Review: 40803 Optimus Prime Robot & Vehicle
Posted by CapnRex101,
Transformers are an interesting addition to the BrickHeadz range, suiting the format extremely well. The characters' distinct colours and vehicle-based features should be easily identified, even at the scale of BrickHeadz figures.
40803 Optimus Prime Robot & Vehicle satisfies that need in robot mode, though I am probably more curious about how Prime's vehicle mode translates to BrickHeadz form, which is a new concept for the theme!
Summary
40803 Optimus Prime Robot & Vehicle, 237 pieces.
£17.99 / $19.99 / €19.99 | 7.6p/8.4c/8.4c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »
Optimus Prime looks outstanding in BrickHeadz form, but the truck may split opinion
- Robot mode looks marvellous
- Interesting vehicle mode
- Useful printed elements
- Vehicle mode might diverge too far from BrickHeadz template for some
The Completed Model
Optimus Prime stands taller than many BrickHeadz figures, thanks to the chunky ridge on his head. Even so, his proportions are consistent with others in the series and the colour scheme looks fantastic, evidently inspired by Optimus' animated G1 design. The white legs are a clear indication, along with the yellow detail on the waist.
Some may have preferred light bluish grey legs to match the original G1 Optimus Prime figure, though I like the white colour choice, especially since 10302 Optimus Prime already used grey. Speaking of which, the 2x2 rounded double slope created for Prime's mask on the Icons model returns here and works perfectly again, as do the printed trans-light blue eyes.
The head also includes a pair of printed Autobot symbols beneath the antennas on either side, plus a grille on the ridge. The windows and radiator on the torso are printed as well, as normal for BrickHeadz sets. These tiles look excellent and could prove useful for other models, but my favourite details are the exhaust pipes on the shoulders, again matching the G1 character.
There are fewer details on the back, as expected. However, I like the 1x1 bows forming tanks beside the backpack, even though these tanks were typically red in the animated series. Grey stands out better and resembles the silver tanks sometimes shown in G1 comics.
Nearly all BrickHeadz models depict humanoid characters, with occasional animal exceptions, like Blue from 41614 Owen and Blue or 40797 Eeyore. However, even they broadly adhere to the standard BrickHeadz template, whereas Optimus Prime's truck mode is essentially unique, other than the use of printed eyes as headlights.
Nonetheless, the blocky style of BrickHeadz sets remains apparent, as the vehicle roughly fits into a 6x6 cube. The flat front of the cab translates easily to an angular design, again featuring printed tiles for its radiator and windscreen, plus a light bluish grey band accurate to the classic G1 animation.
The proportions of the truck are squashed to resemble the blocky BrickHeadz template, but all the essential details are present. The smoke stacks, fuel tanks and roof-mounted air horns are nicely integrated and a couple more printed tiles look superb on both sides of the cab.
Overall
I expected Transformers characters to suit the BrickHeadz style perfectly and 40803 Optimus Prime Robot & Vehicle definitely does! Prime's robot mode is quite basic, though matches the character's G1 appearance and includes plenty of detail. The truck mode, meanwhile, is much more distinctive, but still captures something of the usual BrickHeadz style, in my opinion.
For the price of £17.99, $19.99 or €19.99, I think this is a good purchase for Transformers fans and a nice addition to any BrickHeadz collection, particularly for the unique truck. I hope 40704 Bumblebee Robot & Vehicle proves equally impressive.
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31 comments on this article
I may have to buy 2, and use those printed parts for a minifig-scale Prime!
The Octopus Prime robot seems to have way more blue than the truck. Plus the windscreen and front grille seem to be different.
I’m not seeing how one transforms into the other.
Maybe I have misunderstood the whole ‘transformers, robots in disguise’ thing.
@gunther_schnitzel said:
"The Octopus Prime robot seems to have way more blue than the truck. Plus the windscreen and front grille seem to be different.
I’m not seeing how one transforms into the other.
Maybe I have misunderstood the whole ‘transformers, robots in disguise’ thing."
It’s no so much “transform” as “completely disassemble.”
Don’t you remember their 1980s branding?
