Review: 42064 Ocean Explorer
Posted by FlagsNZ,Last month, in an article celebrating 2017 being the 40th anniversary of LEGO Technic, images of the first wave 2017 Technic sets were revealed.
Two sets in this batch of early 2017 Technic releases were immediately on my review radar: 42062 Container Yard and 42064 Ocean Explorer.
In this review, I am looking at 42064 Ocean Explorer. I have cast a very professional seaman's eye over this set as I have high expectations. In my field of work, I use model LEGO ships as props in the classroom as I teach a comprehensive range of nautical subjects to students of all grades as they further their careers at sea. Read on to see whether 42064 Ocean Explorer meets my high expectations.
The box
The front image on the box shows Ocean Explorer underway in rough seas while attempting to launch her submersible explorer. There is a helicopter, which is supporting the vessel, flying around waiting for the ship to alter course to reduce rolling and provide clearer air over the flight deck to enable safe landing.
There is a miniature image showing the principal ship dimensions.
The rear of the box shows the functions and playability of the main model. The rear of the box also shows the B Model: a tug pushing a barge ahead that is rigidly connected as a composite unit.
The B Model also has a small wind farm generator.
All the sets released in 2017 have a distinctive teaser to the 40th year celebrations. The set includes a printed 3M beam celebrating the 40th anniversary.
Instructions and sticker sheet
The instructions come printed in one book and the sticker sheet is protected in the same bag.
I'll comment more on the stickers later in the review.
Parts
The parts come in three sets of numbered bags. Bag 1 makes the helicopter and submersible.
Bags 2 make the hull of Ocean Explorer.
Bags 3 make the ship's superstructure, crane and flight deck.
The ship's topsides are coloured Earth Blue. There are several parts found in this colour for the first time.
The new parts are 5M axle with end stop and 1M beam with 2 cross axles.
The underwater hull is made up of red parts to represent the anti-fouling paint.
There are eight bowed panels 3x11x2 in red. This part is currently found in three sets. The bulbous bow is made with a red deco cone; the first time this part has been made other than in clear transparent.
There are two printed parts: the special 3M beam celebrating 40 years of Technic, and 1x1 round tile with the number 5 printed on it. There are six angular panels 3x5x3 in white for the first time.
When all the various axles are put together, there is a rainbow of colours, which does make finding them a lot easier.
The build
The first bag makes the little helicopter with a clear bubble canopy. This reminds me of the Bell H13 Sioux helicopters seen in the TV series M*A*S*H during the late 1970s to early 80s.
The helicopter has a pair of float skids, which make sense since it is operating in the marine environment.
The eight-tooth gear wheel under the base drives the two rotors.
This must be the smallest Technic helicopter released by LEGO. More on the two connector pegs with knobs in the cockpit later.
The submersible is also made from the first bag. The two 12-tooth gears control the mechanical arms and the propellers.
The propellers would normally be counter rotating to reduce transverse thrust but they rotate in the same direction. Given the scale of the model and the limitations of LEGO parts, counter rotation would be difficult to achieve.
The Bags numbered 2 build the hull and crane pedestal.
Given the limitations of Technic panels, the hull has been made with a very elegant shape.
A nice touch is placing a ship yard's plaque inside the engineering of the ship. Ship yard plaques are normally found on the engine room bulkhead and each hull built is numbered sequentially. This would indicate that this is the fifth ship from the Technic shipyard.
Ocean Explorer has five wheels under the hull to allow it to be pushed around on the floor. The aft two wheels are linked to the steering gear. As the rudders turn, so does the steering wheels.
Ocean Explorer has twin rudders.
The third set of bags makes the superstructure.
A flight deck has been placed on the fo'c's'le and the crane boom has been added.
Here is an image before the stickers were applied.
And here is the same view after the stickers have been applied. This set really needs the stickers to give it some definition. The portholes (technically - side scuttles) give the superstructure some scale.
The two 12-tooth gears on the Monkey Island slew and luff the crane.
Ocean Explorer has the southern royal albatross as its emblem on the funnel. Behind the albatross is a traditional mariner's compass card on an earth blue background.
The 20-tooth gear wheel behind the funnel controls the steering gear.
Carving Note
When a ship is first registered, or subsequently changes registry, a Carving Note is issued by the relevant maritime authorities. The ship's name must be permanently marked (carved, although today welding is more common) on each of its bows, the name and port of registry must be marked on its stern and the IMO Number must me marked where it can be seen from the air.
At the same time, draught marks and the load lines are also marked on the hull.
This is the starboard bow of Ocean Explorer. The ship's name, forward draught marks and a bulbous bow symbol have been marked. The forward draught marks measure the depth of the hull at the forward perpendicular.
Here is the ship's name, port of registry and aft draught marks at the stern. The aft perpendicular is measured at the centre of the rudder stock.
The IMO Number is a seven digit identity number which was introduced to improve safety and security and to reduce maritime fraud. Ocean Explorer's IMO number is the five digit set number 42064.
There is also Safety First, a sign which can be found on the front an increasing number of ships' superstructures.
The LEGO designers have put a lot of effort into replicating the legal markings on Ocean Explorer.
Unfortunately, the load line stickers have been placed on the wrong side of the hull. Sticker No 2 must be placed on the starboard (right) side of the hull at instruction 48, and sticker No 4 must be placed on the port (left) side of the hull at instruction 49. If you have put the stickers on the wrong side, it is easy to switch the parts around later.
The load lines are always forward of the load line disk and the fresh water load lines - TF and F - always point aft.
The box art and all the images in the instructions after number 48 are wrong as the load lines are on the wrong sides.
The letters have the following meanings:
- T - tropical,
- S - summer,
- W - winter,
- WNA - winter North Atlantic
- TF - tropical fresh, and
- F - fresh
I'm guessing the B MP are the initials of the set designer, allthough I have not been able to find any LEGO designers that match these initials. Normally the two letters on the load line disk represent the classification society that assigned the load lines (such as LR for Lloyds Register or GL for Gemanisher LLoyd, etc).
A vessel loaded down to her F or TF line when floating in fresh water will rise to S or T line when the vessel enters salt water. The distance between S to F load lines is called the Fresh Water Allowance.
Load lines are there for crew safety. In shipping zones of good weather, the vessel can load deeper in the water, but in areas of poor weather, the ship must have more freeboard and, therefore, load less cargo.
Ocean Explorer has two 3M orange lifeboats and next to the entrances to the accommodation there is some fire equipment.
Minifigures
While not part of the set, I wondered why there were two disused connector pegs with knobs in the cockpits of the helicopter and submersible.
I used some minifigures from the Deep Sea Explorers sets and found they fit quite nicely in the vehicles.
The view from the bridge is obscured when the helicopter has landed on the flight deck; however, the helicopter pilot will benefit from having clear air over the flight deck during take-offs and landings.
You can also see the forward masthead navigation light forward of the flight deck. This is at the same height of the port and starboard side lights. The side lights must be at a height above the hull not greater than three quarters of that of the forward masthead light.
I will be modifying my model by placing the side lights just below the 2nd deck portholes.
In the image above, you can just see the hatch pontoon forward of the accommodation that, when removed, reveals a small cargo hold.
Playability
The set comes with multiple areas of play.
- The two vehicles are fun to play with in their own right. The small helicopter has great swooshability.
- Launching and retrieving the submersible with the crane can be a bit awkward. It would have been more realistic to have an A-frame gantry over the stern.
- Ocean Explorer's steering responds realistically. The ships reacts like a real ship when underway when pushed around on the floor.
Verdict
This was a much-anticipated set for me. I welcome any opportunity to use LEGO as a teaching aid during my nautical lectures.
I like the fact the minifigures can be easily incorporated into the set which also gives the set a sense of scale.
The model captures many features of a real research vessel and is a great build; the crane could be designed better and it does not plumb over the forward cargo hold.
It is disappointing that the load lines are placed the wrong way around. This fault will be picked up by any professional merchant seafarer. This mistake is simple to fix though.
The navigation lights could be placed in more accurate locations but this fault is unlikely to be noticed by most people.
Overall, I like the set, the minor faults are easily fixed.
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44 comments on this article
Thank you for the interesting and through review. I appreciate your usage of expertise in analyzing the set. Good work!
After a great 2016, it's puzzling to see Technic go down this road where true technic features are largely missing, being replaced with panels to make a playset that would be a much better fit for the Creator or even City line. I don't understand the reasoning behind it. This set has little appeal to me.
This is even more boring than those snow sets from 1986. Even the reviewer was apparently so bored with the tech that he focused his attention on the stickers.
I appreciate new kinds of LEGO sets. I've never seen a Technic vessel before, and it's a nice change after seeing cars, motorcycles, planes, helicopters, and construction equipment for the last 12 years that I've been playing with LEGO Technic. The lack of bigger play features on this set is kinda understandable, mainly because I'm not familiar with what big "play features" happen on a ship in real life (ex. compared to that of a construction vehicle), but I like that they included a helicopter and a submarine with small play features, that the boat is on wheels, and that it's minifigure friendly. Overall, I think this is a decent set. Not as good as other sets, but it is fine for what is given.
I can easily imagine this ship alongside a wharf in a minifigure scaled City port. I will attempt to fuse this with 42062 Container Yard and redesign the ship into a cargo-carrying freighter.
@Dude45 I have to agree. I mean, it's a great looking set, but there shouldn't be a Technic logo on the box, there's nothing technical about it. Lots of panels and very few moving parts, along with a mini submarine and helicopter...seems more like a Creator set made with technic pieces. I'm really not a fan of the trend Technic has gone in 2017.
^ I actually agree with the comments posted on this set. When looking at the 'lifeboats' I thought they could be better designed using System bricks.
^^ I have the 42065 Tracked Racer ready for races around the garden tomorrow. I intend to make another tracked racer from the bulk Technic parts that I have. I see the Tracked Racer as being at the core of what Technic ought to be.
@Lvl There is actually a Creator set called the Ocean Explorer, product number 31045 which is the same style of ship in the same livery.
I don't know what theme this set would fall under other than Technic. It uses Technic elements and is built using Technic techniques. Technic sets are determined by their build style (beams and pegs, rather than interlocking bricks), not their subject matter. I'm happy to see the Technic team is bringing us sets in different areas of vehicles and engineering these days. I would even go as far as to say this is the most exciting Technic set from this wave (at least for me).
A very interesting and thorough review. I certainly learnt something from the author's expertise in the marine field - or should that be ocean! I will certainly be looking out for this set soon.
This is creator set made with technic parts. Almost no mechanisms. To celebrate 40 years of technic line they water it down and produce this 2017 line of sets that are so far away from the initial idea- showing how machines work. What a disappointment!
Nice review! It seems Lego has done a great job being faithful to real life ships, and I think saying the sticker being on the wrong panel is a bit nitpicky ;)
Nevertheless, it was a very interesting read and this seems to be one of the first technic sets that might be on my wanted list. I wonder if there's more functions than the few you adress? I see some gears on the top of the superstructure, what do those do?
This set proves that we need Model Team again.
I mean, OK, Creator Expert exists, but the overlap between this and the Maersk EEE is considerable enough.
Either way, lovely set.
I don't own any Technic sets but I so love the look of this set, and I'm so tempted to get it. I also love the fact that it's a large-scale "replica" of the 31045 Ocean Explorer Creator set from earlier this year, which is one of my favourites from this year.
I agree with Dude45, too. My first impulse was "how can I stud-ify this?"
Thanks for the thorough review. Looks like a fun set especially for kids. However as some of the comments above have mentioned I think its lacking when it comes to true technic functions.
Argh. I won't be getting this. Practically zero functions! In a $120 Technic set! Come on, that's ridiculous. The airplane is IMO much better, and that's the one I'm really looking forward to the reviews for...
These overly-paneled sets work better when they have interesting mechanisms behind them. See for example: 42052, 42054.
great review i have thought about getting this set but the review for sure sold me thanks. an yes as a profesional mechanic abet in a different field i loved the fact that this review was done by a real ship expert it added a good value to the review. thanks.
Many thanks for this professional skilled review!
Although this set seems not to be a prototype for a Lego Technic set because of less technic functions, it has its own recognition value and yet lots of playability fro kids.
I ordered it for EUR 54,- today. That is very good price for it.
