Hero Factory 2014 Discussion

[DraikNova]

I really like Surge's machine for some reason, maybe because it's just so atypical from the other mechs (which is, of course, why I'm sure a lot of people dislike it as well). I love that it's called a "combat" machine, because it seems like the furthest mech from actually having any combat capabilities.

Retreat is a form of combat, isn't it? And from the looks of it, that's the one it's optimized for.

[Shakar]

Crystal Beast also keeps growing on me, even though its hands look kinda wonky.

Yeah, I agree with this. I'm surprised no one mentioned the Summer Beast's hands before you TBH. While I appreciate the effort, those hands still feel very odd to me.

I tried making a pair for Flyer Beast, overall size is ok but the pieces used are too bulky, and three fingers just look incomplete for a full sized figure.

I think it's clear by now that we need a specific hand piece with clips for fingers to attach. Just like the Shadow Matoran feet which are smaller versions of the Piraka feet, and this year's Beasts' feet which come in two sizes: they should make smaller, simplified versions of the Savage Planet paws, either as full pieces with an axle in the middle for the hand to hold things, or as add-ons for the existing ball sockets (something that wraps around the socket, leaving the middle axle hole free).

Hands on constraction figures has always been a touchy (sorry) subject, I guess. I came up with a four fingered design myself, which looks decent I guess but is flimsy. The only solution is Lego coming up with a specific, one piece, sturdy and functional design. Now that we have the perfect finger piece (the EF robot arms),I think the time for real hands has come.

[DraikNova]

The "hands on" pun was really bad. But amusing. The idea of a more "Beast feet"-like hand design (possibly using two variations, one with thumb, one without for more bestial characters?) is an appealing one.

[3rdeye88]

I haven't read anyone else's posts, so I apologize if I'm asking a question that's pretty much already been answered, but is anyone else like really disappointed with this year's Hero Factory sets(whether you have them already or not)? I'm American so we don't even have wave one yet. So far I think I only want one or two, maybe Evo's XL machine if I can afford it, and Wave 2 maybe the same two or three sets from that, and the rest is a total wash for me. I'm far more interested in LoC's Legend Beasts and Ultrabuilds and Mixles this year than HF. Anyone else feel the same?

Invasion From Below Polybag! http://toabanshee.tu...age/76053207141

The little Breez polybag is adorkable. Yes. I said adorkable.

As others have said I like that it's not just accessories, but in fact an actual build. It's a cute little thing, though I do wish it had some kind of cockpit, or maybe give the arms/legs a little length and cladding. Still, it isn't bad for a build this size. Shame it couldn't be a recolor of a character to resemble another. Nex, Stringer, hell, recolor Bulk and do a Thresher figure. Make that blue guy we only ever saw once in the cockpit of that Drop Ship set. Anything.

Actually, thinking about it, the Drop Ship set could be re-released in the new minifig-scale. Wouldn't be that hard to imagine, actually... How cool would that be? :-D

@Brickbuilder3213 NICE thanks for sharing. I'm so getting one.

@cirkit Agreed, adorkable! I want one, or two, or five(like I got of the black brain) and hold onto for future financial opporunities (is there an evil laugh emote?). How sad is it that I like the polybag more than a lot of the actual sets? XD

[WARHEAD]

Tastes differ. I friggin' love nearly every set from this year's lineup and feel that the whole minifig hero concept is brilliant. The next wave seems to be even better than the winter one. Mechs always interested me more than sentient machines though, so that might have something to do with it.

The Chima figures on the other hand I'm pretty indifferent towards, although I'll admit, some of them come with pretty sweet recolors. (dark tan shells <3)

Mixels are a whole different thing. A thing I am getting every single set of. Ever.

[DraikNova]

I prefer the HF sets over both Mixels (although they could make good parts packs if I used System more often) and Chima. There are more creative designs, relying more on the ball joint system, which together means more of the stuff you need to build big stuff. And I like the general daikaiju genre, so the theme has an advantage there anyway. Mostly, I think that these builds, ironically enough, look a lot more natural than the slightly skeletal Chima figures, especially the avian ones, though I do appreciate the large amount of recolors present in Chima, especially the large amount of tr. light blue bones.

[Dorek]

I haven't read anyone else's posts, so I apologize if I'm asking a question that's pretty much already been answered, but is anyone else like really disappointed with this year's Hero Factory sets(whether you have them already or not)? I'm American so we don't even have wave one yet. So far I think I only want one or two, maybe Evo's XL machine if I can afford it, and Wave 2 maybe the same two or three sets from that, and the rest is a total wash for me. I'm far more interested in LoC's Legend Beasts and Ultrabuilds and Mixles this year than HF. Anyone else feel the same?

I like the idea that they can just do such a drastic shift in styles without any warning, and I'm interested to see what else they can and will come up with. I'm not as enthused by some of the mechs from the first wave (which are either disappointingly humanoid or Evo Walker), but I think all of the beasts are fantastic, and, somewhat typically, the summer sets are where we really start to see the system flex its muscles and show us what its capable of.

As disappointing as it is that the sets were delayed in NA, it's nice to have a lot of this information officially available to plan some purchases.

I'm definitely interested in the LOC ultrabuilds too, but they have their own ups and downs, just like this wave.

