Tag Archives: Transformers

LEGO Soundwave Transformer drops some heavy beats

The moment I first saw this amazing transforming LEGO Soundwave by Student Scissors I had flashbacks to my childhood, playing with my own version of the action figure and the cassette tapes that transformed into a hawk and a panther. The builder has captured the dark blue and white Decepticon in perfect detail, with his shoulder-mounted cannon, cassette-playing chest, and even the aforementioned entourage of mini-bots. I particularly like the tilework used to replicate the play and stop buttons on the torso.

Lego G1 Soundwave

And to prove that the Transformer is worthy of that moniker, here’s Soundwave in his microcassette deck mode. Looks like he’s ready to play the song of the Autobots’ destruction.

Lego G1 Soundwave

Just because they’re called ‘Autobots’ doesn’t mean they have to turn into cars...

Sure, the new LEGO Concorde is impressive, but can it combine with four other jets? Alex Jones, aka “Orion Pax,” has been crafting amazing LEGO Transformer builds for years, and his latest creation is one of the most impressive, yet. The high-flying Aerialbots are a group of five Autobots with aircraft alt. modes that keep the skies free of Decepticons. And, when things get really turbulent, the Aerialbots can combine into a massive robot known as Superion. Alex has managed to capture all of that functionality in these amazing models. But, despite the gestalt robot’s massive size, no detail was too small for Alex to overlook. From the wing stripes that are near-perfect matches for the old toy decals, to the display stand with a brick-built Autobot symbol, this is one creation that really soars.

Bruticus Maximus is a bunch of brawling Transformers combined!

A LEGO Transformer built by Alex Jones is no special thing. I mean, let me clarify; it certainly is special, mindblowing even, but he’s built dozens in his time and has by now mastered the art. But a combiner, by his own admission, is quite a difficult thing. Behold Bruticus Maximus, a massive transforming brawler comprised of five individual brawlers. They are the Combaticons: BlastOff, Brawl, Onslaught, Swindle, and Vortex which are somehow both the best and worst fraternity brother names ever. He tells us that weight and clutch power become a difficult obstacle when building a bipedal mech this large. But clearly, he has pulled it off with finesse.

Bruticus Maximus

Here is another image showcasing the individual Transformers in vehicle and robot mode. Alex seems to be a master at, not only Transformers but all things awesome and pop culture-ish. You owe it to yourself to check out our Alex Jones archives to see what I mean. And if Transformers is totally your jam, then tuck and fold into that archive as well.

Combaticons

This Optimus is a Prime example of cuteness overload!

I need only two “words” to accurately describe this LEGO Optimus Prime variant by Angus MacLane: toats adorbz! The odd proportions here somehow work quite well together: tiny hands and feet, a boxy little head, and a big barrel chest sporting the truck’s grill and headlights. The overall look reminds me of some of the Playskool versions of the bot intended for toddlers. This is exactly the kind of masterful character creation you would expect from a much-revered builder like MacLane. Heck, I’m still flabbergasted by the shaping of that Optimus noggin in this scale! There’s so much crammed into that small 2x2x2 cube allowing for proper eyes and forehead visor, as well attachments for the side hardware.

Sub-Optimus Prime

Of course if it’s a Transformer, then it had better be able to transform. Angus’s Optimus folds up into a semi, with equally-adorable dimensions. The opaque medium blue windows are an elegant solution to the difficult task of conveying a windscreen without revealing the bot within. For all the unique stylistic choices here, I think I may even like this second version of Prime better than his first.

Sub-Optimus Prime

Optimus Prime Combat Deck, ready to roll out

For me, as long-time fan of the Transformers and having built LEGO Transformers myself, LEGO releasing LEGO Transformers 10302 Optimus Prime was a pleasant surprise. It looks great as a robot, decent as a truck and the transformation sequence is fantastic. Its look is also largely faithful to the original Optimus Prime toy from the eighties. In my book, the one thing that could make it even better was for Optimus to have his trailer or Combat Deck. So, I built one myself.

LEGO set 10302 with a custom trailer

Click to see inside!

Everybody make some noise for Deception Soundwave

If there’s ever a need for reliable communications for the Deceptions, you can rely on Soundwave. The only comms channel we need open now is to The LEGO Group from fans to convey that we will be needing more LEGO Transformers, and this build by Zach Sweigart reinforces just that message.

