Review: 42121 Heavy Duty Excavator
Posted by Huw,
Construction machines are among the most numerous and popular Technic models, but it's been a few years since LEGO produced an excavator of this design.
This latest one, the 569-piece 42121 Heavy Duty Excavator, will be available at LEGO.com from 1st March, priced at £34.99 / $39.99.
It's compact, functional, and looks great. In fact, it's almost the perfect Technic model. Almost...
Construction
Parts arrive in four numbered bags and a small sticker sheet is provided to decorate the panels with realistic details.
Parts wise, there are not many of note. The bucket is the same as that used in 42055 Bucket Wheel Excavator, recoloured to dark grey for the first time here, and the new 3x1x2 shell, design 71708, debuts in yellow in this set.
Unusually, construction does not begin with the chassis. First the excavator arm is built, then the bodywork is added around it before building the tracked chassis and mounting the body upon it. Finally, the cab and upper bodywork is completed.
It doesn't take long: there's nothing complicated or tricky. The worst part is joining 86 caterpillar tracks together!
The completed model
Previous excavators of this design have been large models, and it's not that easy to judge the size of this one from the picture on the box, so here it is with a minifig.
With the arm in this position it's about 28cm long by 20cm tall.
The articulated arm is adjusted using two small linear actuators, one to raise and lower it, and another to adjust the angle of the end which, at the same time, causes the bucket to tilt.
Real machines would have an independent means to do the latter but that was presumably not possible in a model of this size and in any case, thanks to the clever linkage between arm and bucket, it works very well, and well enough to scoop things up and drop them again.
I said at the start that it is 'almost the perfect Technic model' but unfortunately the frosted windscreen prevents it from being faultless. The opaque version of the piece, design 35396, has a non-shiny surface and looks better for it, but I think it was an error of judgement to use the transparent one here because, frankly, it looks ridiculous.
Transparent Technic parts are rare, in fact I'm struggling to think of any others, so it would have been preferable to use System parts, or do what they normally do, which is to imply the windscreen by using flex tubes or axles to define its edges.
The cab is fitted with a red seat which has nozzles on both sides to represent control levers, and an angled control panel.
Other than the cab, it looks pretty good. I'm not entirely sure about the relative scales of the body and the arm/bucket, though. The latter looks a bit too big for the former.
I'm not a fan of System parts in Technic sets so thankfully they've been used sparingly, for the seat in the cab and to add additional texture and shaping to the bodywork.
Operation
There's no motor, of course, so everything's operated manually. The vehicle can be pushed back and forth, and the body rotated relative to the underframe, by hand. The caterpillar tracks don't work that well on hard surfaces though -- they just slide across them -- but they are fine on carpets or mats.
The arm is raised and lowered using the gear wheel at the back of the body, while that on the right-hand side adjusts the angle of the end of the arm and tilts the bucket.
Arm fully raised, and bucket tucked in as far as it will go:
Arm fully lowered and bucket tucked in. You've probably seen videos of excavators using the bucket to raise the front end like this in order to drive onto the back of a truck, usually with disastrous results!
Arm fully lowered and extended. This looks to be a realistic range of movement as it would enable the vehicle to excavate below ground-level.
Arm fully raised and extended.
To facilitate play, the set includes 20 2l beams and four cones. It's pretty much impossible to pick the beams up without the 'hand of God' assisting, though, because they are too light and frictionless, so move about when you attempt to scoop them up.
Alternate model
Instructions for a different style of digger will be available online once the set has been released, so I've not been able to build it yet.
Verdict
It's a realistic and compact model that packs a good amount of functionality into its demure size. It works well and is likely to be fun to play with if you're the right age to do so. The arm looks a bit out of scale with the body to me, but it's not a deal-breaker.
Unfortunately, the frosty windscreen mars what would otherwise be a pretty much perfect model.
Technic excavators are usually big and expensive, so it's refreshing to have a smaller and cheaper one available for a change, particularly one that works as well as this.
It will be available at LEGO.com from 1st March, priced at £34.99 / $39.99.
Thanks to LEGO for providing the set for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
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54 comments on this article
What on earth were they thinking with that windscreen? I agree though, it looks a pretty decent model for the price.
Yeah... I am very discouraged by that windscreen. Oh well, I'll probably still get the set anyway. By doing so I'm letting LEGO get away with this, aren't I?
I really like that goat...
