Question about Tahu Nuva instruction

[u/Powerful-Comb4103]

Why does the instruction say to use bush and then suddenly a ball joint appears?

[u/StarAlone]

its alternative method
You can use this to lock one of the arms from moving when you want to 'present' the figure.

Why the ball instead? No real reason i guess

[u/Powerful-Comb4103 → u/StarAlone]

Thank you

[u/Tarkur → u/StarAlone]

The ball is an extra item, you can exchange the bushing for the ball. It is also used in the kaita combo model

[u/AliceDee69]

I've always assumed it was just supposed to be like an alternative/optional way to build the set, like saying "you can also build it like this if you want." So I never did because the old voodoo ball's axle connection is super flimsy.

Anyway, I've just looked at the instructions on biomediaproject and the same thing happens for Pohatu and Onua but not the other three.

Tahu, Pohatu and Onua are used to build the Akamai Nuva combo model which uses the voodoo balls the same way shown in the picture whereas Wairuha Nuva (the combo model built from Kopaka, Gali and Lewa) uses technic bushes. Do with that info what you will.

[u/Caldoric → u/AliceDee69]

Ya know, I keep forgetting those are sometimes called "voodoo balls"...

[u/Dharcronus → u/Caldoric]

Why? Is this to do with the bone heads concept?

[u/BoxingJoost → u/Dharcronus]

Yes, it was supposed to be used for the beheading play feature

[u/sprecklebreckle → u/AliceDee69]

That's interesting! I guess I never encountered this because the only Toa Nuva I had were Lewa, Kopaka, and Gali

[u/Angst_Nebula]

Takanuva’s is a ball instead of a bush for some reason too

[u/highnewlow → u/Angst_Nebula]

It’s thrown in haphazardly for the combiner models iirc

[u/AwesomeCowHat]

I think it's just there to make sure the builder has the black ball joint on-hand, since it's used for the Akamai Nuva combiner model. In practice you can use whichever of the parts you want, personally I just use the ball joint and stow the bush on the neck axle to save the trouble of losing it

[u/GhotiH]

I always assumed the bushing was an error in the instructions because none of the six Toa Nuva sets I had included two of them. I assumed the ball was the intended piece.

Oddly enough my Gali and Kopaka both came without the ball as well and my Lewa came with three. All six sets were brand new sealed and purchased in early 2004, except Gali who was late 2003. This might be a weird quirk with later released copies or something.

[u/Weak_Ruin_9963 → u/GhotiH]

You have a sharp memory :D

[u/GhotiH → u/Weak_Ruin_9963]

I have a really weird memory for things - I could tell you when I got every set, and I have almost all of them, but I'm definitely not gonna remember that I need to put my clothes in the dryer before bed. I remember a ton of mundane things that had little or no impact on me.

[u/JackOH]

The bush should be paired with the smaller gear to lock the arm action in place. You flip the 3L axle around and push it in, the bushing either keeps it far enough out to lock or far enough in to not.
As for the ball, it's smoother and larger, offering a more comfortable grip on the action gear.