oakchip
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oakchip's Stats
oakchip's Stats
- 4.7Average Rating
- 66Helpfulness Votes
- 0Featured Reviews
- 3Review Count
- February 28, 2015First Review
- August 14, 2016Last Review
oakchip's Reviews
Bucket Wheel Excavator
Bucket Wheel Excavator
Posted:August 14, 2016
oakchip
Age:
65 or older
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Overall:
5
/
5
A Really Awesome Set!
" Well, having just finished the build, I can say this is a truly worthy 'Flagship' Technic set. First of all - the build. I took over 1 week, just building sections at a time. The parts come in numbered bags (1-8), thank you Lego - this really does help building. The instructions are in one HUGE book. The sections of the instructions relate to the bags. Two nice inovations in these instructions. Where small parts are added to a large section of the model, white outine 'windows' are added to highlight where the parts go - nice touch! Also, on one or two pages, the main model is greyed out, leaving only a section in plain colour to highlight the new parts. Very good! At the end of the instructions the controls are explained. This layout is also new - and very clear.
The build is complex. I managed to make a mistake on stage 4; and had to dismantle the model to put in a missed out gear wheel. I managed this twice! So; check that the axles and gears are connected and doing something before proceeding! A small criticism is that, on the build of the bucket arm (stage 6), the conveyor belt support structure is rather weak until the re-inforcing side is finished. Care is needed with this stage not to bend or break parts. When complete the structure is very strong. Also adding the bucket arm to the main structure is fiddly. Four hands might help with this stage!
When complete the kit is really impressive. I particularly like the attention to detail in this kit. Not only an operators cabin, but ladders, walkways, and lights are added all over the model. It adds a sense of scale and completeness to the model.
Value for money? Yes! Although expensive you do get a lot for your money. Apart from the fun building and playing with the set, there are a huge number of parts. I would certainly recommend this set to anyone who likes Technic Lego. "
The build is complex. I managed to make a mistake on stage 4; and had to dismantle the model to put in a missed out gear wheel. I managed this twice! So; check that the axles and gears are connected and doing something before proceeding! A small criticism is that, on the build of the bucket arm (stage 6), the conveyor belt support structure is rather weak until the re-inforcing side is finished. Care is needed with this stage not to bend or break parts. When complete the structure is very strong. Also adding the bucket arm to the main structure is fiddly. Four hands might help with this stage!
When complete the kit is really impressive. I particularly like the attention to detail in this kit. Not only an operators cabin, but ladders, walkways, and lights are added all over the model. It adds a sense of scale and completeness to the model.
Value for money? Yes! Although expensive you do get a lot for your money. Apart from the fun building and playing with the set, there are a huge number of parts. I would certainly recommend this set to anyone who likes Technic Lego. "
I would recommend this to a friend!
From: Bedford
From:
United Kingdom
Age:
65 or older
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Purchased For:
Self
Build Time:
14
hrs
Play Experience (Optional):
4
/
5
Value for Money (Optional):
5
/
5
Level of Difficulty:
Very Challenging
Very Easy
Very Challenging
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
+14points
15of 16found this review helpful.
Mercedes-Benz Arocs 3245
Mercedes-Benz Arocs 3245
Posted:September 5, 2015
oakchip
Age:
65 or older
years old
Overall:
5
/
5
A truly great Technic Kit!
" Having just completed this build, it is one of the best Lego has produced. The play features are excellent, and the look of the finished model is superb! Also the build is a challenge. It makes you almost want to take it apart and start again, just for the thrill of building it!
Other reviewers have mentioned the cab, which is design triumph. It looks good, and the 'tilt cab' feature is not only realistic, it makes access to the battery box very easy.
Good points are the suspension which works very well; the steering is realistic, and the use of the hazard lights turning the wheels rather than the awkward gear wheel on top of the cab is good. The tipping body works very well indeed.
The new pneumatic system is good, but still suffers from the drawbacks of this system. It is quick to respond once pressure has built up in the system. Give the pump time to do this before operating the valves! Sometimes it is too quick, the bucket can snap together very quickly. Also the piston which raises and lowers the whole arm can drop very quickly. Perhaps Lego can design a limiter valve for the new system to slow airflow on the 'return' airlines? In the meantime, operate the valve levers gently!
The build is a challenge, and some steps need to be taken slowly to make sure you have completed the stages correctly. Turning forward and back a page or two to check what the sub-model should look like can help! It needs strong hands and fingers to build, so younger children may need adult help here. When feeding the six pneumatic pipes through the turntable, I find the use of a strong pair of tweezers can help!
