They've done it! By gum, they've finally done it!

Since the first Town sets were released in 1978, through World City and on to the City theme of today, construction vehicles have been a staple. Yet through all those years there has never been a realistic excavator. While Technic has ample examples, and even Duplo had the excellent #4986 Digger back in 2007, our minifigures have had to get by with various articulated monstrosities bearing scant resemblance to real excavators.

Until now.

It's hard to describe how good this set is. It basically ticks all the boxes:

• Realism - check. The main boom angle is ingeniously realised and the whole assembly moves exactly like the real thing. The body turns on the tracked base with just the right amount of resistance. The decision to use proper track elements rather than rubber really adds to the realism and usefulness of the set.
• Parts - check. Great parts usage (including the new 1x5 plate - I'd have lived a cleaner life if I knew such things were possible) and corner and arch plates. A decent amount of loose parts for the excavator to lift are also included.
• Building experience - check. A great way to spend a couple of hours and really fun to see how Lego has overcome the engineering challenges of translating a realistic vehicle into bricks. There are minimal stickers and the ones that are included really add personality, especially the elephant symbol. The tracks are the only monotonous element but more than repaid in the fun value they deliver.
• Playability - check. The beast is fully functional and includes nice extras including two barriers. The engine bay is a nice touch and also doubles as a handy storage area for the minifigures' hair pieces.
• Size - check. This set has great presence next to the minifigures. Whatever this thing is building (the supervisor's blueprint printed tile suggests it's the #60363 Ice Cream Shop), it's no backyard swimming pool. These minifigures are doing some serious digging.
• Minifigures - check. Inclusion of three minifigures is great, including two with alternative hair pieces, which is a step beyond most past construction vehicles. (Although the operator's head sports one of the new hearing aid prints, which concerns me in this particular set, as it seems to raise the possibility of past on-the-job hearing damage, which is not a good look for whoever's managing the site.)
• Price - Lego has always been expensive and no more so than now, but this one is worth the dollars.
• Swooshability - well no but whatever the construction vehicle equivalent to swooshability is, this set just rewrote the book.

This thing deserves to win awards. Lego is known for its high standards, but this set really raises the bar. It belongs on the absolute top shelf of Lego sets and shows how good Lego can be. I have built and collected for 50 years and it's not overstating things to say that this is one of those few sets which will instil a lifelong love of Lego in a new generation.

Bravissimo, Lego!

The title says it all, so nothing really to add...

Oh alright then, I'll expand on it if you insist!

I bought this because I liked the size and I don't have a big digger yet for my city. Aesthetically, it fulfilled my hopes, but there were so many unexpected details that made the build itself surprising, in a good way.

Lots of new pieces!

I consider myself reasonably up to date on new elements, but boy did this one have a ton! Opening each bag gave me at least one nice surprise, and often more! From the 3x3 corner plates to the new flat 2x1 diagonal corner tile, along with all the new larger SNOT plates, it was awesome! Note that if you look at the pieces inventory for the set, there's enough new pieces that Brickset hasn't got them listed!

Lots of interesting techniques!

How the angle in the arm is made is new to me. The tracks aren't actually guided along the traditional sprockets, but runs 'incorrectly' along various disks and wheels and ends up more stable and with better traction than previous models I've had with them. How the base is actually secured to the main part of the machine. Tons of inspiring parts usage!

Lots of details!

A removable engine. A 3x1 control panel in the cockpit that traditionally would only fit 2x1. The black and yellow design wrapping around corners and curves. There's all that and more :)

Sadly, still not perfect :(

Building tracks never gets not boring...
Playability-wise, my only criticism is that the whole swing arm doesn't have quite the range that I'd hoped. While it can stretch reasonably far away, it can't get very close to the machine body itself.
Also, the female driver has a hearing aid. I couldn't help but get the feeling she was losing her hearing because of insufficient protection for her ears while working in the excavator. Safety first please, LEGO!

Conclusion!

Building this was far more fun than it has any right to be. The inevitably repetitive construction of the tracks is only a slight blip in the process, and the final model is gorgeous and weighty due to the sheer number of small parts used in it.

If you like City, or heavy machinery, or just something extremely yellow, this should be very high on your wish list.