mbellis
Top 250 Contributor
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mbellis's Stats
mbellis's Stats
- 4.2Average Rating
- 518Helpfulness Votes
- 0Featured Reviews
- 19Review Count
- October 17, 2011First Review
- April 24, 2019Last Review
Posted:April 24, 2019
mbellis
Age:
45-54
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Overall:
3
/
5
Could Do Better
" The Corvette looks good in orange but this set does not have enough functionality for the price. I expect a good function for every £10 and can count only the steering, engine and differential gear, not enough for £40 RRP. As usual for a LEGO Technic set, the steering should turn more than it does; this needs systematic improvement in most vehicle sets. I like the engine as a development of the engine from the Mack Anthem truck 42078; I have extended the idea in my own builds with the Great Ball Contraption in mind. I like the wheels; smooth tyres for thin wheels have been a long time coming; I hope to see these wheels in more sets. The orange pieces are nice but it is a challenge to find other uses for the wheel arches; I was thinking about a Clown Fish (Nemo); I would like to see mechanical creatures in mainstream Technic, not just over-priced adult products. Overall, the price-per-piece of the Corvette is not bad but, as a Technic set, the LEGO company should try harder in the play experience and number of mechanisms per unit cost.
"
I would recommend this to a friend!
From: DERBY
From:
United Kingdom
Age:
45-54
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Purchased For:
Self
Build Time:
02
hrs
Play Experience (Optional):
2
/
5
Value for Money (Optional):
2
/
5
Level of Difficulty:
Very Easy
Very Easy
Very Challenging
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
+4points
7of 10found this review helpful.
LEGO® Power Functions Rechargeable Battery Box
LEGO® Power Functions Rechargeable Battery Box
Posted:December 25, 2018
mbellis
Age:
45-54
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Overall:
5
/
5
Great When You Know How!
" This battery has saved me a lot of AA and AAA batteries. Good for the environment too.
I have tested it fully and it delivers well. If the output current limit (800mA) is exceeded with a heavy load then it will try to restart the model. This worked well with a long train on a hill. It is good to drive 2x train motors or 2x L-motors at a time. If you need more power then use 2 batteries each driving 2 motors from IR Receivers on the same channel.
It needs better instructions, such as a colour leaflet to say:
-- How to charge: plug in the separately-purchased charger.
-- How to know it has finished charging: see the red LED go from flashing to steady.
-- How to run a motor or light direct from the box: plug in, turn on and turn the orange piece with an axle; the speed range goes from 0 to +7 or -7 as you turn the axle. This is also great for controlling a Servo Motor 88004.
-- How to run a motor or light via an IR Receiver from the box: plug in and turn on.
-- How to charge: plug in the separately-purchased charger.
-- How to know it has finished charging: see the red LED go from flashing to steady.
-- How to run a motor or light direct from the box: plug in, turn on and turn the orange piece with an axle; the speed range goes from 0 to +7 or -7 as you turn the axle. This is also great for controlling a Servo Motor 88004.
-- How to run a motor or light via an IR Receiver from the box: plug in and turn on.
It would have been useful to include a separate axle with the battery to enable the orange piece to be turned, assuming the purchaser did not have one handy.
The price of the charger is twice what it should be. I noticed it double when the design was changed. This is a lot more than it could be from the commercial equivalent. Please challenge your supply chain to get the source cost down; do not pass the high price on to customers.
I had one example of the battery where the charging circuit had failed. It did not ever finish the charging cycle (when the red LED is supposed to go from flashing to steady), even after well over 4 hours. When I tested the charging voltage across +9V/0V it had not reached the same as other similar batteries, tested with the same or different chargers to isolate the fault to the one battery. LEGO customer services were great and replaced the product.
Having invested so much in 8 batteries and 4 chargers, I hope there will be some way to use them with Powered-Up devices. Please make a power conversion lead.
"
I would recommend this to a friend!
From: DERBY
From:
United Kingdom
Age:
45-54
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Purchased For:
Self
Build Time:
01
mins
Play Experience (Optional):
5
/
5
Value for Money (Optional):
3
/
5
Level of Difficulty:
Challenging
Very Easy
Very Challenging
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
+3points
3of 3found this review helpful.
Rough Terrain Crane
Rough Terrain Crane
Posted:November 27, 2018
mbellis
Age:
45-54
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Overall:
5
/
5
Crane Raises Technic to New Heights
" This is a worthy flagship model, a great example for the future of large Technic sets. I took my time and enjoyed it more. I took this set on holiday to build in the evenings. I was glad it was split into stages, so I did 1-2 stages each evening. That saved the need to leave it spread out over a large area.
The key mechanism in this set is the large turntable, made from two rings of black "banana" pieces (ring gear quadrants) and a ring of small train wheels as a bearing between them. Whilst this sets the new standard for large cranes, I have re-used the technique in a model that uses drums to wind up some tubes; it uses the equivalent quantities of pieces from 3 sets. I can see further uses of the technique. So a great tick for providing learning even to experienced Technic builders.
