42146 Liebherr Crawler Crane LR 13000: First look
Posted by Huw,42146 Liebherr Crawler Crane LR 13000 is the fourth most expensive retail set ever made, and undoubtedly the most ambitious Technic model the company has designed, so reviews of it and its release next week are highly anticipated.
Unfortunately LEGO has been unable to provide us with a pre-release version of the Control+ app that's needed to calibrate and operate our review sample, so I've not been able to build and review it yet.
So, in this article I'll just take a look at the packaging and the new pieces in it, and will publish a full review once I am able to.
Packaging
LEGO often designs packaging to suit the height and width of the model so that it can be illustrated effectively on the front. This box is thus taller than it is wide.
Everything inside is packed in smaller boxes which prevents it all rattling about. The instructions are in a cardboard envelope and the parts in five white boxes. Four of them contain the electronics and large parts, of which there are many. A larger fifth one, not shown below, contains the bags of smaller parts.
The contents of the heaviest box accounts for the bulk of the cost of the model: two Technic hubs and six large angular motors which, if purchased separately cost £70/$90 and £30/$35 respectively, making a total of £320 / $390.
24 of the new counterweight element are also in this box: I'll take a closer look at them below.
Usually the large parts that don't fit in the polybags are packaged in polythene bags but as there are so many of them in this set they've been put in boxes. This one contains 40 of the new frame elements.
This box contains 26 yellow and 7 dark grey 67491 FRAME 3X19, and 16 of the triangular frame, 79768 FRAME 7X16 W/ 3.2 SHAFT, NO. 1 that was designed for this model but which appeared first in 42157 John Deere 948L-II Skidder.
Large square frames, banana gears, struts and a couple of the large motorcycle suspension springs occupy the last box.
As you can see, then, there are a lot of large parts in the set.
New parts
The crane's boom and mast are constructed using new frame elements, of which there are 20 each of the yellow ones and 16 of the dark grey one. The official pictures of the model suggest that it would have looked much better had the triangular frame been made in yellow too.
The piece used for the counterweight is interesting. It is cast in solid ABS, so weighs far more than you'd expect given that pieces of this size are usually hollow or have holes in them.
It's unusual in that it has no connection points. A 1x2 tile fits into the rectangular holes, but not snugly, and the round holes are larger than 3.18mm so lightsabre bars and so on don't fit securely into them.
It has, however, been designed to stack.
Can you think of another plastic LEGO piece that does not connect to any other, or itself?
They weigh just over 41g so the 24 of them in the set have a total weight of about 990g.
Stickers
The sticker sheet is mercifully small, primary consisting of manufacturer's logos.
That's as far as I can go for now!
I guess I could have built the model without the app but there didn't seem to be a lot of point rushing to do so when I couldn't test it, particularly given that there have been other sets that I needed to build to review later in the week.
The set is released next Tuesday so hopefully a new version of the Control+ app will land in the app stores this weekend. So, stay tuned for more next week.
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54 comments on this article
big crane
@leetshoe said:
"big crane"
Nah, it's a chibi version of a big crane.
"Can you think of another plastic LEGO piece that does not connect to any other, or itself?"
Do the Duplo Balls, GBC balls, and Zamor spheres count as the type of plastic LEGO piece that can't connect to another or itself?
Holy crap,this set might have the most specialized parts ever put in a set.
I guess you mean that the 1x2 tiles fit in the rectangle holes, not square holes :)
I'm really looking forward to this kit. However, I would like the ability to purchase more of the boom elements as I will definitely be wanting to extend the boom to a more prototypical proportional length. Getting two of the kit just to get more boom seems a bit excessive :-)
Looking forward to your review too :-)
@Cre8orB said:
"I'm really looking forward to this kit. However, I would like the ability to purchase more of the boom elements as I will definitely be wanting to extend the boom to a more prototypical proportional length. Getting two of the kit just to get more boom seems a bit excessive :-)
Looking forward to your review too :-) "
Good luck with that. Considering the smaller 3x19 frames already cost 3.22€/piece on B&P you will end up with a hefty sum. And no sane BL seller will buy this overpriced set for part-out.
@Agent00Z said:
""Can you think of another plastic LEGO piece that does not connect to any other, or itself?"
Do the Duplo Balls, GBC balls, and Zamor spheres count as the type of plastic LEGO piece that can't connect to another or itself?"
Blankets and pillows from Belleville sets.
I'm incredibly excited for this set!! I'll be building this 1 week from now (well exactly a week from now I'll still be in line at my local Lego store.) I'm buying a bunch of sets and usually save the largest to build last - not this time!!
> Unfortunately LEGO has been unable to provide us with a pre-release version of the Control+ app that's needed to calibrate and operate our review sample, so I've not been able to build and review it yet.
That's really great because customers will have the same feeling when the app is discontinued in 5+ years and they want to showcase this piece.
