The TMNT Neca Sewer Lair Diorama & facts about its development over the years

My thoughts on the recent preorder for Neca's Sewer Lair living room diorama for their Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1987 line.
#neca #necatoys #necatmnt #tmnt #tmntmutantmayhem #acba #toycollector
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[@tmn_nate5978]

First let me thank you for the mention! I appreciate it :D 13:27 Now in terms of accuracy, there's no such thing when it comes to the lair. Zelu and I had this discussion back in 2020 or 2021. I don't know if he had already been collaborating with Neca by that point, but he actually messaged me when I made mine complimented that it was the best one he had seen out there. The issue with the sewer and the cartoon in general is that there's almost no consistency. Sometimes the bricks are bigger, but most of the time they look smaller which is what I personally went with. I would imagine Neca wanted the bigger ones for cost reasons. The paint looks good, but I wouldn't say it's entirely accurate either. I had actually mainly wanted their version so I could repaint it myself. Either way, Zelu did an amazing job sculpting it. As far as what Neca is charging - I had written a much larger post on multiple facebook groups, but I'll try to summarize it here. I'm charging $2000 for mine. The work and time that goes into it (roughly over a month if I'm able to work 6-7 hours a day if the weather is good and I don't have any migraines) is $1200. The purchaser pays a non refundable down payment of $450 which is used to start buying materials and so that if someone bails on paying me, I'm not doing all of this work for nothing. This is probably where the $1400 number you threw out is coming from. I was just trying to get it out of my house at that point since it has to be shipped in 3 large boxes, but that was at a big loss since I paid all of the up front costs which leads me to the next part. Shipping is $350 for 3 boxes. A lot of fees for shipping, paypal and the boat load of packing materials I use to ensure it has a break free journey to where it's going. It's a bit of an apples to oranges comparison, but it's just to give some insight into what goes into making it. Everything I do is by hand and made from scratch. I don't own a 3D printer, but even if I did, they're just not fast enough to warrant buying one and learning the software. There's also a lot of work/cleanup involved once it's done printing too. I fully expected since the time of its announcement that it was at the very least be $250 or more given that it was roughly the same size as mine and the same layout as mine. It actually turned out to be slightly deeper and longer (no pun intended), but it's not as tall as mine. I think what they're charging is more than fair even if people can't personally afford it or don't want to spend that much. It absolutely should've come with its own TV at the very least though, but otherwise it's still mostly cheaper than paying a maker to craft a similarly decent one for you. Surprisingly though, I have a new growing list of people that want a full 3 rooms now even though I thought I was done making sewers and was in the middle of making the full lair for myself so I could use it for photography purposes. That plan is shelved for now :)

[@SparkingCollectables]

This is so well detailed its time to pin! Yeah at the time you were trying to get rid of it and I was looking at photos hourly haha. Also when I said accurate I didn't mean to the cartoon I meant to accurately match the toon line if that makes sense so like shading of the items and accessories & what not.

[@masikorewa9842]

This is the most informative video about this on yt 👍 I hope more people view this instead of getting the pitch forks out.

[@nicholashill8724]

Fantastic video, I am excited about this diorama too! Trevor confirmed at PowerCon that there are another 1 or 2 sewer rooms coming. Could this be the training dojo and the bedroom perhaps?

[@SparkingCollectables]

That would be awesome to get the training dojo. I wonder how the bedroom would be done because of the layout

[@nicholashill8724]

@@SparkingCollectables The bedroom would certainly have a different design to the other four rooms. It would have a narrow middle with the four beds built into the much thicker walls. I guess this would also mean that the beds would need to be located on the left and right walls, and not just two beds showing on the back wall with then beds in the front wall missing entirely. The main concern is NECA not continuing production of the extra unannounced rooms. I think we will get at least the kitchen and Donatello's lab as I believe they are in much deeper levels of production, but I kind of want as many rooms as possible to really fill out the diversity of the sewer lair!

