Review: 60249 Street Sweeper
Posted by Huw,
Road sweepers have been a semi-regular fixture in the City assortment since 1991, although there hasn't been a decent stand-alone one since 7242 in 2005.
Previous models have relied on big blue brushes attached to the front to do the dirty work, which isn't how real ones operate. The new version, 60249, however, is more typical of real-life vehicles.
You have probably seen mini-sweepers like this operating: the brushes at the front catch litter and propel it under the vehicle from where it is sucked up.
The blue 20 tooth gear, which has a pin hole rather than an axle hole to allow it to spin freely, was introduced in 2018 and is relatively rare, so its inclusion here should help prices tumble on BrickLink.
I don't believe it is normal to have brushes at the sides like this, certainly not stuck out half the width of the vehicle causing a hazard to passing pedestrians! However, If you want to make it look more like a real sweeper they are easily removed.
As the vehicle is pushed along all four brushes rotate.
Clips at the back secure a shovel and broom, useful for removing stubborn dirt.
The 1x4 bricks with recycling logo are printed, but are probably inappropriate given street litter is unlikely to be suitable for recycling. I guess they get a message across to youngsters, though.
The flap at the back opens, although there's not much space inside.
There's nothing new or particularly special about the refuse operative minifigure but I guess there doesn't need to be. His torso is often used for construction workers.
Verdict
It's a neat little set, and it makes a bright and colourful change from the yellow sweepers of yesteryear.
Remove the side brushes and you have a very decent and realistic looking vehicle for cleaning up the streets of your LEGO City, although one that's perhaps not so appealing to the target audience.
At just 90 pieces, it's one of the smallest City sets being released next year and occupies the lowest price point of £8.99 / $9.99. It's therefore the perfect pocket-money set for the child that has enough police cars and fire appliances.
It will be available from LEGO.com on 26th December.
Thanks to LEGO for providing this set for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
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33 comments on this article
Would have been great opportunity for inclusion of, say, a drink can or sampling of fall coloured leaves. Didn’t know this recycling decoration is a printed brick and not another sticker. The more I hear less about stickers the happier I shop.
I'm looking forward to getting this one and doing just that, removing the side brushes.
PS Nice to see somebody else call them fire appliances and not trucks or engines. :)
Finally, a Street Sweeper that isn't configured like a Combine Harvester! Looks to be a great little set.
Genuinely (and very pleasantly) shocked that those pieces are printed, and not stickers.
The 1995 sweeper was one of my favourite sets as a child, so I'm obligated to get this one. Looks like it doesn't disappoint.
One of the best small £10 Great Vehicle sets that LEGO have produced imo.
Love the fact the logo on the 1x4 is a printed brick and love getting those blue bristle pieces in a cheap way.
Very cozy.
Thanks for the review. And, I like the background color of those photos, Huw.
The shaping and colors just look great to me. I’m not even bothered by the side brushes at all either, despite them not being accurate. Probably my favorite vehicle of this first wave (which is odd to say about a sweeper)
I like this and will be getting it soon.. cant wait for the new white base plate too & the safari 4x4!
Great set for being sold as stand-alone vehicle.
If people want more parts to sweep, could always add some extra leaves (3 different colors) and trash(fish/food/bones) via the current and upcoming Xtra polybags.
And yes, bones, are suggested as trash in 40311 Traffic Lights.
@greenhorn said:
"Thanks for the review. And, I like the background color of those photos, Huw."
Thank you. I have quite a selection of colours of A4 card but of course they are only good for small models.
Why people find the side brushes weird?
They are there to clean not sidewalks but area between sidewalks and main road
Now on my wanted list.
@lordofdragonss said:
"Why people find the side brushes weird?
They are there to clean not sidewalks but area between sidewalks and main road"
They are a bit too wide!
I suppose keeping 1 side brush also works, as vehicle can then clean 1 side of the road without interfering with ongoing traffic.
I'm pretty sure that will be the best city set for 2020.
I'm surprised nobody's commented on the fact that the front brushes rotate in the wrong direction when the vehicle is pushed.
(I've only just noticed!)
This will be the first City set I have bought in a while as I love this
Chase McCain really gets around, doesn't he? First the Kayak Adventure and now this.
I wonder how difficult it would be to move the front brushes to the center position?
Great review, including the BrickLink analyzation. (Sp?) Definitely picking this up.
@ArielHairRaph said:
"...The more I hear less about..."
That made my head explode.
I like this a lot, my first proper lego set was the 1995 street sweeper, it would be nice to put this along side it.
"although one that's perhaps so appealing to the target audience."
Typo?
Anyway, while I'm sure it's more true to life without the brushes on there, somehow it feels like it's missing something? Looks more complete with them on, to me, regardless of realism. I guess this might be a consequence of the design process, having balanced the rest of the details around it.
I am getting this and keeping the brushes, the streets need cleaning.
Managed to pick one of these sets up a few days ago from a toy store that had a lot of 2020 sets on early! Its a great we set and all the brushes spinning when it moves makes it fun to push along your streets.
Can't wait to add it to my City collection!
Also, PRINTED pieces!!! Yay!
@HeavyRedSqdn said:
"I wonder how difficult it would be to move the front brushes to the center position?
Great review, including the BrickLink analyzation. (Sp?) Definitely picking this up. "
I think the gears could easily be moved, switch out the 1x2 green bricks with axle hole which the brushes are mounted on for a 1x1 green technic brick with hole, and a technic pin
Putting the flexible brushes at the front would be more challenging but would make more sense in my opinion
Analysis- that’s the word I was looking for and couldn’t find. :/
I think if the side brush is removed, all that needs doing is to replace the green 1x2 technic with a green 1x2 brick. Then it should look ok.
One of the few sets I will be getting this year that are not already released. (The other is the modular and pirate island when they release that set in Ideas.)
I never thought I'd be disappointed at having printed pieces instead of stickers. I was looking forward to leaving those off, since they're out of place on a street cleaner.
^ You can always turn the 1x4 bricks round.
Lego is going to help me save money this year - since all the sets that I want the most are the cute little ones. None of the big sets really interest me... I can't wait for these sets to be released!