Your appriciation for B-models?

[Cumulonimbus]

After an overenthusiastic bid on an auction site, I had a spare 42009 crane, so I decided to build the B-model. The container reach-stacker isn't a machine I usually consider recreating, but I gave it a try anyway.

During the build, I improved some small things: The colour scheme which is typically suffering form the restriction of the available parts of the A-model, was made more uniform and similar to the a real Hyster. Additionally, I modified the chassis so the steering rear wheels could make the huge steering angles the real one can.

I was impressed with the functions, strength and complexity of the model. It really has been thought through well and, in my opinion, could have been a worthy A-model any year. This makes me wonder, how many B-models do you have as permanent members of your collection? Do you value some of them as high as A-models or are they just a nice bonus? It really is an amazing feat that the Lego designers come up with B-models for all the Technic sets each year, but I imagine they get a lot less credit for them compared to the A-models.

Edited December 29, 2014 by Cumulonimbus

[andythenorth]

My kids (3 & 5) wanted the 42009 container stacker built much more than the crane - based on the box pictures alone. I haven't built the A model, but the B model is great, really solid, and probably more fun to play with than the crane.

The B model of 8049 is also great, better than the A model imo http://brickset.com/sets/8049-1/Tractor-with-Log-Loader

The B model (crawler loader) of 8043 is outstanding and would have made a good A model.

B model of 42008 (green truck) is appalling. The A model is poor too. Not because it's green, but because neither A nor B model seems cohesive, and neither of them is fun to play with (with apologies to the designer for harsh comments). http://brickset.com/sets/42008-1/Service-Truck

[Jim]

I don't build much B-models, but looking at the 42038 and 42039, I probably will make an exceptions. Both look amazing.

The B-model of the 42009 is on my to-build-list as well. Blakbird did a small review if I am not mistaken. He also concluded it is a great alternative build.

[Paul B Technic]

I am a big fan of a lot of B models. My stand outs are:

42028

9395

9394

42006

42000

9397

8070

Edited December 29, 2014 by Paul B

[Osuharding1]

Notable B-models in my opinion are:

8043

8070

42024

42025

8081

8041

Just to name a few. There are several C-model MOCs out there that are great as well. User Tomik is fantastic at creating Technc and Creator C-models. One of my favorites though is the 42000 alternate model by Nataneal Kuipers.

[Rishab N]

I really like the 9396 B model. The rotor pitch is a bit finicky, but it is really nice with the inter meshing rotors. I also like the 8258 B Model as it looks really good.

[Richard Dower]

BIG fan of B models, bought two of several sets just to build the B. Some of them could well be a A and look just as good as the main model.

I recently got all the parts to build the B of 8048:

The B of 8256 is also great!

I also like 9393 and 8261.

[pint14]

I personally haven't build any of b-models.

[TheItalianBrick]

Normally I don't, but this year looks like 42038 and 42039 have better B models than A ones.....

I think back in the days ( 90s ) B models where more cool, they weren't simply a B model...they where more "buy a set and chose which on them to build first". Some sets had 4 models.....like 8042... :wub: :wub:

[Tomik]

Normally I build both A and B models before begin building my own alternative models. If I should mention some outstanding B models from my collection they would be these:

8053 - harbour crane

9397 - plow truck

8041 - stock car

[Erik Leppen]

I always build all models when I get a set. One can always learn from building other people's models, the official models being first choice. I don't understand buying a set and not building all models. It's like buying a game and only playing through the first half. The set design (and the building experience design) is part of the price, and, to me, a big part of the fun of buying a new set.

I have never understood, and probably will never understand, the idea of buying a set twice "to build the B model". Haven't those people found out yet that models they have built can also be taken apart and the parts reused? Isn't that the whole idea of the B model? That said, it continues to surprise me how much money people throw at this hobby anyways, so yeah.

Anyhow, I do find B models better in the studded era. Right now you can usually directly spot which model is the main, and which is the alternative. I think 8258B is nice, but 8258A is much more interesting in almost every way. And almost always when the A model has a function switcher, the B model has a function switcher with fewer functions. Ever noticed?

I do think 42009B is bleh, but that's because I don't care about the play features. For the same reason I think 42008A is brilliant and 42008B is meh. 42008B is simply ugly (partly due to the bad color mix). But some B-models do look really neat. I have always loved the B of 8856, the red hovercraft, and I have high expectations from 42025B as well.

