1990-1991 Storage Shell Turtles Figures

[Bill]

Like to keep value things in a safe place? Well nothing could be safer that your own shell, especially if you are a Tmnt.

Hello Dear Tmnt Followers, back in 1990 our four green heroes decided to become their own safe vault, when the Turtlemania was running wild the storage shell turtles came out featuring Donatello with Storage Shell, Leonardo with Storage Shell, Michaelangelo with storage shell and Raphael with Storage Shell-

The figures were great in terms of sculpt, colours and of course who could forget their face expression with those healthy gums and teeth?

Each figure would have a new mold, different face expression, their trademark weapons plus unique and innovative weapons/accessories proving once again how creative Playmates was. Needless to say that all came with the storage shell feature.

The cardboard art was just marvelous, we got our beloved exploding brick wall, two illustrations for each figure of this new set and also an enemy cameo which make them very special. You may know by now how much I love those cameos, if not you can go to this thread
http://forums.thetechnodrome.com/showthread.php?t=45484


What´s more? This figures would become “iconic” due to the fact that they would be heavily shown in the box vehicles that were yet to come from 1991 onwards replacing the original 1988 figures and sharing that spot with the Movie Star Turtles, making it very desirable in my opinion.

The Storage Shell figures would be reissue in 1994/1995 and all this fine carboard art would be gone forever, on the bright side all would come with the now hard to find collector cards and their trademark black belt instead of the bandanna coloured one.

As for me, I loved that their belt was coloured same like their respective bandana and that both Leo and Don have the more traditional belt instead of the one with the “suspenders”, lol.


Let´s start with the pilot test, (no, not 1991 Pro Pilot Don, lol), the first ever Storage Shell Tmnt, In 1990 Donatello with storage Shell came out









Donatello with storage shell was a great figure, we got a whole new mold, with some nice details, love that it got a belt more similar to the one used in the cartoon and a good second choice when the 1988 original Donatello is not around.


The accessories were a Killer Pizza, Fish Knife, Sewer Slingshot (Bart Simpson or Dennis the Menace rip off maybe ?), Shark Fin Hatchet (very creative), Bo, Two Ninja Stars and of course the storage shell feature. This would be the only Storage Shell figure whose weapons are still jointed to a “rack” or sort of.


In Donatello with Storage Shell Cardboard, Scumbug makes a cameo (being attacked by Don´s killer pizza and ninja star). Got to admire Playmates, cause by showing us not familiar characters like Scumbug in this cardboard and in the secret sewer map, makes me wanna have it.


Here´s a review on youtube of Donatello with Storage Shell

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5QsuGWqDlk






In 1991 the remaining three turtles came out, the second figure of this set is no other that our fearless leader, Leonardo with Storage Shell







Leonardo with Storage Shell was a great figure, love his face expression (a total badass) , we got a new mold, a new belt , again love that it got a belt more similar to the one used in the cartoon and I would dare to say that this figure is even better than the 1988 original Leonardo. I never liked that figure to be honest, it lacked of something, lets say…attitude.


The accessories were awesome (no more jointed) and there were a Turtle Grappling Hook (Batman homage?), Armadillo Club (amazing), Pizza Disc, Spiked Knuckle/Climbing Claw (badass), Two Ninja Stars, Two Katana Blades and of course the storage shell feature.


In Leonardo with Storage Shell Cardboard, Pizzaface makes a cameo being attacked by Leo´s ninja stars, spiked knuckle and katana. Love Pizzaface´s facial expression. I remember back in those days seeing this figure at a toystore, and just that cameo made me wanna buy it (I already got Pizzaface and I loved it from the very beginning just like I said in these threads http://forums.thetechnodrome.com/showthread.php?t=25268 and http://forums.thetechnodrome.com/showthread.php?t=25269 ).



Here´s a review on youtube of Leonardo with Storage Shell

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hsax8OHFGPY




The third Storage Shell I would like to show you is my favourite Turtle, good old Michaelangelo with Storage Shell








Michaelangelo with Storage Shell was a great figure, as for its face expression it was bit odd for me, Mike was always smiling in the cartoon or maybe not , we got a new mold and a good second choice if 1988 original Michaelangelo is not available.

The accessories were great and there were a Pipe Grappling Hook (awesome), Mini-sickle (too gruesome maybe? Is Mike the Grim Reaper?), a Pizza Disc, Two Nunchukus, Two Ninja Stars,
Turtle Flashlight and of course the storage shell feature.


In Michaelangelo with Storage Shell Cardboard, Groundchuck makes a cameo, you don´t know how much I love the member of the not very well used duo. I believe they should have used Groundchuck and Dirtbag more in the original cartoon but that´s another story.


Here´s a review on youtube of Michaelangelo with Storage Shell

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHVDU8SCLMo


The Final figure of this Storage Shell Turtles Series is the hothead of the group, Raphael with Storage Shell







Raphael with Storage Shell was a great figure, love his face expression (a big smile), we got a new mold and a good second choice if 1988 original Raphael is not available.


The accessories were great and there were a Manta Axe (amazing), Two Sais, Blowfish Mace (just great), Ninja-rang, Pizza Disc, Two Ninja Stars and of course the storage shell feature.


In Raphael with Storage Shell Cardboard, Rocksteady makes a cameo being attacked by Raphael´s Blowfish Mace. Although I love Rocksteady I wish other mutant less familiar would have made a cameo (like Mutagen Man or Muckman), but that´s me and I guess Playmates used an original 1988 figure to connect 1991 Storage Shell Raph and enticed customers.


Here´s a review on youtube of Raphael with Storage Shell

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lXxUBliMTg


The Storage Shell Tmnt did not appear in the original tv show and it would have been weird if they did but the shell was usually the place were they put their belonging and weapons therefore…

Seems they are not pricey and hard to find (except for the reissues), I believe you can go for them. I always thought that there were a good match for the newer (post 1991) vehicles back then.

Here is Donatello with Storage Shell featured in the 1990 Playmates toy catalog (Photo Courtesy of Vaughn Michael)




Here are featured in the 1991 Playmates toy catalog (Photo Courtesy of Pannoni1)




Here is the toy commercial for Storage Shell Don

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-rWT9Ae0Ac


What do you think about these Storage Shell Turtles? Do you got them?

Did you see them at the toy shelves back in those days?

Any memories you wanna share from where you bought and saw it the
very first time?

Anyone remember if there was a Tmnt Toy commercial for the rest of the Storage Shell Turtles?

Thanks a lot for reading, don´t forget to lock your shell.