Review: #105
Name: Bulkhead
Brand: Transformers
Allegiance: Autobot
Line: Prime - First Edition
Year of Release: 2011
Size Class: Voyager (First Edition Wave 1)
Variations: retooled with a new head as Asia Generations Brawn
VEHICLE MODE:
Continuing on with the Prime theme, we have Voyager Bulkhead here, who transforms into a truck. While a good vehicle mode in general, there are a lot of panel lines due to the transformation.
There's also a good chunk of robot bits that's visible underneath the car. While the arms at the back tries to hide as exhausts, it doesn't look that great, and is the only negative here.
As per usual, he rolls, sadly, they couldn't give all his windows clear plastic, the rear side ones being painted.
The reason why his robot bits are visible is due to the fact that this is a very packed vehicle (as evident from looking underneath).
Bulkhead stores the mace on his back, making the vehicle look unrealistic, and if I daresay, a bit ridiculous. You can take it off, but you can't store is anywhere else.
He's a good size as a Voyager, with the mass to back it up too.
He comes with a stand (being a First Edition toy), and since he's a Voyager, the stand is bigger than the Deluxe version as well.
A very nice vehicle mode, there's no gimmicks whatsoever, but you would be proud to have him in your display.
TRANSFORMATION:
It's not spectacular, nor are there any super amazing twists, but it's interesting nonetheless. Considering only a small part of the front forms his legs, a pretty big proportions forms his arms and torso. The way the sides of the car break and form his chest, then pegging securely onto his back, is fairly clever. A very solid transformation, that in no way feels gimmicky, it seems the designer was focused on making Bulkhead a solid Transformer. The joints attaching the rear wheels can feel flimsy at times. There's no manipulation of small parts, which makes it that much more enjoyable.
ROBOT MODE:
Bulkhead's robot mode, for the most part, is fairly accurate, but it's a lot less smooth than the animation model (understandable).
He's based off the Animated version of the character, but apart from the similar vehicle modes, head sculpt and general overall proportions, there's no other similarities at all, which is surprising since it evokes the character so much.
The head sculpt is very nice, and I love the baby blue paint used for his eyes (which have sculpted pupils as well!!). The head can turn from side to side and look up a bit, but can be restricted by the pipe sculpting on either side.
You can fold in his hands for a ranged weapon, well, it's undocumented and unofficial, but it looks intended, and bears similarities to the guns he used in the show.
The reason why there's a hole is coz you plug in the mace there, and it looks very nice attached there as a melee weapon (would have been even more awesome if they had clear plastic cracks to evoke the energon lines).
As a Voyager, he's very very short, but his main asset is his bulkiness, you don't feel ripped off at all, since it's understandable.
He's just taller than a standard Deluxe, but much wider and more mass.
Bulkhead's very stubby though, so naturally, his short legs doesn't have the greatest articulation, it's still very good, but somewhat awkward and hard to handle at times.
His arm articulation, on the other hand, is excellent. Due to transformation, he doesn't have a waist joint (not sure it'll look that great if he did have one).
Bulkhead is stable in a variety of poses, and his kibble doesn't get in the way at all.
However, it is hard to get him into dynamic poses.
A great robot mode, although it's something of an acquired taste due to his proportions.
OVERALL:
An excellent Transformer that looks good in both modes, and the stand comes in handy when displaying him (although it's only made out of cardboard). This is a short Voyager, but his bulkiness and mass more than makes up for it. The only thing that might put you off is the proportions, but even then, this is much better than the RiD take on the character. At least he isn't compromised by unnecessary and stupid gimmicks. Highly recommended, especially now that he's being rereleased.
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