Today we quickly go around the other small box under 10 € in the LEGO Technic range of the first half of 2021: the reference 42117 Race Plane. Like the set 42116 Skid Steer Loader, this small unpretentious box of 154 pieces is aimed at young fans who would like to gradually enter the LEGO Technic universe by discovering the potential of more or less complex elements and mechanisms that can be assembled.

This aircraft does a little worse than the skid steer loader on the side of the integrated functions, but it still allows you to learn some basic principles that will allow budding designers to move on to more sophisticated products.

It is therefore a question here of discovering how the wheels of the aircraft can cause the movement of the propeller, and the designer even thought of authorizing the observation of part of the mechanism via the two mobile elements of the cabin.

Some will immediately associate the machine with those who are competing in the very spectacular Red Bull Air Race and we could have imagined that LEGO would add two studs in the set to offer some fun aerobatic possibilities. A second box on the same subject with an airplane in different colors would also have added the possibility of having fun together and going beyond the construction of the airplane.

In short, even if adults accustomed to the LEGO Technic range are clearly not the target of this product with limited functionality, do not neglect this type of set when it comes to initiating a young fan more used to stacking bricks. than to associate gears with each other.

These small boxes are quickly assembled and a newcomer to the Technic universe will not have time to get bored or to feel overwhelmed by the complexity of the thing. The result obtained is visually very successful and it offers rewarding play possibilities for those who have just spent a few minutes trying to understand how the propeller sets in motion.

The contents of the set allow to assemble an alternative model, which I find visually a little less successful. This is always taken for the life of the product, we will not complain.

Note: The set presented here, provided by LEGO, is as usual involved. Deadline fixed at 4th January 2021 next at 23pm. "The" I try, I participate "are automatically deleted, make an effort.

Update : The winner was drawn and was notified by email, his nickname is indicated below. Without a response from him to my request for contact details within 5 days, a new winner will be drawn.

Today we are quickly interested in the content of the LEGO Technic 42123 McLaren Senna GTR set, a box of 830 pieces, expected in January 2021 at the public price of 49.99 €, which allows to assemble a reproduction of the hypercar presented for the first time in 2018 at the Geneva Motor Show and since produced only 75 units.

LEGO is careful not to include an overall visual of the real McLaren Senna GTR on the packaging and is simply content with a view of the rear of the vehicle which is arguably the part of this LEGO toy that is most faithful to the model of reference. To put things in context, I remind you that the McLaren Senna GTR is it:

The LEGO version is a product of the Technic range and we therefore find under the hood a few assemblies based on axes and gears: a V8 engine whose pistons start to move when the vehicle is moving as LEGO has already proposed in other sets, a generic steering wheel that turns in a vacuum but a steering with a remote wheel on the roof and that's it. I'm not counting the two dihedral opening doors that pivot on a simple pine tree. Those considering a show model career for this vehicle will be able to remove the wheel placed on the roof, this is an "option" that simply improves the playability of the product.

The dilemma here is the same as for other LEGO reproductions of existing vehicles with a curvaceous and curvy design: how to pay homage to the reference model with a relatively limited inventory, there are over 300 pins here out of the 830 pieces of the set, and ensure that the LEGO product maintains a family link, however distant, with what is promised on the box.

The stickers sometimes fly to the aid of designers by skilfully masking some aesthetic shortcuts and the flexible axes are also often used to round off shapes. This is the case here with a cockpit and wheel arches whose curves are visually emphasized by several of these parts.

Some details and other refinements are obviously overlooked on this scale: no brake discs, suspensions or shock absorbers, but we still keep two mirrors. An effort on the rims would have been appreciated, but LEGO is content to provide us with generic versions, wider at the rear. Too bad for the axles which clearly protrude from the rear rims and which are not the same color on both sides.

The rear spoiler is almost convincing, it just lacks a bit of tilt to be truly faithful. The front is really very messy with a big gray sticker a little off topic and the need to imagine the headlight glasses here replaced by emptiness.

