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If you've been following Big Firebird Toys (or Build), you know that the company really hasn't put out much as of late. Their highest profile product as of late is the first entry in the Scientific Cat Lady Team series, Sunflower. A radical departure from their mecha based product up to this point, instead opting to make an action figure of a Catgirl featuring seamless silicone components, a trend that seems to be spreading to several companies, like the Whiskey Sour figure I looked at a few months back.
Well, Sunflower has arrived.. how did she do?
So the figure is basically seamless between her breasts and her thighs. If you've ever handled a Phicen or other similar type of seamless body, you'll feel right at home here. The seamless portions add a large range of motion, so you will get very good waist, hip and lower back articulation.
The plastic or as I call them, the BFB components, well they're a step in the right direction, especially after the disaster that was the Henshin Girls. I could write a novel, so I'll keep it brief.
The weakest part of their contribution would be the joints. Elbows are single rather than double. The head joint is actually pretty loose and can't hold its position if you do anything crazy with the pony tail (or at least it is on mine). Some joints will actually pop apart right in the middle, and while it is repairable it's still a major pain in the ass.
Sculpting turned out a lot better than I thought it would. My biggest concern was that the faces would be pretty non descript like I've seen on other Chinese offerings, and these turned out pretty well. Having said that, between smiling, happy, laughing, and Ahegao, it's pretty hard to pick one that goes well with battle poses... so Ahegao it is.
If you've never picked up a recvent Chinese action figure, well the new hotness is the adjustable eyes, so you have a wider variety of posing and photography options.
Details turned out again, much better than I was expecting. Don't get me wrong, we're not getting Hot Toys quality here, but for example the hair came out nicely, even after final product.
The hard plastic parts overall came out at I'd say above average level... unfortunately some of that crispness is lost due to the paint applications, which clearly is an issue with the QC person, seeing how literally every other figure is made in China with fewer issues.
It's not terrible, but you'll notice it.
Engineering wise, there were some questionable things as well as some wise decisions. The two.. things that go around her hips are a soft rubbery material, so you don't need to worry about snapping them of when posing the legs of the figure. Double jointed knees are a nice touch, though it's unfortunate that the range of motion gets limited by the bulk in her legs.
I like how they've learned from companies like Good Smile with their Figma, and made the sword with a removable tip for easier insertion into the appropriate hand, though there's still some paint rubbing that will take place - kudos for makin the entire hilt come off as well, but Lord only knows that's an easy break point.
Stupid things I saw were the design of the shoulders. They're basically on the level of a Marvel Legends, so it's OK, but really doesn't help when you're trying to get more dramatic sword poses. There's also no true bicep swivel, and the lack of neck articulation limits the potential of the head. The heels are also a terrible design for a figure, though it's not really the fault of BFB, but rather the artist.
A few final things to point out - in addition to the three extra faces, you've also got the hands, an extra set of bangs for a more dynamic look, and a stand.
Gannet pairs remain together for several seasons. Their mating and greeting rituals at the nest include stretching their bills and necks skywards and gently tapping bills together. This pair is nesting at the gannet colony at Muriwai, New Zealand.