Review: 42175 Volvo FMX Truck & EC230 Electric Excavator
Posted by Huw,
This year's Technic selection has been something of a mixed bag, what with countless cars at various scales, fictional and non-fictional space models, the interesting and unique 42174 AC75 Yacht, and also the subject of this review, 42175 Volvo FMX Truck & EC230 Electric Excavator.
The realistic-looking model incorporates pneumatics and is packed with functionality, so it should please the traditionalist Technic fan: something that is not often the case nowadays.
Read on to discover if that's the case...
Summary
42175 Volvo FMX Truck & EC230 Electric Excavator, 2,274 pieces.
£169.99 / $199.99 / €199.99 | 7.5p/8.8c/8.8c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »
A near-perfect Technic set that will satisfy traditionalists and newcomers alike
- Packed with functions that work well and are fun to play with
- 4 models in one
- Excavator arm could have done with a third pneumatic cylinder to control the bucket
The completed model
The set comprises four separate subassemblies: the FMX tractor unit, a trailer, the EC230 electric excavator, and a battery power unit for the latter, which all come together as one cohesive and great-looking model.
Overall, it's about 70cm long and very impressive on display.
Tractor unit
The Volvo FMX truck is designed for demanding construction applications and "is made to take you where others can’t, whether there’s a road or not", according to the Swedish manufacturer's website.
I believe that the real tractor unit can be supplied with one rear axle or two, and as you can see there's only one here. It can be powered by a diesel or electric engine: this is the former, although it does not have an exhaust stack, which is odd. I wonder if that is due to new internal guidelines which were laid out for BrickLink Designer Program submissions "...the propulsion method should be ambiguous if it is not a sustainable power source."
Nevertheless, it's otherwise a good likeness, and I particularly like the grille in front of the engine.
The headlights are made using the new-ish 2x3 panel, appearing here in transparent clear for the first time, with a sticker on them.
The hitch tilts back and forth and incorporates a mechanism to facilitate coupling and decoupling the trailer.
Pulling the red ball joint piece that you can see behind the cab in the photo above allows the cab to be tilted forward to access the 6-cylinder engine, which is coupled to the rear axle.
Trailer
The trailer might look like the least interesting of the four models, but within it are mechanisms for raising and lowering the red stabilisers and the rear ramps. They are operated using gear wheels on the right-hand side.
The red-and-white panels warn passing traffic of the wide load which overhangs the sides slightly.
Excavator
I suspect the pneumatically-controlled excavator is the reason many will be buying the set, and they will not be disappointed, although it could be better.
The Volvo EC230 electric excavator is equipped with a 264 kWh battery, enough for 4 or 5 hours of operation and, as you'd expect, it's said to be much quieter and more pleasant to operate than a diesel machine.
The model incorporates a pneumatic pump, two controls and two cylinders. The pipework is very neatly enclosed in the rear bodywork and overall, like the truck, it closely resembles the real thing. The orange safety rails add considerable visual interest and help make the model pop.
The two cylinders provide the arm with a good range of movement.
As you can see, though, there is not one to tilt the bucket. Instead, it is mechanically coupled to the arm and moves in synchronisation with it, very realistically as it happens, so it is perhaps not a major loss. The aesthetics are certainly improved by not having to route another pair of pipes along the arm to it.
It is perhaps a shame that the bucket comprises two 3-wide ones instead of a single wider one.
The controls for the pneumatics are neatly positioned behind the cab, and labelled appropriately.
The cab door opens to reveal a seat, control lever and display panel.
Power unit
The excavator is equipped with a CCS2 connection for AC and DC charging at a maximum rate of 135kW DC, so a full charge, assuming a flat charging curve, would take about 2 hours.
However, it's unlikely that many construction sites would be equipped with fast charging infrastructure, so to extend the operating time of the machine, a battery power unit can be purchased which provides an additional 400kWh.
A model of a square power unit might not sound terribly exciting, but it's surprisingly detailed, with an opening door that reveals stickered battery packs, and a cooling system and connectors on the side.
The charging cable connects to the side of the excavator, allowing for a quick top-up while the operator is at lunch, or fully overnight.
Compared to 42053 Volvo EW160E
42053 Volvo EW160E, which was released in 2016, is superficially similar to this model in as much that it's a pneumatic Volvo digger, although when placed side-by-side the differences are obvious.
Sadly, this new model is not quite the same scale as the 4-wheeled machine, so they don't look quite right when displayed together. By my reckoning, calculated using their wheelbases, the EW160E is at a scale of 1:20 and the EC230 is 1:25.
The older plant will, however, fit on the trailer, but its larger scale becomes more apparent when placed on it.
Verdict
It's a functional, reasonably accurate and attractive model of an interesting prototype that offers kids and adults alike a lot of playability.
Pneumatics are always fun and tactile to operate, and it's no exception here. It is very satisfying flicking levers, pumping the cylinder and seeing the result, although it's not particularly easy to actually pick anything up with the scoop.
