Review: 42089 Power Boat
Posted by Huw,
42089 Power Boat is the second smallest of the latest batch of Technic sets and on the face of it looks pretty unremarkable but let's take a closer look...
The completed model
Technic boats are often more about aesthetics than functionality: given that real boats don't really have much of the latter that is perhaps not surprising, and this one is no exception.
I do like the shape of it but I'm not enamored by the colour scheme. I am sure there are black and red power boats around but I'm also sure that the majority are predominantly white, perhaps with a splash of colour. Imagine the black pieces replaced with white... you see, it looks much better!
The 2-seater craft has a single cylinder engine behind the seats which is connected to the propellor and also to a pair of wheels.
As the boat is propelled across the carpet the engine and propellor rotate.
There's not much more to say about it, really...
Verdict
I do like the shape of the craft: the curved and wing panels have been put to good use, but really don't like the black. I can only guess it's black because it's cheap and parts in the colour are plentiful.
There's nothing fundamentally wrong with it but compared to other Technic sets of this size it's unexciting. I suspect it will be an easy pass for most Technic fans.
Thanks to LEGO for providing this set for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
41 likes
12 comments on this article
Thank you for the review. Good to know what to expect upon closer look. Indeed, it looks like the only thing this set has going on for it is the form factor in a small package. Curious to see what Technic will bring forward in H2. Perhaps there is info already on the web, but I don't have the time to hunt it down...
By the way, the set link on this review goes t`o `localhost`...
TBH to see the wheels drive not only the cylinder, but also a propeller at the back, is already more functionality than I was expecting. Being a smaller cheap-ish set, I might be picking this up since Technic boats are still fairly rare and I enjoy them.
That said, the Lego store currently has three different Technic boats in stock! I believe that's more than we've ever had in such a short period of time.
Yeah, nowt wrong with this, but I hardly need it either.
It would make a decent parts pack, for the black panels, red parts, and the engine parts. Less so for the gears, it's basic in that respect.
I agree that the color scheme would look better in white but the black does help hide some of the glaring holes in the bow of the boat that the white would definitely show.
Feels like a technic reimagining of 6679.
This is a nice, affordable little Technic set, that IMO looks quite nice, and has a cool function. But, as Huw said, basically other than the neat little function, what you see is what you get...
Still if it was on clearance or one sale or something, I’d definitely consider it!
It’s pretty basic, but I like how it’s actually designed to go over a floor.
UGGGHHH Man I wish they would re-cast those blue pins.........
Black and red looks good to me. To each his own. The thing I really enjoy about small Technic sets is that they're easy to take apart and build the alternate model without much pain, physical or emotional! For instance, I want to build the alternate to the BWE, but love it so much that I can't take it apart. Plus my fingers would be sore for days...
This is a good set with reasonable play value. I have sympathy with the designers making small sets as there's only so small you can make some of these Technic mechanisms.
Overall, it looks like an average set at a low price point. And there's definitely something to be said for a low price point.
At this small size/price point I'd probably opt for a Creator 3-in-1 if I were a kid with $15.
@Thunbear - exactly what I was thinking! That was one of the first sets I got out from my old collection for my kids to play with and they loved it. For the price point, I think this is a nice little set. Will probably snag this when it gets even a minor discount.
I got the Hydroplane Racer, and this doesn't appear much different from the alternate build of that. Speaking of which, is there an alternate build of this set?