Its official. If lego doesn't hire you as a set designer, I will sue them.

Honestly though, this is the most amazing thing I have ever seen. Love the thigh armor, as well as the mask. Plus, green instead of red really works. Again, the most amazing thing ever. EVER.

~Z

Hm. I like it a lot, except for the leg armor. Although I do think leg armor in general is good for Onua, using the Bitil wings doesn't strike me as a good choice, because from what I've seen, the wing pieces would completely cover up his legs and maybe even hinder his articulation, making it harder for him to even move his legs at all.

But I prefer the use of green over red, especially since it goes with his original eyes.

You know, my computer HATES Brickshelf, 'cuz it won't let me view this. You don't happen to have this on another site, do you?

Alright, I can see it now. I think this version is much better, but I would change the fins on front of the armor, and give him at least one claw or a chainsaw. Very good overall, though.

Its official. If lego doesn't hire you as a set designer, I will sue them.

 

Honestly though, this is the most amazing thing I have ever seen. Love the thigh armor, as well as the mask. Plus, green instead of red really works. Again, the most amazing thing ever. EVER.

 

 

 

~Z

Yes.

Yes, this is how Onua should have been. End of story. B)

One problem though: yes, Onua needs claws. Or at least he needs some kind of weapon, because right now he's looking very.... unarmed.

~~END~~

Want. Want! WANT!

-SZ-

Once again, better than the official. Love the mask, and the hunch is good. Now some points of criticism. I think the battering ram thing could lose the laser. The laser doesn't seem very Onua-like to me. Maybe Kopaka, but not Onua. I'd just give it a bulky front so it could actually function as one without the laser getting in the way.

I'm not sure if this warrants a new mold or not, but he definitely needs claws, otherwise he falls in the Kopaka Phantoka category of projectiles-only Toa. If a new mold, it should be similar to the old claws. If old mold, Nuparu Inika claws, or heck, the originals with a blue axlepin in the pin hole and a #1 Technic angle connecter on the axle, and it would fit on the "finger" of the socket like Nuparu Inika, and the Technic connecter could prevent it from wobbling. Either way, it would definitely have to fit on the finger of the socket. Looks and poses better that way. In order to hold the battering ram, he would have an 2-stud axle on the side of the hand-socket, and a Technic connecter could attach to that. The connecter would be one of those connecters like a #1 Technic angle connecter except with a +-hole instead of a O-hole.

I'm not sure what this bright-color requirement is, but green is far better than red on Onua.

Just as a note, I think a backwards Piraka body with the redesigned Nuva armor over that would be better to accentuate his short height.

What's with the fins on the back of his shins? And I think the Bitil wing is far too wide to fit on his shin and not look silly. Maybe use it as back armor instead of the Inika shoulder armor?

I'm not sure jetpacks really fit Onua. I think he should have something like a propeller made of Tahu's buzzsaw on his back, with angled connecters so it spins over his mask (based off Aanchir's idea). Not sure if I made myself clear there.

But overall, this is really good, and something like what I expected from TLC, unlike the official. One question, though: Is the mask based of an existing mask or is it a new design made from scratch?

This made my day. =)

My thoughts--

• Amazing how you merged the real Onua Mistika mask with the 2002 mask in such a way that maintained the familiarity factor. And whether or not you realize it, it seems you also gave homage to this prototype. What I love about all your Project Nuva masks--this one in particular--is that they maintain the look of the old masks while simultaneously normalizing all the organic curves and stuff in the 2002 forms. Lovely.
• Translucent dark green Metru eyes aren't new--Whenua had them, didn't he?
• I would personally like the same dark green used for the eyes used on the Ghostblaster, but you might need the neon green to help it pop, so I digress.
• Love the use of green--matches the bog of the swamp perfectly, plays on that theme of cutting vegitation, and adds the pop factor without making it blaringly hideous.
• I'm still not clear on how both the Matoro cutters, Metru armor, and jetpacks can all attach....
• Claws? Hmmm... well, they would be quite practical for slicing through vegitation, but at the same time, he did lose his old ones in 2002... not sure.
• WANT.

