Number: 42056
Theme: Technic
Release Date: June 1, 2016
Piece Count: 2,704
Age Rating: 16+
Cost: $299.99 USD / $349.99 CAD / £249.99 GBP / €329,99 EUR / 2599,00 DK kr
Toda, the latest major Technic set will be released - the brand new Porsche 911 GT3 RS. Thanks to the LEGO and the Community Engagements & Events, we here at TnB have a copy to review! Before I dive in, let's read what LEGO has to say about this set:
Sounds pretty awesome! Full disclosure, I never really got into collecting Technic - I had a few sets when I was a kid but it never grabbed me as much as minifig-scale sets did. I think a lot of it had to do with my perception that Technic sets always seemed kind of unfinished to me, very airy and exposed. Let's see if my mind can be changed!
Discover the iconic Porsche 911 GT3 RS!
Celebrate innovative engineering and design from one of the world’s leading car manufacturers with this stunning LEGO® Technic model. Developed in partnership with Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche AG, this elegantly packaged LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS with its sleek aerodynamic lines, adjustable rear spoiler and orange bodywork is packed with authentic features and functions that capture the magic of the iconic supercar, and the attention to detail is clear from the outset! Open the doors and you’ll discover an elaborate cockpit with racing seats, working gearbox, steering wheel with gearshift paddles, detailed dashboard and a glove compartment containing a unique serial number. Lift the rear lid and you’ll have access to a detailed flat 6 engine with moving pistons, while under the hood you’ll find a storage area with suitcase. Red suspension springs, detailed brake calipers and original-design rims with special low-profile road-gripping tires add the final touches to this magnificent model!
Features authentically designed aerodynamic bodywork, adjustable rear spoiler, headlights and taillights, red suspension springs, original-design rims with RS emblem, detailed brake calipers, low-profile tires, working gearbox, working steering wheel with gearshift paddles, detailed seating, glove compartment with unique model serial number, opening doors, opening hood containing a suitcase, and an opening rear lid with detailed flat 6 engine.
- Includes a collection of authentic stickers.
- Check out the orange color scheme.
- Open the doors to access the detailed cockpit.
- Lift the rear lid to access the detailed flat 6 engine with moving pistons.
- Open the glove compartment to reveal the unique serial number.
- Delivered in luxurious box packaging.
- Includes a special full-color collector’s book including the history of LEGO® Technic and Porsche GT cars, plus comprehensive building instructions.
- This LEGO® Technic model is designed to provide an immersive and rewarding building experience.
- This set includes over 2,700 pieces.
- This set offers an age-appropriate building experience for ages 16+.
- Porsche 911 GT3 RS measures over 6” (17cm) high, 22” (57cm) long and 9” (25cm) wide.
Packaging
42056 LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS - box front
The box is a premium lift-top format just shy of square. The subject matter is boldly presented in a low 3/4 angled pose against a subtle gradient of gray to black that gives off the impression of racing-inspired carbon fiber. Naturally the LEGO logo and TECHNIC branding occupy the top left corner, while a small graphic in the upper right denotes that this is a 1:8 scale model. The Porsche Crest and logotype adorn the bottom right corner and set details appear in the bottom left.
42056 LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS - box bottom
The bottom of the box features a slightly left-adjusted view of the rear of the model with the same background and branding. The top of the box features the same layout and adds a call-out box featuring one of the four exclusive rims at a 1:1 scale.
42056 LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS - box side
The right side of the box features a right-side profile shot of the model. The LEGO and TECHNIC branding remain, while the Porsche branding is replaced by the model name: 911 GT3 RS. The left side of the box features the same layout with a left-side profile shot.
42056 LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS - box back
The back of the box features a top-down view of the model as well as four call-out boxes showing off some of the details of the model.
42056 LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS - component origin
Components are manufactured in Demark, Hungary, Mexico, China, Poland, and Czech Republic.
42056 LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS - detail call-outs
The detail call-outs on the back of the box show off the dashboard, rear suspension assembly, flat-6 engine, and racing bucket seat respectively.
42056 LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS - box inside
Lifting the top of the box unveils a truly engineered experience - four black skinny, rectangular boxes surround the boldly orange perfect-bound instruction booklet.
42056 LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS - box interior without instructions
Removing the instructions reveals one more box, featuring an image of the engine and the number 1 in the lower-right corner.
42056 LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS - inner boxes
Removing the individual boxes from the main outer box unveils how each one features a singular detail shot, ostensibly predicting at least some of what you can expect to build out of its contents.
42056 LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS - inner box side
The side of the inner box displays the ghost of a side-profile shot in the same spot where the model was displayed on the box lid.
42056 LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS - box lid inside
Even the inside of the lid is exquisitely designed, featuring a wraparound timeline of the Porsche 911 lineage.
Instructions and Stickers
42056 LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS - Instruction Manual
The 578 (yes, you read that right) page instruction manual, in stark contrast to most other sets that reuse the same design as the front of the box, features a strikingly abstract shot of the Porsche Crest at the tip of the hood of the real production car on the cover. Not only does it (naturally) contain the building instructions for this set, but features 37 introductory pages with featurettes on the the automotive heritage of the Porsche brand, the racing culture of Porsche, and the development of the set itself, to name a few, all in both English and German.
