A proper 4×4 build from one of our subscribers
One of our subscribers sent these photos in after finishing the LEGO Technic 4×4 X-treme Off-Roader, and I wanted to get them onto the blog. The completed truck looks spot on. I also love the workbench photo, with every pin, liftarm and gear sorted into its own tray before the build gets going.
That is the side of Technic you rarely see in the box photography. Before the orange panels and huge tyres go on, there is a table full of parts and a fairly serious chassis to put together.
A big thank you to the subscriber who sent these over. Seeing a kit finished and back in someone’s home is one of my favourite parts of running Brick Club.
Why the 42099 is such a good build
The 42099 was the first LEGO Technic set built around the CONTROL+ system. That makes the electronics part of the structure rather than something added at the end. Two XL motors handle the drive, an L motor handles the steering, and the Smart Hub sits inside the chassis. Cable routing matters because the bodywork has to close neatly around all of it.
I think that is where the set earns its place in the library. At 958 pieces it is not enormous, but a lot of the build goes into making the finished truck work properly. You build the drive system, steering and suspension before the orange shell starts to take shape. There is always another mechanism to connect or test.
The independent suspension is the mechanical highlight for me. Each wheel can move over uneven ground, while the high chassis and deep tyres give the truck the clearance its shape promises. Once it is finished, the app lets you drive, reverse, steer, brake and tackle obstacles. It also reports speed and tilt data from the hub.
That gives the 42099 a second life after the last bag is empty. You have had a satisfying chassis build, but you also end up with a model you will want to put on the floor and test. Technic off-roaders should feel like machines, and this one does.
Take your time with the motor cables and check the steering before fitting the final body panels. It is much easier to correct a tight cable or missed connection while the chassis is still open.
42099 kit details
Send me your build photos
If you have finished a Brick Club kit, send me a photo. Workbench shots, half-built chassis and the completed model are all welcome. I would like more of the blog to show what members are actually building, not just polished product images.
Email your photos to garreth@brickclub.uk and tell me which set you built. If you are happy for me to use your first name, include that too.
Want to build the 4×4 X-treme Off-Roader?
The 42099 is part of the Brick Club rotation. Build it at home, send it back with the prepaid return label, then choose what comes next.
View the 42099 Compare subscriptions