Hero Factory 2012

[Bfahome]

That would be Thornraxx, methinks.

Edited October 18, 2011 by Bfahome

[Jouster]

My memory tells me that there is a set with the so-called waspix-piece used twice

I think that set is....Toxic Reapa. It's not Thornraxx , that's fo'sho.

[Aanchir]

I think that set is....Toxic Reapa. It's not Thornraxx , that's fo'sho.

Umm... even though the high-res pic of Thornraxx clearly shows two of that piece from Waspix?

[Jouster]

Umm... even though the high-res pic of Thornraxx clearly shows two of that piece from Waspix?

I only see one. It's attached to a normal feminine hero body.

[Bfahome]

Yeah from what I can see he has two. The other one attaches his tail. They may be clipped to a torso piece though.

Also, "feminine body"?

Edited October 18, 2011 by Bfahome

[Jouster]

Yeah from what I can see he has two. The other one attaches his tail. They may be clipped to a torso piece though.

Also, "feminine body"?

The female body.The one with the short shoulders..

[Bfahome]

The female body.The one with the short shoulders..

The one that's used on both male heroes I own?

Oh okay then.

[Jouster]

The one that's used on both male heroes I own?

Oh okay then.

I know it's also on male heroes..I just call it female because..#becauseIcan

[Aanchir]

I only see one. It's attached to a normal feminine hero body.

That's how I thought he was built in the original pics. But in the high-res pic, it seems to be two attached to opposite sides of a vertical Technic beam, one offset by 1M so it fits the Technic pin holes not occupied by the one opposite. I'd mock it up on LDD, if LDD only had Waspix's joint piece. But unfortunately, that's one extremely useful HF piece omitted in the last update...

Not totally sure what size beam is being used, but I'm pretty sure there are no torso bones involved in his build. Not that I would be disappointed if there were...

[Jouster]

That's how I thought he was built in the original pics. But in the high-res pic, it seems to be two attached to opposite sides of a vertical Technic beam, one offset by 1M so it fits the Technic pin holes not occupied by the one opposite. I'd mock it up on LDD, if LDD only had Waspix's joint piece. But unfortunately, that's one extremely useful HF piece omitted in the last update...

Not totally sure what size beam is being used, but I'm pretty sure there are no torso bones involved in his build. Not that I would be disappointed if there were...

But..I see a size 3 armor above his arm...How do you explain that?

[Aanchir]

But..I see a size 3 armor above his arm...How do you explain that?

I'm not seeing it myself-- the only armor piece I can make out on his upper body is another "paw" piece like the two on his shoulders, in the center of his back, and I can't even tell how it's attached. Darnit, LDD would really help with this...

[Zarkan]

Well, I can't believe I'm saying this, but they've not only managed to completely salvage Black Phantom, but they've also seemingly turned him into the first good humanoid titan built with the 2.0 system. And, as with the previous wave, every one of the smaller villians is an incredibly imaginative concept that displays the virtues of this new building style. It's too bad I can't say the same thing about the heroes, which are a rather garish blend of odd color choices, mismatched armor and armor additions, and quite a few weird design flaws. Surge's new weapon stands out as a particularly egregious example: how on earth did the designers think putting the attachment point on the edge instead of the middle would make it look better, instead of incredibly awkward like the actual result? I realize I was complaining last winter about how the 3.0 heroes showed a stunning lack of design evolution, but this wave has the exact opposite problen. In trying to make 4.0 as different from the last two versions as possible, I'm afraid TLC has catapulted any sense of coherent asthetics out the window.

Edited October 18, 2011 by Zarkan

[Aanchir]

Well, I can't believe I'm saying this, but they've not only managed to completely salvage Black Phantom, but they've also seemingly turned him into the first good humanoid titan built with the 2.0 system. And, as with the previous wave, every one of the smaller villians is an incredibly imaginative concept that displays the virtues of this new building style. It's too bad I can't say the same thing about the heroes, which are a rather garish blend of odd color choices, mismatched armor and armor additions, and quite a few weird design flaws. Surge's new weapon stands out as a particularly egregious example: how on earth did the designers think putting the attachment point on the edge instead of the middle would make it look better, instead of incredibly awkward like the actual result? I realize I was complaining last winter about how the 3.0 heroes showed a stunning lack of design evolution, but this wave has the exact opposite problen. In trying to make 4.0 as different from the last two versions as possible, I'm afraid TLC has catapulted any sense of coherent asthetics out the window.

I find it ironic that so many people feel Black Phantom improved significantly. He looks better, but that's mostly because it's a better quality pic. All his parts have their final textures and the cropping is less sloppy than in the prelim pic, but otherwise the build is mostly the same. I guess it really demonstrates why prelim pics aren't meant for general audiences.

Personally, I like the Heroes a lot, particularly Evo and Breez. Not too fond of Surge or Rocka. Furno's kinda in between-- I don't dislike him, but I don't like him particularly either.