Like many, I'm disappointed with the lack of Technical functions on this set. It seems a particular shame that they missed the opportunity to provide a more realistic and playable A-frame gantry, which could have easily been achieved in a Technic set.
Regarding the review, I certainly appreciate the reviewers seafaring knowledge, but wish that larger pictures could have been posted to Flickr, so we could see the details he is referencing regarding markings. I can't make out anything from the small size of the pictures posted.
Excellent review! It's always nice to have a set reviewed by someone who really understands the subject matter. I didn't just learn a lot about this set by reading the review, but also about real-world ships!
I'm very excited for this set and am loving how the Technic theme is really starting to branch out to new subject matter, like this set or last year's Bucket Wheel Excavator. I can't recall another Technic set of a large ship ever before (though perhaps one was featured as a B-model that I'm not aware of).
The 5M axle with end stop isn't totally a new piece, just a new recolor. They've been available for three years in Sand Yellow (Dark Tan) to match the 3M axle with stud, but now they seem to be changing them to instead match the newer 3M axle with end stop.
Anyway, great review! I loved all the nautical terminology and links for further reading. It really helps emphasize how much thought went into making this model feel authentic. The lack of functions may be disappointing for some, but the functions there are feel very true to the genuine article. And to be honest, Technic so rarely includes boats or ships that I'd rather see one that's light on functions for its size than none at all.
This thing looks amazing. Might actually buy Technic for once just to display.
I agree with many of you that I learned many things from the reviewer. I like a little knowledge with my Lego. Thanks.
Interesting review, learnt a few things about ships.
It also confirms my suspicion about the (lack of) function in this set. Let me get this straight, the ship steers, you can move the crane, and a few propellors spin. That's it, right?
Very disappointing, despite the looks.
@ TWP: The two gears on the Monkey Island slew and luff the crane. I missed out these features from the review.
http://www.marineinsight.com/marine-navigation/what-is-monkey-island-on-ships/
@Lyichir There was the Supply Ship from some time in the 90s I think. It was much more interesting than this ship, from a Technic perspective.
It was in 1992: 8839 Supply Ship
http://brickset.com/sets/8839-1/Supply-Ship
The coin (under or near the mast) in the ship is an old naval tradition for good luck. Not the fifth ship...
^ Valid point, I hadn't thought of that; however, the 'coin' is nowhere near the mast step and, in over 22 years at sea in the merchant navy, I have never served in a ship that had a coin placed under the mast.
I think a lot of members here are giving the Technic design team way too much flak. It's not that they aren't capable of making amazing sets. 2016 has given us the Claas Xerion 5000 Trac VC with crab steering, the Mobile Aggregate Processing Plant which can separate pieces by size, and the Porsche 911 GT3 RS with a fully functional dual clutch gear box. If anything, we've never had a more amazing lineup of Technic sets across the board than we do today. The problem is the release schedule for Technic gives us a bunch of small sets at the beginning of the year, but I imagine we'll see other great 40th anniversary sets for Technic when summer rolls around.
I actually haven't been a Technic fan in the past, but a few of these new 2017 sets are actually starting to peak my interest and this one in particular I think looks fantastic and can't wait to get it.
I like that Technic is making more sets for the main stream fans to want to collect. Though I do miss the look of the older Technic sets.
The Deep Sea Explorer looks amazing!
Nice review!. Really, most of the recent Technic sets appear to be 'winners' in my book. Just wish they would rely less on stickers though. How are the stickers holding up? Maybe people can revisit their reviews to update on how the stickers hold up over time (I.E. do they peel up or dog ear?)
Very interestingly detailed review of this set! As a pilot, I appreciate when people know what they're talking about when discussing aviation (or anything in general), and with Lego this is not something I see often. I found all your links to describing the different terminology very immersing and look forward to reading more of your reviews. Kinda makes me want this set now.
Thank you very much for this highly interesting review. I especially like all the expert comments about nautical matters that I normally wouldn't know anything about. Like all those markings. I never knew what they actually meant, nor would I have noticed that mistake Lego made.
Anyway, this is the first 2017 set I bought, and from the review I can see I made the right choice. Of course it is different to your nowadays normal Technic fare, but I come from a time where Technic sets used to be stud-built anyway, so it doesn't bother me that this looks more like the Technic sets I used to build as a kid.
