As the title implies, this post will be part MOC showcase, part ramble about how I’d go about handling G3 Bionicle.
It’s probably quite clear this MOC is based of the GWP Tahu & Takua set. I added a gear function (that I’ll describe in the ramble), and changed the articulation points to my preference. The colour scheme is a result of the pieces I have available, colour blocking included (though the waist colour is pretty neat). The technic connection below the big gear is for attachment to Exo-Toa (which I won’t attempt to build for a while).
Aight that’s the basics of the MOC, it’s now:
RAMBLE TIME
Aight, the first thing I’ll cover is the gear function. When I look at past Bionicle years I think about the ratio between the play factor and poseability. 2001-3 was clearly play-focused, with the masks and attack functions. You couldn’t pose them very well, but that wasn’t really the point imo. The Inika build era had the opposite situation, with maximum articulation, reducing play features to launchers and other bells & whistles. Then there’s 2004, which imo strikes a middle ground that diminishes both, and G2 year 1, that sacrifices the gear function’s fluidity for pose stability (I mainly mean the stiffness, but also limited mobility due to CCBS).
With this MOC I aimed for the 2001 style of balance. But because masks like those aren’t an option, I took inspiration from another toy line - B-Daman. There’s a style of figure there that has a trigger at the front that will block your shots if hit. So I tried translating that mechanic to the Toa Mata/Nuva gear function, resulting in the following:
The main axle can move forwards and backwards. When it’s pushed forwards, the arm(s) connected to the mechanism move freely, using the gear at the back. When it’s pulled back (or the button is pushed in), the mechanism locks in place, disabling the Toa’s attack.
I accomplished this by putting a gear at the back like the Mata gearbox, but also a gear at the front, so when the axle is pushed in, both gears engage with the side gear(s) and lock everything.
This mechanism has the clear cons that 1: setting it up is annoying if it falls apart, 2: because of the length of the axles, the active arm will have to stick out (and the main axle sticks out a lot) and 3: the shoulder articulation is limited. On the other hand though, the gearbox is really smooth, but can be locked in place for poses.
The second topic of my ramble is how I’d set up the sets to be as accessible as possible. I know the difference between G1 and G2 medium sets firsthand, and I tried to make my MOC use as few unique pieces as possible, to get as close to G1 prices as possible (for the record, I don’t know anything about how LEGO prices work; if it’s comparable to the cutesy dragon set (31145), I’m happy). There’s also the matter of different set sizes (this being medium, with sets smaller and larger), but I kept my MOC-ing to the Toa because of my limited mixel joints.
But another thing that’s part of my concept are alt builds. Bionicle is my favourite LEGO line, but I’ve always adored the Creator line. So for the medium sets I envisioned a dedicated alternative build (a rahi/beast) and an intended pairing with other sets for a combiner model (eg. Toa Kaita). Being built with system, the pairings won’t be as strict, which is one of the bigger reasons I’d use system for a second revival.
Here’s an example I came up with. It’s not the best but it should get the point across.
Topic 2.5: packaging. I’m not gonna lie, I miss plastic boxes and canisters. They keep the set safe without having to keep the box safe too. Ideally the canisters for the medium and small sets would be plastic, with clear second uses (like the suva, Matoran spheres, roborider wheel lids, etc.). I will note that I built this MOC to fit in a Creator box:
Another thing I think early G1 did best was collectibles. I’m talking masks, krana, kraata, etc. This sorta system allowed for characters’ identities to not be tied as much to their masks, which helped MOC-ing. Also allowed for easy Matoran creation.
For this I envisioned collectible masks, combined with cards. The cards are mostly for displaying purposes, and to make losing the masks a bit harder, but it also allows space for lore and mask info. Mockup of how that’d look (plz imagine proper text and graphics, as well as printing on the mask a la GWP Tahu & Takua):
Last point that has smth to do with the MOC - variations. This specific MOC is supposed to be a generic Tahu build, and I’ve defined some easy changes to differentiate different characters (a thing best done by the Toa Mata, Toa Mahri and especially G2-1 Masters):
A: Masks
Like GWP Tahu and Takua, the masks would be printed onto a smooth piece, but unlike that set, multi-piece masks would be allowed (shown here: a Kakama-type mask, a mask that a Makuta would wear, similar to the Mask of Control, an Akaku-type mask, “I ran out of energy and pieces” and a basic 1-piece mask). The head probably needs some work though.
B: Torso
To echo Mata/Nuva Pohatu and Onua, I built a variation with the hunched back, trying to keep the button available. Other possible variations are a flipped torso a la Pohatu (couldn’t be bothered, but simple to imagine) or a wider build, with an extra stud of width on each side, using longer axles and perhaps normal-width gears to get a G2 Master Onua vibe.
C: Figure
when building the MOC I tried making the shoulders as narrow as possible, to make hinting at a feminine figure easier.
D: hands
Because the base hand can’t hold something strong enough to push the button on the chest, different hands can be built (also stuff like Toa Mata hands \m/)
That sums up the MOC, and while I’m rambling, here’s some miscellaneous points:
- To play it safe, G3 could structure itself around “arcs” that revolve around specific masks. Like, to simplify G1, the first 3 years could be the hunt for the Avohkii, next 3 years for the Vahi, then the Ignika, etc. This way it would be easier to wrap up a short line I think (if it reaches 3 years obviously).
- On the topic of masks, I think G2 kinda fumbled on the important ones. Like, “Mask of control” sounds really obviously like a mask an evil figure would wear. It makes sense with G2’s simplifications, but having more neutral masks (like creation, time and life, that can all swing in either direction) would help with writing potential.
- With G1, compared to G2, not only did I notice better immersion and depth (helped by media like MNOG), it allowed itself more in terms of theming. Like the clear nod to 1984 in the Vahkii animations, or characters like Ahkmou or Velika, that may seem good, but end up a threat.
- Bionicle really likes swords aparently. #giveLewaHisAxeBack
- I would sorta be ok with a playset-centred Bionicle, but I think the bigger, poseable figures allow for more freedom in character design (and it just feels better in my hands).
Alrighty, that concludes my MOC showcase and mega bionicle ramble. If you couldn’t tell, I’ve been sitting on in for a while, gathering thoughts and ideas along the way. I might sit down with Stud.io and build a set of Toa, and perhaps a Matoran build, but for now I’ll vibe with my knockoff Tahu :^). I will now stop procrastinating on drawing Zaria.