Alternate Models

[FROGG]

I recently bought the Snow Groomer set and was pleasantly surprised with the alternate model the Arctic Tracker. That got me wondering about other peoples thoughts on alternate models from technic/model team.

What is the best alternate model?

Whats the worst alternate?

Any alternate models you feel are just as good if not better than the primary?

What influences you to want to make the alternate over a primary? Better features? Complexity? etc.

[Jurgen Krooshoop]

For me the best alternative model is the 5540 (surprisingly not a technic-set) Model team F1 racer, which is Bi-plane. I like it because it's vey pretty and completely different from the main model.

Edited June 3, 2010 by Jurgen Krooshoop

[CP5670]

My favorite Technic alternates are the ones for 8480 and 8868, if you don't count the Universal/Multi-model sets. The 8480 submarine is both a unique concept and has several great functions. It has a very polished feel to it and could have easily been a set of its own. The 8868 alternate feels kind of thrown together, but I like it because it brought something totally unique to Technic in terms of functionality, which I don't think you could say about any other set's alternate.

In general, it's rare to find genuinely good alternate models in Technic sets. Many sets have alternates that are just a variation of the same general concept as the main model, and often have inferior functionality and/or looks.

Among the Model Team sets, 5571 had a very nice one, and I like the 5590 one too for its unusual concept. I think it's supposed to be a pushback, which is something TLG has never done otherwise.

Edited June 3, 2010 by CP5670

[Blakbird]

There are a lot of good alternate models. I have not built very many of the recent (last ~5 years) alternate models yet, but there are many wonderful models from the older sets. Here are a few highlights:

• The submarine from set 8480
  
• The F1 car from set 8880
  
• The combine from set 8862
  
• The claw loader from set 8868
  
• The racing truck from set 8457
  

[AndyC]

Generally the alternate model is less interesting than the main one, however I did buy the 8041 racing truck solely for the alternate race car model which was far nicer in my opinion (the truck being rather dull).

[Milan]

8868s alternative model is quite nice.

[DLuders]

My son built the 8458 Silver Champion alternate model, and likes it a lot:

[paul_delahaye]

I rarely buy 2 copies of the same set, but I did on the snow groomer as I liked the arctic tracker vehicle as well, another one from recent years was the small set 8296, I thought the the tractor with the spring loaded plough was possibly a better set than the beech buggy main model:

But normally the main model is better :-)

[Erik Leppen]

  Blakbird said:

• The claw loader from set 8868
  

This.

The loop of pneumatic cylinders being connected to the valves of other cylinders was really a wonderful system that made the alternative model of 8868 a unique model in its own right. It's certainly inspiring as I tried to build similar systems back in the day :)

Also, I consider the wing door version of 8448 better than the convertible.

I also think the alternative of the 8258 crane truck is pretty original, nice looking and full-featured (like the main model).

I don't have the set, but what about the dinosaur from 8485? http://www.brickset.com/detail/?Set=8485-1

And finally, the not yet released motorbike 8051 seems to have a pretty nice looking alternative chopper.

[CP5670]

  Erik Leppen said:

I don't have the set, but what about the dinosaur from 8485? http://www.brickset.com/detail/?Set=8485-1

I would have mentioned that one too, but 8485 was a Universal-type set and I'm not sure if it really had a main model. The helicopter is shown as the main model on the box and instructions, but the dinosaur was the one they advertised in the S@H catalogs at the time. These Universal sets had more scope for interesting alternate models, as they were designed from the ground up with such models in mind and often included extra parts for the alternates. Normal model sets typically include only the parts for the main model, and the alternate model is then designed from those parts.

[Blakbird]

  CP5670 said:

I would have mentioned that one too, but 8485 was a Universal-type set and I'm not sure if it really had a main model. The helicopter is shown as the main model on the box and instructions, but the dinosaur was the one they advertised in the S@H catalogs at the time. These Universal sets had more scope for interesting alternate models, as they were designed from the ground up with such models in mind and often included extra parts for the alternates. Normal model sets typically include only the parts for the main model, and the alternate model is then designed from those parts.

I'd call the helicopter the main model only in that it uses all of the pieces and the dinosaur merely uses most of them. The only real solution is to have 2 copies.

[Rijkvv]

I think the alternate model of 8850 Rally Support Truck is better than the main model. I have to say, there are a lot of great alternate models, but most of them are already mentioned.

Unfortunately, many sets lack a good alternate. 8436 for example: although the 'alternates' are quite good, they are too similar to the main model. The same for 8421: only the crane itself is changed. The 8275 bulldozer had a downloadable alternate, but this was a very poor design.

At Brickshef there are some builders (Erik Leppen and Nico71 for example) who manage to create sme great alternate models, usually better than the official alternate. Some of these 'one-set MOCs' even have building instructions.

[mortenm]

i think there's many good alternative models, but there's at least as many not so good ones.

i haven't build alternatives that much, also because thy weren't that attractive, but one i remember is the combine harvester from the backhoe grader 8862, which i made a trailer for the (well i dont know what its called in english, but the thing in the front, they use to put on a trailer, when driving on the roads :) )

as for the question "did you ever buy a set, because of the alternative model?" - i don't think i have ever done this, but i will - the 8053 mobile crane looks too "wobbly" and i think the 8421 is much nicer, so i'll gonna buy the 8053 for the harbour crane :)

[tomacwhite]

I have just this evening finished building the B Model for the 8049 "Forest Tractor with Log Loader", "Log Handler", and I have to say I think I prefer the B model!

For starters it has a claw which is controlled by the pneumatics which the main model was lacking (it should of had a small cylinder for the claw but there you go) and the design of the machine with its rear-wheel steering is more unique than the very basic tractor and trailer from the main model. Also, the design of the claw is really neat as the air cylinder fits inside the rotating piece allowing full 360degree movement without tangling cables up (again, the main model suffers from this).

The main model feels fragile and flimsy whereas this is more solid and definitely more playable.

Edited July 12, 2010 by tomacwhite

[DLuders]

I'm glad I read tomacwhite's recommendation about the 8049 B Model, because I got my son that set and he's going to build it soon. I'll recommend that he build the "Log Handler" alternate. Since there is only one "log" (10 ea. brown 2x2 round bricks) provided with the set, I followed Blakbird's recommendation that the 8049 set "needs more logs" and got some more of those pieces.

[grepin]

Geez, now I have to get my hands on another 8868

I remember building the 8412 and 8414 alternates before my Dark Ages, but neither was impressive. Post Dark Ages, I got the 8880 built as the F1 car, and it's an impressive model - huge and with good functionality. I may be wrong, but isn't it the only LEGO F1 car with a transmission?

[Blakbird]

  On 7/18/2010 at 11:48 AM, grepin said:

I remember building the 8412 and 8414 alternates before my Dark Ages, but neither was impressive. Post Dark Ages, I got the 8880 built as the F1 car, and it's an impressive model - huge and with good functionality. I may be wrong, but isn't it the only LEGO F1 car with a transmission?

Yes.

F-1 Comparison

[JunkstyleGio]

The B-model chopper of this years 8051 set is a real beauty!