Review: 42129 4x4 Mercedes Benz Zetros Trial Truck
Posted by Huw,
The latest generation of motorised Technic sets containing the Control+ system debuted during 2019 and 42129 4x4 Mercedes-Benz Zetros Trial Truck, released tomorrow, is the sixth model to feature the technology.
However, it comes at a significant cost: the hub and motors account for about half the price of the set, so let's see whether it's worth shelling out for...
Parts and stickers
With four motors and one hub, it's second only to 42100 Liebherr R 9800 in terms of the number of electronic components it contains.
The only new element in the set other than the tyres is the light grey piece below, 6338424, which is one half of a universal joint. The dark grey half was introduced with the first Control+ sets in 2019, along with a shorter version of the light grey half.
There are 16 of the new 6321716 (BEAM 15 MODULE, W/ 4.85 HOLE, NO. 1) and nine of the 11-long version, both of which debuted this year.
The stickers plastered all over the set provoked a lot of comments when images of it were revealed because they are totally fictional and make the model look a bit of a mess. I considered most to be superfluous so only applied the functional ones.
Construction
The unique feature of the model is a differential lock. Differentials are used to enable the wheels on an axle to rotate at different speeds, thus avoiding tyre scuffing when cornering. However, they can cause wheel slip under extreme circumstances. A differential locking mechanism forces both wheels to rotate at the same speed thus helping to prevent that.
There are three diffs in the model, one on each axle and one in the centre on the drive shaft between them. A 'lock' is fitted to the one on the rear axle and the one in the middle, but it would be more accurate to call them a bypass because instead of driving the axle via the differential, activating the lock causes it to be driven directly via another gear on it.
The motorised mechanism for doing all this resides in the centre of the chassis.
Two motors are used to power the vehicle which are also mounted in the centre of the chassis: you can just see them below on the left.
The rear axle assembly is mounted to the chassis via springs to provide suspension. One of the two axles attached to it drives the wheels while the other one operates the differential lock mechanism on the axle.
The front axle assembly incorporates the motor used to facilitate steering, and it too is attached to the chassis via springs.
With the model's complexities out of the way, all that remains is to add the cab, bonnet and rear bodywork.
The completed model
It's about 48cm long and 20cm wide and, without the childish sponsor stickers plastered all over it, it looks quite good from a distance.
One complaint that other reviewers have made is that the general purpose 'tractor tyres' are nothing like those on the real Zetros. Given that they are a new size, presumably made specifically for this set, it's unfortunate that something more realistic was not produced instead.
The Mercedes logo is printed on a round minifigure shield and for some reason a rubber duck adorns the bumper.
The bright green of the rear bodywork provides much-needed contrast to the model although if anything remotely similar to this exists in real-life I suspect it would be the same colour as the cab. Googling 'Zetros Trial Truck' only surfaces pictures of this model, so I'm none the wiser what a real one looks like.
The bonnet opens to expose a non-functioning engine. It's one of the weakest parts of the model because you just need to tip it up slightly and it falls open.
The cab doors open as well, and they too suffer from the same problem: they come open far too easily. They are also very flimsy, the mirrors in particular, which have a habit of coming apart when handling the model.
The Control+ hub is positioned at the back of the cab to enable the on/off button to be accessed and for it to be removed easily to replace the batteries.
Operation
The vehicle is operated exclusively using the free Control+ smartphone app. Without it, you can do nothing but open the doors.
The main screen provides controls for steering on the left and throttle on the right. The switch next to the throttle activates the differential lock.
An alternative method of operating it involves sliding your finger across the screen to accelerate and steer. It's little more than a gimmick, to be honest.
There are also the usual gamification elements and an AR feature which I have not tried out yet.
A model if this type is best demonstrated with a video but as we don't do videos here at Brickset I suggest you watch Sariel's review which shows its functions, capabilities and shortcomings, and the effect of the differential lock which, it appears, is not that significant.
Check out his off-road tests, too.
As you can see it's a bit of a one-trick pony: lots of torque enabling it to climb steep slopes and traverse obstacles with ease. But, it's ridiculously slow and has a turning circle so large that unless you live in a mansion you won't have space to manoeuvre it around the room.
Verdict
I found myself asking 'Is that it?' after driving it about at snail's-pace for five minutes. If I had just paid $300 for it, I would be bitterly disappointed. Indoors, there's no fun to be had at all with it, other than -- if you can be bothered to fetch a plank of wood and prop it up somewhere -- climbing a slope, and even that gets tiresome quickly.
Watching Sariel's videos, it looks as if it comes into its own outside, but it -- and Technic generally -- is not really designed for dusty and wet environments so using it outdoors is likely to damage it which, given its price, is the last thing you'd want to do.
