Henkei Bumblebee

Bumblebee
"Some of my best friends are humans."

Bumblebee is one of the smallest and physically weakest Autobots.  While his stature allows him to do his job better than most Autobots could manage, he is self-conscious about his size.  Maybe this is why he makes fast friends among the humans.  He looks up (so to speak) to the other Autobots, especially Optimus Prime, but what he doesn't realize is that they look up to him.  He may be small, but he's brave and he's one of the most well-liked Autobots around.  Bumblebee already has the respect he craves.

While checking for newer toys on a local mall, an old toy caught my attention, it was a Henkie Bumblebee.  Here are the basic specifications:

Line: Henkei
Manufacturer: Takara
Released: 2008
Accessories: Transforming jet ski

Bumblebee is in his alt mode in the package.  Also the figure comes with a trading card as with all Japanese versions.

Sculpt
Bumblebee is now in his modern look but still recognizable with the old model.  His vehicle mode is no longer a Volkswagen Beetle but a small sports coupe of made-up model and towing a small trailer with a removable jet-ski.  The jet-ski transforms into a flight-pack that clips onto Bumblebee's back.  Bumblebee doesn’t have much paint; he is mostly just cast in the color plastic but the hood is gold and silver chrome-plated and the spoiler is gold chrome-plated.  There is no heat sensitive rub-sign on this figure.

Articulation
He has fair articulation.  He has a ball jointed neck, ball jointed shoulders, ball jointed elbows, ball jointed hips and swivel thighs.  Hope that they have ball jointed his feet.

An old toy model to my new collection.  :-)

Masterpiece MP-10 Convoy Optimus Prime

Optimus Prime
"Freedom is the right of all sentient beings."

OPTIMUS PRIME is the largest, strongest and wisest of all Autobots. Feels his role is the protection of all life, including Earth-life. Fights unceasingly to defeat the Decepticons. Splits into three autonomous modules: 1) Optimus Prime...the brain center known as the Commander; 2) Roller, the autobot scout car...a spy who operates up to 1200 miles away; and 3) Autobot Headquarters...the combat deck equipped with a versatile mechanic/artillery robot. Injury to one module is felt by the other two.

Recently this December, I got hold of the Masterpiece MP-10 Convoy version 2.0. Here are the specifications:

Series - Masterpiece

Manufacturer - Takara

Released Date - JP release September 2011

Approximate Retail Price - US$290

Approximate Size - 23cm, aprox 1:32 scale

Allegiance - Autobot

Alt-mode - Freightliner FL86 (truck)

Main Features/Gimmicks - More G1 accurate cab, trailer converts to battle station, matrix, Spike figure, axe, foldable gun, Roller

Main Accessories - Gun, Axe, Roller, Spike

First the box was really nice, the black coloring really compliments the contents. The front of the box shows Prime in his robot and alt-mode.

The back of the box shows the actual size of Optimus Prime, it beats knowing the size of the figure without opening the box. It also shows all the features/gimmicks.

The packaging is well arrange, a manual and a card is included

Sculpt

I don't own a MP-01/MP-04 but base on other review and pic you can say that the details have improved. He is more screen accurate to the cartoon model. The only major spots that differ between this toy and his cartoon model are the wheels at the back of his legs and a few other finer details that aren't present in the simpler animation model. There are no moving mouth plate, light-up matrix, suspension on the wheels and less die-cast parts as with MP-01/MP-04 but the details and accurate robot/truck mode made up for this. The feet and the spine is made up of die-cast.   The matrix of leadership is also made up of die-cast.  The color is very crisp, I really like the red on this one.

  

Articulation

Optimus Prime has an unbelievable amount of articulation for a Transformer. He has all the joints I consider essential in a poseable figure. His legs has more range compared to the MP-01/MP-04, definitely the engineering has improved. Since the feet are the only part on the figure that is made up of die-cast, the center of gravity is on the lower part which means more balance.  The only disappointment on the figure was that his fingers are not individually articulated. There is also a limit on the forward motion of the shoulders but this can be compensated by using the other joints. I really have fun posing him from the different memorable scene on the cartoon.

Definitely a toy worth buying and reminiscing the childhood experience. :-)