Quick look: 42197 Backhoe Loader
Posted by benbacardi,
42197 Backhoe Loader is the smallest boxed Technic set to be released in 2025, with just over 100 pieces, and as such is a great way to introduce younger builders to the more challenging construction methods of the theme.
I gave the set to my daughter, who up until now has built exclusively with System sets, to see how she got on.
Summary
42197 Backhoe Loader, 104 pieces.
£8.99 / $9.99 / €9.99 | 8.6p / 9.6c / 9.6c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »
A great decently-priced introduction to Technic for younger builders.
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
Aside from a few mistakes she made while building (that she quickly realised and corrected), the vehicle was very easy to construct, and she was very proud of herself when she completed it!
The model is a small replica of the traditional backhoe loader in construction yellow and black, probably most well-known by the company JCB. This set isn't branded, however (unlike the recent Monster Jam truck!).
The squat vehicle has a compact and solid frame, including a loader bucket at the front, an backhoe arm at the rear, and stabilisers that can be raised and lowered.
The rear backhoe arm is connected using a ball joint, which gives it a good range of motion, and is also hinged in the middle.
The gear on top isn't used for steering (which would be very challenging on a model of this size), but is attached to the front loader arms by a worm gear.
The bucket can be raised to it's highest…
…and lowered to the ground, by turning the gear.
The mechanism inside is very simple, but the use of axles and a variety of different types of gear is a great introduction to the more advanced designs found in larger sets, and my daughter was so happy to see it come together.
All in all, although smaller than last year's equivalent 42163 Heavy-Duty Bulldozer for the same price, 42197 Backhoe Loader does deliver its promise of a simple introductary build to the Technic style with a trademark Technic mechanism, and makes a good gift to a young child wanting to experiment beyond the standard bricks and tiles they may be used to.
42197 Backhoe Loader will be available at LEGO.com from January 1st for £8.99 / $9.99 / €9.99.
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15 comments on this article
Nice review - thank you. This was on my wishlist because I wanted a fallback set for any future orders which don't quite make a GWP threshold. However, having read your review, I think I now want it for itself and not just as a 'filler'
It's been way too long since the last Technic backhoe!
Nice to see stabilizers, as well - the one feature missing from 42004.
@EtudeTheBadger said:
"It's been way too long since the last Technic backhoe!
Nice to see stabilizers, as well - the one feature missing from 42004."
8455 ten cylinders, steering, pistons engine. You cannot get any more functions than this legendary set. The most recent cylinders are too long for a remake of this but you never know...
I didn't even know this type of vehicle had stabilizers. Neat.
I generally like the small Technic sets, but can't say I'm impressed by this one. It kinda looks unfinished, like this is the B-model of something else. But that's not the biggest issue, if the functions are good I can get over that. Unfortunately, having just one very basic function is disappointing. And no, just because a piece isn't fixated doesn't make it a function. Those stabilisers, come on....This reminds me most of the 30433 Volvo Wheel Loader (a polybag!), with a few extra pieces attached.
And sure, this is still a small set so you can't expect the world here.....but now look back at the 42102 Mini Claas, which for the same price, at similar size and with just slightly more pieces did have steering, an ingenious mechanism to make the mower or whatever it was rotate, and even had a simple lever mechanism to raise that. Oh, and let's not forget the surprisingly nice B-model! That's all the difference between a brilliant little set, and a forgettable zero effort one....
I could have overlooked it all if they just had included a soundbrick with the Nizlopi song, but not even that :-(
Don’t mind me, just a BIONICLE fan glad to see the larger ball joints still in use
@WizardOfOss said:
"And sure, this is still a small set so you can't expect the world here.....but now look back at the 42102 Mini Claas, which for the same price, at similar size and with just slightly more pieces did have steering, an ingenious mechanism to make the mower or whatever it was rotate, and even had a simple lever mechanism to raise that. Oh, and let's not forget the surprisingly nice B-model! That's all the difference between a brilliant little set, and a forgettable zero effort one...."
Completely agreed -- maybe we were spoiled by 42102, but it is my new standard for pocket money Technic.
@CaptainRogerRedbeard said:
"Don’t mind me, just a BIONICLE fan glad to see the larger ball joints still in use"
Technically speaking, these are the beefier , much-less-prone-to-breaking joints that were introduced with Ben10 and Hero Factory, and getting even more technical, those joints were introduced with Slizers/Throwbots, but yeah, it's nice to see stuff like that is still around.
@TheOtherMike said:
" @CaptainRogerRedbeard said:
"Don’t mind me, just a BIONICLE fan glad to see the larger ball joints still in use"
Technically speaking, these are the beefier , much-less-prone-to-breaking joints that were introduced with Ben10 and Hero Factory, and getting even more technical, those joints were introduced with Slizers/Throwbots, but yeah, it's nice to see stuff like that is still around."
If they were talking about the technic axle with ball joint they would be correct though. It debuted in 2009 with the Glatorian line of Bionicle.
(sorry to be that guy by the way)
@benbacardi
Congrats to your daughter!
@Binnekamp said:
" @TheOtherMike said:
" @CaptainRogerRedbeard said:
"Don’t mind me, just a BIONICLE fan glad to see the larger ball joints still in use"
Technically speaking, these are the beefier , much-less-prone-to-breaking joints that were introduced with Ben10 and Hero Factory, and getting even more technical, those joints were introduced with Slizers/Throwbots, but yeah, it's nice to see stuff like that is still around."
If they were talking about the technic axle with ball joint they would be correct though. It debuted in 2009 with the Glatorian line of Bionicle.
(sorry to be that guy by the way)"
"You are technically correct. The best kind of correct."
Lego can get the same amount of details into this set as a much larger Technic set.
@Maxbricks14 said:
"Lego can get the same amount of details into this set as a much larger Technic set."
The small "allowance" Technics sets usually also got more functions than the big Technic sets :P
@TheOtherMike said:
" @CaptainRogerRedbeard said:
"Don’t mind me, just a BIONICLE fan glad to see the larger ball joints still in use"
Technically speaking, these are the beefier , much-less-prone-to-breaking joints that were introduced with Ben10 and Hero Factory, and getting even more technical, those joints were introduced with Slizers/Throwbots, but yeah, it's nice to see stuff like that is still around."
Isn't the Slizers version of the piece angled on the crossholes bit? The one here is straight.
@Eightcoins8 said:
" @Maxbricks14 said:
"Lego can get the same amount of details into this set as a much larger Technic set."
The small "allowance" Technics sets usually also got more functions than the big Technic sets :P"
That's what I was implying.