Fans of the LEGO Technic universe never fail to point out that it is not the point of this range to provide us with pretty models that really look like the reference models. By force of circumstances, we can actually say that this is often the case and rare are the products which are really faithful to what they are trying to represent.

The scale used here does not help: with a vehicle a dozen centimeters wide and 32 cm long, you inevitably end up being entitled to a few rough sub-assemblies that will require some imagination. , or a little bad faith, to find them convincing. The aesthetic both aggressive and graceful of the real McLaren Senna GTR is therefore overlooked in favor of a reproduction that vaguely pays homage to the reference vehicle. Let's not lose sight of the fact that this is simply a children's toy sold for 50 €.

Many will be satisfied with it, they are not looking for a model making activity with this range and mainly concentrate on the elaborate assemblies which in principle make the salt of this universe. Speaking of model making, we reached here records for a set of this size with 46 stickers to stick.

For those who want to get a better idea of ​​the impact of these stickers on the assembly experience: With 220 assembly sequences in the instruction booklet, we stick on average one sticker every 5 steps. The only two pad-printed parts in the set are the front fenders.

Come on, for 50 € and undoubtedly a little less in the months which will follow its marketing, this small set which one especially much spoke about because it is under official license will easily find its public among those which want to garnish the trailer of the set. 42098 Car Transporter. The latter already hosts the muscle car blue supplied with the truck and the orange Corvette in the set 42093 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, all these models displaying the same width of 12 cm.
Those looking for more convincing replicas of vehicles and who can afford to spend more will look to the big sets in the LEGO Technic range sold for up to several hundred euros.

Note: The set presented here, purchased by me, is put into play. Deadline fixed at 5th January 2021 next at 23pm. "The" I try, I participate "are automatically deleted, make an effort.

Update : The winner was drawn and was notified by email, his nickname is indicated below. Without a response from him to my request for contact details within 5 days, a new winner will be drawn.

Today, we quickly go around the LEGO Technic sets 42118 Monster Jam Grave Digger (212 - 19.99 €) & 42119 Monster Jam Max-D (230 - 19.99 €), two small boxes under official license Monster Jam which will be available from January 1st via the official online store and at most brands that sell LEGO products.

This is not the principle of retrofriction (Pull-back) which interests me the most here, the motor used by LEGO in these two sets is the one already available in many boxes since 2014 and it has been widely proven. These two new boxes therefore offer the same level of playability as the other references already on the market: we pull back and release.

On the other hand, this is the first time that LEGO has offered this type of product with an "official" license. We will remember for example the sets 42072 WHACK! et 42073 BASH! marketed in 2018 which were already original devices staged on an arena or circuit background but these two boxes were then only "house" LEGO creations.

For those who don't know, Monster Jam is a traveling Monster Trucks competition very popular across the Atlantic and incidentally broadcast in France on Canal + and on the Automoto channel of TNT. The license is also present in several video games and we no longer count the toys based on the various competitors who face each other with great reinforcements in ever more impressive stunts.

The arrival of the license Monster Jam at LEGO is arguably good news for die-hard Monster Trucks fans, although one could hope for better than these two vehicles that only vaguely resemble their TV counterparts.

LEGO has chosen to offer two of the most popular contending Monster Trucks, Grave Digger and Maximum Destruction (or Max-D). Unfortunately, the LEGO versions of these two machines are a bit lacking aesthetically and it is the very successful stickers that mostly save furniture. For those who would be tempted to acquire and link the two machines: There are similarities in the assembly sequences of the chassis of the two vehicles but the finishes bring a little diversity.

The use of Technic elements here makes it possible to obtain solid machines that will withstand shocks and landings on hard floors, but the finish is generally far from convincing. Worse, neither of the two vehicles benefits from shock absorbers or suspensions, the few mechanical elements visible on the two machines are there only purely decorative. Both flags are mounted on parts that remain movable for a vague floating effect when moving the vehicle. It's a bit thin for a range that calls itself "Technic".