[@SparkingCollectables]

@@nicholashill8724 That would make so much sense, splinters room is another good shout I would see that being relatively easy to make up. Yeah I'm worried too but I hope more the silent majority is just buying it, it's crazy that for years die hard collectors wanted official dioramas and now their kinda being rejected the TMNT street scenes (not the general retail one) were $250. I'd love more sewer rooms like you say and even more neca tmnt dioramas in general. I understand the issues with the pricing for some people but some youtubers are just projecting it to be a much bigger deal to stretch it for multiple videos of "content" If you haven't already please like the video, sub and share it if you can!

[@nicholashill8724]

@@SparkingCollectables The generic street scene dioramas are much cheaper because they are not bespoke, NECA know that they can release repaint 'variant' dioramas essentially for these, and the Cartoon TMNT Street Scene is just that, a variant diorama. NECA also showed a The Last Ronin version of their diorama at SDCC 2023, and again that will be lower priced than the sewer living room too. With the sewer lair living room being so bespoke, NECA need to make all of its development costs back now, hence it is much pricier, (plus obviously inflation has accounted for some of the increase). Size-wise, the street scene and living room are fairly comparable too. The street scene is three layers, but the top layer doesn't really amount to much cost-wise as it just has a cardboard back to it, (as nice as the art on the cardboard is). Then the middle layer and bottom layer don't really have much floorspace with figures having to be perched single-file on the ledges and pavements, there is overall about the same amount of floorspace across the two sets. However the living room comes with a lot more accessories, so the amount of plastic between the two sets is fairly equal overall, perhaps even more with the living room as you get those large wall pipes that plug in as well.

[@mikemurry2202]

Nice to see a more upbeat video on this, I ordered one and don't feel bad about it.

[@glauging8783]

10:10 Facts

[@jameswaynes4952]

Sad thing is this video won't get the traction it needs, finally someone talking sense about this set

[@darrensmith8878]

This video explains a lot like why the TV was released separately most channels covering this sewer are just in outrage mode without doing a lick of research. Enjoy it when you get it!

[@AlphaProto]

I do appreciate a positive perspective on the situation. Being priced out of buying something you really want does hit hard.

[@Rogue_Culture]

Great video mate!

[@lucasjames8455]

I ordered mine over the weekend. You're on the money about youtubers making several videos off negativity my feed has seen guys I've never even heard of ranting about this and you can just tell they don't have even half of this toyline or know much about tmnt

[@motumaster573]

This videos on point. I ordered one a few days ago, the fake outraged toy youtubers would've had a field day with the MOTU Classics, Castle Grey Skull & Snake Mountain had they come out in 2023

[@pmgerard]

Most of these KZbinrs are pointing out that the Thundercats Ultimates $650 Cats Lair (same price as Snake Mountain and same size) is a much better deal that the Sewer Lair dio.

[@Flyboy520]

Very well put together video. Love the background music aswell.

[@diamanteloco6346]

I bought 3 sets just to be safe I can always flip one later if the other rooms get released.

[@harrystevens7939]

Just came across this got me so pumped to get this in hand

[@MarkVersion1]

I love the technodrome diorama that Neca did in the past

[@comicclash3647]

I was on the fence because I really want them to re release the cartoon street diorama to go with it but I think I'm going to pick this up while the window is open

[@coelhocalves92]

Dam I missed the deadline

[@joetaylor947]

Great video

[@konglee7284]

I'm buying it too and because it's a Name Brand behind this toy... Neca It's a Name Brand Product... not 3rd party or custom made. They don't hold valve for me... just saying.

[@deviantknight7009]

I ordered one, but if you look ar community feedback it was definitely the price causing so much backlash. I would love to see a technodrome, turtle blimp or turtle copter one day from neca

[@ItsJGonzo]

Love this review. Make me feel like I made the right move. Can’t wait to get mine.

[@SparkingCollectables]

Hope you enjoy it! Please sub if youve not already!

[@daryljasons5628]

Best is it worth it video without being that

[@MDMilon-sj1md]

Nice

[@DunkMan11]

How long are these available to buy?

