Ngoc Nguyen

I've always wanted a decent truck and trailer set. I'm thinking of getting another 42043 for the B model, as it has a number of realistic details and has a steep discount at the moment. The problem is the B model isn't very aesthetically appealing... and good display value is the highest priority when I make a decision... And there's a new Mack truck with trailer coming at the beginning of next year. But if I wait til the Mack is fully revealed the 42043 may have been discontinued by then. So I don't know if I should get another 42043 or wait until the Mack is out and get the Mack? I can afford both.

But the trailer has single tyres

I on't think it's fair comparing the Mack to the Arocs because the Arocs is a 2H flagship while the Mack is just a 1H flagship.

I'll share some thoughts about the trailer. of the Mack truck. The silhouette indicates that it is the side loading type, so it needs to have two outriggers and two cranes. The two outriggers need to be in sync, so there will be an axle linking them together, and a liftarm going down with push them down, like the rear outriggers in 42070. However I don't think there will be a small LA hanging above that drive the liftarm going down. Instead the driving axle will be connected to a worm gear which connects to a 20z / 24z gear which push the liftarm down. The two cranes also need to move in sync. This means the two LAs that push the crane have to be linked to a common axle. So I think there will be only 2 LAs to simplify the drive axle. The LA will push through a scissor-lift linkage so that the up-down movement also links to the right-left movement. In other words the crane will rise and extend at the same time. And I think there will be two separate axles for deploying outriggers and moving the crane, instead of one axle and the gearshifting elements, because of the limited space under the container bed. Those two axles will have knobs at the rear of the trailer.

If they indeed do a combo model of those three sets the color will be horrendous...

I've just realized that I like the 42066 B model more than the A model, because the appearance and the color match the style of a Gulfstream private jet more than a supposedly "race" or "military lookalike" jet. And that wie wingspan makes it look cooler when swooshed. Also I live next to an airport, so I see planes like the B model more often.

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I have all 3 sets so I think I'm qualified for this. I'd go for Arocs because it has the highest display value. There are a lot of realistic details in the model that I only learned about them all after several months of admiring it. Even the Arocs B model has realistic details of its own: battery cover, fuel tank, trailer landing legs, spare tires, trailer bulk head, and the wire from the truck to the trailer. In real life the wire is used to power navigation lights in the trailer. I intend to buy another Arocs just for the B model. The Xerion also has a lot of realistic details but is nowhere as near the Arocs. And it has little playability. The 42069 A is also a display model with little play value. But its B model offers some fun. I play with the crane a lot. Hoisting the cargo and releasing the winch make it go THUD to the ground, which is really fun.

@Jim Has there been any progress since last year

There's a deal for 42070 at 190 EUR on amazon.de by amazon warehouse deals, but it has been elusive. One moment it's there, another moment it's gone.

I think Technic sets this year follow a theme. The main theme is undoubtedy "exploring", as evidenced by 42064 Ocean Explorer, 42069 Extreme Adventure, 42070 B Explorer Vehicle (maybe 42063 BMW too). I also think there is also a turn into fictional civilianized, military-inspired vehicles, as seen in 42066 and 42070. The VTOL function is more dominant in military aircraft, and 6x6 recovery trucks are rare even for civil off-road recovery,

@Jim You said in the review its MSRP was 279 EUR. But I can't find that price anywhere in the list of prices in Brickset https://brickset.com/sets/42070

@msk6003 - You're not allowed to post confidential pictures in posts. Please remove them. - The spoiler of 42072 WHACK! to me is more like 2 3x7 panels. - The part in the catamaran to me is the 3x11 with 10 pin holes in dark azure, first released this year in 42070.

Thank God the old theme is back. I dont understand why you test new themes every couple of weeks...

The Mack truck is very likely to be a creation of Uwe

I think the 42070 should be named "Recovery Truck" instead of "Tow Truck".

@J_C According to Sir_von_Lego it's a catamaran I think I'll get the Mack truck, the catamaran, and possibly the ferry hovercraft. It's funny how Markus or some Technic designer once said something along the line of "we have always wanted to publish a set with a trailer and truck but they wouldd be too big to fit the front cover so we had to make it the B model of 42043", and now we have Mack truck + trailer as the A model

Sariel will be like, "the B model of the Mack Truck is called, wait for it ... Mack Truck B-model! How original! *insert sarcasm short clip from movie".

@Jim You're right hehe I like the look of the catamaran most in all of those sets. I just said so in order to be politically correct, which includes decrying dark azure and the so-called color vomit.

I think the blue in the catamaran yacht is, sadly, dark azure (the 42070 one). I believe the yacht is also intended to be a cheap part supply for the rare panel 5 & 6 (3x11) in yellow. They have only appeared so far in 3 sets, and its last appearance was in 2011.

The silhouette seems to indicate it will have tyres of 42053 Volvo or 42035 Mining Truck.

None of the new sets seem to house PF, which means the MACK truck will have one or at least be PF upgradable.

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Looks like most of the leaked pic have been taken down, as they're no longer available on Instagram real or ripoff. Fortunately I've saved the leak Technic pic.