Teku, Dune Hoppers

Teku, or Dune Hoppers, are lofty bipedal reptiles that roam the parched plains of Tetapo in spirited wanderlust.  Admired for their resilience and loyalty, the teku are a favored traveling companion of the desert, carting bouncy trade carriages and rebellious outlaws with equal exuberance. The pure heart of these cud-chewers makes them an easy mark for exploitation. Under the authoritative fist of the Sovereign Quarry, the teku have fallen to the precipice of annihilation, with the entire species collapsing beneath the weight of industrial greed.

Not all who wander are lost. The cheery disposition of a loyal teku endures in the heart of every great adventure story. Slung over the back of this teku is an ADORNED SADDLE, a master-crafted leather expression of its rider’s rugged individualism. Like the free folk of Tetapo, no two saddles are alike. You can count on that, partner!

A bounding teku relies on the counterbalance of its boney BRUSH DUSTER to dodge encroaching cacti or vulturous CHAKORI! Dominant OLFACTORY RECEPTORS sniff out fresh water and edible shrubbery across the landscape. Herds of teku turn their nose toward the presence of an alpha, submitting to their dominant aroma with blind obedience.

The teku is a kinetic sculpture that bubbled out of my unquenchable desire to create a mount with a galloping gait. That’s right, the teku can waddle! Inserting the Technic Key here and cranking the lever counterclockwise compels the teku to bound across the sunbaked earth. This is achieved by a cluster of gears buried deep within the Dune Hopper’s desert base. With the paneling removed, we can get a closer look at the function. The limp legs rotate in opposing circuitous motion to simulate its stride. The vibrant pins and axles now exposed can be synced with a motor to crank the horsepower to 11. The technic substructure is hidden behind four gray panels made from System parts simulating a chiseled marble pedestal.

Upon the base is a tiny sandy microcosm of orange desert. Rolling plains of terracotta sediment blanket parched sprouts from the sweltering fireball in the sky. Entombed into the landscape is a spooky scary Skull Mask that’s actually a secret dead drop! Lifting the mask upward reveals a glistening bar of gold and delectable Pebble Cookie (darn, I was hoping for a muffin).

A single, gray technic liftarm emerges from the dunes to support the weight of this beast of burden. A sturdy axle through the armor-plated Brush Duster interlaces a perpendicular crossbeam through the saddled torso. Dark Brown saddle bags dangle next to a feeble pair of raptor arms. All raptor arms should be goofy and useless!

The teku’s jaw ratchets open and closed for dynamic posing and to loop the reins through its razor-sharp teeth. The included Outlaw is a stout Ursian built in contrasting rust orange and mechanical gray. The Outlaw’s simple, 20-piece construction ensures a smooth trek across the barren Tetapoan wasteland.

Can the teku rise triumphant, or has insatiable mortal greed pushed these innocent creatures beyond the point of salvation? You’ll just have to wait to find out! Thanks for checking out this MOC Showcase!