71845: Lloyd's Jet Mech
- Designer
- Chi Wing Lee
- Launch/exit
- 1 Jun 2025 - {t.b.a}
- Related sets
- Connects with 71832-1
- Bricklist notes
- Set number 15! This is, BY FAR, the most challenging model I have ever worked on, even more than the combiner mech earlier the same year, but it's also probably my proudest work so far!
The concept of a jet mech was originally planned for 2024 summer wave, but we pulled it late in the game as we decided that it would fit the whole "storm" theme better the next year, so technically it had a whole extra year in the making than other sets! As someone who has always been fascinated by transforming models, I decided to give it a try and build my own take on the concept after it was postponed, which ended up becoming what you see on the box now.
I can't even begin to explain the complexity of this model, every single inch of it poses a different challenge. This is the model that almost broke me and we almost had to move the deadlines, but I'm incredibly happy with the final result! The final transformation is so clean that you can actually switch between the modes within 30 seconds. AND it has a very unique building experience compared to all the big mechs that came before it, as you actually build it as the jet first~
Putting in a sizeable conflict model was also a dream came true! Despite how late the bone dragon came into play, his combination with Thunderfang actually made it into the TV show - it's an actual canon variant of Thunderfang! Sora's hoverbike was also a fun extra - I was asked to put that in because my manager wanted everyone flying on the box, in case if anyone wonders why I "wasted" money on another side build haha
One last thing I'm proud of is my successful "scheme" to give Tyr the white dragon skull helmet. I wanted to make Tyr stands out more and proposed the skull helmet idea for this wave, but was turned down at first as we run out of colour changes... so I went on to convince my fellow colleague Petros to colour change it for his side build in the Ninja Combat Vehicle, and voilà!
Shoutout to Franciska for the incredible graphics on the stickers and Brian for making this super complex model buildable from the building instruction! Teamwork!
