Review : 70616 Ice Tank

This is one of my favorites from the line of sets based on The LEGO Ninjago Movie: The Set 70616 Ice Tank, with its 914 pieces, its 5 minifigs and its retail price of € 79.99.

I'm even ready to forgive him for being once again just a budget version of the machine seen in the trailer for the film. The ensemble, with its futuristic insect look, caught my eye.

My first thought went to Plasma Bugs from Starship Troopers, find out why. This is probably what unconsciously attracted me to this tank with the appearance of a bellicose insect.

In the first trailer of the film, the original version of this tank is equipped with two sets of tracks on each side and a very elaborate suspension system. The LEGO version is less ambitious.

As usual, LEGO has therefore simplified the thing but I want to be indulgent today: the end result does not suffer too much. I was already a fan of Titanium Ninja Tumbler from set 70588 with its removable cell released in 2016, and here I find the type of vehicle that a ninja like Zane must have in his garage.

While moving, the tank spins the mixer of the ice cream vat, the blue abdomen, which contains a few parts. The functionality of this ice cream maker is admittedly anecdotal, but I found the idea pretty cool.

The rotation of the blades striking on the parts which themselves strike on the surface of the tank generates a noise which will probably please the youngest but that some will quickly find annoying. It will suffice to remove these pieces to find a little silence on the living room carpet.

The whole is held up rather well, the machine is easy to move. The blue tank is well designed, it does not fall apart at the slightest manipulation. The less careful will find their account without having to rebuild everything after each slightly hectic session.

The machine really suits Zane, Elemental master et Ninja of ice of his condition. We are in the theme, no doubt about it.

As for the planned armament, it is necessary to be satisfied with the rotating cannon located to the left of the cockpit. A gear allows the cannon to be put into action to sow coins all over the living room. It's limited, but there is a bit of fun.

Lots (too many) of stickers to stick again, mainly to dress the cockpit and the banners located at the back. But it is at this price that the whole gets a really nice look. No stickers to put on the canopy of the cockpit, that's already it. A second canopy identical to the one protecting Zane is located under the cockpit. The MOCers of spacecraft may find their account there.

As on the other sets which feature these vaguely Japanese flags, these elements are the weak link of the whole. They hamper the handling of the machine a little and have a tendency to turn and to unhook a little too easily. We can always consider removing them temporarily for an "active" play session so as not to spoil the fun.

On the minifig side, LEGO obviously provides the owner of this Ice Tank, namely Zane, a Shark Army Thug, a Shark Army Angler, Patty Keys and Torben. A single ninja for 79.99 € is not much, especially since the rest is made up of generic characters.

Regarding the two frightened civilians to protect, nothing very exciting as it stands. We will have to see what their exact role is in the film to judge the interest of these two characters and determine if LEGO is filling or if Torben and Patty Keys are doing anything other than running away from Garmadon's men.

A good point for the Shark Army Angler's helmet, if you like monkfish this is for you.

As is the case with many other sets in this film-based range, this gearbox is sorely lacking a second vehicle, even minimalist, driven by the two villains.

For maximum playability, it will therefore be necessary to extend the planned budget and purchase another set featuring the machines piloted by the shark-men such as the sets. 70609 Manta Ray Bomber ou 70610 Flying Jelly Sub which we will talk about in the coming days.

You can still have fun crushing baddies with the caterpillars of this tank, I tried, but it's fun for five minutes, no more.

In summary, the machine has style and that's what makes me say yes. Regarding the public price, it is the high bar. This box will end up being available for barely more than 50 € one day or the other and it will be time to have fun.

Note: We do as usual, you have until August 11, 2017 to manifest yourself in the comments.
Update : The winner was drawn and notified by email, his nickname is indicated below.
If I do not get a response from him to my request for contact details before August 20, a new winner will be drawn.