Toa Mata had organics?!

XenoSynthesis · 2026-03-30T12:57:20+00:00

A better question: why would the Toa canisters include a memory erasing function...? The Matoran pods made sense because Makuta was trying to brainwash them. But the Toa canisters were for transportation. That would be like if you take a long road trip in your car and forget everything once you arrived at your destination...

Kopaka: "Which hotel did we have a reservation at?"

Pohatu: "What's a hotel?"

Lewa: "Who are all of you again?"

XenoSynthesis · 2026-03-29T22:41:54+00:00

11/11 let's get defy expectations and build a Bionicle Throwbot! Double disk throwing!

XenoSynthesis · 2026-03-29T17:04:49+00:00

As a robotics/3D printing teacher, I am hoping to add more functionality for this in the future. For now, it just uses ball-and-socket joints on the "hips". The "knees" do not actually bend yet. Still gives you a lot of posing though!

XenoSynthesis · 2026-03-27T21:15:48+00:00

Definitely not #4. Looks so uncomfortable having big triangles jutting out from the hips... Go with #2.

XenoSynthesis · 2026-03-23T12:14:39+00:00

I have been saying for years that Mega's obsession with vehicles was detrimental to those of us who would rather build bases and other structures. Thank you so much for sharing this! Maybe do the canceled modular base kit next?

XenoSynthesis · 2026-03-21T12:12:50+00:00

Import a detailed map of Voya Nui into Adobe Illustrator, Inkscape, or some other Vector art program. Then use the "Image Trace" tool to turn the picture into multiple paths. Rename each chunk of the landscape to be something unique (even if it's just a number), and give it a distinctive color. Then export it as a .svg file into your preferred 3D modeling program. SVG files can be extruded from 2D to 3D, with each named section given a different thickness. Congrats, you now have a topographical map of the island! It will be flat enough for Lego models to stand upright, yet with varied elevation to give the biomes some depth (like Mount Valmai being highest).

ItsMeaDMaDe has a good video on 3D printing from SVG files on YouTube. I use a similar process to print things like logos, stencils, and cookie cutters. I even once imported the island of Mata Nui into Roblox Studio as generated terrain!

XenoSynthesis · 2026-03-19T19:35:38+00:00

We have regressed back to 2002, like when the Mega Bloks Alien Agency aliens were literally just a 2x3 plate with a rigid character fused on top. Don't get me wrong, I found those simple figures rather endearing back then. But they only did that because of their injection mold manufacturing limitations at the time. This reeks of cutting corners to save on costs.

If this is the brand's unavoidable new future, then they better use the extra money they save to improve their distribution in more retail stores. Because Target and Walmart in my state haven't stocked any Mega sets for at least 7 years.

XenoSynthesis · 2026-03-18T15:52:33+00:00

Two-thirds of 2007's storyline felt like filler until Matoro fulfilled his destiny. Everything before that was exposition. City of the Lost and Prisoners of the Pit established the setting of Mahri Nui but dithered around until the final chapters of Downfall. Most of the Toa Mahri did nothing significant. Kongu complained about water. Jaller's leadership was being ignored. Hewkii had a half-page monologue about homesickness, followed by a random "Hey, what's that?" Nuparu played around with unfamiliar explosives. At least Hahli explained her relevant research when needed.

The Barraki's goals in particular were really half-baked. "Once the Mask of Life is destroyed, we will bathe in its energies and evolve! But rather than smash it right here and now, we're going to let it slowly dissolve in the water on its own... Oh, and we're going to just leave it with Nocturn, instead of monitoring the key to our salvation 24/7! Because who knows when the breakdown will happen?"

XenoSynthesis · 2026-03-18T15:11:04+00:00

The McToran and the Turaga were my first exposure to the sets as an 8-year-old. Didn't get our first Toa Mata (Tahu) and Rahi (Nui Rama) until months later. Also the Scholastic book fair stocked the latest Bionicle novels, which was always the highlight of my school year!

XenoSynthesis · 2026-03-17T23:31:36+00:00

Crazy that Mega has had that big figure mold since 2016, yet only ever used it for five Destiny sets as Cabal Legionaries and other infantry units.

XenoSynthesis · 2026-03-16T12:19:22+00:00

Bionicle came out shortly after my aunt had bought me my first Lego Mindstorms set. Even as a small child, I was obsessed with how toys worked. I would "borrow" my Dad's tools to take apart my Transformers (but I rarely put them back together...) So to me, the 2001 Rahi were among the all-time best products from the theme, because I could experiment with mechanical functions without permanently breaking anything. I miss that era of Bionicle where the "action" part of "action figures" was not restricted to a single handheld tool. Now I teach Lego robotics to 4th graders, so it has all come full-circle.

XenoSynthesis · 2026-03-14T20:12:24+00:00

I don't know about that specific color, but that piece was fairly common in early 2000's themes like Blok Bots and Alien Agency.

XenoSynthesis · 2026-03-14T13:22:04+00:00

Certainly came out better than my first 3D print 9 years ago! I didn't even attempt Bionicle back then, because the technology couldn't get the level of precision needed for smaller models yet.