Aesthetically, I guess it's quite attractive, certainly on a par with other recent licensed Technic models, but as soon as you pick it up its flimsiness becomes apparent: doors and bonnets flop open on their own, and bits fall off the wing mirrors and fire extinguishers at the back (I assume that's what they are) if you're not careful.
It's interesting to contrast this model with 42128 Heavy-Duty Tow Truck that I reviewed recently, which is also released tomorrow. That is an exceptional 'old-school' Technic set with manual controls and fan-favourite pneumatics, whereas this is full of the latest technology but, frankly, not much fun at all, and little more than an expensive paperweight without a smartphone.
Both contain the same number of pieces, about 2000, but one is half the price of the other. I know which one I would buy...
If my review has not put you off buying it at the full price of £279.99/$299/€299 it'll be available at LEGO.com tomorrow and, in all likelihood, will be discounted by 30-40% at Amazon before Christmas.
I'm sorry that I could not be more positive about it, I'm just not a fan of Control+ at all.
Thanks to LEGO for providing the set for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
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39 comments on this article
A very fair assessment, thanks for the review Huw! It seems like such a missed opportunity not to include any other functions where the Control+ system could shine. Something combining the functionality of 42128 with the Control+ hub would be far more interesting, even if it'd end up being slightly more expensive.
What a robbery!
This is clearly overpriced.
Please Lego bring back the conventional remote controls.
App-based Bluetooth control is totally useless (it simply doesn’t work).
+1. Keep Control+ for whoever likes it AND produce an add-on alternative.
It's a nice concept but I'm not spending any more money on Control+. I have two of the Control+ sets and both were a disappointment in terms of speed and control.
Honestly expected something of the likes of the older Merc trucks like the 42043 or 8110 from the leaks, but it sadly ended up as big of a disappointment as 42070 from a few years back. I don't get why this set is 50$ more expensive than 42114 just for one extra motor and similar part count.
At the moment, I don't consider any Control+ Technic set worth buying (except maybe the 6x6 Volvo Articulated Hauler). Control+ is bound to make the sets it touches oversimplified and overpriced. A real shame since the technology could be sold separately and has the potential to integrate with functions nicely.
I'd be interested in article that shows the various products that LEGO has produced that are no longer useable due the technology they rely on being out of date.
The most damning part of this review is the end when you compare its value to set 42128 . When you can't even beat the obvious competition you know something is off with a set.
I haven't purchased a Technic set in 25 years but if I got the Tow Truck as a gift I'd be really happy with it. Not so with the Mercedes truck.
@huw, something I’ve always wondered, are those new ball socket parts shown at the start of the review compatible with mixel ball joints?
Thank you for your honest review (as always).
Honestly, I am a big fan of stickers that have these sorts of fictional brands on them? I guess that's partly because I entered my KFOL years when LEGO's first major fictional brand (Octan) was first making a big splash.
Besides creating a sense of authenticity for stuff like race cars that would have a lot of sponsor decals on them in real life (which hardly seems "childish" to me), stickers like these also serve as "world-building" and provide sort of a connective tissue between various otherwise unrelated sets and themes — including between non-licensed and licensed sets!
Some recent favorite examples of mine other than these automotive-related brands are the "Vita Rush" brand of sports drinks and "SPORT" brand of outdoors and athletic gear that frequently appear in the City theme. In the particular case of this set, the "EV3" sticker is also a nifty callback to the previous generation of Mindstorms sets!
I suspect that LEGO graphic designers likely get a lot of enjoyment out of being able to create new brands like these and make a lasting mark on the fictional worlds that their sets inhabit, much as Torben Skov did when he created the Octan brand.
Anyway, I'm not super drawn to this set myself, but that's mainly 'cuz I don't find trucks like this all that interesting. Of course, I'm probably not the target audience for most Technic sets, and usually only buy them when they're on sale or they really feel like a major departure from any sort of working Technic model I've seen before (as was the case with the Bucket Wheel Excavator set a few years back).
I don't feel nearly as negatively about Control+ as you do, perhaps 'cuz computer integration was becoming a big part of LEGO even when I was growing up in the 90s and 2000s. Themes like Studios and Mindstorms were a breakthrough in using computer hardware and software to add functionality to sets or MOCs that would not have been possible with the bricks alone, and even largely low-tech themes like Bionicle and Exo-Force offered far richer and more varied experiences thanks to the interactive online and/or CD-ROM content that was created to accompany them.
Even if LEGO's various attempts at software integration have been far from perfect, I think that it's outstanding that they continue to experiment with these sorts of new ways that technology can be used to add new types of play experiences to their various products, even as the capabilities of consumer electronics continue to change and evolve.
And for those who feel disinterested in that sort of thing, they've shown plenty of continued commitment to low-tech sets and themes (including Technic ones like 42128), so I don't think there's any need to worry about tech-based stuff like Control+ replacing their good ol'-fashioned physical toys.
