[REVIEW] 42092 - Rescue Helicopter

[Jim]

REVIEW - 42092 - RESCUE HELICOPTER

INTRODUCTION
It feels like yesterday that TLG released a small rescue helicopter, but actually it dates back quite a few years. I'm talking about the 8068 - Rescue Helicopter released in 2011, packing 408 parts.

In the 2010, one year earlier, TLG released an even smaller (152 parts) helicopter. The 8046 - Helicopter, which is clearly a rescue helicopter as well.

With 325 pieces, the latest rendition lives somewhere between the 2010 and the 2011 version. Let's take off for the review.

PICTURES
Pictures can be clicked to view hi-res versions. More pictures can be found in my Flickr album.

DISCLAIMER
This set has been provided by the CEE Team of TLG. It's not my goal to promote this set. It's my goal to give you an honest opinion about it. Therefore, the opinion in this review is my own and is in no way linked to TLG.

SET INFORMATION
Number: 42092
Title: Rescue Helicopter
Theme: Technic
Released: 2019
Part Count: 325
Box Weight: 451 gram
Box Dimensions: 28,0 cm x 26,0 cm x 5,8 cm
Set Price (RRP): € 29,99
Price per Part: € 0,092
Links: Brickset, Bricklink

THE BOX

CONTENTS OF THE BOX
The box contains:

• 1x Instruction booklet
• 1x Sticker sheet
• 4x Unnumbered bag

BOOKLET

STICKER SHEET

BAGS

   

HIGHLIGHTED PARTS
The white Axle and Pin Connector looks new, but it has already been released last year.

The white 7 x 3 Panel is new this year though.

PART LIST
The part list for all the 325 parts.

COMPLETED MODEL
The completed model captures the shape of a real helicopter very well. I was surprised by this.

The landing gear has some white details, where you would expect black ones. I suspect this is because these parts are already being used in other sets in white this year. And they are being used in white in the tail of the helicopter as well. TLG tries to limit the number of different colors per set, and over the entire Technic range for a specific release period (e.g. 1H 2019). We have seen this strategy before. It probably has something to do with warehousing logistics and obviously optimising profit. When I get the chance, I will ask one of the designers/employees.

The rear section opens up, but unfortunately the life-bed can't be stowed on the helicopter. This is minor gripe for me. Maybe TLG could have designed a different bed, which would fit in the rear. It feels kinda mandatory to be able to store the bed.

The usual left-over parts.

B-MODEL
The B-model looks like something well worth building. It's a Concept Plane with moveable wings.

SUMMARY
I wasn't expecting much of this set, but it looks really nice for such a small helicopter. It has some playability and the opening rear doors are a cool addition. When I noticed the doors could open, I expected to be able to stow the life-bed (stretcher). Unfortunately this is not the case.

It comes with a B-model which is interesting enough to build. It even has a cool feature (moveable wings).

PROS

• Looks great
• Opening rear doors
• Winch
• Cool B-model
• Affordable

CONS

• Life-bed doesn't fit the rear section of the helicopter
• Usage of obvious out-of-place (white) parts on the landing gear

SCORE
How do I rate this set?

8 DESIGN

It captures the shape and looks of a helicopter really well.

7 BUILDING EXPERIENCE
 
Fun to build, but nothing really special.

7 FEATURES

The opening rear doors and winch are cool extra's.

7 PLAYABILITY

 It has swooshability, but the life bed doesn't fit the helicopter.

7 PARTS

Mostly common parts and panels.

8 VALUE FOR MONEY

The B-model looks interesting enough to build as well.

7,3 FUN ENOUGH TO KEEP THE KIDS BUSY FOR A WHILE

FINAL WORDS
Thanks you for reading this review. All pictures can be found here.

[jfbat]

I'm surprised the life-bed doesn't fit... you'd expect that to be the case. Also, the doors are a bit crude, I think it could have been done more streamlined with other panels. Overall it's a nice rendition of a rescue helicopter, sizewise I even prefer it to the 2011 version (which I have). I would have thought this to be a 25 euro set, and it probably will be at the ore affordable retailers.

[1gor]

It is very nice little set and if only TLC have put black connector instead of this white it would be perfect parts pack. Very nice review @Jim

[efferman]

The curved panel 2x7x3 in white is new this year

[Jim]

Just now, efferman said:

The curved panel 2x7x3 in white is new this year

Thanks! I have added it.

[Ngoc Nguyen]

The last rescue helicopter was 9396 in 2012, but I guess it doesnt really fit the line as it doesnt have the stereotypical red and white color scheme.

 

[Jim]

Just now, Ngoc Nguyen said:

The last rescue helicopter was 9396 in 2012, but I guess it doesnt really fit the line as it doesnt have the stereotypical red and white color scheme.

I forgot to add small helicopter, since the 9396 is way bigger. I have edited the review.

[Vectormatic]

I like 8068 a lot more, but given that this set is cheaper and has less parts, i still think it is pretty cool.

I was hoping to build this out of spares, but there are just a few too many specific parts for that to work for me, but i wont have any problem just picking one up from the store

 

Thanks for the review Jim!

[M_longer]

3 hours ago, Jim said:

The B-model looks like something well worth building. It's a Concept Plane with moveable wings.

Instructions for B model are available :)
https://www.lego.com/r/www/r/service/-/media/franchises/customer service/technic/01-2019/42092_b.pdf

 

[Ngoc Nguyen]

Lego, concept prototype producer since 2017.

I'm planning to get 42092, and 8068 is on its way to me, so there are definitely gonna be comparison pictures between the two.

[trekman]

The whole model looks good except for the white pin connector on the landing skid.  They could have used an additional black 3 long straight connector, just like at the end of the skid, and used a 2long axle to connect to the front bend, and then a shorter axle instead of the 10 long axle used.  But I suppose this has to do with part count and warehouse logistics....
Nice Review, but I wont be buying the model.

[Ngoc Nguyen]

19 hours ago, Jim said:

It feels like yesterday

But it is indeed yesterday because the latest small helicopter was released just last year  The name was 42064.

[Erik Leppen]

18 hours ago, trekman said:

They could have used an additional black 3 long straight connector, just like at the end of the skid, and used a 2long axle to connect to the front bend, and then a shorter axle instead of the 10 long axle used.

I thought that too, but then the shorter axle would be 7, which is gray or yellow, not black. Unless of course the whole skid is made either one stud shorter or one stud longer.

[Ngoc Nguyen]

Milan used his magic again!

 

[Sariel]

For the record, I managed to fit the stretcher through the rear door. It's doable provided you remove the stretcher's harness and fiddle around with closing the doors a little. I think the smooth floor inside the fuselage shows that the stretcher is supposed to go in there.

[Jim]

4 hours ago, Sariel said:

For the record, I managed to fit the stretcher through the rear door. It's doable provided you remove the stretcher's harness and fiddle around with closing the doors a little. I think the smooth floor inside the fuselage shows that the stretcher is supposed to go in there.

I have not tried disassembling the stretcher. I do see the image on the box, but taking apart the stretcher doesn't feel right. I will try it though. Thanks.

[allanp]

Good review and pictures as always Jim  

Hmmmm, can't say I'm all that impressed with this one. 8412 nighthawk (286 pcs) has a working swash plate to tilt the blades, 8283 chopper force (289 pcs) has an interesting ratcheting mechanism to spin the blades and the helicopter from 8064 (219 pcs plus motor and battery box) has a motor and cleverly used the battery box as the detachable payload and was also part of a universal set, when was the last time we had one of those? I know they were from the studded era, but then they also had lower piece counts and similar dimensions. I'm not saying this new helicopter has to be like those, but a knob sticking out the bottom connected directly to the main rotor via a single shaft just seems boring and lazy in comparison for a 325 piece set. The winch and stretcher are nice added touches though, sadly not enough to redeem this set for me.