Translucent dark green Metru eyes aren't new--Whenua had them, didn't he?

Don't like the lower leg armor. Looks... off.

And yes, claws, or heck, chainsaws.

Answering time! As always, much thanks to those whom I don't quote as well...

Hm. I like it a lot, except for the leg armor. Although I do think leg armor in general is good for Onua, using the Bitil wings doesn't strike me as a good choice, because from what I've seen, the wing pieces would completely cover up his legs and maybe even hinder his articulation, making it harder for him to even move his legs at all.

Actually, it leaves (if I counted right) three studs exposed at the top of the leg, and it doesn't get in the way of his feet at all. There's a full stud of space between the bottom of the Bitil wing and the top of the round Inika foot.

One problem though: yes, Onua needs claws. Or at least he needs some kind of weapon, because right now he's looking very.... unarmed.

Well, he has the blaster; he's just not holding it... claws would be ideal, but I need to find a better way to attach them – what I had come up with still is problematic, I've realized.

I think the battering ram thing could lose the laser. The laser doesn't seem very Onua-like to me. Maybe Kopaka, but not Onua. I'd just give it a bulky front so it could actually function as one without the laser getting in the way.

Eh, I don't think it detracts... and is that thing supposed to be a battering ram?

I'm not sure if this warrants a new mold or not, but he definitely needs claws, otherwise he falls in the Kopaka Phantoka category of projectiles-only Toa.

Mistika claws. I've tried a bunch of different ways to get them to work, but none of them have – it's almost impossible to make the claws properly oriented, positionable, AND still leave a connection point available for a blue axle-pin piece for him to hold the blaster. (Since he has to hold it with both hands.)

I'm not sure what this bright-color requirement is, but green is far better than red on Onua.

It's this thing Lego has where all the black and white canister sets have to have some touch of bright color to them. Pridak, Mantax, Onua, and Krika's red; Matoro Mahri's blue and his and Nuparu's red Cordak stuff; Kopaka Phantoka's red lightsaber beams...

Just as a note, I think a backwards Piraka body with the redesigned Nuva armor over that would be better to accentuate his short height.

That would be much nicer, but the Nuva armor wouldn't fit well. It would have to be forward a stud and things would be messed up...

What's with the fins on the back of his shins? And I think the Bitil wing is far too wide to fit on his shin and not look silly. Maybe use it as back armor instead of the Inika shoulder armor?

The fin's there because all the Nuva Mistika have it somewhere, and I thought it looked much nicer behind his legs than behind his shoulders... The Bitil armor I like for its width – maybe a little silly to some, but it gives him great bulk and actually serves as armor. And it wouldn't work as back armor; he needs a place for Photok to connect (hence, the Inika armor).

I'm not sure jetpacks really fit Onua. I think he should have something like a propeller made of Tahu's buzzsaw on his back, with angled connecters so it spins over his mask (based off Aanchir's idea). Not sure if I made myself clear there.

Interesting; the first Toa I thought of for jetpacks was Onua. I can't explain why; they just seemed to me to fit him and no one else. But I do think the propeller would look even sillier than you think the leg armor looks now, and it would also be much less elegant, both in construction and appearance...

One question, though: Is the mask based of an existing mask or is it a new design made from scratch?

Pakari Nuva, perhaps?

By the way, I very much like your posts in response to these. They're both interesting and allow for explanation of the design...

Dok ~ Thankee very much!

And whether or not you realize it, it seems you also gave homage to this prototype.

Yup, that was my inspiration. I had seen that and realized one could turn the eyebrows ridges on the Pakari Nuva into fighter jet air intakes very neatly.

Translucent dark green Metru eyes aren't new--Whenua had them, didn't he?

Aye, but these are the truncated ones, as in Kongu Mahri. They let him move his head back further.

I would personally like the same dark green used for the eyes used on the Ghostblaster, but you might need the neon green to help it pop, so I digress.

