Set reference: 42009
Set name: Mobile Crane MK II
Theme: LEGO Technic
Release date: 2013.Aug
Number of parts: 2606 (plus a few spares)
LEGO Designer: Kossi (Markus Kossman)
Model under review: Main model
Weight: 2.490g (87.8 oz) - w/o batteries
Approximate set dimensions: Fully raised and extended boom, and outriggers
Length - 58,5cm (23.0")
Width - 26,4cm (10.2")
Height - 77,0cm (30.3")
Approximate box dimensions:
Length - 47,8cm (18.8")
Width - 57,8cm (22.8")
Height - 9,0cm (3.5")
Stickers: Yes
Building instructions: 6 booklets (84, 76, 84, 68, 36 and 84 pages): 1/6, 2/6, 3/6, 4/6, 5/6, 6/6
B-model: Reach Stacker and Truck - Building instructions available online only:
1/5, 2/5, 3/5, 4/5, 5/5
Recommended for ages: 11 - 16
Building difficulty level: High+
Estimated building time: 7h - 10h
Price range: 200€ aprox.
Price per part: 7,7 euro cents
Inventory (Bricklink): Link
Other user reviews (Brickset): Link
And here we're to review the biggest LEGO Technic set in 2013, the flagship as we use to call it.
This review was preceded by a few live building sessions, that were streamed online and you may have eventually followed. If it was not the case, you may still find some of recordings at TechnicBRICKs Live Stream Channel.
This model has caused some expectations among the fans, because with over 2600 parts, it is the largest LEGO Technic set released so far. So everyone is curious to see how it performs as we have already seen some of the largest sets struggling to have its functions moving seamlessly.
This is also a model designed by one of the most known LEGO Technic designers, Markus Kossman, who had designed some of he most mythical sets in the recent past years, and also designed the 8421, Mobile Crane XL in 2005, with 1884 parts. Thus, the comparation is more than expectable and inevitable...
Because its predecessor was also designed by the same author, they have used a 'MK II' suffix to the name, which could have two readings - "Make II" like a remake of a former model, or "Markus Kossman II" in homage to the designer.
Whether this is just another LEGO Technic Mobile Crane, or it brings in fact some innovation relative to its ancestors, is something we are going to see along the following sections.
1. The package and contents
With the traditional large card box with lift-up cover, this set comes with the usual LEGO Technic flagship type box.
The front cover depicts the main model, its functions and other main information about the model like the number of parts, the PF elements included, etc.
Notice this model includes one PF L-motor, which is still a relative rare element because of the high demand from the Technic fans and due to the fact it is still not available as a spare part at LEGO.com/Shop.
On the back, or bottom side, as usual we see the proposed B-model, which is a Reach or Container Stacker, plus a Truck to carry containers in this case.
Once opened the flip-up cover reveals in deeper detail the electrical functions of the model, with emphasis on the functions switch box and a numeric association with several illustrations showing the main functions of the model. Also other characteristics are shown, like manual functions and the dimensions of the model.
The electrical functions are:
Lift of the crane boom
Outriggers control (all 4 simultaneously), with auxiliary control lever on the right side of the truck chassis (switchable between extension/retraction of the outriggers and lower/raise of the outriggers feet)
Lower/raise winch
Extend/retract crane boom
Additionally we have some manual functions
8 of 10 wheel steering via knob on the truck rear side
Continuous rotation of the crane superstructure
V8 fake engine with moving cylinders, as the truck rolls
The box is really heavy and full of content. You won't have any doubts about it once you open it. This must have been one of LEGO Technic boxes with least Billund air, released so far. And I only say "one of", because there are other in this semester as you will see in the next few days.
This is something expected as the box has the same size as from the 2012 flagship (9398) and almost twice the parts included. While this is more environment conscious you also fell better realizing you have paid a large amount of money, for a box full of LEGO, than one only half full.
