The Great Cliffjumper Head-Swap Experiment
Zobovor
version of Cybertronian Cliffjumper, which is, of course, a redeco of
Cybertronian Bumblebee, because as we all know, Cliffjumper and
Bumblebee have always looked exactly the same. They actually did go
the extra mile this time and remold his head into something much more
distinctly and uniquely his own, which is a rarity of late.
Anyway, I asked him if the Cybertronian Cliffjumper head could be
popped off and swapped with the Classics Cliffjumper toy from 2007,
but he didn't own that toy so he didn't know for sure. Well, I was
shopping earlier this week and I had a Target gift card burning a hole
in my pocket, so I picked up a few things I didn't need (I love
Inspector Gadget T-shirts!) and one of them was Cybertronian
Cliffjumper. The only reason I bought this toy was because I wanted
his head for Classics Cliffjumper. Yes, I spent $9.08 on a head.
(That's about the same price I paid for the heads for my G1 Ironhide
and Ratchet toys, come to think of it.)
Turns out the ball joints are the same size as each other, so swapping
the heads was a simple enough prospect. There are two problems,
though. The first, which will cease to become a problem over time, is
that I'm so accustomed to seeing Classics Cliffjumper with Bumblebee's
head sculpt that the new head looks totally wrong. The other problem,
which will be more difficult to reconcile, is that the colors of the
plastic are so completely different—Classics Cliffjumper is a very
bright, almost orangey tomato red, whereas Cybertronian Cliffjumper is
a deep, dark, blood red. (Classics Cliffjumper's head also looks
ridiculous on Cybertronian Cliffjumper's body.)
Pictures to follow as soon as the batteries for my digital camera are
finished charging!
As an aside, I would really like to see Hasbro bring back Hubcap as a
character. We all know that every time Hasbro does a Starscream toy,
there are the inevitable Thundercracker and Skywarp redeco toys
waiting in the wings, as it were. I'd like to see Hasbro start doing
the same thing with Bumblebee—Cliffjumper makes sense as a redeco, but
they should start doing Hubcap redeco versions, too. Of course, this
would require some extensive remolding, since as things stand right
now, a yellow redeco of Cliffjumper is just...Bumblebee again. Maybe
they need to assign a new signature color to Hubcap. (The G2 color
scheme wouldn't work, since they just changed him to red.) How about
predominantly black with yellow parts, instead of yellow with black?
Or silver, since, y'know, hub caps are silver?
Zob
...Also Known As Thunder
> Pictures to follow as soon as the batteries for my digital camera are
> finished charging!
Sounds cool! I can't wait to see 'em!
> As an aside, I would really like to see Hasbro bring back Hubcap as a
> character.
While we're at it, why not a slight remold and called it
Bumblejumper/Bumper too? That would make their costs even better because
a lot of suckers like us would certainly buy it.
t.k.
Ka Faraq Gatri
wrote:
>
>Pictures to follow as soon as the batteries for my digital camera are
>finished charging!
Something like this, you mean?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/57121638@N02/5267620240/in/set-72157625749923498/
I might try to repaint the head, but I don't think it looks too bad as
is. Of course, I bought a second Cybertronian Cliff to keep in his
original form, so I could repaint without regret.
"Hello, I'm the Doctor. Basically . . . run." - the 11th Doctor, "The Eleventh Hour"
...Also Known As Thunder
> Something like this, you mean?
>
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/57121638@N02/5267620240/in/set-72157625749923498/
I like it.
To be honest, though, I'm not sure I'd go to all the trouble as the same
head with BB doesn't bother me that much...
t.k.
Uriel Ventris
> As an aside, I would really like to see Hasbro bring back Hubcap as a
> character. We all know that every time Hasbro does a Starscream toy,
> there are the inevitable Thundercracker and Skywarp redeco toys
> waiting in the wings, as it were. I'd like to see Hasbro start doing
> the same thing with Bumblebee—Cliffjumper makes sense as a redeco, but
> they should start doing Hubcap redeco versions, too. Of course, this
> would require some extensive remolding, since as things stand right
> now, a yellow redeco of Cliffjumper is just...Bumblebee again. Maybe
> they need to assign a new signature color to Hubcap. (The G2 color
> scheme wouldn't work, since they just changed him to red.) How about
> predominantly black with yellow parts, instead of yellow with black?
> Or silver, since, y'know, hub caps are silver?
Or they could give Cliffjumper his own mould? Just throwing that out
there.
Zobovor
wrote:
> Or they could give Cliffjumper his own mould? Just throwing that out
> there.
Wait...you mean a Cliffjumper toy that's NOT a redeco of Bumblebee?
Why, sir, that's just crazy talk!
Zob
Zobovor
> Something like this, you mean?
>
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/57121638@N02/5267620240/in/set-721576257...
Something very, very much like that, yes.
Zob
Chad Rushing
>
> Wait...you mean a Cliffjumper toy that's NOT a redeco of Bumblebee?
> Why, sir, that's just crazy talk!
While we're at it, give Galvatron a different toy mold than Megatron,
too. Hey, that's how it was done originally.
- Chad
...Also Known As Thunder
is clearly a different design then Bumblebee in that continuity).
t.k.
TigerMegatron
wrote:
> When the Prime toys finally hit, we'll get our wish (since Cliffjumper
> is clearly a different design then Bumblebee in that continuity).
>
> t.k.
Since Cliffjumper was only in one episode & the toys are due out in
october 2011. it's debattable if hasbro would even bother doing a new
mold prime toy for cliffjumper.
TigerMegatron
I debatted swapping heads between various TF1 2007 & Rotf bumblebee
deluxe toys. as the flip down battle mask on the 2010 deluxe bumble
toy looks really decent.
...Also Known As Thunder
> Since Cliffjumper was only in one episode& the toys are due out in
> october 2011. it's debattable if hasbro would even bother doing a new
> mold prime toy for cliffjumper.
I have a feeling there will be one... I guess we'll see when they
eventually start releasing stuff for that line.
t.k.
Uriel Ventris
They did that in the CHUG-U line, didn't they? Two Megatrons and a
Galvatron, all of them different.
I think I'm actually looking forward to a "Prime" Cliffjumper. No
reason why HasTakTomy wouldn't do it. If they can make an Animated
Rodimus based on two minutes of cartoon footage, why not Cliffjumper?
Especially since somebody went through all the trouble of having him
voiced by Dwayne Johnson.
TigerMegatron
wrote:
Animated Rodimus in the cartoon was originally planned to get more
screen time & more episodes in the cartoon. their were plans for a
season 4.
Onslaught Six
> How about
> predominantly black with yellow parts, instead of yellow with black?
It's better than those stupid "Stealth Bumblebee" repaints.
Travoltron
Cliffjumper in the trash. Then I read they're making this:
Ka Faraq Gatri
Not bad. Although apart from the red being too dark, the Genjumper
head works just as well, and was only $10. And came with a spare body
to store the original head on. :-D
G.B. Blackrock
> I decided to do this, too. Felt weird tossing the headless Generations
> Cliffjumper in the trash. Then I read they're making this:
>
Hmmm... Third-party prices to get the color more exact, or $10 for
something only slightly off?
(My vote's for the latter, but YMMV)
G.B. Blackrock