Lego Transformers – IXRollOutIX

I genuinely think adding autoplay to your YouTube suggestion list is one of Google’s smartest moves yet. As a fan of Lego and being somewhat partial to the Transformers movies (the first is still the best), IXRollOutIX’s Lego Transformers series instantly caught my attention. Let’s be honest, Lego isn’t exactly the most maneuverable building tool and Transformers, well, they move quite a bit. As a result these recreations are frankly outstanding and put my Lego ingenuity to shame.

Making up a playlist comprising of over 100 different models, I’ve chosen to focus on the most iconic examples here, starting with Optimus Prime. The form of the truck itself is instantly recognisable with the striking red and blue colouring, twin exhausts and vast front grill. Boasting three wheels down each side, these unfortunately have no mechanism to rotate but, given the multitude of other mechanisms in place, this is an understandable sacrifice. Step-by-step, the limbs unfold from the vehicle chasis with hidden hinges frequently granting an expanded scale to the end result. Given the number of steps involved in the transformation, I am staggered that they can be remembered, let alone imagined in the first place.

Standing tall, the final form of Optimus Prime is steady with satisfying bulk on the arms and feet to constitute boosters and weapons. One of the best and most important aspects of Transformers for me is that the elements of the vehicle remain recognisable in the robot. Thankfully for these Lego iterations that remains the case, with the exhausts extending from each shoulder whilst the wheels armour the limbs.

Taking on the form of a tank, Megatron possesses a more constricted colour palette. Though faithful to the character, it would be nice to see a little more tonal variation in the shades of grey used to construct the body. What is impressive in this transformation though is the manipulation of the pieces. To create the claw on the left arm the individual components have been rotated to loosely establish a connection, thus creating a more accurate form. Other pieces are slid across a single stud, the right gun expanding to a monstrous size.

There are two iconic aspects of Bumblebee in my opinion besides the black and yellow palette. The first is the blue eyes, perfectly captured with the translucent stud. The second are the twin doors, extending out of the back. As with Optimus, the presence of the tyres on the limbs remind you of the robot’s vehicle form. Again recognisable as the Camero, my only criticism of this recreation is its angular form, the blockiness of the bricks less condusive to recreating the dynamic curves of a sports car.

With a vast array to choose from including some of the animal variants as well, IXRollOutIX does a fascinating and impressive job that is worth observing for any Lego fan. Roll Out!