I do seem to like using interrogative words as titles...

This time, it's what I would change if given the 2008 "Nuva" basic designs to work off of into Toa Nuva restyled... even though that doesn't use the word "how."

:: 8686 Toa Lewa Nuva ::

First, Nuva chest armor redesigned to appropriately fit onto an Inika or Piraka chest, then Nuva shoulder armor remade to attach like the Inika's. But keeping the overall smooth, clean shape. In silver.

• Legs ~ lime joints with green (Lewa's original color) over them. I think I'd make the Rahkshi legs into green Metru legs, to prevent the long, spindly legs with a short, blocky body look he has now, but I might keep the Mantax feet...
• Arms ~ uppers are lime short double-sockets (with the new Nuva armor on them), lowers green Metru legs.
• Body ~ lime Inika body with green hips, and Nuva chest armor. I wouldn't say no to new a 7-wide torso piece instead of the current 9-wide one (not including shoulder balls).
• Mask ~ Working off the Faxon-thing he has now, I'd bring in the cheek... turbines a little, then extend their top outer edge into a sweeping point like on the Miru Nuva. Add two similar points above to, again, resemble those of the Miru Nuva. I'm not sure about the color; either green or lime could work. Also, a clear visor instead of ice blue.
• Tools ~ Keep the twin Katana, except shorter and a lot less huge-messy-and-spiky than the new sword. These would then attach to his back to serve as wings when he needs to fly – I'm not sure if it would just be through simple Technic pins or a construction like Hahli's Metru hip on her back.

:: 8685 Toa Kopaka Nuva ::

• Legs ~ keep the shape, but the ambiguous grey would be quite definitely light bluish grey. White round Inika feet are glorious.
• Arms ~ again, short light grey double-sockets with Nuva armor for the uppers, but light grey Vahki legs and white hands. The Vahki legs, though bulky, are so he can attach a shield to his forearm via this piece and a pin/axle piece, leaving his hands free for blaster and sword.
• Body ~ white with Nuva chest armor. For wings, again the Metru hip on his back, with either a two-piece construction like Hahli's, or his wings made of a short double-socket and Hordika neck each, with a "feather" piece attached to each... Either way, they'd be posable, Bionicle-ized angel wings.
• Tools ~ I'd keep the ice skate shape, but something akin to his original sword would be fine too. So long as he actually has sword and shield, and, little though I'm fond of it, blaster. Oh, that shield would be a white or silver 10-studs-wide System dish, the same appearance as his Nuva shield, only two studs wider.
• Mask ~ Since I dislike the overall look and style of the "Akaku Phantoka," I'd adhere more to the Akaku Nuva in design. Most necessarily, a visor on the right side of his mask. And no lightsaber beam poking out of it.

:: 8687 Toa Pohatu Nuva ::

I'd keep his general build, just changing colors, since short-and-stocky is fine for Pohatu. Except for Mata Nui's sake without those shoulders...

• Legs ~ brown clawed Inika feet, brown Piraka thigh armor, and yellow-orange joints and Vahki legs. I'd love to leave his feet and their spifftastic toe guards, but I think they might look too small with the rest of his new build...
• Arms/tools ~ yellow-orange short double-sockets with Nuva armor, then I'd leave the lower arms the same. As I've said, I like the propeller-claws enough... though I'd be tempted to make the "forearms" brown or yellow-orange.
• Body ~ brown Piraka body, yellow Metru hips, and Nuva chest armor...
• Mask ~ give it a top half that continues the sweeping, curved look of the Kakama Nuva, which negates the need for a visor...

All of that would actually be reddish-brown, the color Avak had, which replaced brown at the same time as the greys were replaced by their bluish counterparts. But moot point. He'd be advertised as a yellow set, just like Hewkii Inika... I'm not overly fond of the brown/yellow combination, but I have severe doubts Lego would use anything else if he had any brown at all.

Of course, if redesigning the Nuva were left entirely up to me, I'd make Project Nuva, since that's what I would want. But the above would actually look like redesigns, as the Nuva Phantoka supposedly are, instead of the near-complete transformation that Lewa and Pohatu look like they underwent...

~ ToM