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.

It's already the 12th step of this Advent calendar 2020 in Hoth Bricks version and the daily lot is a copy of the LEGO Mindstorms set 51515 Inventor Robot worth 359.99 €. To you the joys of programming small robots that throw balls or move awkwardly on the living room floor. It's free, so it's a try and the winner will have saved enough to buy the smartphone needed to take advantage of the application that brings the five robots on offer to life.

To validate your participation in this competition, all you have to do is identify yourself via the interface below and follow the instructions provided. As usual, it is a question of finding information on the official online store and then correctly answering the question asked. At the end of the participation phase, the winner will be chosen by drawing lots from among the correct answers.

Your contact details (name / nickname, email address, IP) are only used within the framework of this competition and will not be kept beyond the drawing of lots which will designate the winner. As usual, this no-obligation competition is open to all residents of mainland France, DOM & TOM, Belgium, Luxembourg and Switzerland.

A big thank you to LEGO for allowing me to offer the series of pretty sets brought into play at the end of the year. The prize will be sent to the winner by me and by Colissimo, followed with insurance and signature on delivery (and suitable packaging) as soon as their contact details are confirmed by return email.

As always, I reserve the right to disqualify any participant who has attempted to defraud or hijack the entry system in order to increase their chances of winning. Hateful and bad losers to abstain, the others will have more chances to win.

Good luck to everyone !

Note: If you choose to identify yourself in the participation interface via facebook, be aware that in the event of a win, the personal information (name / first name / photo) linked to your account will be displayed in the widget.

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.

It is arguably one of the most successful sets of this year and after the first copy put into play on the occasion of the VIP weekend before Black Friday, the LEGO set 10273 Haunted Houses is once again in the spotlight as part of the Hoth Bricks 2020 Advent Calendar. As usual, there will only be one winner in this new contest and he will therefore save the modest sum of 229.99 €.

To validate your participation in this competition, all you have to do is identify yourself via the interface below and follow the instructions provided. As usual, it is a question of finding information on the official online store and then correctly answering the question asked. At the end of the participation phase, the winner will be chosen by drawing lots from among the correct answers.

Your contact details (name / nickname, email address, IP) are only used within the framework of this competition and will not be kept beyond the drawing of lots which will designate the winner. As usual, this no-obligation competition is open to all residents of mainland France, DOM & TOM, Belgium, Luxembourg and Switzerland.

A big thank you to LEGO for allowing me to offer the series of pretty sets brought into play at the end of the year. The prize will be sent to the winner by me and by Colissimo, followed with insurance and signature on delivery (and suitable packaging) as soon as their contact details are confirmed by return email.

As always, I reserve the right to disqualify any participant who has attempted to defraud or hijack the entry system in order to increase their chances of winning. Hateful and bad losers to abstain, the others will have more chances to win.

Good luck to everyone !

Note: If you choose to identify yourself in the participation interface via facebook, be aware that in the event of a win, the personal information (name / first name / photo) linked to your account will be displayed in the widget.