Review: LEGO Technic 42118 Monster Jam Grave Digger & 42119 Monster Jam Max-D

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.