DarkShadow73

I just finished building the 8053 Mobile Crane b-model and I have to say along with a very satisfying build experience, this b-model is better than the main model. Too bad it took something like 168 printed pages downloaded from the Technic site, but it was worth it, the design was awesome and solidly built with plenty of bracing. This crane is mammoth, and it looks spectacular, one of the best b-models I have ever seen Technic come out with. I didn't put the wheels on the 4 bases, just added 4 extra half bushings to fill in the gap so it sits flat on my work bench and doesn't 'roll' around. It is flawless in comparison to the main model when motorized or even non-motorized, which IMO had some issues with clutching in the retracting/extending the string in and out, it seemed the gear attached to the blue axle pin inserted into one of the beams was too tight for the M-motor to turn it in and out without a lot of effort by hand or by motor, it just overworked the white clutch gear and was jittery in that function and it seemed when extending the string out it got too loose and got out of the confines of the string holder, I ended up having to dismantle it once to unwind the string from around a couple of gears on the side of the stringholder.

Don't feel too badly, I live in west Michigan, USA, and no stores have or are going to carry any of them, including the 2 TRU stores in my city, which is the 2nd largest in the state, both of which usually always stock the Technic sets. They stocked all the summer sets including the huge 8043 Excavator until it was pulled from the market because of the LA issue in late August which they didn't stock again when it was re-released in November, the 8053 Crane, and the 8052 Container Truck, but mysteriously they aren't going to carry the 8069 Backhoe, 8067 Mini Mobile Crane, or the other 1st half Technic sets, they are available only online. Odd...

Definitely don't go with Rayovacs, they are crap. Duracells seem to hold up a lot better IMO.

I rather liked the 8270 Rough Terrain Crane, sorry I sold both of the ones I had. I liked that one better than 8067.

I have the Dirt Bike from a couple years ago and the mini-excavator from last winter and was definitely more impressed with both of those sets. I have written quite a few reviews at legoshop.com and a few on Brickset. Yes, they are geared more towards the younger crowd, should have just stuck with my 8053 and my flagship 8421. Just wondered what others thought about it if they could have gotten their hands on it yet. On the plus side, the 8069 Backhoe Loader was impressive for a first half model, even the b-model. Wasn't real thrilled with the Pneumatic Log Loader from last winter even though it looked like there might be a resurgence of pneumatics again. Kind of wonder why they decided to re-introduce pneumatics after nearly 4 years of not having any models with them after the 8285 Tow Truck, then they disappeared from the radar again. The one plus to the 8053, and this is off-topic, is that at least the boom stays up with the LA, I always hated to fully raise my 8421's boom, then the next morning see it all the way down. Even though my hoses were on 'air-tight' it seems the boom always came down overnight as was the case with the backhoe portion of the 8455 after being the full upright position overnight. No complaints with either of those models, per se, they were both incredible, I just disliked the fact that the heavy parts always 'fell' after a while. Rather wonder why since the systems seemed air-tight if all the hoses were on the valves, cylinders and pump tightly.

Is it just me or is the newly released 8067 Mini Mobile Crane rather a letdown? I saw it on TRU Online and ordered it. I realize at $24.99 USD it wasn't going to be big by any means, but this thing is tiny. Hardly seems worth the price. Any opinions on it?

Yes DLuders, this was the mod that JunkstyleGio posted on some thread a while ago that I was looking for, it adds flair to the track loader. Thanks for the link.

The 8069 is real nice, even the b-model, bought 2 of them. Not quite as nice as the coveted 8455, but for $59.99 USD a very nice first half of the year set.

Somebody posted pics of fairing panels added to the 8043 Excavator B-model to make it look a bit more classy. I believe it was JunkstyleGio? There are so many topics and threads that I don't know where that post is. Can JunkstyleGio or whomever posted please re-post the pics. Thanks, Eric

Went into the TRU website last night and the 1H2011 models are up and available. Not much of anything interesting except the 8069 Backhoe Loader. I checked the 2 local TRU stores in my area and they weren't there yet, so went ahead and ordered 2 of them online as the 'b' model looks interesting and the official Technic website has the alternate instructions already on there.

Yup, that's what I bought and used. It works real well, I just filled a small dish with it, extended the old LA's completely and immersed overnight. Then I took a rag and cleaned the casings up after retracting the rods, real messy, but it sure makes them smooth operating. Some of the oil oozes a bit as you use them, but not too much. Only bad part is when you assemble something with the oil-filled actuator is they can be a bit greasy as you put models together, so you have to wipe your hands after installing the actuator otherwise you end up getting oil from your fingers all over the other parts, but the plus is they definitely take the friction problem away.

