Review: 31070 Turbo Track Racer
Posted by CapnRex101,Racing cars of all varieties are a common subject matter for Creator sets but 31070 Turbo Track Racer caught my attention as a particularly impressive example, not least because the model includes the rare 1x12x4 windscreen introduced with 10248 Ferrari F40. The gull wing door function is unusual too, distinguishing this set from the numerous previous Creator cars.
Furthermore, the set appears to be only a little smaller than some of the Creator Expert vehicles so may serve as a relatively inexpensive alternative given the price of £54.99 or $59.99. The level of detail and realism is not intended to match the larger sets but I am hopeful that it will not be too distant, perhaps representing a step between traditional Creator sets and the Creator Expert range.
Apologies for the purple tint in some of the following images. I have made some recent alterations to my photography set-up but some were taken before the change. Hopefully they will be sufficient to demonstrate everything you wish to see.
The Completed Model
All three models are roughly the same size but the Cool Blue Racer, based on a Formula racing car, occupies the fewest pieces. Nevertheless, it includes all of the features one would expect at first glance, with front and rear wings, open wheels and an air intake behind the cockpit. The blue colour scheme looks great and is nicely accented by a smattering of flame yellowish orange elements as well as white wheel hubs.
The front wing is perhaps the weakest area of the model as it looks a little too wide in relation to the axle track and its connection with the nose is quite bulky. Nevertheless, I like the sleek finish provided by tiles and the winglets are a pleasing inclusion too, even though they further extend the width. The wheel support structure is more impressive as 1x2 plates with clips at either end represent the wishbone suspension. These are not actually connected to the wheels but they look great, as do the tyres when viewed from above.
Viewing the tyres from the side reveals that they are rather narrow which is unfortunate, although a more specialised racing tyre would not have been suitable for the other models so I think this minor inaccuracy is excusable. The ground clearance is not entirely appropriate either as the chassis sits too high on the wheels but this allows the car to roll over carpeted surfaces very easily so greatly improves the play value.
The sidepods are nicely curved and again make good use of tiles to ensure a sleek and shiny outward appearance, just like a real racing car. Recesses at the front represent air intakes and another is placed on top of the car, just behind the cockpit. The curvature of the bodywork around the air 'horn' looks brilliant, incorporating curved slopes mounted sideways to form an aerodynamic shape. I like the wheel arches on either side of the cockpit and the interior is reasonable detailed, including a flame yellowish orange seat and a steering wheel.
Alternative models are naturally reliant upon the content of the primary model and this is sometimes quite restrictive, as demonstrated by the odd proportions of the rear wing. This should be set a little further behind the wheels and appears rather tall in relation to its depth, although this is unavoidable given the available pieces. On that basis I think it looks alright and I particularly appreciate the inclusion of warning lights. This is certainly not a perfect depiction of a Formula racing car but on the whole it looks pretty good for a tertiary design.
This forklift truck uses the vast majority of the pieces included and is accordingly quite substantial, with a length similar to that of the racing cars but a much taller profile. The wheels are well-suited to this kind of vehicle and it is immediately apparent that the forklift incorporates some unusual building techniques based on its appearance alone. I think the resultant model looks superb, with realistic proportions and a great lifting feature.
The design of the forklift shares very little with the main model, as one would expect. I am therefore quite impressed by the lifting mechanism as Technic beams are mounted sideways to form the mast and a pair of dark bluish grey forks can slide up and down, just as on a real forklift truck. The visible Technic pin holes are unfortunate but unavoidable given the limited selection of parts available to the designer and I like the horizontal bar which is fixed at the top and ensures absolute rigidity.
The set includes a black pallet and an engine to be transported. This is fairly detailed and makes good use of the few parts left over once the forklift has been assembled. The spacing of the forks leaves some space beneath the pallet but you could always move the sides of the pallet for a tighter fit. Either way, it works perfectly and you can then raise the forks manually before transporting the cargo to its destination.
The motion is very smooth and a simple locking mechanism allows you to fix the forks in place when they are raised. This is very effective but the exposed lever is somewhat unsightly, especially when not in use. Nevertheless, the vital forklift function works very well and I think it looks reasonable given the limited parts which are available for alternative models.
Another Technic assembly forms the rear pillars of the cab and supports the entire vertical structure, with a little help from some clips at the front. This technique is very clever and looks alright from most angles but the undersides of bricks and plates which are visible at the rear are not particularly attractive. The interior, on the other hand, is comprehensively detailed, featuring a steering wheel, a dashboard and a lever for controlling the forks.
Curved slopes form the bodywork at the back and this is probably the most visually appealing area of the vehicle. I love the consistent shaping and the rear-facing lights look splendid, although these are more often mounted on the roof. The forward-facing lights are properly situated along with two smoke stacks which are present on some real forklifts but are more frequently placed behind the cab rather than on top.
Nevertheless, the forklift seems fairly realistic overall, even including a small engine which is hidden beneath a hinged panel. This model certainly represents an improvement over past designs and would probably require comparatively few alterations using your own parts to yield a truly authentic rendition of a forklift truck.
