Review: 60420 Construction Excavator

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One of the mainstays of the LEGO City theme is yellow construction machinery.

This year, LEGO have released three such sets. Read on as I review 60420 Construction Excavator,

Summary

60420 Construction Excavator , 633 pieces.
£49.99 / $54.99 / €54.99 | 7.9p/8.7c/8.7c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »

An attractive yellow excavator for your LEGO City diorama

  • Extremely well designed
  • Accurate articulation
  • Great colour choice
  • No negative comments

The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.

The box

The front of the box shows the 60420 Construction Excavator scooping up some rubble on a building site. A construction worker is operating a pneumatic hammer while a project manager is surveying the site.

The rear of the box shows some of the play features of this set:

  • The boom has three points of articulation,
  • The house can fully rotate about the undercarriage, and
  • You can open a hatch to reveal the engine.


Instructions

The instructions come in one booklet.

The two 21M flexible hoses are loose in the box.


Stickers

There is a medium-sized sticker sheet. There is a new stylised elephant logo that appears on this set and 60409 Mobile Construction Crane.


Parts

The parts come in six numbered paper bags. This is the first time I have seen this style of packaging in a LEGO set.


Printed parts

The bright blue 2x4 printed tile has a blueprint for the 60363 Ice-Cream Shop and is unique to this set.

The 1x6 printed white tiles are unique to this set and 60435 Tow Truck. Here they have been assembled into two brick-built safety barriers.


Minifigures

There are three minifigures in this set.

  • A project manager with a blueprint plan
  • A male construction worker with a pneumatic hammer, and
  • A female construction worker with a radio

The project manager and male construction worker have alternate hair pieces.

The bright orange hair has been seen in only three sets.

The female construction worker has a hearing aid that is concealed under her hair, which is part of the helmet.

The male construction worker's torso and legs are unique to this set.

The female construction worker's torso is unique to this set.

The rear of the three minifigures.


The Build

The build is divided into three key stages:

  • Bags 1 and 2 assemble the house or upper structure
  • Bags 3 and 4 assemble the arm and cab
  • Bags 5 and 6 assemble the undercarriage

Bag 1

You can see the structure of the house appearing. There are plenty of SNOT bricks that will hold the sides on.

A small hatch that opens up the engine bay.


Bag 2

The sides of the house have been added.

There is a small brick-built engine in the engine bay.

Here is a close up of the engine. The printed round tile has been seen in 48 sets.


Bag 3

Bag 3 assembles the boom. There are two boom cylinders that pull out with friction.

The flexible tubes, representing hydraulic hoses, have been seen in six sets.


Bag 4

Bag 4 assembles the stick, bucket, and the cab. This image shows the arm fully retracted.

Here is the arm fully extended.


Bag 5

Bag 5 assembles the undercarriage.


Bag 6

Here the Construction Excavator is fully assembled, and the boom has been fully raised.


Completed model

When all put together, there is potential for a nice construction diorama.

There are two construction workers who are operating the excavator and a pneumatic hammer while the project manager, with his plan, supervises their work. There is a small pile of rubble to be scooped up in the bucket.

A couple of safety barriers ensure that the dangerous work site is isolated from the public.


Overall opinion

This is a really attractive excavator. It is built predominantly with Flame Yellowish Orange (Bright Light Orange), which is a nice, modern departure from the traditional Bright Yellow sets.

The excavator arm is extremely well-designed and incredibly strong. It operates very much like a real construction excavator.

This set will appeal to young and old LEGO City enthusiasts alike.

50 comments on this article

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By in United Kingdom,

Very cute, one of my nieces loves sets of construction/utility vehicles, so I will definitely pick this up for her.

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By in Netherlands,

Always glad to see more white tiles with danger stripes, the last time we've had this size was in 2010, and those were stickered.

Looking forward to building this set, this is peak city construction! Does anybody know if there elephant company has a name yet? Could it perhaps be a reference to the real life heavy lifting company; Mammoet?

