Keetongu

I built this big boy for New Elementary article on the big Simba set, but it's history is a bit longer. In July I posted my "lore-accurate" Keetongu for Bio-Cup's Class/Monk category, explaining my history with this Bionicle character. At the time this model was already shaping up. This didn't start as a New Elementary model, and had nothing to do with Simba in the beginning. However, after making the first version of the torso, upper legs and upper arms, I realised that I didn't have any interesting keetorange parts to finish it. Simultaneously, I noticed that Simba would have plenty of good parts for this - and good many of them were recolours, relevant for New E to cover. Thus, a pact was made...

This is a new version of a self-MOC Keetongu, last version of which was posted over ten years ago. The main aim was to make a bulky, mushroom-like version of the character. Interestingly, Keetorange first appeared in Clickits, Bionicle/Technic and Dublo, so back in the day there were no many System options available. This has changed, so most of this is system; as evident in the old version, heavy system use leads to less noisy design with more unified surfaces. As I was after quite organic look with only small mechanical details, this was a good thing. Bionicle kids might still hate it for having only two bonkle parts. I wonder if they'll tell me that; they probably will.

The seed parts were those big macaronis used on the hat-shell. The round top on the head was added later, after acquiring Simba parts. The torso details are close to the pre-Simba model, but adding those 4x4 dome quarters under the shoulders really helped to make it more rounded and muscular. Arms, lower legs, feet and the back are fully post-Simba design. The set is a treasure trove of keetorange. 

I wanted this model to be poseable, despite its weight. The first idea was to use the new double-ratchet mech joints in the shoulders and hips, with ball joints on the other joints. The double joint seen on the knees was first built for the elbow, but I realized that the elbow needs to twist as well. Thus, I used mech joints on the elbows, too. The joint that ended in the knees is a nice design nevertheless: total six ball joints in a small space enough both friction and mobility. The ankles have double joints with four balls each, while the wrists use only mixel balls. But the waist needed two major overhauls. First, the hips were too thing, only two studs with mech joints. This meant that the legs had to be in a constant A-position, which didn't look good. It looked like a tall thin dude in a suit. I made them wider. But the mech joint created another issue, as its limited the movement to certain steps. The posture was either too thin or too wide. I wrecked it and returned to old, good single ball joints. It makes this swingy as hell, the posture must be balanced carefully. But the sliding joint enables natural posing, so the swinginess is a small price to pay.

-Eero.

Self-Portrait (II)

 Bio-Cup season is long over. I got the second place, just as last year (congrats to Woomy). I did not post in August, mostly recovering from the contest seasons. But idle have I not been; I've got several unpublished models already. This was made for the contest season as well, to my LUG Palikkatakomo's painting contest in Helsinki Pii Poo event in mid-August. I got the first place in the contest (Palikkatakomo member voting). A sweet victory. The prize of 21332 The Globe was not bad either, though I haven't yet had time to open in.

So the subject was painting, and the rules stated maximum measurements of 48x48, not counting the frame (of abour 4 studs width in maximum two colours). The "depth" from the canvas was maximum 10 plates. I chose to "paint" the person I'm most familiar with. I knew I wanted to use ziplines for their unique pattern. Another idea was something Mucha-like with flowing hair. But this was more powerful, and indeed more personal. The composition is based on a self-portrait I made with oils in 2019 (picture below). The blue background is recycled here, and the shirt is the same (the hat is new, though, from Krakow). It seems that I really didn't check the original painting while building, though - only afterwards I noticed that the side of my head is the other one - aka I had the mirror on the left while painting and on the right while building...

This is not the first Lego self-portrait I've done, as I made a figure of myself in my winter gear in 2020. This larger scale offered more personal touch. The build was made essentially in two phases - I made the first version of nose, eyes and brows before midsummer, returing to the model after Bio-Cup, when I had a week or two before the event. The last fixes were made a day before the exhibit. Fortunately, the concept worked well, and I managed to capture my curly facial hair neatly. I'm especially fond of the shaping of the hat; and I had just enough wedge plates and tiles in blue hues to make the background interesting enough. The dark red of the frame was chosen to compliment the green shirt and the teals of the background, while still being classy enough for the style.

-Eero.