This set improves on the previous crane 42009 by having much better working of the stabilisers from the motor that is located in the jib.
I did find the panels a bit ugly in places, such as on the right side by the jib and around the rear of the jib. Perhaps that's similar to the real crane?
This set is successful as a revival of the original mobile crane 855, though I would like to have seen at least a 3-section telescopic jib, given that 42009 achieved it. I have seen real mobile cranes with 7 sections; whilst this would be a challenge in a LEGO model, owing to the minimum width of strong-enough panels and beams, a flagship set should do all it can to maximise the capability of the LEGO construction medium, so I would be happy with 3 sections.
I looked for the possibility to extend this set into a 9-axle mobile crane, to be built with at least 4 sets. The original set has the wheels well-spaced either side of the main turntable so it would be a challenge to bring them closer together to reflect the spacing on a real crane of that type. I will wait and see if other AFOLs try it.
The advertising of the features of this set was better than some other sets in the range. This makes it more obvious what the customer is buying and might make for better sales.
Overall value for the number and type of pieces is good. The grey panels will be useful in my own models while I keep the crane built for a while.
The only reason I didn't buy more of this set was that I'm short of space at home. I might be tempted next year if I see them cheap, depending on how good next year's sets are. This set is most excellent and warmly recommended.
"
I would recommend this to a friend!
From: DERBY
From:
United Kingdom
Age:
45-54
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Purchased For:
Self
Build Time:
18
hrs
Play Experience (Optional):
5
/
5
Value for Money (Optional):
4
/
5
Level of Difficulty:
Challenging
Very Easy
Very Challenging
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
+6points
6of 6found this review helpful.
Hovercraft
Hovercraft
Posted:November 27, 2018
mbellis
Age:
45-54
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Overall:
4
/
5
Hovercraft Lifts Off
" I bought this set more for the pieces but was pleasantly surprised by the models.
It is good to see a hovercraft in the range. The black panels do well for the skirt shape and the grey flat panels make a good deck. I liked the orange pieces on the vehicle too.
With the vehicle on the deck it does need good positioning to enable the crane to lift off the load. The crane doesn't have a lot of lateral range. The vehicle steering is a simple and useful mechanism. The ramp works OK but takes quite a few turns to get to both ends of the range.
I was a bit concerned about the shaking of the propellers as the craft is driven along. It is not easy to steer in a straight line as there is some play in the mechanism, even after ensuring that every support is tight and every axle can move. There is a torque-steer effect from the propeller drives. Not easy to avoid in a model at this price point but perhaps previous smaller hovercraft sets have not suffered in the same way. A large hovercraft with moving skirts might be a set idea for the future; that would be a unique mechanism. I would expect no torque-steer on a flagship model!
Nevertheless good play value and an opportunity to get the panel pieces in useful colours. I bought 2 sets. Warmly recommended.
"
I would recommend this to a friend!
From: DERBY
From:
United Kingdom
Age:
45-54
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Purchased For:
Self
Build Time:
04
hrs
Play Experience (Optional):
4
/
5
Value for Money (Optional):
4
/
5
Level of Difficulty:
Average
Very Easy
Very Challenging
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
-2points
0of 2found this review helpful.
Forest Machine
Forest Machine
Posted:November 27, 2018
mbellis
Age:
45-54
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Overall:
5
/
5
Forest Machine cuts a mean slice
" The best feature of this set is the new pneumatic switch valve pieces. These enable axles to control the valves without a separate lever. They were the main reason I bought the set. They also move the hose connection points compared to the previous valves in 42043 and 42053.
I tested the new pneumatic pieces and I'm really happy with them. The new valves are easier to move so that a 1/11 cylinder from 42043 can move them. A 1/5 cylinder from the cutting head of this set can move one too, which is great for automating pneumatic models. This compares to the old type of valve, whose movement had become stiffer with each set that used them.
Other good reasons to buy this set - green pieces, the L-motor and the spiky round bricks used in a mechanism. The wheel hubs, in dark silver, may also be useful later for any vehicle of my own design, perhaps with other tyres. The turntables are useful too.
The main box picture does not do justice to this model. That picture makes it look like the suspension is all over the place. Yes, the axles are rocking without springs but I had to get over the fact that it did not inspire me to think initially of a stable vehicle. The picture on the back is better for that. It's difficult to show off the passive suspension in a static picture without it looking strange.
The design of the vehicle is a bit ugly. The lines between the two green colours do not flow very well along the body. This may be the colour of a real forest machine, compromised by the standard shapes of the panel pieces. Not critical but another off-putting feature that I had to get over.
Whilst previous sets with V2 pneumatic pieces (42043 and 42053) had a pneumatics bag, this set has the active pneumatic pieces in the bags with the other pieces, leaving just the hoses in their own bag. That means (from many countries) you can phone up LEGO customer services to buy more pneumatic pieces - this is the best news for a long time! I bought quite a few more pieces to supplement those from the two Forest Machine sets.
