Review: 9391 Tracked Crane

[fitzi]

Hello everybody, here comes my second review.

Lego Technic 9391 Tracked Crane

Purchase Date: 11.1.2012 @ Real, Germany

Price: 14,99

Pieces: 218, Price per piece: 6,87 ct

It took me about 2 hours on building both (A & B) models, this includes taking all the pictures and video´s.

The box

The dimensions of the box are 26x19x4.5 cm, it consists of a thick cardboard compared to the box of 9390, which was made of rather thin cardboard.

Here are the pictures of the box

Interestingly, the picture of the crane somehow goes around the corner, look at this:

Inside, there are two manuals, one for the A- and one for the B-model. TLG didn´t divide the A-model instruction into two parts as they did with the A-model instruction of 9390 Mini Tow Truck.

Beside the instructions there are two bags, one large one in which two other, smaller bags are suited, and a smaller bag with all the track parts in it.

A closer look at the two small bags after cut open the big bag:

We get 13 gears, but since I experienced, that TLG often uses them as knobs, I don´t think that they have much to do with the functions of the model. And it is a tracked crane, so at least 4 of the gears are used as "wheels".

Wow, I havn´t seen so many studded bricks a long time!

And here it is, the part for which quite a few of us after all buy this set!

The mini turntable! It only has teeth on the outside, since there isn´t enough room on the inside for more teeth. Very tiny, looks almost cute!

A-Model

The building

My building setup, ready to go!

In the following a few pictures to show you the building process:

The mini turntable is used right in the beginning:

Now, the building goes straight forward without any difficulties ore unusual things, just a basic building.

Here is a detail I didn´t like at all:

Watch the yellow axle below the string, there isn´t enough space so the string rubbs against the axle. The system never the less works, but it´s not as perfect as it should be.

The crane takes shape:

Here the cabin is assembled:

Ready for the tracks?

Final pictures

After all, here are a few pictures showing the final model:

The back of the crane is very well designed, look at this beautiful butt:

Raising the boom, this is the steepest gradient:

These are the leftover parts after the building:

The functions

The crane has the following functions:

- Driving ( by hand )

- Turning the superstructure using a knob

- Raising / Lowering the boom using a knob

- Rolling up the string using a knob

- Extend the boom ( by hand)

I made a little video to show the functions:

As I always try to get better, I also wanted to review the B-model this time.......

B - Model

The building

Here is once again my setup:

The building is straight ahead and simple, nothing spectacular, here are the pictures:

These are the leftover parts, quite a lot as you can see:

So here are the final pictures:

The functions

As it is a B-model, I wasn´t surprised that it has less functions than the A-model:

- Driving (by hand)

- Raising / Lowering the front shield using a knob

- Raising / Lowering the "folk" (by hand)

As always, I made a short video to show the functions:

Final conclusion

A-Model

It´s a good model, but not outstanding. The functions are ok, but nothing special here. I think most of us AFOL´s will buy it just for the parts.

Compared to the last years 8067 Mini Mobile Crane ( I know that 8067 was a bit more expensive than 9391), I like the 8067 Mobile Crane a lot more,

I think you get more value for money by buying the Mobile Crane. It has more functions but only a little bit more parts.

But still 9391 looks quite nice, almost cute with it´s little cabin.

B-Model

A long time during the build I thought that the B-model will be better than the A-Model. Well, after building the B-model, I´m not sure if I´m right.

The B-model is nice, a good looking little bulldozer, but not as cute as 8259 Mini Bulldozer .

I hoped that both functions (lowering/raising the blade, lowering/raising the "folk") are controlled by some gears, but only the front blade is controlled by a gear system.

The "folk" is moved by hand, there are no gears connected to it. That was the point where I got a little bit disappointed.

There are tons of leftover parts after building the B-model, I wonder if a "better" B-model is possible by using more parts.........for example the mini-turntable is not used building the official B-modell.

All over all over all conclusion

9391 is not one of the best technic sets, but I think it´s worth the 15 €, especially because you get a few rare and new parts. But in terms of playability,

I would recommend 8067 as it has more parts, more functions and costs only an few € more than 9391.

You will find more pictures in my brickshelf gallery:

Pictures A-Model

Pictures B-Model

Because it took ages to upload the high-res pictures of the 9390 Mini-Tow Truck, i won´t upload high-res pictures of the 9391, but on demand, they (4000x3000) are available, just ask me!

Thanks for reading, comments and criticism are welcome!

fitzi

Edited January 27, 2012 by fitzi

[timslegos]

Very nice review! I might have to buy the set just for the mini turntable.

tim

[harakiri]

I mainly got it for the parts. I also agree that the B-Model is kind of underwhelming compared to the 8259 Mini Bulldozer.

There is another thread already with some "C-Models" that look much more interesting ....

But in the end its a source for the new turntable and some more thread links (Threads!!! )

Cool review! Thanks

[Tomik]

Nice review. I also own this little set and I wrote another review of it at Czech Lego forum but it was shorter than yours. I agree with you that 8067 is much better choice. I bought 9391 because I had liked bulldozer. When I built it I was little bit disappointed by result. Especially covering knob for rising front shield by folk is not very good idea. I also plan to build some alternates for this set.

[le60head]

Thank you for writing this review!

I really wanted to see some good photos of the model.

Regards,

legohead

[freakwave]

ups, fitzi, you just beat me by writing this review I got it today and wanted to post the review!

What I need to add to your review:

• The box is preatty neatly filled by the bags, most is of course air, but the bag is as big as the box and thus the instructions are kept wrinkle free.
• Your's is built with parts as shown on the box
  -> Mine has the new technic triangle. Production stamp on the box is embossed as "46M1". What about yours?
  -> The part-list in the instuctions show the old triangle
• What is also interesting: TLG gives us this part
  
  in black!

Thnaks!

[AndroTech]

What is also interesting: TLG gives us this part

in black!

Thanks!

Actually, this part was released last year, in a 8068 Helicopter.

[fitzi]

Thanks to all of you for the nice comments! That really pushes me in making more reviews!

-> Mine has the new technic triangle. Production stamp on the box is embossed as "46M1". What about yours?

The production stamp on my box is embossed as "41M1"

What is this stamp all about? Month/Week of production?

fitzi

[Splat]

Great review fitzi

The production stamp on my box is embossed as "41M1"

What is this stamp all about? Month/Week of production?

...the first two digits are the calendar week of production, the forth digit is the year (2010 2011) and the third is the manufacturing location...

http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=46993&view=findpost&p=888546

Edited January 30, 2012 by Splat

[gmshades]

First thing I did with this set is swap strings with the 9395 Tow Truck. String is perfect length for it now, plus I get more length for the truck. Cool looking set but like most I'll prob take it apart for the parts.