Click for more visuals of Decepticon Soundwave

With shock and awe, behold the lead Decepticon scientist

Shockwave’s cold intellect and looming presence stand out in this LEGO figure by Shaddowtoa. Coming out of the Transformers toy line, Shockwave is the Decepticon’s leading scientific mind. This articulated figure captures his often repeated iconic look as established by the 1984 The Transformers animated series. This figure bears the classic purple and grey color scheme befitting Shockwave, with that dark pink chest. His singular yellow eye shines out from his angular head, analyzing everything in his gaze. The recessed black around the eye is cleverly achieved by way of SNOT (Studs Not On Top) techniques paired with brackets and slopes for the purple surrounding it. The articulation of the figure is well worth the sacrifice of the transforming elements. The figure has bend at the shoulders, elbows, ankles, knees, hips, head, and waist–not to mention the articulation in his wrist and fingers.

Shockwave

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I scream, you scream, we all scream for Starscream!

The amazing thing about these small Transformer LEGO builds is how well defined the characters are! They stand as proof of the skill of builders like Student Scissors here. Keeping the characters transformable and recognizable is the tricky bit when working at this scale. When I look at this figure, I instantly recognize Starscream and all his ambition to lead the Decepticons. This particular figure is based upon the Transformers 2007 movie, which turned 15 years old this month. To celebrate, enjoy the craft of this figure. Starscream’s jet alt-mode looks wonderful with little kibble left over from his robot mode. Looks like most of it tucks away nicely underneath, no doubt thanks to the clips and round plates making up the transformation joints. The robot mode is just as gorgeous, giving him his squat outline from the movie. Wedge slopes define the wide shape of his head. I have little doubt he’ll turn and flee to live another day should the battle take a turn for the worse. Classic Starscream.

Lego Transformers: Starscream

This amazing Optimus Prime isn’t Optimus Prime

No, you read that right. This incredible build by Student Scissors is actually the Transtector of a human known as Ginrai. Transtectors, if you’re not familiar with the term, are non-sentient Transformers controlled by humanoids, and there’s a good reason Ginrai’s Transtector looks an awful lot like Optimus Prime. But all that is beside the point in appreciating this impressive build. If you want to call it Optimus Prime, go ahead. Truth be told, we did end up getting the Ginrai figure imported to the States rebranded as “Powermaster Optimus Prime.”

Lego Transformers: Ginrai

Anyway, convoluted franchise history aside, this fully transformable semi-truck doesn’t just convert into a robot, it also comes with a trailer that the main cab can combine with to form Super Ginrai. That Student Scissors made the combined form possible with enough articulation to put the original Ginrai toy to shame is an impressive feat. That it was accomplished at such a small scale – a truck mode that’s only four studs wide – is extra incredible.

Lego Transformers: Super Ginrai

If transforming LEGO sets are your thing, be sure and check out our review of LEGO’s upcoming official take on the Autobot leader.

Jazz up your Porsche

The treasure trove of parts in the 10295 Porsche 911 set have made their way into the capable hands of yet another builder. This Transformer by Adrian Drake resurrects a generation one star of the series, Jazz. Originally a Martini Porsche 935 Turbo, this version still shares some of the same body designs as many of the iconic original toys sought after by collectors today. The Porsche’s front end makes up most of his torso while the doors swing out from the back like wings or down with the rest of the body to form the legs and feet. Making a functioning Transformer with LEGO is no easy feat but Adrian sure did well here.

Jazz 00

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Criminals beware! This police motorbike can transform into a mech

Moko is back with another awesome morphing robot build. Both modes are cleverly designed, as the bike mode barely even looks like it contains a mech within its structure. Sections of the legs are attached via ball joints twisted out and around when forming the mech. The gun is actually made up of the back of the bike, primarily the back seat and exhaust, which acts as the barrel.

Vehicle-Bot 02

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This triple changing Transformer is off the rails and out of this world.

If you were into Transformers as a kid in the early 80s, there are a few characters that probably stand out in your mind, even if you haven’t stayed current with the franchise. Optimus Prime, obviously. Soundwave, the cassette player with a chest full of evil minions. And probably right up there with those two is Astrotrain – the evil Decepticon triple changer that turned into, well, a space shuttle and a locomotive. Alan Yap certainly remembers Astrotrain. In fact, he spent two years constructing a fully transformable LEGO version of the character.

LEGO Transformer Astrotrain triple changer

Click here to take a ride on the space train…