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Never expected to like Vastus back in the day but recent years have made him one of my favorite sets!
Removed the Hordika legs and beefed up the torso. Lots of subtle modifications to make Vastus stand out.
They are superficially similar, but there aren't many parts on this model that remain the same. The new version is shorter and curvier and it looks a lot meaner with the larger rear tyres (made by putting two tires 30.4 x 14 VR over each other).
I passed on Voltix back in the day owing to the coloring. Over time I've warmed to the mix of red and purple. The tentacle and lightning spikes are also creative and were features I wanted to carry over for this revamp.
Widely recognized as one of the best Toa Mahri, Hahli is an iconic set I’ve wanted to recreate for a while. Most of the revamp material online uses the “custom” hyper-feminine proportions and I’ve tried to avoid too radical a departure from her original set form.
I was lucky enough to pick up most of a complete set on ebay, which didn’t have a single cracked lime joint! Using those parts, I’ve managed to not only recreate the base set but also to reinforce it with my own modifications. The ankle guard design comes from torquetoys and I’m very happy with the shaping of the torso using the Nuva chest.
Tell me what you think we a thoughtful comment down below!
I'm mainly a minifigure fan but I'll always have a soft spot for the classic Bionicle line from 2001.
One day I felt like reassembling Tahu, but then I realized his old design didn't age that well... his right arm morphed into a sword for some reason, and his left "hand" looked like a plug. He also had no working elbows or knees, even though the old marketing material did a good job making it look like they did.
So I decided to make my own design, fully articulated and posable.
I think it's cool that Lego more or less standardized their character building system, but I didn't think it would work well here. Even though CCBS nailed the structure, most characters end up looking too bulky for my taste, with all those armor plates and all that. A "classic" Toa would need a "Technic" feel, not a modern one.
More pictures in my album.
Few alterations made to the breakout villain of the BREAKOUT line. A few tires added for muscle texture and gap filling, a modernized blaster typical of my other Standardized Revamps, and a few tweaks to the back.
Doom Box sold separately
Used the advice given to me from the previous photo, I swapped the antennae with this technic piece. A minifiure can comfortably sit and operate it if the RWS is not operated from inside the Bullpup ACV. Credit for the handles goes to Evan Melick.
It is said that all good revamps must have a Toa Metru gearbox crotch…
Here is Kiina in a revamped form. I shortened the upper arms slightly and worked to fill out some of the proportions. Also gave her a spear reminiscent of her Vapor Trident’s original form.
+++ DISCLAIMER +++
Nothing you see here is real, even though the conversion or the presented background story might be based on historical facts. BEWARE!
Some background:
The OV-10 Bronco was initially conceived in the early 1960s through an informal collaboration between W. H. Beckett and Colonel K. P. Rice, U.S. Marine Corps, who met at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, California, and who also happened to live near each other. The original concept was for a rugged, simple, close air support aircraft integrated with forward ground operations. At the time, the U.S. Army was still experimenting with armed helicopters, and the U.S. Air Force was not interested in close air support.
The concept aircraft was to operate from expedient forward air bases using roads as runways. Speed was to be from very slow to medium subsonic, with much longer loiter times than a pure jet. Efficient turboprop engines would give better performance than piston engines. Weapons were to be mounted on the centerline to get efficient aiming. The inventors favored strafing weapons such as self-loading recoilless rifles, which could deliver aimed explosive shells with less recoil than cannons, and a lower per-round weight than rockets. The airframe was to be designed to avoid the back blast.
Beckett and Rice developed a basic platform meeting these requirements, then attempted to build a fiberglass prototype in a garage. The effort produced enthusiastic supporters and an informal pamphlet describing the concept. W. H. Beckett, who had retired from the Marine Corps, went to work at North American Aviation to sell the aircraft.
