Review : LEGO Technic 42065 RC Tracked Racer

Today let's take a quick look at the LEGO Technic set 42065 RC Tracked Racer released this year and whose packaging is (as usual) full of promise.

To sum up, I think this product is a good idea well presented with an attractive look and enticing possibilities, but too many little flaws weaken the playfulness of the thing in my eyes. Especially at the public price of 89.99 € for 370 pieces including a good hundred of Technic Pins and 74 track elements.

An important point: Do not be fooled by the presence of a purely aesthetic antenna which could make you believe that this vehicle is radio-controlled.

It can only be controlled in infrared with all the limitations linked to this technology used by the elements Power Functions, especially in terms of distance and sighting between the remote control and the IR receiver. LEGO announces 10 meters range, in fact beyond 3 meters, it often becomes complicated especially outdoors.

Don't let the name of the product fool you either. the term RC used here is a contraction of "Remote Controlled", no "Radio controlled".

As for the assembly, nothing very complicated or very original, the goal being above all to assemble the thing to go and play with it. The vehicle is built around the Battery Box the two battery access hatches and the start button are accessible thereafter.

It is difficult to properly store the connection cables of the various motorization and control elements, nothing has been planned by LEGO to conceal them properly but they must however be rolled up here or there to prevent them from catching a possible obstacle.

The rather basic bodywork is attached to the chassis from the front but nothing retains it from the rear. It just lands on the infrared receiver. It is therefore impossible to grab the car from above to move or reposition it. This is a rather embarrassing detail. Be careful not to partially hide the infrared receiver with the rear spoiler ...

The elements Power Functions necessary for the motorization are supplied: 2 M motors, a battery box, the infrared receiver and the remote control. Batteries are not included. We are in 2017 and LEGO could crack a rechargeable battery with this type of product. Until better, you need 6 AA 1.5V batteries for the Battery Box and 3 AAA 1.5V batteries for the remote control.

The 150 grams of batteries in the Battery Box So come a little heavier the machine (a little more than 600 grams in total including batteries), which is not a bad thing if we consider that it contributes a little to the stability of the whole without putting the two engines to the trouble.

Each engine sets a caterpillar in motion independently, one at the front, the other at the rear. This positioning of the motors visibly allows the weight of the assembly to be distributed fairly.

The supplied remote control (8885) only allows the two motors to turn in one direction or the other, independently and at constant speed. To check the speed of the motors, you will need the remote control bearing the reference 8879 (15.90 €).

Proposing a tracked machine implies that it is therefore all-terrain. This is the case, and it's going pretty well despite the absence of suspensions. In the video sequence above, the machine climbs a slight slope without suffering too much.

After a few minutes of playing outdoors, I noticed a few scratches appearing on the tracks, which should not get better over the hours. Maniacs, refrain from driving on hard or abrasive floors. LEGO does not provide any replacement parts for the tracks in the box.

I note in passing that by looking more closely at the official description of the product, LEGO clearly indicates that this product is "... Designed for indoor use only ..." while the visual illustration of the box clearly implies the opposite ...

89.99 € for this box is much too expensive. the presence of the elements Power Functions necessary for the motorization of the machine is not sufficient to justify this price. Without these elements the set would have no interest anyway. Fortunately, several brands including amazon regularly offer this box at much more attractive prices.

To end on a positive note, there is still plenty of fun with this machine with aggressive curves, respectable speed of movement and correct handling (despite a tendency to pull left on my copy surely due at a slight difference in rotational speed of the two motors).

It is possible to assemble a secondary model, an all-terrain truck with a pseudo-suspension system, but the instructions are not provided in the box. You need to download them at this address.

In short, as far as I'm concerned, it's still too expensive, the editing "experience" is very limited, it's nice to play for five minutes in the living room, but it's not the toy of the year.

Note: We do as usual. You have until May 17 at 23:59 p.m. to come forward.

Update : The winner was drawn and notified by email, his nickname is indicated below.
If I do not get a response from him to my request for contact details before May 29, a new winner will be drawn.