70638 Katana V11 Review
April 5th, 2023
70638 Katana V11 is a Ninjago set released in 2018. It was marketed under the Sons of Garmadon subtheme and depicts a sleek, high-speedboat used by Kai as seen in Ninjago: Sons of Garmadon. It was used to infiltrate the ressurection ceremony at the Temple of Ressurections. With it's immaculate shaping and use of firey red and orange is this the best Ninjago vehicle of all time? Let's find out!
All thoughts and opinions in this review are of my own.
Set #: 70638
Year: 2018
Theme: Ninjago
Subtheme: Sons of Garmadon
Minifigures: 2
MSRP: $19.99
A Very Aerodynamic Speedboat
The Katana V11 is one of the very few instances where we get a vehicle other than a mech or bike for Ninjago. It’s very sleek in design and vibrant, bursting with an inferno-like design with it’s reds and yellows. The front uses a combination of slopes and slopes on a hinge to give it this nice aerodynamic, speedboat-like feel. It’s almost as if it’s made for cutting through the waves with its subtle use of blades and suggestion of a high-powered engine using a 2 x 2 round printed tile.
However, there’ is more than meets the eye as this doubles as a compartment with plenty of space storing two katanas plus more. While it can fit a variety of things it cannot hold the one important McMuffin of this entire wave, the Oni Mask. Even with it's accessories removed it is far too large for the space provided.
The side panels continue the curvature front introducing a splash of flaming yellowish orange as well as an appropriate amount of stickers. There’s an implied ventilation/exhaust as well as some flames here and about. My favorite part of this section and perhaps of the entire model is how seamlessly the plates on plates transition into the 4 x 3 slope. It impresses me how well that meshes together. There is also a sticker on the same slope slope with the Ninjargon for H. Most likely hot.
Tucked away within these sections is the means of fire power. If it wasn’t impressive before it surely is now as it is hardly noticeable unless you know it’s there. Armed is a spring loaded shooter with an almost 90 degrees of reach. Perhaps one of the few times the placement of these had been perfect. As always just pushed down to fire it off.
The cockpit makes good use of an upside down windscreen with plenty of room for Kai. Inside is the typical 1 x 2 slope print we’ve been getting since 2015 for controls. It may seem bland but there’s one more surprise as both these side panels… Fold out. Giving it a new look and mode entirely. If the turrets weren’t enough then the attack mode is sure to deliver. I could see this also being a low profile type look and a way for Kai to get out of the boat a lot more properly if he were to dock. Though it is not enough clearance for the turrets.
While the back of most sets are notorious for being unfinished this is one of those rare exceptions which adds to how well made it is. There’s a huge flame present acting as the main thrust as well as two more smaller ones above. Or maybe it’s an exhaust? All this power is run on a v4 engine. Or is it 7? That’s still not 11 or maybe each number 1 represents a physical katana. Which, in retrospect makes it the "Katana V Katana Katana" Either way it’s very polished up which is nice.
A Properly Scaled Motorcycle!
Luke Cunningham gets an [for once] appropriately sized motorcycle. It is just the standard, existing motorcycle element however there is a new recolor for the wheels in bright red. There is also a sticker with the Ninjagrgan “DS” most likely for the designer of this set, Dimitrios Stamatis. A suggestion of an exhaust or boost is present on the back. Thankfully , it doesn't add too much bulk to roll but it can be tricky to keep propped up.
The Perfect Merge of Two Mediums
Minifigures included are Resistance Kai and Luke Cunningham. The designs for both are nice with the former taking a lot of inspiration from the Movie. However, it inverts those colors with the red being dominant instead of black. As such it also uses the dual-element mask system. I feel it’s the perfect compromise between the show style and those [Secret Ninja Force] designs. As for Luke, the flashy blue and pinks give off an 80s neon vibe which feels unique for a biker. Though it is unknown why his visor is heat vision googles and not a biker's helmet. All accessories removed and it's good stuff all around. Excellent design and graphic work.
Overall Thoughts?
So good things about this set you’re getting exactly what you’re paying for where most of the budget is going into this excellently done, oversized speedboat. However, oversized in a good way. There is lots of good techniques and a pretty solid parts inventory going for it as well. I do appreciate that just for a few parts, a few they throw in a complete acceptable second vehicle. It’s a biker. He needs a bike. It’s good. As for the bad I don’t have any complaints other than a minor nitpick to throw in an Oni Mask. It would give a sense of conflict.
If you'd like to see a video review check it out below!
See ya next time!
- Marty aka BioninjaBricks
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