Bionicle 2015 Discussion

[VBBN]

If you missed it, we just did round 2 of the Livestream. You can view it

, I once again joined BZP to talk about the rest of the sets, powerup modes, and the wave as a whole. Aanchir also joined us (and Lyichir as his loyal servant...)

I'm also glad to see your Gali review VBBN, you did an excellent job at posing Gali and you've got me sold moreso then I was in the first place.

Thanks! She really is a fun set to pose and just pull off a lot of poses naturally. I will say, putting her up in her mermaid-fin pose wasn't the easiest..

[Rayskull]

Protector of Stone looks better than I thought, as does water...uhoh, I want a few of these.

[TheDesuComplex]

LOSS is really....bad. But I will still buy him, for completion's sake. In fact....I'm planning to buy two rounds of EVERY set: one for playing "collecting", and one for keeping in the box, to sell in 10 years for triple the price....

Part of me is really itching to buy two of every set for two sets of those sweet new parts, and I'm not sure how good that impulse will be.

Here's what's next...

(Protect-snip!)

He looks amazing, especially with his weapon in that position. Less pepper-mill-y. Looking forward to your review!

I'm not exactly sure. It seems very reflective, probably because of the shaping, but it just doesn't look like the regular plastic LEGO uses.

I've noticed this recently, that CCBS parts seem to be shinier and glossier then normal Lego parts to me. I think it's a slightly different composition then normal CCBS, as mentioned by Darth earlier, for a higher tolerance then normal ABS.

[Brickthing]

I've noticed this recently, that CCBS parts seem to be shinier and glossier then normal Lego parts to me. I think it's a slightly different composition then normal CCBS, as mentioned by Darth earlier, for a higher tolerance then normal ABS.

The CCBS shells (and the new masks) are made from PC (Polycarbonate), which is harder and able to be produced in transparent colours, unlike ABS. It has a sharper "twang" when you drop PC parts. Compared to the old masks (which used even softer plastics), these masks have visually sharper/clearer edges and feel like they should be more durable to scratches/weathering.

[Timeline15]

Wow, the protectors' masks in-the-plastic are some of the best looking pieces I think I've ever seen (and being attatched to some of the most consistent "small" sets in a while doesn't do any harm either).

[Rayskull]

For the first time, i'm looking at the bigger sets as parts for the smaller sets. Bravo Lego!

I think Lego is taking its time making bad guys...hoping for Black and Red humanoid.

[Chro]

Edited November 15, 2014 by Chro

[Agent Fusion]

Compared to their other reviews, this one just seems to be lacking something. Maybe it's the lighting, maybe it's the backdrop. It does give a good look at the set and parts, though, and that's what's important.

Tahu himself, on the other hand, is my least favourite of the three larger Toa. He's still a fantastic set, I just prefer the others.

[Kalhiki]

Compared to their other reviews, this one just seems to be lacking something. Maybe it's the lighting, maybe it's the backdrop. It does give a good look at the set and parts, though, and that's what's important.

Tahu himself, on the other hand, is my least favourite of the three larger Toa. He's still a fantastic set, I just prefer the others.

Yeah, the vid was less than spectacular.

But the pictures made up for it considerably holy cow. So bright and crisp.

Anywho, Tahu's cool, but yeah. Maybe not as good as the other larger Toa.

[Mandate]

Hey, I think it was DeeVee doing the review this time!

[dviddy]

Yeah, the vid was less than spectacular.

But the pictures made up for it considerably holy cow. So bright and crisp.

Anywho, Tahu's cool, but yeah. Maybe not as good as the other larger Toa.

