The new LEGO Transformers Bumblebee, out there solely on the LEGO Store, is enjoyable to play with, enjoyable to construct, however a bit difficult to remodel. This set is the second of its type; final 12 months, LEGO launched a totally transformable Optimus Prime, which might comport itself right into a semi-truck with a couple of twists and rotations.
LEGO Icons – Bumblebee
Set #10338, consists of 950 items.
The Bumblebee set is smaller, with a decrease piece depend (to not point out a cheaper price level – $89.99 to Optimus’ dearer $179.99 price ticket), however it’s no much less spectacular in its finish outcome. Its “Car” mode appears to be like considerably smaller than its “Autobot” mode, and it jogs my memory of that outdated Ringling circus bit, the place 30 clowns cram themselves right into a single, tiny automobile. Where does all of it go?
Like LEGO Optimus Prime, LEGO Bumblebee is split into 10 luggage of bricks and Technic items. You initially constructed Optimus as an Autobot, and the final a number of pages of directions have been a how-to guide by reworking it right into a semi-truck. With Bumblebee, the method occurs in reverse. You construct it as a automobile—a VW Beetle to be exact, though LEGO appears to be avoiding that label for authorized causes. And then, you rework it into an Autobot.
I favor the Bumblebee order of building to the Optimus order of building. Psychologically, it is extra spectacular to go from the mundane (the car) to the fantastical (the robotic organism), than the opposite approach round. The set, befitting its topic, is predominantly vibrant yellow. The “grownup” units that LEGO releases (with the notable exception of the LEGO Botanical Collection) have a tendency in the direction of muted, understated colours. It’s a visible deal with when LEGO works with colours apart from beige/brown, blue, black or darkish/gentle grey.
The construct is enjoyable with a to-be-expected repetition; you are constructing two copies of every part— two entrance fenders (which turn out to be two arms) and two rear fenders (which turn out to be two legs). I dodged a little bit of this repetition by constructing the set with my nine-year outdated son in an alternating sample. But even in the event you’re flying solo, it isn’t on the extent of, say, Captain America’s shield, the place the tediousness of the repetition competes with the impressiveness of the top outcome.
So the large query: “How properly does LEGO Bumblebee rework?” The reply could be very properly, however not fairly as convincingly as LEGO Optimus did. Bumblebee in Autobot mode nonetheless appears to be like vaguely like a automobile, whereas Optimus Prime appears to be like extra distinctive in each his iterations. It’s due to the shoulders, which on Bumblebee are excessive and slim; the entrance fenders do not separate very removed from the physique. For this purpose, it is essential to “pose” Bumblebee—to angle and criminal the arms in a stance or posture—to correctly promote the visible impact.
I lately watched a news report a couple of curler coaster whose help pillar cracked, however continued working for a short time. The purpose why the curler coaster didn’t kill anybody, regardless of this catastrophic failure of its integrity, is structural redundancy. A coaster designer wouldn’t threat individuals’s lives on the durability of a single component. That approach, if one help fails, there are two extra helps that accomplish the identical process.
LEGO does this with its builds. You find yourself layering bricks, hinging them on a number of connection factors or reinforcing them with pins and hinges, in order that even in the event you have been a bit careless with a set, like a child could be, it will keep collectively. These Transformers builds are grownup builds – there is a 18+ label on the field. But by advantage of their operate, they might most likely use extra reinforcement than the everyday “grownup” quantity.
LEGO Bumblebee is troublesome to remodel – particularly at first – with out dropping a brick or two within the course of. When the designers inform you to bend a flap again a method, they imply ONLY that approach. Turn a joint left as an alternative of proper, and one single connection level will press in opposition to one other single connection level and dislodge it. There could be very little flexibility in Bumblebee’s transformation course of – you wouldn’t attempt to “determine it out,” as you’ll with a plastic toy, except you need to find yourself with a pile of bricks. Keep the guide, learn the directions, and rework it precisely, so as, step-by-step.
Or, you may “cheat.” What’s a bit of tremendous glue between associates? After reworking it a handful of occasions, I recognized 3-4 weak factors on the construct, and I bolstered them with a fast drying adhesive and a Q-Tip. Bumblebee hasn’t misplaced a single piece since.
Thanks to a bit of outdoors assist, he is turn out to be an absolute pleasure to play with. I extremely advocate LEGO Bumblebee, on the situation that you simply’re not hostile to a bit of “Kragle,” as The Lego Movie derisively refers to it. Life is simply too quick for clutch energy alone.
LEGO Icons Transformers Bumblebee, Set #10338, retails for $89.99 consists of 950 items. It is offered now, solely on the LEGO Store.
Kevin Wong is a contributing freelancer for IGN, specializing in LEGO. He’s additionally been printed in Complex, Engadget, Gamespot, Kotaku, and extra. Follow him on Twitter at @kevinjameswong.