[Play With Fire]

Though I am generally excited for this upcoming wave of figures, I really don't think I'm a big fan of all of the heroes either. In the past I liked the designs of every single hero that they have done, but now some things just don't feel like they were done right. Surge's armor just doesn't look good to me, and Evo just feels somewhat generic, I can't place why though. I also don't like how large the three main characters are, though I do like their designs. I'm a big fan of Rocka and Breez, and Furno's pretty good I guess. The main reason I like Rocka is because of that sweet ammo chain and helmet though

[Darth Nihilus]

Though I am generally excited for this upcoming wave of figures, I really don't think I'm a big fan of all of the heroes either. In the past I liked the designs of every single hero that they have done, but now some things just don't feel like they were done right. Surge's armor just doesn't look good to me, and Evo just feels somewhat generic, I can't place why though. I also don't like how large the three main characters are, though I do like their designs. I'm a big fan of Rocka and Breez, and Furno's pretty good I guess. The main reason I like Rocka is because of that sweet ammo chain and helmet though

I think that Surge is coming across as the best smaller set in this wave. I like the green armor, as it enhances his color scheme and ties him to his 2.0 version. Evo is generic to me mainly because he has no unique weapon, like the other Heros have. Furno is, in my opinion, the worst Hero in this wave, with Breez close second. I will probably be buying Surge, Evo, Rocka, Toxic Reapa, and Splitface. The rest I might get if they are on sale, but overall I don't especially like them. I must admit, though, having propellers on Furno is pretty sweet. I might get Black Phantom for the staff and the Piraka-like head, but the rest of him isn't that much better than the prelim.

Overall, on this wave, I will pass. It doesn't stand out to me like 2.0 did. It just doesn't have the same aesthetics that the second and third wave did, and it is obviously a ploy to get TLG out of making new molds for the main 3 Heros.

[Aanchir]

Just noticed something about the new launchers (might be late noticing this). Look at Breez's high-res image. Top part is new, but bottom part is just a Thornax launcher piece, right? But here, it doesn't look like that. The lower part of the launcher only seems to have one Technic axle hole and no Technic pin holes. The end that holds the sphere also seems to have different curvature. From the looks of things, it's a brand-new mold designed to fit more snugly around a Hero hand piece and (possibly) to better launch Zamor Spheres. These changes can also be seen in Splitface's high-res image.

[Darth Nihilus]

Has anyone else noticed Splitface's new crotch/loincloth piece? That looks useful!

[SpiderSpaceman]

Has anyone else noticed Splitface's new crotch/loincloth piece? That looks useful!

I think that's just part of that torso

I am impressed at all the printable surface area on there though

Edited October 21, 2011 by SpiderSpaceman

[Front]

Top part is new, but bottom part is just a Thornax launcher piece, right? But here, it doesn't look like that. The lower part of the launcher only seems to have one Technic axle hole and no Technic pin holes. The end that holds the sphere also seems to have different curvature. From the looks of things, it's a brand-new mold designed to fit more snugly around a Hero hand piece and (possibly) to better launch Zamor Spheres. These changes can also be seen in Splitface's high-res image.

Bottom part is a new piece, shorter than original, but don't expect it to be better at shooting

[Aanchir]

Bottom part is a new piece, shorter than original, but don't expect it to be better at shooting

That's a shame, but I guess I'll get over it. The Thornax Launcher is pretty good at shooting on its own; it's just that depending on where you squeeze it it may have more difficulty firing (I have difficulty firing it if I try to squeeze it too far forward or too far back). Perhaps that's just one of those things we have to live with when dealing with a launcher piece so simple and versatile.

EDIT: Also, I just thought of something else. I was building with LDD, trying to make a figure with Fire Lord's 9x11 torso piece, and I thought about how useful it would be if the Glatorian head could be used with the new 2M bone lengthener piece seen in the Super Hero sets and Black Phantom. That could allow for a better-looking neck on a figure with that torso whose neck is not hunched forward. I'm not entirely sure how that would work since Glatorian heads have the old style Y-joint, but the new launcher design makes me hopeful that perhaps the Glatorian head might have a similarly subtle redesign that we just haven't been able to see yet.

Edited October 21, 2011 by Aanchir

[Play With Fire]

...the new launcher design makes me hopeful that perhaps the Glatorian head might have a similarly subtle redesign that we just haven't been able to see yet.

Just don't get your hopes up quite yet, Toxic Reapa still has the old Shadow Matoran feet that have not been remolded.

[Lyichir]

Just don't get your hopes up quite yet, Toxic Reapa still has the old Shadow Matoran feet that have not been remolded.

Don't give up on that yet, either: even finalized renders aren't the be-all and end-all on part changes. For example, the City Harbor sets this year started using a new lifejacket mold, despite the final renders and boxart using the old mold. The chances are slim, but they're there.

[Rocketbilly]

Don't give up on that yet, either: even finalized renders aren't the be-all and end-all on part changes. For example, the City Harbor sets this year started using a new lifejacket mold, despite the final renders and boxart using the old mold. The chances are slim, but they're there.

Also, those change certainly weren't subtle; the new life jacket piece and the old one are very different so there's definitely some hope that they'll include a redesigned piece. I just hope that if they do they do it right from the first shipment of sets instead of having some sets with the updated joints and some with the old type. Didn't that happen this year with Jetbug and the old "y" joints?

[Aanchir]

Also, those change certainly weren't subtle; the new life jacket piece and the old one are very different so there's definitely some hope that they'll include a redesigned piece. I just hope that if they do they do it right from the first shipment of sets instead of having some sets with the updated joints and some with the old type. Didn't that happen this year with Jetbug and the old "y" joints?

Yep. Unfortunately, Lyi and I got the one with the old joints.

Another point that could possibly make new Glatorian heads more probable than new Shadow Matoran feet is just that Glatorian Heads are used in more sets in the upcoming wave. If we don't get a new design next wave, I am still hopeful we'll eventually get one-- that is, if whatever inspired the switch back to old-style helmets continues to be a factor in set design.

[Front]

Just don't get your hopes up quite yet, Toxic Reapa still has the old Shadow Matoran feet that have not been remolded.

My friend Kristian did a redesign of that foot :-)