The Alchemyst

Welcome to EB! Heh, the idea of a cart stop is cute. I like how you did the ground, but I'm not sure if it's the brown base [Maybe a bley one would work better?] or the fact that they're studs, but the ground seems a little funny looking. =/ I like the colors of them though, so have you tried black and tan 1x1 tiles? The solider with the flowers is nice and all but either the photo should be taken at a higher angle or the flower lowered because it obscures his face and makes it look slightly awkward. =/ On that note, I'd try to get a completely white background, either through GIMP/Photoshop or some white posterboard. The picture is overall a bit dark I feel, and if you got some light from an outside source to light up the inside of the shaded stop, that'd be great. Also of note is the EB Reviewers' Academy. If you haven't joined I suggest you do; they have some very nice tutorials on photo taking in the forum. The top of the stop could use some "oomph". The colors are kind of drab, and I think some vibrant reds or some blues [with another slightly contrasting color] could really help. That's because while most of the entire vignette has colors [the flowers, the soldier, the floor, and the light], that place just looks really barren, in terms of color. I'd also try getting a smooth clean cut with tiles also in the back, instead of studs. Or alternatively, you could add something there, maybe some ornamentation or a flag. And I think a flag to signify this as a "cart stop" would be a very nice addition; it'd look great either on top of the stop or hanging from the streetlight [Also it's hard to fit so much inside an 8x8. ]. In terms of the light, it looks really strange to be held like that. I really like how you used the black telescope, it looks very natural as a street light. But if you could make it more of an old lamp using some of these "Palm Tree Tops" in Black. and the Trans-yellow round brick inside, topped off with a Round 2x2 dish. I've seen it before and it looks nice, but relative size could be a problem. So overall a hanging outstretched streetlight [something like this, by SlyOwl.] or a lamp-type streetlight would look better, because I have not seen a streetlight like the one in your MOC. The flower on the street is a nice touch, but I'm not sure I like the additional leaves on it; it seems very out of place. I think some sort of small pot [squeeze in a Red Brown/Gray/Tan Minifig head], if it works.] would be fine. Overall I really like this vignette. It's hard fitting in small details in such a small base, but you did well. I especially love the ground . Best of luck in the voting! EDIT: Doubled the signoff. :P [-TA-]

They have Trace Hair and the Princess Torso? Definitely going to head out this weekend then. Time to build 3 of the same minifigs, Thanks for the heads up. [-TA-]

As a Bionicle fan, I admit I'm really really really digging those claws. And they come in all sorts of colors including Sand Green and Purple! If that Sand Green set has any useful part in that color, I'm picking it up. [-TA-]

I like the idea, it's almost some "resort" for them. I like the name though, "Lucre" for money. First off the overall look: I like it. It has action in many parts, the trees are nice [although the stumps are oversized relative to everything else]. What I have a problem with are the sides. It's really too blocky and the colors on the 3 sides away from the dock and rocky facade have that strange white with bley coloring. =/ If you could do something using a variety of slopes of greys such as the look you have in the front. Even some BURPS could have worked. The grass also is really blocky and feels restricted by the grey "stone" plates in the front. I like the foliage here and there, but if it could be looser, freer and maybe not so thick, I think it would look better. The front and docks: I like the variety of grays, although I think if they could slope up and back more it could look better. I'm also confused at what the disk there is doing. o.o It really ruins the rocky flow and seems really random. The dock was well done, although I'm a little miffed at the large brown 4x4 round wheels that are used to hold it up. It just doesn't seem very "dock-like". If you kept the unevenness and connected them to some long brown plates and attached it to the water with some evenly space brown round 1x1 pieces as poles, that would look more realistic in some sense. Also if there was some chains and some poles sticking out so a boat could be "tied" to it, I think it would look pretty nifty. I like how the treasure chests are placed, and the minifig is a nice classic pirate. I'm not sure how you did the puking, it's a good idea though. Maybe some Green and yellow rubber bands? I think if you tied them together into a mix it could look good and you could hang it down from his head. I like how someone's laughing at him though, nice comedic touch, but I'm not sure if the helmet fits. I definitely like the "Keep Out!" Sign once again, makes it a fun work and less of a serious one, which helps since the theme of PTVII is pretty much that. The grassy area: The path alternating from stud and studless is nice, it allows posing of minifigs on it. I'm not fond of the blockiness once again though, some slopes and smooth unevenness using those would have been nice. The campfire is simple, not sure if I have much to complain about that. Also the couple of pirates drinking [including the one in the stump [ ] fits the contest as well as the comedic tone. The random cluttered assortment of wheels, a cannon and some crates of loose weapons is a great touch; it's set aside without anyone caring about it. The little outlook post is nice, I like the captain there, still on a stern lookout. I'm confused as how he got up there, is there a ladder in the building, or is it just empty? The mix of grays seem to work here for stone, but some more dark gray or bley wouldn't hurt. Maybe even some grass and foliage growing. I also think that if the flag was raised higher, it would finish it up nicely. Plus it wouldn't hit the captain if the wind blew in the other direction. I do wish there were some more pics though, especially one from a higher angle, looking down so there would be a clear view of what each and every minifigs were doing. The first picture is a bit too bright on the mishmash side and dark on the important top and front, I'd try and fix that. Overall it's a pretty nice first entry to PTVII. It's comical, it has some action going here and there, but parts could be fixed and smoothed out for a much more clean aesthetic. EDIT1: Fixing some of the bolding and underlining. EDIT2: How rude of me, forgetting this: Best of luck in the voting portion of the contest! [-TA-]

