Review:42178 Surface Space Loader LT78
Posted by Huw,
42178 Surface Space Loader LT78 is the smallest of three fictional Technic space vehicles that have just been launched.
It shares the same attractive colour scheme as the others, offers connectability to City and Friends space sets, and can be picked up by 42181 VTOL Heavy Cargo Spaceship LT81, so it could be interesting.
Summary
42178 Surface Space Loader LT78, 435 pieces.
£29.99 / $34.99 / €34.99 | 6.9p/8.0c/8.0c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »
A reasonably cool surface vehicle with a neat transforming chassis
- Transforming chassis
- Can be transported by the spaceship
- Limited playability
- Strange crane mechanism
- Not enough reddish orange parts
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
The completed model
The 4-wheeled vehicle measures about 20cm long and about the same wide. It has rear-wheel steering, a crane at the back and an interesting mechanism in the chassis that raises the cab from between the wheels.
Stickers are once again used to give it detail, most notably a lovely classic space logo on the top panel.
At first glance, the most visually striking thing about it is the light grey tractor tyres. These, and a larger size in 42180 Mars Crew Exploration Rover, are new in that colour this year and unique to these space sets.
A container in which to safely transport samples of planetary material or lifeforms is provided which can be picked up by the crane. The flaps open and, in theory, it can be connected to City and Friends sets using one of the airlock pieces. It can also be picked up by 42181 VTOL Heavy Cargo Spaceship LT81, thanks to the bar at the top.
There's a 'specimen' printed tile inside and also a 1x1 flower to put in its place should you prefer. I think this might be the first Technic set to include a botanical element!
The model's three functions are operated from the back. The blue wheel steers it, turning the red axle joiner transforms the chassis, and a lever with the red ball joint repositions the crane to left-hand the side.
With the chassis in the alternate position, the cab is raised clear of the front wheels, and the wheelbase is shortened. It looks slightly more practical in this configuration, with better visibility from the sides of the cab. However, it does not improve ground clearance for traversing rugged terrain because the rear wheels remain where they were.
A robotic arm and scanner (minifig metal detector) hang below the cab and can be neatly tucked away under it when not in use.
The crane has a very strange movement. It's deployed by twisting the lever with the red ball joint and when doing so, a whole section of bodywork moves to the left, extending the crane's arm above the wheel.
The end of the arm can be lowered to hook onto the container, then raised slightly to transport it, but not by much, otherwise it fouls on the wheels. It's a bit feeble, to be honest, and seems like an afterthought, particularly as it looks very strange with the bodywork attached to it, off-centre from the vehicle.
Finally, there's a bar at the top to enable it to be hooked up by 42181 VTOL Heavy Cargo Spaceship LT81, which is a neat touch.
Verdict
This is nowhere near as impressive or playable as the spaceship, although the transforming chassis is quite cool. The crane makes the vehicle look odd when deployed, but I guess kids won't worry about that and will still have fun hooking up the container.
There are not enough reddish orange pieces in it for my liking: only eight Technic panels and the two airlock parts.
So, not an essential purchase by any means although, like the spaceship, the price seems reasonable, at $34.99 / £29.99 / €34.99 for 435 pieces.
It's available now at LEGO.com.
88 likes
29 comments on this article
I was really hoping the VTOL ship could pick this up…guess not?
This isn't the first set to include flower pieces, as 42166 already used an orange flower piece. There might more earlier examples, but thats the first to come to mind.
EDIT: 42114 contains the same flower but was released in 2020
Still my favourite of the Technic space sets! Reminds me of 7312.
@TheAbleTable said:
"I was really hoping the VTOL ship could pick this up…guess not?"
It can, it says so in the review above the second last image. In the image you can see the bar the VTOL would grab onto. Yes, it is a different bar from the one on the container.
EDIT: By 'different bar' I mean I didn't confuse one for the other. They are distinct parts of the model. They are the same element though.
@EtudeTheBadger said:
"Still my favourite of the Technic space sets! Reminds me of 7312."
Yes, I agree. I recently went on a Life on Mars collecting spree and the 7312 trike was in my opinion an unexpectedly cool set - better in-person than in the online box art photos I'd seen.
As for this set under review, I agree that the crane mechanism looks a bit bulky and strange, but overall I still think this is a very cool rover, and if the cab can be modified to enable a minifigure to fit in there in some way, I think it would make a really interesting minifigure-scale space vehicle.
Something very nostalgic about light grey tyres... from when the 2 choices were big or small, light grey or light grey!
The amount of elements of a certain colour is one of the issues with this set? Honestly...