Now to think about my own pneumatic creations, after I worked out how to do logic systems in the 1990s. There are enough pieces in this set to make a steam engine, using the 2 large cylinders and the 2 valve switches with the motorised compressor; this is an essential feature of a pneumatic LEGO set. It should be in the instructions to help people to learn the technique.
The raising of the arm is at a modest pace but the lowering is also not too quick. It helps that two cylinders lift an arm that is not too heavy, hence better than the power to weight ratio on 42043's crane arm.
LEGO pneumatic sets used to use the rigid 3.2mm tubing in the pneumatic system (8868, 8837). This reduces the "balloon effect" and cuts down on the rubbery hoses, using them more for corners and flexing positions. I wonder why the 3.2mm tubes have not been used, especially on the long straight run to the cutting head of this model.
It would be nice to have more versatility in the tubing pieces for making our own models from this set. The pre-cut sizes are understandable for safety but many long hoses are not so good for smaller models. The tube-joiners do alleviate this a bit but 3.2mm rigid tubes could help too, leaving more shorter rubbery hoses in between.
I would also like a new 2/6 cylinder to go alongside the 2/11 cylinder in the range. I like the long ones but sometimes there is a need for a shorter but powerful cylinder where the 1/5 cylinder is too weak. I appreciate that the number of piece types is limited. A good use of a 2/6 cylinder is to actuate other switch valves, which needs strong pulling and pushing.
I would warmly recommend this set to anyone who wants to get into pneumatics. Just make sure you don't trap the hoses - keep the bend-radius sufficiently large so that the air can get through. I recommend rolling the ends of each hose between your fingers before fitting it to the plastic parts as that makes it easier to fit. Try to get a 20% discount though, as the set is overpriced.
"
I would recommend this to a friend!
From: DERBY
From:
United Kingdom
Age:
45-54
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Purchased For:
Self
Build Time:
06
hrs
Play Experience (Optional):
5
/
5
Value for Money (Optional):
3
/
5
Level of Difficulty:
Challenging
Very Easy
Very Challenging
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
+24points
28of 32found this review helpful.
Mack Anthem
Mack Anthem
Posted:November 27, 2018
mbellis
Age:
45-54
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Overall:
5
/
5
Mack Anthem on Song!
" This set has everything I wanted:
- It's not yet another car.
- Panels in colours I can re-use in my own models (no
silly shades of blue).
- Dark Green Technic pieces.
- Features that work properly (steering, engine and unloading are especially good, and original).
- Techniques for experiences Technic builders to learn (original mechanisms).
- Good value for the parts count, despite a company sponsorship link.
- It's not yet another car.
- Panels in colours I can re-use in my own models (no
silly shades of blue).
- Dark Green Technic pieces.
- Features that work properly (steering, engine and unloading are especially good, and original).
- Techniques for experiences Technic builders to learn (original mechanisms).
- Good value for the parts count, despite a company sponsorship link.
This set has all the good things that 42070 lacked. The LEGO company now has another "best truck" example alongside 42043, to compare with 42070 and rate other sets.
The unloading cranes showed how to get drive to the actuators. That is one area where pneumatic pieces are easier to use than linear actuators so it is good to learn the techniques.
I would have appreciated the ability to motorise the trailer functions by adding Power Functions instructions.
It was great to resurrect the Model Team idea. I had been wanting more sets that had real Technic features and a bit more realistic sculpture. The tractor unit has that, where the trailer has more of the playability.
I would like to see more use of the thinner 30 x 14mm wheels 56904; these would need larger tyres to go with the ones in this set, but it would enable realistic double wheels to be put on the driving axles.
In the future I would like to see a set where this type of truck was built at the scale of 42043. For an 8000 piece Technic set it might need a stronger box!
I bought 2 of these and was tempted to buy more.
Warmly recommended to a wide range of LEGO enthusiasts. "
Warmly recommended to a wide range of LEGO enthusiasts. "
I would recommend this to a friend!
My Product Recommendations
Rough Terrain Crane
(55)From: DERBY
From:
United Kingdom
Age:
45-54
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Purchased For:
Self
Build Time:
10
hrs
Play Experience (Optional):
5
/
5
Value for Money (Optional):
5
/
5
Level of Difficulty:
Challenging
Very Easy
Very Challenging
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
0points
0of 0found this review helpful.
Posted:August 16, 2018
mbellis
Age:
45-54
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Overall:
4
/
5
Great Train Set, get Powered-Up!
" This train set has great play value. Four train vehicles, two road vehicles, removable loads and the signal box, buffers and level crossing that make the railway scene. It is one of the best LEGO train sets I have bought since 1990. As a long-time fan I still like the versatility of the earlier 12V trains even though the power technology has developed since that era.
As an adult fan and an engineer I bought two of these train sets so that I could test the new Powered-Up technology. Linking one handset to one hub was straightforward, using the instructions in the set. Linking two hubs to one handset was more difficult but there are instructions in the LEGO community forum online and I got there after some trial and error. Once you have linked one hub to the handset, turn it off, link another and then turn the first one on again. This seemed to work most of the time. Once it had worked I could move the hubs between the 5 channels happily, having them either on the same channel and acting together, or on different channels with the handset switching between the two active channels as its green button was pressed. I wonder if I could have 2 or more hubs on each of the 5 channels, for double-header trains? Is the limit 5 channels (with multiple hubs per channel) or 5 hubs in total?