Most baseplates are really expensive. :S You'll have a hard time finding anything lower, especially since the MSRP is $15 Good Luck. [-TA-]

Well I guess it was coming anyway, I mean for those who saw TLR [or even those who didn't] can probably guess what will happen now for Mata Nui. =/ So it's bound for us to return to the MU. [-TA-]

Truth. Look at the President of anywhere. >.> But really I don't care, I've been falling out of the story since 2009, I still don't get what the heck happened in the past and what's with all these Magnas and whatnot but whatever. [-TA-]

Square Enix has a Disney License, I'm sure, since they're making the game. I doubt a "Disney Classics" thing really, with Lego targetted to younger boys, I doubt any Little Mermaid sets will come out. =/ And then again, to sell these as toys, a movie of some sorts would have to come out. I'm really not sure where this would be headed though, with the Frog Princess and such coming out soon. [-TA-]

Not much of a visitor here, but I'm in. Criticism is my game. [-TA-]

Dunno, I personally have no White Nuva armor, and does anyone know what are at the ends of the Hewkii blades? Are they normal axles? He also has those sweet feet and armor in useful colors. Vezok seems way too weak. I mean really? His weapon sucks/sucked, I don't like his spine, and frankly, he isn't looking to good. And what does Skrall have, other than the sexy recolor blade? =/ And man, Phantoka, I barely remember that name for a reason. ._. [-TA-]

Highly doubt it; it's from Tilius. And if this only 6 set thing is true, then damn, Lego definitely has balls. Either these sets will sell like Hotcakes, and a large profit for Lego. Or it could fail miserably. ._. I guess it kind of makes sense why they're $8 then; nearly the middle of canisters and small sets. I hope it ain't true. That means all Lego will be getting from me for the first half is whatever they get from $8 on Tahu. [-TA-]

Egads. I was hoping that it'd have the impeccable look-a-likeness as Toy Story does with it's large ConstrAction figures, but with some re-usability, in the pieces. I'm sure MOCers out there will grab a couple of these sets and make something completely stunning out of some of the pieces, but really, these pieces are too specific. =/ Of course, the look-a-likeness was because it's a licensed theme, and I gotta say, it really does look like the pictures of them on the web. ._. It's eyecatching and the boys will eat them up. But then again, if Bigchill uses an axle hole to attach to some sort of head, I'm sensing a lot of usage as a "new" mask in MOCs. Looks like an Inika torso as well. I'm digging those claws he has though, very draconic, especially if they are black. The armor is pretty nice though, I just hope their attachment is something that can be used in other places. Hopefully some of the others will have nifitier pieces. [-TA-]

Well there's nothing stopping Lego from reusing piece, you know. :P I hope it does come back in a new Ninja Theme in 2011. We've seen Rock Raider, Space and Pirates get a revival; it's time for Ninjas! :3 [-TA-]

It'll automatically be converted; i.e. 1 $25 stamp will be 25 $1 stamps. Which is good, since I got 2 stamps past the $10 card, meaning another $5 when it starts with the bonus. If regular gift cards are usable on S@H, the $5 back should be as well; because it's just regular gift cards. But I doubt online purchases count towards 'em. [-TA-]

You guys might want to look at what I found; more info in the description. Tell me if this piece exists already, because it's nifty. [-TA-]

What the hell is going on with people saying "OMG Bionicle is ending!"? Unless something absolutely crazy happens, such as some destruction of production plants, or some worldwide phenomena, Bionicle isn't going to end in 2010. Sounds like everyone in late 07 about 2008. ._. [-TA-]

Well, I uploaded a low quality camera-on-screen version of the ad, I had to stick headphones at max volume near the old-ish camera. =/ The flickr page. I do have a camcorder, but that's even older, and saves on tape. =/ I'll see if it's possible to transfer to computers using that. If so, there'll be a better quality-ish version up soon. Or if anyone has some extraction thing or idea like that, feel free. [-TA-]

