Lego Racers 8682 - my review

[Richard Dower]

I wish i had a camera!...as i would love to show you guys this model + what pimping/mods i made to the set.

There are several Racers sets that are considered Technic sets...as they are built from (mostly) entirely Technic parts, and they look like Technic sets.

There are several very rare a unique formula 1 cars and also some Ferrari and McClaren and Mercedes sets in the Racers line.

From 2005-07 TLG released 3 sets under the Nitro brand: Nitro Menace 8649, Nitro Muscle 8146 and the set i am reviewing today, the Nitro Intimidator 8682.

It has 724 parts, but after modding and pimping it came in just under 800 parts. It took me about 4 hours which is longer then i expected, but i was reviewing the set as i went along to see where i would add pieces.

I really like the model and i very much enjoyed building it, moreso then 8434 i got recently, Its a fun looking vehicle...thought its functions are very basic for this set.

HOG steering, opening front bonnet....the backend can be pulled down to reveal a CRAZY setup...its like a gaming system built into the back of the car.....LOL!

A huge viewscreen, 4:9?...wtf?....i guess 16:9 was not standard yet in 2006 :-)

It even has "gamepads".....and a big speaker system, this thing has 8 huge speakers!....its a crazy genre mashup, its also interesting in that the set uses alot of conventional lego pieces, i havent seen this much standard Lego used since 8275. The front end is superb, no Technic parts...just bricks. I didnt like like the exposed black studs on the front so i added 1x2 Black grill pieces which really makes the front end stand out.

You should check out the part list as it uses some rare parts incl 16L and 19L red flexible hoses....plus one of the infamous and ever elusive Red #3 Technic connector!! http://www.bricklink...nv.asp?S=8682-1

I applied the same process i have done with all my other sets, it is too expensive to buy new in box, so i bought it second hand for €40. The rare/unique/hard to find parts i kept and cleaned up. Everything else i bought brand new parts...so its basically a 95% brand new set, the manual was mint and i dont really care about boxes.

I have a thing about second hand sets, i hate them...i always try buy brand new where possible, if the price is good...for 8682 there were sets being sold at €120+. Too much being asked, so the compromise is to get a cheap second hand set..take out the rare parts and dump the rest, the buy the remianing parts brand new.

This set might not be to everyones taste, you may not like how it looks...but it is an excellent parts pack and it now takes pride of place on my Technic shelf.

:-) 3.5/5

There are some pretty cool MOCs of this set out there as well, i like this one:

Edited January 11, 2015 by Richard Dower

[zux]

This is a nice set with good looks and proportions. The front is especially good, as guy from our LUG said - this is because it is build of "System" rather than Technic

Stickers on the other side are horrible. I bought a used set, so stickers were cracked and peeling. Trouble is everything was easy to remove except the white parts. I don't know what kind of paint or other chemical substance was user for white color - it was very hard to remove the white parts and glue left.

And it is a great parts pack.

[Richard Dower]

I dont like stickers at all...i never apply them. This set + all my sets are sticker free....you are right, thankfully the second hand set i bought was very easy to take off the stickers. Since they were years old they came off with no residue glue/gunk left on the bricks. After that i washed the parts; As for the white bricks...they do go off colour...there is a hint of a dirty yellow-ish stain on the white bricks.

Which is why i bought all new pieces. I added a few more brciks to the front end, to give it more support and structural integrity and slighly modifed the front...add more pieces and a second 1x8 flat tile + few more pieces. I think it turned out really well...just wich i had a proper camera to show you guys.

Edited January 11, 2015 by Richard Dower