Review: 60498 Tractor
Posted by CapnRex101,
Farming sets are relatively scarce in LEGO City, although their infrequency makes them all the more exciting whenever they are produced and 60498 Tractor looks amazing! The model feels like the culmination of minifigure-scale tractor sets, more realistic than its precursors.
The new front tyres are certainly an important factor in this model's authenticity, although its teal bodywork is also very appealing. I am impressed with the shaping too, so this genuinely seems like a faultless set and an affordable one too, costing £17.99, $19.99 or €19.99.
Summary
60498 Tractor, 204 pieces.
£17.99 / $19.99 / €19.99 | 8.8p / 9.8c / 9.8c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »
This is the best minifigure-scale LEGO tractor to date!
- Extremely realistic design
- Attractive colours and shape
- Simple, well integrated functions
- Tool attachment points
- Very fair price
- Front tyres seem a bit thin
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
Minifigure
The farmer earlier found in 60461 Tractor with Trailer reappears here, wearing medium nougat overalls and a dark blue cap. More variety could be nice, but this is a good minifigure and I like the bushy facial hair in particular. Ultimately, this is definitely a set more about the actual tractor than its driver.
This minifigure fulfils his purpose adequately though and comes with a yellow mug, doubtless filled with something to keep him warm in the tractor cab.
The Completed Model
For a model so familiar in some regards, this tractor has a completely different character to its equivalents in LEGO City, such as 60287 Tractor from 2021. The bodywork is relatively simple, but looks completely realistic and makes good use of surprisingly few teal parts. There are only 26 in the whole set, but the colour scheme is still balanced, in my opinion.
In addition, I like the size of the tractor. It only measures 14cm in length, which looks authentic alongside the minifigure. There are industrial tractors that would be much larger if translated to this scale and perhaps they would be even more interesting as toys, comparable to the gigantic 60466 Bulldozer, although this is the kind of vehicle you could see on an ordinary farm.
The new small tractor tyres look excellent, featuring the same tread pattern as the existing tyre used for the rear wheels and the larger equivalent seen elsewhere. They do seem quite thin on the wheel hubs though, which are the same size between the front and back. I would have liked to see a slightly smaller hub to match the tyre, but I still think the proportions are reasonable.
Lots of small mechs incorporate a specialised torso piece, which can be frustrating because it makes them look so similar. However, the element is used to fantastic effect here, creating the front of the engine shroud and featuring a printed radiator, decorated with a bull logo. The body piece slots perfectly against a pair of wedge plates and under a curved slope.
These panels open to reveal a simple representation of the engine inside. A printed 2x2 round tile with hole forms the radiator fan and eight 1x1 round tiles denote the cylinder heads, with a red 2x4 brick underneath. I imagine the idea is that the 2x4 brick drives the tractor like it drives the LEGO system, which is trite, but a fun detail.
I love the use of 3x3x2 curved panels as mudguards behind the wheels, protecting the exhaust stack and the access ladders on each side. The pearl silver exhaust is simple and maybe there could be more mechanical detail, but I suppose it would be kept firmly inside the bodywork on a modern tractor!
Speaking of which, the cab windscreen looks very modern. It is a shame there are no working doors, but the shape is attractive. Additionally, the trans-orange lights and slender mirrors look excellent, especially the latter, where black oars work perfectly as mirrors. These are dislodged quite easily, though unavoidably so.
The rear section of the cab is removable to access the interior, with a seat for the driver and a steering wheel inside. There is little need for anything else and I like the reddish brown curved slope forming the minifigure's seat back.
A new wheel arch element was introduced in 10357 Shelby Cobra 427 S/C and returns here in teal. Unsurprisingly, the shaping is superb, but I think it would look even better if the teal colour continued in place of the black elements. On the other hand, that would necessitate many more parts to be produced in a new colour.
Universal connectors and 1x4 click hinge plates are located on the front and back, which allow you to attach pretty much anything. Perhaps a plough or similar farming equipment could have been included, although doing so would inevitably increase the price and the connection points alone are useful. I find the visible blue parts irritating though, also seen on the front and back.
Overall
The simplest sets in LEGO City are generally among the best and 60498 Tractor is a fantastic example. I think this is comfortably the best-looking minifigure-scale tractor ever launched and its contemporary style looks realistic, which has been a pleasing change in LEGO City vehicles over the past couple of years.
It goes without saying that adding some equipment to connect on the front or back would have increased play value, but with the price of £17.99, $19.99 or €19.99, I can certainly understand their omission. I was shown the model at Fan Media Days in September and expected it to be a highlight of the January range, so I am delighted the tractor does not disappoint!
