After the film Transformers 2 opened across the country and became a box office success, Beijing held an exhibition showcasing these changeable toys in July.
All toys on display were from individual collectors. A model of Optimus Prime that stood nearly 5 meters high and weighed 300 kilograms attracted the most attention.
Few knew that this model was made by Sun Peng, a 26-year-old Transformers fan who took three months to assemble the Autobots leader out of cellular plastic, angled steel and bearings.
A childhood dream
Sun was a typical Transformers fan. Anyone entering his house would immediately see a large cabinet occupying an entire wall and displaying his collection of models.
Like many Transformers lovers, the images are forever ingrained in Sun’s mind. “It was not only a sign of sweet childhood, but also represented a dream,” he saiFrom 1984 to 1992, toy makers in the US and Japan produced more than 300 kinds of transformer toys. In 1987, the cartoon Transformers was introduced into China and popularized among children.
The toys, especially the ones called “Generation 1” (G1), quickly dominated the Chinese market. However, the prices were relativelhigh, too much so for the ordinary family.
“An original Optimus Prime toy cost 140 yuan, which just about required a month of my dad’s salary to pay,” Sun said. “Many children could only look at the toys displayed inps, and I was one of them.”Sun said the two dreams he had when he was a child were both related to Transformers. “One was to have all kinds of transformer toys occupy the entire room,” he said. “The other was to be ay designer, specifically for general transformers.”Years of collecting
