Pick of the week: 9393 Tractor

 

  • Pick of the week: 9393 Tractor

    Posted by Huw, 22 Aug 2012 08:23. Filed under Pick of the week.

    9393 TractorWe don't cover Technic very much here at Brickset, but I'm not sure why, because I'm a big fan and I know a lot of you are too.

    Technic brought me out of my dark ages (Air Tech Claw Rig in 1995) and I've bought most of the large sets that have been released since. I'm not much of a fan of super cars and other 'street' vehicles but I do like a good digger or other utility vehicle, so this tractor is right up my street.

    There have been loads of Technic tractors over the years (See this Bricklist by duq) and in fact one of the first 'Technical sets' ever released was a tractor, 851 in 1977.

    9393 Tractor This latest one, 9393, like most recent ones, is lime green and is fitted with a farming attachment (that I'd name if I knew what it was called) that can be raised and folded in when not in use. It can also be detached completely.

    I find it interesting how the Technic design team make something look a particular colour but actually use very few pieces in the colour, and it's certainly the case here. Out of the 350 pieces, only 10 are lime green!

    If you've never built a Technic set before this is a good introduction: there are not too many pieces so it only takes an hour or so to construct, yet it packs in enough 'technical' functions to make it interesting to build and play with.

    Being a new release, it hasn't been discounted much yet, although it is currently 20% off at Amazon.de, according to the Amazon price comparator. At shop.LEGO.com it's priced at $39.99 in the USA, £24.99 in the UK,  and $49.99 in Canada so for once we Brits are not being ripped off: the current £:$ exchange rate of 1:1.57 has been honoured almost exactly.

    A great introduction to Technic and a good looking model that's fun to play with. Read more reviews by Brickset users to find out what others think.


    29 comments, latest one posted 9 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)
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Comments

Posted by Huw in United Kingdom, 22 Aug 2012 08:51

Question: would you prefer more of these quick reviews illustrated with a couple of high quality photos, or do you prefer the in-depth ones that CapnRex and I have been doing lately?

Posted by CCC in United Kingdom, 22 Aug 2012 08:55

I like this format - a couple of decent pictures and some basic text. You could then put a link to the set in the database, and have the full review there.

And the tractor looks good. When it hits £18, I'll by it.

Posted by Huw in United Kingdom, 22 Aug 2012 09:03

^ That would require me to actually write a full review, but I can certainly link to the reviews others have written, so I've done just that...

Posted by CCC in United Kingdom, 22 Aug 2012 09:14

Perfect like you've just added for me. It gives the basics fairly quickly, and then we can read longer and/or more varied reviews with a simple click if interested.

Posted by followsclosely in United States, 22 Aug 2012 10:13

I grew up on a farm in western NY, used a Tedder frequently.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tedder_%28machine%29

Posted by cheshirecat in United Kingdom, 22 Aug 2012 10:22

This is FAR better. If I ever get to the point that I desire to read two or three pages of text about a lego set, I'll probably have just bought it and not need to read it or look at the pictures. Sometimes less is more.

Posted by Bob Clear in United States, 22 Aug 2012 10:47

I like this method because like cheshirecat said, if you want to buy the set, why would you want to almost "have" the set through pictures and long descriptions.
And also, keep making more TECHNIC reviews. It's not a really popular theme, but it's a good one.

Posted by Huw in United Kingdom, 22 Aug 2012 10:49

^^ I don't thnk it's one of those: that rotates around a horizontal axis, doesn't it? This is more like a circular cutter or spreader or something.

Posted by Superkalle in Sweden, 22 Aug 2012 11:05

^ The bottom picture actually shows a horisontally rotating one, but with 4 spinners instead of 2.

Posted by lovaquero in United States, 22 Aug 2012 11:21

^ & @followclosely - The implement appears to more like a disk mower, minus the cowel to cover the blades...

Also, maybe LEGO is shouting out to Steiger Tractors with the color scheme? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steiger_Tractor). It is the wrong shade for John Deere Tractors.

Posted by lovaquero in United States, 22 Aug 2012 11:23

@HUW - I prefer the shorter review format with good, high-quality photos.

No disrespect to CapnRex. I love detail (being an engineer) and I know that he puts a lot of love into the reviews. BUT, I only love the kind of detail when at work or when I've shooting to make a major purchase (e.g. car, house, country, planet).

Posted by samworm in United Kingdom, 22 Aug 2012 11:29

I spent many (MANY) hours mindlessly circling fields pulling one of those in my youth. We always called it a haybob, but the names of arming tools tend to vary with location. It's essentially a device to turn the cut grass so that different parts are exposed to the sun and wind, ensuring quick and even drying.

