Today we are quickly interested in the content of the LEGO set 40530 Jane Goodall Tribute, a small box of 276 pieces which will be offered on the official online store and in LEGO Stores from €120 of purchase without restriction of range from March 3, 2022 and in principle until March 15, if necessary. remains in stock until then.

As you can see, the set pays tribute to the famous British scientist, adventurer, activist, ethologist and anthropologist Jane Goodall, best known to the general public for having closely studied chimpanzees.

The set is also not stingy in primates with three copies of the chimpanzee available since 2011 with the marketing of the fifth series of minifigs to collect in bags. The primate has since been seen in the company of the "jungle boy" of the seventh series of minifigs marketed in 2012 and LEGO is content here to provide us with three copies. The mold and the pad printing are identical, but the chimpanzee is identified in the inventory of this box by a new reference. It's always taken even if I would have liked to obtain at least a new variant of the primate with a different pose instead of three identical figurines. The product deserved that and the animal could have been reused anyway in a box from the CITY range.

The central character of this tribute is represented here by a minifig with a unique face and torso. The outfit is consistent with that seen in many photos of Jane Goodall and with the white hair provided, it is perfectly fitting. The head and the torso used here should in my opinion not remain exclusive to this box and the face will undoubtedly be reused later to embody a senior in the CITY range.

The rest of the set is only used to highlight the minifig and the three chimpanzees provided, it is a question of assembling a base with curves similar to those of the set 40450 Amelia Earhart Tribute offered at LEGO last year at the same time and then furnish the support with some trees, some vegetation and a piece of stream. A small plate with a sticker confirming the identity and qualification of the figure provided is placed on the front of the mini diorama. It is well done without being revolutionary, the object can be enthroned on a shelf or on the corner of a desk without taking up too much space but being noticed.

Do you absolutely have to spend €120 on products sold at their retail price because this little set is free? It will be up to everyone to see if the tribute paid here is worth the effort or if it will be better to wait a few days and possibly buy this little box on the secondary market.

Although Jane Goodall has been the focus of several documentaries that have contributed to her popularity with the general public and her influence in the field of wildlife conservation and the relationship between humans and animals is indisputable, not everyone knows this lady and some LEGO fans will no doubt be a little insensitive to the homage developed here.

They will always have the argument of the presence of three copies of the chimpanzee absent from the LEGO catalog since 2012 to possibly switch and spend the minimum amount required for this promotional product to be automatically added to the basket.

Note: The set presented here, provided by LEGO, is as usual involved. Deadline fixed at March 13, 2022 next at 23:59 p.m. Just post a comment under the article to participate.

Update : The winner was drawn and notified by email, his nickname is indicated below.

Today we are interested in the content of the LEGO Technic set 42140 App-Controlled Transformation Vehicle, a box of 772 parts which will be available at the public price of €129.99 from March 1, 2022. The promise is once again enticing with this new foray from the manufacturer into the world of vehicles equipped with engines and controllable via the application. Control+. The buggy of the set 42124 Off-Road Buggy marketed in 2020 had a very attractive look but it was unfortunately not up to the task in terms of driving experience. Will this new attempt be more convincing?

As usual, do not let yourself be carried away by the illustrations on the product box, this is an indoor toy that it is better to avoid moving around in the mud or in the snow. But LEGO is changing its tune this year and is no longer content to promise us from the product packaging a tracked vehicle with an aggressive look which in the end will roam limply on the floor of the show: the machine is designed to support a reversal and it offers two different skins with a resolutely sporty all-terrain on one side and an exploration vehicle on the other.

Those who already bought this type of product at LEGO in 2017 probably remember the LEGO Technic set 42065 RC Tracked Racer (89.99 €) with a sports machine with a look similar to one of the two skins delivered here but which then benefited from a motorization then based on the defunct ecosystem Power Functions. So we put the cover back, but better.