Cool model and nice review! @Huw , the last picture before the alternate model, with the 2l beams and cones, seems to zoom out when clicked instead of zooming in.
I like the windscreen! I mean, it’s not super realistic, but a digger arm with so many holes isn’t either.
@AeroEngineer said:
"Cool model and nice review! @Huw , the last picture before the alternate model, with the 2l beams and cones, seems to zoom out when clicked instead of zooming in."
Thanks, sorted.
I don't understand you, the windshield is good.
I think the windscreen is a good compromise. If axles or flex tubes had been used, the cab would have to be wider, upsetting the overall scale.
It's nice to see B models, too.
Thanks for the shot with the minifig ( and, of course, the goat:), as it is really hard to judge the size. This set looks great, altho the windshield does look off, and would make a good first Technic set for those of us who tend to stick with system sets.
The move to online instructions for the alternative builds has definitely had an unforeseen impact on pre-release reviews! The phrase "so I haven't been able to build it yet" has cropped up more and more recently, unfortunately.
@huw, will you be updating this review when the B model becomes available? I’m super interested in it!
I don’t mind the windscreen at all, and I think it helps sell the scale of the model. I imagine elements like this were one of the reasons for the switch to the new transparent plastic, and that we’ll be seeing them more and more.
A first week purchase for me. A little small, I personally really liked the forklift and tracked loader we got in successive years at the £55 pricepoint, it is big enough to have some good functionality. And it's welcome at a time when licensed vehicles (and licensed cars especially) are overwhelming the rest of the technic line.
too bad for the windscreen but I'm glad Lego included a goat
Do any other parents of 2-year-olds now have Blippi’s excavator song in their heads?
Looks like a good model for its reasonable price point.
60264 has a transparent technic beam. That windshield is not perfect but i dont see a problem here at all, from time time lego produces small cars with black pieces for windshields and thats worse imo.
Blue pins ... blue pins everywhere
"it's refreshing to have a smaller and cheaper one available for a change"
Exactly that! TLG has become less and less capable of delivering smaller sets that are "smartly" designed without them being part-intensive. That trend has hit Technic line especially hard for quite some time now...
I mean how will they attract more, younger fans=customers if all they do is churning out sets each worth 150€+. The only exception to the rule so far was City and Creator lines in which smaller sets doesn't feel blunt and empty. With that set and some of the new SW sets (eg 75300 Tie Fighter) that seems to change a bit. Not everybody wants a super detailed vehicle that costs tons of money...
I don't have many Technic models (really just the 42039 24 Hours Race Car and 42057 Ultralight Helicopter), but I've always wanted an excavator of some kind and this looks like it will be perfect for my needs. Definitely added to the "wish list".
I also don't mind the frosted windshield too much, it would be far worse in a System model.
My goodness what is Lego thinking with all these blue pins... I would be a lot poorer if Lego would re-color those pins...
Blue pins... everyone get over them! They are part of the Technic aesthetic and we would all be a lot poorer, time-wise, if every pin was black!
@northgeorgiamasonry said:
"Do any other parents of 2-year-olds now have Blippi’s excavator song in their heads?
Looks like a good model for its reasonable price point."
Yup. Which is why my two year old wants at least two of these.
“Hey dirt, see ya laaaater! I’m an excavaaaator!”
The body looks okay relative to the arm. It's the cockpit that too small. It's not even minifig scale, whereas the whole excavator seems larger than minifig scale to me. It seems difficult to resolve this though given the bulk of beams required around the arm.
@ShadoWind said:
"I don't understand you, the windshield is good."
Agree I actually like the windscreen.
@Huw , Great review and pictures. As for the model’s inability to pick up the parts provided, looks like you’ve got the scoop on that!
@JudgeChuck said:
"I don't have many Technic models (really just the 42039 24 Hours Race Car and 42057 Ultralight Helicopter), but I've always wanted an excavator of some kind and this looks like it will be perfect for my needs."
So you’re digging it? :~P
I don’t get the problem with the windscreen. Is it perfect, no. But it’s not a really big problem. I guess I may be able to understand once I pick this set up.
What about 42053 as the last excavator? I know that it was released at the same time as 42055, but isn't it the more fitting vehicle?
7249 has a Technic, Turntable Large Type 1 with Trans-Clear Top in it. So another trans clear Technic part.