[@SparkingCollectables]

Till Tuesday the 5th

[@anythinggoes5615]

A quater is 25% the year has 12 months therefore they came out every 3 months

[@HastaBanana]

I can afford it, but I still think the price doesn’t make cents so I will pass. I am looking forward to my van though😊

[@vtecef9]

Turtle van accessory pack? Please explain

[@SparkingCollectables]

There will be an accessory pack for the Van next year, Trevor said when we get the van you'll notice panels on the roof can be changed and removed thats because the pack will come with the missile launcher that was used one time & the spring/launcher from the 1st opening and some other stuff

[@vtecef9]

@@SparkingCollectables thank you very much. I am now even more excited. Lol

[@SparkingCollectables]

@@vtecef9 Please sub if you haven't already!

[@MisterChef729]

amazing video

[@user-lo5eg1ce9l]

thank

[@kotalprime3804]

Glad you pointed out the reaction youtubers that are blowing this way out of proportion for views and clout *coughs*madhatterreviews*coughs*

[@notkamina4577]

Those idiots may tank this set and its so annoying, no ramen is going to do what they did with the engine of vengeance sell it cheaper then with all the extras it'll end up being the same price. Theirs wont even match the line

[@yashik]

@@notkamina4577 Good News, don't worry it won't tank, there is plenty of Neca Fan Boys who will buy it because it's branded by Neca. They fucked up big time, they should release set as empty room/sewer and sell themed accessory pack "Living-Room-Addon" this way people who can't afford whole set will pick just accessory/addon and build their o own walls, and rich people can go and buy multiple rooms as they please... 100% neca fucked it up so don't blame madhatter

[@robertkelley198]

Some outlandish takes out there but I think most collectors I spoke to agree that the price doesn’t add up. Does it look great, yes. Is it overpriced, probably. Should you buy it if you want it? Absolutely. Lets be happy we even got to this point. I’m on the fence as of now but I may be joining you in a week 🤣. Great review btw.

[@yashik]

Ok to be optimistic let's say NECA isn't gauging price trying to find out how much they can overcharge fans but instead they know this is a big set and not everyone will be able to afford it, that's only logical right... so since they are not driven by greed and genuinely cares for TMNT collectors what is the chance they will release "Living-Room-Accessory set" including furniture and decoration so those who are less fortunate and can build their own lair within their skills/budget ... what do you think they will do...

[@kotalprime3804]

Except they already did that and made the TV and Portal available outside of buying a 3 room dio, you can easily buy 3rd party chairs & bits and bobs because that what building your own entails.

[@yashik]

@@kotalprime3804 that's not what I've said/wrote and you know it... Locking accessories like furniture behind overpriced walls is one of the most evil moves I could think of, so i'm trying here to come up with idea that Neca are not a greedy bastards who wants to gauge and screw fans... but it's hard when I get such a nonsensical comments like yours

[@SparkingCollectables]

I do t think they'd do that because it defeats the point of the living room but say someone like me who got 2 ill have a spare sofa and stuff so I'll probably pop that stuff up on ebay as others would so it shouldn't be to hard to get official furniture if you don't want 3rd party stuff

[@yashik]

@@SparkingCollectables Yes sure but usualy that option isn't made to help collectors or to show how seller or company cares because on ebay most of time they sell it for quit a huge profit so it won't be a cost effective a budged friendly option that I've suggested... I found it fascinating how those who can afford it are so against any kind of idea of even possibility for releasing it as an accessory pack of furniture later on (and we know they do exclusive 4 turtles in SDCC and then releasing as single or double so basically it is in their business capabilities)

[@SparkingCollectables]

I'm not against it I'm just saying that off of previous releases and what would sell the set for example I wanted more if the billboard sign from the toom Street scene cuz I could use 2 of 3 of those but they are one of the things that is exclusive/a selling pont of the toon street scene. But if they choose to release the furniture down the road it wouldn't bother me at all I just don't think that's likely. I do think there will be plenty online though as some will buy 2 for a garage or to make another room or fear that we won't get more dios if this doesn't do well enough.

[@colonelhstinkmeaner8547]

This shit is too expensive.😂😂😂

[@tinymclarge9158]

yea no waiting for the ramentoys one to come out for half the price and more rooms. informative video though.