Under the hood of this new machine, a Smart Hub Powered Up (88012) delivered here in a new version with a battery box cover freed from the usual clips and now equipped with four screws and two L motors (88013). The change of fixing system for the cover of the Smart Hub is welcome, this element no longer risks being unhooked by accident when the hub is used on a product subjected to slightly more violent stresses than those undergone, for example, by a static construction machine. The piloting goes as usual through the dedicated Control+ application.

The assembly of the model is dispatched in a few minutes and it is within the reach of the youngest who will be impatient to see the machine evolve and to check if the promises are kept. The two casings are integrated on the chassis based on Technic beams and colored elements to easily guide the integration of cables.

The two motors are grouped at the rear of the vehicle to facilitate the rocking, we add the tracks, we stick the very large handful of stickers and it's ready. The button of Smart Hub no longer directly accessible, it can be activated via a lever that moves the control to the rear of the vehicle. synchronization with the application only takes a few seconds and it will be necessary to pass an essential firmware update before starting to play.

Two shock absorbers are responsible for deploying the corresponding covering following the overturning of the vehicle, the two cabins are surmounted by small wheels which will protect them from shocks during tipping and the material used for the tracks of the machine has evolved, it was incidentally already the case with the construction machine of the set 42131 App-Controlled Cat D11 Bulldozer : the plastic is less smooth and rigid, it seems to me more suitable for use on slippery ground and the grip here is further reinforced by the presence of small rubber inserts which further improve grip.

In practice, the function of reversal with change of vehicle functions with all the blows as long as your batteries are powerful enough so that the machine raises frankly and begins to hang on the wall. It is this possibility that makes the product so interesting and that compensates for the usual weaknesses of this type of machine piloted via the Control+ application. You will also have to take the time to get used to piloting via the dedicated application which acts as a remote control in which the few challenges offered are of little interest.

This interactivity with a digital remote control with an attractive design and the resulting possibilities will necessarily appeal to the youngest. Those who are insensitive to these digital refinements will therefore simply have fun sending the machine crashing against a wall to see it turn around or make 360° rotations on the living room floor.

I tested two types of rechargeable batteries: classic Panasonic Eneloop Ni-Mh 1.2V 1900 mAh batteries and Ansmann NiZn 1.6V 1600 mAh batteries and the result is clear: the Ansmann batteries offer more power and the machine runs smoothly. moves noticeably faster. If you plan to really play with this type of product, do not hesitate to buy this type of battery and the essential charger compatible with the NiZn standard. The set represents a certain investment but it will save you the usual disappointment of noticing that your vehicle does not move forward and that in this specific case it has a little trouble climbing up the wall to turn around.

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It will be necessary from time to time to check the connections of the various bodywork elements or the presence of all the small rubber inserts placed on the tracks so as not to lose anything, but overall the model is strong enough to withstand intensive indoor use. Smartphone or tablet under iOS or Android essential as for the other sets which use the dedicated Control+ application.

I have often taken a very critical look at LEGO's various attempts to offer drivable motorized vehicles, whether they are based on the old ecosystem Power Functions or on the new Control+ interface. I must admit that the efforts on the part of LEGO to offer a new toy that is more attractive than the previous ones make me a little more indulgent with this new version: the flip function is well integrated, it works every time and it offers playful possibilities certainly limited but really new.

At €130 a box, however, I remain cautious, it's far too expensive for a use that will undoubtedly remain anecdotal beyond the first five minutes of use. I will therefore wisely wait for Amazon to offer this product for less than €100 to pay for it at its fair price.

Note: The set presented here, provided by LEGO, is as usual involved. Deadline fixed at March 12, 2022 next at 23:59 p.m. Just post a comment under the article to participate.

Update : The winner was drawn and notified by email, his nickname is indicated below.

Today we take a quick look at the contents of the LEGO Technic set 42139 All-Terrain Vehicle, a box of 764 pieces which will be available at the retail price of €74.99 from March 1, 2022.

This set in the soft belly of the range which could go a little unnoticed is a toy intended for the youngest fans of the Technic universe, the theme covered is attractive and original enough to interest them and the few on-board functions allow a first initiation to some assembly principles that are recurring in this range.