The aircraft's design supported effective operations from forward bases. The OV-10 had a central nacelle containing a crew of two in tandem and space for cargo, and twin booms containing twin turboprop engines. The visually distinctive feature of the aircraft is the combination of the twin booms, with the horizontal stabilizer that connected them at the fin tips. The OV-10 could perform short takeoffs and landings, including on aircraft carriers and large-deck amphibious assault ships without using catapults or arresting wires. Further, the OV-10 was designed to take off and land on unimproved sites. Repairs could be made with ordinary tools. No ground equipment was required to start the engines. And, if necessary, the engines would operate on high-octane automobile fuel with only a slight loss of power.
The aircraft had responsive handling and could fly for up to 5½ hours with external fuel tanks. The cockpit had extremely good visibility for both pilot and co-pilot, provided by a wrap-around "greenhouse" that was wider than the fuselage. North American Rockwell custom ejection seats were standard, with many successful ejections during service. With the second seat removed, the OV-10 could carry 3,200 pounds (1,500 kg) of cargo, five paratroopers, or two litter patients and an attendant. Empty weight was 6,969 pounds (3,161 kg). Normal operating fueled weight with two crew was 9,908 pounds (4,494 kg). Maximum takeoff weight was 14,446 pounds (6,553 kg).
The bottom of the fuselage bore sponsons or "stub wings" that improved flight performance by decreasing aerodynamic drag underneath the fuselage. Normally, four 7.62 mm (.308 in) M60C machine guns were carried on the sponsons, accessed through large forward-opening hatches. The sponsons also had four racks to carry bombs, pods, or fuel. The wings outboard of the engines contained two additional hardpoints, one per side. Racked armament in the Vietnam War was usually seven-shot 2.75 in (70 mm) rocket pods with white phosphorus marker rounds or high-explosive rockets, or 5" (127 mm) four-shot Zuni rocket pods. Bombs, ADSIDS air-delivered/para-dropped unattended seismic sensors, Mk-6 battlefield illumination flares, and other stores were also carried.
Operational experience showed some weaknesses in the OV-10's design. It was significantly underpowered, which contributed to crashes in Vietnam in sloping terrain because the pilots could not climb fast enough. While specifications stated that the aircraft could reach 26,000 feet (7,900 m), in Vietnam the aircraft could reach only 18,000 feet (5,500 m). Also, no OV-10 pilot survived ditching the aircraft.
The OV-10 served in the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Navy, as well as in the service of a number of other countries. In U.S. military service, the Bronco was operated until the early Nineties, and obsoleted USAF OV-10s were passed on to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms for anti-drug operations. A number of OV-10As furthermore ended up in the hands of the California Department of Forestry (CDF) and were used for spotting fires and directing fire bombers onto hot spots.
This was not the end of the OV-10 in American military service, though: In 2012, the type gained new attention because of its unique qualities. A $20 million budget was allocated to activate an experimental USAF unit of two airworthy OV-10Gs, acquired from NASA and the State Department. These machines were retrofitted with military equipment and were, starting in May 2015, deployed overseas to support Operation “Inherent Resolve”, flying more than 120 combat sorties over 82 days over Iraq and Syria. Their concrete missions remained unclear, and it is speculated they provided close air support for Special Forces missions, esp. in confined urban environments where the Broncos’ loitering time and high agility at low speed and altitude made them highly effective and less vulnerable than helicopters.
Furthermore, these Broncos reputedly performed strikes with the experimental AGR-20A “Advanced Precision Kill Weapons System (APKWS)”, a Hydra 70-millimeter rocket with a laser-seeking head as guidance - developed for precision strikes against small urban targets with little collateral damage. The experiment ended satisfactorily, but the machines were retired again, and the small unit was dissolved.
However, the machines had shown their worth in asymmetric warfare, and the U.S. Air Force decided to invest in reactivating the OV-10 on a regular basis, despite the overhead cost of operating an additional aircraft type in relatively small numbers – but development and production of a similar new type would have caused much higher costs, with an uncertain time until an operational aircraft would be ready for service. Re-activating a proven design and updating an existing airframe appeared more efficient.