It's a shame in some ways that there isn't a third cylinder to control the bucket, but its omission has resulted in a cleaner-looking model.
At $199.99, £169.99, €199.99, it's not cheap by any means, but on a par, price-per-piece-wise with other recent Technic models. If it were possible to quantify the amount of fun you can have with a model and use it to calculate value, then this is easily the best value Technic set released this year, and certainly my favourite.
112 likes
25 comments on this article
I haven't bought a Tenchic set since the big car transport carrier 42098. But I have to admit, this one's peeked my interest again.
In iteself I think this is a pretty good set, offering a lot of play value. I just can't help thinking back to the Arocs, which for the same price offered a much more ambitious build with more complex mechanisms, quite a bit more pieces including more Pneumatic stuff, and obviously even Power Functions. And sure there's that thing called inflation. But I can't shake the feeling that doesn't quite make up for it.
Meh, for whatever reason this looks incomplete and way cheaper than the price it's offered for. I'd have bought this if it was 130 Euro, not 200 Euro.
Somehow this feels more like a City set than Technic, especially when compared to the sets from the golden Power Functions era.
The best thing about this set is probably that it's the first Technic set to have the narrow truck tyres that have appeared in some Creator Expert vehicle sets. Real trucks use a combination of narrow and wide tyres, sometimes "super-wide fronts" with single narrow tyres for a mid-steer or tag axle and double narrow tyres for the drive axle, with single wide tyres on a curtain-sider trailer. So this set supplies 6 narrow tyres and other sets will complement that with the wider ones; I look forward to seeing people's MOCs with a combination. I'm not a fan of the high-profile trailer tyres though; they belong in junior sets.
We can see how this set is made to a price point; the ultimate truck of this scale could have more detail, another axle, switch valve and cylinder, and cost half as much again. It's not a flagship set but it's not meant to be. Like quite a few small and medium Technic sets, I find myself waiting for a good discount and then buying two for the parts and expansion possibilities.
The smaller pneumatic cylinders are in the Yacht 42174 so that might be another reason why there isn't one here for the Excavator bucket. At least we have most of the pneumatic parts in the range of sets (missing 1/11 cylinder); that's something I check every year. It's a shame the range will not also support a new 2/6 cylinder alongside 1/5 and 2/11 as those were useful.
Bit confused by the comment on the Tractor Unit, stating it lacks an exhaust stack.
What is the black pipework running up the rear of one side of the cab ? Sure looks like an exhaust to me.
@Mattw2 said:
"Bit confused by the comment on the Tractor Unit, stating it lacks an exhaust stack.
What is the black pipework running up the rear of one side of the cab ? Sure looks like an exhaust to me."
That's an air intake and filter.....which still wouldn't be there if this was electric. So this 100% is a diesel....
(as if the 6-cylinder under the cab wasn't dead giveaway....)
A modern blend of 8872 (which is excellent) and 8294 (which is excellent).
Just like this one (42175), 8872 is a great set because it offers a lot of playability. Teaches a lot of mechanical concepts. I'm not a fan of the new engines but since everything is shrinking in the Lego world (space baby), I guess I'll have to get used to it.
8294 is very well done because you could easily motorize it (it was definitely designed with that option in mind from the get go). Also good looking and realistic without any specific brand name. (not that great without the motor because it uses the actuators.)
These August Technic sets have all been amazing! This one is no exception.
I would assume the 2 red balls visible underneath on picture 1 and 3 have been placed incorrectly. They serve to limit the steering movement. In the case here, they serve to limit the movement of the truck in rough terrain!
@HOBBES said:
"I would assume the 2 red balls visible underneath on picture 1 and 3 have been placed incorrectly. They serve to limit the steering movement. In the case here, they serve to limit the movement of the truck in rough terrain!"
Yes I think you are right! I had not noticed. Thanks.
I was just about selling my good old PF motorized 42053 set to earn some money, when I saw the reviews about this set, and decided I'd rather keep the wheeled Volvo excavator, and leave 42175 set on the store's shelf. While the 42175 set seems to provide valuable functions and play features from a distance, which would be the main mission of a Technic model IMO, upon closer inspection, the shortcomings become apparent. It is typically the set the promises a lot, but delivers little, even in the middle-range Technic lineup, and yet costs a lot of money. The tractor unit seems the best part of the set with proper functions, although the coupling with the trailer could have been much more elegant. The electric excavator is dissappointing, it reeks of savings everywhere: no third pneumatic cylinder, no traction-enhancing parts on the tracks, so the excavator slips on a flat surface most of the time, and that double shovel is a shame. And the icing on the cake is that big useless and pointless decorative element (in a Technic set) called "power supply unit". Oh, and I almost forgot: the new excavator cannot be motorized. They just do not make good things they used to anymore.
Can't unsee that bucket situation. It needed a single piece.