@Huw said:
"Blue pins... everyone get over them! They are part of the Technic aesthetic and we would all be a lot poorer, time-wise, if every pin was black!"
it looks like I might have struck a nerve, Maybe I have missed a previous explanation as to why Lego uses blue for the Pins, Technic is not my main focus in Lego, however I do own a few sets. What is intended in my comment was that "personally I find them distracting". I understand the need to balance ease of construction with aesthetics. it just "to me" they detract from the visual appeal. I am obviously not alone in my thoughts based on the responses. I don't know what the solution is to please "everyone".
I read almost every single review you and several others here post. I enjoy the level of detail you scrutinize every aspect of design/function/cost and accuracy of the sets to their source materiel. My intent was to voice my opinion in the hopes that it "may" help in some way to affect a decision process.
Thanks for the review. It's a shame about the limited articulation for the shovel arm, and the known frosted glass issue. I wonder if one could rebuild the shovel arm mechanisms to use ratcheting pieces in the joints and remove the wonky dial controls so that it functions more naturally, albeit with more direct human contact to the joints.
@LegoDad_itsforme_ said:
" @Huw said:
"Blue pins... everyone get over them! They are part of the Technic aesthetic and we would all be a lot poorer, time-wise, if every pin was black!"
it looks like I might have struck a nerve, Maybe I have missed a previous explanation as to why Lego uses blue for the Pins, Technic is not my main focus in Lego, however I do own a few sets. What is intended in my comment was that "personally I find them distracting". I understand the need to balance ease of construction with aesthetics. it just "to me" they detract from the visual appeal. I am obviously not alone in my thoughts based on the responses. I don't know what the solution is to please "everyone".
I read almost every single review you and several others here post. I enjoy the level of detail you scrutinize every aspect of design/function/cost and accuracy of the sets to their source materiel. My intent was to voice my opinion in the hopes that it "may" help in some way to affect a decision process. "
Complaints about colored pins sometimes provoke exasperation because they’re incessant and come from the same few people every single time, usually acting like the pins are a personal insult. Thanks for politely expanding upon your comment rather than being rude about it.
I hope these soft plastic tracks survive over time as I have always had problems with these breaking in the past at the connection, which is why TLG moved onto the larger stronger solid plastic grey ones in the previous version 8294.
A toy-like render for this model in this size and in this price-point is certainly a welcoming move. I like the structure and playability of this set. And will also be a good add-on to any existing Lego bricks.
Can’t use the machine. Safety department red tagged it due to excess wear / scratch’s on windscreen makes it unsafe to operate till repaired.
@LegoDad_itsforme_ said:
" @Huw said:
"Blue pins... everyone get over them! They are part of the Technic aesthetic and we would all be a lot poorer, time-wise, if every pin was black!"
it looks like I might have struck a nerve, Maybe I have missed a previous explanation as to why Lego uses blue for the Pins, Technic is not my main focus in Lego, however I do own a few sets. What is intended in my comment was that "personally I find them distracting". I understand the need to balance ease of construction with aesthetics. it just "to me" they detract from the visual appeal. I am obviously not alone in my thoughts based on the responses. I don't know what the solution is to please "everyone".
I read almost every single review you and several others here post. I enjoy the level of detail you scrutinize every aspect of design/function/cost and accuracy of the sets to their source materiel. My intent was to voice my opinion in the hopes that it "may" help in some way to affect a decision process. "
Sorry, the comment wasn't directed at you personally, but as others have said, the subject is done to death in the comments of every Technic review except those that are predominantly blue :-)
They are blue for a reason and won't be changed any time soon.
I’m definitely picking this up, which is something I don’t say about Technic very often. I’ll be modifying the arm to allow the boom, stick and bucket to work independently, though.
@LegoDad_itsforme_ said:
" @Huw said:
"Blue pins... everyone get over them! They are part of the Technic aesthetic and we would all be a lot poorer, time-wise, if every pin was black!"
it looks like I might have struck a nerve, Maybe I have missed a previous explanation as to why Lego uses blue for the Pins, Technic is not my main focus in Lego, however I do own a few sets. What is intended in my comment was that "personally I find them distracting". I understand the need to balance ease of construction with aesthetics. it just "to me" they detract from the visual appeal. I am obviously not alone in my thoughts based on the responses. I don't know what the solution is to please "everyone".
