Review: 42131 Cat D11 Bulldozer
Posted by Huw,
42131 Caterpillar D11 Bulldozer is this year's flagship Technic model and the most expensive Technic set ever. It's also the first of the US plant manufacturer's vehicles that LEGO has produced.
With a price of £420/$450, over 3,800 pieces and four motors, it should therefore be something special...
The prototype
The Cat D11 is the largest and most powerful bulldozer in the company's range. The current version, the D11T, which was introduced during 2008, is also among the most technologically advanced.
David Drew at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Parts
There is just one new part in the set: a 7-wide caterpillar track, design ID 69910. It's compatible with the 5-wide version but made from a softer material which probably helps improve grip on hard surfaces, although it does seem to come apart more easily. There's a 1-plate high 'cleat' on one end which gives it a realistic appearance.
There are a few parts in new colours, including a 5x7 frame and a 1x5 half-beam in yellow. You can find out more at New Elementary.
The sticker sheet is relatively modest given the size of the model.
The set contains four motors and a Control+ hub. Two of the motors are large angular motors that were introduced with Spike Prime last year, but moulded in light and dark grey. The other two are small Technic motors. Unfortunately, I forgot to take a photo of them all together before I started building, but you'll see them clearly enough in the photos below.
Construction
Construction is divided into eight stages and parts are packaged in numbered bags. Gone are the days when you had to spread thousands of parts out before you could start building, thank goodness!
The angular motors and hub are built into the chassis at the commencement of construction. The motors will drive the tracks directly, via the geared wheel hubs that were introduced during 2019.
The smaller motors are attached to a fairly complex gearbox. One of them acts as a gear shifter while the other provides power to one of four functions.
The mechanism is buried deep within the model, so any mistakes at this stage will require the model to be completely stripped down. To prevent such a tragedy there's a test function in the app that can be used once the gearbox has been mounted in the chassis to ensure everything's working as it should. [Hint: pay particular attention to the position of the orange 1x2 beam relative to the orange shift ring on step 120.]
The front of the machine houses a detailed 12-cylinder engine underneath the cowling that's partially visible when opening the doors, as you'll see below.
The caterpillar track guide assemblies are fairly complicated and the only repetitive part of the build. The front wheel is attached to a rack-and-pinion which enables the track to be tensioned correctly.
The cab section is far more complex than I had anticipated, in part due to the mechanism that enables the ladder on the side to be lowered and raised. There are some odd angles involved in its construction, both for this mechanism and in the cab, where the seat is positioned at an angle.
The instructions state that the real machine is so large that it has to be transported in pieces and assembled on site, and set designer Markus Kossman suggests that "you assemble this model exactly like the real bulldozer". That seems to be the case to some extent, particularly the way the cab is positioned on the chassis and attached with a just few pins once in place.
It would have been cool if the whole model was constructed as sub assembles that were clipped together at the end, but unfortunately that is not the case.
The arms (for what of a better word) on the side connect to the blade and the linear actuators on it adjust its angle.
The main part of the machine is now complete, leaving just the blade, which is also surprisingly complex and very substantial.
The completed model
The completed model is massive, measuring about 55cm long, 38cm wide and 24cm high.
Much has been said about the yellow tracks and from what I can gather the machines are delivered with them painted yellow which seems a bit of a waste of time given that after an hour or so's use over rough ground the paint will have been removed to expose the metal underneath.
Personally I think they make it look too yellow. Perhaps brown would have been a more suitable colour, providing contrast with the rest of the model.
Here it is with a goat and minifig for scale.
There are a lot of realistic details all over the model and thankfully the designer has not resorted to the over-zealous use of System parts to accomplish them.
Operation
With the exception of tensioning the caterpillar tracks, which is accomplished using gear wheels on the side, everything else is controlled via the Control+ app on a compatible smartphone or tablet.
The Control+ hub is buried in the chassis so switching it on requires pressing a red lever in the engine compartment, which presses a pin down onto the hub's switch.
