Lego Technic 8043: LEGO Power Functions include two infrared remote control handsets, 4 motors, 2 receivers, 4 linear actuators and a battery box.Motorized Excavator

Released in August 2010, Lego's mechanical engineering offshoot - Technic, have devised another truly impressive construction. This time in the form of a motorized excavator (it can also be made into a Tracked Loader - so two toys in one!).

The box contents add up to easily over a thousand pieces, which presents a mammoth task when it comes to building the beast for the first time (see the first part of the video attached). Three instruction manuals totalling an impressive 209 pages are used to detail how to build this veritable goliath of a project. And to be honest, the instruction manuals do a fantastic job. The diagrams are clear and concise throughout, even when the tasks become quite complicated with the sheer volume of complex parts involved. If the instructions are detailed well, half the fun of the toy can be found in the construction. If delivered poorly, frustration can set in, making the construction process a long and arduous chore. However, Lego have done a top notch job in delivering some very clear and easy to follow instructions, which I would agree would be suitable for anyone over the age of 12 to follow.

The end result is an impressive and fully manoeuvrable excavator. The controllers take a little getting used to (the video footage included was after twenty odd minutes of practice). Although the machine is quite slow moving around, half the joy of playing with it is doing the movements precisely, so speed is not really a major factor here.

The controls include a function that flips between moving the excavator around and then to controlling the giant digger arm. This function to switch between the two does seem a little `clunky', but this is no great hardship.

Construction time, we're looking at between five and eight hours. Of this, you'll find the time actually flies by, with hardly any of the tasks required in the instruction manuals feeling particularly repetitive (which I think was quite cleverly done on purpose by the Lego design team).

After a 20-30 minute play around with the finished excavator, I'd say that I'm still quite far from mastering the controls, but I can say with some degree of confidence that it is best used for picking up stuff like rice rather than larger objects which tend to just topple away from the scooping claw.

As previously mentioned, there is a second machine that can be built up using the same pieces - a tracked loader (looks like a bulldozer with a manoeuvrable front blade). Instructions for the construction of this can be downloaded from the Lego.com website (details included on the rear of the last instruction manual). Once again, the instructions are quite complex, with the download split into five sections, each one requiring un-zipping.

Age wise, the kit is aimed at 12-16 year olds (as stated on the box). For the construction aspect this is fine (unsupervised, any younger than 12 and the child is likely to struggle). However, 16 may be a little too old for playing with this. I would certainly be wary of buying this for anyone older than 14 years of age. On the other hand, once fully constructed (possibly with the help/supervision of an adult) a child of a few years younger than 12 would probably get a lot of enjoyment from playing with the finished excavator/loader.

All in all, this is a kit that will give a child hours upon hours of (quiet and contented) enjoyment, with many more hours of educationally and inspirationally stimulating enjoyment to be had from creating their own machines from the many pieces included. This is the beauty of Lego - you're not restricted to just building the one (or two) machines that the kit is designed for. With a little imagination and technical flair, your child could start constructing their own mechanical monsters!

A final point to make is that the kit requires six AA batteries and four AAA batteries - none of which are included.

This is a major model construction project, I think that the recommendation on the product that it is for an older age group is a good idea and I would consider this as being on a par with some of the more time intensive model building projects of either the glue/hobbiest or click and link varieties.

The in box instructions are very clear, following the format of all lego projects these are "exploded diagrams" clearly illustrating what pieces attach together, and the pieces for assembly all come in individual bagged and compartmentalised fashion which all helps with beginning and progressing construction.

This is challenging and it takes time, for me the fun was in constructing it and taking the time to do so, I think for anyone who is liable to become tired of this or will become impatient for operating the finished digger it wont be so much fun. That's to say that it will prove demanding in terms of time, attention, concentration so be mindful of this if you are buying it as a gift or even if you are thinking of buying this and you have only been acquainted with the simpler or smaller lego sets. I'm unsure of the educational value of this modelling set besides this and while it is durable enough to drive around and operate the bucket with sand or something relatively lightweight it is primarily a Lego technic model and not a remote control digger.

As with all lego its possible to build things with it which arent in the original and plan, younger children could let their imagination run wild and build anything but I really consider this as on a par with construction toys like mechano or crafts and hobbiest model builds.

Finally, this is a large boxed product, if you order this you may want to be sure that you have someone ready to receive its delivery or have a designated safe place for its storage on delivery.

I have had a long line of Technic models but this is by far the best of them all!

I brought this because I wanted a challenge and to have a functional, usable model at the end and it definitely delivered on both fronts!

The build, or builds in my case, were challenging. It was not monotonous like some builds and unlike other builds it required all of my concentration for the full 7 hours construction time. Despite this I made a mistake and missed a gear in the main gear box and had to dismantle about a third of the model. It is difficult in some places but given you have a fair amount of patience you will find it rewarding and stimulating. And after the 7 hours construction (10 after my slip up!) the end result is brilliant!

For those of you who have built the Technic Bulldozer you may have found it lacked push and manoeuvrability even of short carpet and grounded out on fairly shallow inclines which made using it frustrating. The Excavator has romped across everything, within reason, I have put in its path. It does struggle with steep steps because of the weight of all 4 motors, the IR recievers and the battery box all at one end but with some nifty driving you can get it to do some cool things!

You can also get the arm to do some complex movements to. I have been driving it around for maybe 5 hours total and once you get the hang of the controls I have got it moving like the real thing.

This is without a doubt the best Technic for a long time. It says 12-16 on the box but when your 50 year old dad says he is jealous that its not him building it you know its worth the money!