DarkShadow73 Posted November 23, 2012 Posted November 23, 2012 I owned this set back when it came out in 2006, but gave it away, the back rotors never seemed to work right, the gears just didn't seem to mesh. The 8063 Tractor/Trailer is a much sleeker looking tractor (trailer IMO detracts from it though) with the newer red panels, even though this set is over 2 years old, think it was released in '10, maybe '09, can't recall off hand. What I am asking though is I came across a new 8284 Tractor/Buggy set. I never built the buggy, but it looks kind of cool and I'm into buggies, too, think it would be a nice addition along side my 8466 4x4. Anybody have any impressions of the buggy model of this set? I know in different countries it shows the tractor on the front of the set, others the buggy, can't remember what mine said. I think it was originally released in the USA as the buggy, with the tractor being the alternate model. I checked Brickset and there were mixed reviews, most leaned towards the tractor model, but I thought I'd see what EB Technic members had to say about the buggy. Thanks in advance, Eric Quote
rener Posted November 23, 2012 Posted November 23, 2012 Well, IMHO there are many better buggies out there than 8284. It really only deserves to be an alternative model: it uses much less pieces than the tractor, no complex building techniques or gear systems and pretty ugle colour scheme. The only function which makes it stand out a bit is the way the rear wheels/engine can be moved forward/backward. This small function can be motorized with a big motor, but that really seems not to add to the value of the model. Quote
Rijkvv Posted November 23, 2012 Posted November 23, 2012 In Europe, the buggy was the alternate model which makes much more sense to me. I don't own the set, but for what I know (instructions, reviews) the tractor is better in every way. Quote
DarkShadow73 Posted November 23, 2012 Author Posted November 23, 2012 Well, IMHO there are many better buggies out there than 8284. It really only deserves to be an alternative model: it uses much less pieces than the tractor, no complex building techniques or gear systems and pretty ugle colour scheme. The only function which makes it stand out a bit is the way the rear wheels/engine can be moved forward/backward. This small function can be motorized with a big motor, but that really seems not to add to the value of the model. @rener- Thanks, that is what I needed to clinch the deal, I also noticed no suspension either, which is a drawback as well, but I truly think this set was meant for the Tractor anyway. I've got about very buggy or off-road vehicle out there except the newer 9398 Crawler(bit beyond my budget). Appreciate the insight into it. In Europe, the buggy was the alternate model which makes much more sense to me. I don't own the set, but for what I know (instructions, reviews) the tractor is better in every way. @Richie - thanks also for the review. I built the tractor only, but was unimpressed with the glitchy rear ripping mechanism. I think they just remanufactured the tractor in red for the 8063 Tractor/Trailer, but there again the trailer was goofy-looking with those ugly green panels. However, the chassis of the trailer was useful for me for the wheelbase and LA, I modified it into a flatbed trailer with black panels from a couple of 8041 Race Trucks I got on a deal when they discontinued the 8041. Well, IMHO there are many better buggies out there than 8284. It really only deserves to be an alternative model: it uses much less pieces than the tractor, no complex building techniques or gear systems and pretty ugle colour scheme. The only function which makes it stand out a bit is the way the rear wheels/engine can be moved forward/backward. This small function can be motorized with a big motor, but that really seems not to add to the value of the model. Quote
rener Posted November 23, 2012 Posted November 23, 2012 You're welcome. Actually, I built the buggy twice. Once out of principle (I always build the alternate shortly after the main model) en the second time to motorize it, assuming that that the rear wheels would be connected. You can imagine my disappointment... :( Quote
DarkShadow73 Posted November 23, 2012 Author Posted November 23, 2012 (edited) Personally, I think the smaller 8048 Buggy was the best designed of all of them out there. As far as 4x4's the 8466 was the very best IMO, at least I have that one. I also bought the 8262 Quad Bike for the alternate model buggy, it needs some seats and a few tweaks as far as off-road lighting I have all set for it, kind of cool, large rims and tires, also the 9393 Tractor's alternate buggy is cool also, all I had to do with that one is add off-road lighting to that one too, and I bought an 8454 a while ago to make the 2 buggy police cars, but modified them without the blue lights to make them just off-road buggies, not police buggies. I bought the 8437 from the 90's as well, it is not the ultimate buggy, but has features that are nice, full engine, diff, and suspension, again just some top lighting made it just right, and too little has been made in blue color, which is what a lot Technic collectors like that I felt it worth the $55USD I paid for that set. You're welcome. Actually, I built the buggy twice. Once out of principle (I always build the alternate shortly after the main model) en the second time to motorize it, assuming that that the rear wheels would be connected. You can imagine my disappointment... :( @rener - the rear wheels aren't even connected?? That's nuts...does it even use the diff from the tractor version? I was going to buy the newer 9392 Quad Bike (what's the deal with so many quad bikes in the past few years?) to make the orange buggy, but the rear end looked odd, and being so small it really didn't fit in with scale-wise with the rest of my fleet of buggies. Edited November 23, 2012 by TechnicFreak Quote