With two similar sets containing minifigs I often change their parts round in the second set so that I have more unique figures. Trains look better with more than one of each wagon too. The log wagons are great as a pair. The container wagons now have the two snowmobiles on one and the two bank boxes on the other. The cranes have to face the same way as a pair because their jibs stick out over the end of the wagon; that's a shame because I liked the idea of them as a pair of breakdown cranes, where they would usually run jib-to-jib.
I look forward to getting the 88005 Powered-Up light bricks, which are now available. I hope there will be some provision to use previous motors and lights with the new hub, since the non-smart ones need only 2 of the 6 wires to be connected. I would also like to connect NXT/EV3 parts to the Powered-Up hub. Apart from the connector being different, is the electrical interface the same?
What the Powered-Up system really needs is a LiPo battery multiplexer hub to add to the Bluetooth hub that is in the train sets. Another 4x8x3 box would contain two LiPo cells (like 8878) and the charging circuit, and would have four Powered-Up ports, 2 on each end. A flying lead would plug into the Bluetooth hub to get the motor drive and smart signals. The multiplexer hub would power the 4 ports together from its LiPo battery, using the signal from the Bluetooth hub. The smart motors would behave as they do with an NXT/EV3 multiplexer. A tiny switch (used in some Power Functions items) would allow the 2 ports on one end to have reversed motor drive compared to the others. This would enable use in a train, where two train motors connected to either end of the multiplexer hub would turn in opposite directions when the tiny switch was set to "reverse". With the motor wires both towards the middle of the locomotive (avoiding the couplings and finding the holes in the baseplate), both bogies could be powered, which is what adult fans often do with 9V or PF trains. This item would go a long way to helping adult fans with the transition from Power Functions by providing a way to power multiple motors from the same receiver hub. It would also use rechargeable LiPo power for the motors, keeping the AAA cells for only the Bluetooth receiver and a low-current signal to the multiplexer hub; this would make the AAA batteries last as long as with a light brick and would be good for the environment. As an electronics and safety engineer I would be happy to help further under NDA if you like.
Please would you keep all Powered-Up products versatile, so I don't need a mobile phone for any of them. I'm happy with the handset so far.
I really wish the couplings didn't have to have as much of the buffer beam as they do. I know it was done to prevent swallowing but this did not need the full width. I build larger trains and the 6-wide buffer beams are not useful for that; they are also a substantial part of the cost of a train set.
One real problem I do have with the set is that the locomotive snowplough-buffer beams scrape on the track. This should have been designed-out during product testing. In reality no-one has a perfectly flat floor, table or railway layout. Those who buy more train sets like to make hills and bridges to go over other tracks. This means even the snowplough buffer beams need good ground/rail clearance. Please would you redesign the piece with at least 1mm more clearance and send me 4 of them for my 2 locos. Thanks.
"
From: DERBY
From:
United Kingdom
Age:
45-54
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Purchased For:
Self
Build Time:
03
hrs
Play Experience (Optional):
4
/
5
Value for Money (Optional):
3
/
5
Level of Difficulty:
Easy
Very Easy
Very Challenging
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
+144points
147of 150found this review helpful.
6x6 All Terrain Tow Truck
6x6 All Terrain Tow Truck
Posted:September 1, 2017
mbellis
Age:
35-44
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Overall:
1
/
5
Poor Value and Compromised
" The greatest feature of this model is its size. Unfortunately its value for money is poor.
For play value it has 6 switchable motorised functions but the steering ought to use a Servo motor instead so that it would centre properly for accurate driving. This would have added to the cost so I can see why it was not used.
The suspension is basic, with just the rear axles rocking. When 42043 had good suspension on all wheels, there is no excuse for missing it out here. This set does make use of the ability of the wheel bearing frames to house a reduction gear though.
A measure of play value is a function for every £10 and a motorised function for every £20. It's not far off with 6 motorised functions and a few other manual functions but the gear switching could have been made automatic. I have previously made gearboxes where a medium motor selects the functions and another motor powers the selected functions. Ideally this set would have had a 4-way selector for the crane and outriggers with separate motors for drive and steering, similar to 42030 front loader.
For parts value I usually assess sets on the basis of price per piece, first subtracting the price of the Power Functions parts to put sets on a level playing field. Since the panels are such a large part of some sets I also subtract the panels at and average £1/panel. This set scores poorly for price per piece from the remainder of the parts, so it is not one to use as a "stocking up" set. I expected twice the number of pieces for the price - compare with 42055 which also has a motor and plenty of panels.
The blue colour is vivid, and represented in real trucks of this type, but it is not a colour I would re-use for my own models. Why are there four shades of blue in Technic but too little of other colours such as green and orange? The lack of re-use for my own creations makes it more difficult to justify as a purchase; what I would re-use is the colours to make Technic models for previous Space themes, which some other sets have.