“Complete Disassemblers: Robots in Disguise”
First brickheads I will buy. Mainly for the prints, but I like them also for how they look.
@gunther_schnitzel said:
"The Octopus Prime robot seems to have way more blue than the truck. Plus the windscreen and front grille seem to be different.
I’m not seeing how one transforms into the other.
Maybe I have misunderstood the whole ‘transformers, robots in disguise’ thing."
Well his head usually folds into his body, but since it’s so much larger on the brickheadz, it adds a lot more blue to the model.
The windscreen and grill also have had to have their sizes changed to fit the proportions. Everything makes a lot more sense if you look at the transformation of the larger set.
I appreciate the sneak beak at this set. If anyone nose Transformers, it’s Cap. You wouldn’t believe the cere number of Brickheadz I already have but something about this sticks in my maw. Though I’m not a big fan of the second weaker truck model, that complaint to me is still more of a nib and I won’t muzzle critics of its inclusion. I mostly like the Optimus design and I can’t put my finger on it, but in the end, it doesn’t pass the sniff test for me. I’ll probably get it on a discount but I don’t think I can pay the full bill.
I'm not a Transformers fan (I don't dislike it, I just don't follow the franchise), but I really like these BrickHeadz.
Could easily have gone without the truck. Same with Bumblebee
I thought Huw was going to review this set and the other Transformers one. Doesn’t he review the BrickHeadz theme more often?
I enjoyed the review, and although I don’t care for BrickHeadz I like this set. Really good prints! And it’s ok that the truck doesn’t transform into Prime. It depicts the truck well from other sources (and the prints don’t need to be the same between robot and vehicle).
I’m looking forward to the review of the Bumblebee set soon.
Yeah. Super fun. And i like the inclusion as vehicle. Will cop.
@PDelahanty said:
"It’s no so much “transform” as “completely disassemble.”
Don’t you remember their 1980s branding?
“Complete Disassemblers: Robots in Disguise”"
The Transformers fandom calls this a "partsformer"--a Transformer that requires you to remove a significant number of parts in order to transform. Lego Optimus Prime (the big one, 10302) it not a partsformer, but Lego Bumblebee 10338 is (his windshield does not transform into position and instead needs to be removed).
@CapnRex101 said:
"plus a light bluish grey band accurate to the classic G1 animation"
the stripe under his windscreen is actually inaccurate to the G1 cartoon, it magically disappeared when he transformed into vehicle mode
https://x.com/BWTF_Ben/status/1813280625530663099
@kongutahu said:
" @CapnRex101 said:
"plus a light bluish grey band accurate to the classic G1 animation"
the stripe under his windscreen is actually inaccurate to the G1 cartoon, it magically disappeared when he transformed into vehicle mode
https://x.com/BWTF_Ben/status/1813280625530663099 "
The stripe often disappeared in the show, but not always. There is a thread about it on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/transformers/comments/gw81oh/the_grey_stripe_on_optimus_truck_mode_is/
I assume the grey stripe was supposed to be animated to match the G1 toy and 'hero' images of Optimus Prime, but was often forgotten or omitted for simplicity.
@Reventon said:
"Could easily have gone without the truck. Same with Bumblebee "
Lucky you, since Bumblebee doesn't come with the truck.
Autobots, roll out!
The Transformers: The Movie is a 1986 animated science fiction action film based on the Transformers television series.
Could we get whole theme and waves from this!
@PurpleDave said:
" @Reventon said:
"Could easily have gone without the truck. Same with Bumblebee "
Lucky you, since Bumblebee doesn't come with the truck."
Comes with an ugly useless car though.
@LuvsLEGO_Cool_J said:
"I thought Huw was going to review this set and the other Transformers one. Doesn’t he review the BrickHeadz theme more often? "
I got bored doing them :)
There were actually cab-over tractors with very short cabs used in America back in the day. They were for short trips, as there was no sleeper and many had rear windows. I had several books featuring pictures or illustrations of them as a child. So it’s kind of funny that this Prime’s alt mode is supposed to be a chibi cab-over but it just looks like a short-hop version.