Hate to be that guy with this, but just the second sentence of the article sums up a huge problem with this set to me.
"Unfortunately, LEGO has been unable to provide us with a pre-release version of the Control+ app that's needed to calibrate and operate our review sample, so I've not been able to build and review it yet."
Same situation will happen in 6 years when the app is discontinued, I'd rather have the set stuck with controls on it like the bucket wheel excavator. Lego has done many things more compatible than in the late 90s and 00's, but even the highly specific shaped motors of those times are better than this stuff.
@MrGurt said:
"Hate to be that guy with this, but just the second sentence of the article sums up a huge problem with this set to me.
"Unfortunately, LEGO has been unable to provide us with a pre-release version of the Control+ app that's needed to calibrate and operate our review sample, so I've not been able to build and review it yet."
Same situation will happen in 6 years when the app is discontinued, I'd rather have the set stuck with controls on it like the bucket wheel excavator. Lego has done many things more compatible than in the late 90s and 00's, but even the highly specific shaped motors of those times are better than this stuff."
See it would make so much more sense to just sell the set separately to the motors and battery boxes but allow them to be motorised separately with power functions sold separately and provide access for motors and stuff within the set. It would make the sets cheaper, be less environmentally harmful and not have to rely on an app to use the thing.
This set is a fever dream already: the price point, boxes of unbagged pieces, non-connecting parts, half the value coming from electronics. Can’t believe it’s Lego
@PolarMammoth said:
" @MrGurt said:
"Hate to be that guy with this, but just the second sentence of the article sums up a huge problem with this set to me.
"Unfortunately, LEGO has been unable to provide us with a pre-release version of the Control+ app that's needed to calibrate and operate our review sample, so I've not been able to build and review it yet."
Same situation will happen in 6 years when the app is discontinued, I'd rather have the set stuck with controls on it like the bucket wheel excavator. Lego has done many things more compatible than in the late 90s and 00's, but even the highly specific shaped motors of those times are better than this stuff."
See it would make so much more sense to just sell the set separately to the motors and battery boxes but allow them to be motorised separately with power functions sold separately and provide access for motors and stuff within the set. It would make the sets cheaper, be less environmentally harmful and not have to rely on an app to use the thing.
"
It would also be more environmentally friendly to have a rechargeable battery instead of needing 12 AA batteries.
Looks more like playmobil than Lego to me...
I just don’t see why Lego bothered to have a license from Liebherr, increasing the price, when the actual set looks nothing like an existing Liebherr. It it were a generic crane it should have been a €400 set to the max.
@PolarMammoth said:
" @MrGurt said:
"Hate to be that guy with this, but just the second sentence of the article sums up a huge problem with this set to me.
"Unfortunately, LEGO has been unable to provide us with a pre-release version of the Control+ app that's needed to calibrate and operate our review sample, so I've not been able to build and review it yet."
Same situation will happen in 6 years when the app is discontinued, I'd rather have the set stuck with controls on it like the bucket wheel excavator. Lego has done many things more compatible than in the late 90s and 00's, but even the highly specific shaped motors of those times are better than this stuff."
See it would make so much more sense to just sell the set separately to the motors and battery boxes but allow them to be motorised separately with power functions sold separately and provide access for motors and stuff within the set. It would make the sets cheaper, be less environmentally harmful and not have to rely on an app to use the thing.
"
Too many people likely complained when they used to sell the motors, et al, separately. So Lego now figures they're doing us a favor. As for the environment, if they really cared, they'd go back to items that plugged in or at least develop more solar options.
In addition to the soccer balls, basketballs, zamor spheres, DUPLO balls, there are also things like the Slizer/Throwbots disks and the Exo-force shooty-disks:
https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=53993pb01&idColor=34T=C&C=34
Also pretty sure these DUPLO portcullis pieces don't have any connections:
https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=51702&idColor=66T=C&C=66
Maybe these Racers Ramps as well (actually, a few similar ramps):
https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=45179&name=Baseplate,%20Raised%20Ramp%209%20x%2015%20x%202%20(Racers)&category=%5BBaseplate,%20Raised%5DT=C
And maybe this base for the chess set:
https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=bb0567&idColor=95T=C&C=95
Also Scala sunglasses, I think?
https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=sc004&name=Scala,%20Clothes%20Sunglasses&category=%5BScala,%20Figure%20Accessory%5DT=C
Ok, I have to stop.
DaveE
Will buy once it's at a more reasonable price. Thank you for the new parts review
@Agent00Z said:
""Can you think of another plastic LEGO piece that does not connect to any other, or itself?"
Do the Duplo Balls, GBC balls, and Zamor spheres count as the type of plastic LEGO piece that can't connect to another or itself?"