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By in Germany,

Since I am well known as Brickset's resident naysayer, many will be surprised by my comment, but to me this is the best City set of the year so far. Not just that, but I would go so far as to say that this is one of the best City sets ever imho.

Then again, my all time favorite Technic set is 8043, of which this is basically the City version, so make of that what you will.

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By in United States,

This feels like it could be a sleeper hit of the year. The set looks phenomenal, but it seems like something most will pass by and miss, being an unsuspecting excavator. I'm pretty excited to pick one up. Looks like a lot of fun.

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By in United States,

What a fantastic set. Great figs, great vehicle. LEGO at its simplest and best.

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By in United Kingdom,

I like it when we have references to other Lego sets like this (even if it isn’t exactly altruistic). This is the sort of thing that makes Lego City top notch as a theme.

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By in Switzerland,

Wow, this is insanely clean and looks amazing. I will likely have to pick one up to go with my modular construction site!

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By in Canada,

The last LEGO City excavator we had like this (tracked, bucket attachment) was the mini excavator in 7633 from 2009, and this is the first one to use Technic connections for the arm rather than click hinges. I’ll be testing different pieces in the arm to try to get a wider range of motion from the connections, but as-is, I’d argue this is the best LEGO City excavator we’ve ever had!

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By in United States,

I REALLY like this and the mobile crane. Both of them feel like big steps forward for City construction equipment, with great, complex builds, refreshed branding (love the elephant logo), and a Flame Yellowish Orange color scheme that really pops.

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By in Netherlands,

"No negative comments", but I can clearly see the stickers (once again) don't match the colour of the plastic. Also, they're stickers. ;-)

And I don't mean to sound overly negative here, but I'm honestly struggling to call this a review, since the text merely describes what we're seeing in the pictures. I'm not saying that's a bad thing per se, but that's just not what a review is. I do like the way it's laid out and you see what you get with each bag during the building stage, and I really like how this set looks.

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By in Germany,

@AustinPowers said:
"Since I am well known as Brickset's resident naysayer, many will be surprised by my comment, but to me this is the best City set of the year so far. Not just that, but I would go so far as to say that this is one of the best City sets ever imho.

Then again, my all time favorite Technic set is 8043, of which this is basically the City version, so make of that what you will. "


This also is a fairly good price for recent Lego.

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By in Germany,

it's nice that this one is atleast all paper bags. In the past some lego sets were mostly plastic bags with very few paper ones.

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By in Ireland,

I got this a while back, it’s a great set.

The paper bags still include the smaller plastic
bags for small pieces, so more work needed on the paper bags.

Also the sticker sheet was crumpled and one of the stickers had become detached and was stuck to the instruction book.

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By in United Kingdom,

@ToysFromTheAttic said:
""No negative comments", but I can clearly see the stickers (once again) don't match the colour of the plastic. Also, they're stickers. ;-)

And I don't mean to sound overly negative here, but I'm honestly struggling to call this a review, since the text merely describes what we're seeing in the pictures. I'm not saying that's a bad thing per se, but that's just not what a review is. I do like the way it's laid out and you see what you get with each bag during the building stage, and I really like how this set looks."


I'd also say that the visible blue technic pins are an issue for some.

Do agree though that this review reads more as a 'heres what you get' rather then a review.

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By in Belgium,

saw the first picture, tought it looked nice, maybe like 30€?, then I saw the price and was like WTF

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By in United States,

This is a must-buy for me.

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By in Netherlands,

Looks pretty great! I feel the price is a bit on the high end for just an excavator, though considering the piece count it's not too bad. And as long as the set itself is this good, it's less of an issue anyway.

The only thing I could complain about are the stickers: Not even so much that there are stickers, those are to be expected in a City set. And I actually think Lego could add some bonus stickers, kids would love that. But those curved stickers on the (black) windscreen pieces, I bet kids (or their parents) will have a lot of trouble getting those exactly right.

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By in United States,

Interestingly enough, my copy of this set still had plastic bags - no paper.

