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Lego Mercedes Zetros: 2,110 pieces, four engines and a duck

30-7-2021

With the 4x4 Mercedes-Benz Zetros Trial Truck, finally a decent Technic-Set is available again. I’m having fun – even if I have to force one part with pliers and another is missing completely.

The Mercedes-Benz Zetros truck is an absolute beast that feels at home away from paved roads. It masters gradients of up to 80 per cent effortlessly. Just one of the 16-ton vehicle’s cylinders is twice the size of an entire Smart engine. That’s why it easily needs a litre per kilometre. The Lego Technic version has much lower consumption. Six AA batteries are all it needs.

LEGO

EUR284,59

LEGO Mercedes-Benz Zetros Offroad Truck

42129, LEGO Technic

10 hours construction time

The Technic set doesn’t have as many individual parts as the Liebherr Excavator, but with 2,110 pieces, it’s still a good size. Divided into six sections, the instructions guide you through the building process in the usual Lego manner.

Using the parts from the first plastic bag, create the frame of the Zetros truck and its transmission. Compared to other Technic sets such as the Lambo or the Bugatti, the Zetros doesn’t just say Technic on the box, it’s inside it, too. Expect a lot of small gears, which form a unit together with four powered-up motors. Finally, a real Technic set again.

The next two building steps is just as exciting. In those, you build the vehicle’s rear and front axles, including the suspension. What is special about this set and has never been done before in a Technic set is the differential lock. Control these via the Control+ app if you drive the off-road truck through rough terrain.

After the first three construction steps, the mechanics are ready. Rwhat’s left in the three other bags? The driver’s cab, hood, flatbed and other details. There are also plenty of stickers. Nearly 40 stick on the truck at the end.

No idea why there’s a duck in the set, but I like it.

The assembly was fun for several hours, I was in my zone. Until a 2×2 stone simply couldn’t be found. I searched everywhere, thinking I was stupid, but in the end had to realise that it’s not my fault, it’s Lego’s fault. The piece was forgotten. An absolute no-go!

I also had problems with the grey pin. It appears a total of 32 times in the set and was too big every time. I could barely get it into the respective lift arm and therefore had to use the pliers to help. A quick pinch and everything is fine with the pin. However, I expected better quality by Lego.

Not yet fit to drive

The Technic sets are no longer controlled by a physical remote control, but through Lego’s Control+ app. However, this only supports the new models after the sales has started. For the Zetros Truck, that’s 1 August 2021. Therefore, I can’t test the functions yet.

No sign of the Mercedes truck in the app.

The app should be updated in the coming days. As soon as the app supports the Zetros truck, I’ll provide an addendum here with my assessment of its operation. Currently, I have to make do with looking at the assembled model. But that’s okay, because the truck just looks awesome.

Verdict

I had to wait a long time for Lego to launch a real Technic set again. The Mercedes-Benz Zetros has fulfilled this long-awaited wish for me. Anyone who’s interested in the technology of vehicles is guaranteed to enjoy building this vehicle. Lego specifies an age of 12 for the set. I understand this assessment, because with all the small parts ,you have to look pretty closely to make sure you don’t make a mistake when assembling. However, this doesn’t mean that younger kids aren’t able to build this truck. But maybe with your help. After all, it should be fun for you, too.

With a price tag of over 300 francs, the set isn’t exactly low cost. Experience shows that the price will drop slightly in the coming months. Let’s see how it bodes before Christmas. I imagine this truck will be found under some Christmas trees.

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Ramon Schneider

Editor

Ramon.Schneider@digitecgalaxus.ch

I get paid to play with toys all day.

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