Play value is excellent, and the model complements the Volvo Bucket Loader from last year nicely!
VERY unusually for Lego, there were 2 small pieces missing from the set. A quick call to the (very friendly and helpful!) Customer Helpline soon put that right.
Overall I would recommend this set. It is a tad expensive, but it IS Lego quality - and you definitely get what you pay for here! "
Other reviewers have mentioned the cab, which is design triumph. It looks good, and the 'tilt cab' feature is not only realistic, it makes access to the battery box very easy.
Good points are the suspension which works very well; the steering is realistic, and the use of the hazard lights turning the wheels rather than the awkward gear wheel on top of the cab is good. The tipping body works very well indeed.
The new pneumatic system is good, but still suffers from the drawbacks of this system. It is quick to respond once pressure has built up in the system. Give the pump time to do this before operating the valves! Sometimes it is too quick, the bucket can snap together very quickly. Also the piston which raises and lowers the whole arm can drop very quickly. Perhaps Lego can design a limiter valve for the new system to slow airflow on the 'return' airlines? In the meantime, operate the valve levers gently!
The build is a challenge, and some steps need to be taken slowly to make sure you have completed the stages correctly. Turning forward and back a page or two to check what the sub-model should look like can help! It needs strong hands and fingers to build, so younger children may need adult help here. When feeding the six pneumatic pipes through the turntable, I find the use of a strong pair of tweezers can help!
Play value is excellent, and the model complements the Volvo Bucket Loader from last year nicely!
VERY unusually for Lego, there were 2 small pieces missing from the set. A quick call to the (very friendly and helpful!) Customer Helpline soon put that right.
Overall I would recommend this set. It is a tad expensive, but it IS Lego quality - and you definitely get what you pay for here! "
I would recommend this to a friend!
From: Bedford
From:
United Kingdom
Age:
65 or older
years old
Purchased For:
Self
Build Time:
15
hrs
Play Experience (Optional):
5
/
5
Value for Money (Optional):
4
/
5
Level of Difficulty:
Very Challenging
Very Easy
Very Challenging
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
+3points
3of 3found this review helpful.
Arctic Truck
Arctic Truck
Posted:February 28, 2015
oakchip
Age:
65 or older
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Overall:
4
/
5
Good Model
" I bought this model mainly for the new parts. But what about the truck itself? It is quite a nice model. Yes, it has some flaws, but overall it is a good model. Construction is straight forward, with some challenges for the younger modeller to make it interesting. One mistake Lego made (rare for Lego!), is to use the blue connector pegs on the steering. These are 'friction' pegs and should be replaced with the cream 'non-friction' pegs. This is in booklet 1, page 48, instruction 1. Substitute the two blue pegs in the 13-hole beam for two cream (or older grey) pegs - if you have them in your collection. The steering will work much better!
The truck is very strong - you can let smaller children play with it once it is built with little worry it will all fall apart. I have scored playability a little low, as the crane is not one of its better parts. More of an afterthought, perhaps? Some reviewers have commented on the tracks not moving on smooth surfaces. Well, no they wouldn't, would they? The original style of truck is designed for snow (don't try it, please! - you can ruin your model!). The tracks need friction to work, so a carpet or similar will be needed.
The look of the model is very good - different from the usual Lego helping of cars, commercial trucks, cranes, etc. in Technic.
Overall it is a good value model. Price is high, but then Lego build from the best materials, to a very high standard. This is why the price is what it is - you get what you pay for! "
The truck is very strong - you can let smaller children play with it once it is built with little worry it will all fall apart. I have scored playability a little low, as the crane is not one of its better parts. More of an afterthought, perhaps? Some reviewers have commented on the tracks not moving on smooth surfaces. Well, no they wouldn't, would they? The original style of truck is designed for snow (don't try it, please! - you can ruin your model!). The tracks need friction to work, so a carpet or similar will be needed.
The look of the model is very good - different from the usual Lego helping of cars, commercial trucks, cranes, etc. in Technic.
Overall it is a good value model. Price is high, but then Lego build from the best materials, to a very high standard. This is why the price is what it is - you get what you pay for! "
I would recommend this to a friend!
From: Bedford
From:
United Kingdom
Age:
65 or older
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Purchased For:
Self
Build Time:
03
hrs
Play Experience (Optional):
3
/
5
Value for Money (Optional):
4
/
5
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
+38points
48of 58found this review helpful.