Once it's paired to the app, and the firmware updated the first time you connect, you'll be prompted to calibrate the model. This operates each function in turn and sets the limits of movement. I had problems doing this the first time, but that could be because I am using a beta pre-release version of the app. I managed to get it to complete calibration by connecting the hub to the Powered Up app and writing snippets of code to test the movements manually before trying again.
With all that done you can finally play with it. The main control screen is shown below. I'm not going to explain it all but suffice to say it's all fairly logical, and it works well.
On this control screen the speed and direction (forward/reverse) are set using the controls in the bottom right, and the speed of the individual tracks can be tweaked using the yellow sliders in the bottom left, which turns the vehicle one way or the other.
If that's all too complicated, a second control screen provides joystick control of movement.
It actually moves at a decent speed, and runs well on hard and soft surfaces. It can be turned on the spot with clever use of the yellow sliders, so consequently it's quite fun to drive around. Unlike come vehicles, such as 42129 4x4 Mercedes-Benz Zetros Trial Truck, you don't need acres of space to drive it in.
The app also provides a way to program sequences of movement which I think can be played back: I've not had a chance to investigate it fully yet.
The motorised gearbox has allowed four separate movements to be implemented using two motors: lift the blade, tilt the blade, raise and lower the rear ripper, and raise and lower the ladder leading to the cab. Its operation is seamless: you don't need to switch from one movement to the other, you simply press the appropriate control in the app and the gearbox moves automatically to suit.
The blade is raised/lowered and angled using two pairs of linear actuators, which on the real machine are hydraulic cylinders. They are operated independently and unfortunately run at a snail's pace, particularly the raising and lowing pair.
I suspect the range of movement is realistic, from fully raised and angled back...
.. to fully lowered and tilted forwards.
The ripper at the back is also operated via linear actuators which raise and lower it to ground level, also at a snail's pace.
Finally, the ladder on the side can be lowered to enable the driver to access the cab. The mechanism to achieve it is pretty complicated, as I said earlier, and I'm not entirely convinced it was worthwhile implementing it.
Verdict
It's big, imposing and, appearance-wise, appears to be a fairly faithful reproduction of the real 'dozer. It is perhaps too yellow, though, as I said above.
It's a long and involving build, one that takes about 7 hours, so not something you'd want to do all in one sitting. There is a complicated gearbox and a few other mechanisms to be conquered, and some repetitive sections, but overall I enjoyed it.
As a parts pack -- albeit an expensive one -- it's pretty good. There are a lot of the new beams with perpendicular holes and hundreds of yellow pieces. The 116 caterpillar track links will no doubt come in useful for MOCs, although they offer no advantage to GBC builders other than adding some variety. There are no large wheels, tyres or specialised pieces, which is a good thing. The two angular motors are the most useful and sophisticated of the Powered Up motors and can be recognised and used with the Mindstorms and Spike Prime hubs.
I'm not a big fan of Control+ but I have to concede that this is a decent model and perhaps the best implementation of the system to date. It's still a PITA finding your phone, enabling Bluetooth, firing up the app, then connecting to the hub before you can play with it, but the last part at least does seem to happen almost instantaneously and without problem now.
Many Control+ models suffer from a lack of haptic feedback on the controls, but I didn't find that to be an issue with this one. The only annoying thing really is the glacial pace at which the blade moves up and down.
Now, I must discuss the price. It's a big model and technologically as advanced as Technic sets get, but £420/$449 is an obscene sum of money to pay for it, particularly when compared to 42055 Bucket Wheel Excavator, a motorised set of a similar size but without Control+, which was just £180/$280.
However, having said that, it will not be long before it's reduced by 30% at Amazon, just like last year's equally expensive 42100 Liebherr R 9800 is at the moment, which will take it down to around £300. Still expensive, but somewhat more realistic.
Would it be a better model if it were manually operated and priced at around £299/$299? I'm actually not sure! I was averse to Control+ but this has persuaded me that, for the right model, the cost it adds might be justified.
It will be available at LEGO.com from 1st October.