The model is pretty good IMHO. Google search with similar designs: http://goo.gl/3GzpY

Posted by Alemas in Germany, 22 Aug 2012 11:32

@Huw: Quick reviews, please! :)

Posted by SJT73 in United Kingdom, 22 Aug 2012 12:14

Looks like what followsclosely and samworm say it is. A tedder or hay bob is the same thing (here in Cumbria, UK it's a hay bob). Used to turn cut hay over in a field to speed drying.

Posted by natro220 in United States, 22 Aug 2012 12:27

I agree with everyone else so far...while the indepth reviews are very informative, for the most part a quick to the point shorter review I think is best for this format. When it gets too long, I tend to get bored and quit reading (and usually head to the comments).

Posted by herbie75 in Kenya, 22 Aug 2012 12:46

Much better set up of review, quick concise and we get to know all the important info, perhaps a couple more pics would be great but otherwise 10/10, no offence to the effort that goes into the detailed review as others have said if I want that much info I will buy it and find out myself. Also got admit when I saw this model I thought good price and may have to be added to my collection :)

Posted by odindusk in United States, 22 Aug 2012 13:32

1) I was totally eyeballing this set. I am a sucker for these midsize Technic models.

2) The review format was pretty good. Even in an abbreviated review I think I'd like to at least hear if a set has any new elements, or elements of note. Perhaps this set has none and that's why you didn't say anything about that.

Posted by Huw in United Kingdom, 22 Aug 2012 13:54

^ TBH I'm no longer fully aware of what's new in Tehcnic elements because I don't buy every set any more. However there were none in this that I hadn't seen before.

But you're right to mention it because I know how important new Technic elements are to Technic fans so if I do another I'll be sure to point any out.

Posted by Joefish in United Kingdom, 22 Aug 2012 14:14

@lovaquero - The lime green, being European, is more a nod to CLAAS tractors like the AXOS (not to be confused with the CLAWS of AXOS, which was Doctor Who...) though they've stopped short of using red wheel hubs. Going back a bit further Deutz were more ordinary green. Personally I like to hark back to the old days of FIAT tractors, so let's have the next one in dark orange... ;-)

Posted by fitzyfitz in United Kingdom, 22 Aug 2012 14:56

Maybe I'm in a minority, but I like the wordy reviews...always seems a little odd when seeing 'reviews' which are nothing more than a string of pictures.

Posted by Huw in United Kingdom, 22 Aug 2012 15:03

I didn't post this as a review, just a 'pick of the week'. It hardly qualifies as one, I agree. More just raising awareness of a cool set.

Posted by labrat in United States, 22 Aug 2012 16:06

I believe it is pulling a rotary swather. Although they usually have some protective casing so they blades are not exposed. Thanks for the review.

http://www.scalefarm.com/products/D-02216-P.jpg

Posted by MorkMan in United States, 22 Aug 2012 16:16

I think that I like the quick reviews illustrated with a couple of high quality photos better than the in-depth ones. Special sets (use your own judgement here) might warrant a larger review.

Posted by Dash Justice in United States, 22 Aug 2012 16:41

LEGO sure likes green tractors. :)

Posted by brix in United Kingdom, 23 Aug 2012 04:33

I'd love to see reviews of this length but with a few more details about the set included :)

Posted by Lunchie in United Kingdom, 23 Aug 2012 08:37

You can't go wrong with a tractor. But every time I see a Lego one I get slightly misty-eyed as Set 851 was my first ever Technical set. And no, I don't know what happened to it!

Posted by Thunderburt in Netherlands, 23 Aug 2012 16:08

I very much like the more compact reviews AND I'd like to see more non-SW set reviews. Not that I don't read them (even though I don't buy them) but there's so much more: Technic, Trains, Creator.. Keep 'em coming!

Posted by Thunderburt in Netherlands, 23 Aug 2012 16:29

Why not do a weekly pick of the week? I'd love that!

Posted by cloaked7 in United States, 25 Aug 2012 20:03

The attachment looks a lot like a Bush Hog to me. As several have mentioned, the have a deck over them. They have on arms on some tractors, so they can mow vertically.

It is a great set, now that I see it reviewed. Makes me want to pick one up now. I had completely overlooked it earlier.

It would be great to see separate add ons for it in individual LEGO sets. They could even make a larger tractor and have a bunch of attachments for it. A disk, a plow, a front snow plow, a front scoop, a trailer, a wagon, and much more. Tractors are so versatile.

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