Lego Technic sets are great if you actually enjoy the building process, because even the smaller, cheaper ones can still have a lot of value in them. If you’ve got a kid that’s been building Lego for a few years, then they’re a good way to graduate them onto something that’s a bit more of a challenge.
And don’t let the small size of 42032 Compact Tracked Loader make you think this is an easy build, for an 8 year old, or somebody of any age new to this range, you’re going to have to concentrate to make sure you get this one together. On a couple of spots I found that the instructions weren’t too clear, and I made a couple of minor mistakes in getting it all hooked up correctly – and this is hardly my first time at the rodeo. For £14.99, the level of detail is more than I expected, so be prepared to pay attention.
The finished model is a sturdy little thing with a bucket and spikes that can be moved via two levers at the top, and tracked wheels made up of 64 tiny parts that are a bit of a chore to connect up. But while it’s sturdy, it’s not going to win any awards for it’s looks. It’s too small to really look that interesting on a shelf as a display piece, but it should be strong enough to hold together in any play sessions. It should also be quite a fun toy, the bucket on the front being a great place to load things up.
For a look at the build process and some other details, check out our video review…
I got this set thanks to a person called James, who sent it to me through Reddit’s Lego gift exchange which took place last month. Whether you get it for free or not, I recommend this set for both new and old Technic builders alike.