As any other recent sets above a certain size, this one comes with the building instructions books and stickers sheet, protected with a cardboard inside a plastic back, so that they won't get damaged during transport as it often happened in the past.
There are 6 books included, 3 for the truck, 2 for the superstructure with cabin and 1 for the crane boom.
This bag also includes the string for the winch, unlike the small card box that uses to contain the string elements in LEGO sets.
Unlike previous sets that use to include the parts list in the end of the last book, this time this comes in the first pages of book 1, what seems to me a sensible measure.
Notice that from the 2606 parts included, nearly 1000 are pins and alike. But all know these always come in big proportion at LEGO Technic sets.
When taking the box contents out, we remain with a large bunch of polybags and some loose parts like tires and PF elements.
Bags got numbered (1 to 3) what should help building such a large set with huge partcount, unless you take prior special sorting measures to ease the building process - like I did.
2. The new parts
Before getting into the new parts, I'd like to highlight some facts.
This set comes with some parts that are not exactly new, but were introduced for the first time in sets from the 1H13. This is the case of new parts (1x5 thin liftarm with axle holes in the ends - 11418), or existing parts in never before released colors as seen from the picture on the left.
In the picture on the right side we can also see a couple of parts which are now released with this set, in new colors for the first time. It is the case of the 16L axle (50451) which was only available in white and now also in black (a much more common color for Techni axles) and the Axle and Pin Connector Perpendicular Triple (63869) now released in black for the first time.
As for really new parts, we have the new design for the 11x3 Technic panel, which we first saw in images from the LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 Education Expansion kit (45560) in black - here it is released in yellow.
This part got extra pin holes for improved connectivity and sturdier constructions. These were added at its longest sides offering extra and new orientation connection points at specific points in this element.
And finally a new element which has been generating some hype - the 8 teeth sliding gear. This gear is based on the same design as the newest version of the standard 8 teeth gear (10928) which got wider teeth preventing it from sliding into the beams hole recession.
If you notice the details on the close-up photo, you should realize there are only two inner contact points instead of four in the regular 8 tooth gear. This alone with eventually a slightly larger inner radius, should allow for the gears to slide easily over an axle.
This sliding capability will offer new functional possibilities as we will see ahead in this review.
3. The parts assortment
Although this is not a very rich or even rich set in terms of included PF elements, perhaps because of its huge partcount and functions, this is a rich set in terms of parts diversity. Not a bit of everything is included in the assortment of course (like pneumatic or suspension specific elements), but still there is a large representation of current Technic elements. Besides the omnipresent beams, axles and pins, we get many other elements in reasonable amounts and diversity, from frames, panels, connectors, a huge set of gears and the two kinds of linear actuators available (2 large and 4 mini).
This is definitely a good set to start stocking your Technic elements, if you want to start building your own models and you can afford purchasing such large and expensive set. Despite expensive in overall, due to its huge partcount it is also a good deal in terms of price per part figures. Specially if you can wait and look for better deals or for the prices to start falling as the set gets closer to its retirement in a couple of years.
Additionally to the partlist print above, you can also see the full assortment listed here.
4. Building experience
This time because I was doing the live building streaming and also trying some time lapse video footage, I decide to not use the IKEA cutlery trays... but to sort all the parts over my workbench, hence the numbered polybags were not really useful as such.
And here we're, READY TO GO!!
We start with the first book of course, and with the chassis of the truck supporting the supperstructure and crane.
At the end of the first book and after 75 steps, we are like this. The five axles and respective steering racks (4) are in place along with the basic switching box mechanism in the center, that will allow the selection of the two outrigger functions (extension/retraction and feet lower/raise).
We proceed into the second book until we get the basic chassis structure finished few steps ahead, before getting into the construction of the outriggers modules.
The outriggers are deployed as two distinct modules and here we have some intermediary photos from the rear outrigger module (top, bottom and top view again).
