Hero Factory 2013

[CabooseBM]

I dunno, black 3M shells are rare enough and useful enough that I'm plenty grateful. Recolors are great but sometimes you have to ask yourself whether a part in a newer, rarer color is really better than a part that's more compatible with what you've already got.

On one hand, I have plenty of black 3M shells and I don't really need more, so I'd like these Tr. Brown 3M shells more, on the other hand, I still have not found a use for Waspix's big tr. yellow shells.

Edited August 24, 2013 by CabooseBM

[Meiko]

Haha, maybe you're right. It just disorients me a bit when I can't tell immediately what naming system someone's using. It's worst when multiple naming systems are being used, since some color names like "Brown", "Aqua", and "Dark Green" refer to different colors depending on whether you're using TLG's terms or Bricklink's.

You would like Wikipedia or Brickipedia, they both have well-written Manuals of Style that make sure things were just as you wanted in one system.

[Dorek]

Haha, so the US site extended the black brain promotion AGAIN until the end of September, officially. Basically they're just going to go until they run out of stock.

[Bfahome]

If that's the case, I might as well throw in Frost Beast too when I end up ordering Canaletto.

[Leewan]

Since my neighbour got Evo, Aquagon, Surge and Frost Beast recently, I could see them in person. Surge is quite disappointing. His legs are too long, and he is too thin, IMO. But he's a good parts pack, so he's not totally bad. Evo and Aquagon are good, and Aquagon's brain is lovely. I built an alternate combo (a shark-like MOC), I'll take photos soon. Frost Beast is not as good as expected. He's still good, but I was expecting better. He looks a bit cartoonish. But I love his "face". I'll probably get Aquagon, FB, and maybe Dragon Bolt.

[Aanchir]

Welp, LDD updated again this morning with a number of new Hero Factory parts. I listed what I was able to find here.

[SmoothJazz]

Walmart has already started discounting the wave 1 BA sets, it seems. I got Furno XL yesterday for $13. Small sets were $7.

[ZORK64]

The Wave 1 Brain Attack sets are already hard to find here in Germany. Apparently, most retailers learned not to overstock these guys.

[Dorek]

Finally got my hands on Mirror World. Good book; shame there won't be any more.

Should hopefully get the rest in sometime soon, and the guide book as well.

[bacem]

there's still plenty of wave 1 here. probably due to the fact that they came out pretty late here.

[Legofan225]

Hello !!

What do you think of 44008 Surge ?

[bacem]

Hello !!

What do you think of 44008 Surge ?

he's cool, i guess? but i still prefer Dragon Bolt, or if you want heroes, Stormer is a better choice. but that's only my opinion.

[Legofan225]

Well l have both Stormer and Surge and well l known stormer has a neat sword but l just don't get is why at Brain Attack episode he has a cyan sword whyle his original weapon is grey ? (at the set l mean) and today l bought the 44008 Surge and l'm quit impresed of his Jet Pack and his weapon and in my opinion those blades look realy cool and also he has a great potential for MOC making and also l cud get Dragon Bolt next time but l need to save some money first so l cud buy that set and also l maiby planing to get Evo on Christmas if he would be still available of course and l wonted ask about Surge is because l wonted to see how everyone else thinks and one last question what do you guys think of Bruizer ?

First l thought of buying him but l bought Surge becoz bruizer was not available

Edited September 3, 2013 by Legofan225

[Aanchir]

Surge is a pretty OK set, but I can name a lot more flaws for it than with most of the other Brain Attack sets. His spinning lightning weapon doesn't work quite as well as the one in Pyrox (the back end that you spin with your fingers is shorter and harder to reach) and doesn't really match the melee weapons of the other Heroes this year, but it looks very cool. He DOES maintain the pattern of each Hero set having a shield on their left, though — he uses Stormer XL's scout drone piece for the task, which is consistent with his aircraft motifs.

His helmet and visor both look nice but they don't fit together as well as some others (the eyes of his helmet extend far past the edges of his visor, and the print looks slightly out-of-alignment in the front). His armor is great-looking but you might be disappointed by how few bright blue pieces he has (just his helmet, two shells on his legs, his hands, and the locking clamps, though the locking clamp elements are new in that color).

