(Credit due to NihilPersona on Twitter for inspiration!)
This is my second entry to DuckBricks’ Bionicle Fanon Contests, the Nui-Raika!
Clearly the long past extinct Anomalocaris (my favorite animal, fun fact) is what this model is based on. Originally I made this model for fun, but in the end decided to enter it into the contest. (It may be too 2001ish as it is supposed to be, I know)
Not very lore oriented or accurate at all, but I do have a loose explanation for the visual appearance of the Nui-Raika. (Very “retcon-y”)
A species originally modified by the great spirits to run test trials on early forms of kanohi, Nui-Raika evolved to have the shape of kanohi near their tails. When the Shattering struck, these creatures resided in large, hidden lakes on Bota Magna. “Blueprints” of this species’ modification were found by the Makuta in the Southern Islands, hence deciding to create a model very similar in appearance to Nui-Raika, and closely related to that of the Manas crabs.
Stud.io file: Nui-Raika - Google Drive
PLEASE NOTE: There are some parts that substitute for flex tube (or if you cut parts, regular bars/lightsaber rods).
The first pair is near the top of the image below (highlighted in blue) in the Stud.io file they should be labeled as “Rod Hole Filler.” (From KingSidorak’s part hole filler pack). If you build this in real life, a bar/flex tube should be cut to the length of 1 technic bushing.
The second pair is near the bottom of the image below (again, highlighted in blue). These are just regular 3L lego bars, if built irl, a bar/flex tube should be cut to the length of 2.5 technic bushings.
(Oh! and one last thing, the tube at the front of the head requires cutting, if you wish you can replace it with some other piece like a small gear or simply a 1x1 pin connector)