Lego TECHNIC 8043 Motorized Excavator - Initial Impressions

After a long weekend of building Lego's (hard life right!) we wanted to take a moment and let Brickmaster Gaiden give some initial impressions on the set he tackled this weekend.  It was Lego Technic 8043 Motorized Excavator, a retired and now expensive set from the Lego world of Technic. 

Here is the description and highlights from Lego:

Build it and dig in!
No dirty job is too big for this heavy-duty Motorized Excavator! Just flip a switch on the LEGO® Power Functions dual infrared remote control to drive the excavator to job sites, spin the cabin 360 degrees, to maneuver the articulated arm and to dig with the shovel.

Features:
• LEGO Power Functions include two infrared remote control handsets, 4 motors, 2 receivers, 4 linear actuators and a battery box.
• Four motorized functions: Move! Dig! Spin! Lift!
• Deep scoop bucket comes equipped with strong digging claws!
• 2 in 1 model rebuilds into Tracked Loader
• Excavator measures over 18" (45 cm) long

The set has 1127 pieces and recommended for ages 12 to 16.  Unfortunately this is now a retired set and picking this up will actually put you back a fair amount of cash.  Right now you can purchase this on Amazon for a little below $600.00.  Lucky for you, Lego Rebels built the whole thing this weekend and you can watch the build in first person without having to drop a dime!  Check out the video below.

Brickmaster Gaiden had a great time with this build, in fact it was his favorite Technic build so far.  Here is his full initial impression:

"The Lego 8043 build is currently my favorite build to date. I have built three Technic sets so far, and this build resulted in something that fulfills my dreams in having a fully functional Lego creation.

The set utilizes 4 motors and allows for separate track control, rotation of the frame, finite boom control, and the ability to use the scoop accurately. The standard toggles between gear sets can be toggled via the IR Remote, allowing for a fully remote experience with the Excavator / Loader (depending on the build variant).

I was surprised that the set was based on books vs. bags. This meant that there was not a fully clear stopping point when you wanted to take a break, and while the book method did have relatively clean breaks, the bag method for Technic tends to be a bit more intuitive.

Additionally, there is one step in Book One that has you push one of the main drive axles all the way through, and this step comes long after the axle is in place. The step is not as obvious as it could be, and resulted in me going backwards to try and understand where I made a mistake, until I spotted the step. Overall, the result is the most fun building and greatest pride in the creation of the builds I have done to date. Previous Technic builds – 42042 and 42043."

So what do you think of the set?  Would you pay $600.00?  Let us know in the comments! 

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