@Shadowcloner:
They do. As I said, the original version exploded all over my living room when I was building it, and I very much doubt I was the only one who had that same experience. They did such a massive redesign that, where Bricklink usually marks there inventories to indicate which parts came with alternate versions, this was such an extreme example that they split the catalog entry to make two completely separate inventories.

Anyways, I was thinking the train base came second, and that I'd bought one of each, but it turns out that was the original. I got two copies of that one, the second of which came with a bent train base.

This is the one set from the theme that I’ve always wanted.

@PurpleDave said:
" @Shadowcloner:
They do. As I said, the original version exploded all over my living room when I was building it, and I very much doubt I was the only one who had that same experience. They did such a massive redesign that, where Bricklink usually marks there inventories to indicate which parts came with alternate versions, this was such an extreme example that they split the catalog entry to make two completely separate inventories.

Anyways, I was thinking the train base came second, and that I'd bought one of each, but it turns out that was the original. I got two copies of that one, the second of which came with a bent train base.]

How can you tell which one you have?
"

Ah, yes, because we all remember the time when the TMNT installed a missile launcher that fires oversized projectiles and causes ensured casualties onto the Shellraiser.

I pity whoever gets the short straw and has to be in the skateboard in this chase

@Yoritomo:
Mantis Clan? First (bad) version comes with this part:

https://brickset.com/parts/6016487/chassis-6x24x2-3

If you look on the back of the box, both of mine show the Shellraiser with the roof lifted off on the far right. You can see the two distinctive 2x2 holes in the train base that forms the floor of the model, but I don’t know if they ever updated the image when the set got overhauled.

I have a friend that loved the TMNT minifigures and vehicles, but cared nothing for the majority of the Lego sets such as this one and so he sold me the spares for a very attractive price. This little Pizza Delivery Van is one of my favorite City vehicles. The rest I'm not particularly interested in, and that's the odd thing about some Lego sets that have auxiliary builds that stand out against the larger intended models.

*SIGH*...Miss these guys...and yes, I know: New Movie, Nick Toon, and so on...but 'the original boys' haven't good since...actually, I ready did like that last 'Bay' movie...:)

Looks like a boxed-over tractor, to me.

@Ridgeheart said:
"It's not that I don't appreciate the terrible pun in "Shellraiser", it's just that this thing will always be the Party Van to me."

* Party Wagon.

I think they/we still missed out in not getting a Bebop or rocksteady!

@Ridgeheart said:
"It's not that I don't appreciate the terrible pun in "Shellraiser", it's just that this thing will always be the Party Van to me.

@Trigger_ said:
"Ah, yes, because we all remember the time when the TMNT installed a missile launcher that fires oversized projectiles and causes ensured casualties onto the Shellraiser."

100% canon: https://youtu.be/mQKvyNUaQeg?t=556"

In that version of the show, the Party Wagon came later and was based on a modified VW Camper. I was really bummed when they let go of the license before they made one.

https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-2012-series/images/d/de/309-party-wagon-cc3b4tc3a9-droit-0.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20150218233734

@MeisterDad said:
"Looks like a boxed-over tractor, to me."

It’s meant to be a converted subway car; the tyred wheels can be raised up to reveal a set of train wheels, allowing the set to run on Lego train tracks.

I got this set a while ago; it’s a great concept, but it’s pretty flawed as an actual model. It’s very flimsy in places, there’s basically no clearance at the front, the tyred wheels don’t always stay in place and the interior could be better designed. There’s not even a steering wheel, for example.

I made a bunch of modifications to it; I gave it bigger wheels on the front, secured the tyres with little bushes, put glass in the exposed windows, replaced the big shooter on top with flick fires and built out the interior to better reflect the one in the show. Again, a great idea, but not a set that’s quite worth it out of the box.

On days like these, I feel so old. I came out of my dark ages 13 years ago!

I remember getting part of this set from my LUG at one point, although without any of the Turtle figs. Apparently it didn't sell well or something.

I do recall thinking that the Ninja Turtles first wave had good figs (as far as the turtles were concerned) and lackluster builds, and then when the movie based sets came out, they had better builds but uglier figs. Oh well.

@xccj said:
"I remember getting part of this set from my LUG at one point, although without any of the Turtle figs. Apparently it didn't sell well or something."

Shocking.

@PurpleDave said:
" @Yoritomo:
Mantis Clan? First (bad) version comes with this part:

https://brickset.com/parts/6016487/chassis-6x24x2-3

If you look on the back of the box, both of mine show the Shellraiser with the roof lifted off on the far right. You can see the two distinctive 2x2 holes in the train base that forms the floor of the model, but I don’t know if they ever updated the image when the set got overhauled."

According to the Bricklink entries for the two versions of the set the box was updated. https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?S=79104-2 and https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?S=79104-3

The tmnt sets were cool when they were around,even the Micheal bay ones.

TMNT was a fun little theme that managed to differentiate itself from the Super Heroes theme by virtue of its cartooniness. That really worked in its favor, and I find some of the sets more memorable than whatever shoehorned build came with the latter theme.

Too bad this set specifically was originally such a design failure.

I'm still figuring out which episode this is meant to represent. Since only the first 16 episodes were most likely made by the time of this set's reveal, I guess it's "Panic in the Sewers" - it did not have a pizza truck nor did the Kraang appear, but everything seems to be a fit.

