Set Review ➟ 42092 Rescue Helicopter
The last LEGO Technic set we reviewed on this blog was the Remote-Controlled Stunt Racer with 324 pieces. The set we review this time contains one element more, but costs less than half. Of course this set doesn’t contain any electronics but that doesn’t mean it is less entertaining. Let’s have a look:
Set: 42092
Name: Rescue Helicopter
Parts: 325
Price (in Spain): 29,99€
There have been plenty of helicopters in the Technic theme, starting with the 852 from 1977. There have been helicopters of all sizes, from just a few (33!) to over a thousand. The rescue helicopter for 2019 fits in the middle category and includes all the basic functions you might expect at that size.
Upon opening the box we find three unnumbered bags, a single instruction booklet and a discreet sticker sheet. The box has "thumb tabs", but I prefer to use a kitchen knife to carefully wedge it open. The instruction booklet has a QR code on the front, just like all the other sets in the Technic theme for this year. Using this code you get access to the building instructions of the secondary model, by means of a phone or tablet and the LEGO Life app.
Among the pieces that stand out there is a wide variety of panels (for a set this size), the blades of the main rotor, the tail and the stretcher to add playability to the set. The 12L axle isn’t just red to more easily distinguish it from the 10L ones the set also contains, but helps to integrate the axle in the tail section as we will wee later on.
We start building the helicopter with the central part of the airship. While the curved panels make for a great hull shape, there are plenty of parts used inside to create a flat interior floor. The first "mechanism" we build are the doors on either side of the cabin, followed shortly after by the doors to the cargo bay.
The landing skids are attached next as well as some navigation lights (red and green) and a search light at the bottom of the helicopter.
The cockpit is built with just a handful of pieces, but the soft axle helps to give it an organic look.
Then it is time to start building the mechanism for the rotors. At first it appears to stick out to far through the bottom, but it it easy to use (while in flight).
After finishing the base of the helicopter we turn to the tail section. As I mentioned earlier, the red axle integrates nicely and gives it a stylised look.
The way the rear rotor is attached drew my attention. The centre hole of this rotor is round, making it hard to power it, but the 3L Axle Pin has enough friction to do just that.
At this point I found a small discrepancy in the building instructions. They appear to tell you to slide in the tail section at an angle, but that won’t work:
The build requires a perfectly horizontal slide so the white connectors slide under the red beams.
Now only the last mechanism remains and again the instructions appear to follow a strange order. If you first tie the string to the drum, how do you get it to go through the black piece? But wait…the string has two ends so all is well :D
Hook it all up, add the stretcher and ready we are.
Now all we need is the main rotor and we are finished:
Playability
After finishing the build it is time to assess the playability of the model.
The knob to make the rotors turn is easy to use (as long as you are in flight). The winch is also comfortably located with the knob on the opposite side of the cabin. The doors to the cabin open and so do the doors on the cargo bay.
Tie for the final test: what will the intended audience (by age) say about the model? After inspecting the functionality of the model, it is time to look for some crew and make a test flight.
With the (compulsory) helmet on, the space in the cockpit is a bit tight, though sufficient, but since minidolls have long legs, there can only be a single pilot, seated in the centre. The cabin provides enough space for a second crew member
Things get more complicated when we fly out on a rescue mission: the winch can’t raise the victim high enough for the crew to be able to help her much, let alone get her into the helicopter.
The cargo hold is no place for a rescue victim so the cabin will have to do :D
We wish to thank LEGO for providing this set for review—however, all our opinions are our own and LEGO neither approves nor endorses our site. No minidolls were harmed in the making of this review.
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