amorti

@brunojj1thanks maestro! A valid point regarding a driving video. It's an interesting thing to drive due to the pullback motor, both for its capability as a launch control function, and mixing itself in with any reversing operations. @astyanaxthank you! I've updated my post above with a full words and pics review :)

CaDA official store is now showing the ONE as ready to ship! I have an affiliate link with CaDA, so if my review helped you decide to buy, please use it for your 5% off and 5% goes to me to buy more bricks - maybe I can get the Alfa to review :) https://bit.ly/44IaqZD First of all - this is a sponsored post. CaDA has kindly provided me with a review copy of the Mercedes AMG One so that I can share the experience with the Eurobricks community and the wider English-speaking audience. As such I do have an affiliate link at the official CaDA store which will score you 5% off, and me a 5% credit. So if you appreciate an honest review and some bug-fixing tips, I'd appreciate if you use my link! Sponsored post or not, my opinions are my own and are not subject to review by CaDA. That should become clear, since while it's a great model, I'm also here to tell you there are some flaws Box and Instructions I won't talk much about the outside of the box here, because that's covered in the Preview Post above. When you open the box, it's the by-now standard fare with several numbered boxes inside a lift-off box, and the licensed rims shown off specially. We already expect fancy packaging from experience with LEGO, but even so the box here is pleasingly premium, yet at 30 litres it's decently dimensioned for those among us who believe our beloved brick toys are premium collectables, yet don't have large cupboards for storing original packaging. The instruction manual is a real step up from CaDA. If you built the red supercar from @brunojj1, you'll be used to multiple thin booklets, but here we have one single instruction manual. It's a big boy at 300+ pages - but that's nothing compared to e.g. the LEGO Ferrari at 800+ pages for a comparable parts count. It's well-bound which is great since CaDA doesn't typically publish PDF instructions until a few months after release. It's very nicely printed with black represented faithfully, which was really necessary for this build! According to the relatively low page count, you can expect that there's a lot going on in each double spread. You'll need your wits about you, as sometimes steps can be dotted about each single page however they best fit the printer's schedule. Most of us here are AFOLs and remember the good old days of adding 50+ pieces in a single step of studded technic so, while it is certainly a more challenging build than big L's big sets, this is all achievable as long as you keep focus. Since I mention "keep focus", let's talk about colour-vomit as it's so lovingly called in German. This set contains a handful of red frames which are skillfully used for orientation in the early steps, but other than that there are almost no parts which aren't black or light grey. Correspondingly, you definitely need good light at your building table, and you'll want to sort your parts into multiple containers rather than try to build from one mixed heap in the box lid as I did in the first bags. Another point where CaDA has listened to the consumer: build sections are still defined with letters, but now you get both the bags' number and the box number to help you find the bags you're looking for. And each step has a niceeee illustration of what you'll be working towards for the next few pages/hours. Stickers? No. Just... no. There are stickers for labelling the motors, nothing else. Also in this image - note the steering wheel which is cleverly attached by a bush pin, allowing you to freely set the angle regardless of half-teeth (LEGO McLaren take note!) Parts Quality CaDA has been working very hard to set their offering apart from LEGO, and it's no secret that this is largely due to big L writing insistent letters. "While they were in there", they've also been busy remolding a whole heap of parts. If you built the red supercar, you may have felt that the design was great, the instructions were very good, and the parts were "fine". The 2L axles, regular 2L pins, and 2L axle-pins were loose and/or inconsistent then, but now you're in for a treat. This picture shows the front aero parts, which are each held on by 2L and 3L axle-pins. With previous-generation parts you'd have had to test a bunch of axle-pins to find one with enough friction to hold the small panels in place, but this time around the friction is plenty, and it's consistent. I suspect they have also changed the plastic composition of the pins and small parts, since they just feel "right" now. If you'll watch my review video (link below) you'll see that they very much pass the flex test. New CaDA Parts A large part of CaDA setting themselves apart has been redesigning wing panels. As we see here, the new panels are rounder and more organic than what we're used to, and I believe that the model benefits visually from that. Technically speaking, the panels consist of two pieces, a wing and a base, which can be joined together to form a panel approximating what we're used to. However, you can also mount each wing part at 180 degrees on the base or omit the base, if it suits your design better. There are only a handful of spots in this model where that's been done, which tells of the model's development timeline. Those new panels allow some really nice overlaps, which (IMHO) turn out nicer than regular panels could. Let's talk about tyres. But only briefly, because the picture already says it all. LEGO 1:8 tyres are rubbish - there, I said it. CaDA previous generation tyres look great but are too soft to the touch. The new licensed Michelin tyre really ticks every possible box. They're perfect! It's also worth noting that while this licensed tyre from Michelin was created specially for the One... it shares tread with the tyre Michelindesigned for the Chiron. You didn't see this tread on LEGO's 1:8 Bugatti though... Special (Cheat?) Parts These guys are definitely going to split opinions! First and foremost - the licensor Mercedes requested that these panels be created and used on the model to give an accurate representation of the original. So, the decision to make these parts was out of CaDA's hands. That to the side - I think it just wouldn't be possible to create a convincing replica of the original without making these special parts. Sure you could try to use the Bugatti's exhaust panel or system bricks for the air intake, but the best you could do for the fin would be propellor blades and it just wouldn't look correct. So for me, it's a win. Also put yourself in the shoes of Mercedes or another licensor - do you want a model of your product which looks a bit like your product according to available elements, or do you want a model of your product which looks very recognisable? Would you go to a brick toy manufacturer who was willing to make those exclusive pieces, or one who wanted you to conform to their system? Functions Now we come to the elephant in the room: The functions are not perfect. Here's the gear pair which brings power to the pullback motor, and it skips, every time. Here's the fix, with just the gears as extra parts. I've published a second video which deals with how to fix this and a few other faults in the model's functions. TL;DR, it can be made to function perfectly with just 3 parts from your stash. I've passed that feedback to CaDA and hopefully they can be reflected in an addendum sheet or second edition, but for now I really do recommend to watch that video. Spare Parts It seems normal with CaDA, but it's still disconcerting to the casual builder: there will be parts leftover during the build which aren't even in the build. I recommend to clear your parts from the table as you finish each section, otherwise they will really stack up. You won't be left looking for pieces if you do so. YouTube Review: Improvements:

Another one ahead of the deadline I was told. Anyway, you don't need to watch any reviews before you build it, but I suggest you watch my upcoming bug fix video before you get to about the 15th step. Good tips already though. The front extension socket needs to be a long wired one. The extension over the battery needs to hang loose so you can reach the USB socket.

It's pretty much de rigueur to build a formula car from every available car set, right? The ONE uses wishbones in the suspension, has a lithium battery, two motors for drive, a servo to steer, pullback for KERS, and two M-motors for "something else"... Maybe it's more tempting then?

There's often a good discount if you're willing to order direct from China/HK, and don't need the OEM packing. Regarding pins - unless you specifically need half pins without friction, the latest generation of CaDA pins is right up there with Lego. In fact, now Lego deleted the slot from the regular black pin and thereby largely lost much of the satisfying "click" upon insertion, CaDA might be better.

IRL with two models next to each other, you notice that less than the weird pointy end on a Lego panel.

The general shape is the same as a regular Lego panel, but the null space isn't identical. For me the smooth curvature allows smoother, more flowing shapes to be formed. However, especially if like @T Lego you're very practised in using the normal panels and know where the gaps will/won't be, then I can see how it would be a big switch to make. Here are some awful pictures of CaDA panels versus Lego. https://bricksafe.com/pages/A_morti/cada-panels

CaDA's new palette of wing panels are different than everybody else's, that's true. Different... but also BETTER than the existing palette of panels. You have new options for putting the base and the wing part in either orientation, there are axle holes like a cam in place of pin holes on the smaller base which can really help with alignment, and you get the option to omit the base entirely and make new sizes and compound curves you didn't have before. Once you get your head around the possibilities, there are lots of new constructions available.

There is a cluster of CaDA special parts in the door hinges, and some of those connections would be hard to replicate without losing significant strength. Otherwise it should all be possible in Lego as there's not much use of special parts. I'm just assuming that Lego wing panels can just be subbed in for CaDA panels 1:1 here, which actually probably isn't the case. That image above has lost some finesse around and above the rear wheel arch, for example. However I don't understand why you would go to the trouble? You'll need the instructions since CaDA doesn't publish PDFs until a few months after. If you're going to use a pirated copy to make a replica of a properly licensed model, then congratulations you are Lepin. To get the look right, you're still going to need the CaDA wheels, special aero parts, and ideally the Michelin tyres. Also I doubt that 2x Lego L-motors will get all 3kg moving, although admittedly I haven't tried it. Maybe with a 200$ buwizz3. So what's the point?