The result became the MV-10H, suitably christened “Super Bronco” but also known as “Black Pony”, after the program's internal name. This aircraft was derived from the official OV-10X proposal by Boeing from 2009 for the USAF's Light Attack/Armed Reconnaissance requirement. Initially, Boeing proposed to re-start OV-10 manufacture, but this was deemed uneconomical, due to the expected small production number of new serial aircraft, so the “Black Pony” program became a modernization project. In consequence, all airframes for the "new" MV-10Hs were recovered OV-10s of various types from the "boneyard" at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona.
While the revamped aircraft would maintain much of its 1960s-vintage rugged external design, modernizations included a completely new, armored central fuselage with a highly modified cockpit section, ejection seats and a computerized glass cockpit. The “Black Pony” OV-10 had full dual controls, so that either crewmen could steer the aircraft while the other operated sensors and/or weapons. This feature would also improve survivability in case of incapacitation of a crew member as the result from a hit.
The cockpit armor protected the crew and many vital systems from 23mm shells and shrapnel (e. g. from MANPADS). The crew still sat in tandem under a common, generously glazed canopy with flat, bulletproof panels for reduced sun reflections, with the pilot in the front seat and an observer/WSO behind. The Bronco’s original cargo capacity and the rear door were retained, even though the extra armor and defensive measures like chaff/flare dispensers as well as an additional fuel cell in the central fuselage limited the capacity. However, it was still possible to carry and deploy personnel, e. g. small special ops teams of up to four when the aircraft flew in clean configuration.
Additional updates for the MV-10H included structural reinforcements for a higher AUW and higher g load maneuvers, similar to OV-10D+ standards. The landing gear was also reinforced, and the aircraft kept its ability to operate from short, improvised airstrips. A fixed refueling probe was added to improve range and loiter time.
Intelligence sensors and smart weapon capabilities included a FLIR sensor and a laser range finder/target designator, both mounted in a small turret on the aircraft’s nose. The MV-10H was also outfitted with a data link and the ability to carry an integrated targeting pod such as the Northrop Grumman LITENING or the Lockheed Martin Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod (ATP). Also included was the Remotely Operated Video Enhanced Receiver (ROVER) to provide live sensor data and video recordings to personnel on the ground.
To improve overall performance and to better cope with the higher empty weight of the modified aircraft as well as with operations under hot-and-high conditions, the engines were beefed up. The new General Electric CT7-9D turboprop engines improved the Bronco's performance considerably: top speed increased by 100 mph (160 km/h), the climb rate was tripled (a weak point of early OV-10s despite the type’s good STOL capability) and both take-off as well as landing run were almost halved. The new engines called for longer nacelles, and their circular diameter markedly differed from the former Garrett T76-G-420/421 turboprop engines. To better exploit the additional power and reduce the aircraft’s audio signature, reversible contraprops, each with eight fiberglass blades, were fitted. These allowed a reduced number of revolutions per minute, resulting in less noise from the blades and their tips, while the engine responsiveness was greatly improved. The CT7-9Ds’ exhausts were fitted with muzzlers/air mixers to further reduce the aircraft's noise and heat signature.
Another novel and striking feature was the addition of so-called “tip sails” to the wings: each wingtip was elongated with a small, cigar-shaped fairing, each carrying three staggered, small “feather blade” winglets. Reputedly, this installation contributed ~10% to the higher climb rate and improved lift/drag ratio by ~6%, improving range and loiter time, too.
Drawing from the Iraq experience as well as from the USMC’s NOGS test program with a converted OV-10D as a night/all-weather gunship/reconnaissance platform, the MV-10H received a heavier gun armament: the original four light machine guns that were only good for strafing unarmored targets were deleted and their space in the sponsons replaced by avionics. Instead, the aircraft was outfitted with a lightweight M197 three-barrel 20mm gatling gun in a chin turret. This could be fixed in a forward position at high speed or when carrying forward-firing ordnance under the stub wings, or it could be deployed to cover a wide field of fire under the aircraft when it was flying slower, being either slaved to the FLIR or to a helmet sighting auto targeting system.