Having bought a few of the excellent 42043 and 42054 I have plenty of sliders and big wheels already, which are the other major parts representing significant cost in the set.
As an experienced Technic builder I also have plenty of Power Functions parts from other sets; they are available separately. For pure value, this set could have missed them out and made their addition optional, with an improvement to the basic price. Perhaps it was trying too hard to be all things to all people, which often results in too many compromises.
Compared to previous flagship sets such as 42043 and 42055 this is not in the same league. Please do better with your designs and don't compromise too much; I would welcome a Technic set with at least 5000 pieces, perhaps 8000 to beat the new Millennium Falcon, as long as the motorised functions work well and the value is good for both playability and parts.
Of this years second-half sets I preferred 42069, which has more pieces for less money and would have qualified as a flagship set itself in previous years. I also look forward to 42068 soon.
If you want a basic introduction to truck crawling and like the colour then this set is OK but if you have many other sets then it's a discount-only purchase, a struggle even at 20% off. The truck could be modified to improve its performance in its intended role, with the addition of extra motors and a reduction in the complexity of the drive train to the wheels, to enable the torque to get to where it is needed. A few AFOLs have done that, some using different colours.
Other uses for the vivid blue panels might include a boat; I can't think of many uses for this colour. They are similar to those in the dragster 42050.
I was also worried about the colour changes for some of the regular functional parts. Some have appeared in red or brown in this set. That is OK as long as they will always be available in grey, dark grey or black. We must not force LEGO Technic to become like K'Nex with only a single colour of each piece available, where the contrasting colours prevent the building of decent models with unified colour schemes like their real prototypes. I accept the policy of using an available colour left over from another set production run where the pieces are hidden, but I find that some limits of peg and axle colours are compromising the aesthetics too much; I worry that such a trend is creeping into other functional parts such as brackets.
Unfortunately I could not recommend this set to a wide range of people. The poor value for money is the main drawback. "
For play value it has 6 switchable motorised functions but the steering ought to use a Servo motor instead so that it would centre properly for accurate driving. This would have added to the cost so I can see why it was not used.
The suspension is basic, with just the rear axles rocking. When 42043 had good suspension on all wheels, there is no excuse for missing it out here. This set does make use of the ability of the wheel bearing frames to house a reduction gear though.
A measure of play value is a function for every £10 and a motorised function for every £20. It's not far off with 6 motorised functions and a few other manual functions but the gear switching could have been made automatic. I have previously made gearboxes where a medium motor selects the functions and another motor powers the selected functions. Ideally this set would have had a 4-way selector for the crane and outriggers with separate motors for drive and steering, similar to 42030 front loader.
For parts value I usually assess sets on the basis of price per piece, first subtracting the price of the Power Functions parts to put sets on a level playing field. Since the panels are such a large part of some sets I also subtract the panels at and average £1/panel. This set scores poorly for price per piece from the remainder of the parts, so it is not one to use as a "stocking up" set. I expected twice the number of pieces for the price - compare with 42055 which also has a motor and plenty of panels.
The blue colour is vivid, and represented in real trucks of this type, but it is not a colour I would re-use for my own models. Why are there four shades of blue in Technic but too little of other colours such as green and orange? The lack of re-use for my own creations makes it more difficult to justify as a purchase; what I would re-use is the colours to make Technic models for previous Space themes, which some other sets have.
Having bought a few of the excellent 42043 and 42054 I have plenty of sliders and big wheels already, which are the other major parts representing significant cost in the set.
As an experienced Technic builder I also have plenty of Power Functions parts from other sets; they are available separately. For pure value, this set could have missed them out and made their addition optional, with an improvement to the basic price. Perhaps it was trying too hard to be all things to all people, which often results in too many compromises.
Compared to previous flagship sets such as 42043 and 42055 this is not in the same league. Please do better with your designs and don't compromise too much; I would welcome a Technic set with at least 5000 pieces, perhaps 8000 to beat the new Millennium Falcon, as long as the motorised functions work well and the value is good for both playability and parts.
Of this years second-half sets I preferred 42069, which has more pieces for less money and would have qualified as a flagship set itself in previous years. I also look forward to 42068 soon.
If you want a basic introduction to truck crawling and like the colour then this set is OK but if you have many other sets then it's a discount-only purchase, a struggle even at 20% off. The truck could be modified to improve its performance in its intended role, with the addition of extra motors and a reduction in the complexity of the drive train to the wheels, to enable the torque to get to where it is needed. A few AFOLs have done that, some using different colours.
Other uses for the vivid blue panels might include a boat; I can't think of many uses for this colour. They are similar to those in the dragster 42050.
I was also worried about the colour changes for some of the regular functional parts. Some have appeared in red or brown in this set. That is OK as long as they will always be available in grey, dark grey or black. We must not force LEGO Technic to become like K'Nex with only a single colour of each piece available, where the contrasting colours prevent the building of decent models with unified colour schemes like their real prototypes. I accept the policy of using an available colour left over from another set production run where the pieces are hidden, but I find that some limits of peg and axle colours are compromising the aesthetics too much; I worry that such a trend is creeping into other functional parts such as brackets.
