Buzzing, whirring, always alive with motion—the Gukko birds are magnificent Rahi that soar through the skies high above the lush island of Mata Nui, their nests tucked away in the emerald heights of Le-Koro’s treetops. To the wide-eyed young Matoran, these creatures were nothing short of legendary. With four powerful wings extending from their lean, agile bodies, Gukko birds moved with a grace and speed that left onlookers breathless.

But these majestic beasts were more than just a spectacle—they were fiercely loyal companions, bold protectors of their nests, and defenders of those rare few they came to see as family. And among those few was one daring Matoran: Kongu.

Kongu was no ordinary villager. With unmatched determination and sky-high courage, he bonded with a mighty Gukko steed. Together, they ruled the skies. Villagers often looked up to see Kongu darting through the canopies, looping and diving with dazzling finesse—his Gukko's wings slicing the air like a whisper of wind. A true master of the skies, Kongu didn’t just fly—he danced through the clouds, inspiring awe in all who caught a glimpse.

Clearly inspired by the early Bionicle set: Jaller & Gukko (Set #: 8594), this revamp of the model focused on creating a bulkier and more well-rounded body while keeping that original color scheme intact. However, the play feature of flapping the wings within the original set was removed due to space constraints within my redesign.

Using many of the original elements from the set, this MOC revamp holds true to its source material while also taking inspiration from different flying Rahi with the Mata Nui Online Game (Referred to as MNOG) which were bulkier creatures of flight.

One of the most interesting techniques used within this MOC is the insertion of Toy Winder Key stud element (part ID: 98375) that slid into the spine slot of the Rahkshi shells. This gives the appearance of small feather rippling down what would be an otherwise gap in the model. The connection behind each is mainly friction-fit, bumping the assembly upwards within the original Rahkshi back desgin, occupying the void intended to house the Kraata within the original sets.

Seeing this childhood favorite reimagined really does bring a joy to this MOC. My younger self would be quite pleased!