The original seven hardpoints were retained (1x ventral, 2x under each sponson, and another pair under the outer wings), but the total ordnance load was slightly increased and an additional pair of launch rails for AIM-9 Sidewinders or other light AAMs under the wing tips were added – not only as a defensive measure, but also with an anti-helicopter role in mind; four more Sidewinders could be carried on twin launchers under the outer wings against aerial targets. Other guided weapons cleared for the MV-10H were the light laser-guided AGR-20A and AGM-119 Hellfire missiles, the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System upgrade to the light Hydra 70 rockets, the new Laser Guided Zuni Rocket which had been cleared for service in 2010, TV-/IR-/laser-guided AGM-65 Maverick AGMs and AGM-122 Sidearm anti-radar missiles, plus a wide range of gun and missile pods, iron and cluster bombs, as well as ECM and flare/chaff pods, which were not only carried defensively, but also in order to disrupt enemy ground communication.
In this configuration, a contract for the conversion of twelve mothballed American Broncos to the new MV-10H standard was signed with Boeing in 2016, and the first MV-10H was handed over to the USAF in early 2018, with further deliveries lasting into early 2020. All machines were allocated to the newly founded 919th Special Operations Support Squadron at Duke Field (Florida). This unit was part of the 919th Special Operations Wing, an Air Reserve Component (ARC) of the United States Air Force. It was assigned to the Tenth Air Force of Air Force Reserve Command and an associate unit of the 1st Special Operations Wing, Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC). If mobilized the wing was gained by AFSOC (Air Force Special Operations Command) to support Special Tactics, the U.S. Air Force's special operations ground force. Similar in ability and employment to Marine Special Operations Command (MARSOC), U.S. Army Special Forces and U.S. Navy SEALs, Air Force Special Tactics personnel were typically the first to enter combat and often found themselves deep behind enemy lines in demanding, austere conditions, usually with little or no support.
The MV-10Hs are expected to provide support for these ground units in the form of all-weather reconnaissance and observation, close air support and also forward air control duties for supporting ground units. Precision ground strikes and protection from enemy helicopters and low-flying aircraft were other, secondary missions for the modernized Broncos, which are expected to serve well into the 2040s. Exports or conversions of foreign OV-10s to the Black Pony standard are not planned, though.
General characteristics:
Crew: 2
Length: 42 ft 2½ in (12,88 m) incl. pitot
Wingspan: 45 ft 10½ in(14 m) incl. tip sails
Height: 15 ft 2 in (4.62 m)
Wing area: 290.95 sq ft (27.03 m²)
Airfoil: NACA 64A315
Empty weight: 9,090 lb (4,127 kg)
Gross weight: 13,068 lb (5,931 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 17,318 lb (7,862 kg)
Powerplant:
2× General Electric CT7-9D turboprop engines, 1,305 kW (1,750 hp) each,
driving 8-bladed Hamilton Standard 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m) diameter constant-speed,
fully feathering, reversible contra-rotating propellers with metal hub and composite blades
Performance:
Maximum speed: 390 mph (340 kn, 625 km/h)
Combat range: 198 nmi (228 mi, 367 km)
Ferry range: 1,200 nmi (1,400 mi, 2,200 km) with auxiliary fuel
Maximum loiter time: 5.5 h with auxiliary fuel
Service ceiling: 32.750 ft (10,000 m)
13,500 ft (4.210 m) on one engine
Rate of climb: 17.400 ft/min (48 m/s) at sea level
Take-off run: 480 ft (150 m)
740 ft (227 m) to 50 ft (15 m)
1,870 ft (570 m) to 50 ft (15 m) at MTOW
Landing run: 490 ft (150 m)
785 ft (240 m) at MTOW
1,015 ft (310 m) from 50 ft (15 m)
Armament:
1x M197 3-barreled 20 mm Gatling cannon in a chin turret with 750 rounds ammo capacity
7x hardpoints for a total load of 5.000 lb (2,270 kg)
2x wingtip launch rails for AIM-9 Sidewinder AAMs
The kit and its assembly:
This fictional Bronco update/conversion was simply spawned by the idea: could it be possible to replace the original cockpit section with one from an AH-1 Cobra, for a kind of gunship version?