Unfortunately I could not recommend this set to a wide range of people. The poor value for money is the main drawback. "
My Product Recommendations
Mercedes-Benz Arocs 3245
(72)
CLAAS XERION 5000 TRAC VC
(23)
Bucket Wheel Excavator
(95)
Extreme Adventure
(26)From: DERBY
From:
United Kingdom
Age:
35-44
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Purchased For:
Self
Build Time:
10
hrs
Play Experience (Optional):
1
/
5
Value for Money (Optional):
1
/
5
Level of Difficulty:
Average
Very Easy
Very Challenging
Share:
+32points
39of 46found this review helpful.
Red Go-Kart
Red Go-Kart
Posted:August 22, 2015
mbellis
Age:
35-44
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Overall:
4
/
5
Three Choices to Zoom Along!
" Building Experience:
- All three models were easy to build.
- Separate instruction booklets for each model.
- All three models were easy to build.
- Separate instruction booklets for each model.
Playability:
- Go Kart steering is fine. It disengages if you lift up the steering wheel.
- Fork lift is a 2-handed operation; one hand to hold the forks up and the other hand for steering.
- Quad Bike doesn't steer so in use it is more likely to be rolled on various surfaces whilst zooming around the house!
- After the Go Kart, the other models don't use all the pieces; this is where imagination and experimentation starts.
- Lots of possibilities for other models to build with the pieces in the set. At least one MOC is likely to involve putting the 6 red curved slopes together in a row.
- Could build a truck with 2 sets.
- Go Kart steering is fine. It disengages if you lift up the steering wheel.
- Fork lift is a 2-handed operation; one hand to hold the forks up and the other hand for steering.
- Quad Bike doesn't steer so in use it is more likely to be rolled on various surfaces whilst zooming around the house!
- After the Go Kart, the other models don't use all the pieces; this is where imagination and experimentation starts.
- Lots of possibilities for other models to build with the pieces in the set. At least one MOC is likely to involve putting the 6 red curved slopes together in a row.
- Could build a truck with 2 sets.
Parts:
- I bought the set originally for the wheels, to use in my new monorail. As a ride-on monorail driven by train motors, these wheels have good grip and fit a 2-wide tile-topped track very well.
- My next favourite parts are the grey 2x3 plates with hole, used the steering. Very useful.
- Quite a few beams with holes - more in this set than in most Technic sets!
- The grey parts used that hold the front wheels in the Go Kart and Fork Lift are useful but the wheels move sideways too much; there are some other, better parts for steering in other sets.
- I bought the set originally for the wheels, to use in my new monorail. As a ride-on monorail driven by train motors, these wheels have good grip and fit a 2-wide tile-topped track very well.
- My next favourite parts are the grey 2x3 plates with hole, used the steering. Very useful.
- Quite a few beams with holes - more in this set than in most Technic sets!
- The grey parts used that hold the front wheels in the Go Kart and Fork Lift are useful but the wheels move sideways too much; there are some other, better parts for steering in other sets.
Pros:
- Easy to build, plenty of possibilities.
- Steering function, which is not in City theme sets.
- Good stocking-filler but see below.
- Good choice as a set to buy if a 6-year-old hasn't had LEGO before.
- Also easy to add to an existing collection. Steering function is portable to other models.
- Easy to build, plenty of possibilities.
- Steering function, which is not in City theme sets.
- Good stocking-filler but see below.
- Good choice as a set to buy if a 6-year-old hasn't had LEGO before.
- Also easy to add to an existing collection. Steering function is portable to other models.
Cons:
- Like a few Creator sets it's a bit pricey in the UK. Creator sets don't have a lot of complex pieces so they should be ~5-6p/piece; hence nearly 10p/piece for this one is too much for a set without a film franchise premium. I usually buy Creator sets when a discount is available. Don't wait till just before Christmas but get to know the best sources of different types of LEGO sets both online and in your area, when their discounts are offered and how much. A set like this is likely to be sold in more places. "
- Like a few Creator sets it's a bit pricey in the UK. Creator sets don't have a lot of complex pieces so they should be ~5-6p/piece; hence nearly 10p/piece for this one is too much for a set without a film franchise premium. I usually buy Creator sets when a discount is available. Don't wait till just before Christmas but get to know the best sources of different types of LEGO sets both online and in your area, when their discounts are offered and how much. A set like this is likely to be sold in more places. "
I would recommend this to a friend!
My Product Recommendations
Emerald Express
(15)
LEGO® Power Functions Train Motor
(22)
Cargo Plane
(45)From: DERBY
From:
United Kingdom
Age:
35-44
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Purchased For:
Self
Build Time:
15
mins
Play Experience (Optional):
4
/
5
Value for Money (Optional):
2
/
5
Level of Difficulty:
Very Easy
Very Easy
Very Challenging
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
+4points
4of 4found this review helpful.
Fire Plane
Fire Plane
Posted:August 21, 2015
mbellis
Age:
35-44
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Overall:
4
/
5
Swoosh and Splash with the Fire Plane!
