Base Ace Transporter Platform for Mini Figures, compatible with all major construction toy building brick brands

Parents with absolutely Lego-obsessed kids but who aren’t rich are quite likely to already know that ‘Lego compatible’ cheaper alternatives are a mixed bag- some being excellent, barely discernible from Lego, others (particularly the pound-shop options) being a decidedly weak imitation that get so awkward you wish you’d never bothered with them. Thankfully, this platform’s closer to the former than the latter. You’re not going to fool any grown-ups into thinking it’s real Lego- the design of the little nodules is a little rough-and-ready- but crucially, it locks and unlocks with real Lego fluidly and easily.And it’s an interesting new piece with a lot of potential too- whether it’s as a flat bridge transporter, or on an angle, there’s a lot of ways that this piece could be interpreted in a young imagination. Although it says “for mini figures”, you can use it as a base piece for anything else as well, so for example you can build a little boat on top of it and then have that boat travel from one port (end) to the other ferrying things across.The one thing that disappointed me, that wasn’t clear from the product description, is that when it’s at an angle- for example if it’s been turned into a sort of magic ski lift- the platform doesn’t sit where it’s put, it will always slide down to the bottom. I felt that’s a little bit limiting, but it made my daughter come up with a rudimentary pulley system using a Lego chain piece, for which I was extremely proud of her (and glad that she enjoys watching “Bitz & Bob” on CBeebies as I think that’s where she got the idea from). But still, a platform that could sit where it was put even on an angle would have been a bit more versatile.It’s not quite as well-made as Lego, but only just. At the current asking price of a tenner I don’t think it qualifies as a ‘budget alternative’ to Lego. However, as a piece that (as far as I’m aware) Lego themselves don’t make, if you look at this piece and think, “yes, that’s the piece I need to complete my model”, then go for it.

Exactly as currently pictured in the stock images above, the TRANSPORTER PLATFORM could benefit from the inclusion of some instructions, IMO.After my precious mini-figure descended from top to bottom on the movable 6 x 4 stud platform rather faster than he (or I) expected, I realised that turning the hinged end-pieces activates a sort of brake device and things move (slide manually) at a more leisurely pace, if required!Designed for enhancing ‘mini figure adventures’, there are a number of other items currently available, from Base Ace™, for further encouragement ‘to stretch the imagination’.ooOoo❅ TALKING PRODUCTS LTD❅ BASE ACE ™❅ TRANSPORTER PLATFORM for Mini Figures (No mini-figures are supplied)~ MATERIAL: BLACK RIGID PLASTIC-TYPE with METAL-TYPE for the 3 mm SILVER coloured rods x 2'Components made in China & England'ooOooGetting into the cardboard presentation box that measures around 29 cm x 7.5 cm x 2 cm without breaking a nail is a bit of a challenge!Inside is the one-piece, hinged TRANSPORTER PLATFORM made of a SILVER coloured metal-type/BLACK rigid plastic-type.It expands in length from around 25.5 cm to 28.5 cm and seems generally well made & finished off.It is 'compatible with all leading brands’ and can simply transport mini-figures (or cargo) from side to side but it is more fun at an angle, as previously mentioned.I only have the ‘major brand’ to test with and my collection of mini-figures all fit fine when the time comes for a move.[15 images attached]

We always have a lot of lego sets up in our house and they are often put together side by side or linked somehow and this little bit of kit works well to allow that to happen really easily. This can be used on the flat or to go down levels and was originally created for use with the Base Ace sets, which are in turn for lego, but I have found these little accessories to be very useful on their own. At the moment, this is being used between two small coffee tables, almost side by side with a little gap - which represent a fissure that has formed in Lego City following an earthquake and the lego people are bridging the gap with this transporter platform. Last week it was being used as a kind of futuristic jungle escalator. So many possibilities

This is an unexpectedly fun addition to our family Lego set. Designed to link up two different creations with a sliding platform/lift, it does the job exactly as described and adds something new to your bricks at home.Although an odd one (it doesn't feel like there can be many families who feel one of these is missing from their lives!) this transporter platform is great to play with. So many modern Lego sets are incredibly prescriptive and it can be difficult to use your imagination with the blocks after the initial build is over, but additions like this really give new life to your old sets.

Base Ace Transporter PlatformBase Ace produces a range of extras to extend the imaginative play options available for Lego and similar plastic brick kits. They are really worth taking a look at. This particular item is a sliding platform that can be used with larger Bass Ace kits or something you’ve built yourself from Lego (etc.), to transport figures between two different areas. It really does add another dimension to your Lego play. Really sturdy construction too, so it should stand up to plenty of play.For sale at the time of writing this review at £9.95.