Review: 60222 Snow Groomer
Posted by CapnRex101,
60222 Snow Groomer is probably the 2019 City set which I have been most anticipating, due in particular to the impressive standard of 60083 Snowplough Truck from 2015. Vehicles like this one are relatively uncommon across the range and I think it looks impressive when compared with real snow groomers.
The model does feature a rotating snow cannon which seems quite unrealistic, although such functions are enjoyable and I can imagine this being deployed to keep skiers at a safe distance! Furthermore, the price of £17.99 or $19.99 appears reasonable in my opinion so this should prove to be an appealing set.
Minifigures
Two minifigures are included, the first of whom is dressed for controlling the snow groomer. His orange uniform looks superb and both sides of the torso are decorated with reflective metallic silver strips. The bearded head was originally designed for 21310 Old Fishing Store but it seems equally appropriate for this character and I like the knitted cap too.
XTreme branding has appeared in several previous City sets and the second minifigure wears a dark azure jacket, featuring the XTreme logo. Her matching helmet looks good and I like the tinted goggles printed on the head as well. Naturally, the skier comes with a couple of medium azure skis which have only appeared in this colour once before while her ski poles are dark bluish grey so are new.
The Completed Model
Snow groomers are used to maintain winter sports trails by clearing or flattening snow and this vehicle looks very realistic, even sharing its red colour scheme with the most prominent manufacturer of snow grooming equipment, PistenBully. The model measures 18cm in length so is appropriately scaled with minifigures and its proportions are perfect too.
The dozer blade is fixed on two click hinges so it can be raised and lowered, as demonstrated in the images below. Moreover, you can adjust the angled side plates which is fun, although I think the gaps between the centre of the blade and the sides could probably have been narrowed or concealed using some additional hinges. Nevertheless, the yellow highlights are attractive and match the snow cannon towards the back.
Dark bluish grey caterpillar tracks provide traction and these look very wide in relation to the vehicle's cab, corresponding with real snow groomers. A rubber tyre is situated inside the chassis so the tracks will roll on smooth surfaces as well as carpet and snow! Similar features have appeared on many past sets and the central tyre sometimes extends beneath the tracks, causing the entire vehicle to rock, but this example lines up nicely.
There is room to place one minifigure inside the cab and a white mug is kept on the dashboard. I like the roof-mounted floodlights and the decorative XTreme stickers are brilliant. The same branding has appeared in 60085 4x4 with Powerboat and 60146 Stunt Truck, among other sets, so presumably this company manufactures heavy sporting machinery in LEGO City. I enjoy these details and am happy to see a familiar brand return.
Snow groomers are traditionally equipped with winches for ascending steep slopes or rollers to flatten snow. This model, however, includes a bright yellow snow cannon. Perhaps this takes inspiration from a snow blower but it looks odd and is only attached using a single Technic pin so can be removed with ease. In addition, the bland bricks between the tracks could have been improved with a simple hook or a radiator grille.
Overall
60222 Snow Groomer is an excellent set on the whole. Its enormous tracks work perfectly and I think the model looks great, balancing realistic design features and play functions. The snow cannon is unusual but offers some play value and can easily be removed if you prefer. An alternative winch or roller would have been welcome, although I can understand why those were not included.
I am pleased with the minifigures too, especially since City sets of a similar size often only include one figure. Of course, snow groomers are not an ordinary feature of most settlements so this vehicle might not appeal to everybody but it is an impressive model and its price of £17.99 or $19.99 seems fair so I would recommend this set.
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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32 comments on this article
The snow cannon is for triggering avalanches. Agreed, not normally mounted on a snow groomer but I'm sure it wasn't for the purposes of targeting skiiers.
Those minifigures look like they got their trousers mixed up in the laundry
I agree that it needs a winch at the rear. Overall, I still like it and will buy it eventually.
Reminds me of a 90s tow truck set. Wanted this ever since I noticed the snowball shooter.
I need one of these... a real one to clean my driveway, snowblower just ain't cutting it this year! ;)
A nice review. I enjoyed building the model but in my view the dozer blade is way to short. Those blades are higher in real life and proportions wouldn't have suffered from a higher blade. It can be fixed easily by using black plates though. And of course - a winch is appropriate!
That worker/driver figure looks a lot like an escaped convict if you put the orange pants on him.
Maybe that's why he's trying to shoot the Skier because it's an undercover Arctic Police Agent.
That's just my silly imagination, because LEGO has used that knitted cap for criminals in the Police theme for so long.
Just a bit of a followup of the Sky Police using lighter blue minifigs as well.
As for the set itself, looks good for the size/price ratio.
I always imagined the cannon was to make it more of a Snow Blower feature for either covering the area with fresh snow on bad snowfall, or to move the excess snow to the sides of the Piste.
Just have to imagine the blade has a snow cutter/grinder setting.
Cannon could be used as a side build as well, which gives the vehicle a 4x5 studded area on the back.
'Triggering avalanches'? Sounds a bit mad to me!
