An update: Looking towards the future

This is the first post in nearly a year, and continues in the long line of those posted a long time after the previous. I'd like to use this post to address you, the readers, and tell you exactly how I see the future of this blog as it stands.

As many of you know, BIONICLE has been canceled for the second time, an action I foresaw LEGO taking. The only extant CCBS sets are the Star Wars: Rogue One Ultrabuilds, which are a far cry from the level of inspiration we saw in 2011 with the release of Ordeal of Fire.

As two college students, we at StoneHart LEGO have had little time to create or post new MOCs, and the second generation of BIONICLE provided little inspiration. In our spare time, we have created some new characters, but otherwise nothing new has emerged from our imaginations.

As mentioned before, we at StoneHart are college students with busy schedules which lend little to no time to devote to LEGO creations, let alone to post on this blog. This explains why you've seen no activity for nearly a year. With this in mind, I expect the activity level you've seen in recent years (yes, years) to remain largely the same: little to no posting.

That aside, I expect that we will eventually create some more characters and storylines that we've been willing to post. Whenever that happens, you'll be seeing it here at StoneHart LEGO.

~XTN

Invasion from Below wave 2 FINAL PICTURES

Screencaps taken by a Eurobricks user from a video by Advance. There's a nice little video, too.

P.S. I apologize for the lack of posting, I've just been very busy with other endeavors. Don't worry, I WILL compensate.

P.S.S. Oh, and this year's HF polybag...

Hero Factory "Invasion from Below" final pictures

I made a short video for y'all showing you the 2014 "Invasion from Below" figures courtesy of walmart.ca and bol.com.

We now have confirmation of 5L yellow armor, gunmetal Stormer XL feet, gunmetal Savage Planet paws, and 3M tr. light blue bones. This wave looks promising...

And remember, you saw it here first!

~XTN

I know, I haven't posted any MOCs in a while. Don't worry, there's more to come!

Hero Factory winter 2014 "Invasion from Below" revealed!

The preliminary pictures for the winter 2014 Hero Factory sets have been illegally leaked and have made the rounds on YouTube and the rest of the Internet as well, with copyright protection staff at TLG trying to take down as much leaked info as possible.

What the leakers have done (contrary to most opinion) is VERY BAD and this is why you will not see me uploading or linking to the photos.

However, anticipation to see final pictures has gotten to my head, and I saw the prelim pictures yesterday, so I will very casually describe what each set looks like.

Hero Factory 2014 set names revealed...?

Popular LEGO fansite All About Bricks has posted potential set names for the winter 2014 Hero Factory sets! Are these real, or just...

...science fiction?
Here's the list!

44015 EVO Walker
44016 JAW BEAST vs. STORMER
44017 STORMER Freezer Machine
44018 FURNO Jet Machine
44019 ROCKA Stealth Machine
44020 FLYER BEAST vs. BREEZ
44021 SPLITTER BEAST vs. FURNO & EVO
44022 EVO XL Machine

Hero Factory MOC: Stringer Reloaded

Here's the first Reloaded Hero I'm putting on the blog (but certainly not the first to be made). In fact, this is the most recent one we've made.

The inspiration from this version of Stringer is taken from the original and Breakout versions of Stringer, as well as JANGBRiCKS' "Stringer v.4" MOC. Stringer's weapon is very unique, and what I believe to be this MOC's defining characteristic. It's a weapon simply known as "The Axe." See if you can guess why.

More Reloads to come soon!

~XTN

Introducing: Hero Factory Reloaded!

Yep, I kept a promise. Remember the Christmas video I sent out a while back? Yep. There was a MOC called "Rangifer Reloaded." Well, Rangifer Reloaded is actually part of a series of HF figures in the Reloaded series.

Reloaded series Heroes have no backstory, really, they're figures just for the sake of making figures. All a Reloaded Hero is is an original series Hero body and head, but with limbs made from the new building system. Our MOC Phantom Y-001 from the Breakout series also featured this building style.

That's it, pretty much. Our first Reloaded Heroes will be revealed soon!

~XTN

My thoughts on the Brain Attack wave 2 sets

OK, the wave 2 pics are out, and bloggers and YouTubers have these pictures spreading like wildfire. This is definitely illegal (stealing pictures from the original source), so I won't show the pictures, but instead, I'll offer my thoughts.

44008 Surge:
Surge is back, and he looks righteous. He has a solid color scheme (blue, tr. fluore. green, tr. blue, and silver), and has many play features, namely flick missiles, a scout drone a la Stormer XL, and a spinning lightning "flamethrower" (with the weapon barrel piece from the Ultrabuild Joker, I might note.) My only nitpick would be that the weapon is essentially a rehash of Pyrox's flamethrower. But still, he looks pretty cool.

