Maaboo the Witch

I am not complaining about the theme overall, mind. There's always something cool in the mix, and with so many varied opinions and expectations there's something for everyone. I'm jazzed about 42081, while others are not, and that's good. I think 42080 is a steaming pile of vomit and yet others want it, and that's good too. Yes, the theme's changed over time due to changing trends and preferences, but that's because TLG is a business. And some of the directions it's taken in general don't exactly thrill me (see my previous post), but I do confess to rosy retrospection (I'm sure a fair number of us want to be nine years old again) and there's still a great deal to be excited about. Technic isn't better or worse in my book - it's just different. There are loads of older sets a lot of us think were total misfires, I'm sure. Slizers, anyone? Roboriders? How about the trio of weird emergency vehicles with switchable segments? Don't think 42080 could touch those for sheer silliness... (Yes, I collected all of the Slizers and Roboriders when I was a kid, kind of proud of it)

I think that TLG could be using the smaller, less common lime panels in preparation for something lime-coloured next year. Wonder if they are...? Great. Except neither model resembles either of them. Look at the wheels on the forwarder, they're all wrong - and the nose looks like a tank! Yuk.

The general aesthetic and design is not realistic, and the B-model is even worse in that regard. Plus the functions seem to be stuck between harvester and feller buncher. Again, TLG - pick something and stick with it!

Sets like 42076 and 42080 concern me. They don't reinforce the Technic ethos of "this is real". I know TLG is adopting a futuristic theme for Technic again but neither of the two aforementioned sets, nor others like 42049, are clearly meant to be futuristic concepts and yet they don't reflect the aesthetics of an actual real-world machine, and this is becoming more pervasive. Pick a theme for a set and stick with it! And it's a shame, because when the Technic designers choose one or the other, the results are stunning (42063-B, 42081 for example).

Yep. Looks like the Dead Reckoning truck from Land of the Dead.

Oh, and did somebody say FORKLIFT? B-model is indeed a tow truck! Good one too.

No, the superstructure looks a little different, more linear. I do think asking some poor sod to disassemble and reassemble over 4000 parts would be a bit much for a retail set, though. Although I'm sure there are many Eurobrickers who would tackle it, no questions asked! Oh, and videos for 42080 and 42081 have also been posted on.the same YT account just recently: Still love the Volvo! Dumper looks cool. Forwarder looks bloody awful!

Looks like the base for both vehicles is the same like 42042. Pile driver looks cool. Nice find!

I know what you meant. True, we haven't seen the mighty PEGAX yet. Wonder if it uses the bucket as an engine cover or something.

Well, you see it. Images everywhere.

Preach.

There's more than one way to skin a cat (or shave it, at the very least).

Need that bucket too.

Not to sound negative, though. This set is still my no-foolin' favourite of the H2 line-up.

None last year, though. The age of the tow truck is upon us. Plus, you forgot 42023 from 2014 as well.

Does that mean two bloody sets of stickers?

Tow Truck Fever! Seriously, this'll be the third one we've had recently after 42061 and you-know-what.

Well, at least we know what the B-model is likely to be now. And by "tractor", I'm thinking it's something that pulls. An aircraft tug perhaps?

Could be. We don't know anything about the actual real world prototype yet, other than that the B-model might be a recently-unveiled dumper.

Make sure all of your hoses are fully connected. My 42053 had an issue with air flow when I motorized it; turns out I hadn't pushed the main hose onto the connector enough and it kept getting compressed by the engine cover when it was closed. Pushing it on the rest of the way solved it.

This is a great set. I've got the B built at the moment and it can really handle a duvet.

Mate, maybe it's best to forget about smaller tractor tyres until TLG actually produces them.

Indeed. B-models! When?

Look in the topmost of the three smaller images on the catalogue page above and you can see a bit of it. It does have some of the look.

Hopefully any day now.