Review - 42091 - Police Pursuit

Review

REVIEW - 42091 - POLICE PURSUIT

INTRODUCTION

Every year two new Technic Pull-back Racers appear in the line-up, so it's no surprise to see two new ones this year. What is a surprise though, is that TLG has chosen the "cops and robbers" theme from 2016 again. Obviously, kids love this theme, so it's understandable, but it feels like a cop out....you get it?! The 42047 - Police Interceptor doesn't really look like its successor, although the stickers use the same color scheme 

PICTURES
Pictures can be clicked to view hi-res versions. More pictures can be found in my Flickr album.

DISCLAIMER
This set has been provided by the CEE Team of TLG. It's not my goal to promote this set. It's my goal to give you an honest opinion about it. Therefore, the opinion in this review is my own and is in no way linked to TLG.

SET INFORMATION

Number: 42091
Title: Police Pursuit
Theme: Technic
Released: 2019
Part Count: 120
Box Weight: 287 gram
Box Dimensions: 26,1 x 14,0 x 6,0 cm
Set Price (RRP): € 19,99
Price per Part: € 0,17
Links: Brickset, Bricklink

THE BOX

As usual this model can be combined with the other Pull-back to create a combined model. This time it is a rather unconventional tank-ish vehicle. You can see the image on the back of the box. The combined models are often odd vehicles, but this one is taking the cake.

CONTENTS OF THE BOX

The box contains:

  • 1x Booklet
  • 1x Sticker sheet
  • 1x Pull-back motor
  • 1x 19L Flex axle
  • 3x Unnumbered bag

PART LIST

The complete part list for the 120 parts.

COMPLETED MODEL

Looking at the completed model, I can't help but think; what exactly am I looking at?! "Don't worry about it. Just use a couple of panels and turn in into some sort of Police vehicle!". And this vehicle turned out to be a formula one style vehicle. Choosing formula one style isn't a problem. The actual design of the set IS a problem though. I bet that most AFOLs could easily come up with a way better rendition, using more or less the same parts.

Basically this set is comprised of four wheels, a couple of panels and a pull-back motor. Looking at other (smaller) sets, I do notice that they heavily rely on panels. This made me compare the part count of this set with the version from 2016. The sets respectively contain 120 and 185. I know you can't judge a set by its part count, but buying (more or less) the same set, gives you 120 parts instead of 185. That's a difference of 65 parts, which is a major difference given the total part count.

It's no secret I am big fan of panels, but this is pushing it. The fun of LEGO is building a model out of different parts. Using 120 instead of 185 parts greatly deminishes the building experience. It probably optimizes the profit though. Only the most-profitable is good enough.

Move along, nothing to see here!

And another picture of this wond.........drous vehicle. Turns our this is the bad guy after all.

The usual left-overs.

SUMMARY

Being a pull-back racer, I didn't expect any functionality besides pulling it back and letting it go. What I do expect, is a decent design. I am very disappointed with the design though. Especially the use of panels, combined with the decreased part count. This set screams profit optimization. The combined model doesn't really help either. However, since the combined models are often quite odd I won't judge this set by that criterium.

PROS

  • None

CONS

  • Horrible design
  • Part count seems intentionally low
  • Horrible design
  • Horrible design

SCORE

How do I rate this set? (Wow, I needed to search for images I don't use often)

2 DESIGN

One extra point for the trouble.

4 BUILDING EXPERIENCE

 Done in a minute. 

7 FEATURES

 On par with other pull-back sets.

7 PLAYABILITY
 
I have rated other pull-backs the same grade.

4 PARTS
 
65 parts less than its predecessor.

5 VALUE FOR MONEY

 The low part count makes this set less attractive than previous versions.

4,8 IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MONEY

FINAL WORDS

Thanks you for reading this review. All pictures can be found here.