A STAGE set designer in Shanghai has created models of “Transformers” characters from discarded auto parts, which are proving to be a big hit, despite copyright issues.

“Most boys love Transformers and watching the movies is not enough. Making a real model is really cool,” Li Weilei, who hails from Shandong Province, told Shanghai Daily yesterday.

Li, 28, is skilled in acrobatics and martial arts and has appeared in operas. He performed around China before settling down in Shanghai in 2006 and now makes props and sets for TV series, films and stage.