Crazy thing is, IMHO anyway, I think the olive oil trick that somebody (can't recall the name of the member) posted works better on the old LA's than the newer style LA's. When soaked in the olive oil, albeit messy and they ooze a bit, they still operate the lifting ability of the boom better then the newly designed service pack ones. Also the new ones wiggle a bit too much at the far end of their play. Maybe its just me, but I do like the oiling trick better. I even soaked a bunch of ones from other sets and reinstalled, the 8295, 8258 and 8265 are the hardest working ones, and they operate better than the old non-lubed ones.

Great alternative model, I have always hoped Lego would produce a lift truck instead of just cherry picker and telescopic handler types. It would make a great main model. Instructions would be real nice if they can be made available.

Bulga - still raising the boom flawlessly, though I think I am wearing the batteries out as all the motors are getting slow, even the forwards/backwards and rotating motor functions, so I know its not the LA's causing problems as those functions are gear-operated only, no LA's in play there. Only 'small' problem is a bit of olive oil is seeping, but I totally immersed them in the oil overnight too and you could tell from the 'heaviness' of the LA's the next day when I was wiping them down that they were full of oil, kind of almost like a hydraulic filled cylinder now in a sense. Looked for that here in a large hardware store and it appears to be not a USA sold item, possibly a European or Swedish brand since I see you are from Sweden. The olive oil is messy, but it is working well, I installed some olive-oiled LA's on my 8258 Crane Truck alternate model (the lift truck) and it works a LOT better now, so am assuming that was the problem with that model as well. Oh, forgot to reply on the 8265. I would bet the oil would work well on those too and those LA's on the Loader are a lot more accessible and easier to pull off than some of the other models, like say the 8295 Telehandler one, it struggles too, but trying to get that one off to soak it looks to be an impossible task without really taking the boom off and rebuilding the base.

I can't open the link, it says I need special software? I'm not a computer literate really, just point and click. Is there another way I can get the instructions?

I agree with you, I kind of wanted a 2nd one just for the parts at the reasonable price but when I back onto the US S@H site it was gone, but it is odd that overseas it is still available. Wonder why they don't ship some over here? Of course same deal with the 8258, available in the US, but not in Canada, weird...

Yeah I noticed that Canada didn't get the 8258, I wonder why? Usually the US and Canada get nearly the same offerings. The US actually lost the 8258 from S@H nearly after it was released last summer, then all of a sudden it popped back up a couple months ago on the site. Overseas they still have the 8297 4WD truck for sale, but we lost in the States a long while ago. Weird..

The 8294/8453 bucket Jurgen modded for set is decent sized for the excavator. I tried attaching the bucket before trying his mod and it didn't pivot when the LA was extended/retracted without Jurgen's modified attachment. I do think TLG should have come up with a bucket that was sized appropriately for the 8043 when designing it, however I do know they are cost-conscious and creating a new mold would most likely be expensive, but definitely the bucket that comes with the set is way too oversized. The only complaint I might have with the 8294/8453 bucket is that it that in a resting flat position it doesn't allow the digging arm to come up high enough to look truly realistic of a true excavator but Jurgen's mod definitely allows for more realistic inward and outward tilting of the bucket.

Very nice MOC indeed!!! I would love the instructions when you get them done. As a huge fan of backhoe loaders, this really could for sure be offered as a mini-model in the Technic lineup. You should design for TLG.

Had 1 unopened at my BL store, sold it to a guy in California a few weeks ago...

Lucky you guys there in Europe. Since Lego produces and is headquartered there you always get the new sets first before us North Americans... I recall being in huge anticipation of the 8043 Excavator and the UK and Ireland had it weeks before the USA did and man was I jealous just waiting for it to arrive here...

Even though construction equipment is more my forte, my 8448 is my favorite supercar of them all. Gettin' a bit weathered considering its age, but its still an awesome model, that tranny is unbelievable especially when you motorize it with the 8720 kit. Too bad you have to put it up on the yellow jacks/liftarms to get the full effect. Now that would be a model worth making into a full RC.

I was impressed with the Cherry Picker and 'b' model was really quite decent too. Only improvement on it I could see would have been outriggers, even if manually operated and for the size and price point manual ones would have been warranted.

Usually the 1st half of the year sets are released a week or two before Christmas in the USA, at least that is what I have found to be the case in the past few years. TRU usually gets them first, around my metro area anyway, even before they are available on S@H.

Sorry efferman and others - I did receive quite a few complaints in my e-mail inbox today about this. I am new to this, but now I know how to reply without putting the entire post on that reply.