Review : 70612 Green Ninja Mech Dragon

We return to The LEGO Ninjago Movie universe, a film that does not feature LEGO products but rather people who play with LEGO products (more on that ...), with the set 70612 Green Ninja Mech Dragon.

Dragons are like boats, LEGO fans love it. And in this specific case, it is a dragon-robot that it is. It's even Lloyd Garmadon's mount, The Green Ninja, The Chosen One, The Master of Energy, son of Garmadon and Misako.

You will have noticed by watching the trailer for the film, LEGO offers us once again a (very) reduced model of the version of the threatening creature that gracefully slips through the streets of Ninjago City. Here she becomes a big green lizard decorated sparingly so that it looks about the model it was inspired by.

I know that LEGO necessarily calculated the parts (544) / price (49.99 €) / playability ratio of the thing and adapted it accordingly so that young fans have a chance to be offered this set without having to work for it. a whole quarter and play with it with one hand. As an adult fan that I am is a little disappointed with this probably inevitable shrinkage.

Let's get rid of the few details that fans won't fail to note right away: Yes, there's a banana under the dragon's eye. Well done LEGO, Nice Part Usage, etc.... And the language is a pennant.

But this dragon doesn't spit rockets, unlike the one in the movie. Not even a few round pieces, just to be able to reproduce this feature which could have been rather fun. Pity.

The LEGO version has a little less allure than that of the film, it is undeniable but it will be necessary to be satisfied with it. Dressing the skeleton struggles to conceal the joints which allow it to take various and varied poses. If the upper part is almost an illusion, the belly of the creature is very poor in decorative elements.

Another detail that symbolizes this low-cost version of the dragon from the film: The legs of the LEGO version have only two claws against three on the original model.

Significant detail, the tail is completely free to move, you just need to gently shake the dragon for the tail to whip the bad guys in its path.

The movements are cushioned by two rubber elements placed in the center of the abdomen. It's ingenious and it doesn't disfigure the creature. So some will have fun carefully lining up an entire army of bad guys before settling their score with this devastating appendix (I did).

A few thing launchers are placed on the dragon's paws and since it is a dragon-robot that has no wings, it is equipped with reactors. An entire program.

The mechanism used to retract these motors is simple but effective. You will therefore have the choice between a more "organic" appearance of this dragon or a more "look"Transformers"of the thing.

Overall, not enough to cry genius, but at 49.99 € and with four minifigs including Lloyd, his father and Sensei Wu, this set remains an interesting box. And a LEGO dragon, even with the air of a big lizard, you can't refuse.

The villain is named Charlie, we'll see later who this guy is. As a bonus, the box still contains a copy of the ultimate weapon that will be useful against Godzichat: the laser pointer.

In short, this set 70612 Green Ninja Mech Dragon looked more promising to me when I first discovered it. After mounting it, I am left unsatisfied. The youngest will probably find a little fun there. I pass.

Note: We do as usual, you have until August 26, 2017 to manifest yourself in the comments.

Update : The winner was drawn and notified by email, his nickname is indicated below.
Without a response from him to my request for contact details within 5 days, a new winner will be drawn.