Blog Layout

Replica of Optimus Prime includes several upgrades worthy of a Prime

Sep 18, 2019

Joe Fiduccia became the first Transformers fan anywhere in the world to build a full-scale replica of the Optimus Prime Western Star truck, made popular in Transformers: Age of Extinction. What make his story stand out even more is that he did it on a budget with no prior trucking experience. And he even went so far as to obtain legal permission from Hasbro (the trademark owners) to do it.


With the help of almost 2-dozen extremely talented individuals, Fiduccia completed the first phase of his build late in 2016. It was a project that quickly went viral on social media.  Mainly because outside of the two trucks that were made for the big screen, his became the first AOE replica. You can read more about the story and build from this page of our website, and from this article on America's Footprints. 


But now several years later, Fiduccia has taken his replica to the next level. And in the eyes of many, his truck is no longer just a replica. It is an icon like no other. One that has entered a league of its own.

"The whole idea in the beginning was to show my son, Ryan, that anything is possible", says Fiduccia. "To show him that he can accomplish his dreams if he is willing to put in the time and the work necessary to achieve his goals. But I've come to understand that there is more to it. My mission doesn't stop just because I successfully replicated a fancy truck."

Now several years later, Fiduccia has made it his new mission to show the world that his truck is the closest thing to Optimus Prime that most folks will ever see...both in body and in spirit.

Fiduccia tells us: "from Day 1, people have come up to me commenting on the quality of our replica. They notice things that the screen-used trucks don't have, they point out myriad of differences between the two, and they make it a point to tell me how they prefer seeing our truck over the originals. That is has more character. So I started thinking of ways I could harness that feedback and convert it to something more meaningful."

And that's when Fiduccia's replica truly took on a form of its own.

Over the course of the past several years, and with the support of Transformers fans like himself, Fiduccia has added several upgrades and modifications to his replica that were not on the originals. For example, both the left and right front bumper covers sport custom airbrush designs. 

The driver side contains a tribute to our country's military veterans, while the passenger side shows a tribute to Kyle Comeau, the graphics artist who designed the original flames seen on Optimus. Kyle tragically died shortly before getting the chance to paint those screen-used trucks. Fiduccia learned about Kyle's story in 2017, and with the help of his parents Paul and Vicki, the tribute was created by Kyle's mentor and friend.

Fiduccia has also installed a custom entertainment system on the truck, complete with an 8-speaker setup that projects the voice of Optimus Prime using sound bytes from the cinematic films. Some of which was installed thanks to a partnership with a local auto shop called Custom Import Performance

As the result of another partnership with a company on the west coast called CryoFx, Fiduccia has added an advanced CO2 system to Optimus. One that shoots clouds of CO2 gas from 10 different locations when Optimus speaks. 

"It's the one thing I was lacking", says Fiduccia. The presence of the truck is enough. When he speaks it brings more life to it. But then when it was over, I felt like it needed something more. That's when the CO2 came to mind. And it's over-the-top awesome. Families are quite literally blown away when they see it."

And as if that isn't enough, this replica of Optimus lights up with a full energon glow at night. Thanks to one of the first partnership's transpiring back in 2017 with Firewire LED's, over 120 ft of blue strip lights emit a glow below the truck and even inside the stacks, giving kids the illusion that this replica runs on the same fuel as a real Transformer.

Adding more life to Prime is an 8-foot sword prop he built from 2 planks of wood. A prop that he installs on the back of Optimus for most shows. Fiduccia says he has plans in 2020 to build a few more props, including a 3-foot All Spark cube that will eventually hover over the 5th wheel when on display.

Fiduccia's modifications continue with a custom mural of Optimus Prime on the back of the truck, just behind the 5th wheel plate. This design of Optimus not only covers the unsightly rear end components, but also incorporates several hidden messages in the form of constellations and Cybertronian lettering that only Joe and a select few know about. 

The same artist from MoralChaos Studios also designed a new graphic that is prominently displayed between the majestic stacks on Optimus Prime. In incorporates an image of the Matrix (the element that provides a Transformer the wisdom of Primes past), and it includes the phrase "Unleash Your Inner Prime."

"That message is for all of those people who doubt themselves", explains Fiduccia. "In this journey with Optimus especially, I have encountered plenty of people who doubt me and attempt to bring me down. It's yet another form of bullying that needs to stop. So this is my message for those passing me on the highway. Those people I'll never meet face-to-face. A message to those who feel bullied to stand up and unleash their inner potential."
Fiduccia says he has plenty more ideas in store to continue adding life into his replica. And boasts that the ability to even make it 'transform' is something he's always considered. However Fiduccia continues to struggle keeping Optimus on the road financially, and thus remains limited in what he can implement He also says that his primary objective is to keep Optimus safe and street legal. 

Joe hopes that his continued partnerships with companies across the country will eventually help his ideas come to fruition in the years ahead.  In the meantime, we think Optimus looks perfect just the way he is. Regardless of the differences between his and the screen-used versions. Well done Joe!
11 Dec, 2023
Optimus and Joe visited a small community in Maryland for Veteran's Day weekend. And the community responded to support them in a major way!
Optimus Prime watertown NY
11 Oct, 2023
Optimus Prime and his driver visited Watertown, NY on their mission to help students RISE UP to bullies in their own way.
Joe Fiduccia and Optimus Prime
18 May, 2023
Students in northern Ontario has a special visitor from Cybertron show up unexpectedly. And the impact was far reaching!
DARE Timmins with Optimus Prime
25 Apr, 2023
DARE Timmins became the first organization to help Optimus Prime and his owner Joe Fiduccia spread their message against bullying on Canadian soil!
21 Apr, 2023
Megatron is out of hiding and ready to take command once again, but this time under the very watchful eye of Optimus Prime
20 Mar, 2023
Imagine being 6 years old and meeting your fictional superhero in real life. Well that is exactly what was planned for a young boy in Danville, Virginia.
24 Feb, 2023
Optimus and his driver cross into Canada just 2 months after their latest visit. All to surprise more Starlight children and offer words of encouragement.
29 Dec, 2022
Optimus Is Here crosses into Canada after 3.5 years to bring some much needed joy for special children, just in time for the holidays!
Optimus Prime escorts a young boy from the hospital back home
26 Jul, 2021
Optimus Prime joined an entire community to help escort a 12-year-old with DIPG back home, instilling hope and bravery
Show More
Share by: