Review: LEGO Technic Set 42008 - Service Truck

[Paul B Technic]

I have just posted my review of LEGO Technic set 42008 - Service Truck on my blog:

http://paulstechnic.blogspot.com.au/p/set-42008-service-truck-review.html

[Freekysch]

I was just thinking of buying this set so thank you for posting this review. I have two options: 42000 or 42008 and after this review i'm more interested in the truck. I think the scale is the same with the 8109 so, it has a "brother", to say so. One thing bothers me about this set: the front is plain ugly (compared to other Lego trucks 9397 and 8258, that i own).

Great review Paul B .

PS: can anyone post a picture with 42008 and 8109 side by side ? Thanx in advance.

[Paul B Technic]

I was just thinking of buying this set so thank you for posting this review. I have two options: 42000 or 42008 and after this review i'm more interested in the truck. I think the scale is the same with the 8109 so, it has a "brother", to say so. One thing bothers me about this set: the front is plain ugly (compared to other Lego trucks 9397 and 8258, that i own).

Great review Paul B .

PS: can anyone post a picture with 42008 and 8109 side by side ? Thanx in advance.

Thanks for the feedback, yes I agree the front is quite ugly.

I used to own 42000 and it is a tough choice, if you like cars then 42000 is very nice and looks good but the features are not great. If you prefer trucks then this might not look as good but the features are fairly good.

[jantjeuh]

Nice review, thanks. Maybe next time you could also call out which parts are new/rare etc., and also include a few pictures of the building process. Just a suggestion ;)

[chorlton]

PS: can anyone post a picture with 42008 and 8109 side by side ? Thanx in advance.

Not exactly 42008 but since they were both sitting beside me as I was reading...

This is my copy of 42008 built from the official instructions. Apologies for the missing parts of 8109 which were scavenged for the build.

As you say, they are indeed "brothers". [edit: looking more closely and comapring the cab proportions, I'd say 42008 is actually a bigger truck in a smaller scale]

(I would add that you can't reliably tow 8109 using 42008 as the front of the 8109 cab overhangs the front wheels by too much to fit on the 42008 tow frame)

Edited September 6, 2013 by chorlton

[Paul B Technic]

Nice review, thanks. Maybe next time you could also call out which parts are new/rare etc., and also include a few pictures of the building process. Just a suggestion ;)

Thanks for the feedback, except for the green pieces I don't know if any other pieces are really new or rare.

I did start to take photos of the build process but my camera battery went flat and I didn't want to wait 12 hours for it to charge :(

[Freekysch]

Thanks for the photo you made chorlton, 8109 looks waaaay better then 42008. Too bad that the designer of 8109 did not make 42008 too.

[jantjeuh]

Yeah, I'm not a fan of the aesthestics of 42008 either. Anyone know who designed it?

[Maaboo the Witch]

Looks like an interesting model, but I'm unsure if it'll be a buy for me.

[gmshades]

I got this set for my birthday. Just got done building it tonight.

As far as looks, the sides and front are good, but the back needs some work. I will be changing the outriggers to a liftarm with 1x3 liftarm feet.

The gearbox design and install was a great piece of engineering. Lego never stops coming up with creative ways of securing different components.

Only other thing I would add is an electric switch. The battery is pretty deep in the body, making it hard to change directions of the motor.

All in all, I am happy I have this set, and would recommend it to everyone!

Glenn

[N-4K0]

I consider this set. I want it mostly to have a green truck, even though I think it's a bit low. I'd probably modify it a bit bigger and give it a flatbed.

[FuzzyBallz]

I'll get this set in October with my LEGO magazine 10% off single item coupon. I always forget to use it. Gotta love the pneumatic functions.

I wonder what the bonus item with purchase will be next month.

[rriggs]

Thanks for the review. Nicely done with very tidy photography.

I agree that this truck has slightly challenging looks. I think that this is because is it based on an older US cab over design which is common as tow trucks whereas other recent Technic trucks have been based on modern Euro designs. That would also explain why the scale seems off as US trucks have very different proportions to Euro trucks.

If you compare it to a 70s/80s cab over Kenworth you can see what TLG were trying to do. I'm not a fan of this era of US truck but if you compare in this way you can see that the design is OK and it's what it's been based on that's the problem!

Cheers

Rog

[Bricksonwheels]

To be honest I think this set is plain ugly.

[efferman]

If you compare it to a 70s/80s cab over Kenworth you can see what TLG were trying to do. I'm not a fan of this era of US truck but if you compare in this way you can see that the design is OK and it's what it's been based on that's the problem!

sorry, but this is more a kenworth coe

the 42008 is only a european coe with a front axle to much in front

[Paul B Technic]

Well I have decided to sell this, it does not really fit in my collection and I am not that impressed with it.

[rriggs]

sorry, but this is more a kenworth coe

the 42008 is only a european coe with a front axle to much in front

Yes, that is. Kenworth COE but they did build more than one design and pretty much all 1970s era COE designs were pretty poor looking and all featured the same combination of large grille and tiny lights low down near the bumper. Scammell and some other European designs were also similar at this time but looking at any of them you can see where TLG got their inspiration. They could have just done another modern Scania lookalike but then no doubt people would complain they weren't being original....

Cheers

Rog

[Bricksonwheels]

Yes, that is. Kenworth COE but they did build more than one design and pretty much all 1970s era COE designs were pretty poor looking and all featured the same combination of large grille and tiny lights low down near the bumper. Scammell and some other European designs were also similar at this time but looking at any of them you can see where TLG got their inspiration. They could have just done another modern Scania lookalike but then no doubt people would complain they weren't being original....

Cheers

Rog

I can see what you mean, but a cab like that doesn't go with a 4 axle setup and more modern wrecker body. It is a mess.

[jantjeuh]

I can see what you mean, but a cab like that doesn't go with a 4 axle setup and more modern wrecker body. It is a mess.

Agreed!

Offtopic: are you working on any new trucks? Would love to see you do a proper studless truck :D

[Rishab N]

Im really not sure whether im going to get this set. Its either this, 42000,9396, or 9397

[jantjeuh]

Get 9396 and 42006 instead :) Both good sets.

Edited September 16, 2013 by jantjeuh

[Freekysch]

Get 9397 for sure, i really like that set, UW made yet again a wonderful truck.

[Rishab N]

I like the 9397, but i already own the 8258 and its not very different in functionality. I think getting both the 9396 and 42006 is a good idea as it gives me some variety in my collection. Now to wait for a Toys R Us "buy 1 get 50% off another "sale

[jantjeuh]

42006 might be my favorite set this year, it's really cleverly built, and has tons of useful parts. 9396 is just excellent, very underrated set.

[rollermonkey]

Picked this up last night from TRU, both as a green parts pack and because I haven't tried a set with pneumatics since coming out of the DA...

I agree that it's ugly, but a bigger problem for me is the build itself. Too many sub builds that get added onto a half-dozen pins at once, and often those pins are on short beams that rotate while you're trying to connect stuff.

I should have just sprung the extra cash for the new Volvo instead, even if it meant more yellow.