And while most fans are still enjoying our first in-hand images of the new Masterpiece MP-44 Convoy / Optimus Ver. 3.0, now we can share for you new and fresh in-hand images of the upcoming Takara Tomy Masterpiece MP-45 G1 Bumblebee Ver. 2.0.
This is a new updated Masterpiece mold of the classic small yellow Autobot scout. Similar to MP-44 Convoy / Optimus this figure is designed with cartoon-accurate proportions in both modes. The images reveal some very interesting details about the transformation and comparison shots with the original Masterpiece MP-21 Bumblebee and several other Masterpiece figures. Talking about comparisons, it’s good to notice that while MP-45 Bumblebee is smaller than MP-21 in alt mode, the new Masterpiece Bumblebee is taller than his predecessor in robot mode. We can feel some “mass-shifting magic” on this new Bumblebee incarnation.
This mold also features a very wide range of posability and several interchangeable faces and other accessories like a new Spike figurine which is also fairly articulated for its size. Transformation proves to be part intuitive and part complex in some steps. Some compromises had to be made to get the cartoon accurate proportions, like the now classic infamous backpack and the back of the feet.
Check out all the images, as well as a video review, after the jump. Was this a real improvement over the original MP Bumblebee figure? Will you add MP-45 as your definite Bumblebee into your collection? Let us know your impressions on the ongoing discussion on the 2005 Boards!
Sweep
Watch: City of Steel, Childs Play, Cosmic Rust, and A Plauge of Insecticons for the context.
VVa
Shit smears, hearts, melting eyes and cosmic rust.
ManelFigures
Thank you so much!.
Sam
Don’t forget the ice-cream!
Prime135
Hearts for the license plate, cosmic rust, and metal eating space plant spores respectively.
marioxb
The hearts are to cover up the Autobot symbol(s) on the license plate(s). Not sure about the rest.
ManelFigures
Hello, do anybody know what is this? Thanks.
View attachment 30148056
Fafnir72
Slow day indeed! Last time I mentioned measurements, I attracted a mob of raging
They might be asleep in daylight though 
(wait for it…………better arm myself with Ag and garlic
)
mrspingly
I'm really not sure how many ways I can say that the size of the gap isn't what I've been talking about. Ho hum.
Throway
That gap has to be like 1 atom wide
mrspingly
Oh, there are certainly far worse gaps! The rear lights in alt mode, the backpack in bot mode. They're much more ugly, but they're result of deeper or more complicated design issues.
The gap I mentioned annoys me more because it's completely avoidable. If the panel were curved then it would look fine whether held snugly against the wheel arch or at a distance, as the gap would be a matching curve that would look okay.
It's the unnecessariness of the little gap that's the problem!
Blingotron
I keep kicking myself that I passed on the official and KO. I even balked at the KO being 60 something bucks and here we are….
Liampope
Well if that tiny gap that you literally have to search for or be aware of in advance to even notice bugs you more than some of the other uncloseable gaps around the alt mode <cough…rear lights…cough> I just dont know!
Fully agree with you though – why is that panel even shaped like that in the first place?
jackisking
Everytime this thread gets bumped, I keep hoping its because someone has gotten a link for a PO
mrspingly
That picture shows the same angle and gap that annoys me on mine. Whether it's almost impertceptible isn't my point.
My grumble was that the front edge could surely have been curved like the back edge to make it not be there at all.
Liampope
But when the parts are slotted together fully, the fender overlaps the door slightly so that gap due to the odd cut of the door is almost imperceptible…
View attachment 29912996
AshDOG
Been looking for a Bumblebee but no one has it. Hoping for a reissue one day… Optimus is missing his buddy.
mrspingly
That's not the problem. The rear of the door follows the curve of the wheel arch. The front of the door doesn't, as it has an angle in it.
Liampope
Just looks like your door and fender pieces aren't clipped together fully.
marioxb
I'd like someone to make him shorter, MP21 height, actually.
There was a KO on Amazon as of yesterday for $140, but I guess it's gone now.