preferred version of Crankcase still? Does anyone think they can retool the Berserker/Crowbar mold one more time to make Hatchet? It would be nice to have all three "Dreads" with truly identical alt modes for the Studio Series collection.

Wasn't really interested in Berserker to begin with but he's got a neat design so why not? I doubt I'd pick it up and certainly not at retail price.

WreckerJack wrote:
Dude, I think you did a great job.

I wanna give painting figures a try when I get a chance. Its been a while since I made model planes and such. I admire the patience it took to do the detailing that you did on Ratchet's face. I have been thinking of doing that myself (hasbro should have done it in the first place).

Thanks. I do need to redo the face though once I get a finer paintbrush cos wanna do a bit of black to bring out the details more. It's weird they painted his chin silver when it should be green but they left the side bits (the parts that look like some sorta facial hair or tusks) green which should be painted. But yeah while my figure looks a bit messy, it does look better to me especially when viewed on the shelf.

Wolfman Jake wrote:How do you guys feel about a possible TLK repaint of Berserker in the Studio Series line to represent a new Crankcase toy? All Hasbro really needs to do is remove the red paint apps on the robot mode chest, forearms, and hands. Or is the original DotM deluxe class toy the preferred version of Crankcase still? Does anyone think they can retool the Berserker/Crowbar mold one more time to make Hatchet? It would be nice to have all three "Dreads" with truly identical alt modes for the Studio Series collection.

I wouldn't mind. I love the Berserker figure but would like some mold differences if made into Crankcase to make it more unique from the mold and truer to the Cranky design. Bigger pincer thingies, and the stabby fingers for example. Failing that I'd probably stick to the DotM figure cos it.

We previously reported on Studio Series Optimus having two variants in sword colors, and now we have received word of an unmasked variant. This news was brought to our attention by our own westjames/notirish. The images below come from a Chinese website called Baidu where user Dill0315dill has posted them. A similar image of a figure that closeley resembles the one in the pictures below was found on Hasbro's Instagram page. From what we were able to figure out by translating some of the forum posts these figures were purchased in bulk from Taobao. Though it is still a bit of a mystery. Do you think we will find these variants outside of China? If you do happen upon one of these figures let us know!

The open face looks kinda off to me...

ZeroWolf wrote:The open face looks kinda off to me...

I agree. I think it's the way they painted his eyes, the parts they painted blue should be the silver sockets around the little blue lights. I think, anyway. Glad they painted his mouth though, it was a boring blue spot on that original Twitter image.

To be honest though I'll probably grab one of these guys if I see him. He looks alright, I love the mold already and I'm trying to go completist on the line as it is. Now if I can just modify the one I have to fold his backpack up like the masked Prime in the pictures I'll be all set.

He isn't just a head variant, the paint is different as well.



Red chest doors, no blue paint on the arms, and less blue paint on the hips (the red might be a little different, too). This isn't a simple head swap so it's probably supposed to represent an entirely different movie like the Starscream repaint will. The first wave figure is TF2 so maybe this one is TF1?

Emerje

Emerje wrote:He isn't just a head variant, the paint is different as well.



Red chest doors, no blue paint on the arms, and less blue paint on the hips (the red might be a little different, too). This isn't a simple head swap so it's probably supposed to represent an entirely different movie like the Starscream repaint will. The first wave figure is TF2 so maybe this one is TF1?

Emerje

I think the battle mask Prime is just a custom, he doesn't normally have all that blue on his arms or chest doors.

Autobot Roadburn wrote:I think the battle mask Prime is just a custom, he doesn't normally have all that blue on his arms or chest doors.

Ah, that explains it. I don't like the red used on the figure so I never really spent a lot of time looking at the details. An easy pass with or without the mask.

Emerje

That’s weird. My version of Optimus is red chest with a face mask. You guys sure you didn’t switch the head swap deal?!!

President-prime wrote:That’s weird. My version of Optimus is red chest with a face mask. You guys sure you didn’t switch the head swap deal?!!

As explained above, one of those is a custom. Maybe a note in the story would be a good idea since the head is the main point of interest?

Autobot Roadburn wrote:To be honest though I'll probably grab one of these guys if I see him. He looks alright, I love the mold already and I'm trying to go completist on the line as it is. Now if I can just modify the one I have to fold his backpack up like the masked Prime in the pictures I'll be all set.

Doesn't require any modding. Just alternate transformation. Just tried it with mine the blue panel (with the fuel tanky things which I find super annoying in regular transformation but nicely tidied in this alternate way) do fold inwards if pushed hard enough



I like it but not if storing the swords on the back since obviously they'll stick out at an angle that way.

Thanks for all the tips guys. My optimus joint is now tight.