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By in United Kingdom,

Would also like to second the comment that it doesn't feel like a review, more an overview of bag contents. What are the play features, how do they function? Also as an aside, the Bag 6 section doesn't mention Bag 6 or anything about it, and the link to the printed tile is broken.

This set does look cool but I'm again wondering how it's a £50 set. I feel like £40 would be a little bit more reasonable, for £50 I'd like it to have something to play "with" if that makes sense? We can't entirely pppc this because it has track pieces which probably make up 10% of this set on their own.

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By in United States,

It's weird to say, but this looks like *too* good of a set. The shaping, SNOT techniques, it all looks somehow *too* premium for an 8+ Lego City set of an excavator. Maybe that's why it's $55, a proper Lego Premium kids' toy, or maybe I've just been sleeping on City and mentally assume it shouldn't/can't use the parts-dense design methodology of licensed display sets.

Also, I'm still waiting on the paper bags to show up stateside.

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By in United Kingdom,

I'm not interested in plant or anything, but this is a really well done Lego set. Lovely clean lines and surfaces. From a distance it could be mistaken for not being Lego but a straight up model.

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By in United Kingdom,

Gonna have to report that box art to their H&S Supervisor, those two are working far too close to that machine, especially when they’re stood in its blind spot like that. Where’s the PVM that should be watching this operation!

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By in Netherlands,

@GrizBe said:
" @ToysFromTheAttic said:
""No negative comments", but I can clearly see the stickers (once again) don't match the colour of the plastic. Also, they're stickers. ;-)

And I don't mean to sound overly negative here, but I'm honestly struggling to call this a review, since the text merely describes what we're seeing in the pictures. I'm not saying that's a bad thing per se, but that's just not what a review is. I do like the way it's laid out and you see what you get with each bag during the building stage, and I really like how this set looks."


I'd also say that the visible blue technic pins are an issue for some.

Do agree though that this review reads more as a 'heres what you get' rather then a review."


I agree on both points. Overall, though, this looks like a great LEGO set.

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By in Netherlands,

@tomenadi said:
"saw the first picture, tought it looked nice, maybe like 30€?, then I saw the price and was like WTF"

€ 30,- for a 2024 LEGO set with 600+ pieces, most of which are fairly substantial...? I really think you need to adjust your expectations if you still think that's a realistic price for a LEGO set this size. They could've charged € 60,- and it still would've been under that 'magic' 10 cent per piece barrier that many hold as a standard for valuing LEGO sets. If anything, this is fairly priced for a 2024 set.

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By in United States,

@tomenadi said:
"saw the first picture, tought it looked nice, maybe like 30€?, then I saw the price and was like WTF"
I feel like the price point is steep too, but my price perception is also colored by having been alive just a few years ago. $30 in 2000 is worth $55 today. The US dollar lost 45% of its purchasing power in 24 years. Although the euro didn't exist back then, it must not be doing too hot either if Lego has euro/dollar prices at parity now. (Euro retail prices have never been straightforward to compare because VAT is hidden in the sticker price.)

For much of those last 24 years, I actually felt like Lego was deflationary: we were getting more stuff for lower or stable prices. Sets from the 80s and 90s were really expensive and kind of spindly, then suddenly you could get a hulking modular building for 140 (inflated) dollars!

Alas, within the last few years, Lego prices went up, a lot. I felt like I'd gone back to the 90s in real dollar value and suddenly Lego is a luxury purchase again. Then again, with the dollar now so worthless, everything is a luxury purchase now.

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By in Germany,

I love how they finally got the look of the excavator right. I worked on one based on the additional build of 60124 Volcano Base since they never did a construction excavator with tank treads in the City line after 2005s 7248 and a tiny additional model in a 2009 construction site set. That idea appears to be obsolete now.
Really strange just how many excavators they have been doing in Technic in comparison.

I would just want to switch the bright light yellow for yellow because I want my construction crew to be just a tad more classically looking.

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By in United States,

This set is just about perfect. I'm definitely getting it as soon as it goes on sale.
BTW, I appreciate the new "sponsored" tag for posts where Lego sent the products for review.