And as for play features, come on, this set has quite a few, especially when factoring in the additional vehicles. When I think of the highly thought-of car chassis 8860, my first large Technic set, it also has very few "play features" compared to newer sets like the 8043, 42009 or 42043.
Thanks, everyone for your supportive comments.
I am a second generation master mariner. I showed the box to my father, who holds an Extra Master's certificate, last night. He spotted the sticker error in half a second. Interestingly, my mother, who does not hold any nautical qualification, also spotted the error just as quickly, and she was also able to accurately describe how the load line should have appeared.
For those of you who intend to display this model, swapping those two stickered parts is a must.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_mariner
It's a pleasure to read such a knowledgable review.
It does seem a shame that they didn't include more mechanisms and the A-frame - I wonder if the latter was due to price/piece-count considerations, but it does feel a bit off for a Technic set in that price bracket not to do more. But my first reaction when the set was revealed was, "Oh wow, I must have that!" - just like with the Creator Ocean Explorer, which I did get and enjoyed very much. It's great to see such a large ship with a buildable hull; I stupidly didn't buy 4997 Transport Ferry when I had the chance, and have regretted it ever since, so I suspect I'll pick this up...
Great review - but the set leaves me colder than the Southern Ocean.
It just doesn't have enough features/mechanisms in it. It's like they tried to build a city set out of technic. They started with an outline, and filled it in with panels.
Technic (to me at least) has always been about function over form. The last time it went form over function they badly lost their way. This, the dockyard and the Jet Plane have me badly worried after the bumper year that was 2016. I don't want any of them! None of them have any innovative features, they just look 'prettier'. This is 2 £10 sets and a display platform to put them on in my opinion. As a non-master-mariner, I'm leaving it on the shelf and hoping for some inspired big reveals later in the year.
I'm disappointed that it doesn't come with alternate "Boaty McBoatface" nameplates. :(
So if I understand correctly. Hull does not open these grey pannels next to the crane. There is steering and super-simple crane. No other functions on the boat. From the side view, it looks like it is levitating.
I do not know. It looks great, but there are virtually no functions. There should have been more. I would rather have much smaller boat but with engine, openable deck, storage space inside, better crane. Here it looks a little like parts budget was spent on the size and there was nothing left for the important stuff (functions). This is one of the cases where size does not matter.
Maybe fishing trawler with ropes, nets, reels, movable arms. etc. would be better with more options for functions then Floaty McBoatface explorer, that can hardly "do" anything apart from being on the floor (above the floor).
@FlagsNZ - thorough and informative review. I was on the fence about getting this kit mainly because it seemed not very functional and more of a City type kit, but after reading your in-depth review I do believe I will try to find this kit once its released in the US, though not sure when that will be. I have to believe it should be soon as Europe and Asia had it released a couple weeks ago.
A very thorough review and also an education, plenty of interesting real life facts I didn't know before reading this.
As for the set itself, it is disappointing that there aren't more moving parts and functions especially as this is one of the 40th anniversary technic sets. It does look nice though but I am in no rush to buy this one. I'm just hoping that the 2H 2017 sets are absolute stonkers for the 40th anniversary, I'm looking forward to the 2017 toy fair coverage in January.
Hey there, I was a bit sceptical at first, but your review convinced me that I had to have this set!
I found a bargain and ordered it - my first technic set in over 20 years(!).
It was a very satisfying build, the look of the ship is simply amazing.
Even if there are no hardcore technic mechanical functions, its playability is huge.
We'll see how this set will be modded over time.
Thank you for this great review FlagsNZ!
My very first LEGO Technic set was the 850 forklift. Soon it was followed by the 854 Go-kart. I still have these sets. In fact, the forklift is in my son's bedroom, assembled and well. These were the sets that made me fall in love with LEGO in general and Technic LEGO in particular. Neither of the sets had many "features" to play with, just steering, and raising the fork or the single-cilinder engine moving. But this was plenty for me; as a 6 (edit: 7) year old boy I had enough fantasy to play for hours with these sets.
I love this particular set; it looks great, and I am convinced that my 5 year old son will love it, and somehow I feel that it will make the same impact on him as the sets of yonder made on me. I like the Container Transport set a lot as well!