The basis is the Academy OV-10D kit, mated with the cockpit section from a Fujimi AH-1S TOW Cobra (Revell re-boxing, though), chosen because of its “boxy” cockpit section with flat glass panels – I think that it conveys the idea of an armored cockpit section best. Combining these parts was not easy, though, even though the plan sound simple. Initially, the Bronco’s twin booms, wings and stabilizer were built separately, because this made PSR on these sections easier than trying the same on a completed airframe. One of the initial challenges: the different engines. I wanted something uprated, and a different look, and I had a pair of (excellent!) 1:144 resin engines from the Russian company Kompakt Zip for a Tu-95 bomber at hand, which come together with movable(!) eight-blade contraprops that were an almost perfect size match for the original three-blade props. Biggest problem: the Tu-95 nacelles have a perfectly circular diameter, while the OV-10’s booms are square and rectangular. Combining these parts and shapes was already a messy PST affair, but it worked out quite well – even though the result rather reminds of some Chinese upgrade measure (anyone know the Tu-4 copies with turboprops? This here looks similar!). But while not pretty, I think that the beafier look works well and adds to the idea of a “revived” aircraft. And you can hardly beat the menacing look of contraprops on anything...
The exotic, so-called “tip sails” on the wings, mounted on short booms, are a detail borrowed from the Shijiazhuang Y-5B-100, an updated Chinese variant/copy of the Antonov An-2 biplane transporter. The booms are simple pieces of sprue from the Bronco kit, the winglets were cut from 0.5mm styrene sheet.
For the cockpit donor, the AH-1’s front section was roughly built, including the engine section (which is a separate module, so that the basic kit can be sold with different engine sections), and then the helicopter hull was cut and trimmed down to match the original Bronco pod and to fit under the wing. This became more complicated than expected, because a) the AH-1 cockpit and the nose are considerably shorter than the OV-10s, b) the AH-1 fuselage is markedly taller than the Bronco’s and c) the engine section, which would end up in the area of the wing, features major recesses, making the surface very uneven – calling for massive PSR to even this out. PSR was also necessary to hide the openings for the Fujimi AH-1’s stub wings. Other issues: the front landing gear (and its well) had to be added, as well as the OV-10 wing stubs. Furthermore, the new cockpit pod’s rear section needed an aerodynamical end/fairing, but I found a leftover Academy OV-10 section from a build/kitbashing many moons ago. Perfect match!
All these challenges could be tackled, even though the AH-1 cockpit looks surprisingly stout and massive on the Bronco’s airframe - the result looks stockier than expected, but it works well for the "Gunship" theme. Lots of PSR went into the new central fuselage section, though, even before it was mated with the OV-10 wing and the rest of the model.
Once cockpit and wing were finally mated, the seams had to disappear under even more PSR and a spinal extension of the canopy had to be sculpted across the upper wing surface, which would meld with the pod’s tail in a (more or less) harmonious shape. Not an easy task, and the fairing was eventually sculpted with 2C putty, plus even more PSR… Looks quite homogenous, though.