Interestingly the outrigger extension arms, are built with a double gear rack stacked setup. This allows for the exact height required to let it run perfectly tight inside the studless chassis structure. Also it provides a convenient top slot that provides a guiding line for an half pin which this way locks each outrigger arm in place and prevents it from getting out of the respective casing.
And then the rear outriggers module, gets properly attached into the rear section of the chassis.
In these photos you should finally see the red sliding 8 tooth gears in use. These allow to drive the outrigger feet descend/raise functions trough the black 16L axles, when this is the function selected, or allow the same axles to travel trough the same gears when we have selected the outriggers extension/retraction function.
Moving forward we also build the front outriggers module and attach it into the chassis.
The next step consists in guarantee that the front axle is well aligned with all the four rear axles. For that we are going to build an auxiliary beam structure to align the axles in place. This is the second time we use such procedure in the building of this model and the auxiliary structure is disassembled just after.
With this, we have now reached the end of book 2.
The model proceeds with some fairing, the fake engine behind the driver cabin and the construction of the cabin itself.
These constitute all the building steps from book 3, and let us with an almost 60cm length giant truck.
It was quite later that I've noticed that placed the side panels covering the engine, with the stickers upside down. How could one expect to avoid such small mistakes, if building, taking photos, doing a video live strea mof the process and talking at the same time...
We are now diving into the second part and start building the mobile crane superstructure.
The next two books cover the most complex part of the superstructure, with all the gearing from the model main switch box and the driving of the pair of large linear actuators that will sustain the crane boom.
This is where the PF L-motor comes in, to drive all the model's motorized functions, inclusive those laying in the trucks chassis underneath (the outriggers command). As usual this is achieved by routing a driving axle through the large turntable attached to the bottom of this structure and to the truck chassis.
Here we have the same structure after some fairing and getting the upper reel mechanism to wind the winch cable, the goes on the telescopic boom.
At the end off book 5, is when we get this structure ready, with the crane operator's cabin and battery box at counterweight place, attached to the truck chassis by fixing the large turntable on it.
You should realize on a small detail - the 8 tooth gear on a friction axle/pin, next to the large turntable, preventing the whole structure to freely rotate with minimum friction.
Moving forward to the book 6, we start building the last element of this model - the telescopic boom and crane.
Below the inner boom assembly, with crane's second and third section, at retracted and extended positions.
This one goes inside the first and external section, which also provides the final look as it is seen from the outside. It is a remarkable step from the previous LEGO Technic mobile cranes, in terms of aesthetics, because of the use of the Technic panels as fairings. Only possible if building at a larger scale, as it is the case of this model.
Once assembled together, this is the final look of the three section telescopic boom, seen in different positions (fully retracted, half extended and fully extended).
The last steps consist in attaching the telescopic boom to the cabin structure providing the necessary gearing is put in place, passing the winch cable over the boom and around the winch wheel, and fixing the end.
Eventually you will end with something like this...
And I say "eventually", because I ended with this tremendous amount of spare parts...
Although it seems an increasing trend, I cannot stop thinking that eventually some may have been left behind during the building process.
Usually these are not extras required for the B-model.
The parts list indicates one 32L axle, which is used by the main model. Although there are included in the box. Assuming the B-model does not use both, which I really don't know but guess not, this is an weird part to be included among the spares as it is large enough for not being lost that easily.
Unless, I was a lucky bastard getting this as consequence from a virtually unique mistake from the sorting machines in the packaging line...
We're done with the building enterprise!
5. Functionality and playability
Before getting into the model's main functions I would like to focus on a few functional details and I'd start with the outriggers.
It is not the first time I see used into an official model, some friction blue axle/pins, while I'd expect the corresponding frictionless tan version. There are situations where the friction doesn't seem to be needed at all, and it just drains power from the overall function, which is a waste specially when this is motorized.
It seems to be the case again with the feet on the 42009 outriggers.
The blue axle/pins on the 2x4 L beam in the picture above, generate unnecessary friction at two points and there are four of these outrigger feet, moving simultaneously in the whole crane.