It is therefore a question here of building a six-wheeled all-terrain vehicle, freely inspired by the vehicles offered by brands such as Polaris or Can-Am. To make sure to seduce its potential customers, LEGO covered the body of the machine with colorful stickers, it's always sexier than an all-green forestry machine.

Under the hood, a two-cylinder engine with moving pistons and a 2-speed gearbox with neutral. This is enough to present the LEGO version of these features without imposing too complex sub-assemblies which could put off the youngest. The yellow pistons remain visible on the sides of the vehicle and will make it possible to understand the impact of changing gear via the dedicated selector on their speed of movement. In neutral position, the pistons no longer move, it's as simple as that.

The three independent axles are equipped with suspensions, it will be necessary to load the dumpster of the vehicle to really see them in action. The machine is indeed a little too light to take advantage of its suspensions without pressing on it when traveling, but once again the youngest can easily understand the principle thanks to this model.

The machine is equipped with a winch at the front and the pawl which blocks the unwinding mechanism of the line is as often maintained by a simple rubber band. Access to the function is deported to the side of the vehicle with a small easily accessible lever, the pawl being placed under the driver's seat. The winch cable, the usual single string, is then raised via a wheel placed on the other side. The bucket of this ATV tilts to empty it, it is also sufficient to activate the lever provided. The steering is functional, it is accessible from the handlebars of the machine.

All these features are identified and illustrated via very explicit stickers placed near the mechanisms concerned, difficult to do more educational. The lower part of the ATV is not streamlined, so all you have to do is turn the vehicle around to see the differentials and the gearbox at work.

The 27 cm long, 13 cm wide and 11 cm high machine comes with a few accessories that allow you to fill the rear tipper: four trunks and a pretty chainsaw that even has the luxury of being "functional" with a chain that rotates freely around its two axes.

The set therefore has everything on arrival to attract the youngest, with an original look, colorful bodywork and a few simple but easy-to-understand features that will later allow you to approach more complex products without apprehension. This ATV is in my opinion a very convincing entry point into the LEGO Technic range and only its relatively high public price for a box of less than 800 pieces including 230 pins could discourage parents. We will therefore wisely wait for Amazon to break the price of the product before cracking.

Note: The set presented here, provided by LEGO, is as usual involved. Deadline fixed at March 10, 2022 next at 23:59 p.m. Just post a comment under the article to participate.

Update : The winner was drawn and notified by email, his nickname is indicated below.

Today we are quickly interested in the content of the LEGO set 10298 Vespa 125, a box of 1106 pieces stamped 18+ which will be available from March 1, 2022 at the retail price of €99.99. Purpose of the product: to assemble a Vespa 125 scooter freely inspired by the VNB1T version marketed in the 60s.

During my younger years, I was more a fan of the Peugeot 103 SP than of the Vespas, so I have no particular memory linked to this vehicle. You will tell me that I have never had a Porsche or a Corvette, but that did not prevent me from buying the two vehicles in this range formerly known under the title "CreatorExpert"As soon as the first visuals of this new product were put online, my first reaction was to ask myself if it was really useful to go to so much trouble to offer us a simple scooter, however stylish it may be.

But the Vespa brand has its followers, it is cult for many of those who used these vehicles during their teenage years and this LEGO version is like the yellow yogurt pot of the set 10271 Fiat 500 a "popular" product that many have actually known and driven. The icing on the cake, the current models of the brand always pay homage to the lines of the historical variants and this pretty model of a vintage version becomes almost timeless.

On the official visuals of the product, the model seems of a simplicity that could put off all those who expect from these constructions of the "Expert" type a real pleasure of construction and their usual lot of original techniques. Rest assured, this scooter is a little more complex than it looks and the experience of assembling this somewhat unusual and surprising model is well up to the task. One may wonder where the 1106 parts of the set are, but they are mainly hidden under the very large body parts.

The floor of the scooter is made up of a few Technic beams and stacks of parts which ensure optimal rigidity to the model. It is on this internal structure that various body sub-assemblies are then added, the inclinations and angles of which are subtly managed. There is no escaping the use of a few very large parts, but their presence ensures maximum respect for the curves of the machine. Color fans Bright Light Blue moreover here will get nearly 440 elements in some are unpublished in this hue.

