Set Review ➟ 42124 Off-Road Buggy
42124 Off-Road Buggy is the newest addition to the Control+ platform of the Technic theme. As was the case last year, LEGO is introducing a small motorised set in the first half of the year and a larger set is expected in the second half.
Although the set is small in number of pieces, the inclusion of the Hub Control+ and two engines means that with only 374 pieces in the set, the price will be close to 130 Euros. Is the price/parts ratio worth it? Let’s see what the set contains to reach a verdict.
Box and contents
Let’s start with the box and its contents. There are no big surprises in the box. It follows the design of previous sets in the Control+ theme, warning that you need batteries and a smart device (tablet or phone) to use it. The absence of a common alternative model in this theme is also noteworthy.
The back of the box reveals the look of the control application for this set: a profile that is added to those already existing within the Control+ application. The box is opened by pressing the tabs on the cardboard. It’s not a system I particularly like, but this box is not a collector’s item as far as I’m concerned either.
The instruction booklet shows a QR code to access digital instructions that at the time of writing this review were not yet available. There is also a page with some stickers to give the set more character.
The pieces come in unnumbered bags and as soon as the box is opened, the new tyres introduced with this set stand out.
There are also elements in colours previously unseen, including the new 2x3 panel that we saw on this year’s Jeep and Ferrari.
There are also two very, very interesting 1x15 beams. Instead of having all the holes in the same direction as usual, in this beam the holes alternate in direction, above and to the side. This opens up new possibilities for more rigid constructions with fewer parts. I hope that more sizes of these beams will be added soon.
Construction
The construction of this set is not particularly complicated and does not contain any new techniques, except for the use of the new beam.
We start with the front axle which has a long travel suspension, as you would expect from a buggy of this type. It also incorporates the motor responsible for the steering of the model.
The complete front axle is connected to the new beams at an angle, so that the driver’s position is higher. This central part includes the Control+ hub and prepares the connection for the rear suspension.
Finally, the rear axle is built around the second motor and with the reinforced differential that we have already seen in other sets with Control+
This assembly is connected to the body of the buggy via two axles and the suspension. The hub is fully accessible from the bottom for easy battery replacement.
Operation
The suspension on the buggy is really good. It has a lot of travel and feels very realistic.
The app interface is very basic (for the moment - more options may be added over time) and consists of a joystick and a brake.
I miss the option of controlling the buggy with the tilt of the phone itself, but the control is good and the response of the buggy excellent. It reaches quite a lot of speed and together with the suspension and the new tyres it becomes a great addition to the Control+ series.
So is the set worth the money? I certainly had a great time playing with it and I’m really happy to be able to try out the new beams and tyres. I still feel the set is a little on the expensive side, but I certainly do like it.
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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