Adding to the fact that when I first tested the model with fresh charged batteries, this function seemed to be not working at all, makes me even more convict that the tan pins would have been a smarter choice. Maybe not a significant difference, but definitely an improvement even if a small one.
The feet were not moving at all, and the corresponding gears seemed to be stuck somewhere. Because I was building, while doing the live stream and speaking sometimes or getting distracted with the UStream chat, I immediately suspected that something might have went wrong during the building steps related with this function - it would be a nightmare to find in the end what may have went wrong... Although all my inspections didn't reveal anything wrong, and after some time slightly pushing gears here and there, it finally started to work progressively.
My conclusion was that the mechanism associated with these was almost in the limits of the L-motor strength and anything not put in its optimal place, could be enough to jeopardize the whole function. Hence I'd prefer to reduce friction in each feet, besides the small benefit it might constitute. Again, we must remember this is a function where the motor is in the upper structure, and driving a quad outrigger setup in the chassis of the truck, through the turntable connecting both structures.
My next remark goes for the cabin in the superstructure, from where the operator sits and commands the telescopic crane, winch movement, superstructure slew, etc.
This requires him to have big visibility on whats going on all the time, and often such cabins can be adjusted (raise and tilt) to facilitate such visibility.
On such a large model, I'd expect to have the possibility to make such adjustments to the cabin in the superstructure, even manually. Specially after having the possibility to tilt the cabin in the former 8053, but it is not the case here, where it is absolutely fixed.
I'd like to have seen a cabin that could tilt and lift a bit, even if has to be done manually.
Although we got opening doors and adjustable seats in the cabins. It was the minimum I'd say!
The hook used for the winch itself deserves some remarks. Also since the release of 8053 in 2010, LEGO seem to have abandoned the good old metallic hook (70496). The pulley used with that hook was its main problem IMO, because the string often moved out of the pulley too easily, requiring then one to disassemble it at put the string back in place.
By doing the hook out of other discrete Technic plastic elements also allows to build always in scale with the model and eventually to make a design that fits closer with the hooks used in real cranes. The pulley wheel (56902) used in these is also far better than the former one, because it has a much deeper slot where the string moves in.
The only drawback is that such hooks are likely not much heavy as the original was, thus causing less tension on the winch cable, when the crane is not lifting any payload.
This is something we really notice with this model, as LEGO went for a new type of string. It is really an high quality string, as it is made from a different material then the previous ones which, were made of some kind of softer fibbers. The string is also significantly thicker and one can notice the lack of tension too easily, while moving the winch upwards or downwards, if not loaded.
Another aspect related with the winch movement is that it does not move in synch with the telescopic boom when it is extending or retracting. This was a feature only seen in the old Mobile Crane XL from Markus (8421).
When extending the boom, more cable is needed and consequently the winch gets closer to the booms' tip, eventually getting stuck at that point. The opposite happens when retracting the boom, eventually leading the winch to hit the ground. To avoid such effects one should shift between the boom and the winch operation.
Don't think it has been the lack of power available from the L-motor that contributed for this design decision, so maybe we can wait for a MOD from someone, regarding this aspect.
Although this is not a big problem as a full extension or retraction from the boom, just displaces the winch about 11cm vertically, whereas the whole model it is 77cm high. One can perfectly plan the movements in advance if really concerned with this missing feature.
Also I was trying the 8421 again as I didn't remember exactly how this work, and realized the movements were not properly synch, but running simultaneously at quite different speeds. Hence the problem persists there and 42009 does not stay behind in this aspect!
Some have also mentioned about the manual slew of the superstructure, claiming for some motorization regarding this function.
Again I don't think it was the lack of power delivered by the L-motor, that prevented the used of this functionality, but eventually the need to keep with a 4-way switching box, thus avoiding the need to go for a larger one that certainly would require more space and elements into an already huge model.
