Subject:
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Mini-review: 8457 Power Puller
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.technic
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Date:
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Fri, 25 Aug 2000 11:42:00 GMT
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Viewed:
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691 times
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I have just finished building this. It is not as bad as I thought it was
going to be.
Unlike most new Technic models, this one is build using mistly traditional
components: There are a few bent beams, flexi-axles and other new parts but
by and large it uses normal technic beams, in yellow and black.
The model consists of 3 parts: The tractor chassis, the load, and the engine
assembly. The rear wheels of the tractor are 100mm dia., and about 50mm
wide. They are impressive!
Instructions are provided for building the engine assembly in 3 different
configurations: 5 V4 engines, 3 V8 engines or 2 V10 engines. As you can
imagine with that lot, the model uses a lot of gears (and also chains) and
in fact you are left with quite a few spares after building the 5xV4
configuration. The engine clips onto the chassis by way of 2 pegs.
The load is a fairly simple chassis with 2 elastic bands which pull the
battery box towards the front as the tractor moves. I think the idea is that
initially the load presented to the tractor is small. Then, as the battery
box moves towards the front and the bands tighten he load increases and
finally once the battery box his the end stops, the load is at its maximum.
I think this is called 'Full Pull'.
The set comes with a video, which predictably has no commentary. It is
nevertheless quite informative. It follows a 'day in the life' of the power
pull tractor that the set is modelled on. Power Pulling seems to be a
competitive sport in a European country (Germany?), and the team featured is
sponsored by LEGO. It shows the engines being built, travelling to an event,
preparing the tractor, competing and (funnily enough) the driver receiving
gold at the awards. There is also a parallel thread about 2 kids that mimick
what the grown ups are doing with their LEGO toy.
A very big plus poijnt for the set is that is comes with a 'traditional'
Technic motor, rather than one of the new combined battery box/motor/switch
affairs. The model is designed to allow a second motor to be added for even
more power.
If you're into traditional technic models and are fed up with overuse of
today's specialist pieces, this one's for you.
Huw
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Message has 4 Replies:
 | | Re: Mini-review: 8457 Power Puller
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| In lugnet.technic, Huw Millington writes: -snipped to related statements- (...) Tractor pulling is really big in the Midwestern US... check out (URL) for the National Tractor Pull Association's website or (URL) for FullPull Magazine's home to see (...) (24 years ago, 25-Aug-00, to lugnet.technic)
| | | Re: Mini-review: 8457 Power Puller
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| Thank's for your mini-review and the instruction-scan in your database. When I look at the instruction-scan I get some questions: * Is the Technic-figure included? Or is it like #8458 just on the cover? * Can the puller steer? If yes, how does it (...) (24 years ago, 27-Aug-00, to lugnet.technic)
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