I read almost every single review you and several others here post. I enjoy the level of detail you scrutinize every aspect of design/function/cost and accuracy of the sets to their source materiel. My intent was to voice my opinion in the hopes that it "may" help in some way to affect a decision process. "
As I understand it there are three main colours of technic pins, blue, black and tan. But these actually serve different functions - tan are frictionless and provide easy swinging motions, black have the most friction and allow something to be placed in and hold a position more. also blue are generally pin-to-axel and black pin-to-pin. The colour of pins used is decided on what they need the connection to achieve, with no relation to matching the colour.
Admittedly while yes having matched colours would look nicer trying to distinguish between two nigh identical black pins to see which one has which friction to use in a certain place would be a nightmare (or whether its a pin or axel on the other side from the one point of view in the instructions) so the colour identifiers massively speeds up and assists building. Personally I'm too used to it now and don't notice it too much - its like having visible studs in system set, while it might not be fully realistic it's a nice identifying quirk of 'this is LEGO'
That's actually pretty cool in my book. It's a small step in the right direction for Technic.
However that windscreen (as pretty much everyone already said" is just dumb, why not do it with flex tubes like in any other set.
(Also, yuck, blue pins!)
@Huw said:
" @LegoDad_itsforme_ said:
" @Huw said:
"Blue pins... everyone get over them! They are part of the Technic aesthetic and we would all be a lot poorer, time-wise, if every pin was black!"
it looks like I might have struck a nerve, Maybe I have missed a previous explanation as to why Lego uses blue for the Pins, Technic is not my main focus in Lego, however I do own a few sets. What is intended in my comment was that "personally I find them distracting". I understand the need to balance ease of construction with aesthetics. it just "to me" they detract from the visual appeal. I am obviously not alone in my thoughts based on the responses. I don't know what the solution is to please "everyone".
I read almost every single review you and several others here post. I enjoy the level of detail you scrutinize every aspect of design/function/cost and accuracy of the sets to their source materiel. My intent was to voice my opinion in the hopes that it "may" help in some way to affect a decision process. "
Sorry, the comment wasn't directed at you personally, but as others have said, the subject is done to death in the comments of every Technic review except those that are predominantly blue :-)
They are blue for a reason and won't be changed any time soon."
We can all be reasonable and mature adults :) ... as we play with children's toys LOL!
I feel a little sheepish now in my original comments :( the way it is explained makes much more sense... having limited experience with this theme the "knee jerk" reaction is to look a the colors and simply go ("YUK" you should change the color) I can certainly imagine the frustration at having to explain this every time...
^ Right, and from that point of view you raise an interesting issue. If others not familiar with the theme also see a sea of blue and wonder why and/or dislike it, then I guess LEGO has a problem.
The blue pin complaints do make more sense when applied to technic sets with a heavier aesthetic focus. Stuff like the licensed cars where there's some basic functionality, but what actually makes the set special is the fact that it's a porsche or a Jeep or a Maclaren. Then there's a parallel between blue pin complaints and complaints about the colour locking of mixel joints. (and in that respect, the Maclaren was smart in choosing blue as one of it's main intentional colours, the pins aren't so bad there because of that.)
Stuff like this, whatever. It's first and foremost a crane with an arm that you can make function remotely, that's at least tied with aesthetic concerns. There's a reason to buy this separate from whether you think it looks good or now, so a proliferation of blue is less detrimental to the reasons you might choose to buy this.
@Wavelength said:
"The blue pin complaints do make more sense when applied to technic sets with a heavier aesthetic focus. Stuff like the licensed cars where there's some basic functionality, but what actually makes the set special is the fact that it's a porsche or a Jeep or a Maclaren. Then there's a parallel between blue pin complaints and complaints about the colour locking of mixel joints. (and in that respect, the Maclaren was smart in choosing blue as one of it's main intentional colours, the pins aren't so bad there because of that.)
Stuff like this, whatever. It's first and foremost a crane with an arm that you can make function remotely, that's at least tied with aesthetic concerns. There's a reason to buy this separate from whether you think it looks good or now, so a proliferation of blue is less detrimental to the reasons you might choose to buy this. "
While these comments do make sense on the Technic display models (however you might feel about those), I think they have a justified place on more technic focused sets too.
Technic MOC builders are a big part of the crowd, that is complaining about blue pins, because they are usually trying to build models, that not only work well, but also look good too. By not being able to actually get pins, that won't look jarring on their models for a reasonable price, they are basically left with blue (sometimes red and yellow (useless axle colors)) dots on their otherwise spotless models.
I understand that LEGO wants building to be as easy as possible for new and recent builders.
