Skybird

Hey everyone! Today I've decided to finally create a comprehensive catalog of official parts in variant colors, this can be something simple like the Nokama/Dalu mask in shades of blue (which has been submitted) to more unintentional stuff, which I will post some examples of! These will be posted in a forum over on my discord server.

Here's how you can help. If you have parts in your collection with abnormal amounts of one of more colors, then take a picture of them and send it my way!

What is a variant? It could be a marbled or duel molded part where one color is overrepresented or nearly missing, it could be a part in the incorrect shade, or where an intended color has been swapped out. If it's obviously different, then it might be a variant.

In order to submit variants, ideally you should own both the variant and the default piece, however some exceptions might be made where a variant is clearly incorrectly colored.

The format:

• All parts should be in the same picture with variants pictured first, on the left (except in cases where it makes sense to mix the order as with the vahki eyes pictured)

• Pieces should be pictured on a white paper or cloth background, or white pieces on black backgrounds

• Please do not included prototypes or misprints, which have been well documented by the community. These pieces should have came in retail sets, not events, and in most cases are no more expensive then the default color

In each of the pictures below, variants are on the left except vahki eyes, where the trans medium blue is the variant, this picture shows two different unique pieces in one picture, which is not preferred, but is shown in this case to compare transparent blues.

Are wmkk, sskk, etc not cast over plastic? I thought it was metal coated similar to the Chrome Hau situation, and given the hard plastic gray krana

It's hard to tell from my camera, the colors are pretty different under black light but I won't be able to capture that until it's darker, later tonight

I have a shadow Kraata that doesn't glow, compared to all of my others which glow magenta

I think I have a yellow that's quite a bit lighter, I'll check

They showed you the blue one?! Wooo

Do they have or can they get more pictures of the blue one? From more angles maybe?

Ownership problems? Did you get to see the blue one at all?

I believe these Shadow Leeches are fake but would love to see the source/seller and compare stories

After doing research, the only event I can find in Texas is at the Market Center in Dallas, but it's a trade show for Trades, not really a retail show, so for like home design stuff, not really toys from what I can tell, I also can't find info of one being held in 2007-08 which is when these would have to be from.

Since I own the Prototype Axalara from the New York International Toy Fair, which was held in Feb of 2008, it's likely that if these were going to show up anywhere, it would be there, as it is the largest tradeshow in the western hemisphere. That said comparing these to parts from the Axalara, the print type and material is incorrect, also having seen prototype printed Shadow Leeches, they are different from the final mold, details are moved around, and they use the same, white nylon airbrushed material, which these are clearly not. Though I cannot be 100% certain, since these do not show up as loose (as they are so small, they would be too easily stolen) I believe these are fake.

Also taking pictures at trade events is typically allowed within regulations, lego specifically includes a photo area and invites bloggers/press usually for this kind of stuff. They encourage look but don't touch

Part of it is the pandemic

It forced people inside, inevitably they get bored, do their spring cleaning, find something they were into as a kid, and reconnect with thay spark. And sometimes that spark is Bionicles, sometimes it's video reviews and other things.

I mention videos too because with the higher quality reviews coming out, and people buying sets to review and resell them at an insane markup, it really sours the market 

Lastly there is a bit of a halo effect, where a few pieces selling for a very high price kind of drive up the whole market. Is a good Ignika worth $500? No of course not, it's plastic, but people willing to buy in a sellers market means that prices are going to stay high, and higher prices will unfortunately justify the ever growing profit.

As some of you may know, I recently came into ownership of the Prototype Axalara T9 set that was featured in the New York International Toy Fair held in early Feb of 2008. The set can be seen alongside several other Phantoka and Mistika era sets there.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/no_onions/2276974074/in/photostream

This was a trade only event not open to the public. I came across this from a Goodwill in connecticut of all places, which struck me as odd initially, until I remembered that Lego's US Headquarters in there. Still turning up in pristine condition 15 years later is unbelievable.

The set uses several parts from what I have learned produced by a process called "Powder Bed Infusion" which is a method of 3D printing used in several industries to prototype objects, as it produces highly durable and fine parts from a variety of materials. This process was also used by Lego since at least the early 2000s, as a prototype Rahkshi made with the process popped up on Ebay not long ago.

It took me some time to track down photos, but one way I was able to confirm that this was the same model and not a copy was by the use of Sticky Tack which can be seen on the function "knobs" in some of the photos in the link above. These appear to be the exact same as the model in hand.

A minor difference is the tan 3L frictionless pins on the bottom front of the model, connected to the opening panels, is replaced by a red bushing pin in the prototype. This was not caught on the box art however, which shows the bushing pin in the final model, which is incorrect.

However, the most significant difference in the model is the mask and visor, both are fairly different from the final product.

I am hoping to find out more about this and how it ended up where it did. Either way, I am not complaining about owning a piece of history, let along a flagship.

I do have plans so long as everything comes together!

Recently bought the Prototype Axalara, I'll make a post once it's in my hands, but it's from the New York International Toy Fair from early Feb 2008

The wave 2 parts are all powder printed and sprayed from what I've heard, which makes sense, as they did that for a lot of protos like these for events or reference. It was a trade event not open to the public

https://www.flickr.com/photos/brickjournal/sets/72157603926050073/

Well, as the topic name suggests I'm trying to buy some of the Masker Bionicle knockoff sets which came out some years ago. If you have any one know where I could find some, come say hey!

Dark gray haus do, we are discussing if a light gray hau was used for the base of the chrome hau, I have some people saying black, some saying light gray

And lego has a habit of plating over similar colors around that time period (gold over tan, silver over light gray)

I have a super super blurry moc for Bohrok neck articulation, I'll have to share

15 hours ago, Xboxtravis said:

Yes the Chrome Hau is indeed plastic with a thin chrome layer, taking a look at mine in the pin where the face attaches I can see light gray plastic underneath. There are drill bit marks here too. Looks like a screw or something was drilled into the stud/pin where the face connects and that screw held the Hau while the chrome was being applied. 

 

 

Oh this is sweet news

So in theory, if one could remove the chrome plating (likely chemically, as to not damage the ABS) they could have a grey plastic hau? If it's even possible.

-EDIT- After doing a little research, I've found a chemical detergent called "super clean" (how original) and it removed chrome from ABS in a matter of seconds... I may be buying a few chrome parts soon... for research purposes

-EDITY EDIT THE 2nd-
So a user on my discord server has one that the chrome has chipped off of and it is black beneath, hmmm

I'm not at home, but I have a pic on me

No mine is custom, thought I typed that though.. oops.. fixing

So... this is just a brainwave I had

When the Silver Metal Krana Kal were made, they were a thin coat of sterling silver metal over hard light gray plastic
The Muaka/Kane-ra had silver painted panel fairings (under they eyes) which were also painted over light gray plastic

What if the Chrome Hau were over light gray plastic as well??? I'm sure it's not, but what if?

I'll have to buy one someday to find out, would go nicely with my custom Chrome Matatu and Rau