[REVIEW] 42056 - Porsche 911 GT3 RS

[1974]

So let me get this straight.. Lego purposely and knowingly designed the gearbox to shift out of order to enhance the experience..?

Pretty sure your (and others) experience just got "enhanced" 1.81 Jiggawatts .. but in the wrong direction

I'm willing to bet that TLG's next move is to give out those camouflage stickers for free, so you can get even more authentic

[msx80]

i don't know about the set, but this review is a real masterpiece! thanks!

[Paul Boratko]

Lego should have just used this as their response..

"Attention Everyone who thinks there is a problem with the gearbox"

Edited June 1, 2016 by Paul Boratko

[Alternator]

...

He doesn't know if, but he is getting the AROCS real soon, that should settle him down a bit.

A bit off topic, but that AROCS is a fantastic model imo... I was surprised at how much I liked it, initially I was thinking to skip it due to similarity with the Unimog, glad I didn't...

I supose that sentiment does give me pause with the Porsche, but for me it comes back to the price, if I could pick it up at AROc price, I'd probably buy it for what it is

[1974]

If I was a billionaire, I'd call Porsche HQ and get them to switch gears in my actual GT3 'cause TLG

[sm1995]

A bit off topic, but that AROCS is a fantastic model imo... I was surprised at how much I liked it, initially I was thinking to skip it due to similarity with the Unimog, glad I didn't...

I supose that sentiment does give me pause with the Porsche, but for me it comes back to the price, if I could pick it up at AROc price, I'd probably buy it for what it is

Still off topic, but I agree 100%. Superb looks as well as lots of clever functions, like the link steering system and the rear suspension. Now that's a proper flagship and I had zero doubts about spending $250 on it.

[neoconagenda]

Of course there are the AFOL's like myself that are not keen on the design of a set as much as enjoying the building / completing experience. This is a poor situation for people that have a compulsory need to buy for the sake of buying. While I don't fall into the latter category, I will find it hard to pass on this set given that I somewhat have the means to afford it. At least with the previous "capitol" Technic sets there has been intrinsic value with the PF's or the quality Technic features. I know, as does TLG, that many AFOL's will buy this set for a ton of different reasons. Many will see it as a possible investment. Others will hold their nose due to the overwhelming smell of crap that we have been served. Crap that we of course chose to pay for...

I really hope that the BWE soothes some of the sting from this let down.

[Paul Boratko]

Other reviewers are saying it slips and makes noise when it is pushed along.

Maybe this is being nitpicky, but why are the actual shifter positions opposite of those from the real car? And by this I mean R-N-D. This doesn't seem like it should have been very difficult to do.

http://www.automobil...3-rs-shifter-01

You know, since the model has 4 forward speeds and 4 backwards speeds, technically all that you would need to do is switch the sticker on the center console.. Maybe that was another error.. Perhaps the sticker is wrong..

[mostlytechnic]

I'm mentally comparing this to the issues / recall of the 8043 a few years back. In that case, the fans said that the LAs used to lift the arm were too weak and the clutches kept slipping. That time, TLG's response was to pull the sets while they redesigned the LAs and then reissue the set with new parts. And for those who had already bought the set, you could call and they'd send you the new LAs.

This time, bah. I agree with all the others saying that PR statement was crap. If you really meant to have the gearbox shift out of order on an Ultimate Technic set, you darn well should have noted that in the manual and explained it. But really, you should never have considered such a thing. And so they say they're proud to have a detail-oriented fanbase that would notice little details like the gearbox being out of order? Baloney. They messed up (either misprint or they really did make a bad design decision) and should have owned up to it. Being honest and fixing a problem goes a LONG way to making your fans happy.

[Balrog]

Thanks guys, right now I am considering cancelling my order and waiting until August and get it cheaper.

[1974]

Cheaper? Pretty sure TLG is not going to B-wing this set. It'll be on the shelves for a couple of years at the same crazy price

[Paul Boratko]

If Lego knew that the car shifted out of order, then why would they not inform every reviewer about it when they sent them the set..? Since the gearbox is the "heart" of the model, that seems like it would be a crucial piece of information..

Edited June 1, 2016 by Paul Boratko

[Balrog]

Cheaper? Pretty sure TLG is not going to B-wing this set. It'll be on the shelves for a couple of years at the same crazy price

Do you honestly think that Amazon will not put this out lower than MSRP?

[1974]

Certainly not. I was thinking what TLG would do on their own website

If Lego knew that the car shifted out of order, then why would they not inform every reviewer about it when they sent them the set..? Since the gearbox is the "heart" of the model, that seems like it would be a crucial piece of information..

LEGO designers, managers of internal focus groups, marketing people, SoMe admins, beancounters etc do not always speak the same language.. This is a clear case of that, imho

[Balrog]

Certainly not. I was thinking what TLG would do on their own website

Sorry, I thought mentioning August was enough hint to point towards other sellers ;-)

[nerdsforprez]

TLG just made a statement regarding the gearbox ... which is bonkers, really

"TLG did it right, but you can do it right too by switching gears ('open source' and all), but it's still very authentic, ultimate and Porsche is pleased" ... sigh

Why do they care so much about how it runs on the floor? This s a +16 product and a shelf queen, it's not a runner??

