The Cat's Lair playset got me thinking... what could Super7 do for a TMNT sewer playset. I'm not tackling the Technodrome yet, but I will. All I know is that it can't be the Playmates Lair, because Playmates would whine like a little bitch and the Vintage playset was kinda lame. Thing is that whatever I make must have that vintage styled look.
I'm thinking something close to Snake Mountain in size. Unlike Snake Mountain, this set will be tall, wide and deep... even if part of the depth is only for the lowest level... but in order for this playset be Snake Mountain tall, I need some aboveground stuff. This will be the main difference between Playmates and my theoretical playset. Let's start by the theoretical measurements:
54 inches to the roof of the Channel 6 building.
51 inches in width not counting the modular pipe connectors.
36 inches in depth. This playset would be a bit on the heavier side since the sewer area would have 1 inch thick walls, flooring and roof. The thick walls and roof are to support the weight of the Party Wagon and various figures. I'm not a toy engineer, so I dont know if we can lower the weight in a creative manner. (I mean most of the sewer walls would have some parts hollowed out for action features)
Now let me get into detail with some explanations. There will be nods and references to the Playmates version, but it won't be the Playmates Lair playset. I added some powerlines and the turtles can be posed on the posts, but there won't be a swinging feature like the Playmates set. The modular pipe connectors are a nod to the Playmates sewer but they would serve as connectors for potential expansions, like say: Ninja Pizza Parlor, which would be a third of the width of the normal playset. It would come with the parlor and a sewer level. I have 2 expansions in mind, with Ninja Pizza Parlor being one of them. Ifbyou don't want to use the connectors, there should be 4 wall plugs with "breakaway Mouser holes" that allow for a Mouser infestation.
The vintage elevator, I kept, but completely modified into a transport module. It should be big enough to fit Rocksteady or Bebop inside. On the street level, it would appear on an alleyway that has a "breakable floor" for the module to pop out of.
Now for the lair part of the playset, you can see that it's in a sort of reversed L shape beneath the Second Tune Around Antique shop, aka April's Apartment. The 3 sections are Front Center, Front Right and Back Right. Right walls have modular connectors for expansions, which would increase the Lair Area. The Front Center area would be the Dojo/ entrance to the Lair. Entrance from Front Left side is a "hidden door". This is loosely inspired by the spinning weapon rack from the 2003 lair. In fact the whole dojo area is inspired by that playset. The Front Right Room would be the common area.
It would have a couch, a TV with swappable screens. (April giving the news, a Nickelodeon bumper, Shredder highjacking the airwaves to threaten the Turtles, broken screen for Mouser attack.) Also, a smaller version of Donatello's coffee maker (Donatello Does Machines) is on the wall next to the Back Right entrance. The Back Right is the kitchen area, that can only be fully seen from the back, it has a fridge and stove sculpted to the walls, table, and a ladder and a not so secret hatch that leads behind the counter of 2nd time around.
Before I start on the 2 buildings, the last 2 Pieces of the Sewer area are: Front Left with Manhole opening, the other side of the secret entrance to the lair. Back left of the sewer is a normal sewer area with the wall connecting to the Center back looking like it caved in. For action feature smaller collapsible pipes that would block access from the front left and from a connected expansion.
Second time around building would be 2.75 floors high vs the 4 floors of Channel 6.
Let's talk the 2nd Time Around building first:
Floor .75 is the rooftop access. It has a working door and hides a ball dropping mechanism (nod to the arcade game)
The second floor would be April's apartment, which its design should be inspired by the Arcade game but not be a 1:1 reproduction.
The first floor would be the antique shop. The counter area hides the hatch to enter the sewer lair. Personally, I want to add bunch of props and accessories that can be used as weapons (a fore extinguisher, pair of cymbals, reusing Casey's weapons in different colors as well)
I want to have two types of front windows. One looking normal and the other with the window broken and boarded up. A condemned sign should be on the board. Removable flame effects could be attached to the windowsills.
These are nods to the game and mirage comics.
The Channel 6 Building is not as complicated as the other areas. floor 1 is the Lobby with a revolving door entrance (about Bebop size)
Floor 2 is the studio 1 where non-news shows like Vernon's talk show are recorded. Collapsible stage lights feature.
Floor 3 is the studio where the news are broadcast. Breakaway broadcasting table (think breakable wrestling announcer tables)
Floor 4 is the Newsroom and Burne's office is located here. (2 desks, 2 chairs, phone and 2 computers)
An optional addition to the roof of Channel 6 is a spotlight that would operate on 2 AA Batteries
The idea behind this was inspired by 2 TMNT playsets: sewer lair from the original 80s line, a few elements from the 2003 line. Castle Grayskull and the Daily Bugle from Spider-Man the animated series playsets had some influence.
I was writing this long before the official reveal of the Cat's Lair and it looks like I may have to cut back. If I had to cut back, the buildings would have to be culled, but not completely gone... remember that I mentioned Modularity and the capability of expanding via add-ons. Channel 6 and Second Time Around would be joined by the purple Dragon pub and Ninja Pizza in order to feel worthwhile expansions. Each expansion being roughly 34 inches wide.
That would also mean that I'd have to make up a new backdrop to take account for the missing buildings.
We might need a custom table to display this sucker fully assembled... WITHOUT the Technodrome...
And I just lost the will to continue this rant... I won't finish the sketches I had, because Ramen Toy is working on a kickass Modular Sewer Diorama. They're calling it MUSK, no relation to Elon. Modular Underground Sewer Kommand.
Which is kinda similar to my idea but without blatantly obvious TMNT stuff. It is meant for 1:12 scale and MIGHT be compatible with the NECA sewer diorama. *sigh* nearly 3 months of planning *poof*... I was researching PVC Panels for cabinet making in order to fabricate a version of my idea. Probably will revisit this on the 21st... anniversary of this blog.
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