@meisterdad I actually kinda like the Splinter. I honestly prefer the old slope piece for the dress over the new one. It might just because I have some nostalgia for that old slope piece, I grew up on it.

Now that I see it...anybody do a diorama of "The Turtles" 'meeting' "The Ghostbusters" in the sewers...or "Mystery Inc."...OR BOTH :D

Leo, Ralph and Master Splinter is enough for me to buy the set, the rest can go to partrts bin. I don't know why I did't get one...

@PurpleDave: Fred: "Let's see who this really is...*POP*...hmm...Looks like some ligaments and some tendons...":D But then again, The Ghostbusters: Peter: "What are these...THINGS?!?!? Demons?!?! Aliens?!?" Mikey: "Nooo...The fans prevented Bay from doing that...":D

Not a great looking sewer play set, but they are far and few between anyway, even in the action figure realm. The figures are very nice, though, considering how hard it is to translate those rounded Turtle shapes into Lego form.

Somehow I totally missed out on this series when it was on shelves, but I do have a few Mega Blocks sets from the same animated series. I think it's the only occasion where a specific TV show got sets by both Lego and Mega while it was still on the air.

@PurpleDave said:
"https://brickshelf.com/gallery/PurpleDave/TMNT/tmnt.jpg"
Took me a second to realize that the second row back were their original comic book appearances. Also, did you just use unprinted 1x1 round tiles for the mini Turtles' backs, or did you use a print? If you used a print, which one?

@NotProfessorWhymzi said:
"it might not be the most accurate Turtle Lair, but afaik, it's par for the course with Turtle Lair playsets, not just Lego, but in general."

I accidentally picked up the RSOTD. I meant to get 79117: Turtle Lair Invasion. That's really quite nicer.

Looking back, it's quite cramped. And I only now notice that the trapdoor entrance does not align with the ladder.

But it's a nostalgic set, as it was the cornerstone of the theme. And the details are quite charming. Like the little shredder mannequin.
IDK, licensed themes were never my cup of tea, but they were more exciting back then because they added variety and were balanced with original themes. The last few years it felt like too much of them.

@ToysFromTheAttic:
I don’t recall anyone getting Avatar after TLG dropped the theme, but who got SpongeBob? That was unique in that they had to actually recall every SpongeBob set from LEGO Stores and the warehouse and destroy them. Usually, they’re allowed to sell through anything that’s in the pipeline, and just stop making any.

@TheOtherMike:
I’m still playing around with the baby Turtle design. In this form, they have unprinted 1x1 round tiles. Their current form is unprinted 2x2 radar dishes. Another LUG member pointed out a turtle shell print on 2x2 radar dishes, which I will be switching to at some point. I’d really like to find something to represent their bandanas, but I haven’t found anything that’s available in all four colors.

Yeah, back is the Nickelodeon series that the theme stemmed from, next is the second live-action film series, and _kneeling_ (with my own brickbuilt leg design) in front of those is the original-original Mirage comics version from when they all had red masks. The babies aren’t really based on anything in particular, but more taking advantage of a happy coincidence that I ended up with four of the Z-Blob character.

I actually got this set, but it’s not a great representation of the source material or a great set on its own merits. It’s too cramped and scattershot, although I do like the use of transparent elements to represent dripping ooze.

I ended up using some pieces from this to make my own turtle lair from scratch that mimics the sewer environment more accurately, so I don’t regret getting it - and the minifigures are great.

I don't really know anything about Ninja Turtles, but I have to say this set looks pretty rad. There's quite a few stickers, and there could be a little more room to place the figures on the platforms, but it looks like it would have been fun for fans.

@PurpleDave: I hadn't even noticed that the comic Turtles were kneeling until you pointed it out; nice. Out of curiosity, what's the printed 2x2 radar dish you were talking about?

@PurpleDave said:
" @ToysFromTheAttic:
I don’t recall anyone getting Avatar after TLG dropped the theme, but who got SpongeBob? That was unique in that they had to actually recall every SpongeBob set from LEGO Stores and the warehouse and destroy them. Usually, they’re allowed to sell through anything that’s in the pipeline, and just stop making any.

@TheOtherMike:
I’m still playing around with the baby Turtle design. In this form, they have unprinted 1x1 round tiles. Their current form is unprinted 2x2 radar dishes. Another LUG member pointed out a turtle shell print on 2x2 radar dishes, which I will be switching to at some point. I’d really like to find something to represent their bandanas, but I haven’t found anything that’s available in all four colors.