Yeah, I'd love it if they could match, but that one lightsaber beam I really don't think Lego would be willing to recolor, just for Onua...

I'm still not clear on how both the Matoro cutters, Metru armor, and jetpacks can all attach....

Instead of a 2-axle connecting the Metru armor to the socket, you have that Technic piece I showed, with the axle-receiving section at the back. The Matoro cutter plugs into that, and then the jetpack attaches to the Matoro cutter like in Lewa... hopefully that explains it; if not I actually do have a drawing of it. >>

ToM, why are you so awesome? Stop it. STOP IT NOW.

Sorry. And sorry to Bundalings, too, for the same reason.

If anyone can come up with a way to get the Mistika claws to attach, be positionable (like with his hands), and still let him hold the blaster, do tell me...

Edited to include the DV:

Don't like the lower leg armor. Looks... off.

 

And yes, claws, or heck, chainsaws.

Hm, maybe it'll look better once I can grab Bitil and take a picture of it... the alignment and proportions are a bit whacked in the drawing, for one thing.

And yes. I just need to make the claws work. >>

This looks great! I've been thinking lately that green is a nice accent for the Earth element.

The leg armor/shields are interesting, but would big armor be practical? But I guess you wanted to keep them, and it's not bad.

Claws would be good. And some sort of chainsaw weapon from Onua Nuva?

Green eyes FTW on Onu-Toa.

The Nuva chest armor is cool too.

-CF

This looks great! I've been thinking lately that green is a nice accent for the Earth element.

 

The leg armor/shields are interesting, but would big armor be practical? But I guess you wanted to keep them, and it's not bad.

 

Claws would be good. And some sort of chainsaw weapon from Onua Nuva?

 

Green eyes FTW on Onu-Toa.

 

The Nuva chest armor is cool too.

 

-CF

It's very sad that you can come up with something like this that I'd actually buy, whereas I think the official sets are awful. And you aren't even paid to be awesome.

I wonder how it would look if all the green was trans dark green, not just his eyes. Trans pieces might look pretty good.

I wonder how it would look if all the green was trans dark green, not just his eyes. Trans pieces might look pretty good.

You said I would like this, ToM ... and yesh, I do. This is almost more Onua than there's ever been Onua since '01. Mask, armour, everything is spot on - not to mention you're a crazy-awesome set designer. That upper arm armour and claw arrangement is incredibly clever and simple. I can see how the leg armour can be considered a little big and over-the-top, but I think it balances the jetpacks quite nicely. Also, sometimes you have to exaggerate to make it look good, and Onua is the epitome of bulk among the original Toa anyway.

Also, you make LEGO look sad. Truly. What's the point of making cool villain sets if the heroes can't match?

Aye, but these are the truncated ones, as in Kongu Mahri. They let him move his head back further.

Ah, of course.

Instead of a 2-axle connecting the Metru armor to the socket, you have that Technic piece I showed, with the axle-receiving section at the back. The Matoro cutter plugs into that, and then the jetpack attaches to the Matoro cutter like in Lewa... hopefully that explains it; if not I actually do have a drawing of it. >>

*checks buidling instructions for Lewa Phantoka*

Oh, that's how the jetpacks attach. That makes sense now.

And chainsaws would be boss for cutting vegitation as well, but with Onua's current level of customization and the Ghostblaster, Lego, if it were designing this set, probably wouldn't add them.

Ive been wondering whos brickshelf account that was on Bzpower, and now i have found out. This is amazing. Something i would want to buy more than the real toa. leave it as it is, its great already. Are you going to make Takanuva as well? that would be great. Also, is Gali going to have the same thing in that style. i say that as you already designed one. Keep up the good work!

Also, you make LEGO look sad.

I'd say Lego did that all by itself.

I think the battering ram thing could lose the laser. The laser doesn't seem very Onua-like to me. Maybe Kopaka, but not Onua. I'd just give it a bulky front so it could actually function as one without the laser getting in the way.