I really like this, both modes
@CapnRex101 said:
"I assume the grey stripe was supposed to be animated to match the G1 toy and 'hero' images of Optimus Prime, but was often forgotten or omitted for simplicity."
The appearance or lack thereof of the grey stripe on Prime's truck mode in the G1 cartoon almost entirely depended on which studio animated the episode.
When they were compiling the production materials to create the cartoon, the character models were being refined, and in may ways simplified. Here's a compilation of various stages of Prime's development, showing older to newest from left to right: https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/attachments/optimus-prime-early-jpg.28812637/
As you can see, it's not until the final iteration that the stripe on the cab is lost, so the fact that it shows up a couple of times in the pilot miniseries (which contributed the clip to the closing credits used for the rest of season 1) isn't too surprising, since some of the animators might have been working from older material.
However, after that, when the designs had been finalized, ( https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/attachments/optimus-prime-jpg.28812638/ ) the stripe is rarely seen outside of a few episodes that were animated by AKOM. The bulk of the series was animated by Toei Animation, but the demand for more episodes, particularly for the second and third seasons, meant that some of the episodes were subcontracted out to other studios, and the ones done by AKOM in particular seem to have been done using older reference material. Aside from the return of the cab stripe, the other notable oddity of AKOM-animated episodes is Prime's backpack being grey or light blue instead of the standard red. And while they were consistently off-model, they weren't even consistent in their off-model coloring: https://tfwiki.net/mediawiki/images2/3/32/AKOM_-_Op.jpg
@peterlmorris said:
"There were actually cab-over tractors with very short cabs used in America back in the day. They were for short trips, as there was no sleeper and many had rear windows. I had several books featuring pictures or illustrations of them as a child. So it’s kind of funny that this Prime’s alt mode is supposed to be a chibi cab-over but it just looks like a short-hop version. "
There have been even shorter cabs used in other parts of the world, where there were restrictions on how long the entire rig could be. Making the cab as short as possible meant the trailer could be longer and haul more freight. I know there's an Isuzu box truck that has a cab that basically has the minimum space to fit the seat and pedals, and that's pretty much it. I know Japan has the whole K-car situation, so I'd guess they're one country that restricts the total length, but I'm pretty sure there are places in Europe with those laws.
@Huw said:
" @LuvsLEGO_Cool_J said:
"I thought Huw was going to review this set and the other Transformers one. Doesn’t he review the BrickHeadz theme more often? "
I got bored doing them :)"
Ah, the joys of life, when we stop doing what bores us.
To be candid, I've begun adding boredom back into my life. It feels more relaxing, and brings out my creative side.
Haven't bought brick heads before as I only really buy minifig scale stuff. But I love Transformers. I am tempted but the truck is unnecessary and would have been better with a set with Optimus and Bumblebee figures together in a pack. For me anyway.
I bought a fair bit the Kreo Transformers stuff when it was out. Would love even more some CMF Transformers Figures.
The squished truck looks awful
Wishing this was an Optimus Prime/Megatron robot-mode two-pack. Would then bypass the issue (modern warfare) of what Megatron transforms into.
Those printed bricks make this a must own. …I’m looking forward to seeing if someone can make a larger Prime build out of just the parts from this kit.
Those printed tiles are so perfect for creating a Speed Champions Scale Optimus. I cannot wait to get this and any other Tranformers Brickheadz they wanna make. Especially Bumblebee, and Megs.
@winbrant said:
"Wishing this was an Optimus Prime/Megatron robot-mode two-pack. Would then bypass the issue (modern warfare) of what Megatron transforms into."
The mind boggles at the thought of a Brickheadz representation of a Walther P-38.
Just my idle thought - I bet the robot mode figure would look a lot better and accurate with the grey faceplate brick turned upside down, so the angled end is at the top.
@JoshuaMauk said:
"Those printed tiles are so perfect for creating a Speed Champions Scale Optimus. I cannot wait to get this and any other Tranformers Brickheadz they wanna make. Especially Bumblebee, and Megs. "
There's already a Bumblebee, Brickset just hasn't reviewed him. 40804