Yeah, back is the Nickelodeon series that the theme stemmed from, next is the second live-action film series, and _kneeling_ (with my own brickbuilt leg design) in front of those is the original-original Mirage comics version from when they all had red masks. The babies aren’t really based on anything in particular, but more taking advantage of a happy coincidence that I ended up with four of the Z-Blob character."

Seems like a Nickelodeon / Viacom licensing nightmare. I wonder why this change was made. I bet it had something to do with a then-upcoming show or movie LEGO either passed on or Mattel wanted to have full toy rights.

@TheOtherMike:
https://brickset.com/minifigs/mk125/turtle-minister

It’s this guy’s shell.

@ToysFromTheAttic:
I don’t know. I know it was an either/or situation between Avatar and SpongeBob, and SpongeBob sold better so that’s why they dropped Avatar. SpongeBob was ended with extreme prejudice, but TMNT was allowed to sell out. The LLDC in Michigan had Mikey keychains for a few _years_ after the license ended.

@PurpleDave said:
"Yeah, back is the Nickelodeon series that the theme stemmed from, next is the second live-action film series, and _kneeling_ (with my own brickbuilt leg design) in front of those is the original-original Mirage comics version from when they all had red masks. The babies aren’t really based on anything in particular, but more taking advantage of a happy coincidence that I ended up with four of the Z-Blob character."

Unnecessary pedantic question, but didn't the original-original Mirage turtles, in their black and white one-shot, have grey masks? Then they added some pops of red for their subsequent volume(s)?

@ForestMenOfEndor said:
"Unnecessary pedantic question, but didn't the original-original Mirage turtles, in their black and white one-shot, have grey masks? Then they added some pops of red for their subsequent volume(s)?"

That’s something I had not heard about before. I remember seeing the cover of the first issue with distinctly red bandanas, but it does seem they’ve mimicked the first cover (which was black, white, and red, but had the masks shaded in black) in full-color, so maybe that’s what I’m remembering.

https://turtlepedia.fandom.com/wiki/Teaming_Up_with_Fugitoid?file=05cover.jpg

However! As far as I can determine, this is the original cover to the fifth issue, when they seem to have switched from monochrome covers to full color. If that’s true, then red masks were established in 1985.

I like how they managed to cramp quite many details from the show in the set, however it really would have benefitted from being either larger or more focused on a single section.

Ideally, it would have been split across multiple sets, like the first Harry Potter sets were, but given Lego's apparent lack of trust in the theme, that wouldn't have happened anyways.

Although the color-coded 'seat cushions' are not present in the show (instead they have a large couch) they were a funny addition, as this is one of the few examples in the series to have the same piece in all four Turtles' colors.

It is a bit odd, they decided to put the 'Dark Ninja' (aka Chris Bradford, Dogpound's human form) in this set, but I guess there was no other set to fit him in either. A pity we didn't get a matching Xever Montez figure (or Bradford in his more common Chuck Norris knock-off look)...

Also i like, how this Raphael's facial expression is the most resembling to the old 1988 action figures.

EDIT: And where is Splinter's strange green crystal staff? I used one of the lightsaber blades as substitute, but one in trans-darkgreen would have been much better....

this set looks fun

@Atuin:
They also have color coordinated spraypaint cans, for Leonardo, Raphael, and their tropical cousin, Tangelo.

Offhand, 30270 is the only other set I can recall that has parts in all four Turtle colors. They were a massive pain to incorporate, but I’ve got the four “Minecraft” Turtles in my LEGO Store, representing the time I displayed my TMNT Bionicle MOCs at our local LEGO Store.

@PurpleDave said:
" @ToysFromTheAttic:
I don’t recall anyone getting Avatar after TLG dropped the theme, but who got SpongeBob? That was unique in that they had to actually recall every SpongeBob set from LEGO Stores and the warehouse and destroy them. Usually, they’re allowed to sell through anything that’s in the pipeline, and just stop making any."

Where did you hear/read about them destroying the sets?

@monkyby87:
LEGO Store employees. Specifically, I believe it was the current store manager at the local store. It was a surprise to them, since they've seen other licensed themes expire without any greater impact at the brick-and-mortar level beyond simply not getting any more shipments to replenish stock.