44009 Dragon Bolt:
Dragon Bolt is not as big as I expected. The wings and tail were cut short, but I'm still happy with the rest of the assembly. You can pick out an XT4 torso piece used in the neck. That's the return of just one piece. The lightning pieces from Voltix are back as well. I'm also intrigued by the glow in the dark brain slug piece. Overall, good parts pack, but this as a set doesn't look like a good adversary for Jet Rocka. It'd be a piece of cake to defeat DB.

44010 Stormer:
In my opinion, this is the best Stormer ever. It's like Stormer meets Strakk from Bionicle. The Chima Ultrabuild fur pieces work perfectly to either depict icicles or fur for warmth. Stormer treats us to another printed visor, 4M tr. light blue armor, a blue Furno XL/Pyrox flame piece, and back-mounted flick missiles. Lovin' it.

44011 Frost Beast:
I'm biased towards ice villains, so this ties with Bruizer for my favorite Brain Attack villain. This is essentially the reborn Strakk. The mask is the best piece. It is VERY icy looking, and is very angular. The new jagged sword piece is glorious, along with the 3M tr. light blue armor, white Savage Planet paw, and tr. light blue claws. Also diggin' the red spikes to add contrast and to match the brain slug. The only thing about this one is that the feet DO NOT match the overall angular look of the character. If I designed this, I'd use the wide XPlode feet or the feet used on Bitil or Gorast in white. Still, GLORIOUS!

44012 Evo:
Evo's gone through a wide range of color schemes, and now it's changed to what looks like Keetorange and trans light blue. Shorter Keetorange armor is now available, as well as a blue visor, tr. blue 3M armor, and more. The staff reminds me of LEGOJANG's Gaaf Kiisilun a little bit. Plus, the staff can open, just like our MOC Rangifer 3.0 from 2011. This is one of the best Evo renditions ever, and a fitting adversary for Aquagon.

44013 Aquagon:
Aquagon is another short, humanoid villain. Not impressed. He suffers from XT4/Scarox syndrome with a quite unfinished look. He does, however, impress me in terms of parts. The mask is very detailed and looks like a mutated seahorse's face. He gives us 2 3M tr. blue armor pieces, yellow "tip of the tail" pieces as armor adornment, tr. blue Furno XL/Rocka swords, and yellow A 4M bones. Great set, but again, unfinished.

44014 Jet Rocka:
It's Brain Attack Rocka in a jetpack, we all know that. Jet Rocka is awesome, I will say that, but he is just a hot mess. He has pieces in all colors, ranging from gold to gunmetal to tr. bright green to silver to white to red cross axles and blue pins and everywhere in between. Functionally, however, he features play features like folding wings, Breakout blasters, and flick missiles. Although it displeases me aesthetically, it is great functionally.

Summary:
I like this wave as much as the next. Some sets please me (ahem, Frost Beast, ahem), and some, I don't like. Am I going to get them all? Yes. Will my opinions change? Most likely. I still am pretty fond of this wave.

Hero Factory web site updated for Brain Attack

The Hero Factory website has been updated for Brain Attack! Combiner model instructions are up, and so are some really cool product animations. Check it out!

www.herofactory.lego.com

Also check out the Legends of Chima and Galaxy Squad sites!

Brain Attack sets: My favorites

Hello everyone! I've managed to get all of the Brain Attack sets, and here are my favorites, listed from favorite to least favorite, and the reasons why.

HEROES: Furno XL, Bulk, Rocka, Breez
VILLAINS: Bruizer, Pyrox, Ogrum, Scarox.

Reasons why:

It was a really close one between Furno XL and Bulk. Bulk was very appealing to me because of the classic "spaceman" look while also incorporating neo-classic elements such as the robotic look and the drill. However,  Furno managed to take first. Although I don't like Furno as much (I understand that the kids love him, but really, he doesn't have to be in every wave,) he managed to make me like him. XL heroes are always cool, but there are other aesthetic elements that really made him stand out from the rest of the crowd. He has a large sword in the vein of Bionicle, and with the visor and cape, he really looks knightlike. That really gives Furno extra brownie points. Plus, he introduces new recolors and molds, such as 3M trans-flourescent reddish orange armor, A 6M joints in dark stone grey, and the new head mold in trans-flourescent green. Another close one between Rocka and Breez. Breez is cool, but Rocka had to take a higher position for introducing many new pieces like 4M armor pieces in trans bright green, gunmetal, AND gold, as well as having a spinning shield. I've actually been waiting for one of those to show up. But Breez had to unfortunately take last.

