18ft G1 Bumblebee Roadside Attraction in Fresno, California
Posted: Tue Feb 25, 2014 12:14 pm
Courtesy of Seibertron.com podcaster and member Razorclaw0000 and news website ABC Local, here's a piece on a Transformers fan taking his passion beyond the toys and media. Tom Rhoads, of Fresno, California, built an 18 foot tall G1 Bumblebee sculpture for his son's birthday, and it has now become a roadside attraction! Check out the article here, read some below and watch the embedded video for more.
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This 18 foot tall giant is the creation of Tom Rhoads.
"I built it because I've always had a love for Transformers," said Tom. "When I was growing up four or five years old Transformers was huge, Transformers and GI Joe and I loved Transformers."
And when his first son Drew came along, Tom had a chance to share his childhood love with his son.
"I really wanted to have something special for my boy on his first birthday," said Tom. "And just kind of get a feeling to be what it would be to stand next to one of these guys and try to build one."
The original Bumblebee was based on a "Bug."
"The easiest character to make was the smallest one closest one to our size is the character Bumblebee and he's made out of a Volkswagen."
Tom got one just down the road from Ron Johnson, he restores and sells Volkswagen Bugs and didn't mind giving him a bug that was beyond restoring.