This is a review of the LEGO Ninjago 70503 The Golden Dragon which was released in 2013.  I have reviewed the smaller set of this series, the LEGO Ninjago 70500 Kai’s Fire Mech,  in my last post.  After seeing the LEGO Ninjago 9574 Lloyd ZX, or better known as the Green Ninja set, flew off the shelves in Singapore Stores, I can already foresee how “hot” this set will be when it is officially released here.  True to the expectations, without reservations, there is no way anyone is able to lay their hands onto a box of this set when it was first available in the major departmental stores and speciality shops.  Based on the Internet forums, some people even bought multiple copies to just in case the stocks doesn’t get replenished.  🙄

In this set, Lloyd has transformed himself from the Green Ninja into the Golden Ninja.  He is also able to summon the powerful Golden Dragon to help him fight against the Stone Army of the Overlord.  But the Stone Army is also not be played around with.  They have also sent along their Stone Army Warrior and Scout, together with a catapult station and weapons including hammer, spear, scimitar and dynamite, to fight against the Golden Ninja and his Golden Dragon.  So will win this fight?

The box of the LEGO Ninjago 70503 The Golden Dragon followed the same “Green background with the Golden Ninja” theme of this release.  In the front, the scene shows Lloyd, as the Golden Ninja, riding the Golden Dragon firing the dragon sphere at the Stone Army Scout while the Stone Army Warrior was firing the catapult at the Golden Dragon.  The rear of the box provides details of the set such as the firing mechanism of the Golden Dragon, the ability of the Golden Dragon opening up its wings and also the Stone Army’s catapult. 

 

Inside the box are 3 packs of parts, the instruction booklet, and the special part of the head of the Golden Dragon.  Good news is that all parts are printed in this set. 

The assembly was straight forward and simple.  Having assembled the Fire Dragon in the  LEGO Ninjago 2507 Fire Temple set, the Golden Dragon has a much simpler build.  The Golden Dragon is a much smaller dragon compared with the other four dragons and even smaller against the Epic Dragon.

The wings are made up of only three golden blades on each side compared with five for the Fire Dragon.  Also, the tail of the Golden Dragon is not as elaborate as that of the Fire Dragon.  The back of the Golden Dragon are two flags and a harness that Lloyd can stand/sit on the Golden Dragon. 

The tail and the legs of the Golden Dragon is formed from Hero Factory parts and joints to achieve its flexibility.  For the feet, they are pre-fabricated pieces that gives the Golden Dragon quite good stability.  The claws at the ends of the wings are constructed using the usual pieces used for claws except they are golden in colour.

There are three MiniFigures included in this set, Lloyd as the Golden Ninja, a Stone Army Warrior and a Stone Army Scout.  Each comes with its own weapons and colourful uniforms and accessories.

Lloyd as the Golden Ninja is dressed in the Kimono Suit in this set.  But weirdly, the Golden Ninja is using the Golden Sword of Fire that Kai used to carry, which I thought has been destroyed by Lord Garmadon when he combined all four golden weapons to form the Mega weapon.  At least for the Golden Ninja, LEGO got the MiniFigure correct by including the Golden shoulder pads for Lloyd.

The villains included in this set are the Stone Army Warrior and Scout.  For the Stone Army Warrior, it comes with a full armour, helmet and a hammer like weapon.  The face, torso and legs have very detailed designs and patterns.

For the Stone Army Scout, it has a quiver and cross bow as per what we have seen in the Kai’s Fire Mech.  However, the Stone Army Scout in this set has a different face colour compared with the previous.   

 Overall, this set is worth 8 out of 10, losing points to the weird design of the Golden Dragon’s head but with the plus points of not having any stickers for the set.  Although this set is simple, but the popularity of the Green and Golden Ninja will sure propel the sales of this set sky high.  Hence, do get your set before they fly off the shelves of your nearby Lego shops.