Bruizer and Pyrox were neck and neck in this one. Pyrox is the quintessential flame demon with hooves, ginormous horns, and a FLAMETHROWER. The new flame pieces are GORGEOUS, and he is one of the sets I'd definitely want to remember. But Bruizer was better in my opinion. Although the moving arm was a very nice touch, the build was very sloppy. And one more thing- his right arm cannot move. It's a TECHNIC LIFT ARM. Otherwise, Bruizer was awesome.  He introduced orange spikes AND a Savage Planet paw piece in dark stone grey, and managed to capture both the "tough guy" image as well as the mutated and deformed image. I mean, look at his arms. One is HUMONGOUS, and the other is super small. Plus, I'm sorta biased in favor of rock monsters. Moving on to Scarox. Scarox, despite being Hero Factory's first gold villain, did not meet my expectations. I understand that he is a bug and is supposed to be skinny, but the "unfinished" thing only worked once, and that was on XT4. Look at LEGOJANG's revamp of Scarox. That's how it should be. Ogrum definitely managed to beat Scarox because 1.) he's a total parts pack, and 2.) he is tougher-looking and way more BA.

Well, those are my opinions! Stay tuned for MOCs!

~XTN

Season's Greetings!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!

Best wishes to you and yours from us at StoneHart Studios! Enjoy the company of those you love and who love you, and definitely seize the day! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

I just want to thank all of you who view this blog for your support, and I can't wait to ring in the new year with some BRAIN ATTACK MOCs!

More MOCs to come as always, and the first MOC of 2013 will be posted soon!

~XTN

Hero Factory MOC: I-Chaya 3.0

The final entry of the HF Advent Calendar is here! Presenting I-Chaya 3.0!

Remember Quadriflame, our four-armed hero? Well, I-Chaya takes it a step further! I-Chaya is the Factory's first and only six-armed hero! I-Chaya has the animal power of a sehlat, and is a very versatile hero. Like Quadriflame, his arms function independently. But unlike Quadriflame, each pair of arms hold different weapons.

The uppermost pair of weapons are a set of power drills. Below those are two flame swords, and on the lowermost pair are 2 whips.

You also may be asking about the silver claw pieces covering his core. Those are core protectors that shield his exposed core and prevent villains from hurting it.

FUN FACTS:

• The sehlat is a creature from Star Trek. Spock's pet sehlat was named I-Chaya, just like this hero!

I-Chaya 3.0 is just one of 24 MOCs that I've chosen to be in the HF Advent Calendar.
Stay tuned for the Christmas blog entry that I'm posting tomorrow morning!

1 day 'til Christmas!

Hero Factory MOC: Therium

Happy Festivus everyone! (If you don't know what Festivus is, look it up.) Today, we have another odd creature for you. Following in the Harnakka's footsteps is the Therium!

Like the Harnakka, nobody knows exactly WHAT the Therium is or where it came from. It has 2 pairs of claws that can be used for gripping objects, a large, underslung jaw, and 2 tails. Its most interesting features, however, are the sensory nodes on its legs. They are very sensitive to touch and aid the Therium in finding food or prey. The Therium also has two pairs of eyes (the other are on his back) that protrude sharply for extra-accurate vision.

The Therium is just one of 24 MOCs I've chosen to be in the HF Advent Calendar. Stay tuned for tomorrow's entry!

2 days 'til Christmas!

Hero Factory MOC: Skyray Supercharged

Yesterday's MOC was the legendary thief Skyray. Today, however, he's bigger, badder, and better than ever!

Mr. μ was supercharged (as you saw in his blog entry,) so now I've followed suit with Skyray. Skyray has gained more of his signature wings, as you can see, and has also gained a new color scheme. His old Flame Yellowish Orange and Earth Blue have been replaced with Medium Lilac and Metalized Gold. His new wings, along with the assistance of his AWESOME NEW JETPACK...

allow him to fly 5 times faster than the speed of sound (1715 meters per second, or 3836.35 mph) without losing a single piece of his precious treasure!

Skyray Supercharged is just one of 24 MOCs I've chosen to be in the HF Advent Calendar. Stay tuned for tomorrow's entry!

3 days 'til Christmas!

Hero Factory MOC: Skyray

The world didn't end, and we have a new MOC for you! This is Skyray.