No goats were harmed during the production of this review.
Thanks to LEGO for providing the set for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
135 likes
50 comments on this article
You have six goats??!!! You should be able to retire with that kind of capital.
Oof, that thing looks HEAVY. Also I agree, gray or brown treads would have been preferable. Just for visual contrast. Also, who wants a showroom pristine bulldozer?
"run at a snail's pace"...exactly why I cringe every time a technic set includes linear actuators instead of pneumatics. My 42078 reminds me of that every time I attempt to use the arms to empty the dumpster.
Its a beast, I'm sure it'll be a great immersive build... but its of no interest to me.
I do quite like this set, despite a few flaws. But it's just way overpriced. Just compare it to the Liebherr: more pieces, 7 motors and 2 smarthubs, same price. And it's not like that set was considered a bargain...
Recently Held der Steine had a review of a bulldozer from some other brand, which in opinion looked better, objectively worked better (and a lot faster!), and cost less than half the price (in Germany that is, so including shipping and taxes). Seeing such comparisons more and more often, where Lego isn't just beaten on price but also on quality/set design makes me feel they are overplaying their hand.
That said, just judged on its own merits this is a pretty good set (and this review does a good job of showing that!), that's something that couldn't be said about many of the more recent Technic sets...
The set is great, but it's, also, way overpriced. It is a shame that a lot of ppl will skip this one and other Control+ sets just because of some insane prices.
As with so many Technic sets, it seems, the build is impressive, but the functions are gimmicky.
Maybe if it came with a controller, but control+ is a no from me.
This thing without ANY of the electronic gimmicks and was just a straight mechanical Technic set (treads and blade movement manually operated), would be very cool, have a more reasonable price, and likely be on my Purchase list. As it is, zero interest.
@Huw said:
"Unfortunately, I forgot to take a photo of them all together before I started building"
Would you mind just popping the model apart briefly to get a photo of all the motors? Won't take a moment.
Maybe the yellow painted treads are so you can prove it’s never been used when you take it back for a refund (because it doesn’t have a cup holder).
It may be discounted at some point on Amazon UK, but it will not be discounted on Amazon US. That is not something that happens here for large sets. Small sets eventually get discounted by 20%, but large sets stay at retail price for their entire lifespan. There are some other options for discounts, such as Zavvi and Walmart, but they're hit-or-miss and inventory tends to be very limited.
Excellent review, the set does look great fun but I have an issue with the driver cabin, it just sort of disappears amongst the railing, probably because the frame is the same thickness as the rails. Without a discernible cabin, the scale of the real vehicle doesn’t come across - is it a massive unit or a tiny remote controlled digger? If it weren’t for your inclusion of the real life photo I would have had no idea.
@Mattewes said:
"is it a massive unit or a tiny remote controlled digger?"
Neither. It's a bulldozer.
I have a question about pricing. If we assume TLG intentionally increases the price such that it can be discounted, does this mean TLG at least has to pay for part of the discount?
I wonder if the speedometer in the control panel is 'accurate'. It would be interesting to measure the actual speed of the model with a measuring tape, a chronometer and a 'straight section of road' (hallway), divide it by the scale ratio and compare to the value shown in the control panel during the speed test.
The theory that LEGO increase the price so retailers can offer huge discounts is of course absolutely ridiculous. TLG sell to retailers at set prices and the retailers decide their own selling price. If they want to discount and make no, or maybe 5% margin, then it is up to them. TLG make their end regardless
Earlier this year we saw some small sets with yellow technic pins. I would have guessed this was the set they recoloured the pins for, but I don't see any yellow ones in the pictures.
@Huw, I'm curious about that softer material of the threads, are there ant LEGO elements you can compare it to, like Friends hair or Technic soft beams, or...
@Roloff said:
" @Huw, I'm curious about that softer material of the threads, are there ant LEGO elements you can compare it to, like Friends hair or Technic soft beams, or..."
It seems to be a stiffer version of that used for foliage so I guess it could be plant-based.
