Review : LEGO Technic 42079 Heavy Duty Forklift

Among the four new LEGO Technic sets available since August 1, the cheapest box, the set LEGO Technic 42079 Heavy Duty Forklift (592 pieces - 54.99 €), stages as its name suggests a forklift truck of nearly 600 pieces.

On the functionality side, nothing very exciting, after all this is a forklift. The rear wheels can be oriented by manipulating the muffler placed at the rear, the engine pistons move when the truck moves via a differential connected to the front wheels, the mast tilts via the levers placed at the foot of the cab of the driver and forks go up by milling (very) patiently via the wheel disguised as a rotating light placed on the roof of the cabin.

Assembled in less than an hour, this machine is basically a forklift truck designed to lift heavy loads with its large wheels and imposing frame. Aesthetically, nothing to say, it's successful with a nice fairing and a combination of colors that works quite well. Unfortunately, the limited degree of axis of rotation of the rear wheels prevents it from turning around in limited space and the forks lifting system only takes them up to the level of the cab roof.

This forklift is covered with stickers of all kinds, but here LEGO forgot to put two which would have been very useful both for the look and the functionalities: A sticker to indicate the direction of rotation of the flashing light which is used to make raise and lower the mast of the machine and another at the level of the side levers which allow the fork to tilt forward. I never thought I could complain one day that a box was missing stickers. It is done.

To have fun with the machine, LEGO provides a pallet and a container of toxic products. It's lean, a few extra crates or cans would have been welcome, just to fill the large pallet provided a little and confirm the side "Heavy Duty"of this forklift.

The small 2-cylinder engine visible at the back will allow anyone new to the Technic universe to understand how LEGO interprets this type of engine with its moving pistons via a relatively basic assembly. There are similar modules on many more complex sets and this simplified version is an interesting first approach.

The real good news: LEGO provides the secondary model instructions in hard copy in the box. That's always it taken:

If you have a driver friend, you can offer him this box, he can proudly have this forklift on his desk. If you want to introduce a young LEGO fan to the LEGO Technic range or test their interest in it, this set offers a relatively affordable first approach, provided you wait for the price of this box to drop significantly in the coming weeks. . Otherwise, you can skip this box which has nothing very exciting to offer. Next.

Note: The set shown here is put into play as usual. To participate in the raffle, simply post a comment on this article before August 15 at 23:59 p.m.. You have every right to disagree with me, this is not eliminatory.

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.