TommyG

TomRoid, it sounds like you've got some good stuff ready. I don't mid if you go ahead and append your WIP documents to the end. It would probably make sense to divide the database into 3 parts: Combiners (what's already there), Contest Models, and Buildable Media Models (MNOG Matoran, etc.). Thanks for getting that together. Your welcome! Now watch as the latter turns out to just be a few MNOLG Matoran and the dragon fly from BIONICLE Heroes! But in all seriousness, despite me pursuing the third section, there is admittedly a crazy amount of media models that were stylized or had non-physical colours. Like 2001 had Matoran and Rahi, 2003 had the rebuilt Matoran, 2004 had the comic Rahkshi and Toa Metru Promo Disc original Matoran, 2006 had several BIONICLE Heroes an VNOLG creations, 2007 had the dead Ta- and other Mahri-Nui Matoran, as well as Hydraxon's Tale Fish Rahi, etc. Incidentally, I found out some information about 2001 alternate models here and Pereki's recreations of those models here. I'll see what I can find in terms of totally buildable models, though. There's also the issue of creations that are obscured or hard to see properly (Kikanalo Hordika, Tales of the Tohunga enemies, Fikou Nui, etc.). Also, do we include somewhat differently coloured versions of pre-existing models (such as the black and orange Fikou from 2001 Promo images or the black and silver Fikou from BIONICLE Heroes)? I've put in replica instructions of the contest models (which certainly beefs it up a bit), but we must remember (and maybe with the media models too) their level of accuracy; maybe noticeably denote them as "replica instructions" if it has accuracy problems unless it's a model you could probably completely accurately recreate like maybe the Metru Mantis. That, and the instructions here are photographed with other colours used so, we may have to replicate the replica instructions. There's also one decidedly fan-made model Rahi of the Tunnel Stalker and I don't even know where that came from. It's not even listed in "Fan-Created Content" on Biosector01. And there are two contest models that don't even have pictures. Ironically (? Coincidentally?) enough, some of the golden constractions (assumed all unbuildable, because they're gold) are actually based of off the contest models. I've only spotted the Metru Mantis here (10 minute mark), but there are apparently more, as stated here. I might have spotted the Proto Drake in an earlier playthrough video, but I could be mistaken. And if it's miscellaneous information worth contributing, the Mukau, Protodax and Manutri were all designed by Daniel Lipkowitz, who also did other combiners for the LEGO Club Magazine (so whether that means all of, some or none of the other magazine combiners, I'm not sure). EDIT: Here's the dragonfly I was talking about. It looks like it could be basic blue, but you could maybe also say that of Vezok's dark blue tone in the game. I also don't know whether the "wings" are Vezok's sand blue or Thok's medium blue.

Funny story actually; I'd just put this topic up, and I decided I wanted to re-read my Bionicle comics because I hadn't done that in forever. Then I came to this panel, which I'd completely forgotten about, and went "Oh *bleeep*!" I wish I could have reproduced those two spines in detail. Maybe someone with more artistic skill than myself could 3D print those two in the style of the legit Rahkshi spines. If you do think they are different, non-original 6 (or even non-Heat Vision, who also appeared in scale in the Metru comics) Rahkshi, which ones are they?

If they do release instructions for it, you should definitely see how 1:1 your recreation is.

I have two WIP documents about Contest Models' instructions/galleries and non-physical models in media (online games, video games, etc.); should I contribute my information to the database anyway even though it's not exactly "short-term"? I mean the latter could just be the physically buildable models like some 01-04 Matoran (counting Vakama/Nokama/Whenua/Onewa/Nuju/Matau Movie Matoran, maybe?), BH Acid Fly and so on, or could just denote those unbuildable (like maybe the MNOLG Makuta Void). I mean I'd perhaps get some instructions made but (more or less) I don't think I have all the parts necessary to make the instruction-less ones. I'll see what I can do... Also, how do we start going about doing the inventories?

Um... How about putting images of the combiners at the left side of the checklist with their components being on the corresponding vertical row? There were also some contest models with creator-made instructions made of them, if they are eligible for this checklist. Oh, I see. So it's just the one set of 6 you need, correct?

I've made it! This is my own checklist for all the components needed for all of the combiners and alternate models. Few things to note: I did not include the five combiners released as actual, standalone sets (Takutanuva, Ultimate Dume, Voporak, Irnakk and Vezon & Kardas).I did not include any of the 15 Master Builder Set models.I did include all of the playsets alternate models by just listing all of the playsets here (don't worry, I haven't forgotten about the Caravan Crawler).They may all have alternate models, be it on the back of their boxes for '05 and '06 or instructions for '07. If I've made a mistake (like one of the playsets here actually doesn't have an alternate model), please let me know.I did include the "Golden Bionicle" of the Stars sets.I did include both 2002 Rahi "From your own collection" models (Ranama and Kirikori Nui).I did include any and all Kabaya (including the slightly different back of the box ones) and foreign combiners like the Nuhvok/Kohrak combiner, the Japanese "Manga inspired" combiner and the two Korean Piraka combiners. More information here: http://www.bzpower.com/board/topic/15332-comprehensive-bionicle-alternate-model-database/

