Set 8841: Desert Racer Review

[Widdi]

Found this set on a flea Market in Munich, yesterday. Just 25 years after its release. The instructions for a total of five models, two of them printed, the other 3 are just photo instructions in the book. It still has the box in good shape, despite some wear from the age. Sadly five little pieces were missing, and 5 wrong pieces inside instead (2 complete wheels and a classic 80s-90s plane wing (dumped into my bricks). But I was able to replace the missing Minifig torch and the 4 missing plates with identical pieces from my collection.

The Box and Contents

The set still has the original box. Inside the pieces, plastic insert, instructions and a 1987 Technic catalogue, imagine that set livespan today. Four years and the 8841 is still in the catalogue.

Classic technic design from early 80s showing a function drawing of the Steering and the main model

A small set, but with a flap shoeing the contents.

All pieces in the inner box and the papers included.

5th Model: Soapbox Racer

This is more or less a soapbox racer with working steering, but no engine. It's got a rather blocky design, but still looks sleek enough and is a simple build little over 100 pcs out of 180.

The Soapbox at step 2

Just included the steering at step 6

Completed and ready to race downhill.

Total: 7/10 Simple, but effective

4th Model: Simple Chassis

very simple and boring alternate using just 1/3 of the 180 pieces in the set. It even hasn't got a seat construction. It's just a plain steering mechanism attached on wheels with a spartan chassis of just a few pieces.

This is the whole model at step 5

Just attach the steering mechanism and wheels and you're done

Total: The worst alternate model of the complete set. Just a boring 4/10

3rd Model: Balance

Very original small model. It's a small model of a working classic Balance. And it works with small parts laid on the scales, altough they've got just a 4x4 Footprint. IT's a fast build. just 15 minutes and you've done it.

The model as it looks at step 3

Finished. Easy build with just 63pcs out of 180

Total: Very original model, it actually works with small weights, but a very simple build. Still a 7/10

Alternate Model: Tractor with equipment

This is the second model. It's a simple but boxy design featuring a harrow and a plough. The tractor has a similar design to the very first tractor set, but much smaller. The plough is about 24-wide and the harrow is completely SNOTTED even back in 1983. Has two functions: Working steering and the coupler for the equipment. Uses almost all pieces of the set.

The tractor at step 8, the steering isn't completely attached now

This is the completed tractor

The complete harrow

Finished alternate with the plough attached.

Total: Nice, but quite ugly and boxy design for a tractor with 4 wheels of the same size. Takes me to a 6/10

Main Model: Desert Racer

This is the main model, with a nice (for early 80s) but boxy design. It has two functions. Steering and a working 1-cylinder rear engine, which is of the old 2x2 piston type, since the small piston design wasn't invented back then. This is the only model of the set, which has piece callouts in the instructions. The printed alternate model has no callouts, they weren't invented on both models back in 1983. The three smaller photo instruction alternates have a piece callout at the beginning showing all needed pieces. The seat is a nice, but blocky design and use a primitive SNOT technique.

This is the model at step five. The piston is already attached. Imagine this state on step 5 in modern sets. Back then LEGO had challenging instructions, not the step madness like today

This is the engine just made of plates with a hole in the middle for the piston

Step 9. The piston engine is completed.

On step 12 the roll bar and the seat are installed. Only the steering isn't completed yet.

Front view of the finished model. Just 15 steps needed back then.

Bird's eye view of the whole set

Displayed on the box

Model Verdict: Nice design, especially the colorful seat in SNOT technique, but quite boxy especially the engine, since there were only the huge pistons. Still a 9/10

Set Verdict:

Design and Models: 7/10, very boxy designs, due to the age. The chassis alternate sucks

Build: 9/10 Classic 80s technic building. Quite challenging but fun

Sturdyness: 7/10: rear section damaged after the table fall, but rather easily fixed

Fun: 9/10 Blast from the past.

Overall: 8/10

mfg Widdi

Edited September 7, 2008 by Widdi

[CP5670]

Nice classic set. Are those hoses around the engine pneumatic tubes?

That Technic catalog looks interesting too. I have the catalogs for the next several years but not that one.

This is the model at step five. The piston is already attached. Imagine this state on step 5 in modern sets. Back then LEGO had challenging instructions, not the step madness like today

The most extreme example of this was the engine step in the 8865 set, which uses over 120 pieces by itself.

[Widdi]

Nice classic set. Are those hoses around the engine pneumatic tubes?

That Technic catalog looks interesting too. I have the catalogs for the next several years but not that one.

The most extreme example of this was the engine step in the 8865 set, which uses over 120 pieces by itself.

The pneumatic tubes are listed seperately under x188. The classic hose is x467. I think they're just the same with just a single difference: The x467 seemed to be already cut in lenght instead of x188 which must be cut in lenght.

mFg Widdi

[BerndDasBrot]

great review! I really love the seat and the great possibilities with the alternate models.

also congratulations for getting that set in perfect condition!