[Takanuinuva]

I actually came up with a pretty good hand design that uses Exo force robot arms in a realistic hand design. I made 2 designs that are almost the same save a one piece difference. Here are pics and and LXF file of the hand designs.

http://www.brickshel...sign_idea_1.png

http://www.brickshel...sign_idea_2.png

http://www.brickshel...sign_idea_3.png

http://www.brickshel...design_idea.lxf

[DraikNova]

That design has two faults: one, it just looks out of place with the sleeker aesthetics of HF pieces, two,it would make it extremely hard for the character using the design to hold things. It is probably the best one can do to make a smaller hand at the moment, though, and as a solution it's quite creative.

Edited February 12, 2014 by DraikNova

[Takanuinuva]

That design has two faults: one, it just looks out of place with the sleeker aesthetics of HF pieces, two,it would make it extremely hard for the character using the design to hold things. It is probably the best one can do to make a smaller hand at the moment, though, and as a solution it's quite creative.

Actually the way the hand is designed makes it easy to attach weapons to it.

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/takanuinuva/mc/HandDesign/hand_design_idea_4.png

And the hand I use looks good with larger Hero Factory sets like my revamps of Von Nebula, Fire Lord and Witch Doctor

Edited February 12, 2014 by Takanuinuva

[ZORK64]

Speaking of five-fingered hands, I have to mention my Self-MOC here:

Of course, his hands are extremely beefy and bulky, but that was my original intention anyway.

[EVO97]

Has anyone found the new Winter/Spring sets yet in the US? I heard that they were found in LEGO Stores, but there are none in my area. Have there been any sightings at Walmart or Target?

[WARHEAD]

Might as well post some of my designs. Don't really have any closeups but you can see my most successful attempt at making an articulated hand here, here and here. Weapons and stuff can either be held in by the fingers themselves or attached securely by a stud to the inside of the palm. Hope you can make out some of the construction, I'm quite fond of the design myself.

[Kalhiki]

I don't see why they just don't use the Hydraxon hand design. Maybe different fingers, but that general design. Though I guess the problem with that is there's no way to attach a weapon.

[Aanchir]

I don't see why they just don't use the Hydraxon hand design. Maybe different fingers, but that general design. Though I guess the problem with that is there's no way to attach a weapon.

It's also not especially sturdy — unlike the similar connector used for Queen Beast, Tunneler Beast, and Rocka Stealth Machine, the pneumatic "T" connector doesn't have as much friction with the Y-joint and can pivot freely. I've never been too fond of Hydraxon's hand design — while it does give a certain range of articulation, it's not especially realistic in its proportions and doesn't look very natural in certain poses.

[DOTM Shockwave]

Personally, I think Hydraxon's hand setup works better when it's just two fingers and a thumb.

[dviddy]

Personally, I think Hydraxon's hand setup works better when it's just two fingers and a thumb.

Agreed, though the MOCing community came up with that design well before it came out on Hydraxon.

I've always liked that design (as the basic pioneer of it in the community), but I've come up with a pretty compact and well-proportioned four-fingered hand I'm excited to mix in with the new mixels joints when available.

The new HF sets are available in US LEGO stores for sure, I picked several up the other day here in Oregon. I really dig the minifig designs a lot!

Edited February 13, 2014 by Darth Vader

[PenPlays]

Has anyone found the new Winter/Spring sets yet in the US? I heard that they were found in LEGO Stores, but there are none in my area. Have there been any sightings at Walmart or Target?

They are supposed to be available within the next two weeks at Lego stores. Wal-mart is most likely the place you will find them early (besides Toys R Us, of course) as they occasionally ignore street dates. Not to mention that there have been reports of sightings of the new Star Wars and Chima waves at Wal-mart in some parts of the US.

Anyway, welcome to Eurobricks! Why don't you introduce yourself in the respective forum.

[WARHEAD]

Advance posted a fascinating behind the scenes video for the Invasion from Below mini movie. You can see detailed pics of the new sets in it too.

[bacem]

Advance posted a fascinating behind the scenes video for the Invasion from Below mini movie. You can see detailed pics of the new sets in it too.

thanks warhead! and to make viewing easier, i screencaptured all the summer sets. here it is:

44023 rocka crawler

44024 tunneler beast vs surge

44025 bulk drill machine

44026 crystal beast vs bulk

44027 breez flea machine

44028 surge & rocka combat machine

44029 queen beast vs furno, evo & stormer

if we see at queen beast's back, it seems that the new chima ultrabuild armor aren't exclusive for chima ultrabuild.

[Kalhiki]

The new HF sets are available in US LEGO stores for sure, I picked several up the other day here in Oregon. I really dig the minifig designs a lot!

That's good to hear. Don't know when I'll be able to go to my local Lego store, but hopefully I'll find them in other stores what with other new sets coming out anyway.

[Leewan]

if we see at queen beast's back, it seems that the new chima ultrabuild armor aren't exclusive for chima ultrabuild.

You've got a good eye !

I didn't really like this armor on Chima UB, but on the Queen it looks better.

[bacem]

after taking a closer look, it feels like rocka crawler is dancing...

[exxtrooper]

I see those Star Wars blasters are starting to show up everywhere.

The surge machine looks so dank.

Totally getting crystal beast as well.

Edited February 13, 2014 by exxtrooper

[BrickBuilder3213]

My anticipation for these sets has just gotten bigger. ;w; They're all beautiful!

Also, Rocka Crawler Machine uses the Stealth Machine's print on a gold piece. Interesting...