[Toy Review] Transformers Toys: Trumpeter Blitzwing Model Kit – Great Looks and Detailed Design!

Last Updated on October 25, 2024 by xmiaonline.com

Today, I’m sharing with you a model kit, the Trumpeter Blitzwing. I intended to share this a while ago, just as it was being released, but due to the heavy rains in Henan, the delivery took over ten days. Fortunately, the package wasn’t damaged by the water, so let’s get straight to the toy review.

First, let’s look at the packaging. It’s the same size as the Bumblebee box, with a full-body image of Blitzwing in the center, Trumpeter’s logo in the upper left corner, and the red and white Autobot symbol below, proving it’s officially licensed. Some Chinese text introduces the features of this Transformers action figures kit, and overall, the packaging is quite nice. However, I find the box a bit too large; although the parts inside are big, it takes up a lot of space considering it’s a small-scale movie figure.

Like the previous Bumblebee kit, the main selling points of Trumpeter’s Transformers toys are the press-fit assembly and pre-painted parts, meaning you don’t need tools like cutters or nippers to build it, and it looks great even without additional paint. I felt that Blitzwing was slightly better in terms of assembly compared to Bumblebee. I had previously assembled a Bumblebee and added some paint, but I bought a new Bumblebee and Blitzwing kit to build without additional work, making them easier to handle after assembly. The ball joints on Bumblebee were difficult to snap in, and my hands hurt afterward, but Blitzwing was noticeably better, with a smoother assembly experience. I’m very pleased with how Trumpeter’s Transformers characters toys keep improving. However, even though it’s advertised as press-fit, I recommend using a hobby knife to clean up the sprue gates for a cleaner finish and to avoid cutting your hands.

After assembling, the kit includes a display stand, identical to the one from Bumblebee, the Blitzwing figure with two pairs of interchangeable hands (fists and open palms), a large gun, and the weapon used to damage Bumblebee’s voice box in the movie. There are also five extra parts, shown on the far right in the image; the instruction manual marks them as crossed-out, and it’s rumored they belong to Starscream. Let’s wait and see.

The design is impressive, highly accurate, and detailed, almost like a mini-ThreeZero figure. Given that it doesn’t transform, anything less than perfection would be disappointing. Unlike Bumblebee’s smoother style, Blitzwing has many sharp angles, making it less fun to handle due to the risk of cutting yourself. Although it’s less enjoyable to play with than Bumblebee, the pre-painted parts look fantastic, making the unpainted build look far from plain. My modeling skills are limited, so I’m thrilled that this Blitzwing is so friendly for beginners, looking great without needing additional work. The material quality also seems improved; the gray parts on Bumblebee had noticeable swirls, but Blitzwing only has them on the dark gray pieces, with the light gray parts being swirl-free. This improvement enhances the overall appearance when unpainted.

The back of the figure is also well-detailed, with large, clean wings. If you have the skills to add panel lines, it will look even better. The back panel has multiple parts in three shades of gray, creating a strong sense of depth. The backpack has a slot for the stand, and there are many sharp angles on the back, like the wing tips, which might hurt your hands during assembly. I assembled two figures in one night, and my hands are still sore. So, I recommend taking your time—rushing won’t get you the best results.

The head sculpt has been criticized by many, and I also find it a bit odd, as if it lacks detail. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what’s off, but the head looks fine from a distance but awkward up close, missing the menacing feel from the movie. It’s made of soft plastic, and the swirl marks are quite noticeable, though the paint details are good.

The chest area is well-layered, with multiple parts creating a strong sense of depth, and the pre-painting really shines. If I had to nitpick, replacing the cockpit with an orange transparent piece would elevate the kit even more.

The arms also have excellent pre-painting, adding depth and a fragmented look. However, from a front view, the arms might seem thin, so I usually pose it with the arm cannon. The lower leg armor is printed with a USAF logo, which is very detailed. I didn’t expect such fine detail on a model kit, which shows I haven’t built enough of them.

The wings also feature USAF logos and a five-pointed star, with red lines that look great. So, even if you’re not skilled at painting, the pre-painting on this Transformers collection is impressive, covering most of the weathering effects.

Now, let’s talk about the included weapons. The arm cannon is easy to swap out by plugging it in. The cannon consists of three parts, and achieving this level of depth with just three pieces is impressive, adding to the fragmented look. Compared to Drift from the Flame Toys model kit series, which was mostly plain white without additional paint, this Blitzwing is a significant improvement.

Another small part is the weapon used to silence Bumblebee, which is very sharp and made of soft plastic. The details are great, and the design is accurate, making it perfect for recreating scenes from the movie.

The stand is the same as the one from Bumblebee, a hexagonal base with both Decepticon and Autobot symbols. The details are excellent, though the swirls are quite heavy. Multiple stands can be connected, like a honeycomb. The support rod is sturdy enough to hold Blitzwing without issues, as long as the connections are tight.

This Blitzwing has less articulation compared to Bumblebee, with many joints restricted by external armor, making it difficult to pose. For example, the elbow joint only bends to 90 degrees, limiting posing options. Overall, it doesn’t pose as easily as the previous Bumblebee figure.

When displayed alongside Trumpeter’s previous Bumblebee, recreating scenes from the movie, it’s clear that Blitzwing is slightly undersized. However, Trumpeter doesn’t seem to prioritize scale, so you might have to make do when setting up dioramas. In the movie, Bumblebee was in Jeep mode during this scene, but Trumpeter hasn’t released, nor planned to release, a Jeep version, so we’ll have to use the Beetle version instead.

Finally, let’s bring out the Bumblebee I built earlier. Blitzwing had a rough time in the movie, with limited screen time, getting killed by the main character, and looking like Starscream. In conclusion, this Trumpeter Blitzwing offers an improved assembly experience, though the sharp angles post-assembly might hurt your hands. The press-fit parts still benefit from some cleanup with a knife, but the pre-painting is outstanding, providing a striking visual effect. The finished model is highly accurate and more detailed than Bumblebee. With great value for money, if you enjoy model kits, I highly recommend this Trumpeter Blitzwing. That’s all for today’s review. See you next time!

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