REVIEW - 42044 - DISPLAY TEAM JET

HEADER

[url="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5781/22802157119_d5c59cea9a_o.jpg"][img]https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5781/22802157119_2778f350ca_c.jpg[/img][/url]

INTRODUCTION

The smallest of the 2016 sets, is the Display Team Jet. It doesn't seem to have lots of functionality, but maybe the landing gear is retractable. This set kind of reminds me to the [url="http://brickset.com/sets/9394-1/Jet-Plane"]9394 - Jet Plane[/url], although it's obviously a lot smaller. As you can read in my review of the [url=""]42052 - Heavy Lift Helicopter[/url] basically anything flying is +1 for me, so let's find out if this set also fits the bill. [i]Note: All images can be clicked for hi-res versions.[/i]

SET INFORMATION

Number: [b]42044[/b] Title: [b]Display Team Jet[/b] Theme: [b]Technic[/b] Released: [b]2016[/b] Part Count: [b]113[/b] Box Weight: [b]193 gr[/b] Box Dimensions: [b]15,4 cm x 13,8 cm x 5,9 cm[/b] Set Price (MSRP): [b]€ 9,99[/b] Price per Part: [b]€ 0,088[/b] Links: [url="http://brickset.com/sets/42044-1/Display-Team-Jet"]Brickset[/url], [url="http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?S=42044-1"]Bricklink[/url]

THE BOX

Being a small set, it obviously comes in a small box. The Display Team Jet is an Aerobatics Jet, used in air shows. On the box it's flying rather high, but at least it's at a safe distance from the crowd. Front side shows the main model, together with a small section indicating you can use Digital Building instructions to build this model. [url="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/630/23213408885_cde823e481_o.jpg"][img]https://farm1.staticflickr.com/630/23213408885_79b9b71375_c.jpg[/img][/url] [b]BACK SIDE[/b] The back side shows the B-model, a Stunt Plane. And again a reference to the apps for Digital Building instructions. More on the Stunt Plane later. [url="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/713/22917609140_f9f521363b_o.jpg"][img]https://farm1.staticflickr.com/713/22917609140_1197fb7bbc_c.jpg[/img][/url]

CONTENT OF THE BOX

The box contains: [list] [*]2 Instructions Booklets (A- and B-model) [*]1 Sticker Sheet [*]3 Technic Liftarms [*]2 Bags [/list] [b]INSTRUCTION BOOKLETS[/b] Both the instructions for the A- and B-model are included in the box. [url="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/674/23101656956_40566df49b_o.jpg"][img]https://farm1.staticflickr.com/674/23101656956_e80de28d10_n.jpg[/img][/url] [url="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/763/23138122192_4a07886109_o.jpg"][img]https://farm1.staticflickr.com/763/23138122192_f45389788d_n.jpg[/img][/url] [b]STICKER SHEET[/b] A lot of stickers for such a small set. Apparently no panel is left untouched. [url="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/591/22759805149_7ee9a207e1_o.jpg"][img]https://farm1.staticflickr.com/591/22759805149_4146293a0d_n.jpg[/img][/url] [b]LIFTARMS[/b] Three liftarms unsealed, nothing out of the ordinary for a small set. [url="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/729/22733715928_a63e994153_o.jpg"][img]https://farm1.staticflickr.com/729/22733715928_1bbae54eb9_n.jpg[/img][/url] [b]BAGS[/b] Two bags containing the rest of the parts. [url="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5659/23138122982_e4667e5496_o.jpg"][img]https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5659/23138122982_ecd79b7522_n.jpg[/img][/url] [url="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/584/23138122892_9d499d1a9b_o.jpg"][img]https://farm1.staticflickr.com/584/23138122892_6a37891b6e_n.jpg[/img][/url]

PART LIST

This set contains 113 parts, all listed below. [url="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/782/23138122822_c67f29a53f_o.jpg"][img]https://farm1.staticflickr.com/782/23138122822_39d3a0405c_c.jpg[/img][/url]