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By in United States,

Roughly 130 of the parts in this set are tread pieces and technic pins. You can see where the piece count gets inflated here. Should that account for $13 worth of the price at .10 ppp?

I think TLG thinks so, if they're pricing this at $54 and we're expecting a $40 price tag. But 20% off $50 (what would be a more reasonable retail price considering those pins and treads) would put this around $40.

Great set though. Kids are gonna need a bump in their allowance.

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By in Canada,

This is a very nice set but there is a serious problem with it: the cylinders are too small (lengthwise). Should they be 2 studs longer, the arm and the bucket would have a full (and proper) range of motion. As this is just a 'static (non-Technic or motorized)' toy, I suppose, it's good enough and that'll do. The shaping is very nicely done and there are some very nice building techniques. The scale of it places this excavator more as a mining equipment machine than anything else - I found an excavator where the tracks are as high as an adult human: CAT 6015B: used for mining. (There are plenty more of other brands - also used for mining)

Lego Technic treads/tracks are very expensive (I had to buy a few hundreds for the crawler of my Saturn V MLP/LUT). They are cad$0.17 or USD$0.13. So, USD$17 is for treads only.

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By in United States,

I will be happy to add this year's construction sets to the ones from 2016 that was also a fantastic series.

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By in Turkey,

I think whole text lacks review part. We didint learn any subjective or objective details about it wheather the set is terrific or not, i like to read detailed experience that we dont see on pictures.

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By in Netherlands,

Dang, this is nice. I think I'll quite like to rebuild this as a space-set.

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By in United Kingdom,

Any chance of some information about the functions of the set? It looks very nice I agree - but I'd like to know a little about how the cylinders hold up to the weight of the boom/stick/bucket (although I'd assume that the latter at least is totally fine), particularly the twin cylinder set up used for the boom..

On the price - whilst £50 doesn't seem too bad for a 600+ piece set in 2024, it still isn't great. Thankfully it's already available for £40 which seems like a fairer price to me!

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By in Belgium,

@ToysFromTheAttic said:
" @tomenadi said:
"saw the first picture, tought it looked nice, maybe like 30€?, then I saw the price and was like WTF"

€ 30,- for a 2024 LEGO set with 600+ pieces, most of which are fairly substantial...? I really think you need to adjust your expectations if you still think that's a realistic price for a LEGO set this size. They could've charged € 60,- and it still would've been under that 'magic' 10 cent per piece barrier that many hold as a standard for valuing LEGO sets. If anything, this is fairly priced for a 2024 set."


Its already 37€ on Amazon...

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By in Poland,

"Accurate articulation" is a joke, right?

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By in United Kingdom,

I really dig this! (Sorry)

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By in Netherlands,

@Alia_of_AGL said:
"It's weird to say, but this looks like *too* good of a set. The shaping, SNOT techniques, it all looks somehow *too* premium for an 8+ Lego City set of an excavator. Maybe that's why it's $55, a proper Lego Premium kids' toy, or maybe I've just been sleeping on City and mentally assume it shouldn't/can't use the parts-dense design methodology of licensed display sets."
It kinda seems to be a recurring theme with City recently: In itself very good sets that happen to be much bigger and better than they really need to be for the play value they offer. I mean, two other obvious cases of that are the 60440 Lego Delivery Truck and the 60409 Mobile Contruction Crane. As impressive as these all look, it makes them rather expensive for what they are. Maybe not necessarily bad value overall, but as a toy for kids? And dare I say especially with that crane the size might actually hinder playing with it? Are these primarily meant for kids, or secretly as display models for adults?

It's kinda interesting since Star Wars on the other hand has been going the other way the last couple of years, downsizing (and downpricing) some of the sets, which I think actually made them better toys.

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By in United States,

@RobA said:
"Interestingly enough, my copy of this set still had plastic bags - no paper. "

They seem to be slower in getting those to the States; I haven't seen any either.

