For several decades LEGO fans have been asking for buildable versions of Transformers, but many thought it would not happen as the brand is owned by rival toy company Hasbro.
That changes today, however, as the two warring companies have come together to produce an amazing amalgamation in the form of set number 10302: Optimus Prime.
Containing 1 508 pieces, buyers can build a version of Optimus Prime that stands rather tall at 35 centimetres.
The build also comes with several accessories such as a display placard, a jetpack, the Matrix of Leadership which fits into Optimus Prime’s chest, an Energon Cube, an Energon Axe and the famous Ion Blaster.
The real party trick is in the transformation. Just like regular Transformer toys Optimus Prime can switch to vehicle mode by twisting and turning the toy around.
You do not need to take the build apart and rebuild it into the vehicle and vice versa as you may expect.
In this way it reminds us of the LEGO Voltron set from 2018. That set also worked like other Voltron sets allowing you to assemble the five lions into the actual Voltron robot without the need to take apart any bricks.
So what will you be paying for all of this? Official overseas pricing is $169.99, €169.99 or £149.99 depending on the region with a worldwide release date of 1st June.
No launch date or price has been confirmed for South Africa but we can make informed guesses based on past products.
It’s very likely that South Africans will be able to part with their cash for an Optimus Prime on 1st June too. As for the price, local RRP is usually based on the Euro. Right now €169.99 comes to around R2 863.67.
We’re not the betting kind, but it’s almost a certainty that the price locally will be R3 000. We wouldn’t be surprised to see it cost even more, however, with price points such as R3 200 or even R3 500 not impossible. We’re hoping for more favourable pricing but we recommend that everyone checks the couch cushions for R3 000.
To see more of the build we recommend the video embed below from Tiago Catarino. Now a YouTube content creator, Catarino was once employed by LEGO as a designer so he can provide some unique commentary about this set that you won’t get elsewhere.
Not to spoil his video, but the set comes through with flying colours and an overwhelming recommendation.