rener Posted November 23, 2012 Posted November 23, 2012 @rener - the rear wheels aren't even connected?? That's nuts...does it even use the diff from the tractor version? The rear wheels are connected to the 4-cylinder engine and of course it uses the differential, but it's the other function (moving forward/backward of the rear of the buggy) that is motorized. I probably only found out after I built it , because the functions are built really close together... Quote
DarkShadow73 Posted November 24, 2012 Author Posted November 24, 2012 The rear wheels are connected to the 4-cylinder engine and of course it uses the differential, but it's the other function (moving forward/backward of the rear of the buggy) that is motorized. I probably only found out after I built it , because the functions are built really close together... Curious still, how did you go about installing a motor, was it with the newer PF parts or the old black 9V motor and huge battery box? Quote
rener Posted November 25, 2012 Posted November 25, 2012 Curious still, how did you go about installing a motor, was it with the newer PF parts or the old black 9V motor and huge battery box? I just followed the instruction book. The model uses the big black 9V motor from 8421, which for a short while seemed to become the motor of choice for technic models. Until the wonderful PF arrived of course! Quote
DarkShadow73 Posted November 25, 2012 Author Posted November 25, 2012 (edited) I just followed the instruction book. The model uses the big black 9V motor from 8421, which for a short while seemed to become the motor of choice for technic models. Until the wonderful PF arrived of course! I rather liked the 8287 Motor Kit, and the black motor, too bad they hadn't scaled down the battery box, but I guess on the 8421's rear end it held it down almost like a weight. PF elements aren't nearly as powerful, quieter yes, but I don't see the power and torque that the 8287 kit had. And just look at the going price for the 8287 kit brand new now, unbelievable... Edited November 25, 2012 by TechnicFreak Quote
rener Posted November 25, 2012 Posted November 25, 2012 I rather liked the 8287 Motor Kit, and the black motor, too bad they hadn't scaled down the battery box, but I guess on the 8421's rear end it held it down almost like a weight. PF elements aren't nearly as powerful, quieter yes, but I don't see the power and torque that the 8287 kit had. And just look at the going price for the 8287 kit brand new now, unbelievable... I like the power of the motor, and even the noise doesn't bother me too much (rather cool, really), but IMHO it's too big and too oddly formed to use it nice in most models. Also way too powerful for small functions like the one described above. Quote
DarkShadow73 Posted November 25, 2012 Author Posted November 25, 2012 I like the power of the motor, and even the noise doesn't bother me too much (rather cool, really), but IMHO it's too big and too oddly formed to use it nice in most models. Also way too powerful for small functions like the one described above. It is an odd shaped motor with only the 2 axle holes, but it is much more powerful than the newer PF elements IMO. Noise didn't bother me either, it is hooked up to my 8421 Mobile Crane. Quote
SheepEater Posted November 25, 2012 Posted November 25, 2012 8284 buggy with & without black 8287 motor http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=318833 Quote
Lost_In_Noise Posted November 26, 2012 Posted November 26, 2012 I was surprised by the price on this motor. It wasn't as outrageous as i thought, because the 8293 costs close to $50 here. Quote
DarkShadow73 Posted November 27, 2012 Author Posted November 27, 2012 8284 buggy with & without black 8287 motor http://www.brickshel...ry.cgi?f=318833 @SheepEater - thanks for the pics, but like most have said its a subpar model w/o much function as compared to other buggies...maybe if I can find it cheaper than the one MISB I found, I might pick it up eventually... I was surprised by the price on this motor. It wasn't as outrageous as i thought, because the 8293 costs close to $50 here. @Lost_In_Noise - yeah the 8287 kit is outrageously high priced now, geez its just a motor and battery box and few cheap elements in the box...wouldn't even consider buying one unless I could find it at more of a decent price, but doubt that's going to happen, and if you buy an item like that used, well you never know how hard its been abused too...could fail in a week, could work forever, its a crapshoot Quote
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