I think Stringer will look terrible from behind. I guess that's good news because it ensures I won't have to buy twice to have one for show and one for bricks. I'll only need a brick one.

I´ve just realized that with the new connector piece Stormer XL uses for leg armor and Core Hunter uses for back armor (if I remember right), it should be extremely easy to cover the empty backs by using another torso armor piece.

They all manage to look awesome on those pics.

-Gata

Honestly, while I'd have loved it if all this year's heroes had their backs filled in, it shouldn't be that hard to buy a few HF parts on Pick-A-Brick or Bricklink to fill in the back. For some of this year's heroes, a standard 2.0 hero foot like Rocka and Splitface use should do the trick. For others, a 1.0 foot can look even more stylish (even though this won't be available on Pick-A-Brick in most colors). And if you want something more complex, I've found it's extremely easy to make back armor using three pieces (92202, 6553, and 33299).

Honestly, while I'd have loved it if all this year's heroes had their backs filled in, it shouldn't be that hard to buy a few HF parts on Pick-A-Brick or Bricklink to fill in the back. For some of this year's heroes, a standard 2.0 hero foot like Rocka and Splitface use should do the trick. For others, a 1.0 foot can look even more stylish (even though this won't be available on Pick-A-Brick in most colors). And if you want something more complex, I've found it's extremely easy to make back armor using three pieces (92202, 6553, and 33299).

The MTIS back armor is too edgy, though, and its shape doesn´t fit at all with the more curvy one of the main torso armor. I´ve found that simply adding one of the 2011 armor pieces to the back makes the torso much more complete and more bulky.

-Gata

I find that an Inika shoulder pad works extremely well at replicating the new CGI design of the MTIS seen on the backs of the heroes in Breakout.

The MTIS back armor is too edgy, though, and its shape doesn´t fit at all with the more curvy one of the main torso armor. I´ve found that simply adding one of the 2011 armor pieces to the back makes the torso much more complete and more bulky.

-Gata

I dunno, the MTIS looked pretty great on Evo when I tried it out earlier. Also the two spikes it creates on the shoulders seem to continue the motif established with the spikes on the new torso shell's shoulders. I don't swear by the MTIS by any means-- the use of a 1.0 or 2.0 Hero foot like on Rocka or Breez is good enough back armor for me in many cases-- but I was suggesting it as an option for those who want the back covered up more but don't want to make the torso too thick or majorly change its silhouette from the front or back.

A 2.0 torso shell would also be nice if attached by that piece Stormer XL uses, but it makes the back much thicker than an MTIS does.

While I generally use a MTIS for covering up the back if I can, we're going to need to come up with a whole new method for XL heroes like Stormer. Any thoughts?

While I generally use a MTIS for covering up the back if I can, we're going to need to come up with a whole new method for XL heroes like Stormer. Any thoughts?

Stormer already has back armor, in the form of a 2.0 torso shell. I haven't seen him from behind so can't say exactly how much coverage it offers, but it's better than nothing.

I'm liking the idea of using that new piece from Stormer's lower legs to attach a 2.0 torso shell. But for now, I'm happy with using feet as back armour- I gave them to Surge, Evo and Furno, and I plan to do the same with Stringer and Nex.

I don't know what Bulk's going to use, but I don't care since I've already built a revamp of his shoulder mounted weapon attachment (and therefore of his back armour).

I dunno, the MTIS looked pretty great on Evo when I tried it out earlier. Also the two spikes it creates on the shoulders seem to continue the motif established with the spikes on the new torso shell's shoulders. I don't swear by the MTIS by any means-- the use of a 1.0 or 2.0 Hero foot like on Rocka or Breez is good enough back armor for me in many cases-- but I was suggesting it as an option for those who want the back covered up more but don't want to make the torso too thick or majorly change its silhouette from the front or back.

A 2.0 torso shell would also be nice if attached by that piece Stormer XL uses, but it makes the back much thicker than an MTIS does.

I´ve built a MOC attaching 2.0 torso armor on the back using system rods and the bulk looks very good. It makes the Heroes more massive and resemble those from the TV series more, which, ironically, use 2.0 torso armor under the MTIS piece on their back.

-Gata

You seem to be a total sucker for a lot of things. Have you considered the possibility that you might be a total sucker in general?

Given my skills in Soul Calibur V, you might be right with that assumption.

But yeah, give me all kinds of parts in white, blue and azure and I'm a very happy AFOL.

As for the current discussion, I'm not too fond of using 2.0 feet to cover up the backs of my heroes simply because the empty ball cup bothers me. I would rather go the extra mile and add some sort of backpack, maybe even out of more pieces.

But Aanchir's idea sounds also interesting. However, I don't recall to posess the 33299, so I have to ask how the pieces are attached? Do you connect the shield with the 6553 and insert that into the center axle hole of 33299?

Edited May 17, 201212 yr by ZORK64

Some option for more coverage would be useful, perhaps using three of those peices from Stormer's legs to mirror his front?

I´ve built a MOC attaching 2.0 torso armor on the back using system rods and the bulk looks very good. It makes the Heroes more massive and resemble those from the TV series more, which, ironically, use 2.0 torso armor under the MTIS piece on their back.