The wings are sturdy, well-constructed, and quite stylish, though some people might be bothered by the fact that the top surface of one wing is the bottom surface of the other, so they're not quite symmetrical and would not be aerodynamic in real life. As a result of the wing pack, he DOES have back armor. It would be a lot closer to his body if it used this piece instead of this one, though, and it's an easy fix since a lot of people own either the first piece or the older version.

Like Stormer, he has good proportions, and is a lot less gangly-looking than some of the 2012 heroes at the $12.99 price point. Overall, I think Stormer is probably a better buy than Surge at that price point, but I personally chose to pick up both.

Now Bruizer is a totally different story. Bruizer is AMAZING. His rock-armor pieces, his brain, and his face are very specialized, unlike the smoother textures and mechanical motifs you get in the hero sets. But he's still a very good parts pack (lots of useful parts in useful colors like Titanium Metallic and Tr. Fluore. Reddish-Orange), and an excellent model when constructed. His asymmetrical design has a lot of charm and looks remarkably cohesive. The printed shell in this set is also quite nice.

His swinging arm function seems to divide a lot of people because it means his right arm has no articulation in its elbow and very little in its shoulder. But I think it's a very fair trade. If the arm were articulated, you'd have to reset it to its default position every time you used it to bash another figure on the head. The fact that it stays rigid means you can keep pounding and pounding and pounding without it bending out of shape. Other than Dragon Bolt's flapping wings, it's probably my favorite action feature in this year's Hero Factory sets, and certainly the most fun action feature in any figure that size.

Bruizer's one big flaw, other than some of his parts being pretty specialized, is that he lacks back armor. But again, I feel like the mechanism makes up for it, and the brain's spine adds detail to the back to keep it from looking too plain. Bruizer, Ogrum, and Dragon Bolt are definitely the villain sets this year I'd most recommend.

[Legofan225]

Thank's Aanchir for clearing things out for me and now l understand of Bruizer and Surge well the next set that l'm gana buy next time would probably be Evo from Brain Attack or l will get him on Christmas but still l wonder why the makers of HF left an exposed Technic part on his swinging arm ?

Edited September 3, 2013 by Legofan225

[Dorek]

I'm less of a fan of Bruizer because the rock swinging arm, while a neat function, is horribly limiting in both play and pose, unlike the other functions of the year, Dragon Bolt and Jet Rocka's wings.

I was pleasantly surprised with Surge; the wings definitely set off the whole appearance, and his color scheme, while seemingly chaotic, actually comes together quite nicely. His weapon is still a little bit ridiculous, as it was on Pyrox, but it fits his aesthetic, and the recolored lightning/flame bits are nothing to sneeze at. Overall, I would definitely recommend Surge over Bruizer, whether for playing or for posing. I've heard good things about Stormer too, but I couldn't tell you personally.

Evo, somewhat per usual, is the sleeper hit of the wave; completely unassuming, but with a simple, extraordinarily effective design, and a very cool weapon. I can heartily recommend him for purchase.

[Legofan225]

Thank's Dorek and l already thought of buying Evo next time and thank's for the advice and hey guys !! would it be neat if l would make a combination model by using Surge and Stormer ??

[bacem]

Thank's Dorek and l already thought of buying Evo next time and thank's for the advice and hey guys !! would it be neat if l would make a combination model by using Surge and Stormer ??

go ahead, do it. it would be interesting to see how it will turn out.

[Legofan225]

Thank's bacem

[dviddy]

I have five of the new Surge. That's how I feel about him.

Or rather, how I feel about those glorious exo-force robot arms in blue.

[SmoothJazz]

I have five of the new Surge. That's how I feel about him.

Or rather, how I feel about those glorious exo-force robot arms in blue.

Wouldn't Bricklink make more sense?

[bacem]

Wouldn't Bricklink make more sense?

there are also the kind of people who choose surge army over bricklink.

Edited September 4, 2013 by bacem

[dviddy]

Wouldn't Bricklink make more sense?

Sure, if they had any for sale on there. Which they don't. Bricklink has not been good for Hero Factory bulk parts, unless you want the red shells that came in that little Ninjago mech.

[ZORK64]

You also get all the other neat parts from Surge multiple times that way, like the thunder piece.

[Dorek]

No new HF content in the latest LEGO mag (booo) but there was this cool thing advertising a combo model with Furno XL and CHI Laval, because... well... I'm not really sure yet.