Go behind the scenes with Lego Technic’s wheel loader R&D

Although the end product may be child’s play, the process of creating one of Lego Techic’s models is far from it. A new video from Lego Technic shows how it recreated a working miniature of Volvo’s largest wheel loader, the L350F.

“Let’s be honest, whether you’re a child or an adult, construction machines are fun,” says Niels Henrik-Horsted, global marketing lead, Lego Technic. He notes that Lego ultimately looks for models it can reproduce that will catch children’s interest, and ultimately, purchase.

With its newest remote-controlled model, it recreated the working unit with meticulous detail. The model contains more than 1,600 individual pieces and the largest individual element ever created for the brand. The Lego Technic wheel loader can lift more than 1kg (2.2 pounds) in its bucket and drive over challenging terrain, just like its real-life model.

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The video includes commentary with the development team behind Lego’s biggest machine for 2014, including Lego and Volvo staff. It also follows Henrik-Horsted and design manager Jeppe Juul Jensen as they  conduct hands-on research, visit the Volvo factory and a construction site, and actually operate a L350F themselves.

“We tried to make it as realistic as possible, so it drives, steers, and lifts the load just like the real thing,” Jensen says. “You can also remove the oil filters, the radiator-door swings out, pistons move, and the engine is painted green, just like the real thing.”

The remote control Volvo model Lego 42030 is now available from the Lego Shop and participating retailers. To see it in action, scroll to the second video for a demonstration from Hillhead where adult operators and attendees enjoyed a flashback to childhood while watching the models operate.

This article was written by Therese Dunphy, Editor-in-Chief of Aggregates Manager.