Lego Technic Liebherr 9800

Lego Liebherr R 9800 - Model 42100

I was thrilled with the release of Lego technic Lamborghini Sian around May 2020 while being coped up for 2 months due to the COVID-19 circuit-breaker(lockdown) in Singapore. I saved up and started to browse for a good bargain until I came across Liebherr R 9800. Without a doubt I switch my mind, - like in an instant. Surveying deeper and with many many more youtube review I visited, I ended getting this instead. I think I made a good decision due to it's playability, my idea of integrating it with the Lego mindstorm set I own(unfortunately direct integration with mindstorm is not possible) ; and most of all, a better value which I will explain later.

Introduction

Complimentary for Liebherr R 9800 being the largest excavator in the world, Lego decided to make model 42100 the largest Lego technic ever (now it's 2020). There are a total of 7, yes, SEVEN!!! (3 XL and 3 Medium) motors, and it's controlled by 2 receiving Bluetooth controllers. Along with it, the set also comes with 4100 lego pieces. It's very expensive, but compared with the ratio of the motors(which alone may cost SGD200++) and total of lego pieces, it's actually a bargain. I got it for SGD 599.

Both receiving bluetooth controller are controlled via Android/iOS app and works perfectly fine with my Android 4 Pixel (there are reviews that it did not work some Android phones), definitely there is no issue with iPhone, if there is check the connection.

Build

The instruction was exactly 1000 steps, wow and i think it should be praised for being thoughtful and making an effort for it. Of course, that does comes with a price (haha), there are more attention needed for the assembly(not really a problem), and in one occasion magic steps happened. See the image below. But worry not, Lego builds have this check-and-balance, once you got it wrong or skipped a step, you will need to backtrace it.

From pg 213 to pg 215, a tab was suddenly there.

Sometimes it just becomes challenging.

Building this was fun and full of surprises. Now and then, I would like get the eureka of, "OH, like this also can?(malaysia/singapore saying)" or "this is a nice way of attaching it.". There were 5 numbered bags (or stop points) and each completion of the numbered bag enables the builder to test on it's functionality, all except for bag numbered #4 and #6. The build actually ends with bag #3. Bag #4 and #5 treating as icing to the set, decorating it and making it looking as the real Liebherr excavator. I actually ended the functionality test at #3 and have it roll around the house. Here are the breakdowns.

Bag #1: Finish the thread wheels, once done the app allows a simple test. I downloaded another app that can program Lego Control+ and let it roll around the house. The wheels were very powerful at this stage.

Bag #2: Completes partially of the body. The app just test the main 2 actuators moving up and down. Nothing fun here but it starts to take shape.

Bag #3: Completes the arm without the bucket and hose decorations. Again the app allows the arm test up and down. At this stage, the whole model's movement is actually complete, if the bucket is attached it can be controlled like a finished product.

Bag #4: With least steps. Really fast build.

Bag #5: So much goes into this and this alone have 50+ steps, the stairs, the cockpits all are build in this step. I built it with my wife and it was fun. Once done, you are set and ready to play! The app will start calibrating and it is now set to go.

Bag #6: Just boulders and rocks.   

Bag #1: With external Control+ app, i let it loose in the house.
It rolls pretty fast.

This is on bag #4. It's already ready for play.

One very obvious difference of this excavator and the real Liebherr photos is thebucket position. Most excavators have it's bucket facing inside, a term coined as "backhoe"; as I had researched, actually helps the operator to have a better view and control, compared to the bucket facing out , a term coined as "shovel"( as like Lego provided). This actually makes sense, but...shovel mode has a better advantage as there are lesser complexity and it also requires lesser force needed to lift the boom. Both design are totally different with the actuator being placed differently. I am happy with Lego designers to have this as shovel mode as i already had really big trouble having it to scoop up things.

Dang I still can't get over the excitement of this model! There are actually annoying things though, 1 is that it's slow and it's difficult(almost impossible) to scoop up things. I am still figuring out the controls though. But then, i still enjoy it.

The new clutch pieces introduced is said to handle the maximum/minimum reach of the crank. During calibration there will be several "crack" sounds that comes into action when the minimum  stretch is reach.

Once it reached this point, there will be a "crack" sound.
I guess it's ok. Lego designers should have figured that out, right? right?

Lastly, it comes with 100 cylinder pieces to play with. Actually it's really hard to control and scoop up these.

Detail

This set is full of crazy details, the chair alone contains the 2 joysticks. Within the cockpit (is that what it's called?), has all those amazing details.

Then the stairs, which can be flipped up and down.

The stair ways to heaven

The engine, right parts have the same engine, but removed. The lights from the controller makes it looks cool.

Some decoration

Verdict

I love it, it's like a stress releasing machine. Now and then i will enable it and control with my phone.

What i really love.

1. Easy to start up, just open the app, press 2 buttons and i'm done. Less than 2minutes.
2. Controlling the machine is fun.
3. Battery can last so darn long, been playing for 2 hours and these 12 batteries are still at full charge.
4. Big! Humongous!
5. The crane/arm is powerful
6. Parallel manual control via the app, I can turn, lift, open the bucket all at the same time. Problem is to have enough fingers to to it. I know Android allows simultaneous 10 fingers gesture, wonder how far the app can go.

What i did not like

1. It doesn't integrate with Lego Mindstorm, the connectors are different. So to really have it, i need to write different program for the controller.
2. I need new software to program the controller.
3. The machine is bulky but not powerful. Example, I tried it rolling under a yoga mat, it can go straight but can't turn. The machine tilts when things being lifted are heavy.
4. The controls are predefined. But I am sure will take me few months before I get bored of it.
5. Dismantling and rebuilding will be a headache.
6. The programmable controls for the app can only do 1 action at a time, that's sad. Manual control are much.
7. A nit pick, I dun like to apply stickers.

One last thing, scooping is difficult. There's a formula to do it, but it's still difficult. I think i'll buy some kinetic sands to play instead, haha. Also those operating these in real life, they do need to be given praise, it's actually very difficult to control and needs alot of patience to operate it. If lifting a lego piece is difficult, the same things are to be said in the real machine the same rules applies both ways.