Actually I think this was the best exceuted one of the first line of TMNT sets, as it's scale is somewhat acceptable and they got the overall shape right (the big stickers on the side are little problematic though)

Whilst the Foot Clan Dragon Bike was a good match with it's source lookwise, it's proportions were ridiculous (unfortunately that seems to be a trend in Lego sets nowadays, compare to SW Speeder Bikes...) Both the Stealth Shell and Baxter's Stockman-Pod Mk. III are somewhat lacking in resemblance to the source material (although I can't think of a better solution myself). The lair is just too small to be a decent playset, though at least that kept the price low enough to easily complete the series.

Did anybody mention, this was the only place to get a "brain in the belly" Kraang during the initial launch? Also I wished they had given Bradford's human appearance from the Turtle Lair the same printed legs that Dogpound got here.

@brick_r said:
"*SIGH*...Miss these guys...and yes, I know: New Movie, Nick Toon, and so on...but 'the original boys' haven't good since...actually, I ready did like that last 'Bay' movie...:) "
Be-BOP!
*headbutt*

I’d love a TMNT theme based on the original cartoon.

@brick_r:
Best iteration by far was the early 00’s 2D animated series. The 3D series this was based on was pretty good, too.

@Ridgeheart:
I just got another 9v motor, so April can get back to racing my full MOC version around our club layouts this weekend. On train tracks. Party Van can’t do that. But I do still need to get around to making that dorsal cannon someday…

@MeisterDad:
In the show, Donnie found a derelict MTA subway car (cause they just leave those parked on the tracks at derelict NYC subway stations). He added wheels that are piston-mounted so they can drop down and allow it to drive on the road. What they failed to explain is how those monster wheels clear the subway platforms when they’re driving a subway car that’s designed to have less than an inch gap against those platforms. My MOC is the fattest thing that ever runs on our club layouts, at 13 studs wide, requiring a full 14 studs of clearance to run.

@chaosderek:
They never appeared on this series until well after the license was transferred to a competing company.

@Mister_Jonny:
I built a fully custom exterior, and then filled the interior with lots of cross-bracing because I brickbuilt the graffiti pattern, and need to be able to pick it up without it exploding (the centers of the sides are more 1x plates than anything else). April is peeking out the front window. I kept the wheels the same, but replaced the stickered tiles with printed ones that looked similar.

@paulvdb:
I can’t tell the difference between the fronts, but I did just check the -3 box entry, and can see the train base is gone in the open shot on the right of the box back.

@paulvdb said:
" @PurpleDave said:
" @Yoritomo:
Mantis Clan? First (bad) version comes with this part:

https://brickset.com/parts/6016487/chassis-6x24x2-3

If you look on the back of the box, both of mine show the Shellraiser with the roof lifted off on the far right. You can see the two distinctive 2x2 holes in the train base that forms the floor of the model, but I don’t know if they ever updated the image when the set got overhauled."

According to the Bricklink entries for the two versions of the set the box was updated. https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?S=79104-2 and https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?S=79104-3"

Yes! Mantis Clan since Crimson and Jade!

Thanks for the info. I will check. But the boxes don't have the --2 or -3 next to the set number though, right? It's still NIB

@paulvdb said:
" @PurpleDave said:
" @Yoritomo:
Mantis Clan? First (bad) version comes with this part:

https://brickset.com/parts/6016487/chassis-6x24x2-3

If you look on the back of the box, both of mine show the Shellraiser with the roof lifted off on the far right. You can see the two distinctive 2x2 holes in the train base that forms the floor of the model, but I don’t know if they ever updated the image when the set got overhauled."

According to the Bricklink entries for the two versions of the set the box was updated. https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?S=79104-2 and https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?S=79104-3"

Just checked my copy, its the second version using Technic! :D

@Yoritomo:
Dragon Clan since Emerald, with an affinity for the Nezumi, but I think I stopped collecting when Diamond landed. I did build a bunch of Bionicle L5R dragons, including Fire, Earth, Water, Air, Void, Thunder, Jade, Celestial (36” long, Best Creature nom at BWC 2012), Togashi, Fu Leng, Togashi Hoshi, and I also made a Naga warrior while I was at it.

And the “-1”, “-2”, etc are just for bookkeeping purposes. When a set number got reused, this was the solution for how to keep track of which actual set you were referring to. Since there’s an internal ban on recycling set numbers, these days the only regular use of this feature is Collectible Minifigs, where the “-0” version is the random sealed packet, and “-1” through “-N” are the individual minifigs (where N = the number of unique minifigs in that release). TLG just did such a massive overhaul of this set that it was easier to treat them as two distinct sets than manage alternate inventories for one. So, -1 (generic, all-inclusive listing) is being retired, and -2/-3 are the identified variants.

Interesting. I always assumed I had the updated model since I bought this quite a while after release, but reading these comments it seemed I have the original. I should track down the instructions and see if I can build it.

Good memories of this one. Not very show-accurate (the shade of yellow is too bright, it's too big, doors should split open horizontally, etc.) but I still have it on display. Really wish TMNT got picked up by Lego again. I figure they could make some great 18+ sets based on the old cartoon or the 1990 film.

@BlueberryWaffles:
It's supposed to be an MTA subway car from NYC. The smallest those get is 8'9" wide, and 51' long, so the animated design is severely undersized.. I built mine to match the animation, and it's got a box that's 8 studs wide and 24 studs long. If you ignore stuff like the armor plating and ladders, this looks like it's 26 studs long. It's the same 8 studs at the top, and widens to 10 at the bottom (which isn't what I remember from the show). The doors are where it really gets bad, since they bump the width up to at least 12 studs. So, it clearly is larger than my version, but not to the point where it really feels larger.