Presenting... my first Transformer made using LEGO set 31151!
PROLOGUE
Few months ago, I participated in eurobricks.com's alt-built contest 2025 by submitting a few of my finest creations , and won! My Dinobot Swoop (video tutorial below) was one of the runner-up in the mid-size category:
And so.... I was given a chance to choose a prize aka LEGO set from a certain price range. And finally, set 31151 was picked!
The RRP for the set above is slightly below the price range I am allowed to pick (by about €5 I think). LEGO did it again with their excellent customer service, by sneaking in an extra set worth about €13 into the package. Thank you!!
ABOUT SET 31151
Well, this set ticked many boxes for my alt Transformers building needs, with the typical ball joints in good numbers. Upon receiving the set , I started building the main T.rex model and then dismantled it to start this project.
Since set 31151 was released last year (2024)... I have a lot of grounds ro cover and build more Transformers using this year. A few more Dinobots should be "theoratically" be possible!
ABOUT THIS PROJECT
As always, I would keep everything simple for the first Transformer build using any official LEGO sets I acquired. And since one of the official model in set 31151 is a Pteranodon... so I guess building an actual Transformer with this mode wouldn't tax me so much mentally!
This project is based on Swoop, a member of team Dinobot. Swoop turns into a pteranodon, and is the only Dinobot member who could fly.
Using a quarter round tile as the eyes are not just for aesthetic purpose. The eye placement helps to prevent the bulge behind them from wobbling, something other (round) eyes could not do.
As someone who love to smoothen / tile up my creation excessively given enough parts. I subconciously spared his beast belly by allowing 2 studs to be exposed. Glad I did coz that's how I was able to peg the light blue stand , propping him for mid-air photoshoot.
With wings folded.
I did not test his ability to stand upright prior to taking the photos above. Phew....!! He managed well.
TRANSFORM!
After raising the arms up, note how the robot feet are pegged onto the waist ready to be released .
The rest of the steps are super easy, so photos shouldn't be necessary!
ROBOT MODE
Despite the simplicity, there are still building challenges. One of the major ones was the feet. They need to be wide to handle the weight of the kibble/wings.
Note the rounded tiles at the side of the red waist. I tiled them up so that when transforming to beast mode, there won't be a mistake of accidentally pegging the robot feet to the wrong stud on the waist.
ACTION POSES
TEAM UPS
With TakaraTomy Masterpiece Grimlock, leader of the Dinobots.
With my more recent Dragon Megatron made using set 31129
VIDEO TUTORIAL
Note that robot, beast head and missile building tutorial will not be shown in the video. They're pretty easy to built simply by spending a few minutes of staring at his photos. Let's say this is a special challenge from me to you guys out there to improve your skills.
Alternatively, you can purchase the complete building instructions (with heads) in PDFdocument format via my rebrickable link below:
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