Hidden under the right wing of the scooter, which is adorned with a sticker embodying the air intake, the horizontal single-cylinder 2-stroke engine has been carefully reproduced by the designer of the set with its carburettor and its cooling circuit. The motor cooling cover is nicely stamped, LEGO must have imagined that this relatively neutral design element could be used later in other sets.

The retractable double stand, the exhaust, the starter pedal placed under the engine and the rear brake pedal are also present and very faithful to the elements of the reference vehicle. No suspension spring with hydraulic shock absorber under the driving rear wheel, but you can't have everything. At the front, the steering is obviously functional and the oscillating suspension hub carrying the front wheel is rather well reproduced with some metallic parts as a bonus. The element used was already delivered in the LEGO Technic set 42130 BMW M 1000 RR where he fitted the front wheel of the machine.

On this model, the 8-inch wheels with their stamped steel rims are here embodied by new elements in two colors. In the 60s, not all Vespa 125 scooters benefited from this aesthetic refinement, but this new part flanked by the six nuts used at the time really gives character to the model. It is here associated with a new tire whose tread pattern is perfectly adapted. For those who are wondering, the central part of the rim is attached to the contour with an overall diameter of 6cm.

The upholstery is also very well reproduced, it is in principle equipped with a suspension device with central spring adjustable according to the weight of the driver. We will content ourselves here with two raised blocks of rooms which create an illusion. The spare wheel, optional at the time, and here attached to the interior reinforcement of the front apron and the block of parts is presented as covered with a cover in the colors of the brand.

The odometer embedded in the headlight in the center of the handlebar is a sticker, as is the horn placed just above the front wheel (see plate scanned by me). The handlebars are in my opinion the least successful part of the model, one wonders a little what the case is doing there, placed upside down and the front apron does not go up high enough in my opinion to cover the axis of direction. The set remains acceptable but the designer could have taken care of this detail a little more.

On arrival, this Vespa 125 looks really great and the few accessories supplied with the vehicle break up the monotony of the blue of the bodywork. You get a luggage rack, a crate with a bouquet of flowers and a vintage helmet with its glasses for the driver. The helmet with "Minion" effect is in my opinion not the most successful element of the set but we will be satisfied with it.

Did our shelves absolutely need a blue scooter 35 cm long, 12 cm wide and 22 cm high? Everyone will have an opinion on the relevance of the product and it is normal, knowing that it will be necessary to pay a hundred euros to afford this model. I must admit that I am seduced by this model which offers its share of details very faithful to the reference vehicle and curves which are up to the homage that LEGO wanted to pay to the machine.

The only real criticism that I have to make is not new: we always see the differences in color between different pieces of the same color. It's subtle, you only notice it under certain lighting conditions, but these differences are there whether on the bodywork, the upholstery or the "cover" of the spare wheel.

It's up to you to see now if you will have to crack as soon as the product is launched or wait for this box to be available at a lower price elsewhere than at LEGO. We all know that nostalgia has a price, but patience is often rewarded.

Note: The set presented here, provided by LEGO, is as usual involved. Deadline fixed at March 9, 2022 next at 23pm.

Update : The winner was drawn and notified by email, his nickname is indicated below.

We also take a quick look at the contents of the LEGO Technic set today 42141 McLaren Formula 1 Race Car, a box of 1432 pieces which will be available at the retail price of €179.99 from March 1, 2022.

LEGO promises us in the official description of the set: "...Build a detailed replica of the 1 McLaren F2022, with the LEGO® Technic McLaren Formula 1™ Race Car (42141) set for adults...".

We can now say that the manufacturer has engaged a little hastily. Even if we find some elements of the 2022 aerodynamics in the front and rear fins, the LEGO version, which is almost exclusively based on the 2021 version of the vehicle, is far from being a tribute to the 2022 version which was officially unveiled a few days ago. Always in the official description of the product visible on the Shop, we are however assured that "...the designers at LEGO and McLaren Racing have worked closely together to develop their models simultaneously...". The result casts some doubt on the extent of this collaboration.

