⌘ K
"A solid Recommended Technic set whose greatest asset may be its alternate B-model and parts inventory rather than the primary build, earning a BrickScore of 73.4 from reviewers even as actual buyers rate it more cautiously at 3.9 out of 5."
The 42038 Arctic Truck earns a Recommended rating with a BrickScore of 73.4, drawing moderate agreement from reviewers who appreciated its unusual tracked vehicle design, rich parts selection, and strong alternate build, while criticizing its limited playability on flat surfaces and underwhelming crane. Owner ratings are notably softer than expert scores, with LEGO.com buyers averaging just 3.92 out of 5 across 18 ratings, and a value-for-money signal of only 3.54, suggesting real-world buyers were more divided than the expert panel. The set's standout value proposition is arguably the alternate Jeep-like pickup truck build, which one reviewer described as better than the primary model.
Where they split: JANG praised the alternate B-model as exceptional and the overall set as exceptional value for two strong builds, while the Rebrickable reviewer was more critical of the primary truck's aesthetics and functional limitations, calling it 'a really ugly truck' with near-unusable steering. Owner ratings (3.92 average) sit well below the expert-consensus BrickScore of 73.4, reinforcing that real buyers found more to criticize than the technical review panel.
Is this a smart buy? BrickPicker's data-grounded investment verdict.
Unlock the Max Profit Opinion: our stance (buy / accumulate / hold / pass), the reasoning, the exact data behind it (eBay + BrickLink comps, CAGR vs MSRP, our retirement model), and whether the reviewer community agrees.
Unlock with Collector or Reseller
"It's a lot more recognizable, I think, more familiar, more approachable than the main build of the set"
JANG's LEGO Reviews
"The 42038 Arctic Truck is the 2nd largest of the 2015 Technic sets released so far, at 912 parts."
Rebrickable Reviews"It's a lot more recognizable, I think, more familiar, more approachable than the main build of the set"
"The 42038 Arctic Truck is the 2nd largest of the 2015 Technic sets released so far, at 912 parts."
Owners love the build experience and striking orange-black design, but are mixed on post-build play value due to stiff steering and limited functional depth.
LEGO.com3.9
