Looking for advice on a model

[Toa Halcyon]

Hey guys, it has been a LONG time since I've been on this forum, probably since the Bionicle hiatus.  Got to say that I missed it; now that G2 is coming out, I feel like it's time to get back into this favorite hobby of mine...but before I do, I'm gonna need some advice.  Now, in case if this is in the wrong forum I apologize ahead of time; I couldn't find another forum that would apply to this topic...

 

Anyway, something that I've wanted to do for a long time is use modern technic set parts for a Bionicle movie/miniseries based on the iconic Bionicle Mata Nui Online Game that was released with the original generation 1 sets on the Lego Website, providing a bit of complimentary story with the sets and thus assuring its popularity with the fans, myself most definitely included.  Since I've been a big fan of stop motion and managed to get really good at it during high school, I've really wanted to push for this project...however being a poor kid halfway across the world and back makes it hard to collect the right pieces to make such a project work.  Now that I've been working on getting funds of my own, I'm hoping on being able to make this project a reality again.

 

Now, I need some advice from you guys.  I'm wanting to build unique and individual MOC Matoran, based upon the original Tohunga sets from way back in the day, using some of the parts from present generation Lego sets including Legends of Chima, Hero Factory, and some of the new G2 Bionicle stuff as well as classic pieces and maybe some custom pieces depending on what is necessary.  I have a general idea of what I want for scale; Toa would probably not be any bigger than your average Glatorian, though preferably smaller like the original Toa Mata in scale.  Tohunga will be smaller, and the Turaga will naturally be in between.  The Tohunga/Matoran are the ones I need advice with; I have a general idea on what they are going to look like, their arms have to be able to bend and they will be using either the classic Toa Mata head pieces or the Toa Metru pieces with the Toa Phantoka/Mistika eye pieces.  Their legs don't have to bend at all, but I do need to figure out about the chassis for the body.  So far, my attempts have been fruitless on finding a good size body without overdoing the leg size or underdoing the body itself.  

 

Any ideas on how to make the body for something like this?  Any and all thoughts are appreciated.  ^^

[IcarusBen]

Well, try googling Matoran MOC and look through there for ideas. That's how I've been trying to learn.

[Bfahome]

I've had a fairly simple Matoran design for several years now.  The torso is basically a couple of single socket joints attached by a through-able ball joint, a 2m and 4m axle, and a couple of 1x2 liftarms.  It provides shoulder, head, and waist articulation on a small scale.

 

They only use pre-2008 molds, but could easily be modified if you wanted to incorporate later or more current elements.  I'm also not sure how well they'd fit in with your other models in terms of aesthetic or scale, since I have nothing relevant on-hand right now.

[aldero]

I've had this problem in the past. When I want to create some new Matoran body designs, I provide myself with an armour piece that has axles or pinholes, and a Toa Metru waist piece. I then just work off from there. I would definitely recommend using separate balljoints - they can be very useful. 

 

For the Toa designs, I don't have much advice. Most of the time, I just break down and use the Inika torso.

[Toa Halcyon]

These are all great ideas, thanks guys!

 

 

I've had a fairly simple Matoran design for several years now.  The torso is basically a couple of single socket joints attached by a through-able ball joint, a 2m and 4m axle, and a couple of 1x2 liftarms.  It provides shoulder, head, and waist articulation on a small scale.

 

They only use pre-2008 molds, but could easily be modified if you wanted to incorporate later or more current elements.  I'm also not sure how well they'd fit in with your other models in terms of aesthetic or scale, since I have nothing relevant on-hand right now.

 

Bfa, these are nice designs.  Simple, short, and sweet.  I'll have to look into them, though unfortunately I'm not sure if i'll be using much in the way of some of the non-joint pieces like the Bohrok arms or the traditional Matoran feet, just because I don't want to have to make custom pieces to simulate movement of the joints...that would be a pain.  It's also part of why I mentioned the use of some of the modern parts, as the current arm pieces work perfectly for what I'm looking for, and I can just spraypaint them in the event that I need the correct colored parts.  But I will definitely keep this body style in mind in the event that I am not satisfied with other pieces.

[Bfahome]

These are all great ideas, thanks guys!

 

 

I've had a fairly simple Matoran design for several years now.  The torso is basically a couple of single socket joints attached by a through-able ball joint, a 2m and 4m axle, and a couple of 1x2 liftarms.  It provides shoulder, head, and waist articulation on a small scale.

 

They only use pre-2008 molds, but could easily be modified if you wanted to incorporate later or more current elements.  I'm also not sure how well they'd fit in with your other models in terms of aesthetic or scale, since I have nothing relevant on-hand right now.

 

Bfa, these are nice designs.  Simple, short, and sweet.  I'll have to look into them, though unfortunately I'm not sure if i'll be using much in the way of some of the non-joint pieces like the Bohrok arms or the traditional Matoran feet, just because I don't want to have to make custom pieces to simulate movement of the joints...that would be a pain.  It's also part of why I mentioned the use of some of the modern parts, as the current arm pieces work perfectly for what I'm looking for, and I can just spraypaint them in the event that I need the correct colored parts.  But I will definitely keep this body style in mind in the event that I am not satisfied with other pieces.

Yeah, I wasn't quite sure what you meant when you said their arms had to bend (whether you mean elbows or just the shoulders). I'd designed it years before CCBS existed, so it's a little dated.

 

It should be easy enough to update and adapt it, though.  Here's one way it could be done.  It gives you elbows AND shruggable shoulders!

 

Anyway, good luck with the work you're doing.

[Toa Halcyon]

 

These are all great ideas, thanks guys!

 

 

I've had a fairly simple Matoran design for several years now.  The torso is basically a couple of single socket joints attached by a through-able ball joint, a 2m and 4m axle, and a couple of 1x2 liftarms.  It provides shoulder, head, and waist articulation on a small scale.

 

They only use pre-2008 molds, but could easily be modified if you wanted to incorporate later or more current elements.  I'm also not sure how well they'd fit in with your other models in terms of aesthetic or scale, since I have nothing relevant on-hand right now.

 

Bfa, these are nice designs.  Simple, short, and sweet.  I'll have to look into them, though unfortunately I'm not sure if i'll be using much in the way of some of the non-joint pieces like the Bohrok arms or the traditional Matoran feet, just because I don't want to have to make custom pieces to simulate movement of the joints...that would be a pain.  It's also part of why I mentioned the use of some of the modern parts, as the current arm pieces work perfectly for what I'm looking for, and I can just spraypaint them in the event that I need the correct colored parts.  But I will definitely keep this body style in mind in the event that I am not satisfied with other pieces.

Yeah, I wasn't quite sure what you meant when you said their arms had to bend (whether you mean elbows or just the shoulders). I'd designed it years before CCBS existed, so it's a little dated.

 

It should be easy enough to update and adapt it, though.  Here's one way it could be done.  It gives you elbows AND shruggable shoulders!

 

Anyway, good luck with the work you're doing.

 

Gonna be honest, that design actually looks really good.  I might end up tackling that, it looks easy to build 'and' fits with the size range I was looking for.  Thanks!