Skyray is a legendary thief who traverses the skies. He has ultra-sharp metal claws to aid him in his defense, but his foremost weapon is his agility. Skyray is notorious for his uncanny agility and speed, which makes him hard to catch. He possesses four pairs of wings to help him in his speedy endeavors. Skyray can fly for approximately a mile until he hits the ground, allowing him to fly from building to building without losing air.

Skyray is just one of 24 MOCs I've chosen to be in the HF Advent Calendar. Stay tuned for tomorrow's entry!

4 days 'til Christmas!

Hero Factory MOC: Zielony v.4

A small MOC for today, namely the interesting Zielony v.4!

Remember our earlier MOCs, Niebieski and Czerwony? Well, little did you know a third model was constructed, and Zielony v.4 is her name!

Zielony follows the same general armature pattern as her predecessors, and she carries a dagger and a spear-shooting rifle.

The rapid success of models following this skeleton spawned a fourth model, Piorun v.4.

Piorun is lightning themed and has two claws and 2 wrist-mounted lightning shooter hoses.

This quartet of heroes spawned generations of new heroes following this armature.

Zielony v.4 is just one of 24 MOCs I've chosen to be in the HF Advent Calendar. Stay tuned for tomorrow's entry!

5 days 'til Christmas!

Hero Factory MOC: Pithecus 3.0

Another 3.0 hero for today! This is Pithecus 3.0.

Pithecus has the animal power of the golden lion tamarin, and carries a pair of swords. Each sword has a different blade for different purposes, but he often uses them together. Pithecus also has the ability to turn into 3 other forms.

The first form is Phytopithecus, who carries a sword and a vine whip.

The second form is Pyropithecus, who carries a sword and a flame weapon.

And finally, the third form is Hydropithecus, who carries a sword and a trident.

Pithecus 3.0 is just one of 24 MOCs I've chosen to be in the HF Advent Calendar. Stay tuned for tomorrow's entry!

6 days until Christmas!

Hero Factory MOC: Fregata 3.0

The blog entry for December 18,2012 features a rockin' 3.0 Hero known as Fregata 3.0.

Fregata 3.0 was dispatched for the post- Savage Planet missions that involved Aldous Witch's remaining creations, including the Quaza Snare (remember him?). 

Fregata is a brawler/air striker whose animal power is that of a magnificent frigatebird. His two claw weapons can be used for cutting, slashing, and even snatching and commandeering enemy weapons and items. The claws are serrated for a better slash and an easier grip when stealing things.

How, exactly, does Fregata snatch things? Well, to do that, he uses his claw weapon, and...

the long fibrous line attached to his back. It can work like a zipline when he attaches it to a post or other stationary object, or like a pendulum for a swinging attack.

FUN FACT:

• Fregata is the genus of all frigatebirds, including the magnificent frigatebird.

Fregata 3.0 is just one of 24 MOCs I've chosen to be in the HF Advent Calendar. Stay tuned for tomorrow's entry!

One week 'til Christmas!

Hero Factory MOC: Quadriflame 2.0

Another experimental Hero out of the vault! This one is Quadriflame 2.0.

As you can see, Quadriflame is the Hero Factory's first four-armed Hero! (He's not the only one- you'll see later.) Quadriflame 's four arms move independently and can function independently as well- one of the Hero Factory's landmark innovations, I might note. 

Quadriflame possesses 4 flame weapons made of a semi-Quazine material. The temperature can be adjusted from temperatures of 300°F (red flame mode) to about 1000°F (roaring blue flame mode). 

The pictures above show Quadriflame's weapons in a moderate, orange flame mode.

Quadriflame 2.0 is just one of 24 MOCs I've chosen to be in the HF Advent Calendar. Stay tuned for 

tomorrow's entry!

Hero Factory MOC: Nyudogumo, the Wrathful God

Today's blog entry features one of our most impressive MOCs: Nyudogumo, the Wrathful God!

Nyudogumo is a protector deity of most well-known planets such as Quatros or Z'Chaya. He has four large wings that can flap at up to 100 beats per second and create winds of up to 200 mph. Nyudogumo is a valiant god, and is not one to anger. His short temper has caused many an apocalypse on several planets.

Pictured above is Nyudogumo holding his Staff of Storms. The Staff of Storms can create any type of forceful storm; tornadoes, hurricanes, monsoons, sandstorms, ice storms, and even firestorms. Legend says that his left hand can craft lightning, flames, ice, sand, wind, or rain.

Nyudogumo is also a revenge seeker, so beware.

FUN FACT:

• Nyudogumo is Japanese for "thunderhead."

Nyudogumo, the Wrathful God is just one of 24 MOCs I've chosen to be in the HF Advent Calendar. Stay tuned for tomorrow's entry!