Transformers Collaborative series

[CoffeeHorse]

I'd still buy this in a heartbeat if it weren't for the price. Designing transforming robots is hard, apparently. This Hot Wheels designer wasn't trained for this. You can't be mad at this result. It's like a puppy that doesn't know what it's doing. You can't be mad. It needs to learn.

 

[The Predaking]

If I saw this at Walgreens for $19, I would still pass on it.

 

[DefaultOption]

If it was under $20, I'd at least consider it.

 

[Haywire]

I'd still buy this in a heartbeat if it weren't for the price. Designing transforming robots is hard, apparently. This Hot Wheels designer wasn't trained for this. You can't be mad at this result. It's like a puppy that doesn't know what it's doing. You can't be mad. It needs to learn.

If it was under $20, I'd at least consider it.

Yeah, ugly as it is, it's enough of a novelty that for $15-ish USD or under at a regular retail store, I'd probably bite. For $65 on Mattel's collector site? Ain't gonna happen.

 

[NovaSaber]

There's no forward facing end point, so I think it's light piping.

No, it's water. And probably holding it backwards

 

[Sciflyer]

If this were priced at or around an actual Hot Wheels car ($3 - $10), I would probably buy it out of morbid curiosity. But this really isn't for me. It's for Hot Wheels collectors who want a unique piece in their collections, and who probably will not free it from the plastic that it comes in. I'm sure it will still sell pretty well.

 

[wonko the sane?]

No, it's water. And probably holding it backwards

View attachment 38684

Well, that shut me up.

 

[The Predaking]

If it was under $20, I'd at least consider it.

Yeah, ugly as it is, it's enough of a novelty that for $15-ish USD or under at a regular retail store, I'd probably bite. For $65 on Mattel's collector site? Ain't gonna happen.

You see, it's one of those things that you might like if someone gave it you.

 

[The Predaking]

Hot Wheels designer Manson Cheung has shared, via his Instagram account, some “behind the scenes” images and videos of the new Mattel Creations Hot Wheels Transformers Bumblebee.

“For the continuation of the Hot Wheels X Transformers collaboration, I created Bumblebee that is able to transform from car to robot. Using a 1967 Volkswagen Beetle as a base, I took inspiration from animated version of Bumblebee.

This was over 300 hours of work (from Feb – May 2025), starting with initial concept, figuring out a new transformation, designing, sculpting, preliminary engineering. All this fun before turnover.

Then, another 100 hours over many more months in development, after turnover.

Swipe to see my thought process, sketches, modeling process, and transformation of prototype. Bumblebee goes on sale 17 September 2026.”

So I guess he spent 297 hours on the alt mode and three on the robot mode? I kid, I kid.

 

[CoffeeHorse]

I mean, it's Hot Wheels. Spending that much time on the car mode is their job.

 

[Haywire]

You see, it's one of those things that you might like if someone gave it you.

Oh, if someone wants to gift me one, I absolutely will not complain!
As it is, I already have to explain to my wife why I NEED a $25-30 Deluxe figure in my collection, I'm not using a precious bargaining slot on a $65 Hot Wheels figure, no matter how limited edition it might be.

 

[Shadewing]

I kinda feel like I need to ask people NOT to get if for me...

 

[LordGigaIce]

Yeah if this was like $10? Sure I'd get it for a lark. $65 though? Matty, no. Please. Nothing wrong with staying in your lane.

 

[Haywire]

I kinda feel like I need to ask people NOT to get if for me...

Oh, I collect weird and bizarre transforming figures. (Mine start at post #6) This would be my jam at less than $15 just for the weirdness, but even I have limits, which is why I don't own a Machine Robo 747 Robo, despite being a dedicated Gobot collector. There is definitely an upper limit on what I will pay for novelty.

 

[Sabrblade]

Oh, I collect weird and bizarre transforming figures.

Link is broken.

 

[Haywire]

Link is broken.

Should be fixed now, just gotta scroll down a bit now.

 

[lastmaximal]

Is it this?

I also couldn't get it to work at first. The link began with "post%20in%20thread%20'the%20vintage%20"lesser"%20brand%20robots%20thread.%20%20"give%20me%20your%2" and eventually had an Allspark forum link (https etc etc up to the post number) but even trimming it to that wouldn't work in my browser. (Edit: I think it's because that eventual link was missing the colon between https and the double slash, and the number sign/hash tag before "post-____"). Something must have glitched in the copying and pasting process, which happens to me a lot too.

I just manually looked for the post in the thread and linked it above.

 

[CoffeeHorse]

That junk was my childhood. It's probably why this Bumblebee appeals to me. It's that special mix of sincere ineptitude and enthusiasm. I love it. I'm not paying $65 for it. But I love it.

 

[Sciflyer]

Is it this?

I also couldn't get it to work at first. The link began with "post%20in%20thread%20'the%20vintage%20"lesser"%20brand%20robots%20thread.%20%20"give%20me%20your%2" and eventually had an Allspark forum link (https etc etc up to the post number) but even trimming it to that wouldn't work in my browser. (Edit: I think it's because that eventual link was missing the colon between https and the double slash, and the number sign/hash tag before "post-____"). Something must have glitched in the copying and pasting process, which happens to me a lot too.

I just manually looked for the post in the thread and linked it above.

No, this is Is This It: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Is_This_It

 

[lastmaximal]

But who's on first?