Hero Factory 2013

[Devorath]

I utterly disagree here, but mostly because I wasn't all too fond of the Metru Nui sets. The Toa Metru had rather crappy arms (similiar to the Rahkshi), the Vahki used the same build (even though it was cool) and the titans weren't mine thing either (except for Toa Lhikan and his epic mount, too bad I passed on it).

Nothing compared to BIONICLE's fourth year? You do this year's Hero Factory sets an injustice. Naturally the Toa Metru were quite nice designs, even if they were cloned in every attribute but masks, weapons, colors, and height. Their proportions were generally very good and they had the best articulation of any canister sets to date. But 2004 was also the year of the Vahki, which were identical except for their colors and huge, overspecialized weapons. It was the year of the Metru Nui Matoran, which had baffling posture and proportions (the way their arms stuck out to their sides was extremely awkward). And it was a year of mind-numbingly repetitive color schemes. Sure, it did introduce some nice titan sets and was the first year to implement the friction joint, a great improvement over the click hinges of the 2002 and 2003 titan sets. But overall I think this year's Hero Factory sets manage to outshine 2004 BIONICLE in a lot of respects just in terms of not being clone sets and not having many huge and extremely specialized weapon elements.

I only used the 2004 sets as a comparison because this year is HF's fourth year. The Metru sets were by no means the best Bionicle year however. I liked the Vahki.

[Aanchir]

I dunno Surge's set uses 66 pieces. I've done a moc up of surge's set. If the first pic is correct then Surge's set is missing 3 pieces. The lower way I've tried uses the exact amount of pieces. Here is the lxf file http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/takanuinuva/herofactory/brain_attack_surge_builds.lxf

Just getting back to this discussion, I've come to the conclusion that the two pics of Surge are in fact built the same, and the implication that they are different is a result of an optical illusion brought about by the angle of the body in the first pic. I have built an LDD model of Surge here and posed it so that it appears similar to the out-of-package photo (naturally, it is not quite the same due to the need for replacement parts-- Bulk's helmet and Surge's old helmet both have the jaw come down much farther than the new helmet appears to). From this angle it gives the same impression of the shield piece being connected directly to the pin holes in the back-- however, it is in fact separated by one module in height and one module in depth. And it comes to exactly 66 pieces. I am quite confident that this is at least a very close approximation of how Surge is built in both cache.LEGO.com pictures as well as the photos BZPower took at Toy Fair.

[Takanuinuva]

Just getting back to this discussion, I've come to the conclusion that the two pics of Surge are in fact built the same, and the implication that they are different is a result of an optical illusion brought about by the angle of the body in the first pic. I have built an LDD model of Surge here and posed it so that it appears similar to the out-of-package photo (naturally, it is not quite the same due to the need for replacement parts-- Bulk's helmet and Surge's old helmet both have the jaw come down much farther than the new helmet appears to). From this angle it gives the same impression of the shield piece being connected directly to the pin holes in the back-- however, it is in fact separated by one module in height and one module in depth. And it comes to exactly 66 pieces. I am quite confident that this is at least a very close approximation of how Surge is built in both cache.LEGO.com pictures as well as the photos BZPower took at Toy Fair.

I doubt it. Stormer's pics clearly show the his shield stick out. Surge's shield looks right up against his back. I guess we'll have to wait for a review of Surge to be certain

[Aanchir]

I doubt it. Stormer's pics clearly show the his shield stick out. Surge's shield looks right up against his back. I guess we'll have to wait for a review of Surge to be certain

As I said, it only looks flat against his back due to the optical illusion created by the angle of his torso. The part between his torso and his back doesn't show up because it is one module lower than Stormer's shield. If you look at the LXF file I did my best to get it into almost the exact same pose as the out-of-package picture, and unless you rotate the view it is impossible to tell there is another piece in between the torso beam and the shield piece.

You can also tell that the shield piece cannot possibly be connected directly to the back in that pic because if it were you'd see the tops of the pin holes on the shield piece. Instead, they are hidden behind the torso beam, because they are lower and further back than the shield piece would appear.

A torso built like in my LXF file is to the left; a torso built with the back armor plugged directly into the back of the torso beam is to the right. The one on the left closer resembles this image in terms of how much of the shield is showing.

Edited May 2, 2013 by Aanchir

[DraikNova]

I still think it looks flat. In all the pictures. Anyway, is there a set (apart from Chi Laval) that has 5-length tr. blue shells?

Edited May 2, 2013 by DraikNova

[Aanchir]

I still think it looks flat. In all the pictures. Anyway, is there a set (apart from Chi Laval) that has 5-length tr. blue shells?

None that has been revealed, no. Aquagon, Surge, and Eris all use 3M shells, and Surge, Evo, and Stormer use 3M and 4M shells in Tr. Light Blue. Maybe if we're lucky we might see some of those rarer parts added to Pick-A-Brick, but I wouldn't count on that happening anytime soon.