LEGO is also missing the opportunity to reuse the tires of the Jeep Wrangler from set 42122, elements whose profile is much more faithful to that of the machines seen on the screen (see photo above). It should also be noted that LEGO offers an alternative model for each of these Monster Trucks, it is always that taken even if the proposed creations no longer have anything to do with the license itself.

In short, these two products are ultimately just toys for children to assemble and their belonging to the LEGO Technic range is due only to the use of beams and pins. No particular mechanism under the hood, the functions of these machines are reduced to the presence of the supplied retrofriction motors.

I am obviously not the target of these toys, but I hope this first salvo of officially licensed products Monster Jam is just the start and one day we will be entitled to a more elaborate version of one of the competitors with a real cushioned chassis.

As it stands, these two small boxes will certainly please a young fan of the license and we can be happy that the latter does not directly impact the selling price of these sets which are sold at the usual price of 19.99 €. LEGO could however have made the effort to add the "official" cardboard ramp already seen in 2017 in the sets. 42058 Stunt Bike et 42059 Stunt Truck.

Note: The set of sets presented here, supplied by LEGO, are as usual in play. Deadline fixed at December 31, 2020 next at 23pm. 

Update : The winner was drawn and was notified by email, his nickname is indicated below. Without a response from him to my request for contact details within 5 days, a new winner will be drawn.

Today we quickly tour the LEGO Technic set 42116 Skid Steer Loader, a small box of 140 pieces which will be sold at the public price of 9.99 € from January 1st.

This involves assembling a skid steer loader with one arm, which is not the most common configuration for these small utility vehicles. However, some manufacturers such as JCB or Volvo highlight the interest of this new configuration compared to traditional double-arm loaders in terms of safety for the operator of the vehicle. This configuration makes it possible to free access to the driving position via a side door, in theory it allows faster evacuation in the event of a problem and it increases the driver's peripheral visibility.

At 9.99 € the box of 140 pieces including about forty pine, do not expect an assembly experience that will exceed fifteen minutes. It is still necessary to assemble at least one mechanism, the one which makes it possible to raise the armed side arm of the bucket. For the anecdote, this black bucket is the one that also serves as the roof of the central building of the set Structure 10255 Assembly Square marketed in 2017.

As a bonus, the inventory of this 2-in-1 box allows you to assemble a second model, a very correct hot rod whose instructions available only online are not available for the moment. This possibility of building something other than the starting model is interesting, it will extend the life of this product with a relatively small inventory.

The cabin is opened by pushing on the roll bar, the arm is raised by turning the knob placed above the cabin, the bucket is oriented using the knob placed at the rear and the visible gears allow to observe the operation of the mechanism.

It's a detail, but the youngest will undoubtedly learn something in the process before embarking on the creation of their own models. These entry-level products without any particular pretensions are always more interesting when they allow you to really discover a mechanical principle or an assembly technique that can then be reused in more ambitious machines.

This skid steer loader is colorful, but for once I would have preferred it with a yellow frame and black arm to make it look a bit more like the single arm models offered by JCB and Volvo. No stickers to stick in this set, the model does not really need them anyway.

In short, this little introductory product to the LEGO Technic universe will not revolutionize the range, but it is not without interest. For less than 10 euros, there is something to have a little fun, observe and understand the operation of an endless screw and learn a little more about the alternative solutions developed by certain manufacturers to improve the safety of loader operators. compact.

Note: The set presented here, supplied by LEGO, is as usual in play. Deadline fixed at December 29, 2020 next at 23pm. "The" I try, I participate "are automatically deleted, make an effort.

Update : The winner was drawn and was notified by email, his nickname is indicated below. Without a response from him to my request for contact details within 5 days, a new winner will be drawn.