I don't remember that, but I consider it canon. It lines up with most of the storyline aspects of 2006 Are you sure it adds any crucial information to it, though? (besides maybe the canon enemies and Rahi?) Anyways, this is interesting; I was thinking of eventually getting into G1's story properly through reading the 2001-2003 & 2006 books I have, watching the movies, playing the games like MNOLG and Heroes (not canon, but included with it anyway) and so fourth, I could actually use this as a guide for when I do that with years like 2001, so thanks! I don't have a lot of the books though, so maybe I'd have to get those some more of those at some point... Another thing to consider, I assume things like the movies aren't included because their information is already here, but what about that first GBA game Tales of the Tohunga? Didn't that cite Takua's doings to get the Toa Stones and make the Toa arrive? I assume it would make sense to add that to it.

Bionicle 2015 has a canon?

Makes me want to build a Karzahni non-mutated MOC... Is that what you plan to do?

Kind of want to try out that "minifig tool for Rahkshi spine" technique myself if I ever make a Silver Rahkshi. I've heard a silver one appeared in the Metru comics, but the only panel I could find on that was this, which I can't tell the colours on:

.... What? 1) It's not an "entirely different idea." You want maximum customization in a MMO because you're going to be staring at your character for 1000 hours and you want to be looking at something pretty. These sets are going to be on my shelf for the rest of eternity; why would I do anything less then make them as appealing as possible? You're not making sense... 2) But... I didn't take someone else's thing, paint it, and call it new... I put a lot of thought into picking the pieces I did while consciously staying within the Iruini/Norik guidelines. So again... not really making any sense. But then I wouldn't have the official Norik and Iruini on my shelf. They wouldn't be genuine. Why would I ruin the integrity of my collection like that? Seriously, we're speaking different languages here. I'm also a collector too, so don't be on a high horse about that, it doesn't make you anything special, and yes you are taking an existing thing since it's part of the actual Bionicle lore, which last time I checked you didn't create. I'm baffled that you think painting and gluing parts is superior to actual imagination and effort of building something. Ok, let's break this down one final time. 1) "Existing thing." When you first said that, you were talking about sets. You were referring to taking a set, painting it blue, then calling it "new." You can't just change what you were referring to in the middle of an argument. 2) "Imagination." If you'd bothered to read or study my topics in any detail, you'd have noticed that in my Rahkshi topic I talked about the spine design for the light blue one. See, for 10 years I always considered the notion of making the Rahkshi an impossible task, because they never made any different spines. Then one day I was INSPIRED by that spine design. There's nothing you can complain about in that particular design, because there is no cutting or painting involved in it. It's just a number of minifig weapons arranged cleverly in an alternating, interlocking manner. After ten years, realizing I could make my OWN spines, THAT way... It was an enormous inspiration that required a lot of imagination. So again... claiming that putting thought into customization lacks "imagination" doesn't make any sense. 3) "Effort." Do I really need to explain the effort of Bricklink buying from dozens of shops, comparing pieces, painting, and getting a hold of the Block parts? I don't enjoy nitpicking over vocabulary and semantics but, you opened the can of worms, which I am now closing. You have your opinion. We all now know what it is, congratulations. You'll never change my opinion. So, that's the end of it. @ 2) That's quite interesting. It's awesome to see all the different, unexpected ways LEGO parts can connect together.

Hey, one accomplishment is better than nothing. So, no Tohunga, Fikou, Click, Klakk, Good Guys, Bad Guys, Kraatu, Turaga Lhikan, playset promos, Squid Launcher Function or Function 2008 but totally the Powerpack, Master Builder Set, Takutanuva, Ultimate Dume, Voporak, Irnakk, Vezon & Kardas, tubs and Jetrax T6 SE? I imagine the promos are all fairly cheap (with the canon ones being a bit more expensive, maybe?) aside from Turaga Lhikan's which is fairly elusive on BrickLink, and some weren't even reportedly released as sets, but had their instructions released online, so you could just BrickLink those.

Duuuuude! You have sets from the future?! Tell us all about them! Do we get new bad guys or new good guys? Are there Titans? Do we get new promotional polybag "Good Guy" or "Bad Guy" sets?

If it's to do with "the main objective of LEGO", then would it kill them to stop showing parts in non-existent colours in their media of TV shows, movies, web content and so fourth all the time? There's still no "official" way of properly constructing a lot of the Matoran from 2001 or 2003 (especially if they're Le-Matoran or Onu-Matoran in the latter's case) and to this day they're still doing it with parts shown in The LEGO Movie in non-existent colours. I'd say there's perhaps enough of a good enough reason for modding in that case.

Can you put the replica instructions up on the internet, or is it an exclusive thing?