@Goujon said:
" @huw, something I’ve always wondered, are those new ball socket parts shown at the start of the review compatible with mixel ball joints? "
No, they are much larger.
42099 can do all the same stuff (with a minor mod to the gearing without using extra parts) such as climb steep slopes and navigate some pretty gnarly obstacle courses. That's on regular discount at about half this price. Why would I want to buy this one?
@Huw wrote:
"..is the sixth model to feature the technology."
This would be counting in the barely available 42113 Osprey?
Added remark: 42124 does not have (yet) the "Powered Up tag" - making it 7(6 without Osprey) sets.
I agree with @DoonsterBuildsLego - the 42099 appears to be more convincing.
42113 does not include a hub and Bluetooth connectivity so I discounted it from my total.
This is a 300 Euro costing thing with its only function being able to drive up to steep hills. Going by the reviews I've watched on youTube it's not particularly good at that either so I've no idea why this thing made it to production. I wouldn't even buy it for half the price.
I think 8043 Motorised Excavator showed exactly what could be achieved with good design, it packed in a lot of real life functionality, and all operated with remote control - even the switching between functions was done via the remote. Certainly feel like Technic sets have gone a bit backwards in some cases since then!
So far I've only tried the Disney Train with the phone app, which wouldn't work very well on my smartphone, which is a cheaper model that's about 4yrs old now.
Adding all the motors and hub into sets like these (or any in general) is a real turn off for me as it's adding a lot of cost for motorised items I already have in my collection, especially when the apps won't run well on my older phone.
I'm not big on Technic, mostly sticking to the cars and some of the trucks that look good to me, but this set will be an easy pass for me because of the cost added by the motors and hub, even though the end build without all the stickers does look interesting.
Thanks for the review :)
I know Control+ has its issues, but the relentless negativity around it is getting a little tiring... though the differential lock is pretty innovative, this set has some pretty clear mechanical flaws, and if it had been released with PF instead of C+ those mechanical flaws would all still be present (and it would also still probably have at least a £250 price tag).
I get that stickers aren't to everybody's liking, but these 'childish' stickers (shocking, in something that is ultimately still a toy for kids) do feel pretty realistic to the real thing at least; Zetros rally trucks seem to be plastered in them.
I will probably not be picking this one up as it isn't really functional enough for the price point for me. I like the diff lock but think if it had a multi-speed gearbox (where the diff lock engaged automatically at low gear) it might have made it more fun to play with.
The windscreen wipers should definitely have been made to function. Otherwise, indeed a remote should have been included. And a remote controlled differential lock on all differentials.
Happy with the wheels though. Perfect for tractors. No need to buy Playmobil substitutes anymore.
Control + is killing the high-end Technic models. I want a system that will outlive my cell phone, the current version of Android, and which will work as well when I buy the set as it does 10 years later when I rebuild it with my grandchildren. The old remote motor control systems fulfilled those needs. Control+ does not. Adios.
App connectivity seems to kill my interest in any set, from this to the grand piano. I want the functionality to be self-contained, that's why people like the pneumatic ones so much more.
Does it climb walls? There is a sticker informing that the truck can climb ramps with infinite slope (not sure what the % means)...
Nice work with the frank review, 42128 is definitely a better set. I think another aspect that contributed to the high price of 42129 is the MB license, it will be interesting to see how much discount it can get by the end of the year.
It’s got a nice army truck aesthetic I suppose. Shhhhh.
Thanks for the great and honest review. It confirms all my suspicions I had when I first saw the set and read about the price and technical details.
This has got to be one of the worst sets under the Technic label ever, certainly value for money wise. It is a perfect example of everything that is wrong with LEGO Technic at the moment. If it wasn't for 42128 I would have given up the theme entirely by now, but the latter set is a beacon of hope amongst a sea of mediocrity. It might be half the price of the Zetros, but it's at least three times the fun.
If any sane person willingly chooses to buy the Zetros, it's definitely their own fault and no one who did should whine about what a waste it was afterwards.
Is there any word on the rumoured CAT Bulldozer?
I feel that will be full of control + as well and $700 AUD
This set has unquestionably-more functionality than those "super"cars that get fawned over every year (and I reckon this truck [SUBJECTIVE OPINION ALERT] looks far froodier).
I wouldn't blow money on this or them, but what makes this
"little more than an expensive paperweight"
and not them...?
Why can't LEGO do both? So, include a remote AND have an option to utilise an app for controlling the powered functions. It'll be quite easy for them to see how many people favour the app over a remote. I still am a firm believer of an all in one ecosystem that works straight out of the box. It is easier as a gift and has a proven long shelf life (like PF did). To me, these current control+ sets are nothing more than a smart phone accessoire instead of a lego set.
