The fact that this is the first set this new part appears in does not mean it was designed with this set in mind. As a matter of fact parts are (almost) always designed to be used in multiple sets. It is very likely we will see better examples of the use of this part in the near future.

That would of course be the natural conclusion. But as I said, it's use is EXTREMELY marginal... unless I'm just being stupid and can't see something...

Edited March 5, 201212 yr by Pauger

TLG has re-posted the two-part PDF Building Instructions for the Lego Technic 9397 B-Model (Dump Truck with Plow), but the number of pages per PDF booklet has changed. All 308 pages are now there, but only on this Technic.Lego.com website (and not yet on this Lego.com Customer Service website). The kvisoft.com warning link that Blakbird noted seems to be gone.

Lego Technic 9397B / 9397-2 PDF Building Instructions Part 1 of 2 (Pages 1-160) -- 18.873 MB when downloaded: http://cache.lego.com/upload/contentTemplating/Technic2BuildingInstructions/otherfiles/downloadECC743C410CF275636F4F69A237EE116.pdf .

Lego Technic 9397B / 9397-2 PDF Building Instructions Part 2 of 2 (Pages 161-308) -- 19.260 MB when downloaded: http://cache.lego.com/upload/contentTemplating/Technic2BuildingInstructions/otherfiles/download5AF6FC028E1711E5505212EB5EF5AD85.pdf .

Edited March 6, 201212 yr by DLuders

Can someone tell me whether the B model is powered by the motor? i.e. whether the whole truck moves forward/reverse via motor.

I know in the A model, motor does not power the whole truck but only operates the crane.

The feedback I get through the Ambassador Forum is that Consumer Service has a hard time providing instructions in time when the set is released in advance of schedule... Apparently they did not expect this set to be available so soon or maybe they need to make sure their calenders are synced with the actual release dates. In any case, the matter is still being looked at.

@ Jetro: Thanks for your help. I find it curious that TLG releases sets to large chain stores (like Argos in the UK, and Toys-R-Us in the USA), and then doesn't tell Lego Customer Service. They need to get their act together! The set has been "out" in the public for at least 6-1/2 weeks now -- don't they KNOW?

Edited March 7, 201212 yr by DLuders

@ Jetro: Thanks for your help. I find it curious that TLG releases sets to large chain stores (like Argos in the UK, and Toys-R-Us in the USA), and then doesn't tell Lego Customer Service. They need to get their act together! The set has been "out" in the public for at least 6-1/2 weeks now -- don't they KNOW?

LEGO is a big beast and what one part may know (or guess) does not necessarily affect other parts. The real question here is what the official release date set by LEGO was. Retailers are known to jump the gun and so a set might be out before LEGO has scheduled the release of building instructions. On the other hand, knowing that this is the case and since this is not a licensed product, LEGO could of course be proactive and release building instructions ahead of schedule, at least through Customer Service.

LEGO is a big beast and what one part may know (or guess) does not necessarily affect other parts. The real question here is what the official release date set by LEGO was. Retailers are known to jump the gun and so a set might be out before LEGO has scheduled the release of building instructions. On the other hand, knowing that this is the case and since this is not a licensed product, LEGO could of course be proactive and release building instructions ahead of schedule, at least through Customer Service.

The official release date was always March 1, but the instructions were not available then either. I can understand why TLG cannot be expected to anticipate that TRU would offer the set early and therefore the instructions were not ready. However, TLG's own release date was March 1 and I even bought my copy at LEGO Retail on that date, but the instructions were still not available until a week later. They certainly should have planned to have the instructions available on the release date because it is an advertised feature of the product on the shelf (it says "2-in-1" on the box and says you can download the B-model instructions).

There seems to be more interest in the b model than the main model in this set ;)

There seems to be more interest in the b model than the main model in this set ;)

Probably because of the unimog :)

Thanks a lot for the 200mb instructions, wishing they had sizing charts too :)

I really enjoy Lego paper instructions however opening instructions from an iPad isn't too bad, suprisingly

Wondering that too, but I think dluders made good reply Found that, Any other problem?

Wondering that too, but I think dluders made good reply Found that, Any other problem?

If you are asking me, nope, couldn't find any issues, although I'm still at 100's

Sizing chart wouldn't be 1:1 however it would still have been useful by comparing the width with actual width

Surprisingly I did one size mistake :) luckily it was easy to fix

The set is more fun than I thought it would be, it seems like there are many Lego designers and each have their own style, this model seems like a more natural build as it sets the base first