@paulrothwell said:
"The theory that LEGO increase the price so retailers can offer huge discounts is of course absolutely ridiculous."
Is it though? The day one 30% Amazon discount on wave 1 Vidiyo sets which TLG assigned frankly bizarre RRPs to made me think otherwise. (no facts to back-up my gut feeling on this, it just seemed really off)
@paulrothwell said:
"TLG sell to retailers at set prices"
I'd be very surprised if Amazon pay the same wholesale price to LEGO as my local non-chain toy shop does. Happy to be wrong, but I'd be very surprised.
I really like the look of this and will most likely buy it once it drops below £300.
Maybe Lego should release 2 versions of sets like this... motorised and un-motorised. I'd still get the motorised version but I suspect it might well increase sales to those who are put off by the additional expense of motorised functions that they wouldn't use.
Just want to say I love it when a Brickset article links to New Elementary! It’s like seeing two of your friends get along and hang out.
Great review, thanks!
I'm kind of in the mood for a very large Technic set; my last was the Volvo L350F 42030.
This absolute beast of a set does interest me, but after terrible experiences with the App-Controlled Batmobile 76112 I would take a lot of convincing to buy another set without a physical controller... this seems quite a common opinion here. I wonder how Control+ has been affecting sales.
@CCC said:
"Do people buy these and actually play with them? For that price you can get a really decent RC car. Or four pretty decent RC cars. And you can use them outside too!"
JANG has been doing some very interesting value comparisons between Lego sets he's reviewing and other, broadly similar, products. Lego doesn't often fare well, but I think we all know we're paying premium rates for Lego (and always have done according to my Dad and how much he had to save up for my Christmas presents in the 70/80s).
Four decent RC cars would no-doubt be way more fun than this; even though it's quite a different experience the comparison is valid. This set is Playstation 5 money... I've actually bought a real car for less than this :D
@pocketone23 said:
"Just want to say I love it when a Brickset article links to New Elementary! It’s like seeing two of your friends get along and hang out. "
Me and Tim are besties and I'm a Patreon sponsor of the site ;)
@ComfySofa said:
"Four decent RC cars would no-doubt be way more fun than this; even though it's quite a different experience the comparison is valid. This set is Playstation 5 money... I've actually bought a real car for less than this :D"
I guess it depends on what percentage of the fun in a Lego set comes from building it and what percentage comes from using/displaying/playing with it. For me, it's about 90% in the build.
P.S. my first real car was £15!
Wow, magnificent set. I’ll never buy it but it’s great that it exists.
I’d have loved to see dark grey used for the tracks and bucket. It’s very yellow with those elements in their ‘factory fresh’ state.
It seems to me that the huge price tag is Lego capitalising on the adult market as this is the first Technic set to have an age rating of 18+. The Liebherr has 3 more motors, 2 hubs and more pieces for less money, it’s also just as big and complex yet that is rated 12+.
You could buy a few good Tamiya RC kits for that money and they will be much faster, use a proper RC controller rather than a smartphone and they can be run outside. You can also buy a PS5 or Xbox series X for that kind of outlay. Lego is fast becoming too premium out pricing many people, it’d be a real shame if Lego becomes an exclusive toy only for the very wealthy. Is it any wonder more people are turning to cheap knock off brands?
Wow! This set is amazing
...ly hard to look at.
Have to save up pocket money a little longer. I only got €250 back for my Volvo V70 two weeks ago.
Seriously. There's something wrong with this world if a Lego Technic set is worth more than a perfectly fine family car.
Well Lego is still far better value than booze or ciggies, so I'm happy sticking with it as my vice of choice!
As good as a set this thing might be, I think the perfect summary is Huw's comment that the price is obscene.
I completely agree.
Like I said in comments on other articles, this is not the TLG for me anymore. A greedy corporate behemoth I feel no sympathy for.
Very different to the relatable company of my childhood and youth (and even perhaps ten to fifteen years ago) that offered great products at high but fair prices for what you got, at decent quality.
I have reached my conclusion and will vote with my wallet from now on - for other hobbies that I feel deserve my money. TLG won't notice or care about me personally, but if enough people come to the same realization (and I have a feeling it's only a matter of time) and conclusion, they might indeed begin to take note.
At least in Germany the beginning of a shift away from LEGO is noticeable.
My impression of this set is that it's ridiculously overpriced, and another example of the "let's have an app for everything" craze.
If i want to control something remotely, i want something to move around. A button, a joystick, whatever. Touchscreen is something i despise, it never works well and gives no feedback to your fingers whatsoever.
The old RC bulldozer using PF was perfect. Turn the battery box on, and you're good to go. This connecting-updating-calibrating takes too much time. The blade functions were faster too.
CAT probably paints the treads and blade to prevent rusting before they reach the customers. Though maybe they should consider painting/coating those parts in a neutral color instead of brand yellow.
@AHYL88 said:
" @mrdoofa said:
"It seems to me that the huge price tag is Lego capitalising on the adult market as this is the first Technic set to have an age rating of 18+. The Liebherr has 3 more motors, 2 hubs and more pieces for less money, it’s also just as big and complex yet that is rated 12+.
You could buy a few good Tamiya RC kits for that money and they will be much faster, use a proper RC controller rather than a smartphone and they can be run outside. You can also buy a PS5 or Xbox series X for that kind of outlay. Lego is fast becoming too premium out pricing many people, it’d be a real shame if Lego becomes an exclusive toy only for the very wealthy. Is it any wonder more people are turning to cheap knock off brands?"
In fairness, the Liebherr was released at a time when 18+ wasn't a thing; it would've fit the 18+ bill as it's definitely a very challenging, complicated model. The Lamborghini Sián FKP 37 from last year is actually the first 18+ Technic set; the Ferrari is also 18+ although nothing about the latter's build fits the age rating. And this is why this 18+ thing has been becoming a problem, it doesn't seem consistent why sets are 18+ when sets of a lower rating like the Heavy Duty Tow Truck are much more complex than say the Ford F-150 Raptor, another 18+ set.
Cynically to me, it's like you already said, it feels like Lego made the 18+ banner as a sort of crutch to set higher prices on sets unrelated to each other for completely different and inconsistent reasons. It looks silly that other sets outside Technic like Winnie the Pooh and 123 Sesame Street are also 18+."
The age ratings don't make sense because they're used as both an interest level and difficulty level. 4+, 5+and 6+ are difficulty ratings. 18+ is an interest rating, in that the intended age group to enjoy the product is adults, but also a difficulty rating. I think they did this to a certain extent before 18+ came along, with 12+ Architecture sets where the build wasn't necessarily tricky but the subject matter wasn't intended to appeal to children.
This particular Technic set is a large and complex build which means it deserves a high difficulty rating. But that becomes almost meaningless with some other 18+ sets being a much lower difficulty level.
@ComfySofa
Is it though? The day one 30% Amazon discount on wave 1 Vidiyo
I'd be very surprised if Amazon pay the same wholesale price to LEGO as my local non-chain toy shop does.
The Vidiyo sets were reduced immediately because they were launched during lockdown (here in UK), and as new lines are preordered with no idea what they are, presumably Amazon took the stand (along with overwhelming negative response when first details were shown) that the line would fail and reduce to clear stock immediately.
My independent toy shop has just sold last Vidiyo beat box, we were selling them at £5 also. It has cost my company probably around a £600 loss. I agree that Amazon won't pay same cost price as me, but they are happy to sell other sets at a very low margin but shift 1000s of units, and overcharge elsewhere
@Padraig said:
"Maybe if it came with a controller, but control+ is a no from me. "
The programmable physical controller would solve all the problems with Control+ system. The Control+ Hub should also be programmable once, linked with programmable controller and working without any additional devices (smartphones or PC) connected to it. I hope Lego wakes up and realizes how much more value that would add to their products.
@Nytmare said:
"CAT probably paints the treads and blade to prevent rusting before they reach the customers. Though maybe they should consider painting/coating those parts in a neutral color instead of brand yellow."
Maybe, but much more cost effective if you only need to keep the paintshop at the factory stocked with 1 colour.
No chance I buy something this expensive with Control+ and its built-in expiry date, even at 25% off. My older RC and pneumatic Technic sets are as viable now as they were 10 and 20 and even 30 years ago. Control+ won't last a decade.
@paulrothwell said:
" @ComfySofa
Is it though? The day one 30% Amazon discount on wave 1 Vidiyo
I'd be very surprised if Amazon pay the same wholesale price to LEGO as my local non-chain toy shop does.
The Vidiyo sets were reduced immediately because they were launched during lockdown (here in UK), and as new lines are preordered with no idea what they are, presumably Amazon took the stand (along with overwhelming negative response when first details were shown) that the line would fail and reduce to clear stock immediately.
My independent toy shop has just sold last Vidiyo beat box, we were selling them at £5 also. It has cost my company probably around a £600 loss. I agree that Amazon won't pay same cost price as me, but they are happy to sell other sets at a very low margin but shift 1000s of units, and overcharge elsewhere "
Hey really sorry to hear that, that a bad loss for an independent. I suppose most purchases are a gamble, but the Vidiyo Beatbox RRP just seemed like it would guarantee poor sales and a very slim chance of profit for smaller retailers (to me anyway, with the benefit of seeing the products in Brickset-level detail before having to make a purchase decision).
What town is your shop in? I'll make a note to stop by if I'm ever near :)
@ComfySofa said:
" @paulrothwell said:
" @ComfySofa
Is it though? The day one 30% Amazon discount on wave 1 Vidiyo
I'd be very surprised if Amazon pay the same wholesale price to LEGO as my local non-chain toy shop does.
The Vidiyo sets were reduced immediately because they were launched during lockdown (here in UK), and as new lines are preordered with no idea what they are, presumably Amazon took the stand (along with overwhelming negative response when first details were shown) that the line would fail and reduce to clear stock immediately.
My independent toy shop has just sold last Vidiyo beat box, we were selling them at £5 also. It has cost my company probably around a £600 loss. I agree that Amazon won't pay same cost price as me, but they are happy to sell other sets at a very low margin but shift 1000s of units, and overcharge elsewhere "
Hey really sorry to hear that, that a bad loss for an independent. I suppose most purchases are a gamble, but the Vidiyo Beatbox RRP just seemed like it would guarantee poor sales and a very slim chance of profit for smaller retailers (to me anyway, with the benefit of seeing the products in Brickset-level detail before having to make a purchase decision).
What town is your shop in? I'll make a note to stop by if I'm ever near :)"
We're in beautiful Bakewell
I’d like to see this with black wheels and treads.
Is this something you’d be able to try Huw?
Yes, £450 is a stupid amount of money to pay for a - any - Lego model. Even discounted to £300 is still ridiculous.
And, given that's it's all controlled by an electronic device, no doubt it will all stop working in a couple of years anyway when the OS stops supporting it. Unlike, for instance, the 33 year old 8853 Excavator which my nephew, with my two children, was still able to build & play with the other day...
So, sorry, no, won't be buying one.
It looks fantastic and the build seems good but the app control system has stopped me buying other sets and this will be the same. My phone isn't good enough and by the time I can justify a high spec phone they will update the app specs for phone requirements and I would be back to square one. Physical controllers please Lego.
Reminds me of the models at shows where the builders had unlimited pieces and budget. But even then the range of movement of the blade is too limited for me, and there are too many alternatives for my wallet. I do like the automatic gearbox switching though to allow different functions (up to 4?) to be preformed with just 2 motors rather than having a motor for each function is clever, and look forward to been used in a more interesting model, e.g. automating the crane, stabilizers etc. in 42054.
Thanks for a great review; the pictures explain better what's in the set.
I agree the price is obscene. Given the Liebherr 42100 discount as low as £266 from £400, I would hope for £280 for this one. That is still more than the Zetros 42129 RRP, where that has 1 hub and 3 motors, but that has been reduced from £275 to £236 already.
