Review: 42233 Mighty Machines Series 1 from LEGO® Technic

Big ideas in tiny boxes. Today I rekindle my interest in LEGO® Technic with a look at Series 1 of the new blind-box collectible series: 42233 Mighty Machines. Childhood Me would've gone mad for these: they're super-duper inspiring, lovely little builds that just make me go "wheeeeee"! To top it off, they contain interesting new moulds.

We were given this product early by The LEGO Group; the author's opinions are their own.
This article contains affiliate links to LEGO.com; we may get a small commission if you purchase.

42233 Technic Mighty Machines

• Release date: 1 August 2026 (except Australia and New Zealand)
• Pieces: from 41 to 67
• Ages: 7+

Price per box: 

• US$ 4.99 on LEGO.com US
• CA$ 5.99 on LEGO.com Canada
• GB£ 4.49 on LEGO.com UK
• 4,99€ on LEGO.com Deutschland, Nederland, France, etc
• PLN 20.99 on LEGO.com Polska
• NOK 69,90 on LEGO.com Norge
• DKK 39.95 on LEGO.com Danmark

Other countries click here

 

I've always had a casual appreciation for LEGO® Technic System sets, but they have never appealed to me in the same way that LEGO® System sets do. However, the new Mighty Machines might just change that.

Series 1 contains 8 vehicles, all of which are construction themed, but before we get to the vehicles themselves, we have some new moulds to analyse and a couple of recolours and rare parts to cover too. 

New moulds

1 x 3 Beam with trapezoid (7944)

Hey look, it's a future Iron Builder seed part:

• Technic Beam 1 x 3 Thin, Modified with Trapezoid Frame in Yellow (6579942 | 7944)

Its connection points are identical to its unmodified counterpart, 1 x 3 Thin Beam (6632, 65123), so nothing of note there, but the geometry of the trapezoid extension is pretty neat.

It narrows from three to exactly two modules wide at a 1:2 ratio – in other words, a match for 2 x 2 wedge plates (24299 and 24307) – or any part featuring such an incline. 

The same alignment occurs when we view the element in profile - how satisfying!

All that angular synergy makes for some fun combinations with duplicates. I especially like the bottom right arrangement above, where the tapered sides align at 90°. A simple stack (above top left) is rather pleasing too.

My less-technical assessment is that it's just a brilliant industrial-looking element. It will look great on spaceships and mechs, but it'll surely work equally well for lesser things like handles on cargo crates or ladder rungs. I'm also keen to see what non-sci-fi builders dream up; the shape feels generic enough to have potential in more terrestrial models – furniture perhaps?

2 x 3 x 2 Shovel left (7451) and right (7450) 

• Technic Panel, Shovel 2 x 3 x 2 in Yellow (Left 6546511 | 7451 and Right 6546510 | 7450) 

These debuted earlier this year in 42231 Fast & Furious Dodge Charger R/T in light bluish grey (left 6604925 and right 6604924). However, our theory is that they were created for the Mighty Machines sub-theme, partly because they look so pretty in yellow, but mostly because of how prevalent they are in this series of mini-vehicles.

Connection points are limited: just two axle holes positioned perpendicularly, but given the element's small size, that's more more than sufficient. 

The pair share some DNA with  Technic panels (above left) but greater synergy can be found by matching the curved edge with existing Technic parts (above right). 

A pleasant surprise is that the negative space inside the scoop can accommodate a half-beam despite the angled side wall. Note that the side wall is only angled internally; its outside edge is nicely parallel.

As the elevated section of each element is L-shaped, a left and right can be combined to create a narrow scoop or wide shovel as desired. Alternatively, combine two of each for a complete bucket. We'll see all three of these combinations used to great effect when we look at the vehicles.

Here are some other fun, but less practical, arrangements. The third one along would probably make a nice front grill for a car, if a suitable solution for the headlights could be found.

Recolours and rare parts

The series introduces just one recolour and one rare piece.

• Technic Axle and Pin Connector Perpendicular Triple in Yellow (6616693 | 42191)
• Cone 3 x 3 x 2 in Yellow (4179387, 4507046, 4639063 | 6233)

The connector can be found in the dump truck (42233-3) and mobile crane (42233-7). I expect there's at least a few builders who've been waiting on this part-and-colour combination.

Last seen in 2015, the yellow cone can be found in the cement mixer (42233-4).

Mighty Machine by Machine

The number of parts vary from vehicle to vehicle; mostly in the 40s but one outlier contains 67 pieces. All contain at least one of the elements discussed above. Each set also includes a folded instruction sheet and a game card; more on those later.

For now, here is the full parts rundown: a picture of each inventory and the noteworthy parts in each.