Not sure if I would count projectiles, as they usually have launchers that they "connect" to in one way or other. Whether or not you count a Zamor sphere being held by a two-piece Thornax blaster as a "connection," it's not moving.
@LegoBoi69 said:
"After my latest lego technic build fiasco, im sorry to say Technic is now dead to me. System only from how on. "
What happened?
Cool but not for this price
Let's talk about bricks, baby.
So the old weight-brick, https://rebrickable.com/parts/73090a/brick-special-2-x-6-x-2-weight-with-bottom-openings-and-center-seams-on-ends/, is more compact than the new weight-plate, it's fully in-system, and it's a good deal heavier at ~53 grams. That old clunker - which lumbered its way into our hearts all the way back in 1980 - is superior in EVERY SINGLE WAY to this ridiculous new weight-plate.
But hey. Look on the bright side. At least the weight-plate keeps finding new and exciting ways to disappoint us. It's not System, but it's also not Technic. It's too light, but at the same time, it's also too big. That's worth something right? Not 680 of my shiniest Euros though. I mean, come on.
Gonna come out and say it: that new weight-plate is Galidor to me.
The 42100 won me because there was nothing similar at the time. But this is just another crane. It will need some pretty spectacular functions to raise my interest.
@Ridgeheart said:
...Gonna come out and say it: that new weight-plate is Galidor to me.]]
Galidor doesn't deserve that!
@Agent00Z said:
""Can you think of another plastic LEGO piece that does not connect to any other, or itself?"
Do the Duplo Balls, GBC balls, and Zamor spheres count as the type of plastic LEGO piece that can't connect to another or itself?"
Duplo balls and soccer/basketballs, yes. There are shooters for the Zamor spheres, however, so they technically connect.
@davee123
Kanoka (Throwbot) discs clip into the back of McToran heads, so that’s a no. I’d have to actually look at the Exo-Force discs to determine their connectivity.
Anyways, you guys missed an entire system! Primo doesn’t have any clutch. It just stacks, like cereal bowls.
So the reviews are highly expected because the set is so ridiculously expensive? What a weird kind of logic.
Going by my sample size of one (myself), the review isn't highly expected at all.
On the contrary, this is the Technic set I care about the least. It imho exemplifies everything that is currently wrong with LEGO Technic, my once favorite theme. Long gone are the days...
@AustinPowers said:
" It imho exemplifies everything that is currently wrong with LEGO Technic"
Maybe that's why the reviews are anticipated :)
The only thing ambitious about this is the price, that’s a lot to ask for empty air (volume). It looks unfinished and thrown together at some points.
I could disregard some of this set’s issues at a lower price point, as it’s not ugly despite looking like an AI image prompt.
@Huw said:
" @AustinPowers said:
" It imho exemplifies everything that is currently wrong with LEGO Technic"
Maybe that's why the reviews are anticipated :)"
Let's find out.
Otoh, this set is so obviously flawed in so many ways that at least I don't even need a review at all to know that I will never buy this set.
Cool but I’ll stick to working with the real things.
@Huw - New Elementary used the Powered Up app to control the motors directly if you are itching to get building... https://www.newelementary.com/2023/07/lego-technic-review-42146-liebherr.html
@MrGurt said:
"It would also be more environmentally friendly to have a rechargeable battery instead of needing 12 AA batteries."
Yes and no. On the one hand, a rechargeable battery would be so much more convenient and also likely offer more power for the size. Considering the hefty price tag, it's kinda insane the battery box is just that - a battery box with nothing inside.
But on the other hand, batteries don't last forever, and more specialized ones aren't being made forever. I bet in 50 years from now we still have AA cells. And I can still get C or D cells for my old stuff from the 80s.
As for this set, having just watched Sariels review, I'm curious to see what Brickset has to say about it. I still don't think it's all bad, but it seems very much flawed both in price and features.
RacingBrick seems to have a beta version of the app which works well.
SEVEN HUNDRED BUCKS!?!?
https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=72538&name=Duplo,%20Baseplate%20Raised%2018%20x%2019%20x%206%20Tree%20Stump,%20No%20Studs&category=%5BDUPLO,%20Baseplate%5DT=S&C=68&O={"color":68,"ss":"UK","rpp":"500","iconly":0}
Another no connections plastic part.
I don't get the part about not being able to build it without the app. Can't you follow the paper instructions then play one the app is released? Or do you need to calibrate parts before they are embedded in the build?
@CCC said:
"I don't get the part about not being able to build it without the app. Can't you follow the paper instructions then play one the app is released? Or do you need to calibrate parts before they are embedded in the build?"
According to Sariels review, that indeed. Several check and calibration moments during the build process. He did have a working app though.
Some reviewers got the app but not others. That's the reason I've not reviewed the Audi yet, either.
Well I for one am looking forward to the review.