After this massive body work, other hardware challenges appeared like small distractions. The landing gear was another major issue because the deeper AH-1 section lowered the ground clearance, also because of the chin turret. To counter this, I raised the OV-10’s main landing gear by ~2mm – not much, but it was enough to create a credible stance, together with the front landing gear transplant under the cockpit, which received an internal console to match the main landing gear’s length. Due to the chin turret and the shorter nose, the front wheel retracts backwards now. But this looks quite plausible, thanks to the additional space under the cockpit tub, which also made a belt feed for the gun’s ammunition supply believable.
To enhance the menacing look I gave the model a fixed refueling boom, made from 1mm steel wire and a receptor adapter sculpted with white glue. The latter stuff was also used add some antenna fairings around the hull. Some antennae, chaff dispensers and an IR decoy were taken from the Academy kit.
The ordnance came from various sources. The Sidewinders under the wing tips were taken from an Italeri F-16C/D kit, they look better than the missiles from the Academy Bronco kit. Their launch rails came from an Italeri Bae Hawk 200. The quadruple Hellfire launchers on the underwing hardpoints were left over from an Italeri AH-1W, and they are a perfect load for this aircraft and its role. The LAU-10 and -19 missile pods on the stub wings were taken from the OV-10 kit.
Painting and markings:
Finding a suitable and somewhat interesting – but still plausible – paint scheme was not easy. Taking the A-10 as benchmark, an overall light grey livery (with focus on low contrast against the sky as protection against ground fire) would have been a likely choice – and in fact the last operational American OV-10s were painted in this fashion. But in order to provide a different look I used the contemporary USAF V-22Bs and Special Operations MC-130s as benchmark, which typically carry a darker paint scheme consisting of FS 36118 (suitably “Gunship Gray” :D) from above, FS 36375 underneath, with a low, wavy waterline, plus low-viz markings. Not spectacular, but plausible – and very similar to the late r/w Colombian OV-10s.
The cockpit tub became Dark Gull Grey (FS 36231, Humbrol 140) and the landing gear white (Revell 301).
The model received an overall black ink washing and some post-panel-shading, to liven up the dull all-grey livery. The decals were gathered from various sources, and I settled for black USAF low-viz markings. The “stars and bars” come from a late USAF F-4, the “IP” tail code was tailored from F-16 markings and the shark mouth was taken from an Academy AH-64. Most stencils came from another Academy OV-10 sheet and some other sources.
Decals were also used to create the trim on the propeller blades and markings on the ordnance.
Finally, the model was sealed with a coat of matt acrylic varnish (Italeri) and some exhaust soot stains were added with graphite along the tail boom flanks.
A successful transplantation – but is this still a modified Bronco or already a kitbashing? The result looks quite plausible and menacing, even though the TOW Cobra front section appears relatively massive. But thanks to the bigger engines and extended wing tips the proportions still work. The large low-pressure tires look a bit goofy under the aircraft, but they are original. The grey livery works IMHO well, too – a more colorful or garish scheme would certainly have distracted from the modified technical basis.
Though excitable and eager, Chiara is a solitary figure who prefers to act off her own merits rather than to rely on teammates.
Equipped with a Kanohi Volitak and armed with a pair of Volt-Blades, she prefers to stalk targets from the shadows and strike with ruthless efficiency.
When 2016 rolled around, myself and many others were already feeling the G2 fatigue of overpriced and deeply-flawed sets. And so it came to be that I picked up several of the other Uniters out of a weary obligation rather than a genuine desire, mostly just glad to buy a BIONICLE in-store once again. My ambivalence towards the wave was especially true in the case of Lewa, who felt to have compromised articulation and proportions for the sake of his unique build. With many members of the fandom celebrating his inventive legs and versatile frame, I was not so convinced.
So, after a year of tweaking several revamp iterations, I finally managed to create a version of the set that I was happy with! It brings me great satisfaction to finally be able to showcase a revamp of a set that I initially disliked. I hope I have done him justice.
My favourite #Glatorian reimagined more prominently as a #gladiator, with some asymmetry throughout. Wanted to keep the clever horns used on the shoulder armour on one side, which necessitated that the arms be different.
