Review: #26
Name: Cliffjumper
Brand: Transformers
Allegiance: Autobot
Line: 2007 Movie - Allspark Power
Year of Release: 2008
Size Class: Deluxe (Wave 7)
Variations: repainted from the Chevrolet Camaro Concept Bumblebee, and the mold has since been retooled and repainted heaps in ROTF, Autobot Alliance and DOTM lines
VEHICLE MODE:
Cliffjumper transforms into a licensed fifth generation Chevrolet Camaro (at the time of release, it was the Concept model), and it is a very faithful reproduction. A lot of panel lines in the hood area where it breaks up for robot mode, and this destroys the smooth slick look.
Cliffjumper is missing a few paint apps (but not as much as the later reuses of the mold), particularly at the back where it looks like a solid chunk of red plastic. He lacks painted tail lights, but I would assume it would be hard to pick out the difference anyway, maybe a painted license plate would help.
The red plastic used is nice, but it is a bit too pale, a deeper richer red would make him a lot better. Also, the red paint fades easily, causing mismatched colours on the doors. It's great that the hubcaps are painted silver.
Cliffjumper is well painted at the front, with lights, badge and the paint work on the hood. There are four rectangular slots on the hood that doesn't seem to serve any purpose. The design of the car is great though, I particularly like the design of the hood and grill.
The main flaw in vehicle mode would be the feet that you can see underneath the car. As the wheels are attached to the feet/heels of the robot, the clearance is low, Cliffjumper won't be able to roll over rough surfaces like carpet.
Cliffjumper is a good size, above is a comparison photo against Reveal the Shield Turbo Tracks, Cliffjumper is bulkier and bigger. A good vehicle mode but too many moving parts and panel breaks cause a visually disjointed car.
TRANSFORMATION:
Cliffjumper has a fairly complex transformation that requires quite a bit of precise manipulating for various parts. It's fiddly, but once you've done it a few times it's alright. Going back into car mode can be annoying, and once you've finished, you do feel that there are some panels that are strained. I do think this mold is one of the best at mimicking the onscreen transformations in the movie, with a lot of panels breaking and shifting. There are two Automorphs in the transformation, the chest one is average, but the leg one is great fun.
ROBOT MODE:
A brilliant robot mode that are super accurate to the CG design of Bumblebee (which this mold was created for). As a result of this, Cliffjumper feels like a red Bumblebee and lacks some personality.
A few panels and kibble that are visible from the back, but overall, Cliffjumper is very clean in aesthetic, and the door wings make a great feature.
Cliffjumper created a good integrated weapon (hidden between his legs in car mode), his plasma cannon, which he can grip in either hand.
The cannon can change into a short combat blade, it looks great, albeit a bit kibbly with the cannon shells on either side.
The head mold is detailed, but not painted very well. The details they chose to highlight doesn't work well together. The lightpipe does not work very well.
Poseability is good, but the legs are a bit limited. Cliffjumper is very stable and a good robot overall, better as a display figure than an action figure.
OVERALL:
The best mold of the 2007 Movie Toyline in my opinion, and it still stands well with newer molds, especially the new Bumblebee molds, the original is the best. Anyway, the figure itself as Cliffjumper is lacking and feels lacklustre, it feels too much like a rip-off of Bumblebee. I would only recommend this figure if you really dig the colour scheme, or, like me, you couldn't find the original Bumblebee toy.
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Extra, better photos can be found at this page.
Credit: pictures and text is all mine, but I've linked a few pages to TFwiki.net and Wikipedia.
Reviews of other figures can be selected from here.