LEGO will consider making a Highland cow set a reality after an article in The National brought newfound attention to the cause.
Tom Prest made the design last year for a school Lego club he ran, and has spent the months since campaigning on the company's Lego Ideas website to see it turned into a real set.
Finally, with The National's support, the listing for the cow has passed the 10,000 votes it needs for Lego to move forward with the idea.
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Prest, a software engineer, spoke of the effect of The National's story last week, saying it had "a massive impact" and landed over 300 votes the day it was published.
The remaining votes it needed – around 300 – came in over the next few days.
He continued: "It got a lot of people to hear about it who wouldn't necessarily have otherwise."
Prest told The National he was happy with where the project has gotten to so far, saying: "It's super validating that I can design a thing that resonates with so many people.”
He also said it would be a good look for the Scottish Lego community"which he said was much less substantial than the one in England.
Prest hoped to have the vote reach the 10,000 mark by his wedding this week – and the listing for the cow crossed the mark just in time.
The cow, named Hamish McBreige, features adjustable horns and uses a Lego croissant for the tip of the tail.
A new comment by the company on the Lego Ideas listing congratulated Prest for reaching the goal.
Commenters on the listing shared their excitement at the project reaching the review stage.
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One said: "Congratulations on 10k! Best of luck with Hamish McBreige in the review!"
Another wrote: "Huge congrats on 10,000 supporters! I would totally buy this if it becomes a set."
The design will be one of several considered for conversion to a set in May.
If the toy company likes the idea in the review stage, it will spend a few months creating prototype designs of the model and evaluating the practicality of turning it into a real set.
Prest has said he is ready to help with the process – he is building a second cow for his future mother-in-law, which he intends to document in detail.
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