We understand better now why LEGO chose to unveil its product a few days before the announcement of the MCL36. The comparison between the two would have had no particular interest, except perhaps that of passing the big mention "McLaren Formula 1 Team 2022" present on the packaging for a bad taste joke. The 2022 is probably too much.

Below is the comparison between the LEGO model and the 2022 version (MCL36) on the left and the 2021 version (MCL35) on the right:

[twenty20 img1="56940" img2="56941"]

That being said, fans of the LEGO Technic universe should appreciate getting a Formula 1 in their favorite range, despite the inevitable aesthetic approximations imposed by the inventory of the ecosystem concerned. It should be noted in passing that the inventory of 1432 pieces contains just over 530 diverse and varied pins. This is not a product from the "Luxury" LEGO Technic range like the references 42056 Porsche 911 GT3 RS (2016) 42083 Bugatti Chiron (2018) or 42115 Lamborghini Sián FKP 37 (2020), this set is a "standard" model which therefore does not claim to be an ultra-detailed model even if the vehicle measures 65 cm long, 27 cm wide and 13 cm high on arrival.

The assembly is quickly dispatched, the longest being to build the chassis with its V6 engine with moving pistons and its rear differential, its very rigid suspensions with four compressed shock absorbers and installed horizontally and its steering manipulated via the cockpit console flanked by two micro stickers.

No gearbox, but in the end the product does very well without it. The rest of the process is only made up of the integration of very large bodywork elements and the installation of the countless stickers provided. The mention 18+ on the box is not related to the difficulty of assembling the model, it is a simple toy for children and it only concerns the commercial target of the product.

We might regret the use of very large panels for the bodywork, but that's the price to pay for having a vehicle without too many slightly empty spaces in different places and the compromise here seems very acceptable to me. I prefer a Formula 1 with lines and curves that are more faithful than a skeleton with beams that are too roughly aligned. This may not be the case for the most fundamentalist fans of the Technic universe, each with their own affinities.

LEGO has chosen to leave part of the engine visible through the bodywork of the vehicle and opinions will undoubtedly be very divided on this point of aesthetic detail: some will see an interest in it with the possibility of taking advantage of the functionality integrated into the engine with its six mobile pistons and others will consider that the fidelity of the overall rendering frankly suffers from this choice. I think that this model being in any case already too far from what it claims to embody, you might as well take advantage of one of the rare technical features of the product.

The vehicle is here mounted in Full Wet, which explains the blue pad printing of the flanges that are too flat and which also allows the reuse of the Tumbler wheels. The process is a little lazy, LEGO could have cracked slick tires stamped on a €180 product under official McLaren license. And different width for front and rear, but I think in this case that was too much to ask anyway.

Three large sheets of stickers are supplied with 66 stickers in total, it was necessary to install all the sponsors on the bodywork of this Formula 1. The sheets are simply thrown into the box, and one of these three sheets was a little damaged in the copy I received.

This Formula 1 looks good, no doubt about it. It will be able to sit enthroned on the corner of a shelf, making its little effect and the least observant or the most indulgent fans will undoubtedly find their account there. It's not the McLaren MCL36 as the mention on the product packaging might suggest, but we can always console ourselves by considering this interpretation in the LEGO version as a timeless model, a cross between two versions or a hybrid synthesis between two changes in the regulations governing this sport.

The retail price of the product seems a little high to me for what it actually has to offer, especially for a set from the Technic range that is content with a handful of gears and features. It is not a complex construction machine, the subject necessarily limited the choice of mechanisms and integrated functions. We will wisely wait for Amazon to cut the price of this box, there is no hurry because this Formula 1 is not really the one that will evolve this year on circuits around the world.

Note: The set presented here, provided by LEGO, is as usual involved. Deadline fixed at March 8, 2022 next at 23pm.

Update : The winner was drawn and notified by email, his nickname is indicated below.