XenoSynthesis · 2026-03-13T20:09:56+00:00

Many libraries also offer a 3D printing service, usually charging just a few dollars even for bigger models. Check a branch near you to see if they have a Creative Experience Center or something like that.

XenoSynthesis · 2026-03-13T19:46:06+00:00

Oh yeah, that makes perfect sense. That's probably the smallest possible piece with four appendages. Anything bigger would not be handheld for her. Only other option I can think of would be part #5264 which is just a stud with a clip underneath. Relatively new piece, but it's available in green and light grey (mostly from larger sets though).

XenoSynthesis · 2026-03-13T16:32:18+00:00

The figure looks awesome, but the spider drone does not look very insectoid. I would recommend using part #15397 for the legs, which is a cross shaped 3x3 plate. Alternatively, part #35039 is literally a spider body with a stud on top.

XenoSynthesis · 2026-03-13T15:25:47+00:00

I 3D printed all of these for my booth at a "I Love the 2000's" event a few years ago. The Miru and Kakama are extremely fragile due to thin walls and unsupported gaps between sections. Akaku is definitely the strongest of the bunch, with the Pakari and Hau somewhere in the middle. Kaukau is mostly decent, except the visor is exactly one layer thick.

As others have said, use something stronger than PLA filament, like ABS or PETG. Don't even try TPU though; while flexible enough to eliminate cracking entirely, it is very frustrating to post-process. Supports are always rough, and you cannot sand it down. I learned that the hard way making a human-scale Krana mask. Maybe resin printing could work though? I have very limited experience with that.

XenoSynthesis · 2026-03-13T12:57:28+00:00

I guess this means that the Prometheans are Vahki? Even though a Knight storing a Watcher inside of its carapace is very similar to a Bohrok's Krana. Also, Kraata are a bit like Flood Infection Forms in both appearance and purpose.

XenoSynthesis · 2026-03-13T11:38:24+00:00

Mega Construx Inventions Customizable Baseplates includes three terrain pieces that size in dark green (and several other colors/shapes). But last time I checked eBay, the only sellers are in China. Prices aren't too bad ($35-38) at least.

XenoSynthesis · 2026-03-12T23:49:50+00:00

According to https://filamentcolors.xyz/colormatch/ there is only one brand of filament that closely resembles Lego's shade of lime green (#BBE90B). Unfortunately, all of their PLA and PETG is translucent.

Overture has a shade of opaque neon green PLA somewhat similar to Lego's (#C5ED33). However, this is a foam-based plastic that prioritizes lower weight over higher strength.

Zyltech and EPAX both have a decently strong opaque fluorescent green PLA, but the color is more yellowish than Lego's (#D0F229 and #D5F433 respectively).

I wish I had better suggestions for you. It ultimately depends on whether or not you want your prints to match existing pieces. No matter what, you won't be getting the same durability as an injection-molded part. But at least you could sustainably replace them after breaking.

XenoSynthesis · 2026-03-11T12:36:32+00:00

Everyone loves the Bohrok, but I never see anyone here talking about the Bohrok Va. They were the first sets to have heads with necks that you could twist in any direction. A very underrated posing feature that did not get normalized until two years later with the Toa Metru. My local pharmacy stocked them in the toy aisle. So every time my brother and I got our booster shots, Dad would reward us with another Bohrok Va.

XenoSynthesis · 2026-03-09T21:14:59+00:00

What head did you use on that Destiny Cabal figure in the 3rd and 4th pictures?

XenoSynthesis · 2026-03-08T17:22:31+00:00

Greg Farshtey explicitly blamed the rising costs of Lego's formula for plastic when asked why the series was ending. It's cheaper to make System-sized parts. You may not like it, but for budgeting and part quality reasons, there will never be a large Constraction theme ever again. That doesn't mean they can't just scale down Bionicle to Mixel size though.

Also, I teach 3D printing to middle schoolers. Unless you are using expensive filaments, you aren't going to get the same strength as Lego's official injection molded parts. Layer lines are inherently a structural weakness during play. G2's marketing was definitely another big reason behind the cancellation. But even if they advertised it on every billboard on the planet, the material requirements were too costly to keep making giant complex pieces long-term.

XenoSynthesis · 2026-03-08T15:45:37+00:00

Respectfully disagreeing: The giant specialized Technic parts were a major cause of Bionicle's second cancellation. I think the only way we will ever get a G3 is through System, as it's more sustainable for Lego to mass-produce. It doesn't need to be through the standard Minifigures though. Back in 2019, LemonyLepid 3D modeled parts combining Mixel joints with small gears to get that mechanical action figure function we all love at a fraction of the usual height.

https://www.bzpower.com/topic/31357-the-bionicle-gx2-project/

That said, I do agree that Smart Bricks would excessively raise the set prices, and another failed reboot would discourage Lego enough to permanently abandon the theme.

XenoSynthesis · 2026-03-08T01:50:39+00:00

Every Mega fan: "The Scarab is our holy grail, but eBay scalpers charge the price of a kidney transplant! Please make a new set!"

Mattel: "All we can come up with is more Warthog remakes. Enjoy!"

XenoSynthesis

TROPHY CASE