Although older mobile cranes (8460/8431/8438) had this function controlled manually with a knob/wheel. It would have been great to see something in this direction, done with this large model too!
As for the motorized functions in this model, I found them all working pretty well, but really slow in most of the cases!
I'd say the only function that doesn't run that slow, is the outriggers extension/retraction. All the others take about 45'' to 60'' for the full movement amplitude (with rechargeable batteries), which is quite a lot of time. In the case of winch it even takes about 2'15'' from the top (extended boom) to the ground, or near 3' if we let the whole string unroll.
Although better to have these functions running slow then faulty! If we want to do a fair judgment, such kind of machinery in real life, also work at a very slow pace, then this toy is at least realistic in that regard.
The only function I think that should run definitely faster is the winch...
I'm also in believe the gearing ratios and the low speed choice for the functions, play a great role in reducing the velocity at which this model drains the batteries. After several days playing with it, taking video footage and exercising the functions to take many photos, it is still running as when I started playing with it.
Good work done here to save batteries, if it was done intentionally.
Nevertheless I must say the slow movements also have the advantage to make the functions to work really well, because there is enough torque available at the expenses of speed.
For instance the telescopic boom extension works flawlessly and without the "hiccups" we can observe on 8421. This is definitely achieved with the contribution of a great bracing done for the gear plus worm gear setup, at the top of the the boom, which guarantees that the mechanism never slips back.
Another great improvement in terms of playability compared to 8421 (the biggest Mobile Crane before 42009), is the fact that the boom is lifted mechanically (with a couple of large Linear Actuators) instead of a pneumatics circuit. In fact we notice the biggest advantage not exactly when it lifts but when it is lowered.
You certainly remember how abruptly the booms descends on 8421, unless you have a very precise handling of the respective control valve...
This is one of the cases where Linear Actuators have a huge advantage compared to pneumatic cylinders, despite they're not the better option in terms of realism.
In this model, if I have to use pneumatic cylinders, I'd have used them to control the outriggers feet, which would look realistic and faster...
Although we should not think this was a natural option for this model because of the impacts and consequences it would have on the design. The gearing is already available at the outriggers level, and with a small switch box we can also control the feet. It was also the right excuse to get the new 8 tooth red sliding gears.
A special note also goes for the easiness to replace the batteries. The battery box detaches really easily and you don't have to disassemble any surrounding parts to access the batteries compartment.
This was also a nice improvement when compared with 8421, which still used the old 9V battery box (2847c03), prior to the Power Funtions era.
Although, I'd not go into the next topic without a negative remark, which I could have produced since the first day we got see the PF elements, but never did without a reason. "Easiness to replace batteries" is a way of saying...
In fact, IMO the actual PF Battery Box sucks! For those like me who use large capacity rechargeable batteries, these tend to be a bit fatter than most common batteries and this turns quite difficult to remove the last battery from this BB (the one lasting in the picture below).
I believe this element could be easily redesigned to avoid or at least to minimize this annoying problem!
Now about the steering and turning radius. Although I've not made any precise measurments, I estimate that 42009 has a turning radius of about 70cm, while 8421 turns with a minimum radius about 35cm, although the axles in this one kind of over steer a lot, making the turning of direction quite difficult (a more natural steering radius for this would be about 40-45cm).
We must realize that 42009 truck with its 5 axles, is quite longer then its predecessor (4 axles) and distance between axles is also longer. Hence the observations are quite within the expected.
42009 has a realistic and differentiated steering for each of its different axles. The center axle does not steer and the next ones immediately after and before turn 13º. The rear axis turn 17º and the front one turns 21º as it is the farther from the central axle. These differences seem very adequate for a natural and effortless steering.
All the steering axles turn with the same gearing ration combination, hence the differentiated steering angles are achieved through different length steering arms on each axle.
In the video below you can see a demonstration with most of the functions above mentioned.
Hope you enjoy the video despite a bit minimalist...