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21 comments on this article
Nice vehicle. Tempted to get this.
“ Front tyres seem a bit thin” seems a bit harsh. :)
Fantastic design! Best Lego tractor produced so far. Some variety of trailers could be a nice addition.
Stunning model this one, around tractors all the time and this looks perfect
An interesting choice to make this in teal rather than a colour such as green, red or medium blue that would be seen in more familiar tractor brands such John Deere, Case or New Holland. I guess it is one way to avoid potential licensing costs.
A great model though and I'll likely buy the first one I see. It is a nice addition to have connection points for equipment and hopefully there will be some implements show up in a future set.
@gunther_schnitzel said:
"Nice vehicle. Tempted to get this.
“ Front tyres seem a bit thin” seems a bit harsh. :)"
I think it's fair. These are like low profile tractor tyres, which surly are not a thing. A smaller rim would have looked a lot better. Not a big deal if this was a set with a few animals or something but given this is all about the best looking tractor yet, it is a valid point.
Looks great, can certainly see a range of farm vehicles being produced in this colour with the bull logo, just like the new range of construction vehicles. Maybe a quad bike, harvester, ATV with trailer, tree shaker, crop sprayer and such.
Nice review!
The fact that this set has hitches on the front and back with nothing to connect them to gives me hope that we'll maybe see additional farm sets in the summer, with equipment that can be used on this smaller tractor as well. The new bull logo for the tractor makes me similarly hopeful—new branding like that can signal a new direction for a City subtheme much like it did with the recent elephant logo for construction sets, so hopefully the introduction of one here means they have much more planned for the farm subtheme going forward!
Looks great, but should have included some farm animals.
I also agree that they should make some farm equipment and not just tractors, hopefully a full farm wave of sets soon :)
Looks excellent. Easily my favourite of all the January City releases. Almost as detailed as my 604-2!
I have to say it - this in an exceptional set!
Great looking, no color vomit (aside from the two blue parts which the review thankfully mentioned too), small but nice functions and with a fair price even I can fully agree with.
Only the print on the minifig for the upper part of the trousers results in a nonmatching color, which is a shame.
Having matching axle colors front and rear (white!) is another big bonus for me and the black hubs on them look fantastic.
They even used a grey element to attach the window screen which vidually could pass as some kind of light lamps.
Let's hope there will be accessories for the tractor available, alas, I don't think there wll be any.
Because the design looks so good, appropriately designed sets would be a godsend.
Really, a great set for a fair price.
Good to see a printed fan again, I need more to replace the stickered parts in 75374
I’m suffering from Teal fatigue
This is a perfect LEGO set. And I say this as someone who's more into carriages and pirate ships than modern vehicles (with the exception of Batmobiles). I don't understand how Farm isn't a dedicated sub theme yet.
@LegoHound33 said:
"Looks great, can certainly see a range of farm vehicles being produced in this colour with the bull logo, just like the new range of construction vehicles. Maybe a quad bike, harvester, ATV with trailer, tree shaker, crop sprayer and such."
I don't know how likely they'd be to do it, but I'd be all over a cropduster airplane.
Its a great model but way too complicated for 6+. Seriously.
@gunther_schnitzel said:
"Nice vehicle. Tempted to get this.
“ Front tyres seem a bit thin” seems a bit harsh. :)"
Agree. We support tractor body positivity here.
Its the best tractor design so far. Gives off Jeremy Clarkson Diddly Squat Lamborghini vibes.
Now that's one "buff" looking tractor, looks like the farmer got an upgrade!
Farm sets for City are rarer, so I agree it's great when they are made for the line. I so very much love the teal color, really makes the tractor stand out. The details are amazing, the radiator being a print is a nice surprise! The mug, which I know is a small thing, but I appreciate it. Reminds me of early City sets where most larger vehicles included one for the driver. Very excited to get this set, thanks for the review!
Looks like a must have vehicle from the City range, but I struggle to find it a spot with the Modulars... Tough choices ahead!
It's pretty good, and I find that I still kind of like tractors. It's just that in recent years, tractor-drivers in the Netherlands have proven to be as problematic and aggressive, as they are entitled and arrogant. I'd be happy to buy and build this tractor, but I have no problem telling the farmer to change his parasitic way of life and get a different job.
@AllanSmith said:
"Its the best tractor design so far. Gives off Jeremy Clarkson Diddly Squat Lamborghini vibes."
At first I thought it was way too big compared to the minifig but I think there was some big Tractors in that show.