Compared to The LEGO Batman Movie where the minifigures are the most in the spotlight (after all, it’s BATMAN), in The LEGO Ninjago Movie which premiered last month the figures/characters are equally identified with the sweet vehicles and mechs they ride. In fact, the machines are often the subject of choice for plenty of promotional material for the film.
In the wake of the movie’s release came – of course – the landslide of tie-in Lego Ninjago products to hype it up, from the minifigures to the vehicles they rode in. Perhaps one of the standout designs for the whole adventure was the wedge-shaped Ice Tank piloted by Zane the Ice Ninja (voiced by Zach Woods).
LEGO pretty much agrees with the fan-audience opinion, if going by the effort they put into designing the real-plastic counterpart of the “LEGO Ninjago Movie” mech. The Ice Tank is even the centerpiece of a “Make and Take” special event this upcoming Saturday at certain Toys ‘R’ Us stores in the UK.
The actual, brick-built version of Zane’s mech – the LEGO Ninjago Movie Ice Tank (70616) – is undoubtedly sweet, but at 914 pieces to work with, that is not one that a newcomer might actually choose to pick up and start building.
Fortunately, LEGO has got the rookie builders covered too, with a smaller and more basic-skill alternative mini version in polybag . It’s just the thing for its 6-12 age bracket, or simply those who are lacking in shelf space for the normal-sized one.
The LEGO Ninjago Movie Ice Tank (30427) polybag is a new major achievement in downscaling LEGO models. When you put the finished polybag version next to the larger 70616, they could easily pass for parent and child, LEGO brick-wise. Builders will be amazed at how 71 pieces can come together to form a truly mobile Ice Tank with approximated details and fully-working miniature tank treads.
Needless to say, this is a worthy buy for fans of The LEGO Ninjago Movie, especially those who are only now getting a start in the wonderful world of building with LEGO.