" Building Experience:
- Not as easy to build as some sets of its size, but not difficult for an experienced builder. 42038 Arctic Truck was easier.
- The order of sub-assemblies is a bit strange, beginning with the wheel frame and then leaving it to one side for a long time while the engine and ladder frame are built.
- One of the more difficult actions when building Technic sets is to take 2 beams each with a peg and fix them together by both pegs. Instructions could be written to reduce this action; one such place in this set is where the 1x3 white beams are added to the sides.
- A few actions involve attaching something then sliding it before pushing something else in at right angles. This adds complexity but makes for a sturdy model. The instructions are clear enough.
- Pushing in axles - 3M into a #2 joint on top and 5M with bezel into the sides - means it will be interesting to deconstruct later!
- Well under 2 hours and no mistakes was a satisfying AFOL build. A speed build could get it under 1.5 hours but it's often better to take your time and enjoy it.
- Not as easy to build as some sets of its size, but not difficult for an experienced builder. 42038 Arctic Truck was easier.
- The order of sub-assemblies is a bit strange, beginning with the wheel frame and then leaving it to one side for a long time while the engine and ladder frame are built.
- One of the more difficult actions when building Technic sets is to take 2 beams each with a peg and fix them together by both pegs. Instructions could be written to reduce this action; one such place in this set is where the 1x3 white beams are added to the sides.
- A few actions involve attaching something then sliding it before pushing something else in at right angles. This adds complexity but makes for a sturdy model. The instructions are clear enough.
- Pushing in axles - 3M into a #2 joint on top and 5M with bezel into the sides - means it will be interesting to deconstruct later!
- Well under 2 hours and no mistakes was a satisfying AFOL build. A speed build could get it under 1.5 hours but it's often better to take your time and enjoy it.
Playability:
- The wheel drive to the engine and propeller works well, while the aircraft is on the ground. Perhaps adding Power Functions for rotation in flight would be possible? Given the location of the water chute, the motor would have to be located underneath the engine.
- The water chute works well whilst holding the aircraft from the top. Press the button to open and it is sprung closed. This is a new function for a Technic set.
- The joystick works well to control the tail and ailerons whilst holding the aircraft from the bottom. Worth making these mechanisms slightly stiff so they hold their positions.
- Not easy to find a single holding position where all the functions can be used.
- The hinged roof for loading the 'water' is sufficient. The scale is smaller than minifig scale but any figures in the cockpit would have to be removed whilst loading the 'water'.
- The second model is a fighter plane with ladder and ground cart. A good choice of model for the parts mix in the set.
- Not sure about the range of models that would be possible with the set of parts. Good for aircraft though. Two of the tapered 5x11 panels can be arranged to make an 8x11 shape, equivalent to a 3x11 and a 5x11, so it is possible to get away from tapered shapes if you wish.
- The wheel drive to the engine and propeller works well, while the aircraft is on the ground. Perhaps adding Power Functions for rotation in flight would be possible? Given the location of the water chute, the motor would have to be located underneath the engine.
- The water chute works well whilst holding the aircraft from the top. Press the button to open and it is sprung closed. This is a new function for a Technic set.
- The joystick works well to control the tail and ailerons whilst holding the aircraft from the bottom. Worth making these mechanisms slightly stiff so they hold their positions.
- Not easy to find a single holding position where all the functions can be used.
- The hinged roof for loading the 'water' is sufficient. The scale is smaller than minifig scale but any figures in the cockpit would have to be removed whilst loading the 'water'.
- The second model is a fighter plane with ladder and ground cart. A good choice of model for the parts mix in the set.
- Not sure about the range of models that would be possible with the set of parts. Good for aircraft though. Two of the tapered 5x11 panels can be arranged to make an 8x11 shape, equivalent to a 3x11 and a 5x11, so it is possible to get away from tapered shapes if you wish.
Parts:
- The new pulleys used as the drive wheels are welcome. These should be good with the round-section belts for pulley drives.
- This set is a particularly good source of the tapered 5x11 white panels - 7 in the set. This is the best colour for the piece.
- The other white panels are welcome - 2 3x11, 2 3x11 curved and 2 5x11; the panel selection complements Cargo Plane 42025.
- A set of this size doesn't have the scope for a wide range of parts; there is a good selection for aircraft modelling and 4 small wheels make a small car possible.
- There are red axle joints at the ends of the wings for turning the ailerons with the control shafts. Some black round-hole-and-pin pieces hold the axle next to the fixed part of each wing. I'm surprised there is not a similar cross-hole-and-axle or cross-hole-and-pin piece in Technic sets yet; both would be versatile and either could have been used to rotate the ailerons from the shafts.
- The price per piece is raised by the panels, which make up about one third of the value of the set. Seems odd to cost more per piece than 42043 that has a motor, pneumatics and plenty of panels! The list price of the tapered 5x11 panels is a bit more than rectangular 5x11s.
- The new pulleys used as the drive wheels are welcome. These should be good with the round-section belts for pulley drives.