One aspect you may have noticed in the video is that because the string and boom extension movements are not think, I've been switching between both movements a bit. Usually when extending the boom I need to lower the winch a bit to compensate the string length required for the boom extension, and when retracing the boom I need to raise the winch.
Although and once I've followed exactly the instruction steps provided, whenever I switch between both functions, I also need to reverse the polarity switch on the battery box, which is quite inconvenient... It would be easier if I just need to switch between functions using the lever on the switch box.
This could be easily fixed, if the string is winded on the reel, in opposite direction. It is not even need to disassemble anything to fix this. It is enough to lower the winch till the end and let it continue winding in the opposite direction till the winch reaches the tip of the boom.
And that's the time for a family photo, with some of the LEGO Technic Mobile Cranes, that I keep assembled and stored in the garage...
Love them all, but 42009 is definitely the best looking, most functional and most realistic one!
6. The B-model
As B-model for the 42009 Mobile Crane MK II, LEGO proposes something quite original in the LEGO Technic assortment, a Reach Stacker or Container Stacker.
In fact this set assortment of parts is so rich, that it was enough to build not only a Reach Stacker, but also a container and the truck where the stacker can pick/drop the cargo for transportation.
While this provides extra playability to the set and more specifically to the B-model, I would have preferred to improve the aesthetics of the stacker, sacrificing the transportation truck. I'm not sure whether this could have significantly improved the stacker itself... however I feel something should have been done differently on the stacker car to make it look nicer.
On the the other end, the then wheels used in the main model, are the exact number required to build a stacker with double wheels in the front axle (like the real ones) plus the truck. This way we shouldn't have a significant amount of parts left after building the alternate model.
Although I've not yet built this model, I'm already impressed with the functions and realism put on the spreader (the containers gripper mechanism).
Unfortunately the container is nothing more than a frame, but there were not enough panels in the set to build something different and even if it was, then the weight may turn it impractical to use with the model.
As far as it seems, the B-model should offer also a rich set of functions. After a glance I've identified at least these:
Stacker telescopic boom lift
Stacker telescopic boom extension
Spreader rotaiton
Container locking mechanism on the spreader
Steering of the rear axle on stacker
Truck 4WS via HOG
Passive container auto center function on truck
And I'm not sure whether the stacker cabin could be lifted or not, but it looks like it is.
7. Final thoughts
With five motorized functions, this is a major step forward relative to its ancestor 8421.
As I've said earlier, 42009 looks nicer, it is a lot more realistic than the others and it works flawlessly, if you can live with its characteristic low speed.
I became a fan of this model, and must confess it made me to look at 8421 with much different eyes than before - one of my favorite Technic models so far.
I feel that virtually nothing was sacrificed in this model, that would fit into its already large size.
As an example, the nice detail about the pulleys on the wheels, which the designers didn't want to sacrifice even though the large partcount of this model.
Of course there are always a few things one could think to improve, like the motorization for the superstructure rotation, the cable synch with the telescopic boom function, the superstructure cabin lift, a different material for the rope, or some friction/frictionless pins here and there. Although it was a great pleasure to build this model and finally to have the privilege of playing with it!
8. The Ratings
After having wrote quite a lot about this model, there isn't much to add anymore...
It offers a great value for money, specially in terms of perspectives for the price-per-part, and the playability offering of this model is definitely well above average!
Although the still high ranks regarding innovation, these were the among the lowest ones as we always expect for more new parts specially in a vary large set such as this one. Also the mobile crane concept is something that have been visited quite often in terms of LEGO Technic sets, without much variance among them, besides the size and complexity. For example all them are yellow, if you understand what I mean...
The set innovation could be even higher if we take the B-model into consideration. Although since it is not in the main scope of this review, a better rating for this category was also hindered.
The set design details is among the best, however several potential for improvements have been suggested.
as value for the money
for parts innovation
for set innovation
for set design
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