Yeah nah I don’t find this one appealing at all. Grey tyres look cool though. Kinda reminds me of a space Batman Tumbler
"These, and a larger size in 42180 Mars Crew Exploration Rover, are new this year and unique to these space sets." Only the one's from 42180, specifically https://brickset.com/parts/6468046/tyre-baloon-wide-%C3%B868-7-x-34 are new, the ones you linked to have been available since 2021.
@R1_Drift said:
"This isn't the first set to include flower pieces, as 42166 already used an orange flower piece. There might more earlier examples, but thats the first to come to mind.
EDIT: 42114 contains the same flower but was released in 2020"
Actually, the old palm tree segment was used in a lot of Technic sets way earlier. Technically, those are 'botanical' too!
@Atuin said:
" @R1_Drift said:
"This isn't the first set to include flower pieces, as 42166 already used an orange flower piece. There might more earlier examples, but thats the first to come to mind.
EDIT: 42114 contains the same flower but was released in 2020"
Actually, the old palm tree segment was used in a lot of Technic sets way earlier. Technically, those are 'botanical' too!"
Based on the proportion of parts I believe several of the botanical sets could be classified as technic sets.
The blue / white and reddish orange, and the lighter colored wheels, definately make me think of the Ice Planet 2002 theme here, altho some of the blue comes from the technic pins, there are some actual blue elements on purpose too, and the sticker logo, had some blue too .
Corkpit can fit one minifigure inside which is nice. Weird back crane but overall are good set, specially can hook up with 42181. Playability 5/5
One more set of wheels, and it'd look like the buggy from the old arcade game "Moon Patrol":D. Also, while I like seeing the SPACE (sorry, you have to write it that way) logo, it looks wrong on that orange...or is that red...
@TheOtherMike said:
""These, and a larger size in 42180 Mars Crew Exploration Rover, are new this year and unique to these space sets." Only the one's from 42180, specifically https://brickset.com/parts/6468046/tyre-baloon-wide-%C3%B868-7-x-34 are new, the ones you linked to have been available since 2021."
I suspect Huw was meaning they're both new in this specific colour. Neither is a new design of tire but I'm not seeing either having come in medium stone grey before, only black,
@tmtomh said:
" @EtudeTheBadger said:
"Still my favourite of the Technic space sets! Reminds me of 7312."
Yes, I agree. I recently went on a Life on Mars collecting spree and the 7312 trike was in my opinion an unexpectedly cool set - better in-person than in the online box art photos I'd seen.
As for this set under review, I agree that the crane mechanism looks a bit bulky and strange, but overall I still think this is a very cool rover, and if the cab can be modified to enable a minifigure to fit in there in some way, I think it would make a really interesting minifigure-scale space vehicle."
I was trying to work out why I'd been assuming that this was a three-wheeled vehicle from the pictures, but I bet that's it, the legacy of 7312 in my subconscious.
I think it's fun, if impractical, and I love those grey tyres.
Yes, it's another wheeled technic vehicle.
But no, this does not feel overdone at all. In fact, this feels fresh!
I love that we get a transformation feature in Technic again! It's been a long time!
Last one I recall was 1998's 8213 Spy Runner.
I would appreciate a photo of this combined with the VTOL spaceship. Any chances for that, @Huw? :-)
The transforming chassis reminds me of 42081, which had a similar function.
I'm struggling to understand the connectivity between the City, Friends and Technic lines. The scales and features all seem to be quite different, which is puzzling me.
The two Technic sets shown so far look okay but something about them just isn't clicking for me. I think in part it's the cockpit windows.
@Loerwyn said:
"I'm struggling to understand the connectivity between the City, Friends and Technic lines. The scales and features all seem to be quite different, which is puzzling me.
The two Technic sets shown so far look okay but something about them just isn't clicking for me. I think in part it's the cockpit windows."
My guess is you're (all) overthinking it. All the themes just share the supertheme "Space", I don't think it's necessary that Minifigures can fit nicely into every now available Technic set.
They never did, why should they now? (I would be more than happy to welcome back the Technic Figures though, these are great! I don't care what others think about them.)
Same applies for e.g City x Friends, they simply both now focus on space, eventual compatibility is just a byproduct.
If some theme like Bionicle was still alive we would get 6 Toa, who probably had some sort of spacesuits or jetpacks but they still wouldn't fit into the Space City/Friends line. Unless you are a little more creative, then they could be used as some sort of guardian gecha à la Pacific Rim (or insert another medium with giant robots) or simply epic statues. Just use your imaination.
