Review: 42126 Ford F-150 Raptor
Posted by Huw,
The F-150 Raptor is the high-performance version of Ford's best-selling pickup truck. The latest incarnation, which was launched in North America this year, is the first of the motor company's vehicles to be modelled in Technic.
The 1,379-piece 42126 Ford F-150 Raptor is released on October 1st, and it looks to be a faithful reproduction of the vehicle, offering a reasonable level of functionality for a decent price, so let's see if that's the case.
Parts and stickers
There are no new parts in the set, but there are number of recolours, mostly orange beams and panels.
As we have come to expect with recent Technic sets, it comes with an extensive sticker sheet.
Instructions are provided in a single 266-page manual containing 432 construction steps.
Construction
Construction begins with the front of the vehicle The front axle features double wishbone suspension and steering, but it is not connected to the drivetrain and the 6-cylinder engine, so unlike the real F-150, the model is rear-wheel drive only, although of course it doesn't matter in an unpowered vehicle.
The rear axle assembly, front bodywork and seats are added from the parts in bags #2.
The rear axle is a live axle, which means that the whole assembly rocks from side to side around a central pivot, through which a shaft provides power. In the case of the model the shaft is connected to the dummy engine thus causing the cylinders to move when the vehicle is pushed along, in time-honoured fashion.
With the internal complexities out of the way, the remainder of the build -- the bodywork -- is straightforward, so the finished model takes shape in no time. Overall I think the build took me about 3 hours.
The completed model
I think the designers have done a good job of reproducing the shape and contours of the F-150 within the limitations of the Technic system, mostly without recourse to System parts, which I always appreciate.
It measures 41cm x 17cm. The real vehicle is 5.5m x 2.1m which makes the scale of the model approximately 1:13.
In terms of functionality, it offers steering using the gear on the top of the cab, effective suspension, and opening doors, bonnet and tailgate (not shown here). That doesn't sound like much but other than a complex gearbox and 4-wheel-drive there's not much more that could be added. Implementing them would just increase the cost and complexity without any real benefit, so I have no complaints.
There's a fair amount of detail in the cabin, including rear seats, although there's not a lot of legroom!
The drivetrain and suspension can be admired from below.
The Raptor logo on the rear wheel arches is printed, but all other decorations are stickers.
It would look odd without them, with no front lights or engine grille, for example.
The off-road tyre is new this year, having first appeared in the abysmal Control+ 42124 Off-Road Buggy. It's not prototypical at all, but it looks like the sort you might put on the vehicle for specialist off-road use.
Verdict
Some vehicles are better suited to replication in Technic than others and I think the Ford F-150 Raptor is one of them. It makes an eye-catching display model, in part due to the orange livery, and I am sure it'll be immediately recognisable to those familiar with the real truck.
Overall, it's an excellent model: not too big, not too complex, and without Control+ to bloat the price and impede playability.
The only fly in the ointment is the ridiculous price differential between the USA and Europe. In the former it's priced at $99.99 which, for almost 1400 pieces, represents good value for money. However, in Germany the retail price is €139.99 (~$163) and in the UK it's £129.99 (~$177). I can only guess that this is to allow Amazon and other retailers to offer a 30% discount soon after release, as is often the case with big Technic sets, which would then bring the prices more in line.
It can be pre-ordered at LEGO.com, but it's already reduced by 12% at Amazon.co uk, to £115, so if you're in the UK and need to have it on the day of release then that looks like the best place to order it at the moment.
Thanks to LEGO for providing the set for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
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26 comments on this article
"unplowed" should be "unpowered", right?
At that price it's an easy pass. Good review but the model is nothing special. If they had added 4x4, it would have made it more interesting and probably worth the asking price.
Thank you for the well balanced review, and for applying the stickers. :-) I may be in the minority, but I like to see how models look with the stickers applied when reading reviews.
Small typo: "in Germany the retail price is $139.99" should contain a Euro symbol, instead of a dollar symbol.
I like the styling, but they could have added a simple 2 speed gearbox or winch just to illustrate the functionality. The UK RRP price makes no sense as only slightly cheaper than the larger 1200 additional piece Land-rover 42110 , which has a 4 speed gearbox, and it does not seem to be that different in size and specs to its £70 ($100) predecessor 42029 .
why exactly is this an 18+ set? this is just a regular technic licensed set with an 18+ slapped on the box.
@Meppers said:
"why exactly is this an 18+ set? this is just a regular technic licensed set with an 18+ slapped on the box."
So TLG can charge more.
If this was the equivalent to $99 in the UK (about £75) then I'd buy it in a shot. As it is, there's no way I'm paying more than £100 for it, and will probably wait until it's about £90. Honestly I could probably buy it from a US seller on bricklink and end up paying less including import duties.
Probably one the most pointless Technic sets in recent memory, especially if you're not from the US. The EU/UK price is absolutely disgusting for a set that has no power functions, no interesting mechanics and only 1379 pieces.
I'm glad for ppl in the US, but for 140 euros, it's an easy pass. 42128 is 10 euros more but have 2k pieces, pneumatics and a lot of functionality. This model, it's just ridiculous.
@iwybs said:
""unplowed" should be "unpowered", right?"
The editor we use to write articles has started autocorrecting typos so I'll blame it for that one :)
I think the reason this truck works well in Lego format is that the real thing looks like what you'd get if you gave a maladjusted 12-year-old 2000 kg of Lego and said, "build a truck."
