Assembled: LEGO Liebherr excavator

I was able to marvel at the LEGO excavator at the toy fair in Nuremberg in January of this year. LEGO only showed a demonstration model and not the final version, but one thing was already clear to me back then: I have to have this thing!

LEGO

LEGO Liebherr excavator R 9800

42100, LEGO Technic

305

LEGO

LEGO Liebherr excavator R 9800

42100, LEGO Technic

305

But first a little detour into the real world. What kind of monster is this? The Liebherr R 9800 excavator is mainly used for excavating rock and rubble. It is powered by two V16 engines, which deliver 4,000 hp. Liebherr also offers an optional version with an electric motor. The folding bucket is set in motion thanks to an enormous hydraulic system. This has a capacity of 42 cubic metres and an operating weight of 810 tonnes. You can find out more about the original in the video.

Build until your fingers hurt

The dimensions of the LEGO version are also enormous. Get ready to pick up 4,108 individual parts and assemble them into a colossal machine. Seven motors and two control units, which you can control via an app on your smartphone, are used to ensure that the excavator can perform all the functions of the original. As is so often the case with large LEGO models, the building instructions are divided into two books. A total of over 700 pages and 1,000 building steps await you. Start with the undercarriage.

Tracked undercarriage and turnstile

I use the first 70 pages of the instructions to build the right-hand tracked undercarriage, including all the mechanical parts required for the drive. The first motor is already used here, as each chain can be controlled individually. Before the parts of the left-hand undercarriage land on the table, it's the turn of the centre part with the turnstile. This module will later be used to turn the excavator in all directions. The lower part of the excavator also has its own Smarthub for this purpose, which will later be connected to the smartphone via Bluetooth. After the second tracked undercarriage, I have mastered the first stage and already have 200 pages of building instructions behind me.

Upper carriage and ballast weight

I use the remaining 160 pages of the first book to build the entire superstructure. In addition to the white panelling parts and another Smarthub, this step creates a solid structure that gives the excavator the basic stability it needs. In preparation for the next part, I also attach two cylinders. These will later move the boom in a vertical direction.

Jib and stalk

Halftime. Now it's time for book two and another 500 construction steps. I've got help from my colleague Ludo. He's helping me late into the night to build the arm of the excavator. More precisely: the boom and arm. Technical language, of course. Seems more serious, doesn't it? This step is quite a challenge. Lots of struts, gears, motors and cylinders. The arm is full of "technic". It has to be, because these transmit the physical forces that arise during excavation. We finish work at 10 pm. If we worked any longer, we'd have HR on our backs. Better to play it safe and continue building tomorrow.

Engine and decoration

New day, new luck. The mechanical work has all been completed. From now on, it's all about the appearance and the detail work. The superstructure is given a cover. Among other things, the exhaust system, cooling fans and oil drums will find their place on it.

Driver's cab and stairs

Final spurt is announced. The final work is about to begin. The excavator gets its driver's cab for the pilot. To get there, the model naturally includes a corresponding staircase and railing. Further detail work such as the hydraulic hoses and warning lights round off the construction and give the LEGO excavator the finishing touches. As the crowning glory, I put the tipping bucket on the end of the arm of the R 9800. Done! It took me just under 12 hours to build. You can see what it looks like shortened to five minutes in the following timelapse.

I'll go digging then

The excavator is not operated with a remote control as with older Technic models. All remote-controlled LEGO sets now run via an app on your smartphone. You therefore have many more options for operating your model. The only question is whether you will still be able to do this in ten years' time.

The controls are simple and intuitive. In the centre you have two controllers for the two crawlers and on the left and right you have two joysticks for operating the excavator arm. You can also execute several commands at the same time and thus excavate more efficiently. You'll quickly get the hang of it. After a few minutes, you'll be able to operate it with your eyes closed.

In addition to the operation shown above, there is another interesting alternative. This is even simpler. You have an arm with several orange dots in the app. By moving these dots with your finger, the arm moves accordingly.

So that you can see what the Liebherr R 9800 from LEGO looks like on sale, I've made a little demonstration video. Low quality I know. But it's just for illustration purposes.

My conclusion

I was really looking forward to this excavator at the toy fair in Nuremberg at the beginning of the year and LEGO didn't disappoint me. I really enjoyed building it because there were rarely any repetitive steps. There was always something new to discover. The LEGO designers have once again outdone themselves. Operation via smartphone is also child's play, which means that the model is still fun to build. At last, LEGO has once again brought out a Technic set that lives up to its name. Unlike the Bugatti, this really is Technic. Of course the price is a bit steep, but in my opinion it's worth every franc. I can really recommend the Liebherr excavator from LEGO to any Technic fan. You're guaranteed to enjoy it.

Take a look at my author profile. There you'll find more inspiration from the world of LEGO.