[Shakar]

None that has been revealed, no. Aquagon, Surge, and Eris all use 3M shells, and Surge, Evo, and Stormer use 3M and 4M shells in Tr. Light Blue. Maybe if we're lucky we might see some of those rarer parts added to Pick-A-Brick, but I wouldn't count on that happening anytime soon.

I think you should replace Surge with Frost Beast in the second list. And it's kind of noteworthy that he's only set with tr. light blue 3M shells.

Lego went all out with transparent shells this year, though I'm disappointed we didn't get a new size for tr. yellow (8M shells are hard to MOC with! No wonder they stopped using them in sets). I wonder if we'll get more tr. colours in 2014, yellow, red and purple are my prime choices.

[Cirkit]

I wouldn't mind seeing some nice, new trans-yellow cladding in the series some time soon. The trans-lime green is nice, but I would have preferred true trans-yellow when we got Surge. Ah well.

Red and Purple both sound like nice suggestions. I can see true Trans-red working out nicely for a villain, or perhaps another fire- themed villain. Purple can go either way, good or bad, and as much as I'd love to see it in an Evo set, I think it would most likely be featured in a villain set as well.

So is that 5 or 6 trans colors we have as HF parts so far? Lime, Red-Orange, Yellow, that Appley-Green like in Breez and Ogrum, Light Blue...and the blue in Laval. Six. Not bad! Though perhaps more sizes of parts in some of these colors would prove beneficial for MOC-making..

I wonder how difficult it would be to make translucent bones? It would be rather interesting to see some trans-lime bones with black armor on a toxic villain.. wouldn't it?

[TheDesuComplex]

I wonder how difficult it would be to make translucent bones? It would be rather interesting to see some trans-lime bones with black armor on a toxic villain.. wouldn't it?

I believe that translucent parts are made with a different sort of plastic- one that wouldn't be the best to make joints out of. It'd certainly be cool to see them made sometime- perhaps with the joints cast of the regular ABS.

[DraikNova]

The translucent plastic apparently has a lot of friction. Actually that could be an interesting part, tr. friction joints.

[Shakar]

IIRC Front mentioned in a topic that, since transparent pieces use the same plastic as solid ones, transparent bones would be very much possible.

[Kalhiki]

Trans bones would be great to get some underlying color. A fire-based villain would be great with orange bones and black armor. And as Cirkit said, a toxic villain would also be cool.

Kalhiki

[Nike2032]

Well, reviews aren't far away from now:

Oh, my bad one's already up of Frost Beast for those interested:

Edited May 10, 2013 by Nike2032

[Jetrax99]

I absolutely hate how people are labeling these "5.0".

Edited May 10, 2013 by Jetrax99

[Cirkit]

I absolutely hat how people are labeling these "5.0".

I absolutely hat how they are doing that too..

The way I see it, the Heroes have been through 2 different build styles- the way the original sets were, and the 'Upgrade', and anything that isn't officially labeled as a x.0 beyond that shouldn't be called that.

Now, where did I put my top hate?

(Kidding!)

Edited May 10, 2013 by Cirkit

[xxlrocka]

Surge + Dragon Bolt = Surge with epic sword and wings with jetpack.

...

Hello, I'd like to exchange my OMGs for this awesomeness please!

[Takanuinuva]

Nice that these are out. But most likely just in America. Can't wait for Lego Jang to review them.

[DraikNova]

I'm getting jealous already. Although, Surge-Bolt combiner?

[ToaJaller78]

Whelp.....There out. That's awesome. Too bad Evo/Aquagon are'nt out yet. Still, I cannot BELIVE they came in May. Thats pretty Frakkin' early. I thought July But NOOOOO. This. Is. Awesome.

[Dorek]

Usually we see end of May, but it's happened before.

Excited regardless. Jet Rocka and Dragon Bolt are still my must buys, but Surge is growing on me.

[Kalhiki]

Excited! Maybe make a trip this weekend and see if they're at TRU.

I'll probably get Stormer if anyone. He's been growing on me.

Kalhiki

[bacem]

so, Surge + Bolt =Dragon Knight, i think? thats cool. i would want too see a clearer picture of it, tough. when someone here make a pictorial review, please don't forget to scan a picture of it.

[ToaJaller78]

Usually we see end of May, but it's happened before.

Excited regardless. Jet Rocka and Dragon Bolt are still my must buys, but Surge is growing on me.

Yeah it happened......IN 2004! Still, Rocka is an attention HOG. I still like him.

[Zachattacx]

After seeing a review for Surge,the combiner is basically a Surge XL with dragon wings,shield,and crossbow.

Still very awesome that these got released early.

DB and all the others are total buys from me....well maybe Jet Rocka..

[Takanuinuva]

After seeing the review of Brain Attack Surge. I have to say that you were right Aanchir. Surge's back was built like you said it was. That is disappointing to me. But its nothing a little revamping can fix once I get the set.