Snow cannons are for generating artificial snow to cover a slope when it hasn't been snowing much recently. Though they're usually placed on the ground as they need a steady power and water supply. They compress air then blow it out with a mix of water and nucleation particles, which freezes into flakes as the air expands again and cools it down.
I like it. Now we just need an Overlook Hotel. The tiles for the carpeting would definitely be rad. That woman in room 237 might go against TLG's standards though.
Love the reuse of the Lego Island Xtreme Stunts logo, and in a way that makes sense as well. Nice to see a Lego city vehicle that is realistic but very unlike any others made before.
The snow cannon is removable from the back. The box even shows this. So you can either have it on the snow groomer, or as a separate thing (which is the more "normal" way you see them).
@Joefish, triggering avalaches is pretty common here in Utah. Better to trigger an avalanche when a canyon is empty so it can be cleaned up, rather than let it fall naturally perhaps burying an unsuspecting skier, snowmobiler or car driver beneath 10 feet of snow...
But, snow cannons aren't what they use for that... avalanche clearing is done with artillery cannons and other big guns. Snow machines as others mentioned already are used at ski resorts to cover areas lacking in natural snowfall and are rarely mounted to a vehicle.
In short, Lego probably has a stud shooter on this model just for fun.
Looks great, but not my alley.
Reading about the consistent branding of "heavy sports machinery" reminds me of the Economy of Lego City article a while back - I'd love to see another article along those lines as I'm sure much has changed over the past few years!
Can't wait to see Lego add stud shooters or flick missiles on buses, camper vans and ambulances too. They're going too far with this desperate need for a "functionality" on every set...
This set is pretty ok.
If anything, it screams fun. Would've definitely wanted it as a kid.
I'm tempted to buy this, but not looking forward to my attempt at making a ski hill. Definitely a slippery slope.....
I don't much care for this one. I absolutely loved the snow plough that came out a few years ago (and happily added it to my winter village, alongside the snow rescue helicopter that came out last year), but this one leaves me cold (har-de-har). The design's just ... odd, and the snow cannon seems bizarre. I'll easily be skipping this one. City this year has been hot and cold, for me (and I apologise that I can't seem to get away from temperature-related turns of phrase).
I just got this and I think it is well done. As with many cheaper sets, this could be improved, but it is still a good buy. I don't think TLG could have done much else with the snow cannon and I imagine the snow is supposedly sucked up into the blower and disbursed in the proper direction. Worth it!
I love that this is a $20 set where almost all the pieces are in one build. It makes it seem like more value than sets where the $20 is divided between a medium and small build.
On the other hand, I don't like the shooter as I'm not fond of Lego things that shoot. In an era where there weren't dozens of sets to choose from I'd get this. But as it is this is the barest of passes.
I assumed the snow cannon is a representation of a Snow Maker. Not an actual snowball cannon. When they don’t get enough snow they go to work manufacturing it on the trails.
Why hasn't anyone mentioned the possibility of adding Homer Simpson (Mister Plow!) and/or a Technic motor? I sure know what to do with that combination, even though Homer drove a red pickup truck and not a red snow groomer. I'll be taking some artistic liberty :D
@xboxtravis7992@
Yeah, triggering avalanches/slides were also very common in BC, Canada (where I used to live), because we would drive on small two-lane, somewhat treacherous, winding road up steep mountain passes, and when a lot of snow accumulated on top of the mountains above the road, and avalanches would possibly become imminent, they would temporarily shut down the road, bring in snow cannons, and trigger them - rather than people being hurt or even potentially killed. However, on this model I think this is just added for pure fun (it's cool, just not realistic.) The model, IMO, looks awesome though!
The snow cannon is accurate and realistic – at least in European ski resorts it was usual that snow groomers had snow cannons/machines mounted, for artificial snow if there was not enough snowfall. I have seen this often. Nowadays, these snow cannons are more often installed stationary.
However, this LEGO set is inaccurate due to another reason: it lacks the important roller/cutter equipment at the back to smooth the snow surface and flatten the tracks from the caterpillar in the snow. Very disappointing omission in my opinion. You will never see a snow groomer without this attached in a ski resort.
Can never see a snow groomer again without thinking of 'The Shining"
As the winter in the Midwest of USA seems to be never ending, I’m really tempted to get this as my minifigs are being snowed in basically every week.
The wampa really loves the weather though XD
Great review!
We need a tag for Xtreme.
Heh, one of my favourite toys as a kid was a little die-cast version of one of these machines, though it had a flatbed back. Kinda tempted to pick this set up due to nostalgia :D
Bought this after the review. Needed a present in this price class for a birthday party. It was a great success! :)
Today I learned what a snow groomer is. And I am from Michigan. We always tried to get rid of snow, not groom it.
Perhaps the stud shooter was added to avoid licensing issues with pistenbully. This set's inspiration is pretty clear, but they have differentiated it by changing/leaving out functions. Kids won't know any better, and AFOL's will just change it.
@sheff711 ...Unless people "miss" the hill and hit the minifigs instead XP