He says there was an NDA with earliest publishing date, and he abided by it. Well, he got a different date to me... Solid review though, and he clearly has way better photography equipment than I do. He's not mentioned a few things I'll be talking about here on EB, though.

The fin part on the AMG isn't printed, it's more special than that. I'm also in two minds about model specific parts, but in the end I do believe that they are worth it. Could you picture the Lego Concorde with a normal canopy? Maybe the one from a Star Wars ship but with a new print? The BMW motorcycle without its specific visor? No... and for me this cowling isn't so different from that; it's absolutely central to being able to identify the real life motorcycle. As a side note... did we notice the brake caliper mounts on those forks? And how the new rounded panels fit so nice as a fuel tank or swing arm when you use only the fairing part without the base? Nicely executed!

The clutch power of CaDA pins and axles has had issues in the past, but is now right on point. Like really, right on point. They must have made new molds for a lot of parts. Now Lego deleted the slot in their 2L pins, CaDA pins might actually be superior. There... I said it!

So, the tyres being licensed just got even cooler: they are made by Michelin especially for this car. https://www.michelin.com/en/press-releases/the-michelin-pilot-sport-cup2-r-tire-custom-made-to-fit-the-new-mercedes-amg-one/ Funny enough though, it seems to be a sub-model for the tyre they made for the Bugatti Chiron...

First of all - this is a sponsored post. CaDA has kindly provided me with a review copy of the Mercedes AMG One so that I can share the experience with the Eurobricks community and the wider English-speaking audience. Even so, my opinions are my own and are not subject to review. The DHL man stopped by yesterday - how exciting! I'm not able to share what's inside the box until the official European release date, but I can share what's outside the box, so think of this post like a RacingBrick preview. The set's European release date will coincide with a joint promotion from CaDA and AMG. I don't have details, but it should be quite soon. The official announcement will be made on the (only!) official CaDA website: https://decadastore.com/ Normally I hate those, but here goes... Box post! The box itself is compact. It weighs 5.9kg and measures 568x374x148mm, giving about 31 litres inside the box. That's 10 litres and 1kg less than the LEGO Ferrari, so kudos to CaDA for saving materials. For now I'm guessing the weight saving is mostly in the box itself and the instructions, but of course I'll weigh the model when it's complete. The front render is glossy and has a detailed texture - nice! The text confirms it's not not just any grey German sports car, it's a Mercedes-AMG One. We have the AMG logo, Mercedes printed parts, and the Master @brunojj1's signature all clear to see. The special parts used for the roof intake and aero fin are clearly visible. Are they cheat pieces, or are they essential to make this licensed model an accurate representation of the real thing? Well, both. I for one am glad that CaDA and Bruno put in the time, effort, and money to make them happen. The licensed wheels are very accurate to the original car, and just look at those tyres. All the technic panels are more rounded than we're used to. CaDA didn't do it for fun, they're trying very hard to differentiate their brand from all other brands. It's a massive investment and inconvenience I'm sure, but I think the model has benefited from it, as the shaping really flows nicely. The back of the box shows a different angle with the special parts really prominent, and also some details about features. The set is motorised and comes with a Lithium battery. Once pricing is announced and the inevitable comparisons to the market price (not the RRP) of Lego's big cars are made, keep in mind that big L's big cars can't move themselves! Even for most of us who find that a novelty and aren't exactly playing with their big models every day, it's very cool to have that. There's a pullback motor to represent KERS regenerative braking. This is a unique concept in a brick model, and since I don't know Chinese it's still a mystery to me how it's connected to the drivetrain. LED lighting - when CaDA show lights on the box, of course there are lights in the box. Hopefully Bruno was able to stow the cables nicely - and hopefully I will be able to replicate that! The gullwing doors and rear wing all move. The Chinese video showed us they are motorised - nice! There are several parts with three-point stars and AMG on them. Are they prints or stickers? Time will tell! The top of the box has the 3-point star loud and proud. Kind of a missed opportunity by not having it on the front of the box where it would be visible when stacked on retail shelves? The side of the box shows the real car. The Chinese video linked above has some detailed comparisons between the model and the real car, so I won't try to replicate that work. Suffice to give a hat tip to Bruno - the shaping is really very good, especially seeing how organically the lines of the original car flow! It's nerdy, but I'm very excited for this. Lego may be the world's biggest manufacturer of tyres, but they aren't exciting tyres in any way. We didn't get any licensed tyres from Big L since 2002, and that was just a regular tyre with a Michelin print on it. CaDA tyre treads were always cooler than other brands', but now they're really stepping it up a notch. I'll report back on how grippy they are, maybe they will have benefits to people attempting speed records. Thanks for attention! All pictures can be viewed bigger here: https://bricksafe.com/pages/A_morti/amg-one- I also recorded a (very amateurish!) video. You can watch that here, if you like:

Unrealistic suspension? At 4:19 in that the original car has two shocks there, but there's only so much you can do with bricks. Maybe a new BMW rear shock could have worked for the suspension, but in brick-world there's a differential in the way. Bruno used that special long spring across the wheels, so for me it looks pretty decent within what's possible in bricks, especially for RC where it needs to be solid. Also - Lego is not better, with double wishbone suspension on the front of the GT3RS, an extra shock each corner on the Sian, etc etc. The whole build is weak, really? Did you get as far as 19:30 in the video? You'd be brave to try that stuff with a Lego 1:8. Steering being mechanically limited isn't ideal, it's hard on servos. I get it though, if you don't want gaps around the wheels then steering angles are going to have to be limited to <90 degrees output. Would have been nicer to see it geared down though. Bruno's other AMG does have the same 'cheat'. The shaping and panelling stands up very well to the comparisons with the real model, and the licensed tyres are a real USP. Can't wait to build mine, which arrived today

They may be the reason why Lego panels are much less flexible than the equivalent CADA panels. Any flat part which is too flexible can be strengthened by adding indentations. For example... But as noted above, is it a bad thing if they bend? They're never going to be structural anyway, so why not let them be forgiving to fitting "nearly" on the grid?

Once I have the parts in hand I can and will give my opinions on fit, but it would be nice to be able to quantify that. For example, CADA 2L axles hold 30% tighter or looser than Lego (which will always be the benchmark). Just need to dream up a trustworthy or at least justifiable test rig for that. Plastic quality is harder to measure objectively. Anyone who has built CADA knows for example the 13L arch panels are pretty flimsy. I never minded as it allowed you to treat them as anything from 12 to 14 long without feeling like you were straining the part. IDK if that'll still be the case if they've had to remould them, but I can certainly offer am opinion on it. I would absolutely expect it to be a more challenging build than a Lego supercar. @brunojj1 is quite clear that he's designing toys for grownups, whereas with Lego an 18+ logo mostly just means it's not intended for play, only display. Stability of the final is definitely worth a deep dive though. For example, Bruno's red one was very good *except where studs had been pressed into technic holes*. Which I think was more due to tolerances than design, so very valid for a comparison to the market leader. Wilco :) Btw I'll be re-reading your old review threads as inspiration, so thanks in advance for those!

Guys and girls... I'm excited to share with you that I'm at the front of the queue for @brunojj1's latest Master set, the AMG One. https://decadastore.com/ has kindly offered to send me a review copy, all they ask is that I post my honest review (naturally, my opinions will be fully unfiltered) for you fine folk here at EB. So in preparation... What do you all want to know? I'm already planning to take lots of pictures of the pieces which differ from Lego. I expect there will be a lot of those, much more than in previous CADA sets. Can anyone think up a test rig to scientifically quantify whether the friction of some pieces like 2L axles and axle-pins has been improved from before / whether it is now up to Lego standards? I'm thinking something like hang a weight from the part, but IDK if it's a repeatable test or how to line it up. I think I know the answer but it doesn't hurt to ask... @Jim would I be allowed to create a specific thread for that? Or do you prefer it be kept within the general CADA thread? Absolutely fine either way: it's your ball and I'm just playing with it :)

I only see "this video is private". I'm not surprised if it's impossible with Danish bricks, @brunojj1 takes no prisoners in this regard. Why limit yourself to the options with what parts one brick maker will give you, if the other gives you more?

2 battery boxes and 7 motors? Pretty cool! I have in mind that the cada long actuators are longer than Lego's, so between that and the very compact micro motors, CADA has an advantage for functionality in this type of model. The mix of system and technic parts which Lego is always reluctant to do also gives an advantage in looks, if not necessarily in stability.

@nintiendo thanks but it is a 9 minute video in Vietnamese. Most of us don't know Vietnamese.

Maybe white round 1x1 tiles, and use red half Pins to hold them on.

It's amazing behaviour in the same world where we can buy aftermarket replacements for nearly every part of nearly every car on the road. The second one in particular is old news being from 2009, not to mention pretty fundamental to a whole lot of building techniques.

Why not spend the effort and space on some interesting features? A 9 speed gearbox feels like turning it up to 11?

Outstanding work, looks fun!