[Blakbird]

Models for which I have a second copy to display the B model:

8480

8862

8051

8485

8275

8288

8880

At one time I also had these B models displayed:

8458

8285

8094

[DarkShadow73]

After an overenthusiastic bid on an auction site, I had a spare 42009 crane, so I decided to build the B-model. The container reach-stacker isn't a machine I usually consider recreating, but I gave it a try anyway.

During the build, I improved some small things: The colour scheme which is typically suffering form the restriction of the available parts of the A-model, was made more uniform and similar to the a real Hyster. Additionally, I modified the chassis so the steering rear wheels could make the huge steering angles the real one can.

I was impressed with the functions, strength and complexity of the model. It really has been thought through well and, in my opinion, could have been a worthy A-model any year. This makes me wonder, how many B-models do you have as permanent members of your collection? Do you value some of them as high as A-models or are they just a nice bonus? It really is an amazing feat that the Lego designers come up with B-models for all the Technic sets each year, but I imagine they get a lot less credit for them compared to the A-models.

A few come to mind:

8053 - I prefer the harbour crane over the mobile crane, not just for the looks, but Technic is lacking in that sort of thing, and the mobile crane's string/winch setup was horrible. The string always got bound up and ran over the sides of the winch and sometimes you had to pull apart one half of the substructure to detangle it and get it rewound. This was made worse if PF elements we're added on.

8284 - the tractor is ok, but oversized and the rear implement never worked right, the 12-tooth bevel gears always seemed to come apart from each other. Definitely preferred the Dune Buggy. In the US and Canada it was marketed main model Tractor, I believe in Europe it was marketed as the Dune Buggy as main model.

42029 - I like the pickup, but actually prefer the forestry truck. Just had to fix the ugly setup for the beacon and HOG steering on top of the cab. Easy fix.

8416 - once again, I really like the forestry truck. The forklift was fine, but way too big to fit in with any scale of model.

8295 - Telehandler is just too cumbersome and too wide and even w/ PF its slow and bulky, and a manual tilt on the forks??? The log loader style is much better and more fun to play with.

I'm sure there are more, but w/o digging out my collection from storage tubs, can't think of any others at the moment.

[Balrog]

I usually try to build all the B-models of the sets I purchase. Here is a list of models and what I liked about it:

42009 - somewhat more playable than the crane and you get two vehicles which interact nicely. The functions were smooth and the models really sturdy.

42028 - I somehow like the B-model more than the A-model. Not because it is a trench digger, but it looks somewhat russian or a tracked tractor.

9396 - this was special because of the intermeshing rotors and it had a cool shape.

9393 - this buggy was really cool. Not exactly a new combination of a tractor A-model and a buggy as B-model, but it was a fun car and it had the brickbuilt piston engine.

8070 - In fact this was the first real B-model I built. And it doesn't have to stand back behind the main model. In fact, it's even a little cooler.

[Richard Dower]

Agree on the B of 9393...the fake engine and how the pistons work/move is superb!

I was very impressed by the building technique + how it used nearly all of the A model parts.

[Ondra]

Im interested in B models of arctic tracker and 24 hours car from this year, I dont know why but they looks way better than A models.

Lego need some big race SUV as main model.

[bonox]

One of the main tenets of lego for me is the alternative models - at least two ideas from someone else, before you start making your own. It's a fundamental reason behind a modular building toy, otherwise you might as well just glue the bits together like an airfix model.

I keep a few that I really like

8053 - the harbour crane. sort of similar to the 42009 stacker.

8880 - the original F1 car

8862 - combine harvester - looks much better than the later A-model one.

I have quite a few of the racers, but one of the major things I don't like about them is it's always a 1 model event. The silver champion for example came with two but the williams and ferrari F1s, the 599 and the enzo were all one model only. It's not just the licensed stuff - the 42030 has an alternative!

Edited January 5, 2015 by bonox

[JunkstyleGio]

The b-model of the 42038 looks great. Too bad there are so many parts left from the original set..

(just skip the threads and add some wheels, then you've got a keeper!!).

The model itself reminds me of one of my alltime favorites..

Edited January 6, 2015 by JunkstyleGio

[Cumulonimbus]

Haha, nice work JunkstyleGio! This was exactly what I meant with my OP: With some small tweaks, a lot of B-models are a very nice additions to any collection.

You might actually have convinced me to buy a 42038 and do something similar.

For those who are interested, here is a picture of my 42009B Stacker (sorry for the low light conditions)

Edited January 6, 2015 by Cumulonimbus