@Ridgeheart said:
" @Crasha said:
" @Loerwyn said:
"I'm struggling to understand the connectivity between the City, Friends and Technic lines. The scales and features all seem to be quite different, which is puzzling me."
My guess is you're (all) overthinking it. All the themes just share the supertheme "Space", I don't think it's necessary that Minifigures can fit nicely into every now available Technic set."
See you in the next Space Technic-review. Make sure to tell me what you think about the minifig-scaled treadmill and toilet in the kitchenette."
You mean 42180 right? I see there is some space for Minifigs, certainly looks nice and fun! Though I never said that I'm excluding Minifigures out of Technic sets, I just don't think it's the main goal of this theme. Especially in smaller sets it's just difficult to achieve, because of the proportions and the way they are constructed.
Now you made me curious: Are there any other Technic sets that do leave space for Minifigures?
@Crasha said:
"They never did, why should they now? (I would be more than happy to welcome back the Technic Figures though, these are great! I don't care what others think about them.)"
I actually had a dream the other night where I was reading a Brickset review of a Technic set that had a reintroduced Technic figure. It was the best dream I've had in a long time. Was disappointed to realize it was only a dream.
"If some theme like Bionicle was still alive we would get 6 Toa, who probably had some sort of spacesuits or jetpacks but they still wouldn't fit into the Space City/Friends line. Unless you are a little more creative, then they could be used as some sort of guardian gecha à la Pacific Rim (or insert another medium with giant robots) or simply epic statues. Just use your imaination."
Maybe something like 8557?
@TheOtherMike said:
" @Crasha said:
"...Technic Figures..."
I actually had a dream the other night where I was reading a Brickset review of a Technic set that had a reintroduced Technic figure. It was the best dream I've had in a long time. Was disappointed to realize it was only a dream."
That sounds like a beautiful dream, I hope it becomes true ;_; I mean, these figures have hue potential. Just imagine for example a Technic Hulkbuster with a Technic Iron Man Figure, this stuff would be epic!
"
"If some theme like Bionicle..."
Maybe something like 8557 ?
"
Yeah, for example! Another honorable mention could be the Invasion From Below subtheme from Hero Factory (like 44018 ), those builds had quite a heavy Space-Look too.
A space buggy would likely have 4 wheel steering and mega suspension which would be easy to do in Technic as there is no differential or gearing involved. The crane also needs some rework with a gear rack for spanning and an actuator to give it some lift. Both of these would increase the play-ability and Technic part, but would increase the pieces and go over the price point.
@Crasha said:
"Now you made me curious: Are there any other Technic sets that do leave space for Minifigures?"
8217 not only has space, it even uses the minifig seat element.
Anyone ever hear of the Block Zone? They have Technic-like models that put current Technic to shame. The parts are blatant Lego clones, but their models arw unique and full of killer functions like Lego used to do. And they have physical controllers instead of a phone app!!!@
@Crasha said:
" @Ridgeheart said:
" @Crasha said:
" @Loerwyn said:
"I'm struggling to understand the connectivity between the City, Friends and Technic lines. The scales and features all seem to be quite different, which is puzzling me."
My guess is you're (all) overthinking it. All the themes just share the supertheme "Space", I don't think it's necessary that Minifigures can fit nicely into every now available Technic set."
See you in the next Space Technic-review. Make sure to tell me what you think about the minifig-scaled treadmill and toilet in the kitchenette."
You mean 42180 right? I see there is some space for Minifigs, certainly looks nice and fun! Though I never said that I'm excluding Minifigures out of Technic sets, I just don't think it's the main goal of this theme. Especially in smaller sets it's just difficult to achieve, because of the proportions and the way they are constructed.
Now you made me curious: Are there any other Technic sets that do leave space for Minifigures?"
The two recent John Deere's set come to mind (42136 and 42168). 42136 a little bit less so because the seat is Technic built but 42168 has a Lego system seat. In my opinion both sets are way too big to be minifig scale but then again minifig scale is an oddity - it has a different scale depending on the axis (i.e. scale of X != scale of Y != scale of Z).
In the sentence "There's a 'specimen' printed tile inside and also a 1x1 flower to put in its place should you prefer.", both links lead to the "specimen printed tile". Please update the "1x1 flower" link to point to design 24866 ( https://brickset.com/parts/design-24866 ) instead. Thanks.
@Crasha said:
"Now you made me curious: Are there any other Technic sets that do leave space for Minifigures?"
The 1996 8480 Space Shuttle is minifig scale as well, and the cockpit has 2 minifig seats.