I sent Andrew the raw file because he was supposed to edit it for me- that was part of the deal. I literally bought the camera for this review. The brief edit I did with the software removed the fisheye and the extended background was dropped so the whole frame was white. Andrew and I have the same camera, I assumed he'd make the same adjustments I did. :/

[Kalhiki]

I sent Andrew the raw file because he was supposed to edit it for me- that was part of the deal. I literally bought the camera for this review. The brief edit I did with the software removed the fisheye and the extended background was dropped so the whole frame was white. Andrew and I have the same camera, I assumed he'd make the same adjustments I did. :/

Editing is a large part of making a video, so it's a shame yours didn't get the proper treatment.

But I do applaud you on your picture taking skills. They're fantastic. How much were they edited? Tahu doesn't look like he's casting a shadow. Whatever you did, though looks spectacular.

[Mandate]

I sent Andrew the raw file because he was supposed to edit it for me- that was part of the deal. I literally bought the camera for this review. The brief edit I did with the software removed the fisheye and the extended background was dropped so the whole frame was white. Andrew and I have the same camera, I assumed he'd make the same adjustments I did. :/

Hey look! I was right about the person being DeeVee! But anyway, the pics at the end were amazing. Good work.

[Aanchir]

Part two of my BIONICLE parts preview for The New Elementary is up! You can check it out here! There will be full set reviews coming in the next couple of weeks. Folks who tuned in to the

last night (or watched it after the fact) got to see some of the sets that I received and will be reviewing (many thanks to the BZPower staff for having me on as a guest)!

My twin brother and I also spent some time MOCing with some of the aforementioned sets today. I'd say our time was productive! Credit to Meiko for the photo. I'll probably make a topic eventually, once I have some more photos.

And yep, DeeVee, the video definitely needed some polishing, but the photo and text review was top notch! Great work!

Edited November 15, 2014 by Aanchir

[Mandate]

Can't seem to access New Elementary, Aanchir. Hey, how about try to make some Kaita with a similar style to the originals?

edit: nvm, website is working fine now.

Edited November 15, 2014 by JayWalker

[Lord-Vorahk]

Oh, nice Wairuha!

[GK733]

Is the build done around the speculation that Wairuha is a female? Either yes or no, it looks so much better than the original... excpect for the unpractical looking wings. I actually like to think them them just as hands holding weapons... gives them an aztec god sort of feeling.

Edited November 15, 2014 by GK733

[VBBN]

Alright so since the question has been asked 1000 times, yes, it is feasible to give Pohatu geared legs without him looking completely wacko.

I hooked both of his legs up to a gear, Nuva style. His arms I made static, and in this configuration that is preferred. If you wanted to also gear his arms, well, you're going to have a lot of problems (Another gear coming out of his back, and then you have to flip the gearbox and then his arms are way too far back.) This arrangement of course also uses a gearbox to give him properly scaled shoulder width.

Edit: Here's a quick video to show how it looks

[Timeline15]

Those are some.... very unfortunately placed exposed ball joints XD. but good to know it's doable I guess. I kind of feel like the legs should be further apart, so he more matches the figure of his 01 self, rather than here, where he just looks kinda fat.

[VBBN]

Those are some.... very unfortunately placed exposed ball joints XD. but good to know it's doable I guess. I kind of feel like the legs should be further apart, so he more matches the figure of his 01 self, rather than here, where he just looks kinda fat.

I tried doing them one more space apart on each side (similar to leewan's rendering) but honestly it was one of the worst looking things I've ever seen. My goal here was to show that the function is possible, without dramatically altering the overall look of the sets proportions. Making the legs wider is easier, this is to show the narrowest you can go.

With that said, yeah those ball joints are strange.

[Aanchir]

Is the build done around the speculation that Wairuha is a female? Either yes or no, it looks so much better than the original... excpect for the unpractical looking wings. I actually like to think them them just as hands holding weapons... gives them an aztec god sort of feeling.

Perhaps not female specifically, though I have felt for a long time that Akamai and Wairuha have a sort of masculine/feminine duality, and this build was in some ways meant to reflect that. My original concept was more overtly feminine, but its joints had a hard time supporting the weight of its weapons, and this would cause them to collide with the lower gearbox, so I had to basically start over from scratch, this time using just two friction joints for the legs and two for the shoulders. It turned out just as well, because the new design for the torso and legs also makes the model taller and allows it to use more of the set's pieces (the earlier concept used about 160 pieces, this one uses 180).