Leader of the Toa Mangai and legendary Toa of Fire. Wise, courageous, and noble beyond his years, Lhikan knows the value of what true strength is and has vowed to defend the innocent at the risk of his own life.
This is my loosely movie-accurate rendering of him. Kind of a middleground between the fingerless Metrubuilds I’ve been using for the other Toa Mangai and the intensely movie-accurate products of Project: Metru.
Another obscure Hero Factory villain that I’ve struggled to mod for so long. The original set was so heavily engineered around the chomping action that it’s especially hard to imagine anything else. This version aims for more accurate shark proportions and a tighter color scheme. The Star Wars shoulder pads were very helpful.
Of course, this is modelled around the G2 set Akida, Creature of Water. Was really fun to follow the same instructions but use different colored parts. The proportions work out much better and it allows the back-mounted boosters to be brought forward.
It has been observed on discord that I have removed the jaw and shortened the blades. Therefore I have taken away everything that makes Jawblade… Jawblade. Please be sure to let me know where you land in this discussion.
And just like that, the toa mata series is done. When building Tahu, I wanted him to be like a culmination of all the things I learned along the way while building the other toa, considering things like proportion, color blocking, articulation, greebling, creative parts usage, and callbacks to the original set.
When 2016 rolled around, myself and many others were already feeling the G2 fatigue of overpriced and deeply-flawed sets. And so it came to be that I picked up several of the other Uniters out of a weary obligation rather than a genuine desire, mostly just glad to buy a BIONICLE in-store once again. My ambivalence towards the wave was especially true in the case of Lewa, who felt to have compromised articulation and proportions for the sake of his unique build. With many members of the fandom celebrating his inventive legs and versatile frame, I was not so convinced.
So, after a year of tweaking several revamp iterations, I finally managed to create a version of the set that I was happy with! It brings me great satisfaction to finally be able to showcase a revamp of a set that I initially disliked. I hope I have done him justice.
When 2016 rolled around, myself and many others were already feeling the G2 fatigue of overpriced and deeply-flawed sets. And so it came to be that I picked up several of the other Uniters out of a weary obligation rather than a genuine desire, mostly just glad to buy a BIONICLE in-store once again. My ambivalence towards the wave was especially true in the case of Lewa, who felt to have compromised articulation and proportions for the sake of his unique build. With many members of the fandom celebrating his inventive legs and versatile frame, I was not so convinced.
So, after a year of tweaking several revamp iterations, I finally managed to create a version of the set that I was happy with! It brings me great satisfaction to finally be able to showcase a revamp of a set that I initially disliked. I hope I have done him justice.
"The new TX4 model is an improvement of the older XT4 model. TX4 stands for "Tougher XT4 with 4 spinning blades". The TX4 models are easily reprogrammed to fit all your needs, from slicing vegetables to taking over the galaxy. "
~Makuro Industries
The only way I wanted to revamp XT4 was by giving him a spinning function. Because all cartoon robots that have sawblades can do that, right?
Those panels at his head were added to give his body build an "X" shape with the spinning function at the intersection.
Did away with the infamous "gearbox" and replaced the arm with something more articulated. Instead used a configuration similar to Frost Beast. Also added more armor to the torso and added fingers. Feels much more compact now.
In the Region of Stone, rare arcs of energy, called "Desert Lightning" by the Villagers, rip through the sand, leaving energized crystals in their wake. It was this phenomenon that Nilkuu gained the materials for his special mask, and yet the same phenomenon took his arm. He was rarely seen in his village after that. However, Skull Spiders were even more rare, thanks to his deadly accuracy with his single-shot crystal cannon.
I was trying hard for a rough and rugged desert wanderer vibe for Nilkuu. His light armor is assembled from scraps and bones, and he is protected from the sand by his large pants and scarf (because of course Nilkuu needed a scarf, it was just a shame Rey's cloth didn't work as well as I hoped). Then there's the rather obvious and noncanon crystallized arm with built in energy claw and stud sniper. Nilkuu's trans-neon yellow bones became the yellow and lime highlights throughout his body, intended to look like he had been partially crystallized himself.