- This set is a particularly good source of the tapered 5x11 white panels - 7 in the set. This is the best colour for the piece.
- The other white panels are welcome - 2 3x11, 2 3x11 curved and 2 5x11; the panel selection complements Cargo Plane 42025.
- A set of this size doesn't have the scope for a wide range of parts; there is a good selection for aircraft modelling and 4 small wheels make a small car possible.
- There are red axle joints at the ends of the wings for turning the ailerons with the control shafts. Some black round-hole-and-pin pieces hold the axle next to the fixed part of each wing. I'm surprised there is not a similar cross-hole-and-axle or cross-hole-and-pin piece in Technic sets yet; both would be versatile and either could have been used to rotate the ailerons from the shafts.
- The price per piece is raised by the panels, which make up about one third of the value of the set. Seems odd to cost more per piece than 42043 that has a motor, pneumatics and plenty of panels! The list price of the tapered 5x11 panels is a bit more than rectangular 5x11s.
Pros:
- Sturdy construction; would survive plenty of swooshing!
- Fun to drop the 'water' as long as you can find the pieces afterwards!
- Having built 42025 previously, it's obvious that this set has fewer functions. It does OK for the price (less than half), meeting the criterion of at least one function for every £10 in RRP.
- This would fit on a child's lap in the car more easily than 42025, though swooshing in line of sight of the rear view mirror would not be ideal and the 'water' should be removed for the journey!
- Second model instructions are provided in a second booklet. No need to look at a screen to build it.
- Sturdy construction; would survive plenty of swooshing!
- Fun to drop the 'water' as long as you can find the pieces afterwards!
- Having built 42025 previously, it's obvious that this set has fewer functions. It does OK for the price (less than half), meeting the criterion of at least one function for every £10 in RRP.
- This would fit on a child's lap in the car more easily than 42025, though swooshing in line of sight of the rear view mirror would not be ideal and the 'water' should be removed for the journey!
- Second model instructions are provided in a second booklet. No need to look at a screen to build it.
Cons:
- No addition of Power Functions suggested in the instructions. Given that the other two 2H2015 sets both include Power Functions this is not so bad.
- The appearance of the fire plane is too dependent on the stickers. Stickers make parts less versatile so I'm not a fan of them. Without the stickers it would look better with the red parts replaced with white ones, though that would lose the point of the livery advertising the plane's function as a fire plane!
- The stickers don't make sense when the second model is built. The lack of versatility introduced by them is a hindrance in the second set model, not just for your own MOCs!
- The limited range of parts means this might not be the first set to buy for a young engineer. I would recommend buying a set with some larger wheels first. The wing parts could add spoilers to a car.
- No addition of Power Functions suggested in the instructions. Given that the other two 2H2015 sets both include Power Functions this is not so bad.
- The appearance of the fire plane is too dependent on the stickers. Stickers make parts less versatile so I'm not a fan of them. Without the stickers it would look better with the red parts replaced with white ones, though that would lose the point of the livery advertising the plane's function as a fire plane!
- The stickers don't make sense when the second model is built. The lack of versatility introduced by them is a hindrance in the second set model, not just for your own MOCs!
- The limited range of parts means this might not be the first set to buy for a young engineer. I would recommend buying a set with some larger wheels first. The wing parts could add spoilers to a car.
Opportunities for improvement:
- An idea for an aircraft model created from this set and 42025 together would be useful in the instructions. Models made from 2 or more sets used to be suggested in the instructions of the original Technic sets in the late 1970s. I found those ideas aspirational and once saw that someone had built one of them.
- Red or white axles might have been welcome where the axles are visible on top, as a useful change from grey and black.
- An idea for an aircraft model created from this set and 42025 together would be useful in the instructions. Models made from 2 or more sets used to be suggested in the instructions of the original Technic sets in the late 1970s. I found those ideas aspirational and once saw that someone had built one of them.
- Red or white axles might have been welcome where the axles are visible on top, as a useful change from grey and black.
If a young engineer can build this and has an interest in aircraft then they should graduate to Cargo Plane 42025 while those are still available. 42025 is the best Technic plane ever and I hope it remains available for longer than most Technic sets. It is unfortunate for 42040 to be in its shadow.
For AFOLs the Fire Plane is good if you like stickers but better as a parts pack than the model it makes if you don't like stickers but do like the panel selection. "
For AFOLs the Fire Plane is good if you like stickers but better as a parts pack than the model it makes if you don't like stickers but do like the panel selection. "
I would recommend this to a friend!
My Product Recommendations
Mercedes-Benz Arocs 3245
(72)
Cargo Plane
(45)
Power Functions Servo Motor
(11)From: DERBY
From:
United Kingdom
Age:
35-44
years old
Customer Type:
LEGO Fan
Building Experience:
Expert LEGO builder
Purchased For:
Self
Build Time:
01
hrs
Build Time:
43
mins
Play Experience (Optional):
4
/
5
Value for Money (Optional):
3
/
5
Level of Difficulty:
Average
Very Easy
Very Challenging
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share:
+6points
7of 8found this review helpful.