-Gata

Well, in the TV show they don't have an additional 2.0 torso on their back, it's just the one on their front wraps around, so it's as though they have one attached to their center ball joint from the front and the back at the same time. In real life this is not possible, and IMO adding one to the back using Stormer's new thingy makes them too massive. since it adds another module of thickness. Might work for some Heroes but it certainly wouldn't be my go-to standard for back armor.

In the Breakout episode their torso armor is the Breakout torso shell wrapped around, again as though they have one attached to the front and back of the torso beam's center ball joint. They all have either a MTIS or some other part that obscures this, but it's quite visible on Speeda Demon in some scenes (even though he doesn't use the Breakout torso at all in his set).

Given my skills in Soul Calibur V, you might be right with that assumption.

But yeah, give me all kinds of parts in white, blue and azure and I'm a very happy AFOL.

As for the current discussion, I'm not too fond of using 2.0 feet to cover up the backs of my heroes simply because the empty ball cup bothers me. I would rather go the extra mile and add some sort of backpack, maybe even out of more pieces.

But Aanchir's idea sounds also interesting. However, I don't recall to posess the 33299, so I have to ask how the pieces are attached? Do you connect the shield with the 6553 and insert that into the center axle hole of 33299?

Stick the 33299 on the front of the torso beam, with the pin attached right above the center ball joint. Then stick the 6553 into the back of the torso beam, in the hole immediately above the one used for the pin. Finally attach the MTIS to the hole in the 6553. This leaves a small gap between the torso beam and the MTIS, but it looks better than no back armor at all.

Here's some pics on LDD of my concept (above) and Gata's (below). They're both good-looking solutions, but Gata's is much bulkier.

I generally prefer using the MTIS for mocs, since it gives them a more... authentically bulky feel.

My version looks silly on that pic. On my MOC I filled the gaps using technic beams and two size 3 cladding pieces on the top ball joints. I guess I should post pics of my MOC before I dismantle it. The MTIS piece does indeed flow well with the torso armor, especially when seen from the front.

-Gata

When I added a MTIS to Breakout Evo's back, I just used this piece. Didn't think to try it that way (not that I had the necessary parts with me at the time, but still). I filled in the gap underneath with one of those fire villain armor decorations ("villain cores", even though that's wrong).

Fills him in right down to the hips at a nice tapering angle.

Edited May 17, 201212 yr by Bfahome

Since back armour seems to be the hot topic now, might as well post my idea I used on my Stormer 2.0.

http://www.majhost.com/gallery/shadow/Randomness/1.jpg

http://www.majhost.com/gallery/shadow/Randomness/2.jpg

http://www.majhost.com/gallery/shadow/Randomness/3.jpg

I apologize for the pictures, don't have time to rotate them right now. And I also apologize for the trauma the sight of my fingers might cause.

Edited May 17, 201212 yr by Shakar

I always just use two pins to connect the MTIS. It works very well and there aren't any gaps .

I always use Bfahome's way of connecting an MTIS to a hero's back. It's quick and simple.

I always just use two pins to connect the MTIS. It works very well and there aren't any gaps .

Yeah, same with me. It may not be the best solution, but I prefer it greatly to 1.0 or 2.0 feet or a second torso shell.

I dislike the "two pins" solution because it makes the MTIS stick up much higher than other solutions. It would work OK for some Heroes who you want to look bulky, but for female heroes like Breez or nimble-looking heroes like Surge, it doesn't really work IMO.

Speaking of backs, here's my method of covering their backs:

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/vakama18/herofactory/2.jpg

Someone of BZPower (I think it was Gatanui) came up with the idea first, I decided to use it on my heroes.

I'm talking about the two length pin, plus, if you meant the "other" height, I've tried, it (the MTIS) doesn't look well anywhere else.

Speaking of backs, here's my method of covering their backs:

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/vakama18/herofactory/2.jpg

Someone of BZPower (I think it was Gatanui) came up with the idea first, I decided to use it on my heroes.

I think that was indeed me, unless someone else came up with it, too.

-Gata

Edited May 18, 201212 yr by Gatanui

Furno has what I'd call a "standard" back for me(Breez uses it too.), but I try to avoid a one-size fits all approach, as you can tell with Surge.

You guys really ought to use those shoulder balljoints when you can, they're pretty useful!

Stick the 33299 on the front of the torso beam, with the pin attached right above the center ball joint. Then stick the 6553 into the back of the torso beam, in the hole immediately above the one used for the pin. Finally attach the MTIS to the hole in the 6553. This leaves a small gap between the torso beam and the MTIS, but it looks better than no back armor at all.

Ah, I see. Yeah, that's a really neat idea. If I had that piece, I'd try it out.

Speaking of backs, here's my method of covering their backs:

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/vakama18/herofactory/2.jpg

Someone of BZPower (I think it was Gatanui) came up with the idea first, I decided to use it on my heroes.

That idea is pretty cool. I have tons of those Metru pieces around and while I already used them in various ways, I hadn't that idea yet. I would might object that they don't cover the lower part, but it should be easy to add another piece for that issue on the Metru chest one.

Edited May 18, 201212 yr by ZORK64

I've split this sub-topic from the 2012 set discussion topic to give it the breathing space that it deserves.