Siegfried Posted June 19, 2009 This line really surprised me; full scale Bionicle vehicles?! I would have never expect it for size reasons alone. Yet here it is, and it is indeed big! Here is a Walrus to scale. When I first saw this model I thought, 'It's so big you could re-design it to be a mini-fig scale space craft!'... and while I won't actually do that, that's were the parts will probably end up. Note the two small wheels near the rider (Lewa Nuva); the front is used to open the weapon bay, the rear is for deploying the wing tips. The back is full of extra bionicle bits. The black dome pieces work well here as engines... but the area still seems a bit lacking. With a turn the forward wheel the door opens and the required shooting function is revealed. I actually expected that you'd be able to remote shoot them as well, but that needs to be done manually. For that haven't used the 'Midak Skyblasters', they are pretty cool. Four Zamor Spheres fit in (it's kind of like loading a pump shotgun) and are held in by spring pressure, and you can then throw them out one at a time. The gearing to open the doors is well done too and the top and bottom snap open nice and sharply. (It could be a bit stiff for kids though.) The other main function are the extending wing tips. Here they are stowed for landing. As you can see, there's no room to carry Bionicle babes. On a similar note, before I show you the wing tips extended, I'd like to highlight one of the other design issues... Ouch! Lewa Nuva needs to be lying really low otherwise his head is clipped every time. Poor guy... Here they are extended and the landing gear retracted. For the purpose of the review, please ignore the white stand; it's not part of the set. For the curious here's my stand. I made this as I found much of the model hard to photograph without it. The model is easy to balance at this point; the stand is just taking the weight and it's clip in with just a pin either side. Lewa Nuva with his ride. I hope his head is feeling better. Landing gear extended. If you rotate the wheel... ...it neatly folds up. The Axalara T9 seems to fit most Bionicles. The Rahkshi (this one is Vorahk) due to their odd shape don't work too well... ..but Thok looks the part. See; he's smiling! The front has some good details. The model is too big for my photo area, and I'll embarrass myself here by proving it. The panels just ahead of Lewa Nuva lift... ...to reveal a nice stowage area. (I do wonder where the engine of this thing fits though...) The last sight the enemy will see before 8 balls bounce off his head. The tip extension works via ball joints and a rotor. Wing detail. Functions: Door: Remote opening of two split doors via knob wheels. Wings: Extending via rotor connected using ball joints and steering links, driven via knob wheels. Shooting function: Boing ouch, boing ouch, boing ouch, boing ouch (x2) Stand: Retractable. Remote shooting would have been nice 8/10 Parts: Loads of the new panels and a lot of the newer bionicle parts. It's a great source of knob wheels too; 10 are included. 9/10 Price: At $129.99 AUD for 693 parts it isn't good. Since many of them are pins it's pretty horrid actually. I bought this half price and I've either seen this set on sale... or not selling. 5/10 Looks: I like the design of this. From most angles it looks solid. 8/10 Fudge: It's fun to swoosh around, but ultimately for a non-bionicle fan it doesn't offer a lot at full price. At half price it's a steal! 2/10 Overall: Not recommended at full price. 6/10 You can find more photos here, and if you want more just ask and I'll see what I can do. You better ask fast though as this has been scheduled for destruction... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zip Posted June 19, 2009 Here in the US, several people got the set on discount for a mere $30.00 USD at Wal-Mart. That's how I got mine. The set itself gets boring after a while, it's just a box after all. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Asuka Posted June 19, 2009 Thanks for the nice review! Since that cool hoverbike in the 8596 Takanuva set I´ve a slight soft spot for some of these nice and futuristic Bionicle vehicles, and that one and the smaller but also very neat 8941 Rockoh T3´re really pretty cool ones. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Alchemyst Posted June 19, 2009 Yea, I wouldn't buy it at $80USD either, got mine for around $44 at a Target. Great review, I think you covered many important parts, but missed the building portion. That's what amazed me, with all the nifty designing with math involved. [-The Alchemyst-] Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Siegfried Posted June 25, 2009 If anyone wants more photos it's too late; this set has "accidently" fallen into the sorting bin! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HumanPackMule Posted July 11, 2009 If anyone wants more photos it's too late; this set has "accidently" fallen into the sorting bin! NOOOOOO!!!! WHY GOD? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Glacarcheo Posted July 14, 2009 Excellent job Siegfried! This is a great review on an excellent set! I now must have this set, even if I have to *gasp* do chores! Again, keep up the top notch work! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Siegfried Posted July 14, 2009 NOOOOOO!!!! WHY GOD? Well I must confess that while it's got a big "spare parts" tag on it I've been too busy to do anything about it. Thus if you want photos just ask, but if you're just shocked that I bought this for spare parts then... sorry? Excellent job Siegfried! This is a great review on an excellent set! I now must have this set, even if I have to *gasp* do chores! Again, keep up the top notch work! Thanks! It's a very impressive set. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bfahome Posted July 14, 2009 NOOOOOO!!!! WHY GOD? To be honest, the only things keeping me from ripping my Axalara to bits and using the parts elsewhere is my constant fear that soon I'll want to use it again and I'd be too lazy to put it back together. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brickthing Posted July 14, 2009 Well I must confess that while it's got a big "spare parts" tag on it I've been too busy to do anything about it. Thus if you want photos just ask, but if you're just shocked that I bought this for spare parts then... sorry? I can't really see you using the red shields or Lewa's mask in a MOC though... To be honest, the only things keeping me from ripping my Axalara to bits and using the parts elsewhere is my constant fear that soon I'll want to use it again and I'd be too lazy to put it back together. A pile of parts has 0 swooshability, and who doesn't like swooshability? Personally, if I take Axalara apart, there will just be pathetic Lewa whom I can't take apart for fear of breaking joints. So I occasionally borrow the red panels, but otherwise I leave my Axalara on top of my cupboard. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Widdi Posted July 28, 2009 Nice review. I don't have this, but the smaller 8941, which I got today at 70% off. For 12€ it's a steal compared to 40€ original price, but I wouldn't even have gotten it at half price, since I'm not in Bionicle. mFg Widdi Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Loganwan Posted August 1, 2009 Okay, it has been a little while, sooooooooooo? What are you doing with the parts? When I saw this set at TRU I was so amazed by the size, and then instantly thought "Yeah right, what parent would spend that kind of money on that giant set?" My second thought was that the parts had a good potential for some interesting designs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
