Mobile Crane MK II (42108)
Another Brick Club member has built the Mobile Crane MK II. This one goes out regularly, which makes sense. It is one of the most complete Technic crane builds out there. 2,606 pieces, a pneumatic boom that actually extends and retracts, and outriggers you have to deploy before the crane will lift properly.
The build itself takes most people 5 to 6 hours. There is a lot of Liftarm work in the undercarriage, but the pneumatic system is the interesting part. The pump feeds two functions: the boom extension and the fly jib extension. Both are live at the same time if you are not careful, which is half the fun.
The Mobile Crane MK II was the flagship Technic crane for 2020. It replaced the previous MK I and added a fully functional fly jib on top of the main boom. The pneumatic system runs through the turntable, which is the fiddliest sub-assembly in the whole build.
What makes this one worth the 5 hours
The front axle steering is the first thing you notice when you pick it up. It is rack and pinion, driven by a proper Technic steering wheel inside the cab. The counterweight at the back lifts on and off (it is not glued or friction-fitted), which is the kind of detail that keeps this kit interesting on a shelf.
The pneumatic boom takes the most time to get right. The routing for the air hoses through the turntable is tight, and if you miss a step, you will find the boom either does nothing or runs backwards. Worth going slowly on that section.
The useful thing about a second or third member build is that it stops the post feeling like a one-off. Different builders notice different parts of the same kit, and the photos always come out slightly differently.
That is why I keep publishing repeat builds when they come in. If a kit keeps being requested, that tells me something about the library. If members keep sending photos, that tells me even more.
Rent the Mobile Crane MK II
A monthly subscription gets you one Technic kit at a time. When you are done, send it back and we send the next one. Free postage both ways.