Hero Factory 2014 Discussion

[Shakar]

I can't believe I forgot about combination models. I guess I was too excited about the Chima Ultrabuilds, heh.

I'm curious to see how a Beast+Machine combo would look like but I somehow doubt they'll make one. A triple super Beast is definitely what I'm looking forward the most, especially since the colours probably click together better this time (there's lime/tr. neon green and azure/tr. light blue on all 3 models).

[Aanchir]

I can't believe I forgot about combination models. I guess I was too excited about the Chima Ultrabuilds, heh.

I'm curious to see how a Beast+Machine combo would look like but I somehow doubt they'll make one. A triple super Beast is definitely what I'm looking forward the most, especially since the colours probably click together better this time (there's lime/tr. neon green and azure/tr. light blue on all 3 models).

Yeah, I'm not expecting a Beast+Machine combi model since so far this year has used largely textless comics to demonstrate potential story roles for the combi models, and a Beast+Machine combi model wouldn't be nearly as conducive to that. Even if you could come up with an explanation for why a beast uses lots of mechanical-looking parts or a machine uses lots of organic-looking parts, it would be hard to express in a short, two-page comic with nothing but pictures and sound effects.

And also, Tunneler Beast has neither Azur or Tr. Light Blue. But of course, the color scheme for the first wave's combi model didn't suffer from the colors being too diverse, since the main color was a neutral black and the others were primarily accents. So a few splashes of red here and there wouldn't be disastrous on a summer beast combi model.

Edited April 27, 2014 by Aanchir

[DraikNova]

I hope we will get at least one combiner model for all of the beasts, as that would allow the Evo Mini-mech to be included to flesh out the Flyer Beast component of the combiner.

I do think a combiner for the summer beasts could look quite nice, if pulled off properly. I do hope it isn't just a larger version of the Queen Beast, even though using Crystal Beast's parts to make larger wings would be an obvious choice.

[Kalhiki]

I'm hoping for some good combi models. A huge Mech and Beast would be fantastic. Yeah, it was kinda done with Wave 1, but it'd be cool to see something better. Maybe even a combi using all the sets...

Maybe I'll get on that when the summer sets are released.

Speaking of which, any predictions on when they'll be out? I'm hoping early/mid June. But that's wishful thinking.

[Takanuinuva]

Since I planned to buy all the Beast sets. I'm going to make a combination of all 6 Beasts. A Hydra Beast if you will.

[Aanchir]

I'm hoping for some good combi models. A huge Mech and Beast would be fantastic. Yeah, it was kinda done with Wave 1, but it'd be cool to see something better. Maybe even a combi using all the sets...

Maybe I'll get on that when the summer sets are released.

Speaking of which, any predictions on when they'll be out? I'm hoping early/mid June. But that's wishful thinking.

New York Toy Fair said August. Usually the sets might start to show up a month to a month and a half before then but won't be available through all the usual channels until within a couple weeks of their official release date.

[Shakar]

I hope the Triple Beast isn't just another hydra.. I'd like to see something more creative done with the heads, something along the lines of good old Beast Wars Megatron.

And definitely not a souped up Queen, please no!

[bacem]

I hope the Triple Beast isn't just another hydra.. I'd like to see something more creative done with the heads, something along the lines of good old Beast Wars Megatron.

And definitely not a souped up Queen, please no!

unfortunately, knowing lego, souped up queen with multiple heads would be more likely than that megatron.

[Kalhiki]

New York Toy Fair said August. Usually the sets might start to show up a month to a month and a half before then but won't be available through all the usual channels until within a couple weeks of their official release date.

Yeah, it always says August, so I don't really count on that. I remember BA Wave 2 showed up pretty early here in the states, but I can't remember when exactly.

[TheDesuComplex]

Yeah, it always says August, so I don't really count on that. I remember BA Wave 2 showed up pretty early here in the states, but I can't remember when exactly.

TRU was selling them about the end of May. I remember because I was able to get an order in before they were taken back down (only to be put up a couple of weeks later).

[Dorek]

TRU usually breaks street dates these days (though they often mark it up from MSRP, soooo...)

[Shakar]

unfortunately, knowing lego, souped up queen with multiple heads would be more likely than that megatron.

Now that I think of it..while I really didn't like the souped up Evo XL Machine, I think it was done with a purpose. The set's build is heavily Technic-based, so:

1)It would've been hard to fluidly combine Technic parts with the pieces of the other, 100% CCBS based sets forming the combo model;

2)The set's build being significantly harder compared to that of the average HF set, kids would've probably been hesitant to dismantle the set just to try out an alternate model. They did the same thing with the Dragon Bolt+Surge combo: the wing section was completely kept intact. I remember never ever building the "Bahrag Spider" because of this mindset- at 10, the Bahrag twins were some of the hardest, most tiresome Lego models I had ever built..no way I wanted to take those monsters apart!

That said, the idea of attaching the Machine arms without a lick of modification was a really lazy one, but it's not that evil. IMO, combos are like those alternate models on the back of the box we all know and love- you're not supposed to follow the idea 100%, they're just there to provide some inspiration.

Anyway, in the end what I wanted to say is that the Queen, unlike XL Machine, is completely CCBS, so hopefully the combination is something more complex.

And also, Tunneler Beast has neither Azur or Tr. Light Blue. But of course, the color scheme for the first wave's combi model didn't suffer from the colors being too diverse, since the main color was a neutral black and the others were primarily accents. So a few splashes of red here and there wouldn't be disastrous on a summer beast combi model.

