GIR 3691

Set Name: Granite Grinder Set Number: 8958 Year of release: 2009 Price: $9.99 USD Parts: 94 Minifigures: 1 miner and 1 rock monster Sticker sheet: Yes Review Gallery Front and back of the minifig showing printing on both sides. Interchangeable arms! Instructions, sticker sheet, and extra pieces. Random instructions image. Front 3/4 view Rear 3/4 view. This is a great set. Upon close inspection, this set is very well designed and fun to build despite its size. It's also an excellent parts pack for $10. The miner minifig is all new, with a dual sided expression and torso with printing on front and back. His face is somewhat of a "rock on, dude" (no pun intended) look on one side and a terrified look on the other. He has a scar below his mouth and grime lining where the blue helmet sits on his head. I am very happy they brought back the Rock Raiders helmet in a new color. This feels like a fresh revival of the RR theme. The legs are even printed with a chain and flashlight design. The rock monster is hollow inside, allowing the included blue crystal (another revived RR piece in a new color) to fit inside his mouth. The top of the head is hinged like any of the Canadian characters from South Park, and it is a very comical looking creation. The best part is that his arms are minifig socket- compatible. as shown above. The actual vehicle packs a lot of cool design in a small package. There is a bit of technic, a bit of brick-built, and some SNOT on the sides. I love the little details like the flood light and white tanks in the back. The lime green and orange isn't that bad, but I think it could have been better color-schemed. The dump truck bucket is attached by a chain to the back and is easily removed. The actual drilling mechanism is really neat. The rubber band snaps it back into place, while moving the treads bumps it forward, making a jackhammer-like sound and motion when it moves. The play function works very well. The best part is the return of alternate build pictures on the box. It shows that you can combine this with another set to make a great hovercraft-looking thing. (Sorry...I don't have a pic, I threw the box away.) Ratings (on a scale of 1 to 10): Parts: 9.5/10 - All new figures and parts, plus plenty of lime green. Would have been nice to have tread links instead of rubber tire treads. Minifigs: 10/10 - Includes two all new figures. Detail: 10/10 - very clever design and solid build. Playability: 8/10 - Cool mechanism but the wheels are a bit stiff and the bin that drags behind can be cumbersome. Price to parts: 9.5/10 - Under 100 elements for $9.99, though there are plenty of new and returning pieces here. Availability: 7/10 - Should be showing up everywhere soon if not already. OVERALL RATING: 10/10 - I'd definitely recommend picking this up as a test of the new theme. If you don't like it, you still get plenty of neat pieces. This on top of the Pirates theme is a very good outlook for 2009, since the Clone Wars sets pretty much stink. TLG is very creative with their unlicensed sets, and this set really shines. I picked it up to decide whether or not I liked the theme, and it really turned my opinion around. It's a great little set.

And today brings a black undead skeleton with crossbow. :D I really like how both skeletons so far have had an extra arm. This advent calendar thing is great.

That mechanic is RIPPED!

We have the new Island piece, all new torso prints and many new head prints, along with the printing on the hats, the new telescope and fish pieces, etc... There is a lot that went into these sets.

So I guess Roguebantha doesn't post here. That is one of his creations, and it is very impressive. I mentioned to him on Flickr that it would be cool to have ended with the funeral pyre from ROTJ, and he entertained the idea. Even so, it's very cool as is.

I never noticed that, but it looks like the pictures have thinner handles on the end with horizontal rings. These did not come with the sets, though. I have many handles from the last 10 years and they are all the same shape. (except for Dooku and Asajj, of course.)

Bricklink.com or eBay.

The one I just bought is my first, and it seems to be on and off as far as distance. One time I shot it a few inches and it didn't even move the break-away wall, while another time I shot it clear across the room.

The regular trans-green blades low under a black light.

Sign me up.

Batman wishlist thread? Ok. Joker's hideout- vat of acid, various traps and stuff ala Batman: the Animated Series Batman Beyond- flying Batmobile, etc... Joker's 18-wheeler vs Batpod or SWAT truck, include SWAT Gordon and Dark Knight Joker

I don't really see this as a crisis. Clone brands have been around for years, and none have been able to compete with LEGO quality and brand-name reputation. Why should they be any different now?

Looks like faded dark green to me. The set is really a disappointment. Such a cool vehicle and scene, and the wing looks like it's made of >30 elements.

Very nice review. I have been really wanting this set since it was announced, and this just fuels the burning desire. Maybe around January.

I really love the little technic mechanisms sometimes in System sets. Most recent example I've seen is the side door mechanism on the RGS. Little things like that, or way back when a bunch of sets would have little trap doors. Those were my favorite things to build. Some technic is great, but totally technic frames with plates covering it shouldn't happen.

Last time I went to a LEGO store, the Grab Bags were $8-12 USD, if I recall correctly.

Story: Old Man Jenkins is a crabby old man who hates Halloween. He doesn't decorate his yard at all, and scares away little kids with his bat. One of the older kids in the neighborhood decides to get even with him, as shown in this vig. Trick or Treaters Tricking Old Man Jenkins I'm still working on better pictures. This is the first thing I tried with a light-box i just made, and I'm going to try taking more pics later with more lights. There are also a couple of things I'm thinking about changing, so I'll call this a WIP.

Hello, I am GIR3691. I've been a member of FBTB for a while and I decided to join here and check things out.