Good afternoon build, different shape entirely
One of our subscribers sent these photos of the Air Race Jet (42066) and it is worth a look. This is a 2017 set and it stands out in the library because of the shape. Most builds in here are cars and trucks. The 42066 is a low-slung racing jet with a lift fan behind the cockpit, closer to an F-35 than to anything you would see at an air race, and it looks completely different on the shelf.
The big mechanical idea is a VTOL change. A lift fan sits behind the cockpit under a pair of doors, and in the hover setting the doors open and the nozzle at the tail turns down to point at the floor. A Power Functions Medium motor and battery box sit deep in the fuselage, with a reversing gearbox and two worm gears at the back, so you spend a proper amount of build time inside the fuselage before the panels close over. That section is the highlight. The undercarriage retracts too.
At 1,151 pieces it fits in a good afternoon session. Nothing about this build drags.
The motor and gearbox are worth taking your time on. The motor goes in first, deeply embedded, plenty of steps need parts in exactly the right spot or a function will not work later, and most of it cannot be tested until the panels go on near the end. One of those build moments where slowing down pays off.
This is exactly why I like putting member builds on the blog. The official images tell you what a kit is supposed to look like. Member photos show what it feels like once someone has actually sat down, opened the bags, and worked through it.
If you have just finished the Air Race Jet, send over a few photos. It does not need to be a full studio setup. A clean table, a finished build, and a few notes on what stood out are enough.
Rent the Air Race Jet
The 42066 is in the library. When it turns up, it makes a welcome change from the usual cars and trucks.