Finally I purchased the 2008 Excavator Technic at my local Lego Store on sale for $41.39 USD, along with the PF motor set, just to how well it is motorized. The numerous amount of links and two whole linear actuators just had me convinced, as well as many other good Technic parts. I made a picture review of the set, just because it was so good.
Excavator Review
Ages: 9-16
Set number: #8294 Excavator
Pieces: 720
Price: $59.99 USD
Year released: 2008
First thing after buying the set is looking at the box. On the front, it shows the overall product, several features, and general info.
On the back, it shows how you can motorize it and also build a second model on Lego.com.
Finally, there's an "actual size" model of the linear actuator:
On to the contents. Inside the box are numbered bags, from 1 to 3, two instruction booklets, a bucket scoop, and a sticker sheet which I did not bother to use. There is also a very big and smooth plate that isn't used in the model (?).
During the build I came uponsome crucial and interesting steps.
The links are bigger and heavier than I anticipated, and there are 60 of them.
The confusing gearbox makes more sense in the end, as it looks like a jumble of gears that have two inputs and two outputs.
In this picture, it now looks like the gear at the end spins and can move two different gears depending on the direction of the grey switch.
Then, we make the "seat", which actually looks very nice.
And finally, after building the arm, the final product:
The arm worked well, and the treads worked only on carpet but
still good enough. I liked how the gears worked to move the linear actuators; first the gear on the back spun, spinning in
a gear train until it got to an axle that had two gears on it, and an object in the middle. When the switch was pushed either way, the object in the middle was pushed against one of the gears, thus making it able to be revolved by the axle. The first gear turned the linear actuator that moved the arm up and down, and the second gear turned an axle that, with universal joints, went up the arm and into the second actuator. So, just because I was curious to see how well it worked motorized, continued the instructions to install a motor.
It was surprisingly easy to integrate the elements into the model, like it was designed to do so. After the Power Functions were installed, the controls were similar, except instead of turning a gear you would flick the Pole Switch. Here's a video:
