DarkShadow73

When comparing all the towing vehicles Lego has (besides the futuristic-looking 8462 which did have its perks, pneumatic w/ 2 air tanks but hardly any gearing as a result, plus it was model year 1998, Technic was quite different back in that era), I believe the 8285 from 2006 was the finest looking and functioning tow truck, and about on par scale-wise with the 42070, but with more of a finished look. Others had their querks. I loved the 42008 but it had the low-profile tires and small rims on it, not exactly fit for a vehicle like that. The 8052 Container Truck from 2010 also had those 'tiny' tires on it as well as the 8109. Then comes along the 42024 with more beefy tires. I since have converted my 8109 Flatbed Tow Truck with the taller tires, looks a lot better. I realize I'm going off topic here a bit. The 8285's boom didn't have extensions on it like the 8421 Crane or 42009, both of which are incredible in their own right. But, one quirk with the 8421 is that if you left the boom up and extended overnight, the pneumatic valves would not hold it up and by morning it would be sunk down. I guess point I'm trying to make is every model has its own issues, but after looking at Jim's pics and other replies here, there is much colour vomit here on the inside and I hate that. Its like a 6 year old putting together a building and using tons of different colour pieces (yes that was me in 1979). Back then things weren't <insert that tiresome argument> the way they have been for the past +/- 20 years on System sets. Since coming back to Lego in 2004 after a long hiatus and 'finding' the Technic series, I have owned or own just about every set made since 2003, and many older Technic sets. But, I hate colour vomit. I cannot understand why there a few or several parts in a build, especially on the large builds which I love, that are totally out of character for said set. Makes you wonder why the designer put in a few white parts, that like the 42070's innards aren't seen visually on the outside, instead of in keeping with the set's major colors. 8109 comes to mind also, lots of different colours on the inside. Did they 'run out' of the right colour parts, and just improvised using a totally different colour? All that said though, the price for the 42070 is a HUGE hinge point and unless the set goes on deep discount, I highly doubt they are going to get many buyers. Could be wrong, maybe ones with tons of extra cash will buy it, or as always the collectors of every set, me included, but I'm not flush with ready cash by any means, and the MSRP on this one definitely shocks me. As far as the many shades of blue that have arisen since 2015 first introduced the 42036 and 42037 in the 'new' medium blue colour, then the 42050 in 2016 with medium azure blue (which I really do like), the blues have kept coming. The 42066 is a bit blah, a great plane no doubt (both A and B models), but the boring colour kind of muted it for me. Wish they had just gone with standard blue. However, I do like the dark blue used in 41999 and 42064 and in one of the pull-backs couple years ago. That was a great blue colour. Haven't built the 42070 yet, so not sure what the dark azure blue will look like, its so hard to tell from the box art or even from pictorial reviews, guess I'll see. That's kind of why I bought it as well, I like to own everything now, although I admit I'm on the fence about the 42064 boat and think the 42065 RC racer. $99 for an RC racer with only 370 parts seems nuts, I'd rather go to a hobby shop and buy a real RC car or truck that can be used outside. The boat, like many have said, has very little function, except being a great display model, and City(sorry)boats of the same type are more refined looking and have the same functions. I'm not anything but a Technic fan since I got back into Lego, so I like function AND form. I was a bit disappointed that there was no ability to add on PF to 42069, and that model shines for 2H2016. I also really like the 42068. But, I did buy a 42070 on impulse really, but like you @TechnicRCRacer I wanted to own it even though it cut deeply into my pocket.

I think 42068 is on par price-wise. Just my opinion...

@Aventador2004, thanks much.

@Jim - did you ever do a review of the 42070? I like the video reviews just fine by ALF and Sariel, but I also like the text reviews you write as they provide a lot of information. Just wondering...Your review on the 42069 was best I've ever read. Thanks for providing these.

Thank you @schraubedrin I really appreciate it and sorry for the delay in posting, been a busy few days. And thank you @Jim for more clarification. I knew I'd seen it, and I knew that Jim was trying out different wheel combinations. I still think 42069 looks better with wheels. I just needed to know what to take off after the track assemblies.

Somehow I figured there would be at least 1 or 2 members commenting in this old topic... 42070 if not just for the brutal price...although of all the larger/flagship sets in the past several years this really doesn't stand up well against so many other good ones. Still stand by 8041 as dismal, and since I posted on this topic in 2013, a re-release (42041) of the same??? What was TLG thinking? So many other excellent, popular sets they could have re-released and they chose the Race Truck? Why?? They used to re-release many good sets, sometimes 1 or 2 times, and within a couple years of each other. 2 come to mind, 8459/8464/8439 in that order, and even though its chunky looking, 8460/8431/8438, its still a great crane. Have to say I rather like 8053A and B, the tower crane is just kind of bad a-- looking IMO. Especially if you do some mods to it as I did years ago when it was released.

Local TRU closest to me is almost picked clean of the new kits, I believe 7 of them here in the US. I just happened to stop in today and all they had we're 2 42070's(no surprise there with the high price), 1 Ocean Explorer, 1 Air Race Jet and a couple of the Container Yards. They still had plenty of stock on the older stuff though. Last time I was there end of last week, they had everything and in abundance, and there was no sale going at the time. Sales at TRU here are few and far between.

I can't seem to find the post where 42069 was changed from the tracks to wheels. It was a short video, pretty sure it was a vid. I believe maybe Jim posted it. I just need to see what all comes off and what needs to be put on to accept wheels. I would be most appreciative if anyone could post a link, possibly a YT video. I know it was short as said above. If I recall, the wheels connected to the 3-pin hub and the grey axle protruded quite a bit out, that's all I remember, but I know I watched it. Thanks in advance. Did you buy it? I first saw them in TRU's about 3rd week of July. Haven't built mine yet. Btw, which pull-back did you get? I'm kind of nut for the pull-backs, I've got all them going back to when Lego started marketing them. Sometimes the small models can be a load of fun to play with. Scares my cats to death, one of the cats snarled and went after it.

Was just going to post that as well...have to say though 42069 doesn't look as great as thought it might, but I may be pleasantly surprised...

Back to my original question though...when do the B model instructions get loaded?? I was looking at doing the 42069 B-model. Thanks. Ah, maybe they didn't have it put out, the Technic floor space is not very large even though I live in a large metro area with 4 TRU stores within easy driving distance. I'm not so interested in that one just because I think its way overpriced for what you get.

I posted last week that I had found all 3 of the 2H sets at a couple of local TRU's, plus all but the 42065 from the 1H sets that were not released in the US until now. Where are the B model instructions for the new sets, specifically 42069? Seems to me, if Lego released them then the instructions should be uploaded to their website already??? I know others here have expressed interest in the B model for the Extreme Adventure. Are they possibly available to download other than the Lego website, or do they have to be there first? Not real sure how that works, but its kind of the reason I bought 42069.

I sort of figured that would be the case, just wondered if anybody had them. And yes I do know at times it takes Lego a time after release which is rather dumb considering someone might want to build a kit for the B model.

I have main model 42069 together, looks great, and as many have said much better without stickers. Now, I'm trying to find instructions for the B model since I purchased another 42069. Lego US does not have them listed in their building instructions yet. Does anyone know where I can get a pdf file or something similar so I can download them? Thanks...

I do that as well, even the various the pins, just anal that way I guess So, dropped the bomb and bought 42070. I counted the gears from a jpg image someone posted several pages back, and counted 95 gears (not including the 5 differentials). Figured if anything it would be a fun build and could be a display model. Only way to justify it was using a few Rewards coupons at TRU...they seem to be getting most of the new kits in as of late last week, they are also on their US website. I saw 42068, 69, 70 (and in my area none of 2nd half 2016 kits we're available in-store until a couple months ago, odd. I also saw 42062 and 42066. No sign of 42064 and 65 though, thought that rather weird, they also aren't posted on their website under the Technic themed kits I have bookmarked. Even the 2H2016 sets you have to manually type in, but some are overinflated, esp 42056 for $369.99 USD, which is insane, and that item says you have to wait 5-10 days for it to ship, some guessing maybe they have to order direct from Lego and possibly drop-ship, don't know. For the longest time 42056 was at MSRP on TRU's website, then it just jumped $70, go figure. Also got another 42069 for the B model, when the instructions are released on Lego's site, which I believe won't happen until official release date of 1 Aug, or after. I recall 9397's B model instructions took like 2 months and lot of AFOL's complaints about this before they we're uploaded to the site. Plan on getting another 42068 once I get paid, again for the B-model. Can't afford another 42070 for the B-model, too overpriced until possibly all my purchases there lately add up to Rewards coupons. That's basically my Lego budget for the year. Not as good as last several year's kits, but nonetheless, I am an avid collector of nearly every kit released. Overall I'd say this has been a good year even if us Americans didn't get the 1H larger models until now.

What is really strange is where i bought my 42068 and 69 at TRU (they also had 42070 also), they didn't have 42062, 42064, 42065 and 42066. Even though I was able to buy 42062 and 42066 on Amazon.com from importers from the UK some time ago, I felt I got a good deal since 42066 especially has been around $130-135 USD for a long time, and I see 42066 will MSRP for $159.99 here in the US. Kind of glad I did that. 42062's MSRP is close to that, so feel I didn't screwed at all possibly paying more for an import set. 42064 is less than MSRP on Amazon as compared to what it will be released for.

Thanks very much Jim, really appreciate that. I assumed they would just mate with the hubs, but I will be on the lookout for your instruction on how to. Way I figured it since it is an off-road vehicle that it really needed wide, more aggressive tires than street tires. Is the bed completely open, similar to 9397B Plow Truck? Another open bed would be 8110 Unimog B model plow. Plow is cool I must say, but it would be so much better with an enclosed for a salt shaker like we see in northern states in the US. I'd love to have bought a second 42069 as the TRU I went to had 2 in stock, the B model is awesome, especially the crane that really hides when it is retracted. But, funds aren't sufficient for another. As has been the case for quite a few years. Doesn't really matter though, its the finished model that counts, just thought it was worth mentioning. I have all kits required, and have a 2nd of both to build the intended box model. I probably will do it, and instead of placing the extra pcs for each kit in my huge spare parts collection, I'd bag them in case I wanted to pull it apart and sort the pcs back into the original sets.

Jim - I picked up 42068 and 69 today at Toys R Us. I know I asked last week what wheel/rim size would work in replacing the tracks on 42069, but I didn't get any replies, likely cause nobody knew. Not trying to get info from you since you may post Sunday, but am wondering if you think 81.6x38 balloon tires and a rim that mates with it (in so many larger Technic kits) would work? I don't have the power puller set, nor could I sacrifice a 42054 for the tractor tires as another member suggested. It looks like possibly on the sneak peek pic that those are the size tires/rims from 42030, but I don't have any spares of that either. I must say I was really surprised at the smallness of the 42068 box in relation to the piece count. Thanks much.

Sorry, didn't even think of wikipedia, it was late at night and I was blurry eyed

One quick Q..i know members have talked about the 'jerry cans' on the top of 42069...what are jerry cans?

I second that Jim, you spell out your reviews so carefully and precisely, I always enjoy reading your reviews w/ pics as you go...thank you from a fan I do still wonder if the 2H2017 sets are available in the US as of yet..I see that some Lego stores overseas already have them available..has anybody seen them in the US?

True to that I didn't think of Bricklink, I wonder what the cost difference would be buying the individual parts..I saw this model on lego.com/technic a few months ago and do want to build it Can't recall offhand the mutiplier between the euro dollar compared to the US dollar but if you bought the kits alone to build the model in USD...$59.99 for 42063, $39.99 for 42061 and $19.99 for 42057...so $120 plus tax..not worth it that way for a model with IIRC ~600 pieces so possibly BL is a cheaper way to go Don't think the extra post merged with a couple I just posted, but if they did I apologize.. I am wondering if the 2H2017 sets are available in Lego stores in the US? I read that a couple members already have them from lego stores overseas...has anybody seen them in the US yet? Thanks...

Thanks for the clarification. This is definitely one kit I'll be picking up this year. It just screams interesting build. Still don't understand why this no way to PF it out of the box though. So, that and 42068 seem to be the ones I would like once they are released 1 Aug. I am going to wait until 42070 comes considerably down in price, maybe around the holidays, then re-evaluate. Money is more of an issue this summer, and I'd really like to see some not only professional reviews, but also general AFOL reviews as well. However, last summer I made it work because all 3 kits we're hot, didn't pick up 42056 until after December. Wouldn't mind getting the 42064 as well, I realize many have criticized it as more City-ish, along with 42060 and 62, but I still got those along with 42066. Luckily, a few Amazon Marketplace sellers imported the rest of the sets to the US that weren't released here. I actually got 42066 for $135.90, and I see on Lego US S@H it is going to sell for $159.99, so that is a plus. To build it as it stands you would need 42063 BMW bike, 42057 Ultralight Helicopter and 42061 Telehandler. I just can't see myself buying 3 sets to build a rather small model that is IMO what has been called in some posts last few weeeks 'color puke'. If I could find more of the parts in same colour, I imagine I'd do it, it is cool.

You are really lucky. I plan on calling the nearest Lego store to me today when they open, but betting they are not available for another 2 weeks...like I was saying too, Toys R Us sometimes puts out new sets early, but here in the US we haven't yet gotten many 1H sets, so there will be IIRC 7 new sets, and doubt TRU's will have room for that many. And they never carried any of the 2H2016 sets until just in the past month or so in select stores. No one store has them all in my area and I live very near a large metro area with 4 TRU's within close driving distance. Ok, now I'm confused about this vehicle...it shows 6 springs on the inventory sheet that Jim posted, 4 yellow hard springs and 2 gray soft springs, what are the springs used for then? I know 42038 had all independent suspension and is a watered down version of 42069...really quite curious where all those springs go. I did look at the pic of the bottom of the vehicle and I can't really tell where the springs are located, or maybe just tired eyes...

According to US S@H website, the 2H kits aren't available until 1 Aug, but from some posts I read, members already are able to buy it, not just Jim and Sariel for reviewing. Are they available to buy, say in Lego brand stores? I live in the US, and wonder if other US members have found the kits already? I normally purchase from a Lego store about 3 hrs away, but I'd go TRU if they already selling there. I know in the past TRU occasionally puts kits out before Lego's release date, but also TRU tends to mark up also. They are selling 42056 for a whopping $369. It was MSRP $299 for a long time until recently it jumped $70, that's ridiculous. Oh, one other thing regarding 42068. I actually have purchased all 2H sets from 2003 on, not 2004, got mixed up as I do have 8454 Rescue Truck and 8455 Backhoe/Loader. I am very curious to see how 42068 and 8454 size up together. Regarding the 42069, I wonder why there is no option for adding PF? Whereas, there is for 42068, a much smaller kit. Kind of odd...normally almost every medium-large set has either PF already included or the ability to add via a 8293 kit.

I have been mainly just reading posts on this topic for some time. Last 2 years (15 and 16) we're hot for 2H sets. I hear the for and against about 42070, not as much for 42068 & 69. Seems to me the flagship this summer has sort of been adopted as 42069, which with more than 500+ pcs more than 42070. i realize that 42070 has RC functions, but no servo? That's just strange, and how about no large cog wheel mounted on the IR transmitter? Had this for 41999, 9398, and 42030. And I also see not many functions are performed by RC. Kind of a disappointment IMO, and I really don't like the blue color. Like some have posted, there so many shades of blue now, but hardly models since 42042 are 'true' blue. The medium azure isn't bad, and I did buy 42066 (yes I'm in the US, but quite a few Amazon.com sellers had this available, importing it overseas from the UK I would imagine), but pics can sometimes be deceiving, it looked like it was more of a medium azure, but instead it was light, pale blue. I love the set, it has a few quirks but what Technic set doesn't? At first I was only interested in 42068, but I also wondered since the 42068 had an actual engine, if it was like most 1H models that may have an engine but instead of a diff, only had 1 axle and gear mating to another axle and gear turning only 1 wheel. Don't get me wrong, with the exception of 42064 and 65 I have all the 1H models, the larger kits of which for some reason weren't released in the US in January. After reading a lot of posts, 42069 has grown on me quite a bit. Since 2004, I have purchased every 2H set, but this year, not only because of the high price of 42070 and as many have pointed out, lack of design, complexity (even if it has 4 differentials, 2 that are old school ones in red, that's just odd) and from what I've seen of various pics, only pendulum type suspension (no shocks??) and finally low piece count, kind of turn me off, along with main color as mentioned above. So, this would be the first summer without purchasing the whole lineup. At $289.99 USD, that's nuts. Look at what you got with 42055 for $279.99 USD last year? Over 2K more pieces, and a monster of a machine, both A and B models. Now, if sets go like they did last year in the US, I may consider it more for curiosity and lots of spare parts for my collection, maybe build it once, see if I like it, then disassemble and bag. I was rather upset when all 3 2H2016 sets went on deep discount at for long periods of time on Amazon, seeing as how I could spent far less since I did buy 2 of each since the B models we're all excellent, well even if 42054 used the same tractor, just with a different implement. I looked very carefully at the pics of the inventory that Jim was so kind to post, that really does help a decision also, thank you Jim. Both 42068 and 42069, especially 42069 have a wide assortment of great parts. I had thought Lego was just rehashing 42038 with a bit extra added in, well a lot extra. I do have one question though...is it possible to put a regular wheel/tire setup on 42069 and take the track assemblies off? I see they are using the 3 pin hub that has become common in recent years on larger wheeled vehicles. If so, what size wheel would work. I was thinking maybe a large wheel that is common with the 81.6x38 balloon tires? Thanks, and I really did enjoy catching up on this discussion. I waited on 42039 and it is a great kit, both A and B models, but TRU had it on clearance for $99 when I purchased it, so that made it worth it. Plus, had a few Rewards coupons.