42233-1 Road Roller (6591889)

Parts of interest:

• 2x Technic Beam 1 x 3 Thin, Modified with Trapezoid Frame (6579942 | 7944)

42233-2 Wheel Loader (6591890) 

Parts of interest:

• 2x Technic Beam 1 x 3 Thin, Modified with Trapezoid Frame (6579942 | 7944)
• 1x Technic Panel, Shovel 2 x 3 x 2, Left (6546511 | 7451)
• 1x Technic Panel, Shovel 2 x 3 x 2, Right (6546510 | 7450)

42233-3 Dump Truck (6591891) 

Parts of interest:

• 2x Technic Beam 1 x 3 Thin, Modified with Trapezoid Frame (6579942 | 7944)
• 2x Technic Panel, Shovel 2 x 3 x 2, Left (6546511 | 7451)
• 2x Technic Panel, Shovel 2 x 3 x 2, Right (6546510 | 7450)
• 1x Technic Axle and Pin Connector Perpendicular Triple (6616693 | 42191)

If acquiring new parts is your aim, this is probably the one to aim for!

42233-4 Cement Truck (6591892)

Parts of interest:

• 1x Technic Beam 1 x 3 Thin, Modified with Trapezoid Frame (6579942 | 7944)
• 1x Cone 3 x 3 x 2 in Yellow (4179387 4507046 4639063 | 6233)

42233-5 Wrecking Ball Crane (6591893)

Parts of interest:

• 2x Technic Beam 1 x 3 Thin, Modified with Trapezoid Frame (6579942 | 7944)

42233-6 Excavator (6591894) 

Parts of interest:

• 2x Technic Beam 1 x 3 Thin, Modified with Trapezoid Frame (6579942 | 7944)
• 1x Technic Panel, Shovel 2 x 3 x 2, Left (6546511 | 7451)
• 1x Technic Panel, Shovel 2 x 3 x 2, Right (6546510 | 7450)

42233-7 Mobile Crane (6591895)

Parts of interest:

• 1x Technic Beam 1 x 3 Thin, Modified with Trapezoid Frame (6579942 | 7944)
• 1x Technic Axle and Pin Connector Perpendicular Triple in Yellow (6616693 | 42191)

A stand-out in terms of parts quantity, but a little light on new parts.

42233-8 Bulldozer (6591896)

Parts of interest:

• 2x Technic Beam 1 x 3 Thin, Modified with Trapezoid Frame (6579942 | 7944)

Functions

Despite their small size, each build has a play feature, which are best explained in video form.

My favourite of the bunch is the excavator with its dual-action controls; a super-impressive bit of functionality considering how tiny the model is. A close second is the wrecking ball, which has a simple enough mechanism, but is just plain fun to madly spin left and right. 

The only thing lacking are a few dark tan studs to give a few of the vehicles something to scoop, dump or bulldoze. You could employ the set's spares for the job, but a few extra parts that could pass more easily as rocks would've been welcome. 

Gameplay

The models can double as playing pieces for a simple tabletop game, the rules of which are accessed by scanning a QR code on the instruction sheet. It's a shame the rules aren't included inside or on the box somewhere.

The aim is to collect as many vehicles as possible by navigating to damaged areas on the road map that your allocated machine can 'fix'. Once a job is complete, flip the road card over, assume control of the vehicle pictured and seek out a different stretch of road your new vehicle can rectify. 

It's not the most thrilling experience, and is definitely best played with more than the suggested minimum of 3 cards/models per player, but it's still a nice, unobtrusive way to add some play value.

Speculation and conclusion

These pocket-sized vehicles seem to be intended as an accessible entry point to LEGO Technic for young fans, and it's my hope that they'll be successful. The price of US$4.99/ £4.49/ 4.99€ feels a tad steep but not unreasonable, especially considering how much play value each vehicle provides.

The fact this is just Series 1 is tantalising. Presumably future series will diversify the line-up. Airport ground vehicles, emergency services, mining equipment or even mundane utility vehicles like road sweepers and rubbish trucks would be welcome. I assume each series will be rendered in a different colour scheme too – it'd be a lot of yellow otherwise!

For now though, we have 8 fantastic construction vehicles with which to clutter our desks and booby-trap our floors – and not to mention, create even more sorting anguish with a smattering of great new elements to find homes for. 

Mini Thunder Driller MOC

I was going to end the article here, but my mention of mining equipment sparked an idea I had to pursue: What would the LEGO® Power Miner's flagship vehicle look like as a Mighty Machine?

Hopefully something like this. 

Tinkering with the mechanism was a lot of fun: at first I tried to include the counter-rotating drill sections, but that proved too ambitious for the size, so I settled for something a little more straightforward (watch to the end of the video above to see it in action). 

I did manage to include the comical fire-blazing furnace though!

US$4.99/ £4.49/ 4.99€

 

READ MORE: Every new mould in  LEGO® Pokémon SMART Play™ sets

 

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