Eh, I don't think it detracts... and is that thing supposed to be a battering ram?

I'm assuming it is. And a battering ram is a very Earth-like weapon, and I think it fits Onua, though the practility of it in the air is questionable...

I'm not sure if this warrants a new mold or not, but he definitely needs claws, otherwise he falls in the Kopaka Phantoka category of projectiles-only Toa.

Mistika claws. I've tried a bunch of different ways to get them to work, but none of them have – it's almost impossible to make the claws properly oriented, positionable, AND still leave a connection point available for a blue axle-pin piece for him to hold the blaster. (Since he has to hold it with both hands.)

I'm not that fond of the Mistika claws, but they're better than nothing. As for the attachment point, right now your design has a blue axlepin connected in the battering ram, with Onua's "finger" (the part on the hand-socket that sticks out) holding on to it. I suggest leaving the blue axlepin on the battering ram the way it is. Put a Mistika claw on the finger of the hand-socket. That should leave plenty of room on the side axle-holes. You know one of those Technic connecters that's like a Technic angle connecter #1 (the connecter with only one axle-recieving end) but instead of an O-hole, it has a +-hole? I would suggest putting a 2-stud axle on the side of the hand-socket, have one end of the Technic connecter fit on the axle, and the other end fit on the blue axlepin on the battering ram. I'm not sure if you get what I'm saying, so I'll try to put up a pic.

Just as a note, I think a backwards Piraka body with the redesigned Nuva armor over that would be better to accentuate his short height.

That would be much nicer, but the Nuva armor wouldn't fit well. It would have to be forward a stud and things would be messed up...

I don't understand. The backwards Piraka body is completely flat, so unless there's sticking out of the back of the redesigned Nuva chest armor, it would fit. Unless the connection points are unaligned...

What's with the fins on the back of his shins? And I think the Bitil wing is far too wide to fit on his shin and not look silly. Maybe use it as back armor instead of the Inika shoulder armor?

The fin's there because all the Nuva Mistika have it somewhere, and I thought it looked much nicer behind his legs than behind his shoulders... The Bitil armor I like for its width – maybe a little silly to some, but it gives him great bulk and actually serves as armor. And it wouldn't work as back armor; he needs a place for Photok to connect (hence, the Inika armor).

I understand about the fins now. I still don't like them that much on Onua, but if this was a real set I'd just take them off.

I think the shin armor looks great in the drawing. It's just that in your drawing, it's scaled down. With Bitil wings in real-life, I think it would be too wide. And I'm suggesting that the Matoran connection point be on top of the Bitil wing if it's on his back. It has the three holes in a row, it would fit.

I'm not sure jetpacks really fit Onua. I think he should have something like a propeller made of Tahu's buzzsaw on his back, with angled connecters so it spins over his mask (based off Aanchir's idea). Not sure if I made myself clear there.

Interesting; the first Toa I thought of for jetpacks was Onua. I can't explain why; they just seemed to me to fit him and no one else. But I do think the propeller would look even sillier than you think the leg armor looks now, and it would also be much less elegant, both in construction and appearance...

I don't know. I think a propeller fits Onua, a type of guy who gets his hands dirty a lot more than his fellow Toa, then a hi-tech jetpack does. And I think if done right, the propeller could look not so silly (like redesigning the blade part), if not elegant.

One question, though: Is the mask based of an existing mask or is it a new design made from scratch?

Pakari Nuva, perhaps?

 

By the way, I very much like your posts in response to these. They're both interesting and allow for explanation of the design...

I meant besides the original mask, but that question's answered now.

BTW, thanks .

Dude, you rocked. I love this Onua design, it looks more like him and I like the bulks.

I was thinking of him with the Inika claws would make him more armed to the teeth, but I can't imagine him holding the blaster with the claws.

WANT.

~E~

Hmm..... I'm liking what you have here ToM. [or.. you're not really ToM are you?]

Anyway, unfortunately, I do have a few grips. Yeah, some of them have been told by other members, but still.