Secondary Glatorian of the Ice Tribe, Gelu retired from arena politics to become a caravan escort. A former student of Certavus, Gelu is an agile warrior and a shrewd tactician.
I shortened the arms and filled in some gaps. Always loved Gelu’s build and consider him to be one of the lesser loved Glatorian despite hitting all the right notes. His color scheme was solid and his helmet and weapon combination fit perfectly with the tone of 2009.
The legendary Seventh Toa has arrived, in glorious revamped form. Hope you like him as much as I enjoyed building him!
I'm really happy with how he came out, especially the painted chestpiece. I used Citadel Paints, with one layer of Liberator Gold over a base of Abaddon Black. I tried two coats of gold, but then it looked too yellow compared to the original gold parts. Would definitely recommend these paints for anyone interested in modifying their Bonk parts (even if it *is* illegal).
Now I've just got to think of the next project...
Few alterations made to the breakout villain of the BREAKOUT line. A few tires added for muscle texture and gap filling, a modernized blaster typical of my other Standardized Revamps, and a few tweaks to the back.
Doom Box sold separately
Car boot sale frame = £2. Old corkboard from charity shop = £1. Add Dulux eggshell and Heather Bailey fabric et voila!
Blogged at: henhousehomemade.blogspot.com/2009/04/getting-ready.html
To say Hewkii Mahri was one of the more divisive sets of the entire BIONICLE line feels like quite an understatement. Not only was he released in the years of the toyline where LEGO was unsure which color scheme to market their Stone characters under, but this was also his second recolor after only three previous releases. Add to the mix the emphasis on the Cordak Blaster that cost the figure his entire right hand, the attachment for the Garai more akin to a Piraka spine than any mask we’d seen previously, and the second instance of the character packaged with chains, poor Hewkii would be the recipient of especially harsh criticism from fans for years to come.
There’s a certain charm to this set though, and I always appreciated the new parts it included as well as the Pohatu-esque oddities you won’t find outside of Po-Koro. Hewkii was modeled by BIONICLE Design Manager Christoffer Raundahl, who also designed Kongu Mahri, as well as Tahu, Kopaka, the Bohrok, the Bahrag and the Slizers. Today, I hope to do the figure some justice.
With this revamp I’ve taken significant steps to bulk up Hewkii’s armor and emulate the crab motif of the Garai. I’ve also added more black to his coloration and padded out the thigh armor with Roborider heads. It was important to keep the shoulder blades intact as they were one of the most memorable parts of the original set for me, though I opted to swap the Piraka arm for black to match his other limbs. With a reinforced Aqua Warblade and a reuse of Nuparu’s Inika shoulders as shinpads, I hope you all agree I’ve done the all-star Kolhii champion some justice.
What do you think of Hewkii Mahri? What do you think of this revamp? Please consider leaving a thoughtful comment down below!
Back in the day I thought the set was very plasticky and wasn’t the biggest fan. Looking back with hindsight, he seems to have aged well (if you keep the connectors intact).
The lack of a sword was always a big problem for me as it must have been cut pretty early in the design of the set but still somehow made its way into the movie and promotional material.
Arms were heavily retooled to add some much needed bulk and distance those shoulder spikes. At least now he can be posed with a lesser risk of slicing his head off. Tweaks were also made to the torso and the sword was built especially for him (Boggarak pincer had to be cut).
Earlier this year, I decided to recreate the Hero Factory set Jetbug as a mecha.
The hips are based on this concept by jakobekvall, but use 3D-printed parts. The upper torso is based on ReFrame V2 by Messymaru. The legs are also inspired by his work.
Many elements of the design, like the body, the lower legs, or the shoulder shields are inspired by the Gundam Astaroth Origin.
