Review: #945
Name: Bumblebee (10338)
Brand: Transformers
Allegiance: Autobot
Line: Lego Icons
Year of Release: 2024
Size Class: N/A
Mold Status: N/A
PACKAGING AND CONTENTS:
The second set in the collaboration between Lego and Transformers is Bumblebee, which is quite fitting considering the popularity of the character.
The packaging is nice, the black background creating a higher end more premium feel compared to normal Lego sets.
The instructions booklet is a thick heavy affair, and the first few pages shows off some background of the character, as well as the design process.
There are a lot of steps in the instructions but they are clear and split well. Each section relates to a different bag.
BUILD PROCESS:
Being Lego, a huge part of the fun and play value is the build process. In this aspect, Bumblebee does not disappoint. Not only does the design have to incorporate two modes, which is already hard enough, but both modes have to use the same pieces without omitting any, AND it has to be engineered so that you can transform between the two modes without detaching pieces.
Thanks to the recognizable vehicle mode, the set comes together almost immediately. Seeing it built piece by piece, section by section, makes you feel like you're also a designer / engineering and it is a satisfying feeling. It's not a hard build process either, and some of the techniques used are very innovative and impressive.
VEHICLE MODE:
Once you've finished the build process, you're left with a vehicle that looks similar to a Volkswagen Beetle, but it isn't, since it is not licenced.
This is a very impressive vehicle mode, it looks fantastic from both the front and back. If the set ended there, you'd still be impressed and satisfied given how good this looks.
You might be surprised at how big it is, since it is much bigger than a Voyager figure from the Transformers line. Since he's formed from a lot of bricks, Bumblebee is very hefty as well.
The side profile may not be proportioned as well but it is still passable. He has four rubbery wheels, so he rolls extremely well.
The way the designer managed to create curves from Lego bricks is amazing, and that's not even mentioning some of the detailing such as the lights. Bumblebee also comes with a choice of rego plates, with one reading "BMBL84" or "GLDBUG".
There is a minor easter egg of sorts, if you look through the windshield, you can see a little bumblebee.
Unlike Optimus, Bumblebee doesn't come with many accessories. He has a gun, which unfortunately does not store anywhere in vehicle mode, and a specs display stand.
An amazing vehicle mode, which is much much better than it has any right to be, it is a huge improvement over Optimus as well.
TRANSFORMATION:
The key defining feature of the Lego Transformers sets is that they can actually transform between the two modes without detaching anything... well, for Bumblebee, he cheats a bit and the windshield has to detach, ah well.
Otherwise, after you take the windshield off, the doors open, and what this does is reveal the spine.
You'll come to realise that a lot of the figure relies on this thinner spine piece, which forms the torso. The front then splits into two to form the legs, and the way the front rotates and the doors fold back to form the feet is just so satisfying.
The sides and rear of the vehicle are the shoulders and arms. Fold the spine back behind the roof and you're done.
ROBOT MODE:
With such a good vehicle mode, and the fact that he has to transform, surely the robot mode must have some compromises right? That is a wrong assumption as the robot mode is also strong.
Yes, there are still some proportion issues if you look for it but this is just such a marvel of engineering that those flaws are easily overlooked.
The head sculpt is less of a sculpt and more of a piece with painted details, so it looks a lot more cartoony and less blocky than you would expect.
Obviously, Bumblebee pairs well with Lego Optimus and you can see how much the set has improved. The proportions are better and less blocky.
Since you had to remove the windshield for transformation, you would have to store it somewhere (or leave it off). There is a spot on his back for his very purpose, and while it makes it much bulkier, it's not a bad spot.
Mentioned briefly previously, the set comes with a display stand that shows off some of the stats. Flip over and you will have space for the spare Autobot insignia piece (as you had an option to put another Autobot symbol on the hood of the vehicle).
Bumblebee has some articulation, with joints for his head, shoulders, elbows, fingers, hips and ankles.
Bumblebee has three fingers and a thumb, and they can be posed.
One of the most impressive aspects are the feet, they just work so well and so neat, as if they are just like a normal Transformers figure and not a Lego set. The way the hood rotate and the doors fold back fits so perfectly.
The biggest flaw here is that Bumblebee doesn't have knees, and his legs cannot rotate either. While you lose a lot of poseability, it's probably a good decision given that Bumblebee is extremely top heavy, and he's hefty.
Bumblebee comes with a blue gun.
The gun can be attached to his hands but he has very limited shoulder articulation, since his shoulders are set somewhat back, and coupled with his shorter arms, and the arms don't get much freedom of movement.
The figure is heavily reliant on a pillar / spine, so look from the side and you can see that the torso is not very substantial. The figure has strong heavy ratchet points as a result to help keep it stable.
The limited arm and leg articulations means that Bumblebee has limited potential for poses overall. He can still pull off some decent poses but just don't expect dynamic ones.
A brilliant robot mode that displays well.
OVERALL:
Lego Icons Bumblebee is an amazing set. The designers have managed to overcome the challenges of designing this set extremely well. The engineering is impressive, and there are a lot of impressive building techniques used. Having such good looking modes, while having a functional transformation scheme makes this figure seem nothing short of a miracle. The build process was fun, and even after it is built, the set still has so much play value afterwards.
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