But I'm into LEGO for 48 years and I dislike that I almost spend as much time in turning pages as actually adding pieces as the instructions are so dumb these days.
Colour coding to easily find the little piece with the right function is understandable for the same reason but I wouldn't mind to spend a little bit more time to have a better looking model in the end.
Look at the dark grey beams: there are three colours: light grey, brown and blue. If there would be just black pins, they would look more neutral in every colour of beam.
@Romans122 said:
"What about 42053 as the last excavator? I know that it was released at the same time as 42055, but isn't it the more fitting vehicle?"
Yep, and what about 42100 Liebherr excavator? It is also excavator and it is still available. Anyway I like this one and I have to say it looked much bigger to me from official pictures.
@DavidBrick said:
"To people who like the windshield, how old are you? Do you drive? Have you ever been in a vehicle where you can't see through the windshield?"
Are you planning on driving this excavator?
Every year it seems like LEGO puts out one set that is really good value for the cost, and this has to be the one for Technic.
8419 was my very first Technic set all the way back in 2005! I've only bought two other Technic sets since then (excluding Bionicle, those 08/09 vehicles were completely Technic), but I may have to pick this one up for the nostalgia trip. It looks very clean and refined, and I'm sure the windscreen could easily be replaced with something that looks better.
Put it this way: people are complaining about the windscreen for much the same reason people are complaining about the blue pins. They are both aesthetically incredibly jarring and stick out like a sore thumb in what is otherwise a good-looking model.
I too am surprised at how many people don't mind the fact that the windscreen can barely be seen through. Imagine if all your City and Speed Champions vehicles had textured/frosted windscreens like that. I know some purists despise the use of System parts in Technic sets, but I honestly would've preferred if they had used a System windscreen element just to be able to get something that's reasonably see-through for a figure driving the excavator. The slightly milky situation with transparent System elements we're dealing with right now, while still subpar, is far less egregious than this. Though again, I may sound like a hypocrite saying I'll get this set anyway in spite of that, but that's because I don't let a single glaring issue turn me away from a set entirely. But I still recognize that it's a glaring issue that could dock at least half a star if not 1 from my 5-star review.
As for my opinion on blue pins? I agree with the view that they take away from aesthetics-focused Technic models, and even on less focused ones when used in large quantities. I don't mind them at all when used sparingly. But I also understand why they're made blue.
To everyone who doesn't like the windshield and its transparency:
- It's not based on a real model.
- Note that not everyone wants to see the controls at a glance.
- This windshield has a beautiful shape.
As someone who has actually driven this kind of vehicle "for real", I can only say that the windshield is - in my opinion - a very reasonable approximation: in the places and settings these machines are used, things are dirty! And no company will pay you for cleaning the windshield on their dime, so as long as you can do the job (which often means you're not actually looking through the windshield anyways) it really doesn't matter how opaque it is...
And regarding the blue pin issue: I think the easy solution to this would be for Lego to just offer the old black variants in PaB or BnP at a reasonable price - that way the more aesthetically focused builders could swap them out while the building experience of the retail set would remain unaffected. And ideally the large display sets would of course include a set of both colours since the $5/500 pins would hardly be a problem in a $450 price tag.
@Huw said:
"^ Right, and from that point of view you raise an interesting issue. If others not familiar with the theme also see a sea of blue and wonder why and/or dislike it, then I guess LEGO has a problem."
If they were black, they could be used in the construction of war vehicles most likely, you probably already know this, but that's why they made that castle back in the day yellow instead of grey, am i right? I found that out in a lego documentary a while ago.
I know people already pointed it out, but... Goat....
"I'm not a fan of System parts in Technic sets so thankfully they've been used sparingly, for the seat in the cab and to add additional texture and shaping to the bodywork."
I disagree. If there's system pieces that get a job done (like detailing), I'd prefer they use them than have yet another specialized piece used in just a certain instance. However, I can see why you might dislike when they use a system piece when it could be accomplished with existing technic pieces.
I just bought this today from a local independent toy shop. They have a bicycle shop/repair department as well so they've been able to keep the toy section open during the last two lockdowns here in the UK. Just front desk sales, no browsing, and I absolutely want to support them.
I was looking for another Technic set from last year, hoping they would still have one, but instead noticed they had these in stock just ahead of March 1st.
I like that it's a reasonably priced Construction model for a change, and I think it's a great way to get a set of tracks and other pieces for MOCs.