The truck tyres are super nice! Finally some quite realistic looking tyres for Technic. I guess the last time we had similarly realistic tyres were the Model Team Black Cat Truck 5571, but those were at a different scale.
The air intake would probably have been mistaken for a smoke stack by a lot of people, me included.
The excavator is less realistic with only two cylinders of course, but this keeps the price reasonable, and it is still playable and the motion is mostly realistic. So I think it works well.
Probably one of the best pneumatic sets in a while? The large tow truck was probably better value, but not as playable.
@WizardOfOss said:
"In iteself I think this is a pretty good set, offering a lot of play value. I just can't help thinking back to the Arocs, which for the same price offered a much more ambitious build with more complex mechanisms, quite a bit more pieces including more Pneumatic stuff, and obviously even Power Functions. And sure there's that thing called inflation. But I can't shake the feeling that doesn't quite make up for it."
Accounting for inflation the Arocs would cost 250 euros today. It would still blow all of the current offerings out of the water, offering four pneumatic functions, four motorised functions, proper piston engine, suspension all around AND a B-model, and I'm pretty sure Lego still wouldn't release anything that good at that price nowadays. Why is that? They can't? They don't want to? One can only wonder.
@Supersonic said:
"Meh, for whatever reason this looks incomplete and way cheaper than the price it's offered for. I'd have bought this if it was 130 Euro, not 200 Euro. "
already 150 at amazon, so give it time ..
Obviously I can't know if it's the case with this set specifically or not, but I'm really not sure that the updated Bricklink Designer Program guideline you mention of "making the propulsion method ambiguous if it's not sustainable" is really reflective of a similar internal change for LEGO-designed product broadly, because of the significant number of modeled combustion engines in recent City sets.
Nice review. I was just wondering what the flagship Technic set is for this year as nothing seems to stand out yet in this years line up
@Jeddostotle7 said:
"Obviously I can't know if it's the case with this set specifically or not, but I'm really not sure that the updated Bricklink Designer Program guideline you mention of "making the propulsion method ambiguous if it's not sustainable" is really reflective of a similar internal change for LEGO-designed product broadly, because of the significant number of modeled combustion engines in recent City sets."
Including one in this specific set.
This set could have been legendary if the battery was used to house one or two pneumatic reservoirs to store energy, much like the actual battery.
Thanks for the review, I've been eagerly awaiting this one!
When the announcements for the Aug sets were made, this was the one I was most eagerly anticipating, but the leaked images were somewhat disappointing. I really wanted to like this set - it was always the one I was most likely to buy from the wave. Seeing it though, it can't help but invite comparisons to the 8872 from the 90s and the Arocs 42043 from 2015.
I was lucky enough to be given the 8872 when I was a kid; it was a great set from the point of view of playability, and it's also still a good parts pack. The forklift was easily good enough to have been released by itself. Is the excavator from this set?
Compared to 8872, this has a a clearly superior tractor unit - it has a tipping cab and a diff-driven fake engine, both of which the older model lacked. However, the older one arguably has the better trailer - they both have the tilting rear ramp and the forward stands, and the older one also has bogie suspension. The forklift in 8872 however was a great model and contained all the functions one would expect. The excavator here, as mentioned by @kari, is disappointing. The double bucket and the missing bucket actuator both show cost-cutting IMHO. Looking at the pictures Huw posted of the real deal - it has 6 actuators (2 on the boom, the stick, the bucket, and 2 mini actuators on bucket direction) and this model has only 2. That's allowable on a small cheap set like the 42121 but it's not really OK on a £170 set. The 4th part, the battery pack, is frankly a waste of parts. I appreciate that it is a realistic part of the EC230 set up, but here it is nothing but a box that uses far more parts than it should. There were surely opportunities to put the pump or a motor-driven compressor in it?
The other problem is of course the existence of the Arocs set which is far superior to this and is still available off bricklink for around the same price.
I really wanted to like this one!
Maybe on a serious discount. It is still a good parts pack as well as a functional set; it just doesn't pass the eyeball value test for me..
@TheOtherMike said:
" @Jeddostotle7 said:
"Obviously I can't know if it's the case with this set specifically or not, but I'm really not sure that the updated Bricklink Designer Program guideline you mention of "making the propulsion method ambiguous if it's not sustainable" is really reflective of a similar internal change for LEGO-designed product broadly, because of the significant number of modeled combustion engines in recent City sets."
Including one in this specific set."
....oh right, yep. lol
Theres a cruel irony to a set based on an electric excavator not having any power functions
Just reminds me sadly of my Mercedes pneumatic truck where all the stickers crumbled and flaked off. I won’t be purchasing this one.
Credit to Lego for the smaller scale compared to past excavators they have still managed to get a working excavator. If you consider it as 2 sets, a truck with trailer, and excavator then the price is reasonable, although everyone would probably just go for the excavator if sold separately as this has all the interesting parts whereas the truck and trailer are quite generic, but do provide lots of useful panels and beams. I wonder what monster you could make combining everything into a single B model?