169.95€ for Finland from Lego Shop! No thanks considering thats only 10€ less than the outstanding Heavy duty tow truck. (itself overpriced due to the Finland tax LEGO always hits us with).
@TomKazutara said:
"Lego just don't want to sell it in Germany (or EU)"
Agreed. Just like Ford doesn't sell the F-Series vehicles in Germany / Europe.
Tbh, the only thing I like about this set is that it contains a proper Technic engine for a change, instead of the new ridiculous fake wannabe engine in most other Technic vehicles nowadays.
Other than that imho it doesn't hold a candle to the Heavy Duty Tow Truck which is almost the same price. Like others have said, I guess TLG knows that not many people in Europe will be interested in this set anyway, so they make the few who are pay through the nose for it.
Easy pass.
The orange pins in this set show how good Lego Technic could look if pins with matching color were used.
Lego can produce 1x1 plates and studs in all colors of the rainbow. Why can't they do the same with pins?
@AHYL88 said:
"Fantastically priced in the US, but virtually impossible to justify outside of that on two fronts.
This only costs £10/€10 less than the much bigger and more functionally impressive (never mind more functional in general) 42128 Heavy Duty Tow Truck.0"
Well, I cannot get the 42128 anywhere now. Sold out here in the good old US of A. Hope they restock soon!
@deikoon said:
"The orange pins in this set show how good Lego Technic could look if pins with matching color were used.
Lego can produce 1x1 plates and studs in all colors of the rainbow. Why can't they do the same with pins?"
Because pins have different requirements for friction, flexibility, etc. compared to 1x1 plates.
Hi Huw,
Are the tyres on this the exact same as 42124 or are they a larger version?
^ The same.
This is $249.99 in Australia, or $1`10 AUD more than the USD prices. Are they serious?
Is this because of the immediate deep discounting of Amazon here, or the Ford licensing deals being different in each region.
@tm76 said:
"This is $249.99 in Australia, or $1`10 AUD more than the USD prices. Are they serious?
Is this because of the immediate deep discounting of Amazon here, or the Ford licensing deals being different in each region.
"
I too thought this was ridiculous but you gotta remember, the 3 discount retailers will have this for $219 rrp probably, with 20% off comes to $175 AUD, so not sooo bad.
Also ‘opening doors’ aren’t a ‘feature’ and
Even as far as naming steering as a feature these days unless it’s 4 or more wheel steering, should just be expected.
@Huw said:
" @iwybs said:
""unplowed" should be "unpowered", right?"
The editor we use to write articles has started autocorrecting typos so I'll blame it for that one :)]
It's....ALIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIVE!
"
@Huw said:
"^ The same."
Wow thats super disappointing.
I was hoping that they would make them bigger so you could make a 42124 style car but a size or 2 bigger.
42124 is way too expensive, like the top gear car, so I just ordered the wheels and tyres as well. I guess that saves e spending anything on this.
Been really disappointed with the technic sets the last few years.
Anything with control+ is just ridiculously expensive and the rest are just way too expensive for fairly lacklustre models.
It would be nice If they did a large monster truck so they could bring in some bigger wheels, as well as some bigger, beefier, suspension struts like they used to make.
I know Im biased because i think the Raptor is an ugly overrated truck, but besides that, as a Lego set, there are two big things that I dislike. The color of a vehicle has the ability to make or break the overall look of the vehicle, and this doesnt work. When was the last time you saw a bright orange pickup truck. The color makes it look like a kids toy. Also, the tires are NOT accurate. Those (Im pretty sure) are specialized off road tires for a vehicle similar to the well suited 42124 Off Road Buggy. Ive never seen tires like that used on a highway vehicle. If it had some accurate tires and a nice dark blue or gray color, I might be interested. I am impressed with the price though!
@julianhandford said:
" @tm76 said:
"This is $249.99 in Australia, or $1`10 AUD more than the USD prices. Are they serious?
Is this because of the immediate deep discounting of Amazon here, or the Ford licensing deals being different in each region.
"
I too thought this was ridiculous but you gotta remember, the 3 discount retailers will have this for $219 rrp probably, with 20% off comes to $175 AUD, so not sooo bad.
Also ‘opening doors’ aren’t a ‘feature’ and
Even as far as naming steering as a feature these days unless it’s 4 or more wheel steering, should just be expected.
"
It's always good to specify whether or not a model has steering. While I'm guessing that all the Technic sets probably have steering, there are some large Creator vehicles that don't. In addition, not every set with steering has an external steering control either.
@gorf43 said:
"I know Im biased because i think the Raptor is an ugly overrated truck, but besides that, as a Lego set, there are two big things that I dislike. The color of a vehicle has the ability to make or break the overall look of the vehicle, and this doesnt work. When was the last time you saw a bright orange pickup truck. The color makes it look like a kids toy. Also, the tires are NOT accurate. Those (Im pretty sure) are specialized off road tires for a vehicle similar to the well suited 42124 Off Road Buggy. Ive never seen tires like that used on a highway vehicle. If it had some accurate tires and a nice dark blue or gray color, I might be interested. I am impressed with the price though! "
The F150 Raptor is offered in Code Orange for 2021. Where I live near Cincinnati, the majority of Raptors that I see on the road are either orange or black.
I think this looks absolutely bugger all like the real thing. Take the livery and name stickers away and you’re left with not a single thing that identifies it as an F-150, let alone a Raptor.
Ok, maybe the ‘compensating for something’ ridiculousness of the tires. Other than that, very poor indeed