The Turbo Track Racer uses all 664 pieces but is not as big as I was expecting, measuring 22cm in length. However, the car feels quite heavy and is highly detailed throughout, even in areas which cannot easily be seen. I think its overall shape looks marvellous, very much like a real track racing car, although the model appears to take design cues from several sources. The selection of colours is delightful too, featuring a splash of medium azure which runs alongside the white stripe and contrasts beautifully with the dominant blue bodywork.
Opening the bonnet reveals a storage space for some equipment. A pearl silver wrench and a fire extinguisher are included but there is room for many more accessories. The radiator grille looks great and I appreciate the care which has been taken to ensure that the stripe runs across the entire model, even if that means including a single 1x1 tile in medium azure. It is also pleasing to see that trans-orange side repeaters are included in front of the wheels.
The wheels are perfect for this kind of racing car and I love the hub cap inserts which are cast in white for the first time, almost ten years after being introduced for the Agents theme. This angle also shows the attractive profile of the vehicle when viewed from the side as the bonnet, windscreen, roof and rear window form a smooth line which looks as though it would be quite aerodynamic. The connection between the angled windscreen and the roof is particularly satisfying, recalling the design of 10248 Ferrari F40.
The engine is situated towards the back of the vehicle and is visible through a trans-black window. This is hinged so can be raised to reveal the entire assembly which includes some authentic mechanical details alongside yellow shock absorbers. I am surprised that the designer included such subtle details as they are hardly visible behind the wheels, although their presence is undoubtedly very welcome.
The rear wing appears fairly bland at first glance, consisting of three 2x4 curved slopes which form a simple shape. However, the Technic mechanism found underneath hints at a hidden function and it does not disappoint! Retracting the wing causes a pair of black linkages to extend, opening the gull wing doors. The motion is very satisfying and I was pleasantly surprised by how smoothly it works given the number of moving parts involved.
Opening the doors reveals two upholstered seats, a section of the roll cage and a steering wheel. The roll cage notably includes a couple of pearl dark grey macaroni elements which appear in just six other sets. The windscreen was designed specifically for 10248 Ferrari F40 but should now prove much more versatile as the red pillars printed on the original element have been removed. I look forward to seeing how this component will be used elsewhere.
Technic bricks form the chassis of all three models, ensuring that the vehicles remain sturdy but not interfering with their external appearance. In this respect the construction process felt very similar to that of a Creator Expert car as Technic and System parts harmonise perfectly, although this Technic assembly is far simpler than that found in the majority of Creator Expert sets.
Placing 31070 Turbo Track Racer beside 10248 Ferrari F40 demonstrates that it is smaller, although not by an enormous margin. However, the Ferrari contains considerably more authentic detail and its construction is far more intricate, as one would anticipate. The new set, on the other hand, is sturdier and much better suited to play, in accordance with the recommended age range on the packaging.
Overall
Creator cars are not uncommon so the extent to which 31070 Turbo Track Racer stands out is testament to its high quality. The colour scheme and shaping of the bodywork looks tremendous, as do the subtler details found on both the interior and exterior. This is definitely a model worthy of display but it offers plenty of play value too, particularly where the impressive gull wing doors are concerned.
I think the price of £54.99 or $59.99 is reasonable based on the size and weight of the primary model, although similarly priced Creator sets often contain more than the 664 pieces found in 31070. Nevertheless, I would certainly recommend this set as I think it strikes an excellent balance between the play value of smaller Creator sets and the authentic detail offered by the more advanced Creator Expert range.
I hope you have found this review informative. Let us know by liking this article and share your thoughts on the set in the comments below.
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9 comments on this article
Looks cool.
I really enjoyed this set. Built it a while back already. Never bothered with the alternative builds but had watched Jangbrick's review and decided not to bother. I like the colour scheme and the function with the doors they built in.
Looks kinda like a mid-engined Nissan GT-R. Since my only creator expert set is the f40, it'd be cool to have this. However, I ran calculations and, if they were to scale, this would be 3.55 metres long. For perspective: that's not much longer than a smart fortwo.
@Matt89190 you are right, but I am a fan of larger Lego cars so I bought it anyway and I enjoyed building it. It is relatively bland because it's just a sporty car model, a bit lost in a range full of exciting Ninja-Jungle-neon coloured amazement but as a display car it does the job.
Nice review! It's making me wonder how many gems like this I've missed by never walking over to the Creator shelf.
@Matt89190: what about the gullwing doors?
Very interesting review, thank you! I may have to add this to my burgeoning collection of car models.
Cool Set.
Reventon:
In regards to the gullwing doors I came across this minor problem. It is all about positioning the cogs and the arms beforehand. It can be rectified easily but pay attention to the instructions. Now its sorted it sits flush with the body work :)
I've also colour coded the car the blue that dominates the whole car as well as change the wheels to black with gold spokes. Looks more plain as a result and almost JDM but prefer it
Impressive door function - looks like a cool set! :)