OTOH, I do agree with @Ridgeheart about the new weight brick - it seems totally inferior to the old one, except maybe for aesthetics, and then it's only relevant to this set (and similar cranes I suppose). It's obviously vastly overpriced and I very much doubt it'll ever be on my wanted list, but still, I'm looking forward to the review!
If some people are getting the app, is it a certain tablet / phone / operating system specific release and they are having trouble getting it working for some systems in time for the release date?
@CCC said:
"If some people are getting the app, is it a certain tablet / phone / operating system specific release and they are having trouble getting it working for some systems in time for the release date?"
The way it was distributed meant you have to log in with your Google or Apple credientials to download and install it, so only those who received an invitation to do so could do so.
This is 'some sort' of a crane. It is just not a Liebherr Crane; let alone a 13000...
It is an abomination for all the reasons mentioned by the many posters above (I did all my rants when the set was announced - no need to repeat). That said, I feel very sorry for the designer. He/she will have to come out, all happy and proud, and present this thing as if everything is fine.\
I truly want to give the designer(s) the benefit of the doubt and assume that this contraption is the result of a set of constraints that produced an empty set of solutions. Constraints most likely coming from marketing/finance (of course these departments are very important - but if the end product is that bad maybe the right decision is to not make anything at all).
Notwithstanding the above and any kind of reviews (good or bad), I will consider buying this on two conditions (1) it gets at least 33% rebate in Canada (extremely rare - in Canada - for sets this size) and (2) the boom parts (the yellow ones) are largely available at pick-a-brick and are less than CAD$10 for 4 parts (2 of each sort). Extremely slim chances, but we'll see.
@PurpleDave said:"Kanoka (Throwbot) discs clip into the back of McToran heads..."
I did not know that, or had forgotten it. When I get my McToran out of storage, I'll have to try that, if I remember to do it.
@TheOtherMike said:
" @PurpleDave said:"Kanoka (Throwbot) discs clip into the back of McToran heads..."
I did not know that, or had forgotten it. When I get my McToran out of storage, I'll have to try that, if I remember to do it."
https://www.maskofdestiny.com/news/the-power-of-purple
There are two tabs on the back of the McToran head. On the underside of the Kanoka disc, there are three hollow ribs. One of these ribs slots between the two tabs on the head. Then there are tabs located at the base of the arms. There are notches on the rim of the Kanoka disc where the ribs are located. The notches on the other two ribs sit on the tabs on the back of each shoulder. It's actually a very stable way to store them.
@CCC said:
"I don't get the part about not being able to build it without the app. Can't you follow the paper instructions then play one the app is released? Or do you need to calibrate parts before they are embedded in the build?"
There are five stages of testing the model trough the build.
As a few people have already said, the big problem with this and other sets like it is that in, say, 10 years the app required to operate the model will be unusable. So you'll essentially be stuck with a massive display piece which won't operate.
At least with motorised Technic sets from 10 to 20 years ago, you can still operate them, as they had the controls built into the model itself, or had their own dedicated remote controller. They didn't depend on some Android or Apple app that would no longer work after 10 years or so.
@M_longer said:
"There are five stages of testing the model trough the build."
Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance?
I don't get why LEGO didn't invite Huw / Brickset to invite the beta version of the app. Specially given the fact that Brickset is the largest LEGO database in the world, and Huw I believe is a major Technic fan!
Another oversized Technic set on licence with barrely any features. Whats new?
Hahahaha no.
Btw, about that part question:
there are some studless baseplates. Think of the ones that came with late 90s sets. There's an blue Aquazone one, a rocky Xtreme Team one, a 'time machine' with a Time Twister set, a 'cave' with a Fright Knights prison transport set...
Most gear could technically count. As said above most projectiles might count. A lot of scala parts don't really connect, technically.
@GenericLegoFan said:
"Holy crap,this set might have the most specialized parts ever put in a set."
Have you been in your dark ages during the late 90s/early 2000s by any chance? Because that moniker has some stiff competition from that era!
Why does Lego bother making these apps? Will they still work in 10 or 20 years from now? Why not use a simple remote or switches on the model? Or better yet: manually operated cranks. That way you don’t need to worry about batteries or apps. They always work and we actually get to play with the model. That’s what I love about old Technic sets.
The packaging on this looks like something you'd get from an Ikea unboxing. It seems like Lego purposely used multiple boxes to make the box (and set) look more grandiose than it really is. Had they used bags, they probably would have been able to squeeze it in a box a half the size and not waste shelf space for retailers.
@Cabko said:
" @LegoBoi69 said:
"After my latest lego technic build fiasco, im sorry to say Technic is now dead to me. System only from how on. "
What happened?"
I too scrolled all the way down here with growing anticipation for whatever this story was going to be, only to be left bereft! Imagination running wild. Mishap involving hundreds of technic pins, sending them flying across the kitchen and into the garbage disposal?