One of LEGO’s oddest experiments was a short-lived, Bionicle-adjacent collaboration with the NHL that saw robotic hockey players like Puck Passer and Slammer Goalie slapping pucks into Technic goals. Sakiya Watanabe (N.A.B.E _mocs) resurrects these esoteric elements to create a tiki-style totem pole. Hockey masks aren’t the only clever parts usage; the builder also employs a pair of troll arms for mossy rocks, and the gear racks from Lloyd’s Golden Ultra Dragon hint at further ruins hidden behind the tropical vines. A new builder on the Flickr scene, N.A.B.E _mocs has only shared three builds so far and each employs new techniques and parts. We also loved the builder’s spot-on General Grievous bust.
Tag Archives: Tiki
This Tiki Shaman reminds me of the monster of Frankenstein
Builder Jake Hansen shows us you can make body parts out of body parts. Let’s look for all the body parts. The headdress uses hands and arms to represent tree branches. The eye sockets are made using LEGO minifigure torsos, and the same goes for the skulls around the Shaman’s belt. In fact, those look absolutely brilliant in their simplicity. But the absolute cutest has to be the minifigure legs used as toes–an absolute winner to me. The use of colour in this creation is also gorgeous, especially when it comes to the contrast between the vibrant necklace and headdress and the more muted grey of the figure.
We could all use a little Tiki Madness
LEGO builder Paul Hetherington’s creations continue to amaze me. His latest masterpiece, Tiki Madness, draws on one of Paul’s interests outside of LEGO – tiki bars! Whether he’s at home in Vancouver or visiting a new city for a LEGO convention, Mr. Hetherington is always willing to sample a new tiki menu. And you know what, all that – ahem – research, has really paid off here. Tiki Madness would fit into any tiki bar, lounge or room, and tells a fun story too.
The main part of the model is a giant tiki mug, and if I’m not mistaken, the minifigures have tried to drown a giant pirate in it! But little do they know that pirates are especially talented at emptying mugs. Our pirate has clearly found his own mug, and started to drink his way out of there! Storytelling aside, there are some amazing parts usages on display here. For one, he’s incorporated so many different colours. And aside from the colours, a couple parts really stand out. Constractable Obi-Wan’s breastplate has been expertly turned upside down to be a nose, and a handful of white inner Bionicle masks make the perfect teeth.
This mech tikis all the boxes
Marin Stipkovic brings us a mech with a lot of personality as part of the year long Mech Monday project. Inspired by the art of Taylor Schmidt, King Aku is a LEGO creation that has the feel of a tiki idol brought to life. It features tons of articulation, an expressive tiki idol face, and bold colors highlighted by the shine of gold. Another nice detail is how Marin didn’t just repeat the use of 1×1 round plate for all the teeth. He’s added visual interest by mixing in inverted 1×5 Technic plates. Partially obscured by the black brick of the mouth, those 1×5 plates take on the look of a brand new part. (I mistook them for Sweet Mayhem’s legs at first.)
Marin has also shared a short video that shows off the range of motion of this mech as well as its cool play feature. (Spoiler alert: Light and sound!)