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Father / son build 7-foot Metroplex Transformer during quarantine
Aug 10, 2020
What does the family behind a full-scale replica of Optimus Prime
do when isolation seems to be the new norm? Why...build a G1-inspired 7-foot tall Metroplex Transformer of course!
Joe and his son Ryan Fiduccia recently completed an 11-foot tall G1-inspired cosplay
suit of Optimus Prime. And just when you thought they were done, SURPRISE! They kick-started a new build immediately thereafter.
"Ryan loves the G1 Transformers series," explains Joe. "All Spring and into early Summer, he kept asking me about the possibility of building Metroplex. He did a lot of research, and even presented me with an entire packet of pictures, closeups, ideas, and requests that he put together specifically for this build."
"His passion for this project was inspiring to see. I just couldn't say no."
Joe goes on to say: "I was exhausted from building Optimus. You could say I was totally done with foam projects for 2020. But I was impressed with Ryan's drive to build a Transformer for himself. So as a dad, I had to suck it up and support him."
Thus the Fiduccia boys, along with support from wife and mom Ania Fiduccia, started piecing together their very own Metroplex Transformer in June 2020...just a few weeks after they completed their Optimus cosplay. But unlike Optimus, Metroplex was not designed to be worn. Instead he is a stand-alone Transformer that can be placed on display virtually anywhere.
With the exception of the foam itself, the Fiduccia boys primarily used scrap materials from their basement. These include PVC pipe, cardboard, conduit, old plastic bats, wood trim, and more. Both Ryan and Joe started from the bottom of Metroplex and worked their way up to his head, estimating all measurements and scale by eye using low-resolution photos.
"We originally wanted to make it 4-feet tall,", says Ryan. "But once we finished the legs, we realized we would have to make it higher in order to maintain the proper scale. Though neither one of us expected it to be almost 7-feet tall!"
Ryan and Joe worked on Metroplex together throughout most of the summer, finally completing it in mid-August. And this isn't just an ordinary statue. In fact their G1-inspired build offers quite a bit extra, including:
- full-motion legs, arms, elbows, and head
- removable side-arm guns that also rotate 360 degrees
- led lighting in the eyes, chest, and top-chest command center
- voices of Metroplex projected through an internal bluetooth speaker
- detachable body parts for easier transport, when needed
"I was very impressed with what we accomplished in a relatively short time. I did most of the larger pieces, while Ryan focused on mostly the smaller detail pieces. It's not perfect," says Joe, "but it's our first attempt at building the Metroplex character. It was almost as complicated as Optimus because of the added details only seen on Metroplex, which became quite frustrating at times."
"But overall my son is very pleased with the results. He has learned a lot about prop making, and we bonded quite a bit because of it. So that alone makes the entire project worthwhile."
Joe goes on to say: "let's be real. The pandemic has hurt ALL of us. With the ongoing uncertainty and high-risks attributed to leaving our house, we were poised for summer of isolation...which can definitely affect one's pysche. Especially a pre-teen. So this was one of those projects that helped keep our minds occupied in a positive way."
"The world is a very dark place right now," says Joe. "It's easy for anyone to fall into that hole of boredom and depression. So my hope in building Metroplex with Ryan this summer is that it helps keep him on a positive track, and builds his confidence for future projects."
Joe tell us that Metroplex would not have been possible without some outside help. In his own words: "fortunately we had some leftover foam from our other cosplay. But the pandemic has really hurt us financially, and we didn't have the means to take on this project. Then out of nowhere, we received a very generous and unexpected donation from a lovely family, offered in kind simply to help keep us going...to which we are eternally grateful for. So we applied much of that towards this father/son build."
As for their plans on what to do with Metroplex now that it is finished, Ryan tells us: "we will have to rearrange some things in our house, but it will definitely go into my Transformers room. We may also bring it to indoor shows from time to time, placing it on display next to Optimus for fans to see."
When asked about plans on building another Transformer in the near future, Joe laughed with abundant clarity: "Ryan is already talking about a new project with another G1 titan. But I am
done
for 2020. I have no plans on cutting or even looking at another piece of foam until the New Year. Then again, I'm a father who never stops trying to inspire my son. So...anything can happen."
If you would like to
inquire about displaying Metroplex, Optimus Prime, or our 11-foot cosplay
at your next event, please send us a message.
You can also visit Ryan's Instagram profile to see more pictures of this build, and to follow his journey with photography and prop making.
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