42056 LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS - instructions interior
42056 LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS - instructions interior
One particularly provocative passage in these pages is a quote from Andrew Woodman, Senior Design Manager for LEGO Technic:
Could this be a hint that there are more sets yet to come in a new Porsche sub-theme of Technic?From our very first meeting it was clear that Porsche shared the same passion for the vision of this concept and together we decided upon using the latest 911 GT3 RS as the first vehicle in this LEGO Technic series.
42056 LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS - instructions interior
The timeline of development shows just how much work and planning goes into a set of this caliber - starting in Winter of 2013 through until final approval of the finished model in August of 2015.
42056 LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS - instructions interior
42056 LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS - instructions interior
It also features two double-page spreads of the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart, Germany.
42056 LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS - instructions interior
42056 LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS - instructions interior
42056 LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS - sticker sheet
The sticker sheet is comprised of 19 individual stickers that mostly are concerned with Porsche branding.
42056 LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS - exclusive rims
Because they feature so prominently in the inner packaging, here is a detailed shot of the four rims that were exclusively designed for this particular set.
Build: Part 1
42056 LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS - Box 1
The first box naturally contains the pieces used to build the underlying chassis as well as the intricately designed gearing, steering and powertrain.
42056 LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS - notable pieces
I will admit to not knowing much about what parts are rare or new to Technic here, though I did select a smattering of pieces that I have either not seen often or ever before. The white bar connector with ridges was particularly curious to me, likewise the white gear with dark gray inner bushing and the red bar connector that was seemingly the opposite of the white connector.
42056 LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS - chassis construction
Construction of the chassis begins with both the center console gear shift housing and much of the gearbox workings.
42056 LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS - steering and shift assembly
42056 LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS - steering and shift assembly
The steering and paddle-shift assembly seen here is an intricately woven basket of Technic beams.
42056 LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS - chassis assembly
From here the chassis extends forward to eventually meet up with the forward suspension...
42056 LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS - gearbox
While the rear extends to envelope the gearbox assembly. Check out a video of the paddle shifters at work!
42056 LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS - steering assembly
After that, the front suspension and steering assembly is connected. Beneath the steering box, the paddle shifter mechanism is connected to the gearbox.
42056 LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS - rear suspension
While the front suspension features single shocks on each side, the rear features two per wheel.
42056 LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS - rear brake and suspension
The brake calipers are yellow, denoting this model has been upgraded with the optional Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake package. While the sticker used here adds a great deal of detail, I can't help but think the caliper itself could be constructed more accurately, as they should be curved to match the inner profile of the rims.
42056 LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS - full wheelbase
Once the rear suspension is connected, the full wheelbase now takes shape, though the rear wheel gearing is still not yet hooked up to the gearbox.
42056 LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS - gearbox/drivetrain coupling
After connecting the rear suspension, a series of gears is attached to connect the drivetrain/gearbox to the rear differential.
42056 LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS - engine mount pan
Beyond the rear suspension, a pair of panels are attached to form the bottom support for the engine, which will connect to the yellow bar connector sticking out behind the rear differential.
42056 LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS - engine assembly
The flat six cylinder engine is comprised of two parallel banks of three pistons. Surprisingly, other than the parts-intensive crankshaft, the engine is comprised of a minimal amount of pieces.
42056 LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS - engine mounted without intake/exhaust manifolds
Once mounted to the rear suspension, a pair of cylinder heads are attached to either side of the engine.
42056 LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS - engine intake/exhaust minifold
On top of the engine, the intake/exhaust manifold is connected. The exhaust headers don't connect to anything beyond the ends of the angled connectors seen here.
42056 LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS - Box 1 finished - side
When Box 1 is finished, the entire chassis/drivetrain is complete.
Build: Part 2
42056 LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS - Box 2
Box 2 comprises the parts to build the frame of the body and interior that will attach to the chassis.
42056 LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS - front frame
This part of the construction begins with the frame of the front bumper and trunk.
42056 LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS - body frame
The frame continues around the driver's side.
42056 LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS - rear engine cover
Towards the back end of the frame, a couple of panels are positioned to form the top of the engine compartment and shield the interior.
42056 LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS - body frame
After the engine compartment cover, the passenger's side bottom frame is added.
42056 LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS - mufflers/exhaust
On either side, connected to the back of the frame, are two mufflers, with two exhaust pipes emanating from each.
42056 LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS - rollcage crossbeams
The crossbeams for the interior rollcage are connected to the two upright orange beams - it was here that I realized I had used the wrong beam on the passenger's side and had to disassemble the frame a little bit to set things right.
42056 LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS - finished frame
At this point the frame is finished and ready to mount on the chassis from Box 1
42056 LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS - mating frame to chassis
42056 LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS - frame on chassis
Surprisingly, the frame drops onto the chassis with ease - I anticipated having to jockey it into position here and stretching it to clear something there. There are strategically placed connector pins used to attach the frame to the chassis.
42056 LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS - bucket seat
Next the seats are constructed and attached to the chassis.
42056 LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS - passenger seat mounted
Once both seats are mounted, Box 2 is complete:
42056 LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS - Box 2 complete
42056 LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS - Box 2 complete
42056 LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS - Box 2 complete
Stay tuned for part 2, coming soon!