Set Review ➟ Cement Mixer Truck
One of the recurring complaints about LEGO Technic is that it's all construction equipment (cranes, bulldozers, etc, and always yellow). Of course those are two overgeneralizations, but there certainly is some truth in those statements. Of course that's not surprising. Large construction vehicles make for an interesting subject matter and often contain functions that are fun to recreate in LEGO Technic. The set we are reviewing today fits nicely in that category, but it starts out with 2 bonus points: it is a type of vehicle that LEGO have never before done in their Technic line, and it is not Yellow.
Let's start by having a look at the statistics:
Set number: 42112
Pieces: 1163
RRP : 109.99 (Spain) • 97.47€ (Germany) • $119.99 USD
Looking at price and piece count, this set comes in as a higher intermediate and the box size is corresponding. The finished model measures about 42 cm long, 14 wide and almost 20 tall.
The box is a lot thicker than you might initially expect and this has everything to do with the 2 largest elements you will find inside the box.
Instructions come in 2 booklets and there is also a modest sticker sheet to help with the detailing. Mine were a little worse for wear, but nothing that affects the final look of the set.
But back to those large elements. In order to achieve a good look for the cement drum, LEGO decided to make one out of two identical and symmetrical parts. By adding a groove to the inside, the drum has an internal archimede screw, meaning you can push the cement out of the drum if you turn it in the right direction.
Time to start building.
You start by building the steering on the 2 front axles. The steering arm on the second axle is a little longer so the turning radius of each axles is different as would be the case in the real version of this model.
On top of the front axles you build the crankshaft for the engine. In keeping with the size of the model, a fake crankshaft is build putting beams at alternate angles on an axle and the pistons are represented with 3L axles with stop.
Then it's time for the rear axles with both have differentials
Adding this to the front assembly gives you the first real impression of the size of the model:
With steering and drive axles in place it is time for the gearbox of this model. In addition to providing a hub for the transmission, this gearbox allows you to choose whether to drive the cement drum from the wheels or manually.
What remains is to establish the connection between the rear axles and the engine, and in the process, the connection to the cement drum. To this end the set includes one of the new torque limiting slip gears. The limiter is necessary because if you drive the truck by holding the drum (a typical "mistake" a child, or even an adult could make) the slip gear will jump instead of breaking a gear or axle in the transmission.
The turntable is placed at an angle to receive the cement drum. On the rear of the model you build the wheels that will support the rotating drum as well as the hopper and chute for the cement coming out of the drum.
With all the mechanics in place, we can turn our attention to making the truck look good. There are a number of nice details i the cab that drew my attention. You can see the engine between the seats, but the dashboard has also received some attention.
The doors open and the smokestacks look realistic.
The grille also looks great with a combination of brick built details and stickers:
As a final touch you build the water tank that goes above the cement drum and the model is finished.
Or is it? Wait! There is a bag marked 4 all on its own!
It contains 100 Beam 1x1 to fit into the drum and use as ... cement
Functions
Although I have already explained most of them throughout the review, let's have a quick look at the functions in this set.
The truck has 2 steering axles and the engine in the cab is driven by the two rear axles, both with differentials.
There is a gearbox between the axles that allows you to choose whether the drum turns as a result of the movement of the rear axles, or manually, with a crank on the other side of the model. The screw inside the cement drum will push the Beam 1x1 elements out if you rotate the drum in the correct direction (or drive it backward for long enough). There is also a neutral position.
When the cement comes out of the drum, there is a (static) hopper with a movable chute to direct the cement where you want it to go:
And the doors of the cab also open, if you want to count that as a function.
Conclusions
I had fun building this set. Since it is the first time LEGO offers this kind of vehicle in the Technic theme it has some novelty value. The different steering angles on the front axles, the double differentials in the rear axles and the gearbox connecting the drive to the cement drum make this model both a fun build from a mechanical point of view and nice play set. The colour scheme also adds to that.
I understand that the cement drum elements are very specific to this vehicle. nevertheless I am disappointed that there is no B-model with this set. The art on the back of the box only highlights the functions of a single model.
This means that while the set is reasonably good value for money it is really only half the set I would have expected it to be... I do love the concept though.
We wish to thank LEGO for providing this set for review. The opinions in this review are not supported or endorsed by LEGO.
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