(Found it on Brickset btw)

.....

"Official statement - 42056 LEGO Technic Porsche

Thank you to all our dedicated fans for the comments regarding the GT3 RS by LEGO Technic.

It is correct that the gears in this model are not sequential as in the real Porsche PDK. This is however, a deliberate decision taken to ensure that we make the best possible LEGO version of this amazing car that both meets our design requirements and gives everyone a great building and product experience.

It was a considered decision taken during development that the gears running in the correct order meant that it did not result in a great experience when driving the car. Too many gears are engaged at the same time and smooth running with all those tolerances is just not possible.

If you switch the build in steps 267 and 269 the gears will run sequentially, and everyone who feels that this is the better solution should feel encouraged to do so.

LEGO Technic really is the ultimate open source design product and now that it is finally available, we look forward to seeing all the 'improved' models our fans create. After all, that is what LEGO building is all about.

We hope everyone will have a great building experience and feel a strong sense of pride from creating both our version and their very own LEGO Technic representation of a Porsche GT3 RS. We are very fortunate to have such skilled and dedicated fans that can spot this small deviation from reality and would like to thank everyone for sharing their ideas and expert knowledge."

Com'on guys.... it was their attempt to make something "Ultimate" about 42056 --- "Ultimate" PR that is !! :laugh:

[1974]

Com'on guys.... it was their attempt to make something "Ultimate" about 42056 --- "Ultimate" PR that is !! :laugh:

Ultimate cock up that is, and they succeded

[dr_spock]

That 1-3-2-4 shifting pattern sounds like someone not knowing how to use one of these and going in English sentence reading order.

[Rishab N]

Oh boy. TLG had the chance to send out an apology, own up to their mistake, offer a solution, but no they just shot themselves in the foot. Only way I'd ever buy this set is at a steep discount. Let's hope that they learn from this and make the next "Ultimate Technic" set better

[Richard Dower]

ok....i'm out

[BrickMonkeyMOCs]

"Official statement - 42056 LEGO Technic Porsche

Thank you to all our dedicated fans for the comments regarding the GT3 RS by LEGO Technic.

It is correct that the gears in this model are not sequential as in the real Porsche PDK. This is however, a deliberate decision taken to ensure that we make the best possible LEGO version of this amazing car that both meets our design requirements and gives everyone a great building and product experience.

It was a considered decision taken during development that the gears running in the correct order meant that it did not result in a great experience when driving the car. Too many gears are engaged at the same time and smooth running with all those tolerances is just not possible.

If you switch the build in steps 267 and 269 the gears will run sequentially, and everyone who feels that this is the better solution should feel encouraged to do so.

LEGO Technic really is the ultimate open source design product and now that it is finally available, we look forward to seeing all the 'improved' models our fans create. After all, that is what LEGO building is all about.

We hope everyone will have a great building experience and feel a strong sense of pride from creating both our version and their very own LEGO Technic representation of a Porsche GT3 RS. We are very fortunate to have such skilled and dedicated fans that can spot this small deviation from reality and would like to thank everyone for sharing their ideas and expert knowledge."

You have to appreciate LEGO's commitment to technical accuracy here. I hear Porsche themselves are actually about to release an updated sequential 1-3-2-4 gearbox for the real 911 RS to give their racing drivers "a great driving and product experience". :P

[Paul Boratko]

I wonder if this sticker was printed backwards to enhance the experience..?

[andrewganschow]

You know with all this nonsense talk about "ultimate" I'm really beginning to think someone at TLG goofed up and called the Porsche ultimate, when they really meant to call 42055 Ultimate. Let's go with that theory to ease the ultimate talk. Just a guess.

[dhc6twinotter]

Jim, thanks for the amazing review! This is the best review I've ever read, and as usual, the photos are superb!

As for the set itself, I'm going to pass. I really hope the Claas's functions work better. The 42049 Mine Loader was a complete design failure, and now the Porsche with its flaws, and I'm seeing things I don't like about the the BWE. Lego needs to get the Claas right.

[CP5670]

This might have been better as a regular, non-licensed set at a (much) lower price. The Porsche license seems to be the main reason for the cost and it doesn't really have a premium feel otherwise, with the missing/broken functions (and TLG's response on that is just baffling) and lack of printed parts. Even the box packaging, while great by today's standards, is identical to what 8448 had back in the day. It does look fantastic, one of the best looking Technic models I can think of, but as others said it would have looked even better as a studded Creator model. Excellent review though, very thorough and unbiased, much better than the set itself.

I think the 16+ label is just marketing and doesn't reflect the difficulty of the build. They're clearly targeting a different sort of audience with this set and want to give an impression that this is a serious model for adult collectors and Porsche fans, not just a toy.