REVIEW NEW LEGO 42128 TECHNIC RUGGED TOW CAR
Way back in the 80s, when music was epic and fashion was questionable, my LEGO journey began with ready-made Christmas classics like the 6080: Castle or 6392: Airport. My favorite set as a kid was the 6482: Rescue Helicopter.
A few years after that I got my first ever Technic set, one that I still have. That set was 8837: Pneumatic Excavator, and was powered by pneumatic pumps. At the time it was groundbreaking, today that particular set looks a bit primitive. The power of the pneumatic pump can still be integrated into modern sets, but how does it hold up against the bells and whistles of motor-driven features?
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Let's dive into my review of the LEGO Technic Heavy-Duty Tow Truck .
The tow truck is styled after models that are more commonly found in the USA. They are often made by Kenworth, or - for people of a certain age - the Rhino truck from MASK. So the cab has a long hood nose, which can be folded forward to reveal the engine. The smart working pistons are thanks to a gearbox system that is connected to a set of wheels. But this is a minor detail compared to the rest of the set.
Large-scale Technic vehicles often have a complex gearbox system to operate the various moving functions. But for this set this is accompanied by a pipe system to drive the pneumatic elements.
I normally struggle a bit with some parts of these connected systems as they can be a bit fiddly, but the only thing I found tricky here was the tubing system. They are shown in the instructions with their dimensions noted in the instructions, so I highly recommend measuring the parts before mounting them in place.
I also recommend following their placement in the set exactly as you build around them. I forgot to install a tube through a certain opening, so I had to take part apart to install it.
This is not a problem with the kit or the instructions, but an easy mistake on my part.
There are two types of 'control' for the various moving parts of the tow truck.
The hose system powers three different functions, while the others are powered by old-fashioned turning of wheels. The pneumatic function thus includes lowering and raising a drawbar at the rear, as well as raising and lowering the crane-like arm and extending it.
The entire pneumatic system is powered by a single pump switch. Giving a few pumps is enough to get all the functions working and is quite satisfying to use.
The other functions work by turning a number of different gears. These include raising or lowering the center set of wheels.
There are a pair of jack stands mounted on either side of the truck and also in the rear section. The system that controls this is a bit difficult to operate and the execution of the mechanism is a bit rough on the fingers.
The other manual feature is a gear knob on the cab of the truck, which turns as you move the truck, acting as a simple, more effective steering system.
The combination of the two different systems results in a variety of playing functions. The pneumatic features are certainly the most entertaining and much more advanced than my first Technic build.
Once the inner portion of the tow truck is completed, the outer shell is coated. The orange, white and blue color scheme really suits the build and that is certainly enhanced by the number stickers. Some stickers aim to label different work functions.
One of my signature parts of the build is the Technic panels used to line the loading area of āāthe truck. It is a simple use of parts but gives the set and a great finish. very beautiful!
Too bad the same can't be said about the front of the truck. There is a large gap between the fender elements and the front of the bumper section. That said, the front grille looks very cool, especially with the shiny silver grille plates.
Another part that isn't as nice as the other features is the pair of wires that run along the arm. These are manually operated and use a gear and Technic rod pin to unwind and lower the tow bars. This is a bit inconvenient. It may not have the technical appeal of the Control+ and app control, but you will be amazed by the pneumatic system, which is interwoven with the more traditional functions.
I normally emphasize when building a large Technic set that any little mistake can lead to big problems later. Apart from the small hiccup with the placement of the hoses, I really enjoyed building this set and despite the size it would be a good but challenging introduction to LEGO Technic. This set can be seen assembled in the LEGO store 2TTOYS, as soon as possible after the introduction date of 1-8-2021.