I think if this set would cost $50 less, there wouldn't be so much talk around it. Yes, someone would say that it is expensive, but in general, for 2k parts and electric components, this is more or less acceptable. Especially considering its off-road capabilities. But Lego's greed has done its job, and a fairly good set (not taking into account the price) could receive the status of perhaps the worst Technic set ever.
I like it. I do. It looks good, it's a good trial truck, it has his flaws, all Technic sets have them, but the price... and for what? I just don't get it.
I don't like motorized sets at all. They are paper weights when you're out of batteries. I like my Technics when I can play anytime, anywhere, without any restrictions.
Control+ is great for trains as it allows for easier integration of electronics now that the battery box and receiver are one piece but I don't think it's really doing anything positive for Technic, most RC Technic sets that aren't based on construction vehicles are generally lackluster as they either lack enough speed, torque or both and all that Control+ has added is pointless clunkiness with how you need a smartphone app for them to work, not to mention the fact that they ruined backwards compatibility with previous motor systems, also I believe the system is still lacking in allowing customization to use it for custom builds?
Honestly my favorite Technic sets are either those that have several functions being driven by a single motor with an interesting gearbox switching functions or those that aren't even motorized but still manage to both look good and have well implemented features, 42069 manages that amazingly well.
I do actually think this set looks really good. (Much better once it's been finished with the stickers though!). I also really like its climbing traction and its ability over obstacles... speed's not everything!
It's a little bit pricey, but not excessively. I'll get it once it inevitably drops below £200.
As for Control+, yes, I prefer a remote control with physical buttons, but suggestions that the set will somehow become a paperweight when Control+ support ceases are laughable. It will just continue to work exactly the same, but with no updates.
If the phone/tablet being used fails, just get another similar aged one from eBay, probably easier than replacing a broken physical remote.
I have a computer running Windows 3.1 .... it didn't suddenly become a paperweight!
@julianhandford said:
"Is there any word on the rumoured CAT Bulldozer?
I feel that will be full of control + as well and $700 AUD "
The official Norwegian H2 catalogue includes a picture of a shadowed-out bulldozer with the CAT-logo next to it, so that should confirm it's release. But no details provided, other than there being Control+ (and no pricepoint, IIRC).
Hi! Many thanks for the clear and honest review. I think LEGO is taking a wrong path with last Technic sets (with the marvellous 42128 exception). Maybe I am getting too old....
@AHYL88 said:
"You say you can use a computer running on Windows 3.1, well would you want to in this day and age? It's not really a good comparison."
It's a perfect comparison. Windows 3.1 runs exactly the way it did the day that support ended. Whether you would want to is a completely different question!
Control+ is the same... It won't suddenly stop working when support ends.
I don't actually like Control+, but I like the nonsense that's written about it even less.
Give me 100-1 any day!
@sjr60 said:
" @AHYL88 said:
"You say you can use a computer running on Windows 3.1, well would you want to in this day and age? It's not really a good comparison."
It's a perfect comparison. Windows 3.1 runs exactly the way it did the day that support ended. Whether you would want to is a completely different question!
Control+ is the same... It won't suddenly stop working when support ends.
I don't actually like Control+, but I like the nonsense that's written about it even less. "
I don't get the 'paperweight' argument either. The batteries in my PF remote leaked for 8043 and since they aren't sold anymore... it's now a paperweight (fortunately I have spares). On the other hand, I'm probably going to have a smart device in my pocket for a long time to come, and if I have an old device with the app still installed? Then it will probably still work.
Ultimately electronics in lego are always going to have a bit of a shorter lifespan than regular parts, whether relying on non-lego devices or not. I have plenty of motors from the 90s that have long since stopped working, but for me at least they made the sets they were in much more interesting when they did work and I would much rather see that variety than have everything be all-manual.
@Wiseman_2 said:
" @sjr60 said:
On the other hand, I'm probably going to have a smart device in my pocket for a long time to come, and if I have an old device with the app still installed? Then it will probably still work."
Precisely! And with a lot of kids considering themselves positively deprived if their phone is more than 18 months old, I can't see any shortage of cheap discarded Lego control devices any time soon!
@Lusitanian said:
"What a robbery!
This is clearly overpriced.
Please Lego bring back the conventional remote controls.
App-based Bluetooth control is totally useless (it simply doesn’t work)."
Bluetooth control is limitless. What doesn't work?
It would be good to see a photo next to Unimog 8110 to compare size. I was hoping for an update of the later with a crane as this is usually the most interesting part to play with, and a first chance to showcase control+ with pneumatics. I didn't realize that there was no working engine, which for the size is a bit weird.
Giving the large turning circle accidentally having the differential lock on at the same time is probably a bad idea for the gearing! As the designer I would have had 4 wheel steering as a priority to reduce this turning circle and increase functionality. Why do control+ vehicles have to be so large, maybe AI could optimize the space better?