The head is fabulous. It looks like the new Mistika version, but also like the Nuva version, props for that. Seriously, if this was the real set mask, it'd probably be the first Toa Mistika I'd buy. As of now, I highly doubt that I'll ever buy him. Yes! Dark Green Eyes!!!!

The jetpacks I love. Why? Well.. aren't Onu-Matoran/Toa known for mining/technology? I mean, Nuparu invented the Vahki, etc. So, it fits perfectly to have him have the higher-technical flight means. Especially if Lewa doesn't use them. The green claws too are great. I'm sure MOCists will too find a good use for green Matoro Claws. I know I will The Vahki legs do well with bulkiness, and I'm whole-heartily glad that you used a Metru double-socket connector, rather than the Inika ones. It makes them more proportionate. And, I'll talk about the claws/blaster below.

Gray Piraka Armor is awesome. I would have liked a (+O+) piece on the back, but I understand why that's not there. LEGO doesn't like using pieces obviously. Now we come to the lower legs. What are my thoughts? Well, I like the 'fins' on the back of the legs, that's for sure. They will definitely guide his way when he flies. Now, the Bitil wings. No. I don't like them. Something the size of a Avotoran Jetpack would be much better. I don't like how it covers half of the upper leg as well. Having it only cover a stud and a half-or so, would be much better. That way, it'd be much like the Inika legs. Next, the width. I don't like it. It should only be a stud wide than the Vahki leg all together. Meaning, only a half-stud on each side. So, making another piece would be very good. These will limit his flight too. You basically just ruined the point of the 'fins', and even more so, because of their massiveness. [i'm not trying to sound rude of course, I do like it.] Then, the feet. I don't like them. They're flat, thin, weird, and overall don't fit a Toa of Earth in my opinion. If you had to use an existing foot, I'd say Mantax's would be the best.....

The Torso is quite cool. The re-designed Nuva armor is awesome, and fits perfectly. The hunched back too is awesome. Still.. it'd be interesting to see the bright-orange Pohtok riding on the back of a black/dark green/gray Toa of Earth

Now to the blaster. No. Just, no. First of all, I have no idea how it could be called a battering ram.. it's a blaster. Secondly, a battering ram-ish weapon-thing would be much better IMO. I don't like the lightsaber piece. It makes it seem like a 'sniper' weapon, which fits Kopaka and Gali more than Onua. It'd even fit Lewa better.. but Onua? No. And, I don't even particularly like the design either.... I would get rid of a projectile weapon all together, then give him claws and some sort of jackhammer/battering-ram/those quake things, but newly designed. Those would really fit better. And, I wouldn't use the new Mistika claws, I'm just not fond of them. I'd try to make something more like the original Onua Olda.

Still, you impress me ToM. I've always admired your work, and I do think this is truly fabulous. This would definitely be worth the three extra dollars. While this isn't as good as your Kopaka, I still love it.

Oh, but does this mean we'll be seeing Lewa soon? Also, do you plan on doing Pohatu, Tahu, and a re-make of Gali? You've done Gali, yes, but not in this nice design like Kopaka and Onua. I await your Tahu one though, since It'd be very interesting to see what you do with that.

Oh, and I want to see that MOC. Don't you even have a teaser picture? *Begs*

P.S. Would you mind if I made your Kopaka and Onua in set form? Of course, Onua won't be anywhere near as good, since I can't get half the things, but Kopaka is pretty much able, except for the double wings and chest armor.

It's strange, too, because there is virtually no reason Lego couldn't have done sets like these. They adhere to all the new rules they've made for themselves (lack of gears, etc.) and still retain a degree of recognizabiltiy. I don't understand what would have stopped them from creating sets like these... I can only conclude that it is a lack of creativity.

And on that note, they did replace the old designers, did they not? BS01 only has a few articles on the designers, and none of them are the same ones that Lego had that interview with in the article that was on their website several years ago. It looks like they all came on around 2006 or later. >.>