42209 Volvo L120 Electric Wheel Loader

[Erik Leppen]

Seeing them side by side like this, I'd say the new one is the best of the bunch.

Large enough to have alls the necessary functions, but small enough to be interesting.

[Auroralampinen]

Here is unbrickme's review of this set:) 

 

[M_longer]

As usual clickbait image

[Auroralampinen]

Here is brickset review :). 

https://brickset.com/article/121638/review-42209-volvo-l120-electric-wheel-loader

Here is brother brick review:).

https://www.brothers-brick.com/2025/05/24/lego-technic-42209-volvo-l120-electric-wheel-loader-small-but-dense-review/

[jorgeopesi]

Awesome set with real bucket movement.

[Unbrickme]

On 5/14/2025 at 6:40 AM, Cypr-21 said:

The 8265 offered a very poor playability due to the standard LA (in manual version, for $80). So you had to buy the 8293 box ($30) to have a decent playbility (I said decent, not better, because it was impossible to combine arm and bucket movements, due to the gearbox). And this gearbox was only here in order to power the model with only one motor. 

If you correctly open your eyes, you will see 2 differentials on the 42209 and an electric motor under the bonnet.

In practical play, do you ever spin two twins gear knobs together, simultaneously? I never do that personally. It’s just not very intuitive. Better to have a single knob with a distribution gearbox 

[Paul B Technic]

Nice video. It sounds like it was a good building experience and the end result lives up to the hype.

[Auroralampinen]

Here is Racingbricks review:). 

 

[howitzer]

Excellent review as always, and the set looks to be something worth buying day one. The connections and density of the build are really something to behold!

[jorgeopesi]

I love the set but I notice some automatic unloading movement of the bucket when the arms are raising which it would be an epic fail for me.

[Oh_Hi_Mao]

On 5/25/2025 at 9:13 AM, Unbrickme said:

Except my click through rate is pretty low, so, maybe it's not so effective

My suggestion - don't listen to the haters. If you feeling like adding clickbait thumbnails it is what you need, just do it. Your style of reviews is unique, don't listen the haters who are doing nothing but pushing you to the mediocre. We already have tens of dry serious reviewers, who needs one more.

[Ngoc Nguyen]

Who wants @Maaboo the Witch to say the line?  

 

Edited May 28 by Ngoc Nguyen

[Maaboo the Witch]

26 minutes ago, Ngoc Nguyen said:

Who wants @Maaboo the Witch to say the line?  

I do, I do!

The multicoloured gears don't bother me that much, probably because Volvo and green go so well together! I am a bit baffled as to why TLG didn't use a black gear on top for the steering, though. Maybe it's an inventory/distribution thing.

[Ngoc Nguyen]

21 minutes ago, Maaboo the Witch said:

I do, I do!

The multicoloured gears don't bother me that much, probably because Volvo and green go so well together! I am a bit baffled as to why TLG didn't use a black gear on top for the steering, though. Maybe it's an inventory/distribution thing.

I think it's the new design direction for Technic in which 12z and 20z gears not used for perpendicular transmission must be the spur variant. 

[karmadrome]

An excellent midrange set, function-packed, dense, full of gears.

 

My only complaint would be the poor playability, since the gear ratio for the bucket and arm operation seem pretty bad, you have to do some heavy knob-turning to work the functions.

 

My go-to wheel loader in this size is still my trusty old 8853, which had excellent playability, the movements can be operated with very few knob rotations. Curious whether someone will come up with a mod improve the movement speed of arm and bucket.

[aeh5040]

I'm a bit in two minds about this. It looks like a lot of gears for not that many functions. Of course I like gears, but I also like optimal solutions. In any case, I'm sure I'll buy it...

[zoo]

Looks like a fun set to both build and play with. I do wish the bucket was a bit bigger though. Not sure what to pair this with now. The density is quite impressive but it could have been made a bit less dense and larger in scale.

[NV Lego technic]

5 hours ago, Ngoc Nguyen said:

I think it's the new design direction for Technic in which 12z and 20z gears not used for perpendicular transmission must be the spur variant. 

I agree, it would make it a better part donor 

[aeh5040]

6 hours ago, Ngoc Nguyen said:

I think it's the new design direction for Technic in which 12z and 20z gears not used for perpendicular transmission must be the spur variant. 

Indeed. I am glad about this, mostly because the more recent molds of 20t double bevels (especially tan) had horrendous meshing problems, for reasons I never understood.

[Bartybum]

10 hours ago, Ngoc Nguyen said:

12z and 20z gears not used for perpendicular transmission must be the spur variant

I never understood this. The bevel gears already have involute profiles running down the centreline, so they can be readily used as spur gears. The bevel profiles are only on the side.

[Aurorasaurus]

44 minutes ago, Bartybum said:

I never understood this. The bevel gears already have involute profiles running down the centreline, so they can be readily used as spur gears. The bevel profiles are only on the side.

They have extra resistance when running because more surface is in contact with other parts.

Also, at least on the 12t gear, the non bevel version actually has slightly longer teeth. So if you use it with a steering rack you ever so slightly reduce the slack because it has that little bit less space to move.

[Dylan M]

Did someone knew who's the designer of this compact Model?

[Bartybum]

5 hours ago, Aurorasaurus said:

They have extra resistance when running because more surface is in contact with other parts.

Also, at least on the 12t gear, the non bevel version actually has slightly longer teeth. So if you use it with a steering rack you ever so slightly reduce the slack because it has that little bit less space to move.

Oh shoot nvm I'm totally wrong about the bevel gear profiles, all good !!