Well I don't know why people are going like "OMG THIS IS GRESH AS A CHILD" Hello, we have Titan Mata Nui this year, and what have we learned from it? Set size =/= Story Size. Seeing that they were all formerly "canister" size, seems to me that they are pretty much just released at a smaller set-size, but the same in the story. And what's with all this talk about Ben 10 replacing Bionicle? That's like saying Exo-force and Bionicle couldn't exist, or KKII or even Galidor. >.> Or any two system lines, take your pick. EDIT: Man, ShaddowCroc, that sounds like all the talk in the Toy Story thread. I mean how can it look like something Megablocks makes if the character design isn't Lego's? -.- Plus: You can't say no one is a fan; it's obviously popular to some demographics; probably the 8-tween Boys Group. And we haven't seen any clear pics of them. ._. [-TA-]

I don't think there's necessarily any line that helps with "Bionicle MOCing". It's the parts and really, you can probably use any System Part [or any part in general] to make a spiffy MOC. [-TA-]

Personally I'm no fan of the Av-toran design. The 90 degrees angles look wonky when standing, there's no articulation, and so forth. I didn't buy a single Av-toran because the only selling point of them was the masks. Winter 2009, as I recall, brought raving reviews here, even with the small sets, not only because of their exclusive masks, but exclusive recolors, rare pieces, new/exclusive pieces, and more. If 2009 on, right now, these Small sets are looking far better than the Agori IMO [matching them best to worst]. I've said it before and I'll say it again, Tahu Mata, as a set, sucks [relative to what we have now]. His design is poor with little articulation, the gears make for frustration-filled posing, and really, the only "useful and exclusive" parts he has are his mask, head and his sword... maybe his hand as well. And that can be said for pretty much all the original Toa. There seems to be a lot of held-dear nostalgia; not just for Bionicle, but for Lego and pretty much any old hobby. =/ There will be people who think the "originals" were always better, and that nothing can match that. [see those Classic Space Lego people]. I think I'll go dig up the 09 Topic. [-TA-]

Lol "The 2010 Bionicle EB Schism" What fun. I mean, sure they're overpriced, lame old Av-toran builds; but they're reselling Chibi versions of characters we have fond memories of... [at least 3, I suppose], and they have oodles of recolors and new parts. And Tahu brings back the Hau, but this time with the much more useful Plus Rod AND includes a recolored version of said Mask. I mean seriously? That itself is worth praise. I'm pretty sure I'll only buy Tahu at such a high price, but with the useful recolors, new feet and those nifty armor pieces, 2010 is looking up. We're waiting for Canister pics with high expectation. [-TA-]

I wish I knew how to extract it or something. I'll try popping it into the DVD drive or something. =/ Any tips guys? [-TA-]

Well Tahu and Taka are pretty much solid. ._. I do think something from the Metru line would have been nice. Dunno, a Visorak, a Hordika, or even a Vahki. Then we have the Inika-Mahri Line And then the Bara Magna line. I think a Barakki would have been nice. Takadox and his glowyness would have been sweet. A Chibi Makuta would have been adorable. Which leaves Red and Green for... Ackar and Matau Hordika? Or maybe Vakama Metru/Hordika and Gresh. ._. lol I do hope we see more of these as the years go on. It's an amazing way to get some recolors as well as new pieces. [-TA-]

Oooh, the color change blade is nice, but way too big. I'm taking it off and sticking on a good ol' Tahu Mata Blade. And the Hau is definitely a little squeezed and longer. Still looks like the original though. :D [-TA-]

Well, it's pretty obvious there's a large amount of dislike towards Bionicle in most of the AFOL group. I grabbed the new Bionicle Movie that came out, less than a week ago. Inside was an advertisement for a Lego Movie called "The Adventures of Clutch Powers". It's coming out in "Spring 2010". It has Clutch with Agent Chase hair, a modern smile, baggy brown jacket, white T-shirt torso and jeans. From the ad in the movie I saw last night, It's a mixture of a bunch of the themes. He drives the Car from Turbocar Chase. There's elements of Space in it. Power Miners is in it for sure. And there's a cityscape. The story seems to be vague at best, he has to save the world with 3 of his friends. There's elements of Lego Humor with the girl bringing "Extra Hair" because "A girl's gotta be prepared" and so forth. As far as I know, it's probably Direct-to-DVD, and made by Tinseltoon Town; who animated the Bionicle Movie. Since I know none of you bought the movie, I think you guys would like to know. EDIT 9/22/09: Flickr video of super low quality version. And some of you are probably gonna go nuts, but guys... It's a Kids' Movie. :P [-TA-]