I love this studio series so far. I love the new bumblebee he goes great with optimus. I want more Bee figures of this quality. My favorite iteration of movie bee is the high octane on from AOE, but his toy left so much to be desired. I think it's his coolest car mode and I bet now they could do a toy of that version so well. The chest would look so cool, it was such a small role I doubt they will do it, we will get a stinger retool vw bee and a modern camero before we get another high octane. Urgh, I might just have to get one of those old AOE deluxes.

These studio series are amazing barring the deluxes. I have no complaint and wouldn’t mind paying for these at retail. Great mold and paint details. Love all so far. Keep them coming.

Ok I'm gonna have to buy Grimlock now and also that new DNA Design upgrade kit with the two posable hands, actual spikey mace on chain and new tail and other such additions.

What's the cheapest that Grimlock retails for in the UK?
So far the cheapest I can find is £52.99 with free delivery here
https://www.mad-4-toys.co.uk/shopbychar ... ock_figure

Carnivius_Prime wrote:Ok I'm gonna have to buy Grimlock now and also that new DNA Design upgrade kit with the two posable hands, actual spikey mace on chain and new tail and other such additions.

What's the cheapest that Grimlock retails for in the UK?
So far the cheapest I can find is £52.99 with free delivery here
https://www.mad-4-toys.co.uk/shopbychar ... ock_figure

Thats a rather fair price, considering it includes taxes (and no shipping) and that thats around the same MSRP of previous leaders even though this line has gotten a price increase in most international markets.

william-james88 wrote:

Carnivius_Prime wrote:Ok I'm gonna have to buy Grimlock now and also that new DNA Design upgrade kit with the two posable hands, actual spikey mace on chain and new tail and other such additions.

What's the cheapest that Grimlock retails for in the UK?
So far the cheapest I can find is £52.99 with free delivery here
https://www.mad-4-toys.co.uk/shopbychar ... ock_figure

Thats a rather fair price, considering it includes taxes (and no shipping) and that thats around the same MSRP of previous leaders even though this line has gotten a price increase in most international markets.

Hm thought it might be good. Yeah £54.99 seems to be price of Leader class whether movie or Power of the Primes/Titans Return (the Forbidden Planet store I was in today had PotP Optimus and Rodimus Prime and Titans Sixshot for £54.99 each. They had Studio Bee and Ratchet for £22.99 each) so I might go with this online retailer for Grimmy then.

Photo of Sixshot, Ratchet & Bee. Sixshot overpriced especially since he's been spotted (by myself and others) for as low as £14.99 in B&M stores while stocks lasted.


So Leader Grimlock for a couple quid less than retail price and actually sent to me for free? Sounds like a good deal.
Wish I knew the price of the Grimlock upgrade kit and which UK online retailers will have it. But yeah maybe I'll be ordering Grimlock real soon. Thanks.

Possible Second Run of Transformers Studio Series Bumblebee

why?

Carnivius_Prime wrote:

Autobot Roadburn wrote:To be honest though I'll probably grab one of these guys if I see him. He looks alright, I love the mold already and I'm trying to go completist on the line as it is. Now if I can just modify the one I have to fold his backpack up like the masked Prime in the pictures I'll be all set.

Doesn't require any modding. Just alternate transformation. Just tried it with mine the blue panel (with the fuel tanky things which I find super annoying in regular transformation but nicely tidied in this alternate way) do fold inwards if pushed hard enough



I like it but not if storing the swords on the back since obviously they'll stick out at an angle that way.

I didn't want to force the plastic and risk stressing it so I cut down the right angles on the blue plastic that were the problem. Just used an X-acto knife, took me 5 minutes. Definitely an improvement in my eyes; the backpack sticks out a little more but it really improves his silhouette from the front.

Z3ROhour wrote:Possible Second Run of Transformers Studio Series Bumblebee

why?

Do you just read titles and not the articles?

fixing some of the quality concerns that affected the figure in the first place: loose joints, loose window attachment, loose feet, among others.

Emerje

Autobot Roadburn wrote:I didn't want to force the plastic and risk stressing it so I cut down the right angles on the blue plastic that were the problem. Just used an X-acto knife, took me 5 minutes. Definitely an improvement in my eyes; the backpack sticks out a little more but it really improves his silhouette from the front.

It did feel oddly satisfying the way they felt when being pushed inwards... I dunno how to explain it.

