Review : The LEGO Ninjago Movie 70615 Fire Mech

On to a series of articles on the different sets based on The LEGO Ninjago Movie.

As usual, I will not describe to you by the menu what you see, I will just give you my humble opinion on each of these boxes. I will do so while tempering my ardor as an old collector, I am not necessarily the target of these products.

We start with the reference 70615 Fire Mech (Fire Armor in French) which for the modest sum of 74.99 € will allow you to assemble the mech of Kai accompanied by six minifigs.

Depending on your generation, you will see in this set influences from the Gundam, Transformers, Pacific Rim or even Power Rangers universes. Or a futuristic red robot-firefighter which here doesn't launch water but is equipped with flamethrower guns. Paradoxical.

As much to tell you right away, as you might expect, the LEGO version is not 100% faithful to the one in the film, seen in the trailer.

LEGO has integrated additional stickers to dress the thing and in the process simplified the construction especially at the level of certain joints. Too bad for a product based on a film itself based on a range of products even if in the end the robot willingly does without most of these stickers without undergoing major aesthetic degradation.

By the way, LEGO could consider offering stickers on a transparent background, especially for those that cover a large area, to avoid slight differences in color between the background color of the sticker and the color of the part on which it is must be applied.

The difference between the film model and the LEGO version is particularly obvious in the joints of the robot's arms. On the LEGO version, it is minimum service, which can be understood in view of the audience of young destructive fans targeted by this box.

Another very important point to note for all those who would consider reproducing the action of the film with their robot-fireman-arsonist, there is no articulation in the knees despite the dressing of the latter which could suggest the opposite.

So hard to get some epic poses to this mech red which remains a little stiff on its legs. It will take play on the joints of the feet to give it allure on the shelf in the bedroom of the young LEGO fan.

The two cylinders that feed the weapons of this robot are dressed in large stickers on a gray background that are difficult to place correctly with such a large area and the roundness of the part which serves as a support which does not help matters ... Visually, it is however very successful.

The two Japanese banners find it difficult to hold in place during handling, but the robot does very well if necessary. The set is compact, solid and easy to handle without too much breakage.

LEGO has provided two disc launchers integrated into the robot's arms and these flaming discs are also pad printed. And that's all. No missile launcher concealed in the forearms. It's a shame, the action is limited.

As for the minifigs, it's rather generous: This set of 944 pieces allows you to obtain the young ninjas Kai and Zane, Lauren, Henry, Hammer Head and Jelly. We will have to wait to see the film to judge the importance of certain secondary characters and therefore the interest of their minifig versions. Two ninjas in a set, it's not so bad, other boxes do less well.

Pad printing side, it's clean. The minifigs are successful. The two half-spheres that come to be placed around Jelly's head are well designed. They fit together perfectly and LEGO has even provided a small notch to separate them. The assembly turns with a slight clicking sound when handling the minifig. It is unsightly but it is not overly annoying. the less careful will be careful not to step on it ...

A robot, with a cockpit to put a minifigure in, you can't refuse. This set fulfills the contract despite its few flaws and its simplified finish compared to the film model. I say yes, although it will take the budget to find this mech an opponent of his size among the other sets in the The LEGO Ninjago Movie range (70613 Garma Mecha Man ?).

Note: We do as usual, you have until Aug 4, 2017 at 23:59 p.m. 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.