When we last looked at the 42172 LEGO® Technic McLaren P1, we successfully unboxed a set for which the unboxing is regarded as an integral experience as the building and completed construction using the first box of construction elements.
While we still have another two boxes to build up, it is apparent that the most intense parts of the building process are now behind us: We have constructed a chassis with the engine, a 7-speed flappy paddle gearbox, rear wheels with independent suspension and a couple of seats. In fact, we are within Coo-ee* of the type of build that we had for a working car set back in the early days of Technic builds, when everything would be laid out on display for the proud builder to show off to their friends, family, and anyone who would stand still for more than 30 seconds in their presence, and foolhardy enough to ask “So, what have you been up to lately?” (For the benefit of non-australians, Coo-wee is what we are taught to call out when we are looking for someonewho might be lost in the bush, but within hearing range.)
In fact, only the front wheels and the steering mechanism are all that currently stand between the end of box one and that endpoint that gave us those visible chassis sets from the early days of Technical Sets [8860 et al.].
In this post, we take a look at the latest in the Ultimate Car Concept Series, 42172 LEGO Technic McLaren P1. We unbox this set, and then examine the first part of the build experience. Along the way, we make some mistakes. How can you prevent making them yourself?
Ever since the very early days of LEGO Technic (Or ‘…sets for expert builders’), there has been a ‘working’ car chassis, bringing us an understanding of how the mechanical aspects of a car might work. Features such as functional steering, gears, pumping cylinders, suspension and a differential. I suspect most of my understanding of how cars work might date back to the early 80s when I first assembled the 8860 Car chassis, and having my Dad and Grandpa explain what was going on over Christmas dinner. It was some time before I attempted to put together a Technic set with greater complexity.
These functional cars have continued to be a feature of the Technic range for over 45 years. The concept received a leg up in 2016 with the introduction of the 42056 Porsche 911 GT3 RS. This marked the beginning of what is now referred to as the LEGO Technic Ultimate Car Concept Series. After tackling marques from the likes of Bugatti, Lamborghini, and Ferrari, the latest set, 42172 McLaren P1, is the fifth in this series.
And I am getting underway with the construction right now. This is my first experience with one of these vehicles. There are many of you out there who have put these sets together before, and I called out for advice on how to approach this the other day and responses had a very consistent theme… “Take Your Time” “Don’t Rush” and “Make sure you get it right!”
Of course, the 24-hour news cycle is as relentless in the world of LEGO Fandom as it is in the rest of the world. And I have a full-time job that sometimes interferes with the LEGO construction. So, some compromises might have been made. And so were mistakes.
My review will be presented in a couple of instalments. In this post, we will cover the packaging and the build experience for the first part of the chassis. (Box 1) The rest of the review will follow in a week or so as, frankly, I need to finish building the thing. We will look at how the instructions and building experience have improved and how I went about troubleshooting some of the errors I made along the way.
Next time, I will finish the build and give you my thoughts on the experience. There is no doubt that spending $AUD699.99 on a LEGO set is a significant investment, and I am sure there are those of you out there who are wondering if this is the kind of set you were looking to get involved with. I am writing from the point of view of someone who has put together a lot of LEGO bricks over the years but has not tackled a major Technic project for some time.
In the meantime, go and pour a cup of coffee, pull up a seat, and read on… Or you can skip over the detailed builder’s journey and skip straight to the halftime report here
