Gathered friends,
Despite BIONICLE having been gone for over a decade, the theme has proven timeless enough that new fans continue to join the community in large numbers. While this is undoubtedly a positive phenomenon, it unfortunately also translates into increased demand for used parts and sets. This is especially problematic because people who did not grow up during the years when BIONICLE sets were still available on store shelves tend to have less experience with MOC building and rely heavily on official building solutions instead of moving beyond G1 parts through more extensive custom builds.
This issue inspired me to attempt designing a torso frame for a hypothetical “BIONICLE G3” build based entirely on Technic elements that are still in production (better- that are available on Pick a Brick site). The goal was to provide good articulation, multiple customization options, and an integrated variation of the classic arm swinging function.
Unfortunately, LEGO has made life considerably more difficult for BIONICLE fans by discontinuing nearly all of the parts essential for building Toa. While constructing Titans or Rahi from currently produced elements is not particularly difficult—since the only major thing missing are Kanohi masks—the Toa and Matoran scales begin to reveal glaring shortcomings in the modern parts library. Custom torsos and limbs require a substantial number of pieces to remain sturdy, which in turn forces builders into larger scales, higher complexity, greater weight, and often results in models that are far bulkier than intended.
However, I believe I have managed to reach a reasonable compromise by making effective use of the space afforded by newer liftarm variants.
The pelvis was by far the biggest challenge. Without the Vahki hip piece, the solution used for K-2SO seemed like the only viable option. In the end, however, I managed to solve the problem by using the 3L axle with stop. Unfortunately, LEGO currently produces this part only in brown, so for aesthetic reasons I was forced to obtain black variation from a less official (but still very good in terms of bricks’ quality) source. Nevertheless, I believe it is only a matter of time before LEGO realizes this oversight and expands its portfolio with a more color-neutral version.
In the video below, you can see the step-by-step assembly process of my torso design. I hope it will turn out to be helpful for your future MOCs 
How to build it:
(the assembling process begins in 2:30)
~ Taohe Netrus ~
