As opposed to combiner models, the 01 Rahi could be taken apart and rebuilt into alternate builds that combine parts from the two figures featured in each set. For the Nui-Rama, that alternate model is the Nui-Kopen.
Whereas the Rama are gigantic mosquitos, Nui-Kopen are massive wasps. Naturally, the two insectoid species are bitter enemies that compete for food and territory, but under the control of the Makuta they are forced to work together and even live in the same nests.
The Nui-Kopen is one of the more solid Rahi alts, I would say. Literally. Though I don’t think it does a great job of looking like a wasp. To me, the Nui-Kopen looks more like a larger breed of Nui-Rama that would rule over the hives, like the one in MNOG seems to.
Its colour scheme combines the orange and green of the Rama, which actually manages to look quite good thanks to a mostly symmetrical layout and excellent colour balancing. However, though the colours do look pretty good, lime and orange just aren’t wasp colours.
Its build is quite similar to the Nui-Rama as well, with most of the changes being additions. Even the somewhat nonsensical wing-bashing function is retained, though the Nui-Kopen features four much heftier wings with which to attack, rather than just two. It also has an extra pair of arms, and both Nui-Rama mandibles forming one large mouth. A large structure rises from its backside, but it doesn’t seem to serve any purpose other than to be a mount for several exposed pins and generally look unattractive. Is it a stinger? A place to attach a rider? I don't know. Aside from those features, it’s identical to a Nui-Rama in build and functionality.
My only issue with the Nui-Kopen is its designation as a wasp. It just doesn’t look like one. What kind of wasp has huge jaws, four bashing wings and is orange and lime? What the Nui-Kopen does look like is a kind of alpha Nui-Rama, since it really just is one with a few extra parts tacked on, and I wish that’s what it canonically was.
With that out of the way, there’s really nothing I can really say about the Nui-Kopen that I haven’t already said about the Nui-Rama. Their strengths and weaknesses as sets are nearly the same, as are my opinions on them. The Nui-Kopen is fine by me, solid for the same reasons the Nui-Rama is, and a good alt build on top of that.