I'm also not a fan of app-dependent Control+. The trains are OK with the handset but the LEGO Group needs to produce a 4-function handset to go with the 4-port hub for Technic models. That would tease more cash from my wallet to buy the 4-port hub sets. We also ned the promised LiPo batteries for the domestic hub types. I'm leaning towards the Spike Essentials 2-port hub as a potential Technic hub as that has the LiPo.
Without that handset functionality independent of a phone, which I find imprecise compared to the handset, I would not consider buying this one unless the price drops below £300. I'm content to wait till late 2023 to see if that happens. Even then, with an enjoyable build, it's a shame not to get the play value out of sets because they are phone-dependent.
The motors are the most useful types, especially as the Crocodile Locomotive 10277 uses the L-Motor with the 2-port hub, but we have not seen the best speeds from the motors because the apps tend to run them in speed control mode. It needs power control mode to get full power from the motors. At the moment that needs programming, which is fiddly on a phone and needs a larger screen.
I'm considering trying the 3rd-party firmware (at owner's risk) to enable the use of a 4-port hub with a train handset, also allowing a bit of code to be included in the firmware download that can use maximum power mode and allow a handset command to drive a pair of motors.
Why TLG has not done better on the firmware front is suggested by the fact that they are not primarily a software company, but that reveals a gap in their understanding of what different people want from the hardware. The patchy device compatibility within the PU range is another bugbear.
As a template for MOCs, with 2 drive motors, a gear-shift motor and a function power motor with at least 4 functions to select from, there are some great possibilities. The gear shift could be extended to 8 or 16 functions by incorporating learning from the Lamborghini 42115 gearbox.
I'm still buying 42095 with PF L-motors!
I appreciate many of the astute comments made by other above. Thank you. I waited for the review/release to see what interested persons had to say. No, I did not buy 42131 (or 42100) specifically because of the dependence on software to engage with the model. I have to say that both of these sets are certainly intriguing regarding their theme and, also, the keen engineered functionality that TLG designers have put into realistic form.
What I see here though is an additional function (Control+) that has created both a physical and mental gap/disconnect in the play experience - both in the present engagement with the model and in the future (when the software and/or device becomes obsolete). The obsolescence present from the beginning in the product goes against a big part of what I've valued in the line from the beginning. It's not just for me, but extends to those who'll inherit the sets someday.
As such, the "play well" concept is, in my opinion, certainly challenged and diminished with these specific products. This goes against the whole concept of Lego. Now, I'm no Luddite when it comes to technology, but it seems not fully thought through here. I keep thinking how cool it would be to have a "manual" kit option for both the aforementioned sets. They'd be in my collection if this were a reality. As it is not, I'm wondering if there will ever be another set such as these that I'll even think about purchasing. It's ironic, in a way, as now, I can afford the kind of sets that I don't now want.
Regarding the price point of these sets, they may have a higher price point due to an anticipated number of sales they expect. TLG surely isn't losing money on these and shouldn't. There must be enough people buying them to make the business case to produce the products. But, as others have said, even at a discount (or even free!), the diminished play experience still exists which makes it a no go.
Don't get me wrong, I still think this is one of the finest toy lines around. I appreciate what goes into making these products by all the people it takes to get it on the shelf. I do think there remain some opportunities for TLG to explore and hope that they create some solutions that will allow many of us continue to purchase and enjoy the product.
@sjr60 said:
" @ComfySofa said:
"Four decent RC cars would no-doubt be way more fun than this; even though it's quite a different experience the comparison is valid. This set is Playstation 5 money... I've actually bought a real car for less than this :D"
I guess it depends on what percentage of the fun in a Lego set comes from building it and what percentage comes from using/displaying/playing with it. For me, it's about 90% in the build.
P.S. my first real car was £15!"
thats just what my 1st car cost morris 1000 split screen what would that be worth now
This looks like a set that would decorate the desk of the owner of a construction company. It's too extravagant for me.