THE BUILD

This is the collection of parts, used to build the Jet. It sure looks like we are getting a landing gear. [url="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/580/22733716148_6902d5d3d3_o.jpg"][img]https://farm1.staticflickr.com/580/22733716148_4902861ff2_c.jpg[/img][/url] The build is fun, but pretty straightforward. There aren't any special or cool techniques used in this set. It almost took me more time to apply all the stickers than to build the actual model. [b]FINISHED MODEL[/b] The finished Jet does look cool though. The white and yellow color scheme, combined with the stickers, work really well. I have seen people refer to the plane as being orange, but it's definitely yellow. Technic (or LEGO in general) tends to have some color variation when it comes to yellow. I do concur this is the warmer variant of yellow, but it's not orange. [url="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5781/22802157119_d5c59cea9a_o.jpg"][img]https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5781/22802157119_2778f350ca_c.jpg[/img][/url] The back of the plane looks nice too, although I am not a big fan of the rudder part. It looks too detailed, compared to the other panels. It's not a big deal though, and maybe it's just me. [url="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/758/22802157209_0e5a459cf5_o.jpg"][img]https://farm1.staticflickr.com/758/22802157209_268d7a33f3_c.jpg[/img][/url] [b]PARTS LEFT[/b] Only three common parts left. [url="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5746/22802157539_815980b453_o.jpg"][img]https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5746/22802157539_b9682e6d87_n.jpg[/img][/url]

HIGHLIGHED PARTS

This section describes the new and/or otherwise interesting parts. [b]YELLOW 4L AXLES[/b] The [url="http://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?id=676#T=C"]4L Axle[/url] in Yellow has never been released before, so it's one of the new parts for this year. [url="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/633/22831932960_e816c0f9fd_o.jpg"][img]https://farm1.staticflickr.com/633/22831932960_c6ecb90170_n.jpg[/img][/url] [b]BLACK 7L FLEX AXLES[/b] For the layman this seems a common part, but the [url="http://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?id=10736"]7L Soft Axle[/url] actually has never been released in black before. Combined with the re-release of the [url="http://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?id=561"]19L Soft Axle[/url] in black, this will open up lots of possibilities. For those of you thinking you've read this text before; you are right, the new Drag Racer contains these new 7L Flex Axles too. [url="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/612/23127753455_2ec92c52bf_o.jpg"][img]https://farm1.staticflickr.com/612/23127753455_53467a617d_n.jpg[/img][/url] [b]WHITE PANELS[/b] This small set comes with a whopping 10 panels. Great for the ones who like panels. Not so great if you think TLG is using too much panels lately. [url="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5757/22775963257_54b63e1df0_o.jpg"][img]https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5757/22775963257_8d61728bcc_n.jpg[/img][/url] [b]RUDDER[/b] This part, the [url="http://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=61800"]Small Bionicle Wing[/url], is the same as the one used in last year's [url="http://brickset.com/sets/42033-1/Record-Breaker"]42033 - Record Breaker[/url]. [url="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/634/22759806009_9c1421f15f_o.jpg"][img]https://farm1.staticflickr.com/634/22759806009_2001a3ace3_n.jpg[/img][/url]

FUNCTIONS AND FEATURES

This set has a single feature and that is a retractable landing gear. It's operated by the black [url="http://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=32270&idColor=11#T=C&C=11"]12T Double Bevel Gear[/url] near the cockpit. In the following picture you can see the landing gear retracted. [url="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5725/23144013416_ccc865d958_o.jpg"][img]https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5725/23144013416_918c66a4c1_c.jpg[/img][/url] This image shows the landing gear when the plane is ready for landing. Hopefully the pilot will roll the plane before landing, but you probably know what I mean :wink: [url="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5818/23144013366_9506039cf3_o.jpg"][img]https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5818/23144013366_94b1a97bed_c.jpg[/img][/url] [b]VIDEO[/b] Here's s short video demonstrating the Display Team Jet. [video]http://youtu.be/ziNxpqPt0XY[/video]

