Paul B Technic

Yes, I also had this and so have other reviewers. I just don't push mine around.

Sad to see but as I posted in the Technic Pub, I worry at some point that Technic will become so far removed from what we knew and loved, that some of us will step away. I was looking at an old thread and a lot of the posters have not been on here for years.

95% auto, 5% manual for new cars in the last few years. The only manuals you really see are in commercial vans and small trucks.

Very nice work and good to see something different from this set.

My apologies... ; 100%. My last personal car with a manual transmission was in 2017. Since then I have had work cars, so stuck with whatever they are. One of the team had a manual transmission work car but when he left, nobody wanted it, they were all so lazy / happy with an auto. In the end, I told the boss I would swap mine with this one, as I don't mind a manual and it was actually a nicer model.

Anybody feeling a bit "uneasy" about the future of Technic? Will we get to a point where what it is, is so far removed from the place it started, that some of us no longer has the same interest in it?

I think this is fine.

LEGO Technic 42242 Mercedes-Benz Unimog U 5023 – Mod – Post Rammer One of the advantages of modifying the LEGO Technic 42242 Mercedes-Benz Unimog U 5023 is the ability to create a wide range of functional attachments based on real-world equipment. This Post Rammer attachment is inspired by machinery used to install fence posts, guard rails, and similar roadside infrastructure. The attachment is mounted to the rear of the Unimog and connects directly to the rear PTO system. Power from the PTO is used to drive the lifting mechanism, causing the rammer assembly to move up and down in a controlled motion. A post rammer works by repeatedly lifting and dropping a heavy weight onto the top of a post, driving it into the ground. While this LEGO Technic version is designed for demonstration rather than actual installation work, it recreates the basic operating principle of the real equipment. The model makes use of the rear PTO that was added as part of my ongoing modifications to the 42242 Unimog. This allows the attachment to be powered directly from the vehicle without requiring its own dedicated drive system. As with my other rear-mounted attachments, the design focuses on reusing existing mounting points and drive connections. This helps reduce the number of additional parts required while maintaining compatibility with other attachments built for the same rear mounting system. The Post Rammer adds another practical utility attachment to the collection and demonstrates another real-world application that can be recreated using LEGO Technic mechanisms and the modular rear PTO system.

LEGO Technic 42242 Mercedes-Benz Unimog U 5023 – Mod – Lifting Access Platform One of the latest attachments developed for my modified LEGO Technic 42242 Mercedes-Benz Unimog U 5023 is a rear-mounted lifting access platform. The attachment uses my standard rear-mounted lifting setup, allowing it to connect to the Unimog using the same mounting points and lifting mechanism as several of my other rear attachments. This approach helps maintain compatibility across different designs while reducing the number of unique components required. The concept is based on a telescopic boom lift or elevated work platform, although in this case the lifting mechanism is mounted at the rear of the vehicle rather than using a traditional boom arrangement. A significant amount of development time was spent on the access platform itself. One of the primary goals was to keep the platform level throughout its operating range. This required a number of design revisions to ensure the platform remained level when fully lowered, fully raised, and during the lifting process. The completed attachment provides another functional option for the Unimog platform and demonstrates how the standard rear lifting system can be adapted for a variety of different applications. It also serves as a basis for further experimentation with lifting and access equipment designs in the future.

I am not "reviewing them", I am sharing them and notes and comments on when I have come up with an improvement to a previous one.

I also found these were running on my blog, which I have also killed.

I really can't explain that, as it is a very cool design. I guess most people go for the "full size" one. I use to own 42177, which I did a bunch of MODs to.

LEGO Technic 42242 Mercedes-Benz Unimog U 5023 – Attachment – Rubbish Loader MK2 I have always been a fan of rubbish trucks and rubbish loading equipment. Over the years, I have built several different versions, experimenting with various lifting mechanisms and designs. There is something fascinating about watching a bin being lifted, emptied, and returned to the ground using a clever mechanical system. After returning my modified LEGO Technic 42242 Mercedes-Benz Unimog U 5023 back to its original tray size, I discovered that my previous rubbish loader attachment was simply too large to fit the revised rear layout. Rather than seeing this as a setback, I took the opportunity to redesign and improve the attachment, resulting in the new Rubbish Loader MK2. The attachment connects to the rear of the Unimog using my standard rear mounting points, allowing it to be installed and removed quickly. Like the original version, it is powered by the rear PTO output, providing a realistic and functional method of operating the lifting mechanism. One of the main improvements in the MK2 design is the lifting mechanism itself. The entire system has been strengthened and reinforced, resulting in smoother operation and improved reliability. Despite being more robust, the attachment is also noticeably more compact than the original version. The reduced size brings another advantage: it uses fewer parts. This leaves more pieces available for designing and building other attachments for the Unimog, something that is becoming increasingly important as the collection of rear-mounted equipment continues to grow. Using the PTO drive, the Rubbish Loader MK2 is able to lift a rubbish bin, tip it to empty the contents, and then lower it back to the ground. The sequence closely mirrors the operation of real-world bin lifting equipment and provides plenty of satisfying mechanical movement. I am very pleased with how this updated version turned out. The smaller footprint suits the standard tray configuration much better, while the improved lifting mechanism makes it both stronger and more reliable. It also continues to expand the versatility of the Unimog platform, demonstrating how a single vehicle can be adapted for a wide range of specialised tasks. The Rubbish Loader MK2 is a great example of how redesigning an existing model can lead to a better result. By making the attachment smaller, stronger, and more efficient, it has become an even more practical addition to my growing collection of Unimog attachments. https://paulbtechnic.blogspot.com/2026/06/lego-technic-42242-mercedes-benz-unimog_0482663457.html

Nice work with all these mods and improvments, I do agree that the wheels do look too small.

Well I could but I like the Unimog and am using that as a base for a bunch of mods. I was pretty set on buying another copy to do the loader but the other two are now also ones I want to build. If I buy instructions for an alt, I don't normally pull them apart l.