Yeah I got mixed up on the colours in a (failed) attempt to describe them in a quick way. All 3 use lime and/or tr. neon green accents, while azure and tr. light blue, while not present in TB, still work anyway since they're colours common to the Beast faction as a whole. Red is basically the only oddity but it's one of the main reasons I'm excited for this (possible) model- the designers chose to avoid blue accents for TB (opting for a few green accents instead), so this could be the first time we see red and azure together (a very cool looking duo, IMO).

[Aanchir]

The latest LDD update includes all the new parts for this current wave except the beast heads. But frustratingly, none of the decorations seem to be included (in the very least, they're not available with the decoration tool like the Mixels eyes are), and Stormer's helmet collides with his torso armor due to an error.

[Shakar]

Hooray! I can finally stop using the Fire Villains flames as substitute for the new claw pieces! Shame about the heads, though- those always come in later updates, I guess they're harder to render than the other pieces?

[Leewan]

Stormer's helmet collides with his torso armor due to an error.

Breeze's one too.

[ShadowWolfHount]

Breeze's one too.

Breeze is missing her Chin :/

[Aanchir]

Breeze's one too.

Breez's is an easier fix though. The problem is that the head sits lower on the neck stud than is actually possible with that torso armor. To fix it, just nudge it upward slightly using the offset between parts 4070 and 6541. This is a useful technique for nudging parts by tiny increments, so let me try and explain as clearly as possible:

• [*}Step 1: Place parts 4070 and 6541 back-to-back (separate from your model), so the stud of 4070 is facing away from the Technic brick.
  
• Step 2: Prepare to attach the Technic pin 4274 to the Technic brick so the stud is also attaching to 4070.
  
• Step 3: As you're holding the pin, do you notice that there are not one but two connection points? It will appear to wiggle slightly as you move your cursor. This is because the anti-stud on the headlight brick is slightly lower than the hole in the Technic brick. This is the offset you want to take advantage of.
  
• Step 4: If you want to move a part UPWARD, like Breez's head in this case, place the Technic pin in the LOWER position. It should look slightly off-center in the Technic pin hole.
  
• Step 5: Use the "multiple selection tool" to select both the minifigure head and the Technic pin.
  
• Step 6: Pick up both parts and place the Technic pin in the UPPER position. Now it will be centered with the Technic pin hole.
  
• Step 7: To move the part upward again (not necessary with Breez's helmet), place the pin back in the LOWER position and repeat steps 5 and 6.
  
• Step 8: To move a part DOWNWARD, do the reverse of steps 4–7: start with the pin in the UPPER position and move it to the LOWER position.

Hope that was clear. If it was not, I can create an LXF with all the mini-heroes. Notably, this does not work with Stormer. The collision in that case is much more problematic and probably a bug with the collision volumes of the helmet and armor, not a bug with the head placement.

[Leewan]

Thanks Aanchir ! But you know, I know the trick, I use a similar technique (see pic here) when I need to move precisely a part. I mainly wanted to point tout that unlike Furno, Evo and Rocka's helmets, Breeze's doesn't attach "automatically".

[Aanchir]

Thanks Aanchir ! But you know, I know the trick, I use a similar technique (see pic here) when I need to move precisely a part. I mainly wanted to point tout that unlike Furno, Evo and Rocka's helmets, Breeze's doesn't attach "automatically".

Yep! That's also a good trick (and one that works for Stormer's helmet, though it leaves such a big gap that the head no longer registers as "connected" to the body). With a lot of things that tool works great, but when working with minifigure neck accessories (which frequently have problems like this), I prefer to make more minute adjustments that don't result in such a big gap between the base of the head and the shoulders.

Here's an LXF with all the mini-heroes and jumpers. I will update it if it turns out the Hero Core decoration is available, and if the other heroes' helmets are added in a future update.

[BrickBuilder3213]

Does anyone know where to find the update? I really want to use those new parts in LDD to make some new digital MOCs. :c

[Aanchir]

Does anyone know where to find the update? I really want to use those new parts in LDD to make some new digital MOCs. :c

It should be automatic. However, some people seem to be getting it before others for who knows what reason.

[Zorglorfian]

Any news on when the new sets are coming out? Thanks!

[Kalhiki]

Any news on when the new sets are coming out? Thanks!

So far nothing. But if all the summer Lego sets are coming out at around the same time, we'll be looking at the beginning of June. That's when Ultra Agents and TLM Wave 2 come out.

But I can see them having a later release to keep focus on the two aforementioned themes. Kinda like what they did with Wave 1. Hopefully that's not the case, though.

[Zorglorfian]

So far nothing. But if all the summer Lego sets are coming out at around the same time, we'll be looking at the beginning of June. That's when Ultra Agents and TLM Wave 2 come out.

But I can see them having a later release to keep focus on the two aforementioned themes. Kinda like what they did with Wave 1. Hopefully that's not the case, though.

Thanks! I'm looking to get Benny's Spaceship and most HF wave 2 sets in one go.

[DraikNova]

So, as it seems that the other themes are being released, when do you think the HF sets will be released? I've seen up to a month of delay here in the Netherlands, but usually Germany has new sets before all other countries, and I have time next weekend to go there, so...should I go there and try to get Crystal Beast and the Combat Machine, or does it seem unlikely to you that they will be available?