The wings are more decorative than anything else. Maybe they might be able to reduce the speed of descent for better jumping, kind of like a velociraptor's feathres. I don't know for sure.

When I go to make Akamai, which probably won't be until January (Unlike VBBN, I don't have ALL the sets!), I plan to aim for a more overtly masculine build, in accordance with the build differences from Akamai Nuva and Wairuha Nuva. This is my original concept, though I will probably rethink parts of it to better match the new Wairuha and to optimize the proportions.

Alright so since the question has been asked 1000 times, yes, it is feasible to give Pohatu geared legs without him looking completely wacko.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7533/15612049479_c28963f2d0_c.jpg

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8658/15774199686_b1a252b8ec_c.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7521/15612468688_133460dcb4_c.jpg

I hooked both of his legs up to a gear, Nuva style. His arms I made static, and in this configuration that is preferred. If you wanted to also gear his arms, well, you're going to have a lot of problems (Another gear coming out of his back, and then you have to flip the gearbox and then his arms are way too far back.) This arrangement of course also uses a gearbox to give him properly scaled shoulder width.

Interesting! Looks good, although the legs might pop off more easily than the arms on the sets since they don't use an axle with stop. Pity the only 3M axle with stop also features a stud. I suppose a non-purist solution could involve sanding the stud off of a pair of 3M axles with stop. I also feel like the side view still looks awkward, but there's only so much that can be done about that.

I do wonder, with the hips that narrow, is there any issue with the legs colliding with the ball joints of the torso beam when you use the gear function?

[VBBN]

Interesting! Looks good, although the legs might pop off more easily than the arms on the sets since they don't use an axle with stop. Pity the only 3M axle with stop also features a stud. I suppose a non-purist solution could involve sanding the stud off of a pair of 3M axles with stop. I also feel like the side view still looks awkward, but there's only so much that can be done about that.

I do wonder, with the hips that narrow, is there any issue with the legs colliding with the ball joints of the torso beam when you use the gear function?

There is a little bit of a bump but not much (I just added a video into that post so you can see they move pretty freely)

And as you can see I did indeed use the 3length with a stud on the end, it doesn't look too bad

[GK733]

When I go to make Akamai, which probably won't be until January (Unlike VBBN, I don't have ALL the sets!), I plan to aim for a more overtly masculine build, in accordance with the build differences from Akamai Nuva and Wairuha Nuva. This is my original concept, though I will probably rethink parts of it to better match the new Wairuha and to optimize the proportions.

Going a little offtopic here, but why you and some of other experienced builders don't use the inbuilt screenshot system of LDD? I really don't believe you wouldn't be aware of it so why you prefer the build screen?

Alright so since the question has been asked 1000 times, yes, it is feasible to give Pohatu geared legs without him looking completely wacko.

And VBBN, it looks a little unpractical mostly due to the exposed balls. Nice concept, can definetly see why they dropped it though.

Edited November 16, 2014 by GK733

[Mesonak]

Oh man, a lot of stuff to comment on here...

- While the video quality of Tahu's review is a bit unfortunate, the text review, at least, came out looking fantastic.

- Excellent examination of the new pieces, Aanchir! And wow, that Wairuha MoC is pretty impressive.

- Finally, I admire your resolve, VBBN.

[Lyichir]

Going a little offtopic here, but why you and some of other experienced builders don't use the inbuilt screenshot system of LDD? I really don't believe you wouldn't be aware of it so why you prefer the build screen?.

Because the built in screenshot tool of LDD has been buggy on Macs for a while. When you try to save a screenshot that way, it fails to save and crashes the program. Believe me, I'd use it if it were possible to do so.