Mobile Crane

Reviews

• January 10th, 2020
  Average rating5out of 5 stars

  5.0
  My favorite build thus far!
  CallMeSven | 55-64
  I would recommend this to a friend!
  Purchased for: Self

  After building several Star Wars, Disney, and other assorted Technic kits, this has been my favorite. My previous Technics build was the Lego 42100 Liebherr excavator. Comprised of 4,100 pieces and filled with motors it was a multi-day build. It’s big and expensive. However, with enthusiasm I have declared that the 42108 mobile crane coming in at just under $100 is now, without doubt, my favorite Lego build. I found myself cheering on the designer(s) of this build at almost every step. It is filled with creative and well-designed features. The way the crane arm extends is simple but wonderful. But my favorite feature, by far, of any Lego innovation is the way the wheels on this mobile crane move. As I was marveling at the turning mechanism, how the front and rear wheels move opposite each other, I was impressed. I didn’t know how this was going to play out in the final form and as I got caught up in the build I forgot about this mechanism. When I reached the end of the build and was installing the eight giant tires I wondered how this crane was to be steered? Had I looked at the final instruction page I would have known but I used my iPad instead of the instruction booklet so I never turned the page. I took the wheels in hand and carefully turned one set and then I saw it. I was stunned! The large rotating beacons on top of the crane cab turned in sync. Essentially, you turn either of the beacons to make the wheels turn. That was freaking amazing! Even though I should have seen that coming it never occurred to me this would happen. I am beyond impressed. There are three knobs that operate the crane boom. One raises the boom, one extends it, and one operates the cable. Even the outrigger stabilizers have well-designed mechanisms to deploy. Lego sets can be expensive. Some just sit there and some move in different ways. The trains are a fun build and so are the cars. But for the value and amazement of what the gears and various mechanisms do, this kit is by far the best value for the money. Sure, there’s no motors or automation and iPhone app. This is pure hands-on play with no automation. The design of this crane deserves some kind of Lego build award. Bravo! to the person or persons who designed this incredible kit.

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  Play ExperienceAverage rating5out of 5 stars

  5.0

  Value for MoneyAverage rating5out of 5 stars

  5.0

  Build Time: 6 hrs

  Building Experience: Intermediate LEGO builder
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  94

  4
  55Mobile Crane
• November 12th, 2020
  Average rating5out of 5 stars

  5.0
  Haul It
  Valerian70 | 45-54
  I would recommend this to a friend!
  Purchased for: Self

  Okay, this is one of the tougher builds I have done. I will readily admit I had a mini meltdown about 3/4 of the way through as suddenly the boom arm did not work. Cue the other half checking online builds and going through the remainder of the instruction book. His advice "have faith". Fortunately I did and carried on with the build and suddenly the boom arm is working. He then decided to advise that it has a split differential built in and because I was only halfway through that mechanism that is why it wasn't working all of a sudden. So, if you are like me and check your mechanisms in a Technic build as you go be warned you will have a moment of panic when it suddenly stops operating as expected. This is definitely one item that would benefit from Instructions Plus but it doesn't have them. I also had an issue early in the build where I had flipped the chassis plates and had to take a few steps back and dismantle pieces to rectify my mistake. So, lots of issues in the build but they were all of my own making and not a problem with the product or the instructions. This was a challenging build but I REALLY enjoyed it. The finished crane is great looking and is operationally fabulous. It even has the bracing legs that you wind up and down for when then crane is in use or being transported. STICKER ALERT! Yes, there are an awful lot of stickers on this build and, as we know, I loathe stickers. I did put them on but most are ever so slightly out of true but I can live with it. Number Of Pieces: 1292 Approximate Price Per Piece: £0.07 Build Time: 6.25 Hours

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  Play ExperienceAverage rating5out of 5 stars

  5.0

  Level of DifficultyAverage rating4out of 5 stars

  4.0

  Value for MoneyAverage rating5out of 5 stars

  5.0

  Build Time: 6 hrs 15 mins

  Building Experience: Advanced LEGO builder
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  4

  1
  55Mobile Crane
• January 1st, 2020
  Average rating5out of 5 stars

  5.0
  akaMarkPhoto | 45-54
  I would recommend this to a friend!
  Purchased for: Self

  Cranes have been a part of the Technic range since the introduction of the first mobile crane (set 855) in 1978. Start with what could well be the only downside to those familiar with previous cranes; much that unlike all the other cranes from the original set (mentioned) to the recent Rough Terrain Crane (set 42082) and new Compact Crawler Crane (set 42097) this is only a one model set. Yes, there are other one model Technic sets, yet they tend to be the bigger, licenced sets such as the Porsche 911 GT3 RS (set 42056), Bugatti (set 42083) and Liebherr 9800 Excavator (set 42100), combined with the size/price point of this set. However, that said, and it is a big however, those familiar, and grew up with the previous sets, not just cranes, will enjoy this set. As with the Compact Crawler Crane launched in August 2019, it is back to the heart of what Technic sets are. And that is where the appeal lays; it is Technic through and through. The build took about no more than 9 hours, on and off, over several days. It is not an overly complicated build when compared to some of the newer bigger sets. It is still a sizable model, particularly when fully extended. Anyone familiar with the previous sets, will recognise the build, and that is where the enjoyment is, yet not so easy that it won’t offer an enjoyable challenge to those who are new to or wanting to get into Technic looking for something more.

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  Build Time: 10 hrs
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  11
  55Mobile Crane
• June 13th, 2020
  Average rating5out of 5 stars

  5.0
  Mobile Crane
  GpaJames | 65 or older
  I would recommend this to a friend!
  Purchased for: Friend or Family Member's Child

  I admit I bought this for my 5 year old grandson, thinking that he would have fun with it once built, and I wanted to try building something a bit more challenging. The challenge was increased by the enthusiastic assistance of my grandson, who frequently decided to put pieces together to make his own creations, after which he didn't want to give them up for the actual build. I tried working on it in the evening after he was in bed, but by then I was too tired to concentrate and twice found myself cursing Lego for errors in the instructions before realizing I was just reading them incorrectly. Sigh. Once complete however, my expectations were realized. He greatly enjoys it and all the little features built in (he loves that he can steer it!), and I enjoyed the sense of accomplishment once it was all together and working properly (much to my surprise - and my wife). A great toy and worth the price. Now.... if only the excavator was the same price!

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  Play ExperienceAverage rating4out of 5 stars

  4.0

  Level of DifficultyAverage rating4out of 5 stars

  4.0

  Value for MoneyAverage rating5out of 5 stars

  5.0

  Build Time: 3 days 10 hrs

  Building Experience: Intermediate LEGO builder
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  6

  2
  55Mobile Crane