You mean the pictures that sometimes have slightly different construction? Let's see, Jaller Mahri has his "crab-backpack" with his remaining pieces (albeit strangely) put on his back for swapping out modes (Crab on back - Crab & Cordak on Back - Normal Mode), Nuparu Mahri has more dark grey and is going to have a back weapons mod for his shield and Aqua Blaster Blade and Hewkii has his proportions improved, a hand, his colour problems fixed and his Cordak on top of his arm (as well as another "mask spike"), but other than those and slight things with the rest and Nuva, can't think of much.

Hypothetically, if you were to ever get those two Final Fighters bootlegs would you add their masks to these mocs? Nice mocs btw, and a very impressive collection.

The story so far...

There's a dragonfly-like enemy in BIONICLE Heroes (it might be called the Acid Fly) that's just Toa Metru hips and short double-ball sockets, so that'd be an easy CGI model to make in real life assuming the colours aren't impossible. Oh, and apparently Kyry had creator-made instructions all along, bringing the total count of contest models with instructions to seven: http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=478683 They should really mention that on BS01... By the way, is it possible some contest models like Miserix could have been disassembled by their creators in a way that no 100% legitimate instructions could ever be produced of them?

My preference is to just pick a max number you want the lines to hit and then wrap around. But keeping everything related to the same combiner/type of combiner in the same line, regardless of how long, should be pretty clear I think. Or you could just have one listing per set, with multiple checkboxes. You missed the Mata red Great Huna from the Matoran in the Karzahni set, didn't you? Sarda's mask is identical to the one included with Vakama and Balta. ~|ET|~ Thanks for the suggestions. And the one in 2006 QUICK Good Guy Red?

Alright, for the heck of it, I'm going to post my own "combiner component" checklist; basically all the doubles (or in some cases, quintuples, I'm sure) needed if you want to make all the combiners/alternate models coexist with the component sets. This excludes the five combiners released as sets by themselves (Takutanuva, Ultimate Dume, Voporak, Irnakk and Vezon & Kardas). Question: Should over six components on the same horizontal line if they're a part of the same set series? (e.g. putting all 19 Turaga components on the same horizontal line)

I agree. If it were a prototype that was never used, i.e. noble Kadin, then it could go for at least $500, but other than that, $75-150 is plenty to ask for. I agree. If it were a prototype that was never used, i.e. Bionicle Heroes Ignika, Mask of Elemental Energy, or noble Kadin, then it could go for at least $500, but other than that, $75-150 is plenty to ask for. Do those prototypes exist?

Unless they were destroyed as mentioned before for prototypes.

Collecting is totally cool. That's where all the fun is! I'd love to have more rare pieces, but I'm also pretty happy with where I am and wouldn't be heartbroken if I didn't get any more. It's difficult to say what counts as commercially available. Pieces like the gold Kraata, the 14 European misprints, and the marbled red/clear Hau Nuva were mistakenly included in sets and collectible packs, so they were commercially available, but not intentionally. I don't think there's really a definition of "complete collection" Also, I guess there was the Toa Tuyet set. Supposedly LEGO made just one of those and it's in a vault at LEGO HQ somewhere. But I can't think of any others. Yeah, alright! I'm personally wondering if getting all the sets would be feasible. Wow, I didn't know that. Where'd you get that information from? I'm now real curious. Sounds a bit sketchy that they produced a single set to themselves like that, unless it was some kind of prototype. Of course, there are a lot of prototype models never made into sets. One example is the Matoran Sphere Vehicle (seen in BIONICLE 2 special features). Unfortunately, I've also heard prototypes, especially full models, are usually destroyed, recycled or thrown away at some point; it would take just so much physical space at LEGO to store all of the various prototypes (not including the multiple made for a single set or the ones not made into sets at all) that they don't really have a use for, and they can't give them away or sell them (usually) because of legal reasons for them not attaining to quality standards, as well as to keep them from reaching competitors' hands. Not sure if that goes for this set, but it's something to consider. I don't know if there's anything going against the possibility that they took photos of the prototypes while they still existed though (perhaps someone here could confirm or deconfirm that?), so I certainly hope they did. Also, it'd be cool to see if someone did get pictures of this set, if they could recreate it ala Sand Tarakava.

Even MC will never have a complete collection, if he counts ultra-rare prototypes and misprints. All the pieces from the Bink bag, for instance, are locked up with collectors who are discouraged from selling or even trading them. So chances are that pieces like the purple Gelu helmets and magenta Tarix helmet will stay with their current owners. Truth be told, I don't think that all those pieces should be in one person's collection anyways. They started off all together in the Bink bag, and were distributed so that lots of people could appreciate and enjoy them. I think that if they all became part of one collection again, it would go against LEGO's intent in giving them to Black Six in the first place. -Letagi Having everything but prototypes and misprints on the other hand must still be pretty satisfying though. Hypothetically, would that additionally include commercially released misprints? (and if so, does the Gold Rahkshi Kraata count?) Also, I assume there weren't any other prototypes accountable here that varied wildly from any released set such as the Sand Tarakava, right? Someone did a recreation of that, also.