The crane does the work. The rest of the truck exists to support it.

The 42128 is built around the rear crane and nothing else. Front axle steering, extendable outrigger legs, rotating boom, rack-driven extension, winch with a real hook on cable: those are the functions. The cab and body are there to carry them. Open the bonnet and there is a V8 with moving pistons, but that is a secondary detail.

At 2,017 pieces most of the count goes on the crane mechanism and the cab interior. The outriggers extend from the sides via a single drive axle; turn the knob and all four legs deploy together. The boom arm extends on a rack and can rotate. The winch runs an axle through the length of the body up to the cab-roof knob. It is a lot of mechanism for the size of the box.

Sub-assemblies first, then it all makes sense

The build sequence works in modules. You build the winch drum, the outrigger arms, the boom extension mechanism, and the V8 block as separate units before the chassis goes together around them. Nothing is difficult but the instruction pace is steady. Plan for four hours minimum.

Steering connects to a rack at the front axle. The boom arm runs on a rack too, so extension is smooth rather than notchy. The hand-winch axle runs the length of the body, which is a neat piece of routing through the frame. It rewards looking at how each part connects before you fit it.

42083 Bugatti Chiron – 3,599 pieces, fully built

One of our Master Builder members finished the Bugatti Chiron and sent me the photos. I have been waiting for someone to tackle this one properly. It is a 1:8 scale model in Bugatti Speed Blue with orange accents, and at 3,599 pieces it is one of the longest builds in the library.

The 8-speed gearbox works. You can change through the gears by hand once it is built. That alone takes a fair bit of the build time. The W16 engine is visible through the rear window, with 16 cylinders and connecting rods that move as you push the car. The spoiler pops up automatically when the chassis lever engages it.

This is a 2018 kit, the flagship licensed set that year. LEGO used custom-moulded bodywork panels throughout, so the build process is different from a standard Technic, more visual, more cars-specific. The W16 sequence on its own takes around two hours.

Car Transporter (42098)

One of our members tackled the Car Transporter and sent through photos. Three separate builds in one box: the transporter itself, plus two small cars that load and unload via the working hydraulic ramp. 2,493 pieces across the lot.

The upper deck tilts on a knob-driven mechanism so the cars sit level during transport. Both small cars are proper Technic models with suspension and steering – not placeholders. The cab opens, there’s sleeper cab detail inside, and the whole thing is one of the longer footprints in the library when fully extended.

Built and sent in by one of our members

One of our members sent in photos of the 42069 Extreme Adventure, and I am glad they did because this is one of those Technic sets that looks better once you have actually built it.

On the box it is a big orange and black expedition truck. Fair enough. Once it is on the table, the clever bit is how much movement LEGO managed to work into it without making it feel fragile. Four-wheel drive, working suspension on all four corners, a front winch, opening cabin sections, and that rear expedition tent that actually folds out properly.

It is not just decoration. That matters.

At 2,382 pieces, this is not a quick evening build. I would put it in the solid weekend category. The chassis comes first, and that is where the set earns its Technic badge. You are building the running gear before you get the expedition bodywork, so the model feels mechanical before it starts looking complete.

Built and sent in by one of our members

One of our Brick Club subscribers built the Yamaha MT-10 SP and sent a photo. The 42159 is a licensed replica of the SP livery variant (the yellow and gold version), and at 1,478 pieces it is one of the more focused builds in the library rather than the biggest.

The inline-4 engine with working pistons is the real reason to build it. The chain drive connects the engine to the rear wheel, so as the wheel spins the pistons fire. Front fork suspension, rear shock absorber, working steering, and a kickstand round it out.

897 pieces, one satisfied builder

One of our members sent three photos after finishing the MT-07 and this build deserves the full look. The Yamaha MT-07 (42139) is a licensed replica at around 1:5 scale, and it packs in more function than the piece count suggests.

The parallel-twin engine is clearly visible once the body panels are on. You can see both cylinders and, when you turn the rear wheel by hand, the crankshaft movement is right there in front of you. It is not hidden under a cover. That engine detail is one of the things that makes the licensed moto kits worth building.

Working steering, rear suspension, and a kickstand are all present. At 897 pieces it is one of the shorter afternoon builds in the library, but it does not feel cut down.

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 jet aircraft loosely based on the kind of aircraft used in Red Bull Air Race, and it looks completely different on the shelf.

The twin engines each have spinning turbine blades driven by a knob on top. The fan blades are sub-assembled before they go in, so you spend a proper amount of build time inside each engine before dropping the assembly in. That section is the highlight. Working flaps and ailerons are in there too, and the undercarriage retracts.

At 1,151 pieces it fits in a good afternoon session. Nothing about this build drags.

No rear wing. That is the point.

One of our members built the Peugeot 9X8 Le Mans Hypercar and sent photos. The real car raced at Le Mans in 2022 and 2023 without a rear wing, which is the most striking thing about it. Peugeot generated downforce through the underbody instead. Bold call. The LEGO model replicates it exactly.

1,775 pieces. Working steering via a knob at the rear. A V6 hybrid powertrain replica with moving pistons connected to the wheels by axle. Opening bodywork panels to get at the engine. The TotalEnergies green and black livery is replicated across the bodywork.

Not a speedboat. A proper research ship.

One of our members built the Ocean Explorer (42064) and sent photos. This is a research vessel, not a racing boat. It sits differently in the hand compared to most Technic kits. The hull is a solid sub-assembly, unlike the open framework you get with cars and trucks, which makes the early stages of the build feel unusual in a good way.

1,327 pieces. Working crane on the rear deck for deploying and recovering equipment. Working winch. A propeller under the hull. The white and orange colour scheme stands out in the library.