Personally I prefer my Optimus masked

Following up on some of the "Dreads" talk from earlier, I finally got around to opening up Studio Series Crowbar. I'm quite impressed, overall. The vehicle mode shell is almost identical to TLK Berserker, but almost all of the robot mode parts are different. One huge improvement with Crowbar is that none of the vehicle panels pop off the robot mode limbs during transformation (or otherwise). It is a bit sad that the dreadlocks just kind of hang out the back of the vehicle mode like cans on strings for a "just married" couple driving away to their honeymoon. The robot feet are also pretty clearly visible in the back wheel wells in vehicle mode. I'd like to see this improved level of engineering on the mold used to make the other two Dreads down the line. Or maybe they can reshell Crowbar with a run-down VW bus alt-mode for a later wave and give us a proper "Dreadbot?"

Wolfman Jake wrote: I'm quite impressed, overall. The vehicle mode shell is almost identical to TLK Berserker, but almost all of the robot mode parts are different. One huge improvement with Crowbar is that none of the vehicle panels pop off the robot mode limbs during transformation (or otherwise).

Think I got lucky with my Berserker. It's had a lot of play and transforming and slighty painting and a lot of Toyhax stickers applied and never had any part pop off even when trying to 'force' it.

Now that I finally got my Grimlock, here's my thoughts:

OH.

MY.

GOD.



This is a MASTERPIECE disguised as a mainline figure! The sculpting is perfect. The paint is freaking PREMIUM. The engineering is simple yet damn effective. It was damn expensive at 80 leaf dollars and a half. But man, I don't regret it one bit. HasTak knocked it out of the park with that one!



On a side note, the "skirt-flap" on mine is pretty tight and hold itself in place perfectly.

I don't remember having seen this on the thread but here's Grimlock in his bubble. He's so big that he have to take a pretty funny pose in packajing. It's a great idea because it make for a smaller box and happier retailers.



GENERATIONS OF GRIMLOCKS!



Overal conclusion: GET IT NAO!
SS Grimlock is a figure that is worth not waiting for a sale.

So far, I haven't gotten any of the Studio Series figures yet, though it's looking like only the Leaders really appeal to me enough to want to get them, but not necessarily because of their depictions in the films, but because of my possibly wanting to repurpose them as Beast Wars: Uprising characters.

Sabrblade wrote:So far, I haven't gotten any of the Studio Series figures yet, though it's looking like only the Leaders really appeal to me enough to want to get them, but not necessarily because of their depictions in the films, but because of my possibly wanting to repurpose them as Beast Wars: Uprising characters.

Voyager Optimus Prime is a quite a mixed bag: great transformation but skimps on a lot of the details in sculpt and paint. Don't let that throw you off the Voyager size class, though, because Starscream is fantastic! Seriously, even if you only kinda tolerate Starscream, this is the best version at this size we've ever gotten. Everything about the figure is terrific.

Also, I know a lot of people are down on the Deluxes of wave 1 of the Studio Series, but none of them are "bad" figures to me at all. They're not flawless, but I'm still quite happy to have them in my collection.

-Kanrabat- wrote:
This is a MASTERPIECE disguised as a mainline figure! ^

I dunno if it quite masterpiece as it is but the DNA Design upgrade kit sure looks like making it such.

Fine fine fine ordered me a damn grimlock. Ain't like I need to eat or pay my bills.

Carnivius_Prime wrote:Fine fine fine ordered me a damn grimlock. Ain't like I need to eat or pay my bills.

Those are never important when you have a plastic crack addiction on a side note how much is the dna set going to cost then? I love the look of gridlock as it is but the upgrade looks even nicer still but if it doubles the cost then I'm out...I mean I've got some beastie masterpieces to save up for

ZeroWolf wrote:

Carnivius_Prime wrote:Fine fine fine ordered me a damn grimlock. Ain't like I need to eat or pay my bills.

Those are never important when you have a plastic crack addiction on a side note how much is the dna set going to cost then? I love the look of gridlock as it is but the upgrade looks even nicer still but if it doubles the cost then I'm out...I mean I've got some beastie masterpieces to save up for

Way I'm justifying it, is I feel empty and down and I'm either gonna buy toys or I'm gonna buy a whole ton of fatty food and one of those choices is easily undone (if necessary I can resell toys, but it's a lot tougher to get rid of all the fat gained by the foods). So yep, paid my £52.99 and shall await my huge dino toy. And yes I do need to know how much the DNA upgrade will be cos it does appear to fix all the main issues I have with the factory figure (such as giving it two hands! And a spikey ball where the spikes haven't been safety-zones to hell) and I won't be able to be happy with the figure without it. And I don't have any beastie masterpieces to save up for... i suppose this IS the beastie masterpiece i'm saving up for...

£54 isn't bad since I bet they would be higher should they appear on UK shelves (I'm not holding my breath on anything bigger than the deluxes appearing as UK distribution, as we both know, is pants)

Either way this is going to be the best version of grimlock we're going to get for a while. Well best version of this character. Who knows when we'll see him again on the big screen now