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By in United States,

I really don’t like bright light orange. I get it confused with regular orange far too often. But I do love LEGO excavators and for once they made a city one without that ridiculous multi-use part that really one belongs on skid-steer loaders.

I want to lick this up so bad.

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By in France,

I just can't figure out what part has been used to figure the sides of the engine? I thought of a 1x2 modified plate with a shaft of some sort, but it is not that. Somebody knows? Thank you. Excellent review for an excellent set, I am no City guy but I really appreciate the smooth curves of the body and the shapes overall. Lego models are more and more accurate with the time. Excellent.

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By in Netherlands,

@Brick_t_ said:
"I just can't figure out what part has been used to figure the sides of the engine? I thought of a 1x2 modified plate with a shaft of some sort, but it is not that. Somebody knows? Thank you. Excellent review for an excellent set, I am no City guy but I really appreciate the smooth curves of the body and the shapes overall. Lego models are more and more accurate with the time. Excellent. "

https://brickset.com/parts/design-42505 times three. It's built sideways.

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By in Croatia,

Like it a lot! Perfect AFOL set, City themed. In range with sets like 60074, 7746 and tracked vehicle from 60124. Will buy it on discount.

To me, all those helmets on men workers looks odd, like all men are bold, but this haircut explain a lot XD

We should give the brand name of that elephant power machines!
Brickbuster, Brickhard, Brickzilla, Colossus, Monster, Titan, Bulk, Jumbo?
What do you think?

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By in Netherlands,

@gsom7 said:
"We should give the brand name of that elephant power machines!
Brickbuster, Brickhard, Brickzilla, Colossus, Monster, Titan, Bulk, Jumbo?
What do you think?"


Tusk Force! ;)

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By in Netherlands,

@tomenadi said:
" @ToysFromTheAttic said:
" @tomenadi said:
"saw the first picture, tought it looked nice, maybe like 30€?, then I saw the price and was like WTF"

€ 30,- for a 2024 LEGO set with 600+ pieces, most of which are fairly substantial...? I really think you need to adjust your expectations if you still think that's a realistic price for a LEGO set this size. They could've charged € 60,- and it still would've been under that 'magic' 10 cent per piece barrier that many hold as a standard for valuing LEGO sets. If anything, this is fairly priced for a 2024 set."


Its already 37€ on Amazon..."


Then you've got yourself a nice bargain. :-) Nevertheless, the suggested retail price seems fair in this day and age, compared to other LEGO sets, but I'd always recommend to look for bargains. This one is very generous.

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By in United States,

@Thunderbear said:
" @gsom7 said:
"We should give the brand name of that elephant power machines!
Brickbuster, Brickhard, Brickzilla, Colossus, Monster, Titan, Bulk, Jumbo?
What do you think?"


Tusk Force! ;)"


I like it! :D

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By in United States,

@TheOtherMike said:
" @RobA said:
"Interestingly enough, my copy of this set still had plastic bags - no paper. "

They seem to be slower in getting those to the States; I haven't seen any either."


Yeah, the US hasn't gotten the paper bags yet.
I got an extra Speed Champions Countach the other day, and it came with a little pamphlet extolling the virtues of the NEW paper bags! That Countach came out 2 years ago, LOL

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By in United Kingdom,

Sold! …when discounted.

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By in New Zealand,

Very nice! I wouldn't mind picking it up. If, I had the budget that is.

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By in Netherlands,

This thing is ginormous. It is like 5 minifigs tall. In reality that is a 9m tall exacavator, in lowered position. You would not be able to go under a single viaduct with it. Maybe suitable for the people who have a mining pit in their city, otherwise it is a big no.
60075 was much better to fit in your Lego City.

But the best excavator to date remains the 8047.

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By in Germany,

Im seriously considering this, despite the high price for it. And I didn’t buy a City Set since 20 years. What actually draws me to the set is the easiness it crawls with on smooth surfaces, as I witnissed in video reviews. Unfortunately, this is not mentioned here but such a big plus.

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