B-MODEL

This set also includes the building instructions for the B-model, a Stunt Plane. The building experience for the Stunt Plane is more or less the same as for the Jet. Well, what do you expect when both models are planes with a limited number of parts. For an alternative model the Stunt Plane looks fine. [url="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5701/22958368839_fd571d7895_o.jpg"][img]https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5701/22958368839_4ba921b348_c.jpg[/img][/url] There's not a lot of functionality in this plane, but it's worth mentioning that the tail wheel allows the plane to roll on a flat surface. The plane also has working propellors. Both functions are demonstrated in the video. [url="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/709/23217991952_5808f49a3c_o.jpg"][img]https://farm1.staticflickr.com/709/23217991952_77b60dc058_c.jpg[/img][/url] Unfortunately, the landing gear of the Stunt Plane is not retractable. [url="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/764/22958369019_1aa3f08936_o.jpg"][img]https://farm1.staticflickr.com/764/22958369019_6d1ff30692_c.jpg[/img][/url] [b]PARTS LEFT[/b] A couple of extra leftover parts, but it's nice to see that most of the parts have been used in the B-model as well. Actually, there's probably an extra yellow [url="http://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=4265c&name=Technic%20Bush%201/2%20Smooth&category=%5BTechnic%5D#T=C"]Technic Smooth 1/2 Bush[/url] left. I just found it on my desk, but it could belong to one of the other sets. [url="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5727/23300183446_5f1e6d494d_o.jpg"][img]https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5727/23300183446_47c85018f1_c.jpg[/img][/url] [b]VIDEO[/b] Here's a video demonstrating the Stunt Plane. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ap8HCvamFs[/media]

SUMMARY

Two nice planes for 13 bucks, that's basically what you get. Both models look good and the set has some interesting new parts. Especially the 7L Flex Axle will be very popular. It comes with a decent collection of white panel, although they are very common nowadays. Both models have limited functionality, but each of them has at least one function to give the model some playability for kids, other than the swooshability that is. Okay, it might lack some proper functions, but I still think kids will love this set. I can see kids running around with one of the planes in their hands. All in all I think this set delivers what you'd expect.

SCORE

Let's see how this set flies! Remember that the grades are based on it being a small set. Obviously a set like this, cannot be compared with a Mercedes flagship. [b][color=#800000][size=5]8[/size][/color][/b] [b]DESIGN[/b] [img]https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8580/16244195165_2b8d3e102f_m.jpg[/img] [size=3]For a small set, the model looks very authentic.[/size] [b][color=#800000][size=5]7[/size][/color][/b] [b]BUILDING EXPERIENCE[/b] [img]https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8580/16244195165_2b8d3e102f_m.jpg[/img] [size=3]No surprises.[/size] [b][color=#800000][size=5]7[/size][/color][/b] [b]FEATURES[/b] [img]https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8669/16218294336_cc3a1c982b_m.jpg[/img] [size=3]Just the retractable landing gear.[/size] [b][color=#800000][size=5]8[/size][/color][/b] [b]PLAYABILITY[/b] [img]https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8580/16244195165_2b8d3e102f_m.jpg[/img] [size=3]It has swooshability, so I see kids running around with this model.[/size] [b][color=#800000][size=5]7[/size][/color][/b] [b]PARTS[/b] [img]https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8580/16244195165_2b8d3e102f_m.jpg[/img] [size=3]Lots of panels, if you are into that.[/size] [b][color=#800000][size=5]8[/size][/color][/b] [b]VALUE FOR MONEY[/b] [img]https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7543/16244195295_e24aaaa114_m.jpg[/img] [size=3]Can't go wrong with these small sets.[/size] [b][color=#800000][size=6]7,5[/size][/color][/b] [b][color=#000000][size=4]FUN FOR KIDS[/size][/color][/b]

FINAL WORDS

[url="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/621/22541599364_98a1f27fe8_o.jpg"][img]https://farm1.staticflickr.com/621/22541599364_8947a13102_c.jpg[/img][/url] More image can be found on my [url="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jimvangulik/albums/72157658955572144"]Flickr page[/url]. Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed it.

Discussion about this set can be found here.