Kre-O Transformers Optimus Prime

[Goktimus Prime]

I've been wondering how to pronounce "Kre-O," like should I say "Kree-oh" or "Kray-oh", but apparently it's derived from the Latin word "creo" ('I create'), so it should be "Kray-Oh" then. I wonder why Hasbro didn't just call it "Creo"... legal trademark issues? <shrug> Oh well...

 

Anyway, last night I found Kreo-O Transformers at my local Kmart. I grabbed the small Optimus Prime one cos he (and the small Bumblebee) were the cheapest ones there for $15. Jazz looks nice too, but he was retailing for $22... might see if I can find him for a bit cheaper at Big W... Target probably has Kre-Os too, but they're likely to be more expensive than Kmart. If I can't find him for cheaper elsewhere, I'll come back for Jazz next week. (here's hoping there will still be some in stock by then). The larger ones look nice, but I couldn't justify the price.

 

Why are these so expensive? Now I should point out that I'm not a Lego collector and I have seriously played with Lego or made anything from Lego since I was a kid. I know that Lego is expensive, but part of that reason is because a lot of their components are made in European countries like Croatia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark etc.; so naturally it costs more to make it there (but Lego collectors tell me that it's worth it because of superior quality). I checked the box and it says that these Kre-Os are made in China. Isn't the whole point of manufacturing toys in a country like China to keep costs down? Now again, I don't collect Lego - so I really don't know how the cost of this set compares with a similar Lego one. It just feels expensive to me. <shrug>

 

I assembled the toy into truck mode first. The stickers don't peel off well, so be careful when you apply them. Overall it's a pretty neat toy. There's no compartment in truck mode for a driver - I was hoping I could put a Lego dude in there, but I guess that's what I get for buying the smaller cheaper one. I guess only the larger ones with Kreons can hold drivers. But one thing that bugs me is that in both truck and robot modes, there are left over pieces. :( I would have preferred it if they managed to incorporate every piece in both modes. I've managed to find a way to do it, but it's not 'official'.

 

Pics!

 

Here are the pieces, there are 90 in this set.

 

Here's what the truck mode should look like

 

It leaves four pieces by the side, which I didn't like, so I found a way to incorporate them into the truck mode. So here's my own variation of the truck mode incorporating the leftover pieces:

 

Now to build us a robot!

 

Building the body...

 

 

 

Building the arms...

 

Attaching arms to body and constructing the shoulder line...

 

Completed robot mode:

As you can see, there are three left over pieces.

 

I managed to assemble them into a makeshift rifle...